The Virtual-Lancaster newsletter email comes out fortnightly to subscribers and contains the past fortnight’s news headlines and all the next fortnight’s events, as HTML links.
It’s quite long – the event listings are at the end – but it’s the best and easiest way to keep up to date and ahead of what’s happening in the Lancaster & Morecambe area.
Virtual-Lancaster.Net Newsletter: Friday 12 December 2014
This issue wishes all our readers a very merry passage through the festive season.
What’s On: www.virtual-lancaster.net/whatson
Got a story? E-mail: ed@virtual-lancaster.net or phone: 079 414 77274
Support our efforts with a donation via PayPal: http://tinyurl.com/3yfd5
Subscribe to the newsletter by emailing newsletter@virtual-lancaster.net with the word ‘subscribe‘ as the subject. (see footnotes)
Like Virtual-Lancaster on Facebook and post news and comments.
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/virt_lancaster
The next Virtual Lancaster newsletter will be in 2015 – but an updated set of events listings for the coming fortnight will be emailed to you on Wednesday 24 December 2014
Forward this newsletter to your friends as an extra Xmas treat!
LATEST LOCAL NEWSVisit the Virtual-Lancaster blog at https://virtual-lancaster.net, to comment online and subscribe to our news feed.
Click on the headlines below to read more or add your comment
Smokefree play areas plan agreed for Lancaster and Moreambe
Lancaster City Council’s Cabinet has agreed to bring in a new voluntary code to make outdoor children’s play areas smoke-free zones. Read more…
County Council Invites Views On Further Savings Options
The County Council is searching for the next round of cuts it must bring to services that are already feeling the strain, in an effort to plug a £15 million gap that has opened up in its budget cuts proposals. Libraries are again in the firing line – along with rural bus subsidies, home care and support packages for the elderly and disabled and much of the youth service.
Bizarrely, the Council’s Deputy leader and finance boss David Borrow claimed the organisation had “never closed a library“. Coun Borrow either has a short memory or has been badly briefed. In 2006 the Labour-run county council closed Caton, Warton and Hest Bank and six other Lancashire libraries, despite fierce local opposition and campaigning by local residents and councillors, supported by the Lancaster Guardian. Read more…
Have a go on the County Council online budget calculator
Somebody should. The county council is consulting on its budget proposals until 15 December 2014. Have your say at
http://www3.lancashire.gov.uk/corporate/web/?siteid=7010&pageid=43531
Re-opened Atticus Book Shop offers a “Pagan Christmas” event in aid of Indonesian animal charity
On Sunday 21st December the recently re-opened Atticus Bookshop on King Street will be transformed into a Pagan Christmas Grotto, and owner Tom Flemons tells us he’s confident it will prove an extraordinary and unforgettable even to start the holiday week.
He has turned the shop into a social enterprise, with all profits from book sales and events going to support the work of the Tasikoki Wild Life Animal Rescue Centre in Indonesia, where he worked as a volunteer. Read more…
10,000 meals generously donated to foodbank to help local people in need
Generous shoppers in Morecambe, Lancaster and Carnforth have donated an incredible 10,000 meals for people in need this winter, following the Neighbourhood Food Collection in aid of Trussell Trust foodbanks and FareShare, which took place in local supermarkets, Tesco, Asda, and Sainsbury’s. Read more…
Christmas in a box appeal
The foodbank is also running a ‘Christmas in a Box’ campaign asking people to donate a Christmas food box (or goods for one) – you can see their poster explaining all about it above and at their website http://morecambebay.foodbank.org.uk/. You can also keep up with their news on their facebook page Morecambe Bay Foodbank.
Students Occupy University House
Lancaster University House Occupation issued a public statement on 5 December and you can read it in full on their facebook page here. It begins:
“We, the occupiers of University House at Lancaster University, December 2014, have suspended our actions as the University Management have consented to enter into negotiations with LUSU and other independent members of the student body. In on-going meetings observed by student media, the issues to be discussed will include:
• the increase in fees for postgraduate and international students;
• the rise of university accommodation rent; and
• greater student involvement in University Management decision-making.
This follows direct action on Wednesday 3rd of December, which involved a group of activists occupying C floor of University House as part of a wider protest organised by a national campaign against university fees and cuts.” Read more…
Shelter from the storm
In the winter months, Christ Church on Wyresdale Road runs the city’s only open-access homeless shelter, 7 days a week from November until March. Can you make mugs of tea and chat to people? Contact the Vicar on phil.hudd@btinternet.com. http://christchurchlancaster.co.uk/
Lancaster & District Homeless Action Centre is planning their 28th Christmas Shelter in the City Centre at St Thomas’s Church on Edward Street. Once again they will be aiming to provide shelter for the homeless of Lancaster, along with breakfast, Christmas lunch and a place to sleep for 5 nights. Volunteers and donations of food, clothing, money and gifts are very welcome. You can donate at https://www.justgiving.com/ldhas/
Here are some dates you might fancy helping on for that extra-Christmassy glow:
20th December 10am – 4pm Bag packing: Booths Scotforth
26th December 2 – 5pm Collection Morecambe FC
http://www.ldhas.org.uk/Christmas-2014
Flicbait
For up to date local cinema links and day-by-day listings every week visit the
Virtual-Lancaster Cinema Page.
MORE VIRTUAL-LANCASTER.NET NEWSBLOG HEADLINES FROM THE LAST 2 WEEKS
Review: Yevgeny Sudbin at Live at LICA
Cumbria U wins sustainablity award for vehicle fleet
Festival Improv hits bring new twists to Xmas tales at the Storey
New housing development at Lancaster Leisure Park gets the go ahead
Free After Three Parking in Lancaster City Centre
A proper Winter Wonderland of festive frolics at SaltAyre
Hundreds of local disabled people hit by ‘disgraceful’ government delays in payments scheme
Funding boost for Lancashire food banks
Severe Weather Alert issued for North West’s roads
Couples can convert civil partnerships into marriages
Curious Tales set to chill at Lancaster Castle this Christmas
Lancashire Police launch ‘Special’ recruitment campaign
Scrap the car to save the planet? Lancaster Univerity lecture on sustainable transport announced
Changes to Lancaster City Council services and Christmas opening times
Lancaster – Small City, Big Story
Scotforth West Residents invited to local “Liveable Cities” Focus Group
A Victorian Christmas Festival at The Judges’ Lodgings Museum this weekend
Pensioners’ lobby targets election candidates
Lancashire schools archives now available online
Future layout agreed for Lancaster’s Charter Market
A festive feast for all the senses at Lancaster’s Historic Charter Market
Morecambe MP welcomes VAT exclusion for hospices in Autumn Statement
When will MP David Morris speak up on #VATMOSS?
Arts Society Exhibition at City Museum
Lancashire County Council’s Library Closure Denial, spends fortune on County Hall canteen
WHAT’S ON : Friday 12 December 2014 – Thursday 1 January 2015
Don’t forget to get your Xmas and New Year’s events listed asap!
We will send out an updated calendar on Christmas Eve.
Click through the links below for full event and venue details.
You can also visit www.virtual-lancaster.net/whatson to view the full calendar, with regular updates as new events are added as they come in, and you can add your own events. Enjoy!
Virtual-Lancaster Events Calendar
Weekly View Monthly View Cinema Listings
|
Thu, Dec 25 |
||
|
Fri, Dec 26 |
||
|
Footlights presents: ‘Aladdin’ at the Grand Theatre (5:30 pm) |
||
|
Sat, Dec 27 |
||
|
Footlights presents: ‘Aladdin’ at the Grand Theatre (2:30 pm) |
||
|
Jazz Cafe: Bill & Phil’s Piano Bar & Guests at the Robert Gillow (3 pm – 5:30 pm) |
||
|
Mon, Dec 29 |
||
|
Morecambe & Lancaster Indoor Bowling Club. Salt Ayre (10 am – 4 pm) |
||
|
Footlights presents: ‘Aladdin’ at the Grand Theatre (7:30 pm) |
||
|
Wed, Dec 31 |
||
|
Thu, Jan 1 |
||
View the full calendar at www.virtual-lancaster.net/whatson
You are receiving this mail because you subscribed to the Virtual Lancaster Newsletter mailing list.
Subscribe to the newsletter by emailing newsletter@virtual-lancaster.net with the word subscribe as the subject.
To Remove your address from the list , e-mail newsletter@virtual-lancaster.net with the word remove in the subject, but we hope you won’t!
If your email address bounces for 3 issues it will be automatically deleted. You can still resubscribe.
NB: Other mail to this address cannot be processed.
Got a story? E-mail: ed@virtual-lancaster.net
or phone: 079 414 77 274
Please support our efforts with a donation via PayPal: http://tinyurl.com/3yfd5
Established in 1999, the Virtual-Lancaster website is independently owned, makes no profit and is maintained by unpaid local volunteers. Read more.
It is hosted and supported by Dean Marshall Consultancy