Dragonflyer
The Dragonflyer project to establish green commuter routes into Bristol in partnership with the Bristol International Flyer express bus service will be holding public meetings this month to share details of the scheme and answer questions.

Steve Tainton, Dragonflyer project manager, will make a short presentation outlining the objectives, key features and operating principles of the scheme and will also have more details of pricing and routes.

He says: "Key partners of the scheme will also be present and there will be plenty of time to ask questions, both during and after the presentation, and, of course, to sign up for membership. If you are someone who 1. Needs to travel into central Bristol, particularly for work 2. Currently uses a car to make the journey 3. Is concerned about the financial and environmental cost of running a car 4. Has trouble finding a parking space at a convenient time and place 5. Is concerned about the increasing cost of parking and park and ride schemes and the possibility of future congestion charging 6. Cares about quality of life and wants to make a contribution to solving the environmental challenges we all face then becoming a member of the Dragonflyer project will be of interest to you."

The meetings are being held on Monday February 20, 8 pm at Chew Magna Millennium Hall and Thursday February 23 8 pm at Blagdon Club. Steve says: {"This is a chance to support a local transport initiative at a time when local services are under threat."

FM 106.6 February 8 Chew Valley Radio

The radio team
On Wednesday February 8 you can tune in to your very own community radio channel. 106.6 FM will see the launch of Chew Valley Radio "the station to cater for all tastes and ages" according to its prducers, pupils of Chew Valley School.

Chew Valley Radio, broadcasting from a purpose built studio at Chew Valley School, will be on air from 7.00am through to 11.00pm. The station opens with a one day broadcast of music, interviews with influential people in the community, arts and leisure, comedy, story telling, and a host of other programmes that will interest different groups within the community.

Local artists also feature in what will be, initially at least, the first of three planned broadcasts, the next will be in the summer.

Congeratulations

The conger eel at Taste
Customers at Taste, the seafood delicatessen at Barrow Gurney, were amazed to see an enormous Conger eel for sale, fresh from the sea near Looe in Cornwall. It was one of the largest caught for several years and weighed over 100lbs before it was gutted. Taste proprietor Steve Downey said Conger eel was popular with some customers, as it held together well in cooking, and so it was good for things like curries, pies and soups. The fish had been caught on a line from the shore near Looe, and was estimated to have been 20 to 25 years old to reach the size and weight it was.

Freecycle your stuff
It's time to think about the benefits of hanging on to all that stuff, and balance them against the benefits of having the free space and the lack of clutter.

You could take it to local jumble sales or Bristol charity shops, but now Chew Valley's Go Zero team are introducing a new email based option; Chew Valley FreeCycle. You can reuse stuff you don¹t need by giving it to others in your local community, and you can get regular emails that notify you if someone just round the corner is getting rid of anything that you may be able to put to good use.

Chew Valley FreeCycle works simply by email. To give it a go just visit www.gozero.org.uk/free or send an email to LonBarfield@gmail.com

Ubley School is top again
Ubley Church of England Primary School arranged a host of musical activities at the end of last term. Children watched a performance by jazz-tap ensemble "Rhythmix" and participated in dance workshops choreographed by the group.

Families and friends joined pupils and staff for the annual nativity play at Ubley Parish Church and were delighted by the Infant Class performance of the Grumpy Sheep.

Pupils showcased their musical talents at the community Coffee Morning which included a debut performance by our school orchestra. These events were a fitting climax to a successful year for the school which was recently announced as the top performing school in the Bath and North East Somerset Primary School League Tables, a position based upon end of Key Stage 2 SAT scores and pupil valued added measures.

In 2006 we are working towards an exciting building project which will include the replacement of our old temporary classrooms and redesign of the school gardens and outdoor facilities. These new features will provide a creative learning environment for school community use. Watch this space for details of our future fundraising events! For more information about the school please contact us on 01761 462654.

Back of the Moon come back to Priddy

Back of the Moon, Scotland's premier folk band on tour in February, is playing its only date in the South of England at Priddy Village Hall on Sunday, February 19.

"I am really excited to have them back at Priddy" says organiser Peter Arnold, "as they have been such a hit when they have appeared at the Festival, and they just seem to be getting better and better".

Peter's views are shared by many others as they have just been voted Scottish Band of the Year at the Scots Trad Music Awards in December 2005.

Since forming in 2000, the band has rapidly gained a reputation for their dynamic live performances at home and abroad. The tightly woven pipes and fiddle, the intimate pairing of whistle and flute, the distinctive rhythmic force of the guitar/piano combo, the awesome three part vocal harmonies in their songs in which each unique singer takesturn at the lead.

As if this were not enough, starting off the evening is KTB, brilliant young singer/songwriter who is also a favourite at Priddy. Doors open 7.30, concert starts at 8pm, and there will be a bar and refreshments.

Tickets £8 in advance, £10 on the door (if any left). Call 01749 675562 for more info and tickets, or email hilaryra@aol.com . You can also get your tickets on-line at www.wegottickets.com, and you can check out www.backofthemoon.co.uk or www.priddyfolk.org to further whet your appetite. All proceeds to the Village Hall Rebuilding Fund.