Dear All

Catching up after a brilliant holiday break….

A final plug for this event I am involved in tomorrow:  Living with Dementia in Portobello – Let’s talk about it! Saturday 25 October, 2 pm – 5 pm The Wash House Community Centre, Adelphi Grove, Portobello. All welcome. Please do join us to start the conversation over tea and cakes, about how we can work together to improve understanding, reduce stigma and explore what Portobello can do to help people with dementia live well in the community. The afternoon includes:

•        Quiz: myths and facts about dementia.

•        Talks by James McKillop and Agnes Houston, international speakers

•        with dementia.

•        Local carer’s experience.

•        Launch: ‘How you can help’ leaflet.

•        Having your say– exploring ideas for action.

•        Art exhibition and film

•        Information.

No tickets needed. Organised by the Dementia Friendly Portobello Steering Group. Contact: Teresa Straczynski, Dementia Adviser, Alzheimer Scotland at 0131 662 1204 or tstracznski@alzscot.org

25th

Portobello Library will close for repairs from Monday 27 October to Thursday 30 October.  Essential floor replacement works to be undertaken as a result of sustained damage to the floor. There will be a member of staff in the building during this closure period to assist with any enquiries from customers. Library books can be returned to any library across the city or renewed via our website www.edinburgh.gov.uk/libraries) or by phoning your local library.  Piershill (0131 529 5685) and Craigmillar (0131 529 5597) libraries will be happy to welcome any customers there for the duration of the closure. The library will reopen on Friday 31October. This will obviously affect my surgeries – below. I would be happy to arrange another convenient time and place in Portobello for anyone who wants to see me during that time.  Just phone 0131 529 3268 or 07718 666 481 to make an appointment.

Portobello High School Council’s fundraising committee want me to plug a couple of things. The committee hold events to raise money to buy resources which teachers and pupils know will make learning and teaching at Portobello High School even better.  They’ve managed to fund all sorts of things – from sports strips and equipment to make learning science and languages more engaging to dolls that help young people understand what it’s like to look  after a baby 24 hours a day!  But there’s still a long list of requests and only a few opportunities for you to contribute so please make time for this and come along.  A couple of events, one tomorrow:

  CRAFTS &

All funds raised will directly benefit the school. Teachers and pupils identify the items that will most improve their lives at PHS so your support really will make a difference!

SOUNDS & TASTE OF BOLLYWOOD

Live band & Indian meal

Fresh from the Edinburgh  Mela,  Swaryatra will perform enchanting Bollywood numbers with a touch of Indian classical music and  popular dance styles from India. Come and  find out more about this thrilling genre,  enjoy the excitement of Bollywood  and see if you can guess the western origins of some of the Bollywood hits !

Saturday 1st November 2014

7.30-10.00 (doors open from 7)

The Wash House

Adelphi Grove, EH15 1AP 

£15

Licensed Bar & Raffle

Tickets from Popeye’s, Friday Street and Cashbrokers on Portobello High St or

Say about how tables will be reserved.

All profits to Project Trust to fund Lilidh’s year in Malawi  https://www.facebook.com/LilidhsyearinMalawi

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=LilidhsyearinMalawi

To keep up-to-date with fundraising activities ‘like’ our  PHS Fundraising FB page https://www.facebook.com/pages/PHS-Fundraising/161119547255992

A lot of people are struggling to cope with the continued closure of Duddingston Road West at the rail bridge while contractors Network Rail are completing the renewal of the bridge.  Through the local office and directly I am putting pressure on them to finish this work ASAP, and to provide better signage.   Meanwhile businesses in Holyrood Business Centre are struggling to cope, like Holyrood Architectural Salvage.  Owner Ken Fowler told me: “We are continually challenged with road closures and generally just accept it as our fate but we are tiring of it and could use some local support. It was the gas board last time that shut it for months.  We regularly have it closed due to walks, marathons etc and although we support all charities and necessary work, we can’t continue ignoring things  Meanwhile, could you let everyone on your database know that Holyrood Architectural Salvage is open for business as usual and giving 10% off to all those who support us during this road closure.  They just need to visit our website and sign up for the 10% discount voucher: www.holyroodsalvage.com “.  Happy to do so!

The next Portobello Market is on Saturday 1 November. It was a wet one last month so fingers crossed for good weather and an opportunity to sit out for a while, watch the fun and blether. The Caleerie Buskers will be on site with their own special range of music, plus Karen McGeary will return with her face painting. The majority of the traders will be showing their Christmas stock so it’s a fantastic opportunity to get ahead and buy or order some of your goodies. The regular traders will be there: garden furniture, oils, organic fruit & veg and meats, fresh bread and coffee, cooking sauces, treats for your canine pals, chillies, jams & chutneys, cheeses, artisan crafts, plants and kitchen herbs. we’ll also have a new trader with artisan chocolates. See a full list of traders on the website. The Market opens at 9.30 am and runs through to 1.30pm in Brighton Park. See you there.

Consultation is set to get under way in 11 school communities across Edinburgh over the coming months as part of a new pilot ‘school streets’ initiative. A total of 31 schools wanted to take part in the pilot, which is designed to improve the environment around schools and encourage safer and healthier ways for pupils to travel to and from school. The city’s Local Transport Strategy 2014-19 contains a commitment to pilot school streets at up to five schools.  However, given the volume of interest from schools across the city, a list of ten pilot schemes covering 11 schools was drawn up, following an exhaustive selection process. This list will go before members of the Transport and Environment Committee for approval at their meeting next Tuesday 28 October, with a view to beginning consultation in the first tranche of schools next month.  The pilot schemes will prohibit traffic on streets outside or around school entrances at specific times of day.  Doing this creates a safer, more pleasant environment which promotes travel to school by walking and cycling.  Further benefits for the whole community around the school, including residents and local businesses, would include reduced congestion and decreased levels of air and noise pollution. The first schools for the pilot scheme consultation include Duddingston Primary School and St John’s RC Primary School, which are almost adjacent. Consultation for schools in the second phase is likely in early 2015 and will include Towerbank Primary School.  If the Committee agrees to proceed with the pilot, following consultation, Phase 1 could be implemented in August/September 2015 and Phase 2 in December 2015. This timetable is provisional, however, as changes may result from any objections received during the required Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) process.

Have a good weekend!

Best wishes

Maureen