A new structure for supporting and developing the Arts in Dumfries and Galloway has been developed by the region’s arts sector following consultative meetings in October and November. Individuals and organisations involved in the provision of Arts of all forms across Dumfries and Galloway were involved in the meetings. The level of attendance showed that there is a vibrant and committed Arts sector in our region.

Each of the four areas of the region will have its own forum or arts hub, linked to a regional arts hub for organisations which operate region wide.

The Council will support the Arts sector in establishing the various operational hubs. Ailsa Freeman (Annandale and Eskdale), Scott Grant (Nithsdale), David Lockwood (Stewartry), Colin Freeman (Wigtownshire) and Rebecca Coggins (Regionwide) are the local contacts. They have received an excellent response from arts sector groups and individuals registering an interest in participating in the various Arts Hub meetings and meetings are now being scheduled in January.

It is proposed that each Arts Hub Chairperson/Champion will represent their Hub on a strategic group being referred to currently as the ‘Chamber of Arts’. The Chamber of Arts will work closely with Creative Scotland to develop a regionwide strategic partnership for the development and delivery of the Arts across the region. The Council’s overall lead officer who will support the sector in developing this concept is Richard Grieveson.

It is proposed that over the following months this structure will develop further. More regionwide Dumfries and Galloway Arts Sector open meetings will take place in the spring to keep everyone updated and to review, reflect and share our progress to date and plans for the immediate future.

The dates and times of the initial meetings are as follows:-

Hub ,Date, Time, Venue

Annandale and Eskdale 09-Jan 2pm Meeting Room, Annan Swimming Pool

Stewartry 11-Jan 10am Kirkcudbright Council Offices

Wigtownshire 11-Jan 6.30pm Ryan Centre

Nithsdale 17-Jan 2pm DG One

Region-wide 19-Jan 10.30am Gracefield Arts Centre

Please get in touch with your local contact to let them know if you can attend by phoning 030 33 33 3000.

Blackburn Rovers Dumfries born centre half Grant Hanley put a dampener on Sir Alex Ferguson’s 70th birthday celebrations as he popped up to score the winner in Blackburn’s shock 3-2 win over United at Old Trafford yesterday. BlackBurn were two up at halftime through Yakubu but lost 2 second half goals by Berbatov . A flapping effort from United’s De Gea resulted in the Scottish international  heading the winner.

Play Talk Read campaign promotes ‘good old fashioned fun’ over the festive season.

New Minister for Children & Young People encourages parents to make the most of simple activities.

This festive season, the Scottish Government’s Play Talk Read campaign is encouraging mums and dads to have some ‘good old fashioned fun’ with their little one’s by revisiting games and past-times from their own childhood.

Newly appointed Minister for Children & Young People, Aileen Campbell is reminding parents that despite the wish list of dream toys on the Christmas list this year, it doesn’t have to be about expensive gifts or costly days out – it’s simple time and attention that really counts.

The Play Talk Read campaign champions positive interaction with under threes from day one through simple inexpensive activities – playing, talking and reading. It provides parents with the tools to stimulate their little ones and put in place the building blocks for future use by equipping them with the confidence and knowledge to engage in meaningful play.

Research underpinning the campaign shows that brain development is most rapid from 0-3 and that investing in quality time doing simple activities during this period will have positive repercussions for their long-term development. Imaginative play is therefore a vital source of physical, emotional and intellectual stimulus for them.

Aileen Campbell, Minister for Children and Young People said: “Christmas time can leave parents feeling worried they have to splash out on lots of expensive toys. It’s important for mums and dads to know it’s the simple things that have a big impact such as playing with their kids more, or just spending time talking or reading with them. All of which costs nothing and can bring huge benefits for family life and a child’s positive development.

“The holiday season is a great opportunity to have some fun together as a family and revisit some of the old classic games from our own childhood such as hopscotch, skipping or head shoulders knees and toes. Overall, its quality time and attention that makes all the difference – simply playing, talking and reading with little ones and having good old fashion fun.”

For further information, please see: www.playtalkread.org

Police are seeking witnesses to a dog attack on an 80 year old woman as she walked out of the car park at Barn Raws in Dumfries at around 1550 hours on Friday 23 December 2011. At that time the following described two boys were with a Jack Russell type dog when it attacked the woman and bit her. The boys ran off with the dog after the attack. The woman attended Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary where she was treated for wounds caused by the bite to her arm. The two boys are described as 1) white, 5’ 4” tall, aged 14/15 years, wearing dark clothing and a black woollen hat with white flecks on it. (2) White, in his late teens, 5’ 9” tall, wearing a light coloured top. Both spoke with local accents.

Twenty nine primary 5 pupils at St Michael’s School in Dumfries and their teacher Ciara Crilly donated an amazing 113 coats for Age Scotland this week! That’s a fantastic achievement.

The Donate A Coat Appeal is in partnership between Age Scotland and Age UK. The funds raised from the donations of coats go towards providing older people with the advice and information they need to help stay warm over winter.

The pupils, aged 8 and 9 years, rounded up over a hundred coats and on Friday 16 December took them on a walk (singing all the way) to the Age Scotland charity shop in Dumfries, to be donated to help raise funds for older people in Scotland. Some of the pupils even donated coat hangers in case the shop didn’t have enough!

Morag Halliday, the Age Scotland development officer for the area, visited the pupils at their school to say thank you personally and explain how their hard work would benefit older people in their community.

She also gave them a Hot Tips calendar and talked about the importance of looking out for older people in the winter months. The children plan to give the calendars to older neighbours and family so they have advice and information on how best to deal with colder temperatures.

Morag said: “I’m overwhelmed at the efforts of the primary 5 students, and really enjoyed my afternoon with them and their teacher, who has gone the extra mile to assist her pupils to fulfil their wishes to donate to this cause.”

Police are warning of a scam which appears to have happened a few times now in Dumfries and Galloway, the latest one involving the purchase of a cat through an internet site. The victim started off by agreeing the price of £250, however charges for insurance and shipping costs then inflated the price to nearly £1000. As the delivery time drew near a call was received demanding more money before the cat would be delivered. The victim in this case has lost a substantial amount of money and did not receive the cat.

Anyone with any information on this or similar incidents is asked to contact police on 0845 600 5701 or any police officer. Information can also be left with the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or online at Crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court. Crime prevention advice can be found on our police website www.dg.police.uk

The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for snow throughout Dumfries and Galloway. Outbreaks of 2 – 5 cm are expected with up to 10 cm in places.

As a consequence road conditions will be affected and those who need to travel are asked to carefully consider the necessity of the journey, and check the conditions of the route to their destination. Details of major roads affected can be found on www.trafficscotland.org and local roads can be checked on the council website at www.dumgal.gov.uk For up to date weather information and details of any warnings look on www.metoffice.gov.uk

The Met Office issued (at 1214hrs) an Amber Warning of Snow for SW Scotland and Lothian/Borders: Dumfries and Galloway, Scottish Borders, West Lothian, Edinburgh, and Midlothian council areas. This warning is valid from 0300hrs (3am) Tue 13 Dec to 1000hrs (10am) Wed 14 Dec.

Heavy showers will fall as snow over ground above about 100 m, and at times to low levels too. Accumulations of 10 cm or more are possible on hills, and there may also be some slushy accumulations at low levels. As a result some roads will become icy at times.

Very strong winds will accompany the showers at times, notably across Northern Ireland, parts of northern England and southern and western Scotland.

The public should be aware that travel may be disrupted as a result of the bad weather, notably over high ground where a combination of strong winds and snow could lead to temporary blizzard conditions. There is also a risk of interruptions to power supplies.

Local forecast for Dumfries and Galloway:

Stormy this afternoon and at first this evening with wind gusts up to 70mph. Winds will slowly ease through the rest of the evening and night, but remaining windy.

The coming 24 hours will be mostly cloudy with showery outbreaks of rain, hail, sleet and, over higher routes, snow. Road temps will fall a little below zero over higher routes where sleet and snow falls, leading to the risk of ice. Road temps are expected to remain a little above zero elsewhere.

2cm to 5cm snow is possible over the coming 24 hours over higher routes (above 150m to 200m). Any snow which does accumulate is likely to drift in the very strong winds. No significant snow accumulations are expected below this level, although the rain may turn to sleet or wet snow at times.

During severe and extreme weather incidents you can get up to date information on weather, river and road conditions from:

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/uk_forecast_warnings.html

http://www.readyscotland.org/

http://trafficscotland.org/

http://www.sepa.org.uk/

Ferrocious winds in our region took their toll on one of the most prominent Dumfries High Street premises this afternoon. New Look suffered the event, when one of the huge first floor plate glass windows broke, crashing on the street below.

No one was injured in the smash, but it could have been fatal had someone been walking on the pavement at the time.

Mark Robertson – Operations Director Lockerbie Creamery

Mark has over 30 years’ experience in the dairy / food industry.  He has held a number of management posts at the Lockerbie creamery both under Grand Met and Glanbia.  He developed the Glanbia Foodservice business to a position where it was fit for sale.  He became General Manager for Lockerbie, Oswestry and Melton before becoming Manufacturing Director covering all of the sites.

Following Milk Link’s acquisition of The Cheese Company, Mark was appointed to his current role of Operations Director covering all Milk Link’s cheese and milk sites.

Mark is also on Queen of the South Board of Directors.

If you have any questions you would like Annette Richards to put to Mark on Friday morning email hello@aliveradio.net and mark them for her attention