A brand new Festival which showcases the astonishing range and versatility of this giant instrument – if you thought you knew what an organ sounded like, think again!

York Minster own musicians, featuring some of the country’s top young performers, and guests perform entertaining and popular tunes perfect for promenading.

Performing within the Nave itself, you can see the organist in action and even ask questions.

Music connoisseurs can also hear the Organ in special evening recitals on Summer Saturdays in August, part of a tradition of musicianship at York Minster that spans a millennium.

Fri 7 Jun 2013 12:00 to 14:00

More http://www.yorkminster.org

North Yorkshire Police and the 95Alive York and North Yorkshire Road Safety Partnership is urging the public to get behind this summer’s drink and drug drive crackdown.

The partnership, which involves North Yorkshire Police, North Yorkshire County Council, the fire service and the ambulance service, has launched a new campaign encouraging people to ‘dob in a drink driver’ and ‘grass on a drug driver’.

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Crime trends in York and North Yorkshire. click to enlarge

North Yorkshire Police are celebrating North Yorkshire being the safest county in the country fallowing the publication of the latest crime figures.

Crime in York is down although levels remain above both the average for the rest of the force area and by comparison with similar City’s elsewhere in the country.

Residents can find local information and statistics on the following web site: http://www.police.uk/

In western York Anti Social Behaviour continues to be the most reported crime.

Crime levels in West York March 2013 click to enlarge

Free compost giveaway on Sunday for York residents

In partnership with Yorwaste Ltd free compost is being made available again.

Bring your own bag, container and shover (it is not pre-bagged) and help yourself to some free soil improver for your garden or allotment.

When: On the first Sunday of every month from March until October: 2 June, 7 July, 4 August, 1 September, 6 October

Time: 9:30am until 2:30pm or while stocks last

Where: Harewood Whin waste site, Tinker Lane, Wetherby Road, Rufforth, York, Yo23 3RR

The Council’s bill for fueling its 350 vehicle fleet now tops £1 million a year.

• 2009/10 £915,710 for 1045198 litres

• 2010/11 £1,012,155 for 1027464

• 2011/12 £1,050,496 for 955096

• 2012/13 £1,064,810 for 958002

Funding for a shared citywide system to make access to advice and information on money management, benefits, employment and housing far easier for residents through a ‘one stop advice service’, has been announced.

The service is being funded by nearly £250,000 from the joint Cabinet Office and Big Lottery Advice Service Transition Fund, awarded to the Citizen’s Advice Bureau in York, and £80,000 from City of York Council.
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Two concerts will showcase the” amazing musical talent of young people from across the city” at the annual York Music Hub Festival.

This musical celebration is open to the public and this year the festival’s concerts will take place at the Grand Opera House, on Saturday 22 June at 2pm and at 7.30pm. They will feature groups from City of York schools, York Arts Academy and the Wider Opportunities scheme where whole classes learn musical instruments together.

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Bailiffs have been active on behalf of the York Council recently.

In the main the Council has used the companies to collect Housing rent (771 cases), Council Tax (4769) and Non Domestic (Business) Rates (544)

Significant sums were collected by the bailiffs

• £21,646.21 (Housing rent),

• £183,455.11 (Council Tax),

• £125,456.34 (Non Domestic Rates)

The news comes after it was revealed, by the Department for Communities and Local Government, that York is owed £5.3 million (equivalent to £63 per household) in unpaid Council Tax.

York comes well down the league table of outstanding debts although it is bettered by Harrogate (£32 per household outstanding) and Hambleton (£32). The worst in Yorkshire is Sheffield where £146 per household is owed.

NB. Around 20 tenants are evicted each year for rent arrears.

• 2009-10 – 3 Anti Social Behaviour (ASB), 20 Rent Arrears and 1 for both ASB and Rent Arrears

• 2010-11 – 9 ASB, 15 Rent Arrears and 1 for both ASB and Rent Arrears

• 2011-12 – 3 ASB, 22 Rent Arrears and 1 for both ASB and Rent Arrears