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Focus Weston Rhyn is now getting ready to roll.  Interest has been good.  Our main publicity leaflet will be in local venues  [shops, pubs] this week and go in the September Wren which will start being distributed in about 10 days time.
There is one significant mistake in the leaflet. The Watercolour Painting Group meets on Tuesday morning [not Monday].
It will be great if loads of people make the effort to join in by competing in the shows. We are trying to move on just a little from the traditional  show and tap into the media interest in being creative  - things like Bake-Off, etc  We hope that this will catch the imagination of people would not have participated before.
It will be good also if the existing village organisations are able to use the week to attract new members.   We can but try - Thanks to everyone that is already getting stuck in.   As a result there's a lot to see especially on Saturday afternoon - well worth turning out for.
We could do with a bit more help, especially on the day: Saturday 12th.  Please contact Pam Manley [774170]  or myself if you could spare an hour or two:  for example we need people to take a shift on selling raffle tickets and a few people to do a hour or so stewarding.
See also Focus Weston Rhyn on Facebook for the programme and publication earlier in the year of the schedules for the shows if have lost yours.
 

Its excellent news that the fencing and goal posts are actually being replaced...  
 
The news on the grapevine around the village was that they were coming down simply because of "Noise Complaints" from people who actually moved into their homes after the Mugga was built. 
 
The kids who regularly use this facility, mine included, came home distraught that the Mugga has been demolished (Their words not mine). They were really concerned that their needs were of secondary importance to those who obviously have no patience where kids are concerned. They had knowledge that the Mugga was there and surely knew of any noise implications before they moved into their new homes...
 
Both I, and my children, hope the council gets contractors to complete the works prior to the summer holidays. 

That's what we're hoping Maggie, however if anyone is struggling and would like to get to this one, get them to give me a shout. it would be a shame to miss out for the sake of coordinating a lift.

3 Parishes Big Local has combined with Fairshare Credit Union to facilitate loans, particularly for businesses. Check out details on 3P Big Local Facebook page, www.big-local.org or pop along to The Gobowen Scout Hut tomorrow between 2.30 - 4.30.

Thanks to everyone who attended the Big Get Together on Saturday 15th November at St Martins School sports hall and helped to make the day a success.  We had interesting stands from lots of Community groups and Fairshare Credit Union, and great demonstrations by Love2dance, the St Martins Community Choir and Border Counties School of dance.  
 
Prizes were awarded for our "love where you live" competition - the prize winners were Tilly Manford from St Martins, Lowri Smith from Gobowen, Keira Davies from St Martins and Sue Barnett from Chirk Bank.  Congratulations to all of you.
 
We awarded the first grants from our Community Chest - £500 to Gobowen Old Friends, and £250 to The Good Companions.  More grants are available so please get in touch if you know of a Community group, project or activity that could benefit.

Still time to enter the competition - LOVE WHERE YOU LIVE.

The Big Get Together is a celebration of all the GREAT THINGS that go on in St Martins, Gobowen and Weston Rhyn.  
 
Come along to St Martins School Sports Hall on Saturday 15th November 10:30am - 2:30pm  to find out about clubs, projects and activities in the villages.
* Displays, demonstrations, information
* Presentation of Community Chest grants
* Judging and prize-giving for our "love where you live" competition (click here for more information)
* Refreshments
* Free Entry
 
Free transport available from Gobowen, St Martins, Weston Rhyn and Chirk Bank - booking essential as places are limited.
 
Contact Bridget on 01691 656882 or email info@big-local.org for more information or to book transport.

I noticed something this week; that on the 12th October the Community Online forum was 3 years old and if you are wondering what the number in the Topic Title is then take a look at the figures below.
 
In the 3 years the forum has been live:
 
242 members have joined
433 people followed the Twitter page
113 people 'liked' the Facebook page
711 Topics have been posted
10 local businesses advertised in the business section
3,286 posts have been made
 
and a whopping 311,432 views have been made to posts on the forum.
 
I hope that you'll agree thats pretty impressive for a local website. I also have a very exciting project in the pipeline, as things progress I will keep you updated.
 
So thanks for the past 3 years, I'll keep moderating the forums, posting stuff and keeping all the workings up to date and running smoothly. All you need to do is keep posting topics, adding events to the calendar and adding pictures to the gallery, because community forums aren't about me posting things its about the members of our community sharing information with each other, collaborating and hopefully making the place in which we live better for everyone.
 
See you in the forums,
 
Lee

Community Meals is a project coordinated by local volunteers and Selattyn & Gobowen Parish Council where they are able to offer the delivery of a hot meal to residents from Selattyn, Hengoed, Gobowen and Whittington Parishes who may be in need of it.
 
More information is available in the attached poster, which can also be printed to promote the project - Wheels.pdf
 
The project is also looking for volunteers to help deliver this service - more information in the attached poster - Volunteer poster.pdf

Please follow 3PBigLocal on Facebook.

I only post what I get sent...... Is July or August their month off?

Application packs for the Three Parishes Big Local Community Chest will be available from next week.  This is a fund for small grants (up to £500) for Community groups based in, or active in, the communities of Weston Rhyn, St Martins and Gobowen.
 
To register for your pack, or for more details, e-mail communitychest@big-local.org, write to the Big Local Co-ordinator at Qube, Oswald Road, Oswestry, SY11 1RB, or ring Bridget on 01691 656882.  
 
You can also keep up to date with Big Local news by following us on facebook - 3PBigLocal.
 

Free tennis sessions for young people in Gobowen.
 
Thursday 21st & Friday 22nd August
Thursday 28th & Friday 29th August
 
More information on the attached poster
 
Free Tennis Sessions.pdf
 
 
 
 

Everyone should have a look at this Community Profile.  A lot of work has obviously gone into it and it is a very good report of our 3 villages. Well done.

Each of the 150 Big Local areas has to publish a Community Profile as part of the development work for their Community Plan.  The Three Parishes Big Local Community Profile published today, 23 June 2014, serves several purposes:
* It provides a description of the three communities of Weston Rhyn, St Martins and Gobowen
* It provides statistical information to underpin the description that will serve as baseline information against which changes in the community over the next ten years can be measured.
* It summarises the consultations which have taken place so far within the community.
 
You can find the Three Parishes Big Local Community Profile in the Resources section of our website, www.big-local.org or by following this link:
 
http://www.big-local.org/images/Three%20Parishes%20Big%20Local%20Community%20profile%20June%202014.pdf 
 
Three Parishes Big Local would like to thank the community members who have contributed to the development of this Community Profile.  

Fantastic evening. Well done Keith Allum and Sue Schofield for all your hard work.

Sorry to hear about Nick.  I too wish him all the best for a speedy recovery and hope to see him back up here soon.

Thanks for the update Sue.
 
Very best wishes to Nick, hoping for a speedy recovery and back home soon.

I have just had a thought about this......
 
It's Community Online's 2nd Birthday on the 12th of October and I was planning a little event to mark the occasion.  It would be open to anyone who wants to come along.....  but what if we specifically put out an invite to UnLtd and the projects it has supported in the area?  Maybe people could do a little presentation to showcase what they have been doing, and possibly and opportunity to discuss any future ideas of support/funding.
 
It would also be an opportunity to put names to faces, meet and greet etc.

The girls really enjoyed the archery on Tuesday, thank you.  Not going to be able to make the circus skills sorry, hope you have a fab time.

Brilliant archery session this morning - thanks to Nic Pickles and helpers.
Sports hall tomorrow and Thursday at 10.00 - 12.00 followed by swimming at 2.00 both sessions £2.

CIRCUS SKILLS FRIDAY 10.00 - 12.00. Ages 8+ FREE.

Brilliant archery session this morning - thanks to Nic Pickles and helpers.
Sports hall tomorrow and Thursday at 10.00 - 12.00 followed by swimming at 2.00 both sessions £2.

CIRCUS SKILLS FRIDAY 10.00 - 12.00. Ages 8+ FREE.

My daughter had a fab time on Wednesday, thank you.  She's looking forward to Archery on Tuesday (and bringing a friend  :) !!).

....and what about his poor old dog that was snatched away and then put down. How frightening was that!  I cannot believe the autocratic way this has been performed.  Why didn't anyone talk to the neighbours first about what was maybe needed? Don't RSPCA realise that there is a mutual relationship between owners and pets, usually based on love and respect on both sides.  It's all well and good to sweep in with guns blazing when intentional cruelty occurs, but in many cases what is needed is support and help for the owners and animals, not this sort of shocking event.  It's all one sided.

The same goes for dog owners who are letting their dogs cool off in rivers an canals.  Know your spot and know the dangers.