STANDBY NOT PARANOID AFTER TALENT SHOW WIN
"Standby" Success JOHNSHAVEN's teenage musical group, "Standby", achieved another notable success on Friday night when they performed before a large and appreciative audience in the Stonehaven Town Hall in the "Mearns Got Talent" competition organised by Mearns F.M.
Having played earlier in the day at three assemblies at Mackie Academy the youngsters were already well in tune and, competing against nine other acts in the Under 14 section, Tiege Brannen (lead guitar), Eilidh MacKenzie (base guitar), Liam Beedie (drums) and vocalist Laura Townsend came out on top playing Black Sabbath's "Paranoid" and were rewarded with a crystal trophy in the shape of a treble clef.
Since coming together at Johnshaven Primary School, the group have practised regularly and as well as having performed at several primary school events have been on stage, for example, at the August Fish Festival and the Village Hall Committee's Showcase of Local Talent and last year were judged to be the "Best Group", ahead of groups older and more experienced than themselves, in Mackie Academy's annual talent show.
Golden Acre Replacement Houses
With the felling of trees and removal of shrubs and hedges, preparatory ground work has begun on the site of the replacement houses at Golden Acre.
It was just over three years ago, in December 2006, that as a result of a serious house fire at 19 Golden Acre which spread to number 17 the occupants of both homes had to be evacuated and eventually rehoused.
More than a year was to pass before the damaged and deteriorating property was finally demolished and, although tidied up to an extent, the ground at the entrance to Golden Acre remained a blot on the landscape and a source of irritation to the community in general.
Then in April last year it was announced that Aberdeenshire Council, one of only three councils whose bids had been successful, had received a grant of 850,000 from the Scottish Government, keen to encourage local authorities to build new council houses, to provide 34 in its area, of which six were to be at Golden Acre.
Addressing the Community Council at its November meeting, Ms Angela Keith, Aberdeenshire Council's Development Officer for Affordable Housing, said that the small development would comprise one block of four by one-bedroom flats and two by three-bedroom houses and, while the frontages of the houses will be aligned with those of numbers of 21 and 23, the flats are set further back with car parking spaces provided within both curtilages.
The dwellings would be kept warm by ground sourced heating with the tenants being given advice of how to make best use of the system and it is intended to carry out restorative landscaping to the rear of the dwellings.
When asked how the new homes would be allocated, Ms Keith replied that they would be given to applicants in priority need in accordance with Aberdeenshire Council's housing allocations' policy.
In order to qualify for the Scottish Government's funding, Aberdeenshire Council had to begin the work by the end of March. CHAP Construction took over ownership of the site on March 8 and expect to have the contract completed by around October/November.
Mearns Coastal Parish
Interim Moderator, the Rev Catherine Hepburn, officiated at Sunday morning's service in St Cyrus Church when the Sacrament of Holy Communion was celebrated and during which Mr James Mathers, already an ordained elder, was admitted to the Kirk Session of Mearns Coastal Parish Church.
Opening the Stated Annual Meeting which followed the service the Rev Hepburn said that it had been a privilege and pleasure to have been the Interim Moderator during the year-long vacancy in Mearns Coastal and was delighted that the Rev Colin Dempster would soon be taking over the charge.
In reviewing the events of the past year, Session Clerk, Dr Marshall Halliday, expressed his appreciation to all those members of the congregation who had contributed in so many ways to the work of the Church and had a special word of thanks for Locum Minister, Mr Gordon Anderson, and Interim Moderator, the Rev Catherine Hepburn, both of whom, he said, had served the parish exceptionally well during their terms of office.
This Sunday's services will be held at the usual times of 10 a.m. in St Cyrus Church when the Sacrament of Baptism will be celebrated and at 11.30 a.m. in Johnshaven Church.
On Sunday, April 11 there will be a farewell service in Johnshaven Church for Locum Minister, Mr Gordon Anderson, at 11.30 a.m. The service will be followed by a light lunch in the Church Hall. There will be no service in St Cyrus Church that morning.
The induction of the Rev Colin Dempster will take place in Johnshaven Church on Thursday, April 15 at 7 p.m. and will be followed by a social evening in Johnshaven Village Hall.
Tonight there will be a Good Friday service in St Laurence's Kirk, Laurencekirk at 7.30 p.m. to which all are invited.
Carpet Bowls
The first of the carpet bowling finals, the Ladies' singles between Bett Beedie and Mary Brebner, took place last Tuesday night and resulted in a comfortable victory for Bett. Getting off to a great start, she had run up 10 shots without reply after five ends before Mary got on the card with a three at the sixth but Bett never looked back after that setback and moved smoothly on to finish the match at the 12th end, the winner by 21 shots to 7.
There remains to be played the finals of the Open singles and Pairs events as well as the Christmas Pairs which, given the length of time since their original date, may have to be renamed the Easter Pairs.
Mearns Coastal Guild
At the Annual General Meeting of Mearns Coastal Guild held in the Church Hall on Monday afternoon the following office-bearers and committee were elected.
President, Mrs Jean Cook. Vice-President, Mrs Christine Murray. Secretary, Mrs Maisie Murray. Treasurer, Mrs Wilma Armatage. Committee: Mrs Isabel Blease (Project Convener), Mrs Maureen James, Mrs Sylvia Laidlaw and Mrs Jean Stephen.
Earlier Mrs Marion Finlayson spoke on how the Church of Scotland, through CrossReach and in conjunction with the Scottish Prison Service Perth, meets the needs of adults and children visiting relatives or friends in HMP Perth and Friarton Young Offenders Unit.
The previous week, at the last leisure hour meeting for the year, the Rev Linda Broadley from Hillside gave a fascinating talk on "quick meals" during which she made connections between parts of the Bible and the dishes she was describing. She was thanked by Mrs Jean Cook.
On Saturday, April 10 the Guild will be holding a soup and sweet lunch in the function room at Wairds Park between noon and 2 p.m. The cost is 3.50, there will also be a raffle and all are welcome.
Ceilidh for the Kirk
Mrs Jean Cook, organiser of the event, is pleased to announce that now all the sums have been added up the recent ceilidh held in the Village Hall raised 720 for the funds of Mearns Coastal Parish Church and once again she wishes to extend her grateful thanks to all those who supported the three annual ceilidhs from which the parish church has benefitted by 2,174.
Green Bag Collection
Just a reminder, especially to those who have already paid the 10 membership, and who have been busy tidying up the garden, that the first green bag collection takes place mid morning tomorrow, Saturday. Anyone wishing to join the scheme should contact Rebecca on 362120 or visit the website www.shark.btik.com and complete the application form
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Weather for Stonehaven
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 10 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: East
