Christmas variety show

Tickets are priced at £5 for adults and £3 for children and concessions.

Doors open at 6.30pm and the show starts at 7pm.

Tickets are available from any member of the troupe or by calling 01495 312053 Church News: There will be a preaching service at Zion Baptist Church on Thursday, December 13, at 7pm.

The Preacher will be the Rev Hubert Clements of Tonypandy. A service will also be held on Thursday, January 10, starting at 7pm.The Preacher for this service will be the Rev Vernon Higham of Cardiff.

New Year's Eve Celebrations: New Year's Eve will be celebrated at the Beaufort Ballroom, Ebbw Vale with a charity rock and roll dance with entertainment from The Pontiacs, as well as a 50s and 60s disco.

Tickets cost £12 and all proceeds will be in aid of Ellie Hughes of Nantyglo, and are available from Carol on 01495 308585.

You can also reserve a table for this event which starts at 6.45pm and the rockin' and rollin' goes on until 12.30pm with the bar closing at midnight.

Santa's in Town: Santa and his sleigh will be touring Westside and Forgeside, Blaina, on Friday, December 14, and he will begin his tour at 6pm from Bryn Villas.

Get your Christmas Lists ready!

Fusion: Fusion is a young people's drug and alcohol service that can help anyone between the ages of 11 and 24, with concerns about their own or someone else's drink or drugs use.

Local venues are used within Blaenau Gwent with an information and advice service along with a friendly chat.

For more information call 01633 264463 or freephone 0800 7314649. Or email admin@fusion-online.org.uk Christmas Cards: We all do it - spend a fortune on Christmas cards for friends, family and neighbours - most of whom we actually see on a regular basis.

An alternative way of sending good wishes at Christmastime is to donate the money to a charity of your choice.

The Hospice of the Valleys will gladly accept any donations in lieu of cards during the Festive Season, and you can do this by contacting Helen Morgan and Kevin Davidge.

They are the fundraising officers of the Hospice of the Valleys and reside at Morgan Street in Tredegar.

Joint Reunion: A grand reunion is planned for all former workers of Brynmawr local factories including Tufs; Danimac; Semtex and Everware.

The reunion is open to all former factory workers and will be taking place at Brynmawr Rugby Club, on December 21, from 3pm until 11pm.

Tickets from Brynmawr Rugby Club - but entrance is by ticket only and will cost you just £3.

All proceeds go to the Hospice of the Valleys.

Plaque unveiled: A plaque is to be unveiled at the new Ebbw Vale Railway Station on Monday, December 10, at 2pm.

The Welsh Assembly plaque is in memory of the late Blaenau Gwent AM and MP Peter Law, and in recognition of the work he did towards the re-opening of the passenger rail service.

The plaque will be unveiled by Ieuan Wyn Jones, the Assembly Minister for Transport and Deputy First Minister.

Trish Law says that this is a lovely gesture from the Assembly and that it will be a very proud day for her and her family.

BRfm - Best Radio For Miles: Don't forget to tune in to your local and global community radio station BRfm on 97.3fm.

The station is based at Blaenau Gwent Workshops in Pond Road, Nantyglo and the contact number is 01495 313003 or email to studio@brfm.co.uk.There is also a website www.brfm.co.uk where you can catch up with all the news from the station as well as the daily broadcasting schedule.

If you live outside Blaenau Gwent but still would like to tune in log onto the website and click on the Live link ... the latest statistics show that 20 percent of listeners actually tune in from the United States of America via the internet. and the BRfm website has received 45,000 hits during the month of November alone, which was 10,000 more than the month of October!

If you are involved in any festive events you would like BRfm to let all the listeners know about contact the studio.

Christmas Illuminations: Congratulations to Brynmawr Town Partnership and its chairman, Wayne Hodgins, for the fabulous Christmas switch-on ceremony in Brynmawr last week.

The Market Square is abundant with festive lights and decorations, thanks to the generosity of the local residents and businesses.

Local boy Oliver Woods and fellow actor Steve Mayo, both in the Welsh TV Drama Belonging were amazed at the number of people who turned out to join in the fun.

The Young Dimensions Dance Troupe entertained the crowds on the stage and there was plenty of music from Fudge and Phil to get you singing and dancing.

There was an array of motorbikes and trikes, all decorated in their Christmas Glory and of course, Santa arrived in his sleigh to a warm welcome by the younger members of the community.

The evening ended with a grand firework display.Congratulations must also go to all the local shops in the town for taking the time to decorate their shop windows and premises with a festive mood.

One of those shops is Roberts Florist, whose shop is awash with Christmas lights and decorations.

I've taken a trip around Blaenau Gwent to take in the festive atmosphere, but I must say that Brynmawr is (in my opinion!) the 'Shining Light of the Borough'.

But then as a Brynmawr Girl, you could say that I am a bit biased!!

However, congratulations and well done to everyone who made the night such a huge success, it is greatly appreciated by the people of Brynmawr.