New era for Boiler House

9:15am Monday 30th July 2007

The Old Boiler House: I have received a report about the old Boiler House situated opposite the Asda store, in Brynmawr.

We can all agree it is currently in a sorry state, and has been for many years now.

However, over the past 18 months investigations and research have been taking place to find a suitable use for this landmark of the communities of Brynmawr and Nantyglo.

Various professional bodies have offered their assistance with suggestions for possible uses of this building.

I will keep you all updated on the progress of this community project.

Wayne Hodgins is the project managerof what will be known as theTy Berwi Project, and there is no link with any previous projects connected to the Boiler House.

Make a Splash Over the Summer:Blaenau Gwent Council has organised various swimming and water sporting activities to keep youngsters amused during the summer holidays.

There will be free swimming for under 16s from Saturday, July 21, until Sunday, September 2, at all Blaenau Gwent Sport Centres.

New activities will include snorkelling and Film and Swim sessions, where children can watch classic films and go swimming afterwards.

Nantyglo Sports Centre activities are as follows: Monday - Film and Swim from 10am to 12.30pm, Wednesday - water polo from 10am until11am and snorkelling from 11am to 12pm and Friday - water games from 11am until 12pm.

All children under eight-years-old must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

Brfm Audio Archive CD Project: Just to update you on the Audio Archive Project - we now have the volunteers in place to begin the preparation for the CD and work will begin in August.

We have a group of local people who have agreed to be interviewed about their memories of Brynmawr - past and present.

If you prefer not to be interviewed, but would like to offer a written contribution, then this would be accepted, with your approval to include it in the audio archive.

This is going to be such an exciting project for all ages, it is hoped it will help to break down age barriers and is a great opportunity for young people to get involved and find out about the history of their home town.

Art Competition: Bullies Out has just launched an art competition for children and young people.

The competition is to design a poster that describes their environment as a bully-free zone andis open to all young people aged between five and 16-years-old.

The closing date is October 5 and the awards ceremony for the winners will be on Friday, November 23 - the end of Anti-Bullying Week - at City Hall, in Cardiff.

For further information please contact Linda James, project coordinator on 029 2056 8947, 07899 874358 or e-mail ljames@bulliesout.com Brynmawr Town Partnership News: The committee and members would like to express their gratitude to the borough councillors for thier generous donation of £1000 which will go towards the town's Christmas Illuminations for 2007.

Dance Summer School: Are you aged nine to 13-years-old or 14 to 25?Do you want to have fun, make new friends, learn new dance moves and create a brand new dance performance?

If your answer is yes to any of the above questions, then make your way to the Dance Summer School at the Metropole Theatre, Abertillery.

With professional tutors, you will spend a week learning modern contemporary dance with a showcase performance on Friday night in front of an audience of family and friends.

The Dance School runs until Friday, August 3.

And Finally... It's Pets' Corner: All is well with Lynda and Morgan.

Who are Lynda and Morgan I hear you ask?

Well, the Communication Annexe class 1H of Ystruth Primary School in Blaina - like all the other schools in the borough - has closed for the Summer holidays.

Can you remember when you were a child andwere offeredthe chance of taking home the classroom pets for the Summer holidays?

Well, Lynda and Morgan are the goldfish of the Communication Annexe and they are now spending their summer holidays in Cwmbran with Mrs Wilson.

Of course, they found it very strange at first, but are adapting very well to their new surroundings, although it is a completely different environment from the classroom.

There is a very loud,small person in the house who keeps insisting that they are to live on a lower shelf.

This is not such a good idea because there are three furry animals with whiskers and very large eyes that keep peeping atthem through their glass bowl.

There is a bonus though.A man who lives in the same house feedsthem on rather expensive fish food, and has even purchased some plants and some furnitureto make their surroundings more decorative!

Hopefully, Lynda and Morgan will make it back to the annexe of Ystruth Primary School for the start of the Autumn term in September!

Oh, and Henry and Albert the guinea pigs have also settled in to their new Summer abode in Abertillery with Aunty Jo.

So the children can rest assured that their classroom pets are being taken great care of and I will keep you updated on how they are doing!

Have a good week.

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