ABERTILLERY LADIES ORPHEUS CHOIR AGM: Martha Lowman Publicity Officer has sent in the following report: The Annual General Meeting of Abertillery Ladies Orpheus was held at The Ebenezer Church Abertillery, on February 19, where the following officers were elected: Chairperson Pat Rogers; Vice Chair, Cynthia Owens; Chorister Rep Jill Reece; Minute Secretary Cynthia Owens; Social Secretary, Val Hatton; Independent Examiners Jayne Coburn, Jill Reece; Fundraisers Anne Weaver, Hazel Crandon, Martha Lowman; Sick Visitor Joyce Davies; Treasurer Prudy Morris.

The Choir Secretary is Mrs Lisa Spratt, 01656 864842, lisaje_ 3@hotmail.com All other positions in the choir run until 2008.

The chairperson opened the meeting, and a letter from former chairperson, Caroline Bridge, who is on a leave of absence, was read out.

The choir wishes to thank Caroline for her sterling work as chairperson.

Thanks go to all choir members for the hard work they have put into the running of the choir.

Thanks also to former Musical Director Russell Porter and accompanist, Sharon Austin.

Present Musical Director Steve Bard and accompanist, Lyndon Stephens.

The annual concert is to be held in The Ebenezer Church on March 24, with special guests Mid Glam Mixed Choir, The Saxmaniacs and Abertillery Comprehensive School Senior Girls Choir.

Tickets may be purchased from a choir member or on the door, £3.00 per ticket.

The choir meets on Mondays at The Ebenezer Church Abertillery at6.45pm, for a 7pm start. New choristers are most welcome. If your organisation would like for us to sing for you, please contact our secretary Mrs Lisa Spratt. Contact details as above.

The choir sang the backing for two of the songs on Dawson Smith's Alexander Cordells Collection. The CD is available from Cheryl Morris, at This N That Fashions', The Arcade, Abertillery.

STEPS DANCE CLASS: New dance classes are set to roll,starting on Wednesday, March 7 at the Wyndham Vowles Community Centre, Blaenau Gwent.

7pm Ballroom.

There's waltz, quickstep, foxtrot and tango; 8pm Latin American - Cha cha cha, jive, rumba; 9pm Salsa - No partners required.

For more information, please contact Gill, on 07966 433818.

GOING, GOING, ALMOST GONE!: If you haven't already booked your tickets for AAMDS's latest production of Anything Goes, then don't hang about too long, as tickets are going fast!

The performances run from Monday, March 19 to Saturday, March 24, tickets cost £6.50 on Monday, and £7 for Tuesday to Saturday.All ticket enquiries, please contact one of the following: Mrs D Henley on (01495) 212288, or (01495) 213310 (after 5pm), or call in at the Booking Office at This n That.

AN EVENING WITH: If you've always wondered about the work Victory Outreach does, then you'll have an opportunity to find out more on Wednesday, April 4, at Penniel Church, Tillery Street.

The evening starts at 6.30pm, and a buffet will be provided.

BLAENAU GWENT COMMUNITY FOOD NEWSLETTER: Veggie Month is from March 1-31. Fruits and vegetables contain essential vitamins, minerals, and fibre.

Compared with people who consume a diet with only small amounts of fruits and vegetables, those who eat more generous amounts as part of a healthful diet are likely to have reduced risk of chronic diseases, including strokes and perhaps other cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers.

Animal Aid organisations are promoting Veggie Month, to increase awareness of animal welfare and vegetarian diets. You can find recipes and advice on http://www. vegsoc.org IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT: March 10 is Big Curry Night'. Get your friends together for a chance to spice up your life with international development charity VSO's Big Curry Night, which is a great excuse for getting a lot of people together for a social night in, whilst raising money for some of the world's poorest people.

Check out their website to register: http://www.vso.org.uk/curry/ index.htm Obesity Awareness Week, March 11-17: Over 60 percent of the UK adult population and nearly 30 percent of our children are overweight - and it's not merely a cosmetic issue.

Visit www.toast-uk.org.uk to find out more about this growing problem.

This month's recipe is: Vegetable Curry - Ingredients: 2 tsp vegetable oil (not olive oil); 1 onion, peeled and finely chopped; 2 cloves of garlic, crushed; 3 rounded tsp. of curry powder; 2 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into dice; 2 medium carrots, scraped and cut into dice; 1/2 small cauliflower, cut into chunks' 1 red pepper, sliced; 6 mushrooms, sliced; 1 can (400g) chopped tomatoes in juice; 1 tsp Garam Masala; Handful of fresh coriander leaves.

Method: Heat the oil in a large pan or wok. Add the onion and fry over a medium heat for 3-4 minutes. Add the garlic and fry for a further 2 minutes. Add curry powder and stir through the onions.

Cook the curry powder for 2 minutes. Add the potatoes, carrots and cauliflower and cook for a further minute, stirring constantly.

Add the can of tomatoes and juice. Fill the empty can a quarter full with water and add to pan with red pepper and mushrooms.

Bring pan to boil and simmer for 20 minutes until vegetables are all cooked through.

Add Garam Masala and chop the coriander leaves finely and add to curry.

Serve with plain boiled rice or chapattis.

Vegetable of the Month: Leek.

Leeks are still inseason in March. Make the most of their mild onion flavour in soups and casseroles, or why not try blanching them and serving in vinaigrette as a delicious salad?

You can contact Alex Slingsby, Community Food Advisor, on 01495 356718, or e-mail at alex.slingsby@ nphs.wales.nhs.uk