Last summer for ticket office show

THIS time next year the Environmental Project at South Kessock is due to be housed in a new custom-built centre. Pictured: Regular visitor Willie Milne from Ardersier discusses the development with Dell McClurg, who has run the project along with Anne McCreadie for a dozen years.
The model croft, a gift from the West Coast and Donnie the Dolphin, created by local children to parade at last year's Gala Day.

Consumer alert...Who's that knocking at your door?

WHEN summer arrives so does a rash of itinerant traders in the Highland area. Consumers should be on the alert for the following callers at their door:

• Sellers offering carpets and suites of furniture at "knock-down" prices.
• Trades offering to fit new double glazed windows and doors.
• Callers offering to fix roofs, tar driveways or carry out other home improvements at reduced rates.
• Specialist firms offering to damp proof houses or fit burglar alarms or smoke detectors,
• Sellers offering designer labelled clothing at "stock clearance" or "shop soiled" prices.

The list of callers and their wares is endless and consumers who live on their own and who may be disabled or elderly can be a target to certain rogue traders who sell shoddy, sometimes counterfeit goods or offer to carry out DIY services.

Instances of vulnerable consumers where they have been pressured into buying wildly overpriced goods and services have been reported in the past to Highland Trading Standards Service, based in Inverness.

However, all too often, these rogue traders have left the area or cannot be traced for whatever reason. Invoices or copies of flyers left turn out to have false or untraceable names and addresses on them or only list a mobile phone number for contact purposes.

Consumers can be left with shoddy goods on their hands which they may have paid for by cash and have no means of redress. Consumers who have contracted for repair work to be carried out on their home, may find this work has to be redone properly which adds considerably to the overall cost of the work.

The cost to the consumer can be considerable and where work requires to be redone on the consumer's property, it can run into hundreds if not thousands of pounds.

Prevention is often better than cure in relation to this type of consumer problem. Therefore, Highland Trading Standards strenuously recommend the following when dealing with callers at your door:

• Take care when opening the door to anyone. Keep a chain on your door.

 

• ALWAYS ask for identification, that you can verify.

 

• Try not to speak to them on your own.

 

• Treat specific offers with caution. You may be able to get these goods cheaper elsewhere from local traders in your area.

 

• Do not agree to anyone to carry out work in your house until you get an independent second opinion as to whether you actually need the work done.

 

• If given anything detailed to read get the caller to leave it with you so you can check through it at your own pace. Look out for unfair terms such as "we accept no liability for the alarm once it has been installed".

 

• Do not agree to work where the caller states "We are only in the area today."

 

• You may have a cooling-off period so make sure the trader gives you cancellation rights notice so you know whom to contact if you change your mind.

 

• DO NOT ACCEPT LIFTS TO BANKS FROM SALESMEN FOR YOU TO COLLECT MONEY - YOU ARE BEING PRESSURISED.

 

• Finally remember that it is your home and you can ask them at any time to leave or just close the door. If the caller refuses to leave or is persistent in any way then contact your local police.

Remember reputable traders will leave business cards for consumers to check. If a trader refuses to give details of where they are based or this is not clear from the information they do leave then consumers should be on their guard. Call the Police if you feel you have been threatened in any way with these details.

For further information and advice on doorstep selling please contact our offices at:

Trading Standards Unit
38 Harbour Road
Inverness

Or call our 'Consumer Advice Line' on:

0845 600 4222

Or email us on: consumer.advice@highland.gov.uk

You can also visit our website on: www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/highland

All the fun of the Ferry at Community House open day

THE annual South Kessock open Day was held last month and as always was very well attended, though it was not without a few hiccups!

"The burger van didn't turn up," said South Kessock Residents Association's Ali Locke, "so Council staff and our own Carol cooked burgers on three George Foreman grills and Carol's BBQ. "These were served free of charge as were the teas, biscuits, juice and sweets for the kids. "By the end of the day we had raised around £230 which will help finance Santa's grotto at Christmas for the kids. So all in all it was a pretty successful day, which wouldn't have worked if it wasn't for the efforts of all the volunteers and Council staff."

Top: Munlochy Animal Aid stall proved popular. Bottom Left: The Army's paintball range always attracts the youngsters. Bottom Right: The trampoline is a good place to let off steam.

briefs.

• LUCKY winner of the July Nicol's Killer Quiz is Linda Annal of Telford Road. Congratulations!

 

• Congratulations also to Freddie Adam of Rosehaugh Road on becoming a teenager last month! His parents Graham and Pam were told when he was born that Freddie would be lucky to survive six months because he has a very rare debilitating condition. All the best to Freddie and his family in the next 13 years!

 

• Smartness, enthusiasm and dedication were among the praises heaped on the Inverness Sea Cadets earlier this summer when Provost Bill Smith presented an Efficiency Certificate to Sub Lt Robbie Hay RNR at the Cadets' Merkinch HQ.

 

• The Merkinch Art Group has re-started after the summer break and meets on Thursday evenings at the Community Centre. Principal tutor is Georgina Coburn of Abban Street and cost is £2 per session. So come along an discover your creative self.

 

• The Community Centre's highly successful series of Talk Back evenings continues on Friday 4th August at 7.30pm. The guest speaker at the cheese-and-wine event will be Fraser Ross who will be giving a presentation on the history of Beauly Priory. Cost is £3 at door.

 

• A number of Merkinch youths took part in the Midnight Football scheme which was run on Fridays throughout July by the Highland Football Academy at Charleston Academy.

 

• Rock fans over 14 have a chance to learn about stagecraft and improve their musical skills at Rock School in Dingwall Town Hall on 9-11th August. Participants will also learn about recording techniques and song-writing. To get a place, contact Careers Scotland on 01463 252100.

 

• Following Lily's retirement, the new manager at Thornbush Road Spar is George McLeod. Formerly he workerd at both the Co-op and Somerfields.

Summer at the Janny's Hoose

WELL we're having a cracking summer, the weather has been really kind. We've been quite busy in the Janny's Hoose, with trips out and about on Mondays, cooking on Tuesdays, outdoor activities on Wednesdays and art on Thursdays. We've started plotting and scheming for activities for next term. Along with the usual activities such as a needlecraft group, counselling, stopping smoking and Dave the dietician we're planning lots of new things. In the pot are courses in Indian head massage, First Aid, Food and Health, health issues in our community. We'll also be making a DVD with help from Eden Court, starting a book club and a relaxation group and talking about various health issues. We usually have a good deal of fun and blethers along the way too. And of course we'll have our usual coffee mornings every school day from 9am. We look forward to seeing you.

Jean Mackay, The Janny's Hoose Healthy
Living Centre (01463 226348)

Strawberries at the Janny's Hoose garden party

Bookies back new Centre project

A project to create a wall-hanging for Merkinch Community Centre has received a big boost from Ladbroke's the bookies who have awarded the project £1200 from their Community Charity Trust. Jim Smith, a self-confessed regular customer at Ladbroke's Lochalsh Road office, was asked by the manager Grahame Harrison what local organisation Jim would nominate for a donation and the shoemaker, knowing of the Centre's current refurbishment, suggested them. £800 of the money was raised at a local Race Night. The quilted hanging will be made by local people under the tutelage of Inverness-based fabric artist Sheena Norquoy on the themes derived from Merkinch's rich historical past. Pictured receiving the cheque from Mr Harrison (left) is Elsie Normington, Community Centre development officer, while Anne McCreadie of the Community Centre and Jim Smith look on.

Festival exhibition winners

WINNER of the Art Society of Inverness prizes for the paintings gaining the most votes from visitors to the gallery are jointly "Moonlight on the Waves" (pictured below) by Kathleen Adam, Maclennan Gardens, who is a member of Merkinch Art Group and Miriam Smith's "Skimmers". As part of their prize these two paintings are being shown at the Art Society of Inverness exhibition which opened in Dr Black's Hall on Tuesday 25th July.

Miriam Smith also takes the Arts in Merkinch prize for the painter gaining most overall votes in the exhibition - her other entry "Autumn comes to the River" also proved very popular. And the AiM prizes for Merkinch Art Group members whose work improved the most over the year go to Sam McGuire, Jane Arnold and Mabel Ross.

The exhibition was once again very well attended, and potential new members of the thriving Merkinch Art Group were recruited. At the back of the gallery the workshops in pottery, fabric painting, tapestry and art, for both children and adults, were all well attended, as were other Community Centre based Fun and Games events including comedian Phil Kay, magician Tricky Dicky and the Bands Night.

A portrait of a smiling laundress at the Black Brudge Laundry by Gordon Harvey is the winner of this year's Merkinch Festival photographic competition sponsored by the Inverness Courier. A member of Inverness Camera Club, Mr Harvey also took second prize with his shot of the frontage of Rodgers' Grant Street premises.

Third prize went to Bill McBryde with his black and white portrait of Morgan, one of the teenagers who takes part in the Black Bridge Bike Project.

The three top prizes are £35, £20 and £15, and a further £10 each goes to three commended photographers - Michal (correct) Janica of Lochalsh Road for "The Boy", Bill McBryde for his portrait of Jim Smith "The Shoemaker", and Ian Roberts of Ness Soaps for "View of Kessock Bridge".

The 2006 Merkinch Festival event may now be over, but already plans are being formed for the 2007 Highland Year of Culture festival.

Sadly our part-time arts officer Catherine MacNeil is leaving - but Arts in Merkinch is in the process of choosing her successor. Though Catherine is leaving the job, she remains a resident of South Kessock, so no doubt she will still maintain an interest in arts activities in the area.

Song and dance at June Jamboree

YOUNG and old joined in the singing and line-dancing at the June Jamboree held in the Community Centre. Among those were the line-dancers from Dalneigh, the Singing for Pleasure Group and the recently-formed Sing 'n' Shout youngsters.

Want a pet of your own?

PET ownership takes time, money, commitment and patience - it will completely change your life. Think first!
Before you get a pet, think carefully about why you want an animal. Pet ownership is great fun but a huge responsibility.

Overly house-proud? Then don't get a cat or dog. Their hairs can get everywhere and some never stop chewing furniture even if they have toys and scratching posts.

Squeamish? Pet owners need to worm their animal, treat it for fleas or other conditions and generally clear up after it. Discuss having a pet with all members of your household before you commit yourself. Never take on an animal out of pity.

What sort of pet?
Before choosing a pet think about your lifestyle and where you live. Cats and dogs like to spend time outside and do you have a secure garden? It doesn't make sense to have a dog if you live in a high-rise flat or cats if you live on a busy main road. Do you work or have a baby, young children or an elderly person living with you? Will you be able to give your animal a good home for perhaps the next 15 years?

How much will it cost?
Food, bedding, equipment, housing, veterinary bills and insurance can be expensive. It costs around £700 a year in the UK to keep an average-sized dog.
Most pets need regular vaccinations and veterinary checks. It is recommended that pet dogs and cats are neutered to prevent unwanted litters, so please consider this cost when deciding whether to get a pet. It is also a good idea to take out a pet insurance policy to help pay for unexpected illnesses or accidents.

Do you have the time?
The sort of animal you choose depends on the amount of time you can spend with it. Avoid dogs if you work full-time - they need regular walks and a lot of attention. Cats are more independent but can get lonely. If you are going to be out all day, and can afford it, get two cats so they can keep each other company.
Long-haired cats need combing every day to keep them matt-free.

All animals need a regular routine and lots of love and attention. But most importantly, pets need owners who are going to stay interested in them all their lives.

A big thank-you

Fliperz staff and children want to thank everyone who has collected Tesco computer vouchers for them. Grans and granddads, past and present IT students from Merkinch Enterprise, family and friends have handed them in and thanks to this support we will be able to send off for new computer games for the wide age range we have at Fliperz. Last year we got the popular Rainbow Fish collection which helps the children with their letters, numbers and co-ordination. Thanks again!