End of an era at Merkinch Nursery

THE last Highland local authority Nursery School not attached to a primary school closes on the 23rd of this month when the Merkinch Nursery premises in Coronation Road will be transformed into a Family Resource Centre.

Youngsters up to the age of three will still receive their nursery education there, but four-year-olds will be going to nursery classes at Merkinch Primary in Telford Road, starting 22nd August.

The closure marks the end of a teaching career for acting head Rhoda Ross who has been a teacher at Merkinch Nursery for the last 14 years.

Miss Ross comes of a Glasgow Highland family and taught in various schools, including Skye before coming to Raigmore over 20 years ago.

After seven years there she joined the Nursery team in Coronation Road as a teacher and replaced Maggie Boag as manager when Mrs Boag retired four years ago.

"I've enjoyed my years with the children and the parents of Merkinch over the years," Miss Ross told News & Views. The other members of the staff- two job-sharing teachers, two nursery nurses, one learning support auxiliary, one part-time children services worker and one temporary clerical worker- will be dispersed to other posts, at time of going to press it was not known where.

The custom-built Merkinch Nursery opened 28 years ago. A new manager has been appointed for the new Family Resource Centre which is expected to open in August. Workmen have already been in measuring up the building and they are set to move in and make the adaptations to the building as soon as the youngsters leave.

Farewell to Cath

Another well-kent face is set to leave Merkinch - Cath Finlay who has been in various posts in the area. These include mp33 in Grant Street, the Workers Educational Association, ABE and part-time at the Janny's Hoose for the last three years. Previously she worked with Raigmore Rusties for some years.

Cath is going to be co-ordinator of Food First, an initiative to promote healthy eating throughout the Inverness area. The initially one-year project, funded by Lifescan Scotland, will involve research as well as promotion. She starts in her new post on 5th June.

New faces at Merkinch Enterprise

MERKINCH Enterprise welcomes two new faces this month: trainer Mairi Rule (left) and reception/admin Lorna McAllister.

An Invernessian, Mairi attended Inverness Royal Academy before going on to study at Aberdeen University where she gained an MA Joint Honours in Management and Sociology.

She took a post graduate degree in IT before joining Cap Gemini in Inverness as a manager. For the last two years Mairi has been lecturing part-time in Inverness College.

Mairi enjoys keeping fit and she cycles from Culduthel to work every day. She also likes to walk and attends the gym regularly. Mairi's taste in music is wide-ranging-she enjoys everything from '60s to dance music and the classics.

Lorna McAllister is originally from Nairn but now lives in Wyvis Place with husband Noel whom she married last year in the Trinity Church.

Lorna gained an MA in History and American Studies at Dundee University before returning to Inverness. Among the places she has worked in the city is the Tourist Office, the Ramada Jarvis Hotel and a travel agents. Currently she is training to run the Dundee 5k. She also enjoys popular music and travelling.

Get your housing transfer questions answered

SOUTH Kessock Residents Association is inviting council house tenants to a public meeting on the issue of stock transfer at the Merkinch Community Centre on Wednesday 31st May at 7pm. A vote of Highland Council tenants takes place in October of 2006 regarding the future of local authority housing. Said Ali Locke of South Kessock Residents Association, "Now is your chance to ask the questions and get the answers about any concerns over the question of housing transfers."

The panel will consist of representatives of the Tenant Participation Advisory Service, who offer independent advice, and Highland Housing Association which is the prospective landlord. Also present will be representatives from Highland Council which is the current landlord.

New service aids those on road to recovery

MERKINCHERS in the Madras Street area may well have been startled recently to see this portacabin hovering over the Free Church Mission. It is the new office for Ian Polworth (pictured) who is bringing a unique service accessible to all who have a problem with drink and/or drugs.

Other rehab centres such as Osprey House, Caley House and Beechwood help those who want to recover from addictions. What makes the Madras Street service unique is that Ian offers Christian counselling.

Ian, who has already been in the job for over a month, worked at Beechwood House for seven years before joining the Free Church North's Madras Street outreach.

Madras Street Mission already runs a Road to Recovery meeting which is attended by anything from 25 to 40 people a week.

The Highland culture of being indulgent towards drinkers is now being realised as a dangerous one. "We are now seeing young people of 16 and 17 with serious drink problems," he said. "People realise they are in trouble when they have work, relationship and personal hygiene problems and can't manage a day without drink."
Ian suggests a good test is to try going for a whole two weeks without alcohol.

Although addicts are roughly divided 50-50 between drink and drugs, there is worryingly an increasing culture of dependency on both drink and drugs.

Ian welcomes people to his office and he also makes regular home visits, mainly to listen to people's problems. He is non-judgmental but basically believes most people have simply let a habit get out of control.

Fun way to keep fit

THE Keep Fit sessions at the Community Centre on Thursday evenings 7.30-8.30pm are proving very popular.

Leading the exercises are Lorraine O'Brien and Marion Liddell who are personal trainers with Fitness First and also run their own diet club.

Pictured right are, from left: class participant Violet Reid, Lorraine O'Brien, Marion Liddell and another member of the class, Islay Cumming.

Though the class is well attended, there is always room for more-so why not pop along on a Thursday evening, wearing something comfortable, and join in.

briefs.

• LUCKY winner of the Nicol's Killer Quiz last month was Dennis Platt, Carnarc Crescent. Congratulations!

 

• THE second in the Talk-Back series took place at the Community Centre on 26th May when Merkinch Primary head teacher Sheena Morrison discussed the education of youngsters and the place of the school in the community.

 

• THE popular Monday Cheerleading sessions at the Community Centre have resumed again after a bit of a hiccup. They are now back on track, 4-5pm, cost £1 per session. Apologies to those who have been disappointed.

 

• A WARNING has gone out to residents in the area regarding the dangers of air rifles. Said Councillor Peter Corbett, "People don't always realise how dangerous they can be; they are not harmless - people can be seriously injured, even blinded," he said.

 

• CONTRARY to rumour, Merkinch Post Office is NOT going to be closing. However, it is the case that TV licences will not in future be handled by the PO but details of the alternative method of purchasing these are not yet available. Those who buy stamps to save up for their TV licences can be assured that they will not lose out.

 

• THANKS to the generosity of the Innes Bar which has donated a bottle of whisky, Jim Smith of the Clach Shoe Repair Shop in Lochalsh Road is able to run a raffle in aid of the Oncology Unit at Raigmore Hospital. Tickets cost £1, and when all of the 100 tickets have sold, the draw will be made.

 

• THE Active Adults group had a fun afternoon last month when potter Lorraine Cran led them in a session messing around with clay. Meanwhile a highlight of the Friendship Club last month was a trip on the Seagull Trust barge up the Caledonian Canal.

 

• THE Breakfast Club and After-School clubs at the Community Centre have meantime closed, but After-School provision is expected to resume in due course.

Festival plans well in hand

THE final programme for this year's Arts in Merkinch festival will be published early this month on the community website and in posters locally.

As before there will be an exhibition of paintings, photographs and crafts as well as a range of entertainments and other events. Among the work on show will be paintings by the Merkinch Art Group and crafts from the Janny's Hoose.

These will include workshops of particular interest to children - this year's festival has been planned to take place in July so that youngsters can take a full part.

The festival opens on Friday 7th July and closes on Sunday 16th.

Among others invited to take part are members of mp33, the Corbett Centre and Merkinch Primary as well as members of Inverness Camera Club and the Art Society of Inverness.

Members of the public are also invited to submit entries for the exhibition and to attend the various events.

Look out for posters and entry forms sometime this month.

Energy-saving at the Janny's Hoose

LAST month saw a visit to the Janny's Hoose by Dennis Mackay of the Energy Efficiency Advice Centre. The Hoose was packed out and Mr Mackay gave away energy-saving light bulbs. Pat Kane won the kettle.

Kids Cook Quick
Summer is coming and the sun keeps popping its head out of the clouds. Quite often it takes us by surprise and we bask in its warmth without realising how strong it is until it's too late.
Children burn very quickly, even on cloudy days or when the wind keeps the temperature down.
Remember to cover up with a t-shirt and hat and put sunscreen on at regular intervals.
This is especially important for people with fair skin and hair.
Wear sunglasses if possible, this will help protect your eyes from the harmful glare.
Drink plenty of water too, our bodies have lots of water in them and if you do not drink lots of water you will get dehydrated.
This could lead to headaches, feeling irritable and not very well at all.
Remember - slip it on (t-shirt and hat), slap it on (sunscreen) and keep safe this summer.

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

Albyn unveil plans for new Kessock Courts housing

DONALD Lockhart of Albyn Housing Association shows what they have in mind to develop the sites at Kessock Courts, North and South.

MEMBERS of the public are being invited to come and take a look at the plans Albyn Housing Association has drawn up for Kessock Courts North and South.

The plans will be on display for two weeks at the Merkinch Community Centre and then for a week at Craigton Avenue Community House. After this consultation period planning permission will be sought.

Albyn launched their plans at the Community Centre last month. If agreed the building of these houses should clear up what has been an eyesore at the heart of South Kessock for many years-first the original flats and then the flooded and dangerous wasteland that followed their demolition.

The plans, much in the style of their houses in Maclennan Crescent, are for various-sized homes, many for first-time buyers. Altogether the charitable housing association has invested £5.2 million in Merkinch so far.

Merkinch Community local plan - shaping the future

THE Merkinch Partnership was set up in June 2005 to help everyone work together and with the local community to improve the quality of people's lives.

Many of the organisations and groups working in and around the Merkinch area have been involved in one way or another with the evolution of the Partnership. Everyone involved believes it is vital to ensure that the Partnership continues to work closely with all community organisations and the people of the Merkinch area.

Community Plan
The Merkinch Local Community Plan has been developed in part to inform the use of the Community Regeneration Fund in Merkinch. The plan was initially circulated to a selection of agency representatives for discussion and comment and was presented to the wider community at a public meeting on December 1st, 2005.

A well attended multi-agency meeting was held on January 25th this year, where the Community Plan was presented and endorsed. The Community Regeneration funding process was also discussed.

The four themes
The Plan was developed using the four community development areas already identified through previous consultations and activities within Merkinch -

• Environment,
• Arts/culture
• Health & wellbeing
• Wealth creation.

In compiling the Community Plan reference has also been made to the following documents: Merkinch Community Participatory Appraisal, Survey on Anti-Social Behaviour in Merkinch, the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation, Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics and Project Feasibility Business Plans.

Our Environment
The term environment in relation to community covers a wide range of issues- these include housing, green spaces, play areas, access to and use of marine environment, recreational areas, litter, vandalism, graffiti, dog fouling and fellow residents.

A community meeting was held on 1st December, 2005 followed by an Agency meeting on 25th January 2006 and the following issues were raised and discussed:

• Environmental design - need to include the community in discussions on design and implementation
• Waterside Centre at former ferry point
• Transport and access issues
• Public transport access issues
• Safe play areas and access to wildlife
• Graffiti

Many of these issues mirrored the concerns of the community evident in the CPA carried out in November 2004 and are acknowledged in the Community Plan.

Health & Wellbeing
Childcare, parenting skills, self-esteem, social interaction, women's issues and substance misuse are the main core issues that run through the health and well-being theme.

At the Agency meeting held on 25/1/06 the comment was made that cultural activities (sport, art, drama etc) can in themselves be beneficial to health and well-being and that both themes should continue to be closely linked.

The following issues were highlighted at the Community and Agency meetings:

• The lack of adequate and affordable child provision, which remained one of the main obstacles to accessing health initiatives and learning opportunities and which could impact on the future sustainability of such initiatives or opportunities.
• The benefit/ value of having tenants groups in the area and in particular young tenant's groups/support workers.
• The need for continued education on health issues (healthy eating, sex education, etc) through projects such as the Janny's Hoose, mp33, local schools and the Family Resource Centre.
• How can people with health conditions and disabilities who are without work, and would like to work, be given opportunities and support to do so
• Promoting positive mental health
• The needs of elderly in the community.

Feedback from the Community and Agency meetings indicates that the following issues need to be addressed to encourage and promote regeneration and economic growth in the area:

• Poverty
• Unemployment and job creation
• Training
• Low skills base
• Adult education
• Literacy & numeracy
• Childcare
• Social enterprise

The question of employers within the area employing local people was also raised, although it was recognised that any business must always take the best options available.

Some of the older, retired members of the community do however have experience, including business and management experience, and this resource could be tapped into to assist groups such as Merkinch Development Ventures.

Cultural Development
There were no direct comments emerging from the CPA in terms of cultural issues related specifically to art, music, writing etc. However, the lack of leisure and recreational facilities and activities in the area was commented on by some residents. This issue could inform the development of the cultural agenda in Merkinch.

An issue that particularly came across as being of concern was the lack of amenities and activities in the area for young people and children.

This community need could be addressed by the arts groups already active in the area and is an opportunity for closer partnership working between all of the community groups.

Arts in Merkinch (AiM) was set up as an umbrella organisation to help bring together already existing arts initiatives and to help encourage community participation in as many creative forms as possible utilising local talents.

It currently employs a part-time Arts Development Officer on a fixed term contract, ending in March 2008.

Conclusion
This is the first Community Plan for the Merkinch Area of Inverness. It will guide the spending available under the Community Regeneration Funding agreement and through other agency arrangements and plans.

The process of drawing up and agreeing this plan has involved many individuals and agencies - they will continue to work together to support the community of Merkinch to progress priorities identified in the Plan.

It is a working document and will be amended and added to when required. Many thanks to all who have been involved in the process.

 
Merkinch Community Council AGM

The meeting will take place at Merkinch Community Centre on Thursday 8th June at 7pm. It will be followed at 7.30pm by the Official Launch of The Merkinch Partnership.

After a buffet and refreshments, Councillor Peter Corbett, who chairs the Merkinch Partnership, will welcome everyone and introduce speakers from various organisations working in the community who will outline their activities and current projects. These organisations include Arts in Merkinch (Festival), Community Centre (Gym Hall project), South Kessock Environmental Company, Merkinch Development Ventures (Ness Soaps), Family Resource Centre, The Janny's Hoose, mp33 and Merkinch Enterprise.

Sporting Nooz

City Taxis take the A League Cup

THE A League runners up City Taxis won the A League Cup when they beat Portland B at the Portland Club last month. Keppoch won the "second battle of Culloden" when they beat stablemates Culloden Moor Inn in the B League Cup Final.
The C League play-off went all the way to the roll-up with Brockies Lodge just pipping Smithton in the third leg of the roll up.
This gave the Kiltarlity team the League and Cup double to add to the Consolation Shield they won earlier.
Tarradale beat Dow's in the A League relegation play-off and Caley Club beat Legion A in the B League second place play-off.
The Handicap Shield went to Mojo's who beat Uncle Bob's in the final.
Shane Wharton (Portland B) scored 2 maximums and Mat White (Keppoch) got one.
The top check-outs were Michael Maclean (City Taxis) 126, Barrie Mackay (Culloden Moor Inn) 116, Kevin Clark ( City Taxis) 116, Stevie Mitchell (City Taxis) 101.
Kevin Clark had a 14-dart leg and Stevie Mitchell a 15-darter.
The previous week, three of the six league cup semi-finals had to be decided with the aid of the roll-up.
In the A league City Taxis edged out Uncle Bob's in this manner with Portland B having a conventional win over Tarradale.
In the B Culloden Moor Inn also needed the roll-up to dispose of Deeno's but Keppoch only had to go to the first double to oust the League champions Portland E.
Raigmore came back from a 5-1 deficit to pip Clach Club in the roll up. They were joined in the C final by Brockie's Lodge who had been taken to the 11th game by Portland X.
In the Handicap Shield Portland A beat Legion A and Dow's whilst Mojo's beat Legion B and both go through to the finals tonight where they will be joined by Deeno's, Uncle Bob's, Portland X, Portland E and Clach Club.
The Summer League got underway on Thursday 11th May and when we went to press it looked as if there would be two leagues of eight.

Riddle races to victory

KENNY Riddle of Bikes of Inverness in Grant Street is back in his winning ways. The champion cyclist has taken up the duathlon, which involves running as well as cycling, and last month won the veterans' title at the British Duathlon Championships in Edinburgh. The former Commonwealth Games cyclist became a veteran in December when he turned 40.

Douglas quits Lilies after 16 years

CLACH'S longest-serving player John Douglas is to quit the Grant Street Park team after the summer break. The defender, who is aged 35, has served under six managers and highlights of his days with the Lilywhites included being in the team that won the League and Cup double two years ago and winning the Qualifying Cup in 1988. Douglas also won the Supporters Player of the Year.

Chance for bargains at Ness Soaps sale

THERE are good bargains to be had when Ness Soaps has their first Spring Clean sale since the umbrella company, MDV moved into their new premises at 4 Grant Street.

Ocean Blue, Lavender and Wild Berry are among the various scents of hand-made soaps available and there are bars of all shapes and sizes, all of them at excellent prices.

The sale began on 24th May and will run until all their old stock is sold out. The company are trying to make room for their new range of packaged soaps.

Pictured are some of the wide range of soaps being prepared ready for the sale.

Make peace with neighbours

THOSE who have problems with noisy or anti-social neighbours, arguments over fences and boundaries, rubbish, constant harassment from pesky pets or cheeky children have a new way to help resolve their problems.

Community Mediation has been set up to help neighbours resolve their differences and find a way through their difficulties. It is a free and confidential service. For further info ring 01463 716325.

A speaker from Community Meditation will visit the Janny's Hoose at 9.30am on 8th June.

Out of School

Busy Thursday for Merkinch youngsters

MERKINCH Primary Sports Day was due to be held on 30th May, weather allowing.

• Nursery youngsters have been visiting MPS on Tuesday mornings to acquaint themselves with the location of their educational adventures for the next few years.
• On Thursday 25th May P7 went to Aviemore to see "Choice for Life" which is designed to tackle the problems of drugs and other teenage issues.
  And on the same day Miss Simpson's P5 class went to the Highland Council's Education Committee meeting to observe local democracy in action as part of their citizenship lessons.
  Meanwhile Mrs Tracey's P2 and Mrs Sculthorpe's P2/3 are going to Abriachan in search of mini-beasts.
• Schools close on 30th June and reopens on 15th August, all except for the four-year-old nursery youngsters who don't come in until the 22nd August.