CAITHNESS.ORG HEADLINES ARCHIVE ::  OCTOBER 2012

Tickets Available On Bus Trip To Mother Goose Panto in Eden Court
Mother Goose Panto at Eden Court

Satuday 8th December







Lifting Small Boats Out Of The Water At Wick Harbour
Lifting Small Boats At Wick HarbourLifting small Boats From The Wick HarbourSmall Boats At Wick HarbourLifting Small Boats From Wick Harbour



Coming Soon At Caithness Horizons
Robert Dick Bakery School Robert Dick Children's Bakery SessionPaper Wrappers and Herbarium Sheets

Light In The North 2012
Light in the North 2012


North Highland Young Engineers Success
North Highland Young Engineers Success
North Highland Young Engineers design, build and race electric cars in the Greenpower Challenge www.greenpower.co.uk Greenpower was started 14 years ago in Southern England but was only introduced to Scotland four years ago, in that short time NHYE have firmly established themselves as the dominant Scottish team and are now widely acknowledged as being one of the top teams anywhere in the UK; at the recent National Final held at Goodwood one of our cars finished in 3rd position. The initial perception people have of Greenpower is of the cars being little more than a few bicycle parts thrown together, in reality they are amongst the most efficient vehicles to be found anywhere in the world with teams using high tech composites for light but strong construction, onboard computers to manage power consumption and Computational Fluid Dynamics to design the most aerodynamic shape; the top cars can exceed 40mph with just half a horsepower.
UK Pro Surf Competition  - Part Of The Wave North Festival This Weekend
UK Pro Surf Competition at ThursoUK Pro Surf Competition at Wave North FestivalUK Pro Surf At Wave North FestivalSculptures at Wave North

The cold wet weather did not deter about 80 competitors at the UK Pro Surf competition yesterday.  A beach angling competition ran all day at the nearby Thurso beach.  Skate boarders and BMX bikers were also out.  Music and film shows and crafts.  The festival continues today Sunday.
Wave North Festival
The Wave North Festival returns to Thurso from 25th - 28th October this time in conjunction with the UK Pro Surf Tour. A wide programme of events is planned along with the pro surfing and junior surfing competitions being held at Thurso East and on Thurso Beach. From live music with top rated Edinburgh based band We Were Promised Jetpacks, Fife based Fatherson and local band Running with Scissors in Skinandis nightclub on Friday 26th October to a pop up art exhibition, surfing lessons, craft activities for the kids and an amazing temporary skate and bmx park being erected at Thurso Harbour with demos by pros and tuition available to local kids. The festival for the first time will be held outdoors and based at Thurso Harbour on the Saturday and Sunday with live music, outdoor film screenings and entertainment for all.
FREE BUSES Saturday and Sunday are available to take those out with Thurso to the festival and entry is free of charge.
Route 1: Dunbeath War Memorial (0850hrs) – Latheron Post Office (0858hrs) Lybster Portland Arms (0905hrs) – Wick (0932hrs) – Haster (0937hrs) - Watten Post Office (0947hrs) – Halkirk Shop, Sinclair Street (1000hrs) – (via Glengolly) - Thurso Harbour (1015hrs)
Route 2: Reiss Crossroads (0910hrs) – Sinclair Bay Hotel, Keiss (0920hrs) - Canisbay Village Hall (0938hrs) - Britannia Hall, Dunnet (0954hrs) - Castletown Drill Hall (1000hrs) - Thurso Harbour (1015hrs) Both routes depart Thurso Harbour at 1630hrs each day.
Highlights From Saturday's Game

AJG PARCELS North of Scotland Cup Final 2012 from thistlechannel.tv on Vimeo.



A Motor Cycle Hearse For Bikers Funerals Was On Show At Wick Harbour
Motor Cycle Funerals Motor Cycle Funerals


North Of Scotland Cup - Wick Academy 1 Nairn County 2
Report and Photos  - Noel Donaldson
Academy V NairnWick V NairnWick V NairnAcademy V Nairn

There were great expectations for Academy as the game kicked off at neutral Grant Street Park, Inverness, in glorious autumn sunshine, before a crowd of 1,300, the majority of whom were Scorrie supporters. Their hopes were dealt a blow when County got off to the perfect start, in the opening minutes, Robbie Duncanson finding the net at his second attempt, before the opposition had time to settle. It rocked Wick, who were unlucky not to get something for their efforts after they rallied, in a game in which both keepers were on form. The Scorries kept up the pressure in the second half and got the all-important equaliser from a goal-mouth ruck which ended with the ball being headed into their opponents' net, credit going to Craig Shearer. However, Nairn made it 2-1 in the first period of extra time, courtesy of John Cameron, extinguishing Wick's cup hopes.
Haunted Houses For Halloween In Caithness
Wick                                        Thurso                                   Castletown
Wick Players Haunted House Haunted House ThursoHaunted House CastletownHappy Halloween
                  Bats For Halloween

Well Known Wick Shop In River Street Challenging The Recession - Driftwood
DriftwoodDriftwoodDriftwood

A change of name and more stock than ever is another sign that Wick shops are not content to lie down to the recession.  Driftwood is the new name of the store run by A & W Geddes in River Street near Mackays Hotel in Wick.  Lots of new stock and promises of Christmas offers coming soon will make it a must see for shoppers looking for gifts in coming weeks.

Poundstretcher Opening In Wick on Friday 26th October 2012
Poundstretcher Opens in Wick on 26 October 2012
The new Poundstretcher store is opening in Wick on Friday 26th October. Refurbuishment is almost completed and goods willbe arriving shortly to fill the store.  The store is sited in the premises of the former Haldanes store at the car park, riverside in Wick.

Made In Caithness Stocking Up For Christmas
Made in Caithness
The craft and gift shop in Wick that stocks a wide range of hand made items is gearing up for Christmas.  Pop in to see another business in Wick challenging the gloom and doom about the end of High Streets. They have a range of goods including Oil, Acrylic and Water colour paintings, Photographs, Cards, Wall hangings, Wood carving, Woodturning, Jewellery, Various Knitted Products, Cashmere and Felted Scarves, Hand turned pens, wooden toys, Pottery. Glass, and much, much more. Many items are one off exclusive items.  - Spend it in Caithness

Walking At Wick - A Meander From March Road to the Harbour
Walking Round Wick Walking Round Wick Walking Round Wick Walking Round Wick


Highland Council Sale of Redundant Properties
Brora Offices of Highland Council up for sale
The Highland Council is seeking offers for the sale of surplus Council buildings. This includes a village hall, a former care home, a former school, an office building, a workshop garage and a house.


Camster Wind Turbines Moving From Wick Harbour
Wwind Turbines at Wick Harbour Camster Wind Turbines At Wick HarbourCamster Wind Turbines at Wick HarbourCamster Wind Turbines on the move

E.ON's Camster wind farm
is in the process of receiving the delivery of 25 Vestas V80 2MW wind turbines. They began to arrive at Wick Harbour at the weekend and are now being transported by road in small convoys. Further boats will be arriving with more turbines in the next few days. Construction at the site began November 2011 and turbines are due for delivery to the site from Monday 8 October.  The wind farm is situated between Lybster and Watten and is capable of generating up to 50MW of electricity, enough power for up to 35,000 homes and is currently planned to be generating clean, green electricity by June 2013......more



Bill Sees Tiniest Geocache on Forth and Clyde Canal Walk
Tiny Geocach on Forth and Clyde Canal Forth and Clyde Canal at Achinstarry Basin Forth and Clyde Canal Forth and Clyde Canal Forth and Clyde Canal - Swans

With Geocaching about to take off in Caithness and other northern places with the launch of the "Haggis Trail" of geocachesOver 1000 new caches have been hidden for people to find.  Last week Bill saw one of the smallest around on a walk along part of the Forth and Clyde CanalThe caches come in all sizes and shapes but are usually containers with things inside and often have notebooks for  people to sign and leave messages about their visit.  It is great hobby that is growing worldwide and now the north including Caithness will have many new ones for anyone to find if they know how.  The Haggis Trail has about 1200 miles  and around 3500 caches already in placeTo find out more about geocaching go to www.geocaching.com  The new trail will have launch in Wick on Friday at the Nethercliffe hotel at 7.00pm for anyone who wants to find out more from local experts.  It is great way to get out and see the countryside and kids as well as adults can take part as some walks are very short and caches are in many different places from the easy to hard to get to.  A second meeting will take place on Saturday at the Norseman Hotel 7.00pm for experienced geocache people to exchange their stories.
Restored Crane Was Once At Wick Harbour 1880 - 1925
Hopeman Crane Restored
A hand-cranked crane built by Bowser and Cameron of Glasgow in 1859 has been restored and put back on display in Hopeman Harbour, Morayshire. The crane was first used in preparing cargo at ports on the Clyde, and then in 1880 it was purchased by the Wick Harbour Board for use in the Herring fishing industry, before being moved to Hopeman Harbour around 1925.For the next 50 years it was used for a variety of lifting duties until it was pensioned off. It then remained on display as a historic artefact. Finally during Hopeman's 200th anniversary celebrations in 2005 it was decided to renovate the crane. The restored crane is back in place overlooking Hopeman Harbour, note the variable counterweight.

What's On At The Pictures - Pulteney Cinema In Wick Offers A Choice of Films In Coming Weeks
Pulteny Cinema - Wick
Check out Whats Showing at The Pultney Centre in Wick over coming weks.  Tiered seating and a great new sound system make for great viewing of the films on offerAn amazing �2 only per ticket and take your own sweeties and you will not find a cheaper place to see films almost anywhere.  So why not take the family - it won't break the bank in Wick.
Check out -
Spooky Buddies, Snow White and The Huntsman, Puss in Boots, Rock of Ages, Brave, Men in Black 3, The Lorax, Fast Girls, Top Cat, The Amazing Spiderman, Arthur Christmas, New Years Eve.

Living Wage For Council Employees By April Next Year
The lowest paid employees of The Highland Council will benefit from the introduction of a �7.20 an hour wage from April next year. The national UK minimum wage from 1st October is �6.16 per hour.  Members of the Council's Finance, Housing and Resources Committee today agreed to introduce the Scottish Living Wage by applying a living wage supplement to all employees currently paid less than �7.20 per hour to bring them up to �7.20 per hour from 1 April 2013.........The cost of introducing the living wage for the Council is estimated at �322k per annum. This includes pension and National Insurance costs.

"Fit's in 'e Coorier" Today From Doanalsin's Diary
Noel Donaldson
Nuclear Police Unhappy At Dounreay - The Haggis Highway Geocaching Trail To Caithness
New Wolfburn Distillery - New Health Partnership - Artist Gets Queens Diploma - John Swinney In Thurso Modern Apprenticeships - Thrumster Railway Station as Heritage Venue - Newtonhill Community Woodland

Got an idea for Dunnet sculptures? Artists invited to create and install two
HIGHLAND Council’s Planning and Development Service
is looking for artists to create and install two sculptures at locations in the Dunnet area of Caithness. As part of a wider environmental improvement project, the Council is inviting expressions of interest from artists for the design and fabrication of interpretive sculptural artworks for a site by the Seadrift Centre on Dunnet Bay and the Easter Head viewpoint at Dunnet Head in Caithness. The Dunnet Bay commission is for a gateway artwork to emphasise the dune path linking the parking area to the shore. This piece of artwork is expected to relate to the Wild Coastal Trail and the local history of the area. The Dunnet Head commission is for artwork to be located 400m from Dunnet Head Lighthouse on a site on the skyline which is approached by foot. This work will relate to the WWII Radar installations in the area and the maritime navigation of the waters of the Pentland Firth.
Highland mums urged to use free milk, fruit and veg scheme
Healthy Start For Mums
Some mums and mums-to-be in the Highlands are missing out on a "fantastic" scheme which gives them free milk, fruit and vegetables. Healthy Start is a UK Government initiative to improve the health of pregnant women and families on benefits and tax credits. Those eligible get vouchers which can be exchanged for liquid cows' milk, infant formula and fresh and frozen fruit and veg. Free vitamins for pregnant and breastfeeding women and young children eligible for the scheme are also available. Vouchers valued at �3.10 are payable to pregnant women eligible for the scheme and to some mums with children under four, while those eligible with children in their first year can get �6.20 vouchers.

Wick Woodland With Community Spirit
Wick Community Woodland
The new Newtonhill Croft Woodland established by the Forestry Commission for Scotland on the outskirts of Wick is coming together with help from the local community who have played a vital role in shaping the new site. Several projects have recently reached completion and have enhanced the woodland site for enjoyment by the local community. The Highland Council Countryside Rangers have supported projects with the Friends of Newtonhill to provide some useful facilities at the new community woodland.


Scottish Water Launches Water Efficiency Videos
Water SavingScottish Water has launched three new water efficiency videos to raise awareness of water use around the home by our customers. Water is a precious resource and a lot of energy is used by Scottish Water to treat and then pump it to homes. Although we are fortunate to have considerable stocks of water in reservoirs across Scotland it is always wise to save it where we can in the interest of the environment.

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