DREAM COMES TRUE FOR KATE
Starfish Studio It is now just a year since Kate MacKenzie fulfilled a 15-year dream by opening a studio of her own and her obvious delight at the success of the venture has been heightened by the news that her Starfish Studio has been nominated for an award in Aberdeenshire Council's prestigious Design Awards.
Six years ago Kate and husband, Ewan, bought the Johnshaven Stores and, during a temporary transfer to the Village Hall in late 2005, in a major refurbishment, converted the 200-year old premises into a modern ,bright and well-stocked convenience store.
Then, last year the enterprising couple seized the opportunity of purchasing the adjacent 3 Anchor Lane, a two storey property which had been used for storage for many years and was without services of any kind, transforming the ground floor into the Starfish Studio which retails the productions of a wide range of artist and craft workers from the local area and much further afield.
Importantly, too , it provides Kate with the space to create and display her own paintings, mostly in acrylics in a style which she describes as " semi-abstract, putting an unusual twist on familiar scenes through the use of colour."
In the 12 months since the official opening on 26 May, Kate has been more than pleased with the public's response. "We were very busy throughout the summer", she said, "and even during the inevitably quieter winter hardly a day passed without someone coming through the door. That our prices range from 1.50 to 200 is appealing to visitors and our nomination for a design award is, of course, a bonus."
Aberdeenshire Design Awards aims to encourage the best in environmental design and to improve the built environment in Aberdeenshire and Starfish Studio has been nominated in the Business category which covers new build and the extension or conversion of buildings for a variety of non-residential use and is among the 30 finalists with the final inspections taking place on July 13.
The decisions will be announced at a formal function at Haddo House on Thursday, September 2. A big occasion, then, for Kate. Better check the piggy bank, Ewan – a new frock is the least that can be expected.
Blair Almost Comes Up Trumps
Ten year-old Blair Dunbar, "Alba", Mid Street, has just spent a fabulous week-end in London where he represented Johnshaven Primary School in the final stages of the Generation Green Top Trumps competition.
With apologies to the initiated, Top Trumps is a card game with global appeal in which each card contains a list of numerical data, the aim being to compare those values in order to try and win an opponent's card and the first ever UK schools' competition was sponsored by Generation Green, an environmental department of British Gas.
Initially 3,200 schools took part in the competition and, as his school's champion, Blair then competed online against all the other first round winners and it was a tremendous achievement on his part to be among the 72 best players in the country to be invited to play against each other in the grand finale at the National Science Museum on Saturday.
The 72 competitors were divided up into 12 tables of six, the top 36 then going on to play in groups of six and the bottom 36 likewise. Six winners from the top six played in the final and the top six from the bottom six played in the consolation final. Finishing third at his table, Blair did not make the final but still had a day to remember.
Accompanied by his parents, Sandra and Kevin and older brother Murray, who watched the five-hour event from a viewing area liberally replenished with refreshments, Blair was able to take in a number of the capital's main attractions including Hamley's in Regent Street, Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, and the London Eye which, apart from the competition itself, was the highlight of his visit to the capital.
Although not a winner, Blair did not come home empty handed, among the reminders of a memorable weekend being a number of Top Trump card games, the obligatory tee-shirt and a Top Trump Gold Card, one of only 250 produced and eventually likely to rank in collector significance alongside the Blue Peter badge.
Mearns Coastal Parish
In officiating at the celebration of the Sacrament of Holy Communion in Johnshaven Church on Sunday morning, the minister, the Rev Colin Dempster explained, with a light hearted touch, the deeper meaning and symbolism of "Sacrament."
Earlier, the Rev Dempster intimated that he will be holding a monthly Vestry Hour between 6 and 7 p.m. beginning in St Cyrus Church on Monday, June 7 and Johnshaven Church on Monday, June 14. He was keen to stress that he sees those "open doors" as an important point of contact with his parishioners, emphasising, too, that the hour is not restricted to members of Mearns Coastal Parish Church.
"Anyone at all in the community should feel free to come along and share with me in confidence any matter which is troubling them," he said, adding that the Vestry Hour will also provide an opportunity to arrange a wedding, baptism, service of thanksgiving or blessing.
In his intimations the minister also thanked all who had contributed to the success of Saturday's coffee morning and plant sale in St Cyrus Public Hall which raised 322 for Church funds.
The organist was Robin Beattie.
This Sunday's services will be held at the usual times of 10 a.m. in St Cyrus Church and 11.30 a.m. in Johnshaven Church.
Mearns Coastal's annual Gift Day, a vital element in providing financial stability for the Church will take place between 10 and 11 a.m. in St Cyrus Public Hall and Johnshaven Church Hall on Saturday, June 12. Tea and coffee will be served at both venues.
Meanwhile the Prayer and Bible Study Group continues to meet on Monday evenings at 7 p.m. at 38 Invergarry Park and all are welcome to attend.
Bowling Club
One of those nights it will surely all come together for the Bowling Club in the Kincardineshire League. On Thursday it was the home rink who again were the stars but the away rink performed well enough for the Club to pick up the extra point on aggregate for the first time this season.
On a cold and damp night at Johnshaven where a heavy shower of hail almost brought proceedings to a halt, Fiona Dundas, Clark Simpson, Bett Beedie and Bill Inglis survived an uneasy spell before finally stamping their authority over Drumlithie's Harry Gallan, Donald Carmichael, Fred Innes and Bill Masson.
Getting off to a solid start, they rattled up nine shots without reply after four ends only for Drumlithie to respond stoutly with a run of 1,3,1. A single for Johnshaven and they were ahead 10-5 but their lead was cut to only three shots at the ninth.
However, they overcame this brief flurry from Bill Masson's quartet to control the remainder of the match, losing only a count of three at the fourteenth end to finish comfortable winners by 25 shots to 11.
As has often been the case this season the away rink of Roy Mowatt, Alan Black, Alan Robbie and Bryan Duff started off well enough, this time against Jim Wood, Ian Knox, Robert Primrose and Arthur Watson. Four ahead at 6-2 after five, an inadvertently shortened jack gave Drumlithie an opportunity which they took full advantage of, adding six shots over the next six ends to nudge ahead 8-6.
Singles were exchanged before an even better run of 1,2,4,1 extended their advantage to nine, 16-7. Johnshaven hung on in the latter stages but that mid-match collapse proved disastrous and they ended on the losing side, 10-17.
There was an excellent turnout for Friday's hat night which was won by Bett Beedie and Alan Robbie by a generous margin of 13 shots. Hat nights continue on Fridays and points nights on Tuesdays, both at 7 p.m. and all are welcome.
The draws for all Club's competitions have now been made and after taking so long to complete them last season, members' reports cards have been marked "must do better next time."
Beach Clean-Up
Despite the miserable weather 18 enthusiasts took part in Sunday's clean-up of the beach. Working from the harbour to the Brotherton Burn they picked up 1,192 bits of rubbish of which 60% was plastic and 19% metal and had the added pleasure of watching the dolphins at play.
Although the beach did appear to be cleaner than usual this was probably because recent high tides had washed out much of the sewage related items which are likely to return.
After the hard graft warm refreshments were provided in the Village Hall thanks to Maisie Murray and Bob Gregson.
Putting
The putters certainly know their weather, always delaying the start of their season until the first Monday in June. So be confident that waterproofs will be a things of the past after Monday, June 7 when all are welcome to take part in the first putting competition - for the Shield and Novices - at 7 p.m.
Community Council
The next meeting of the Community Council will be held in the Village Hall (small) on Wednesday, June 9 at 7 p.m. Items for the agenda should be in the hands of the Chair, Chris Greene, Ceol -na-Mara, Back Road by Monday, June 7.
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Weather for Stonehaven
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: East
