York police are investigating the theft of a valuable diamond ring.

It was stolen at around 3.30pm on Friday 25 May 2012, from a car parked at Heworth Golf Club on Muncastergate in York. (more…)

The Ward Councillors are recommending that the – now very limited – 2012 Ward Committee budget is spent as follows:

Friends of Chapmans Pond Funding for ongoing maintenance of Chapmans Pond (Can be done if given in a grant) £580 (41 residents votes)

Bingo Club Contribute to room hire for the Elderly Persons bingo club at Moor Lane Youth Club (Can be given as grant) £500 (39 votes)

Friends of Acomb Wood A grant to the Friends of Acomb Wood, for an information notice board. £500 (32 votes)

Woodthorpe After School Club A Grant to Woodthorpe after school club to subsidise places and purchase new play equipment £975 (23 votes)

St Edwards Playgroup A grant to St Edward’s playgroup for 5 pre-school sessions a week £975 (22 votes)

Rising Stars A fund for Rising Stars to help with activity costs, trips and equipment £500 (18 votes)

Dringhouses Dance Group A grant to Dringhouses Dance Group to provide outings and contribute to running costs £400 (17 votes)

Police are urging residents to be on their guard following a spate of burglaries in the York area.

York police arrested two men in the early hours Monday 11 June following a burglary in York Road, Haxby.

Police received a call just after midnight after the householders discovered the break-in. Officers were dispatched to the scene and arrested two suspects nearby. (more…)

The shortlist of books for City of York Council’s first ever Children’s Book Awards have been released today (Monday 11 June).

The Children’s Book Awards were launched in March, when children under the age of 14 were invited to nominate their favourite picture and story books. The shortlist of the five favourite books in each category has now been announced.

Shortlisted in the ‘picture book’ category are: (more…)

With tickets for the Olympic Flame entertainment spectacular on Tuesday 19th June now available from Libraries, the City of York Council has announced that over 260 local people have signed up to ensure crowds watching the Olympic Torch on its journey through York stay safe and enjoy the experience.

The council and employee-volunteering charity York Cares have been working together to enlist the help of local people for the Torch’s visit to York. (more…)

3 organisations in York are to benefit from the latest Lottery awards. They are:

• Vale of York Environment Group £9,875: This is a project by a voluntary and community organisation in York. The organisation will use funding to manage a series of family nature walks and events to be delivered by BTCV in York. This will reduce isolation and enable integration among the families through outdoor activities.

• Strensall with Towthorpe Parish Council £6,720: This is a project by a parish council in Strensall, York. The organisation will use funding to erect fencing around the children’s play area. This will enable them to increase the safety of children.

• St Paul’s Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School £3,690: This is a project by a primary school in York. The organisation will use funding to develop a recently donated allotment plot into a community garden for children at the school and the wider community. This will enable opportunities for them to grow vegetables and learn about nature and the environment.
Some 62 groups in Yorkshire are sharing nearly £500,000 of funding this month from the Big Lottery Fund’s Awards for All programme, with several of the groups using their awards to provide fun activities for children and young people to enjoy.

With the August opening of the York Sport Village at Grimston Bar getting close, residents are being kept in the dark about casual use charges. The Sports Village website www.york-sport.com is currently touting for members but is silent about the arrangements for “walk up” use.

The need for affordable prices was one of the conditions of the Council’s £2 million grant to the project which replaces the former pool at the Barbican.

Currently the Sports Village is offering a pre opening membership fee of £39.95 per month (concessions £36) which is broadly in line with other gyms in the area although the swimming pool will be by far the largest in the City.

The £9 million facility, which is a joint venture between the Council, York University and Sport England, includes:
• . Eight-lane swimming pool
• . Floodlit outdoor full size 3G football pitch and three five-a-side pitches
• . 120-station fitness suite and three studios for classes
• . Spa facilities

Energise

Meanwhile work is starting on a further expansion of the Energise sports centre on Cornlands Road. The gym area will be doubled providing space for more classes and a 50% increase in the number of machines. Members get access to gym, swim and classes and can have individual exercise plans.

Fitness suite membership is available for £33 a month with casual admission charges (with YorkCard) from £4-80. The swimming pool charge is £3.65.

A 3D “walk round” of the new facilities can be found here http://tinyurl.com/Energise-Upgrade

click to enlarge

Two York Council houses have been valued at over £400,000 according to figures issued by the Local Authority.

More typically though over 90% of homes have been valued at less than £150,000.

York has 7745 Council house and flats with an estimated total value of over £800 million.

The Government recently announced plans to offer council tenants, wishing to purchase their homes, discounts of up to £75,000, arguing that the discount will help encourage “strong families and stable communities”.

Families could receive a 35% discount after five years’ residency, with an extra 1% for each additional year, up to a maximum of £75,000.

Tenants in flats will get 50% off after five years, with 2% added yearly. The money raised from sales will go towards building more social housing.

City of York Council is today marking the start of Food Safety Week by encouraging consumers to be thrifty with food, whilst staying safe.

This year Food Safety Week is promoting food safety on a budget. New research published by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) shows that some people are taking more risks with food safety as they try to save money and make their food go further.

The research showed that 97 per cent of those questioned believed the cost of their typical shopping basket has gone up significantly in the last three years, with half of these trying to make better use of leftover food. However, some people are ignoring ‘Use By’ dates more than they used to, while others are keeping leftovers for longer than the recommended limit of two days in the fridge. (more…)

A number of Apprenticeships are being offered by the City of York Council. Details can be found on the national web site http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/

What are Apprenticeships?
As employees, apprentices earn a wage and work alongside experienced staff to gain job-specific skills. Off the job, usually on a day-release basis, apprentices receive training to work towards nationally recognised qualifications. Anyone living in England, over 16 years-old and not in full-time education can.
Apprenticeships can take between one and four years to complete depending on the level of Apprenticeship, the apprentices’ ability and the industry sector. The minimum salary is £2.60 per hour (from 1st October 2012 will change to £2.65 per hour); however, many apprentices earn significantly more.

Who are they for?
Apprenticeships are open to all age groups above 16years-old whether you are just leaving school, have been working for years or are seeking to start a new career. You just need to be living in England and not taking part in full-time education.
There may be different entry requirements depending on the Apprenticeship and the industry sector. However competition for places with employers can be fierce, so you will need to show that you are committed, and aware of your responsibilities to both yourself and the company who would employ you. You also need to be happy to work as both part of a team and individually, and be able to use your own initiative.

There are some unlikely vacancies being advertised by the York Council.

see list here (more…)