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Entries from May 1, 2010 - May 31, 2010

Sunday
May302010

Portfolios for 2010/11

In this year's round of CCC parlour games, the music has stopped, everyone is sitting comfortably, and all the boys and girls have excitedly unwrapped whatever package they are holding to see what the year ahead holds for them. See who's got what...

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Friday
May282010

Newbies at the Pier

Here's the potted biographies-cum-pitches from the three Trustees confirmed at the AGM, one staying, two new. Michael Khoury has what I find to be a disarmingly honest and direct approach: if the Pier succeeds, the town will succeed, and his assorted business interests in the town will prosper - clear-cut and straightforward. Ian Priston looks promising as our new communications wizard, and will need to put in some spell-binding performances if we're to pull any rabbits out of this particular hat. Andrea Leach has a solid background in the nitty-gritty world of fund-raising, and willingly walked straight into this challenge, for which I applaud him. I'm pleased with all three.

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Thursday
May272010

Get blooming

Competition time is growing nearer. Entry forms are now available for this year's Herne Bay in Bloom competition. The gardening contest is open to people in all areas of Herne Bay, with prizes of gardening vouchers for a range of categories.

Forms can be collected from the library or council office in William Street or by calling 07540 392916. The closing date is Thursday, June 10 and judges will visit on Tuesday, July 6. Anyone who can help with the competition or sponsor a prize should e-mail herne_bayinbloom@live.co.uk or call secretary Colleen Ashwin-Kean on 07540 392916.

It's time to "Grow for gold!" as Cllr Rosemary Doyle said at the recent launch by Herne Bay in Bloom. Another term in the punitentiary for the appropriately named Rosemary, methinks.

Thursday
May272010

Homeless, begging, and saving lives

The Council sold the Coastwatch building for £54,000 - I have no idea where they spent that windfall. The Coastwatch now need to raise £60,000 for a new building. The words "insult" and "injury" spring to mind.

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Thursday
May202010

Monkshill Farm getting a café and shop

Monkshill Farm is just made of goodness - good people doing good things for the right reasons, and making great food into the bargain. Go and have a look round, and treat yourself to some of their food.

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Thursday
May202010

Blood from a stone

My favourite "whinger" sheds some light on how she earned the title from a local councillor. It seems to me that her question is pretty straightforward and reasonable, and I'm disappointed (but not that surprised) that Kim's run into the all too familiar wall of silence.

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Thursday
May202010

Press editing

For those of you who are interested in such things, you can play spot-the-difference between what the local press gets sent, and what it publishes. Below is the un-cut version of the letter "whingeing" Kim sent the local press - see "Blood from a stone". I've highlighted the bits that ended up on the cutting room floor.

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Thursday
May202010

Pier Trust AGM

Rebuild pier or I'll 'jump ship': Trust founder vows to quit unless structure is restored.

A founding member of the trust set up to preserve Herne Bay's pier has vowed to quit if there is no progress towards rebuilding it within a year. Arcade boss Michael Khoury spoke out at the first annual meeting of the Herne Bay Pier Trust, and said he was determined to make their dreams of restoring the structure a reality.

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Thursday
May132010

Democracy is worth encouraging

To declare an interest: I am a founder member of the Pier Trust. To declare another interest: I have a degree of empathy with Kim Hennelly (the "whinger"), having been bad-mouthed on the front page of the local press by local councillors within days of submitting the village green application.

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Thursday
May132010

Tainted Mayor

One well-informed local fears the Mayorship may become sullied and diminished by politicisation. It's hard not to agree. I'm not thrilled at voting becoming a redundant sham, come to that...

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