South Molton & District Children's Centre For several months we have been working with the health visitors to develop the Birth to five Drop-in Child Health Clinic A friendly and welcoming Drop -in for all parents/carers with a child under 5 who would like to come for advice and support, discuss any issues they might have or simply meet and have a natter with other parents and their children. The clinic is at South Molton Infant School Thursday mornings between 9.30am -11.30am The drop-in is also a chance for members of the health visiting team to complete the development checks in your red book, answer any questions or concerns you might have no matter how big or small from sleeping, fussy eaters or any family issues you may like to discuss, we are here to listen and offer support. There will also be opportunities for occasional visiting speakers to discuss topics of interest, such as weaning, baby massage and first aid. We offer a relaxed and friendly atmosphere with space to include a sitting area, play area, changing area and space for developmental checks, under l' s and feeding. We hope you will feel able to relax and enjoy talking to other mums, dads, and professionals. Staff from the Children's Centre attend; to welcome you and give you an opportunity to register with the centre help with the children's play and share information about what is available in the area. For more information please contact Alison Allen 07912395213 *** Interested in becoming a Consumer Watchdog? For more information about the Consumer Watch scheme, ring 01392 381381 Alternatively you can find information and contact us via our website. Office hours Mon-Thurs 0900 to 1700. Fri 0900-1630 *** NATIONAL CONCESSIONARY TRAVEL SCHEME The new scheme will provide free off-peak travel on all registered local bus services throughout England between 0930 and 2300 on weekdays and at any time on Saturdays, Sundays and public bank holidays. If you currently have a Devonwide pass from Devon County Council, you will automatically be sent an application form for the new pass. If you do not have a Devonwide pass, you may register at the Tourist Information Centre in South Molton before April 1st. After April 1st, you will have to ring 01392 382900 for information. *** Struggling with Debt? Free debt advice on 01271 859285 barnstaple@capuk.org CHRISTIANS AGAINST POVERTY UK *** Recipe of the Month Farmhouse Paté Ingredients: 1lb unsalted, diced belly pork. 1lb chopped pig’s liver. Small, peeled and chopped onion. Crushed garlic clove and 1 oz butter. ¼ pt red wine. 1 beaten egg. Teacup milk. Rashers of streaky bacon to cover. Salt, pepper and nutmeg to taste. Sweat the onion and garlic in the butter until soft. Add the pork and liver and fry gently for 10 mins, stirring occasionally and adding a little salt, pepper and grated nutmeg. Allow to cool slightly then put in a liquidiser with red wine and reduce to a puree. Liquidise in 2 lots if too much for one go. Stir egg and milk into mixture then pack into a fireproof dish. Cover top with the a single layer of bacon and cover loosely with kitchen foil. Set in a roasting tin with enough hot water to come halfway up the side of the dish. Cook in a moderate oven (350°f, mark 3 gas or 150°c) for 1½ hours. Leave to cool in the dish then serve with crusty bread. Beryl Morgan *** Great North Devon Knit-in for North Devon Hospice Come a join us at the Age Concern Pop-in on Tuesday 19th February 2-4 pm Sponsorship forms available now from Age Concern or 01769 550645 If you can bring a pair of no 8 (4mm) needles and some 50 gram double knitting wool that would be really great! All welcome! The South Molton Friends of North Devon Hospice *** ARE YOU EX-SERVICE ? (MALE OR FEMALE) Your local branch of The Royal British Legion would like to hear from you. Drop a line to:- Colonel P.D. King-Fretts, 67, Brook Meadow, South Molton, EX36 4BN *** New car park charges
were set for North Devon Council’s car parks at a meeting of the
Council’s Executive on 8 January.
Although
there are increases planned throughout the rest of North Devon, no
increases are proposed for South Molton at the moment as this will be
looked at through the regeneration project for the town.
Call 01271 327711 for more details. *** Benefits Advice - Community Care Advice - for people over 60 Devon Law Centre helps with free expert advice on things like Checking benefits Completing benefit forms Residential Care advice Services in the community Local Appointments - Home visits - Telephone advice. Contact us for further details Ask for Stuart Toll - Caseworker for older people Phone - 01752 519794 E-mail - information@ devonlawcentre.org.uk Devon Law Centre, 3 Elizabeth Court, Whimple Street, Plymouth PL1 2DH *** DEVON COUNTRYSIDE FORUM Set up as a statutory forum under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, the Devon Countryside Access Forum is currently recruiting new members. Its role is to provide independent advice on issues associated with improving access to land for recreation and enjoyment Membership of the Forum provides an interesting and exciting opportunity to get involved in advising on policies affecting access. The Forum has fifteen members who represent a balance between land managers and those with access interests, such as walkers, cyclists, horse riders and canoeists. The closing date for applications is 29th February. Application forms, accompanying details and information can be found on www.devon.gov.uk/devon_countryside_access_ forum Or telephone 01837 810921 and leave a message. *** Help shape the future of the NHS
The Our NHS, Our future Review team has launched its public online
questionnaire, giving everybody the chance to have a say in the future
of the NHS. More than anything Lord Darzi wants his final
recommendations to be based upon the views of a broad cross-section of
patients, the public, health and social care staff. The closing date for responses is the 25 February 2008. Complete the online public questionnaire at www.ournhs.nhs.uk If you can’t fill in the questionnaire online there is a version which can be printed off from the website and mailed back to us using the freepost address on the form. Web access is available at any public Library. *** FREE Computer Training at South Molton Library ? Are computers a mystery to you? ? If you are a computer novice? You can get an introduction to the keyboard and mouse and learn the basic skills to start to use a computer. ? Enjoy discovering how to make the most of a computer. ? Sessions will be aimed at the absolute beginner and provide one-to-one help over four sessions. ? The sessions will be individually designed for you. ? If you are interested contact South Molton Library. Telephone 01769 572128 or 01769572378 or drop in to find out more details. *** Changes to Civil Parking Enforcement On 1 April 2008 significant changes take place to civil parking enforcement. This is parking enforcement undertaken by local authorities rather than the police. They can keep the revenue to invest in parking or transport. There will be two levels of penalty – a 'lesser offence' for example, overstaying briefly at a parking meter, or a 'serious offence' for example, parking on a double yellow line. The penalty amounts charged will be different. Penalties can be issued for parking alongside 'dropped kerbs' or for 'double' parking – being half a metre out from the kerb. A penalty notice can be served by post if the enforcement officer has started, but not finished, issuing it. The 50% discount period should be extended to 28 days if an informal representation is unsuccessful. Parking adjudicators are given power to 'send cases back' to local authorities. Wheel clamping is to be reserved largely for persistent offenders. If it is used in other circumstances, clamping cannot take place for 30 minutes after the penalty is incurred. *** Free Carers Training/Workshops in North Devon with St John Ambulance. Are you caring for someone at home, struggling to cope, feeling under pressure? The Course content will include an introduction to caring, safer moving and handling, First Aid at home, stress management, prevention of falls, managing continence & coping with memory loss. The course will run on 11th & 25th February, and the 3rd & 10th March, followed by a free lunch. The venue will be the Castle Centre Hall, 25 Castle Street, Barnstaple. To book a place call Denise McDonald on 01271 372881 *** DRIVING IN WINTER Driving in bad weather conditions: Before you set off take a winter emergency kit, warm clothes, a shovel etc. Clear your windscreen, windows and mirrors, check travel bulletins, don’t drive unless your journey is essential. While Driving take care at all times even if the roads have been treated. ? Be prepared for sudden changes in road conditions, avoid sudden breaking, sharp turns or sudden increases in speed, which could all make your vehicle skid. ? The best way to slow without skidding is to get into a lower gear earlier, let your speed slow down, and brake gently. If you do start to skid, take your foot off the accelerator. ? Do not brake suddenly. ? When moving off on a slippery surface use the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin. In winter conditions it can take up to 10 times longer to stop. If you begin to skid put your foot on the clutch, do not brake, steer immediately into the skid, when the car straightens, steer along the road. Drive Carefully, arrive safely. *** BIRD ‘FLU If you find dead birds involving 10 or more of the same species or from different species in the same place you should contact the Defra Helpline 08459 33 55 77, 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday. *** We’ve moved again! The OPEN GATE bereavement support group is now meeting on Tuesday afternoons from 2pm in the George Hotel, South Molton. Why not come and join us - it’s honestly not as sad as it sounds! We have men and women members who have lost partners, children, friends. We talk, cry sometimes but laugh a lot too. We arrange outings for Sunday lunch and attend other local events together. We liaise with the Hospice support group too, and helped with the ‘Light up a life’ service in South Molton before Christmas. So please pop in on Tuesdays, or to find out more phone Graham West on 01884 257482. *** JAZZ EVENT in South Molton Pete Canter’s OCTOBER QUINTET will be at the George Hotel on Saturday 23rd February, tickets £6. This dynamic new band features an explosive sax and trumpet frontline and a killer rhythm section. The music is a suite of Pete’s original jazz compositions augmented with a selection of hard-driving modern jazz and latin standards. Since their debut at the Exeter Summer Festival, the band has performed sell-out concerts around the Southwest. Tickets from Pete at lazybirdjazz@hotmail.com, or by phoning 07966 034 884 or by collection from The George Hotel www.petercanter.com *** AST Water Fitness Class Deborah Stenning runs water fitness classes on Thursdays at West Buckland school from 8–9pm and will be at the Black Cock Inn, Molland on Friday mornings from March. For information please contact Deborah on 01598 760562 or email d.d.stenning @btinternet.com *** Keep Warm-Keep Well Managing your fuel bills By following some simple energy saving tips you can reduce your bills: ? Shut outside door and close curtains at night. ? Boil only the water you need, rather than filling the kettle completely. ? Let food cool to room temperature before putting it into the fridge or freezer. ? Don’t leave appliances like television in stand-by mode - they still use electricity. Instead, switch them off properly. If you are struggling to pay your gas or electricity bill, contact the energywatch Priority Consumer Team. As well as advice on bills, energywatch can help take up complaints, help you switch suppliers, register you for free services with your supplier, and let you know about grants and benefits you may be missing out on. You can contact them by calling on 0845 688 9594 or writing to Freepost, RYLB/HJHH/THKS, Percy House, Percy Street, Newcastle NE1 4PW or emailing priority.consumers@energy watch.org.uk. Help may also be found at your Citizens Advice Bureau (01769 572342 or 01271 377077) at the Community Information Centre or Age Concern, South Molton (01768 57574160 or their helpline 0800 00 99 66), both in South Molton Square - or the Home Heat Helpline - 0800 33 66 99 (minicom 0800 027 2122) www.homeheat helpline.org
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