WWF’s Earth Hour – 27 March 2010, 8.30pm

Wrexham Council is signing up to the WWF [World Wide Fund for Nature] Earth Hour campaign on Saturday 27 March for the second hear running. The Council’s involvement has helped Wales be one of a record breaking 92 countries worldwide to sign up to the global initiative to show they want action against climate change. It also links into the Council’s Priority of Reducing Carbon Emissions and Energy Use.

Counties can monitor their individual progress on a new interactive Earth Hour map. As more people sign up to switch their lights off, they can see how their locality is performing and encourage their friends and family to join them in helping ensure their county stands out.

All you have to do is to turn off your lights for one hour at 8.30pm and be one of the billion people taking part around the world.

It’s a great way to have some fun and to think of different ways of lighting your home for that hour – what about hosting a romantic candlelit dinner party or playing hide and seek in the dark!

In 2009, millions of individuals in 4,088 towns and cities from over 80 countries took part in Earth Hour – to demonstrate their concern about climate change and the future of our planet to world leaders. 800 iconic landmarks around the world switched off their lights for one hour and transformed the global skyline in a dramatic call for action. Last year in Wales nearly 70 per cent of all local authorities signed up together with over a 100 schools, and Welsh iconic landmarks such as Wales’ Millennium Stadium, Caernarfon Castle and the National Library for Wales in Aberystwyth switched off.

However you choose to support WWF’s Earth Hour its vital to make your support count so make sure you sign up at wwf.org.uk/earthhourwales or text EARTH* to 80010.

Official opening of Wrexham Library

Residents in Wrexham are encouraged to be part of the official opening of the refurbished Wrexham Library.

At 12.30pm on 22 March. Ruth Jones of Gavin and Stacey will cut the ribbon and declare the library open. Not only does this mark the first time the new look library will be on show, it also marks a week of fun and free activities.

Take a look at the list below and come along to find out more about what your library can offer you.

Monday 22 March:
Grand opening with Ruth Jones. Take a look at the refurbished library and learn about the new BFI Mediatheque film and TV ‘jukebox’, free wi-fi access, self-service issue kiosks, improved disabled access, first floor community art gallery and refreshed book, DVD and audio stock.

Tuesday 23 March:
One of the exciting new features of the newly refurbished Wrexham Library will be the BFI Mediatheque – a ‘jukebox’ selection of over 1500 films and television programmes spanning the 20th century, most of which are not available anywhere else. All will be free to view at the click of a mouse. There will be a special preview of the Mediatheque on Tuesday, 23 March, when curators from the BFI will be on hand to guide you through the collections. You don’t need to book – just come to the Library between 11.00am and 6.00pm to see this exciting new resource.

Wednesday 24 March:
A New Chapter – To celebrate the reopening of Wrexham Library, there will be two literary events on Wednesday, 24 March. The Welsh language event at 2.30pm will feature Grahame Davies, Aled Lewis Evans and Gwynne Williams. The English language event at 7.00pm will feature Gareth Roberts and Holly Howitt. All participating authors are from the Wrexham area and both events are free.

Friday 26 March:
Free computer taster sessions will be held at Wrexham Library to introduce customers to computers, the internet and family history on the internet. Call on 01978 202090 to reserve a free place – and take advantage of our brand new PCs!

All of the above events are completely free of charge. It will also be a great way to find out more about the library and to see the old favourite and the brand new services in their newly refurbished home.

Those with books to return or renew now can use the temporary library on Chester Street although all other library services are suspended until the refurbished library opens.

For more information about the library or any of these events, please call the library on 01978 292090.

Benefit Cheats Prosecuted by Wrexham Council

Two benefit cheats have been successfully prosecuted by Wrexham Council in Wrexham Magistrates Court.

John F Harvey, of Hall Street Penycae was fined £115 and £250 costs after his case was proved in his absence. Mr Harvey was offered an alternative Sanction but declined that sanction and as a result his case was referred for prosecution. He had been paid £421.40 housing benefit that he was not entitled to receive.

In a second case Sharon Morgan, of Penywaun, Chapel Lane, Chirk, Wrexham was sentenced to a 12 months Conditional Discharge and ordered to pay £250 costs. after failing to declare to the Council’s Housing Benefit Department that she had worked additional hours and failed to promptly report this change in her income. As a result Miss Morgan was overpaid £1157.87 in housing benefit.

Mr. Tudor Williams of Tudor Williams and Co. prosecuted on Wrexham Council’s behalf at both hearings.

Anyone who suspects someone of fraudulently claiming benefits that they are not entitled to are advised to contact Wrexham Council’s hotline in complete confidence on 01978 292728 or by e-mail on stampoutfraud@wrexham.gov.uk.

Easter Waste Collections To Be a Day Earlier on First Week of Holidays

Easter will soon be here and Wrexham Council are asking residents to check their bin stickers to make certain they don’t miss any collections. The first week of the holidays collections will be a day earlier and the second they will be a day later.

Easter bank holidays this year are on Friday 2nd April and Monday 5th April. The changes to the collections however begin on Saturday 27th March. Collections on this day will be for those households who would have had their waste collected on Monday 29th under normal operations.

The remainder of this week will mean that all collections are a day earlier.

The following week collections commence on Tuesday 6th April and for the remainder of this week collections will be a day later ending with Friday 9th being collected on Saturday 10th April.

Cllr David Bithell, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said:

“Having a missed bin collection is very frustrating and I urge householders to take a few moments out to make sure they are aware of how the bank holidays will affect them.”

Heritage events move out into the community

People interested in local history are invited to a free talk about one of Wrexham’s hidden gems. Wrexham Heritage Forum will hold its first meeting of the year at Church House, located on the Green in Gresford, on Tuesday, March 23 at 7pm, with local expert Sue Kelly delving into the history of this fascinating building.

The forum will be holding its meetings at community venues across the borough this year while its traditional home – Wrexham Museum – undergoes refurbishment.

Church House opened as a Victorian school in the late 1800’s and Sue has been researching some of the history of the building with local residents. The talk will look at how this beautiful house has adapted through the ages and a guided tour will be included.

Future talks include:

• Reflections of Sacred Space – June 17 at 7pm at St Mary’s Church Hall, Chirk.

• David Lloyd George – from backbencher to Prime Minister – September 16 at 7pm at Plas Pentwyn, Coedpoeth.

• The history of Coal Mining in Wrexham – incorporating real stories of ex- miners – December 2 at 7pm at Llay Miners Welfare Institute.

Everyone is welcome to attend and all talks are free.

To book or for further information, contact Karen Harris at Northern Marches Cymru on 01978 298383.

Wrexham Heritage Forum is supported by the Community Heritage project. The project has received funding through the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-13, which is funded by Welsh Assembly Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

Work Starts at Darland

Building work on a new science block and two ICT rooms has started at Darland School in Rossett.

The new building, due for completion by January 2011, will house six science laboratories and two ICT rooms. The start of works mark the first stage of a major rebuilding and refurbishment programme at Darland

As well as boasting the latest learning facilities, the new block has been designed along ecological lines, involving natural heat storage and rainwater harvesting. Adjacent to the building site, the school’s Eco Group are currently working on a new ecology field site, where students from the school can engage in fieldwork as part of their science lessons.

To celebrate the start the school held a “sod cutting” ceremony. In attendance were Peter Agnew Headteacher, Ashley Rogers, Chair of Governors, Nick Bateman, County Architect, Peter Waltham Director of Harry Faircloughs and Peter Isted, site manager. Also attending the ceremony were Tomos Hughes, Head Boy, Jessica Roberts, Head Girl and School council members, Miriam Nemmaoui, Adam Moysen and Perry Shoemark.

Interviewed at the ceremony, the Headteacher Peter Agnew, said,

‘Having the right learning environment is crucial to getting the best out of our students. While we already have a highly talented staff who are making a real impact with our Accelerated Learning approach, we are looking forward to the additional opportunities for enhancing learning which will come with these modern facilities.’

The new facilities and refurbishment works are part of a multi million pound investment into three secondary schools in Wrexham, the Maelor in Penley, Darland, and Bryn Alyn in Gwersyllt.

Work on the other schools will see the Maelor School having a new sports hall and associated facilities and the long awaited remodelling of a new library. At Bryn Alyn work has already started on a two storey science suite and IT facility. The former labs will also be refurbished for general class room use.

When Your Heart Rhythm Goes Wrong

Dr Johan Waktare, Consultant Electrophysiologist from Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital (formerly The Cardiothoracic Centre), will give a talk entitled “When Your Heart Rhythm Goes Wrong”. This will take place in the Wrexham Medical Institute (next door to the Maelor Hospital) at 7.30pm.

With up to 2% of the population suffering from heart arrhythmia problems, this event will be of particular interest to patients and their families and carers, as well as health service staff, medical and nursing students and anyone with an interest in medicine and science. Dr. Waktare will give a laypersons overview of how the heart electrics work and some of the modern treatments that Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital offers. Topics will include pacemakers to correct slow heart rhythms, curative “RF Ablation” procedures for rapid heart rhythms and ICDs (implantable defibrillators) which reduce risks for patients at risk of dangerous heart rhythm disturbances.

The event will conclude with questions from the audience answered by a panel including arrhythmia nurses from the Wrexham Maelor Hospital. The event has been organised by Wrexham Health Support Groups in conjunction with Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Wrexham Health Support Groups is a new umbrella organisation that has been set up to coordinate the work of a number of local health organisations with the aim of promoting health-related events for people in the Wrexham area and acknowledging and supporting the work of the medical profession.

Venue: Wrexham Medical Institute Date: 17/03/2010 Time: 7.30 PM – 9.30PM DOORS OPEN AT 6.30 PM

Contact Gwyndaf Owen on 01978 262955 or Email browen@tiscali.co.uk. FREE.

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Dancing Dragonflies at Nant Mill

Make a simple dragonfly from willow and watch it dancing in the wind. All ages with an adult From 1.30pm – 3pm. Cost £1.75. Nant Mill Visitor Centre, Rhosberse Rd, Coedpoeth, Wrexham, LL 11 3BT. Tel: 01978 752772. Email countryparks@wrexham.gov.uk.

Mothers’ Day Celebration

A Celebration for Parents & Families of Mothers Day with special participation by the children. The Divisional Youth Officer Mr Core van der Woulde will be the special guest. At the Parish Hall, Coedpoeth today at 11am. Contact Major John Howarth (R) on 01978 365699 or Email jan.howarth@talktalk.net. Free entry. Find more events at http://www.wrexhamevents.co.uk.