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February 2002

• SOCIAL - St. Matthew’s social committee have organized a “St. David’s Day Social Evening” at the church hall on Thursday 28^th February. Tickets are £1.50 at the door. All are welcome for an evening of tea, coffee, welsh cakes, bara brith and home-spun entertainment!

NEWSLETTER - The closing date for our community website competition have been extended until 28^th February 2002, to compensate for the half term holiday. The quarterly newsletter which promotes this website has already been delivered to all homes throughout the area, with extra copies at cafés, waiting rooms and library.

All residents of Treorchy, Cwmparc and Ynyswen now have until Friday to submit their entries to win “Harry Potter or Tweenies” styled materials for a children’s themed bedroom – kindly donated by Decomate Paint Shop in Bute Street.

• HEATS - Local heats take place at the Pentre Legion on Wednesday 27^th March for the Starsearch 2002 talent competition - that will lead the eventual winner to the Owen Money television programme.Entertainers of all kinds are invited to take part. Contact Neil Abber for further information about the heats on 07815 595869 or leave your message for him on 436426.

DEBATE - Audience members are invited for an evening debate at Cardiff's Techniquest, hosted by Nicola Heywood-Thomas of BBC Radio Wales on March 4th from 7.30 - 9pm. The BBC will join with the independent research-funding charity - the Wellcome Trust - for the evening, as part of their gene stories season. Admission is free from 6.30pm and audience members will receive a complimentary glass of wine and exclusive out of hours access to the centre.   

• PROTEST - A series of public meetings entitled "The Euro Takeover and Why It Must Be Halted" has been organised by the Democracy Movement and the Campaign Against Euro-Federalism. Meetings will be held at the Castle Hotel, Castle St, Merthyr Tydfil on Tues 5th March - at Twyn Gwyn Community Centre , Caerphilly on Wed 6th March - and at the Victoria Inn, High St, The Graig, Pontypridd on Thurs 7th March. All meetings start at 7.30pm -speakers will be Russell Walters and Ron Dorman.

BUDGET - Rhondda MP Chris Bryant - speaking to the local Labour Party monthly meeting in Ystrad - said he wants to see a substantial increase to NHS funding from Gordon Brown, in the Chancellor's forthcoming budget announcement. 

• STAGECAMP - Former Spice Girl Leanne Morgan - who left the girl-power group before they became famous and was replaced by Melanie C (Sporty) - is launching a 10-week term Stagecamp school at the beginning of March. Contact 029 2049 6098 or visit www.stagecamp.co.uk

ADVENTURE RACE - Marie Curie Cancer Care seeks entrants for in their Brecon Beacons Beastie adventure race for teams of two or three people. Taking place on Sunday, 3rd March race entry costs £10 or £15 per team. Contact the charity on 01884 703540 for details.

• DUATHLON - University of Wales College, Newport has organised the first Isca Duathlon involving a 3km run,20km bike ride and a final 3km run. which is aimed at intermediate competitors and beginners. The duathlon will be held on Sunday, 22nd September 2002 - phone 01633 432933.

REJECTED - 78% of South Wales Police who took part in a recent ballot - rejected the Government plans for the introduction of community wardens to back up the police service. 

• CHEFS - South Wales chefs are sought to visit local schools to promote the catering industry. Each chef would visit one school each year to help inspire young students. Contact Catherine Kelly on 029 2048 4899 or email Cathiel@springboarduk.org.uk 

HELP GROUP - A new help group for men suffering from domestic violence has been set up in Cardiff. Hostility Against Rational Men is supported by South Wales Police. For further details phone Griffith Ambridge on 029 2040 8418.

• COBBLES - A campaign to remove modern cobbled stones from an Aberdare shopping area has been launched. Visit www.accessibleaberdare.co.uk or email webmaster@accesibleaberdare.co.uk  

INCENTIVES - Up to £15,000 will be paid to newly-qualified GP's taking up vacancies in the South Wales Valleys - together with help to pay off part of medical student loans - in addition to the "£5000 Golden Hellos" announced by the National Assembly last month.

• BLOOD - The Welsh Blood Service seeks blood donors - their information line is on 0800 252266. 

COUNCIL ERROR - Merthyr Tydfil Borough Council has issued letter to all its 33 elected councillors to ban them indefinitely from acting as councillors. A code of conduct approved by the council last September was apparently not signed by members before the November 4th deadline. 

• DEVOLUTION - English regional devolution campaigners from the North East, North West, West Midlands, Yorkshire and Humber - met with Welsh Assembly officials to discover how devolution has affected Wales. First Minister Rhodri Morgan addressed devolution campaigners in Tyneside last year

GEOLOGY - The Annual General Meeting of the South Wales Geologists Association will be held at Cardiff University's Department of Earth Sciences on Saturday 16th March at 10.30am. A talk on the life habits of trilobites by Professor Richard Fortey will take place afterwards.

• WANTED - Craftsmen and women are needed for traditional furniture repairing work. Contact Andy Doran on 01934 423240 for further details.

SHOWCASE - Emerging musicians in RCT are invited to perform live at several gigs in the coming months. PA systems and expenses will be provided. Contact Debbie Jones on 01443 665451 for details. 

• BULLYING - Mental health charity MIND has released a booklet on how to deal with bullying at work. Phone 020 8221 9666 for a copy.

ADVICE - The research charity Wellbeing has produced an 18-page booklet with information about the menopause. Send an A5 sized SAE - marked Menopause Leaflet - to WellBeing, 27 Sussex Place, London NW1 4SP.

• POLLUTION - Amgen Rhondda Ltd - which runs Nantgwyddon Tip - admitted polluting a nearby watercourse after a settlement lagoon was bulldozed on the edge of the site last July.

FIRE - Firefighters were called to Kings Hall, Station Road on 14th February at 4.30pm, where the furniture store building was alight. The building was extensively damaged but no injuries were reported.

• SURGERY - Rhondda MP Chris Bryant holds a street surgery in Stanleytown on Friday 22nd February between 2 and 3pm, followed by an advice surgery at Penygraig Rugby Club from 3.30 to 4.30pm. 

TRAINING - "Silver Surfer" computer training sessions are available for the over 50's at Aberdare, Treorchy and Pontypridd libraries. For details about Treorchy library sessions, phone 01443-773204.

• STORYTELLING - Rhondda Cynon Taff Libraries have arranged monster storytelling and craft sessions for the half-term break from Monday 18th February.

SURGERIES - All surgeries with Geraint Davies AM for Rhondda are held jointly with local Plaid Cymru Councillors. Please telephone the Ystrad Office for an appointment on 01443 421691 or E-mail: geraint.davies@wales.gov.uk

Surgery Venues - Friday 22nd February 2002  Cymmer - Dai Davies Community Centre 10.00am - 10.45am Porth - Alec Jones Day Centre 11.00am - 11.45am Pontygwaith - Community Centre 12.00pm - 12.45pm Maerdy - Teifi House 1.00pm - 1.45pm

Surgery Venues - Monday 25th February 2002 Treherbert - Community Centre 9.00am - 10.45am Treorci - Youth Centre 10.00am - 10.45am

• TREORCHY WI - The meeting on the 7^th March will be our St. David’s Day “Ham and Salad Supper.” All members wishing to attend the Supper are welcome to contact a committee member. 

QUIZ EVENING - The Rhondda Baptist Network will hold a quiz evening at Providence Baptist Chapel, Woodland Terrace, Ynyswen on Thursday 28^th February at 7pm.  All are welcome to come along and enjoy the evening.

• JAZZ - Our “Jazz in the Lounge” sessions continue each month at the Park and Dare Lounge Bar. On Tuesday 26^th February, Billy Thompson will be performing – as will The Amigos and Gypsy Jazz. Contact the box office on 773112.

BED CONCERNS - Rhondda AM Geraint Davies called for a further increase in bed numbers at the new Rhondda hospital. While welcoming the rise from the planned 108 beds to 120, Mr. Davies stated people were still waiting for admittance to the current facilities at the 134-bed Llwynypia Hospital - which the new hospital will replace.

• HOMESTART - Pontypridd-based charity "Homestart" focuses on helping families and are currently seeking volunteers in the Rhondda area. Free training and support is provided - contact Homestart on 01443 406664.

NEW BOOK - Rhondda author, Sean James Cameron, is currently writing his 3rd book - concentrating on the history, pupils, staff & teachers of both Penyrenglyn Infant & Junior Schools in the Upper Rhondda valley - to be released in the Summer of 2003, just a few months after the closure of both schools. Currently a new school is being built on the former Ynysfeio Colliery site at Penyrenglyn. 

Mr. Cameron seeks past photographs of both the schools & its people, also, any cine films, video tapes, document, etc. that are connected with the schools. Former pupils, teachers, dinner ladies or school crossing attendants with a memory to share can e-mail him at seanjamescameron@hotmail.com 

A web site for this project is at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/penyrenglynschools/ and there will also be a television series to accompany the book. For further information about the author - visit the website at www.geocities.com/seanjamescameron/seanjamescameron  

• SURVEY - A recent survey by the South Wales Echo newspaper revealed that valley's folk believed the 32 month-old National Assembly's greatest failure was not securing enough Objective One funding - while it's greatest success had been the abolition of prescription charges for under 25year-olds. *Treorchy.net newsroom notes that figures based on information from WEFO (Wales European Funding Office) show that RCT Council has won grants amounting to £55 per head of population - while Bridgend Council for example, has acquired only £21 per head.

WW1 VETERANS - Karl-James Langford of the heritage group Archaeology Cymru wants veterans of WW1 to take part in his research project - an oral history of how weapons, ammunition, aircraft and trench defense works were dismantled during and after the Great War. Any veterans or relatives who can help should phone 01446 781585 or send an e-mail to karljlangford@hotmail.com 

• DIED - A former Rhondda Borough Councillor for Cymmer has died while on holiday in Gran Canaria. 80 year-old Dai Davies was laid to rest at Glyntaff Crematorium on 31st January.  His wife Eirwen is a current Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Councillor for the Cymmer Ward. 

MERGER - Governors have approved a merger between Pontypridd and Aberdare Colleges to create a "College of the Valleys". Public consultation is now underway. *Llwynypia College previously merged with Pontypridd College - to become its Rhondda Campus.

• SURGERIES - Chris Bryant MP holds street surgeries on Friday, 8th February, in Blaenllechau between 2 to 3pm - and in Maerdy between 3.30 and 4.30pm. No appointments necessary. Phone 01443 687697 for further details.

EXHIBITION - The touring exhibition - inspired by the BBC's Walking with Dinosaurs programme - arrives in Cardiff's National Gallery on March 23rd. Visitors will be able to "virtually" race with carnivorous beasts, walk amongst the dinosaurs and experience a "dino-dig" where youngsters can excavate for bones.

• TAX WORKSHOP - Charities Aid Foundation holds a full-day workshop for charity delegates and representatives in Cardiff - to show how charities can stop donators from paying tax via the payroll scheme Give As You Earn. The workshop session is on 12th February and costs £90. Phone 01732 520074 to book a place.  

CRICKET - St Fagan's Women's Cricket team seeks new members, and everyone welcome to apply - including beginners. The club holds indoor coaching sessions at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff on Sundays from 4.30 to 6.30pm. Phone 07764 335675.

• CROCODILE - The RSPCA removed a 2ft 6in crocodile from a tank in a home in Treherbert. The unlicensed caiman was discovered during a raid on the house.

TOXIC - Residents in Treherbert were warned to stay indoors after a lorry carrying ferric chloride burst into flames on the A465 near Neath - releasing a toxic cloud. 

• PAYOUT - Around 600 former employees of the Mid Glamorgan County Council - which ceased to function in 1995 - will receive a total of £250,000 in travelling expenses after RCT Council agreed the settlement after negotiation with the union Unison. 

WARNING - Two pensioners in Regent Street, Treorchy notified police about two men who called unexpectedly to their homes - on Monday 28th January between 12noon and 1pm - asking to do odd jobs. The men - described as white, dark haired, medium build, in their late 30's or early 40's - ran off when challenged by a neighbour. Phone Ton Pentre CID via the main switchboard on 01656-655555 with any information..

• VOLUNTEERS - Cardiff-based George Thomas Hospice Care charity seeks volunteers to join its team of bereavement support volunteers. Training is provided - phone 029 2048 5345 or write to Chris Thompson, George Thomas Hospice Care, 10 Ty Gwyn Road, Penylan, Cardiff. CF23 5JE.

EATING DISORDERS - Eating Disorders Awareness for carers and friends of sufferers, is highlighted this week at an event in Cardiff Central Library on Friday 8th February from 10am to 4pm. Visit www.edauk.com or phone 01443 491092.

• EXPOSED - Police seek to identify a man in a white car who exposed himself to an 8 year-old girl while she was walking along Green Meadow Terrace, Tonypandy on Friday 25th January at 3.45pm. A few days later on Tuesday 29th January at 8.25pm - a man of the same description, but now walking & wearing a black woolen hat - exposed himself to a 13 year-old girl in Mikado Street Penygraig . He is described as in his late 20's to 30's - with receding brown hair & eyes - about 5ft 6ins tall with a pointed nose and a black mark on the right side of his face. Contact Ton Pentre CID on 01443 743806.

REUNION - A reunion for members of the Welch Regiment - who served in the first battalion between 1957 & 1960 in Cyprus and North Africa - will be held on 7th March at 7.30pm in the Cardiff Arms Park lounge. Contact Victor Nicholas on 029 2033 7629. 

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