FREE: YORK RESIDENTS FREE WEEKEND SATURDAY 5 MAY 2012

Opening time: normal house opening hours

Location: Fairfax House, Castlegate, York YO1 9RN

York residents are invited to visit Fairfax House free of charge for one weekend only. This special opportunity is being offered because of the closure of the House during the York Residents’ Festival in February. Residents will need to show a valid York Card to gain entry.

For tickets contact Fairfax House on 01904 655543 or call in during House opening hours.

Two new free sports programmes for young job seekers are being launched by City of York Council. It’s the first time a free fitness programme for unemployed people aged 16 to 25 will be run in York.

Football sessions and Zumba dance classes have being set-up to support young people in a fun and friendly environment, while they’re looking for work. The new classes which are funded by Sportivate, start week beginning 14 May, and will be running for six weeks, at York RI Club in Acomb. Zumba classes take place on Tuesdays 11.45am-12.45pm, Football sessions run Wednesday 1pm-2pm.

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The Olympic Torch Relay is coming to York on 19 and 20 June 2012. The route will start at the Askham Bar park and ride site and runners will proceed down Tadcaster Road.

The Torch Relay is the one part of the Games that goes across the UK, so it’s the perfect opportunity to showcase the people, communities and scenery that make the UK great. In York, with our York 800 celebrations in full swing, it will collectively be our moment to shine in the Olympic Torch light.

The Olympic Flame is lit at the Temple of Hera, at Ancient Olympia in Greece. It is created uniquely for each Winter and Summer Games by focusing sunlight in a parabolic mirror. At this point, it is the only place in the world where the Olympic Flame is alight. It then travels round Greece for seven days before being passed to the UK, where it begins the Relay in Land’s End.
The Torch arrives in the UK on 18 May 2012 and the Relay starts the next day from Lands End.
The Flame will travel for 70 days – 63 days around the UK and the final seven days around London.
The Torch will cover approximately 8,000 miles across the UK, through Torchbearing and travelling in convoy mode.
There will be 8,000 Torchbearers who will carry the Torch for approximately 300 metres each.

Olympic Torch Relay evening celebration locations – Yorkshire
Mon 18 June: HULL
Tue 19 June: YORK
Sun 24 June: LEEDS
Mon 25 June: SHEFFIELD
Tue 26 June: CLEETHORPES

Evening celebration, York
The early evening event in York will be on 19 June 2012 at York Racecourse on the Knavesmire. As part of the early evening celebrations, we will be co-ordinating opportunities for residents to try out new sports or games activities. More information will be shared nearer the time as much of the event will be presented by LOCOG’s presenting partners (see below).

If you intend coming along to the evening celebration the organising partners would appreciate some idea of numbers, how you are getting there and where you are coming from? http://www.yorkgold2012.co.uk/register.php

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Four men at the centre of a large-scale theft from a major insurance company have been forced to hand back the profits of their crime.

John Michael Taylor, Stephen Paul Spellacy, Peter Harrington and Keith Swift who were part of a gang of 14 people who stole £1.4million from Aviva in York have been ordered to repay almost £500,000.

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Visit York, the City’s Tourism Agency, is to be asked to stimulate a 5% pa increase in “tourism earnings”– together with a 2% boost in tourism jobs – in the City, under a plan released by the Council.

Visit York will be given a grant of £272,310 a year under a proposal which will be considered next week.

A service level agreement with the organisation sets out expectations on both sides.

Amongst the targets proposed are a 1% increase each year in visitor satisfaction and a requirement for 90% of members of the organisation to be satisfied with the services provided.

A 5% increase in the numbers attending the Visitor Centre is anticipated.

Business tourism is targeted to increase by 5% with at least 6 major national and/or international conferences to be held in the City each year.

http://tinyurl.com/York-Tourism-Plan

York police are appealing for information following a theft from an art gallery in the city centre.

Two bronze figurines were stolen between 12pm on Saturday 7 April and 10am on Thursday 12 April 2012, while the gallery was open to the public.

The figurines of a man and a woman are made of solid bronze and stand 15 to 20cm in height. The pair is valued at £1,360.

PC Nicola Manning, of York Safer Neighbourhood Team, said:
“I urge anyone who may have information about the theft or knows where the figurines are now, to contact the police or Crimestoppers straight away.”

Anyone who can help the police with their enquiries is asked to contact York police on 101, press option 2 and ask for Nicola Manning.

Or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting reference number 12120058209

The Police have issued the following advice:

“Most callers at your door will be genuine. However, some are bogus, whose aim is to get inside your home to steal from you.

Bogus callers may pose as water, electricity or gas-board workers, council workers or even police officers so they can steal money or property from your home. You can prevent this type of crime if you take precautions.

To reduce the risk of becoming a victim of this crime, remember the following four steps:
•LOCK all doors – even when you are at home
•STOP before you open the door, ask them who they are
•CHAIN– always use a door chain or spy hole
•NOT sure who they are? Don’t open the door!

ALWAYS ask the caller for their identification, and check it, before letting them in. Use the phone number in the phone book, not the one on their identity card.

Remember
A genuine caller will happily wait outside while you check on them by calling their organisation and or calling a family member or neighbour.

If you feel threatened by a caller, you must ring the police on 999″.

The Environment Agencies latest bulletin 06:37 on 30 Apr 2012 says “The flood alert for the Upper River Ouse remains in force. The current level in York is 2.48 metres or 9 foot 10 inches and is currently rising. Levels are expected to peak in York sometime this afternoon at around 3m. We will continue to monitor the situation closely”.

The web cam can be found at http://www.farsondigitalwatercams.com/live-webcams/north/Ouse/York/# for anyone wishing to monitor river levels from their home.

Love’s Labour Lost 1/5 May Tues/Sat Theatre Royal

Ebor Lecture 2nd May Wed 7:00pm Minster by Mr Will Hutton

Cirque du Ciel’s Shanghi 2/3 May Wed/Thurs Grand Opera House

Dust off your rackets 2nd May Wed 10:30am Rowntree Park http://yortime.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/dust-off-your-rackets.html

Fun Run 2nd May Wed 6:00pm York Racecourse York St John University is hosting its annual fun run http://yortime.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/york-st-john-fun-run-or-walk.html

10cc in concert 3rd May Thurs Barbican Not only were 10cc makers of some of the greatest hits of the 70’s, but they are currently one of the most exciting live bands in the country!

Paul Merton 4th May Fri Grand Opera House “Out of my head”

Northern Spirit Singers 5th May Sat 11:00am Minster

Baroque Day 5th May Sat 12:30pm Early Music Centre

Peppa Pig’s Treasure Hunt 5th & 6th May Sat Barbican Following the incredible sell-out success of Peppa Pig’s Party, Peppa is back with a brand new show featuring true to life puppets, perfect singalong songs and a new story that will charm and delight all her fans. Full sail! Ahoy! Arrrrr!

Sing-a-long-a ABBA 5th May Sat Barbican

Jimeoin: Lovely 5th May Sat Grand Opera House

Scarecrow festival 5th/7th May Haxby Methodist Church

Gala Day 6th May Sun 10:00am Little Knavesmire http://yortime.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/hamilton-panthers-fc-gala.html

Cello Recital 6th May 3:00pm Sun Middlethorpe Hall Cello Recital and Afternoon Tea

Nick Fletcher 7th May 2:00pm Mon Minster

Lunasa 7th May 7:30pm Mon Early Music Centre Lúnasa are internationally acknowledged as being the finest traditional Irish instrumental band of recent times, and one of the hottest Irish acts around today

Steel Magnolias 7/12 May Mon/Sat Grand Opera House

Providence Singers 9th May Wed 2:00pm Minster

Camille O’Sullivan—Feel 9th May Wed Theatre Royal

Bankers, Bogs & Chocs 9th May Wed 10:30am Cycle centre, Wellington Road http://yortime.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/bankers-bogs-and-chocolates-guided.html

Festival of New Music 9th/13thMay Wed/Sun University

Organ Promenade 11th May Fri 1:15pm Minster (weekly)

Birmingham Royal Ballet 11/12 May Fri/Sat Theatre Royal

Summer Crafts market 12th May Sat Parliament Street A special market in York showcasing the best in crafting from in and around the city

York Guildhall Orchestra 12th May Sat Barbican

Service your bike 12th May Sat Oaken Grove Community Centre COST: £65 Whether you need to strip down your gears or braking system, build and repair wheels or just do a general service, we have a course to cover it all plus much more

From Monks to Masons 12/13th May Sat/Sun Explore York Library Learning Centre http://yortime.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/from-monks-to-masons.html

Martin Taylor/Alan Barnes 13th May Sun 7:30pm Early Music Centre

Welly workout 14th May Mon 1:00pm West Bank park http://yortime.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/welly-workout.html

Never too late to learn 12/19th May Various Adult learners week http://www.york.gov.uk/education/Adult_and_community_education/events/

Ragazze Pazze 15th May Tues 11;00am Minster

Henry IV 15/18 May Tues/Fri Theatre Royal

Family History 15 & 25 May Tues/Fri Explore Library http://yortime.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/first-steps-internet-and-family-history.html

Get On line 15th May Tues Explore Library Library http://yortime.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/yorks-online-library-ebooks-and-online.html

Nazarene Choir 16th May Wed 11:00am Minster

Horse racing 16th/18th May Wed – Fri Racecourse (Dante Festival)

Brassed Off 16/19 May Wed/Sat Grand Opera House York Stage Musicals

That’s Entertainment 16/19 May Wed/Sat Theatre Royal

City Archives 17th May Thur 7:00pm Explore Library http://yortime.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/york-800-and-city-archives.html

Be inspired 17/19 May Explore Library http://www.york.gov.uk/education/Adult_and_community_education/events/

Homestart Concert 19th May Sat 7:30pm Minster

Miss York 2012 final 19th May Sat &;45 pm Barbican including X factor Finalist Amelia Lilly and upcoming urban pop sensation The Luminites.

Big City Read Launch 20th May Sun 11:00am Explore Library “Mystery in the Minster” http://www.york.gov.uk/leisure/Libraries/whatson/big_city_read2012/

Brit Floyd 21st May Mon Barbican—Pink Floyd tribute show

Crave & Illusions 21st/23rd May Mon/Wed Theatre Royal

Sally Morgan 23rd May Wed Grand Opera House: Psychic Sally on the road

Wasted by Kate Tempest 24th/26th May Thurs/Sat Theatre Royal

Farmers market 25th May Parliament Street

Scarberia 24th/2nd June Thur/Sat Theatre Royal

Merry Wives 25th/5th May/June Rowntree Park http://www.yorkshakespeareproject.org/main/index.shtml

Stewart Francis 25th May Fri Grand Opera House: Outstanding in his field

Summer Fair 26th May Sat 1:00pm Hob Moor http://yortime.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/hob-moor-summer-fair.html

Duane Eddy 26th May Sat Grand Opera House

Military Wheels & Wings 26th/27th May Sat/Sun Air Museum Battlegroup North Show

Fine Baking 26th May Sat 9:30am Mansion House http://yortime.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/traditional-yorkshire-baking.html

Take over comedy night 29th May Tues Theatre Royal

Simon Amstell: Numb 31st May Thurs Grand Opera House

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The Act enables the police and other enforcement bodies, like trading standards, to recover the criminal assets of those people living off the proceeds of crime. The object was to help ensure that ‘crime doesn’t pay’.

On 5 June 2008, the then LibDem led Council approved a report supporting the use of proceeds of crime legislation to help deter and detect criminal activity, particularly that arising from those involved in supply of counterfeit products.

Since that time, Council officers have secured their first convictions for money laundering, have made their first cash seizure (£3500 seized from a person suspected of supplying illicit tobacco) and obtained over £565k from criminal activity in ‘confiscation proceedings’ (of which £132K has bee paid to CYC under the Home Office’s Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme).

All of the ‘confiscation proceedings’ concluded to date have been in relation to the supply of counterfeit products.

Financial investigators (AFIs) undertake this work. They are accredited by the National Police Improvement Agency after receiving specialist training. They are given specific powers to conduct investigations into the origin of an offender’s assets.

The money obtained from criminals will be used to sustain the financial investigation teams. Some will be available for target hardening work and to support initiatives agreed by York’s Safer York Partnership.