Invite goes out to online Pengwern Vale meeting

 

Natural Resources Wales and the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty are hosting an online meeting for residents and visitors to Pengwern Vale from 7-9pm on Wednesday March 10.

They want to hear people's views about how they can create a community landscape that benefits everyone’s enjoyment and wellbeing for generations to come. 

A spokesperson for the organisers said: "We want to hear your views on how we can all work together to make a positive contribution to Pengwern Vale both now and in the future.

"The area’s amazing heritage, culture and natural landscape is there for all to see - but with climate change it needs everyone's help to secure its future for residents, farmers, and wildlife."

* To register for the meeting or for more information, email: northeast.as@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk

Hospice aims to build hot air balloon to mark 25 years of care

* Nurses at Nightingale House with their balloon messages.

Nurses at Nightingale House are getting behind the hospice’s 2021 campaign to build a hot air balloon in celebration of 25 years of patient care. 

The opportunity to sponsor a dedication or celebration on a panel of the exclusive balloon runs until the end of April, when the balloon will begin to be manufactured. 

Clinical staff have been coming up with their own ideas of what they will be putting on their panels. Some have decided on inspirational quotes, another is a celebration of the arrival of their new nephew, whereas some have decided that their pets should take centre stage. 

Kay Ryan, Day Services Lead, said: “There is quite a buzz about the Build a Balloon campaign within the clinical team. It’s something we have never seen before and believe it’s a great way to help lift the community spirits at this very challenging time. I know it will mean a great deal to our supporters to be a part of something special and that will help fund the care that we provide.” 

The hospice has a long association with hot air balloon events in Llangollen and in recent years in Oswestry. It is hoped that the balloon will take to the skies in the summer, but no launch date has been released due to current lockdown restrictions. 

Community and Event Fundraiser, Sarah Povey said: “This is an incredibly exciting and unique campaign. To know that when we look up and see the Nightingale House balloon floating above us that we as a community have worked together to bring it to life will be a magnificent feeling.

“Build a Balloon has always been about representing our wonderful supporters and corporate partners and a celebration of the difference the hospice makes to those with life limiting illnesses within our communities or for those who use our hospice facilities on Chester Road.” 

* If you would like to sponsor a Build A Balloon panel for Nightingale House then you can do so by going on line at www.nightingalehouseco.uk/event/build-a-balloon

Care home visiting booth allows friends to reunite

* Olwen Lloyd and Janet Kenyon Thompson 

use the visiting booth.

A visiting booth has been installed at a Denbighshire care home.

The booth, at Dolwen in Denbigh which is managed by Denbighshire County Council, was designed and built by staff member Erfyl Jones, who is a support worker at the home.

The booth has allowed residents at the care home, who have been unable to mix since December, to reunite.

Once restrictions around visiting care homes have been changed, the booth can be used by families and friends visiting loved ones.

Dolwen residents Olwen Lloyd and Janet Kenyon Thompson were the first to use the booth after it was installed on February 11.

Cllr Bobby Feeley, the council’s Lead Member for Well-being and Independence, said: “I would like to thank Erfyl for his work designing and building the visiting booth which has been a great boost for residents. 

“It has helped residents interact with friends from different sections of the home, which for safety reasons have been kept separate.  I’m pleased to see how much joy this has brought to our residents.

“Once the regulations around visiting care homes change, this booth will provide friends and family the chance to visit their loved ones in a safe way.”

Latest column from Citizens Advice

Latest column from Denbighshire Citizens Advice is:

Coronavirus Scams 

Q: “I’m really worried about my elderly relatives being targeted by coronavirus scams - are there any warning signs that I can tell them to look out for? What should they do if they think that something is a scam?” 

A: Unfortunately, we’ve seen an increase in scams since the beginning of the pandemic, so it’s good to be thinking about the steps you can take to help protect friends and family. 

Common scams we’re seeing are about bogus testing kits, coronavirus vaccinations and government refunds or fines. You should watch out for messages about coronavirus from unusual email addresses or phone numbers, and shouldn’t click on any links. Be aware that you won’t be asked to pay for coronavirus vaccinations - they are provided for free by the NHS. 

Here are some general warning signs to look out for: 

●      You suspect you’re not dealing with a real company – for example, if there’s no postal address

●      You’ve been asked to transfer money quickly or to pay in an unusual way – for example, by iTunes vouchers or through a transfer service like MoneyGram or Western Union

●      You’ve been asked to give away personal information like passwords or PINs

●      You haven't had written confirmation of what's been agreed 

If you think something is a scam you should hang up the phone, close the website, or shut the front door. Never feel pressured to make a decision straight away, and don’t give out personal details or money unless you’re certain that they can trust the person. If you feel threatened or unsafe you can ring 999. 

For help with online scams, contact a Citizens Advice Scams Action adviser by calling 0808 250 5050. For more information about other types of scams, visit the Citizens Advice website.  

Young 'Uns' retro spectacular cuts through lockdown gloom

* Above and below, some scenes from last night's show.

Last night a lockdowdy, rain-soaked Llangollen got a timely reminder – as if it needed it – of what a talented bunch of performing youngsters it has right here on its doorstep.

Unable to stage one of their usual entertainment extravaganzas due to the pandemic a bunch of members from the Young ‘Uns, the Operatic Society’s junior section, took over the internet airwaves to put on a riveting retrospective of their productions ranging back over the last decade.

And it cut through the gloom of a wet February Saturday evening in style.

Behind it was one of its favourite performers of recent years, Shea Ferron, who, in the spirit of an old Hollywood movie, got some of his mates from the team – present and past – to put on the show right here.

He arranged all the pretty complex technical bits to do the live streaming on Facebook while another Young ‘Uns star, Celyn Orton-Jones, helped him anchor the all-singing, all dancing 90-minute spectacular.

Professional performer Ruby Snape appeared as a guest presenter.

The team summoned up others - like them still in their late teens or early twenties – to reprise magical musical memories from smash-hit society shows such as Annie, The Vackies, Beauty and the Beast, Oliver!, Half a Sixpence, Honk, Bugsy Malone, Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Grease and Wizard of Oz.

Among the cast, who had been in one or more of these productions, was  Aled Morris, Katie Clark, Kamil Grzelak, Ethan Le-Cheminant, Ethan Roberts, Grace Roberts, Heledd Edwards and Cassius Hackforth, now at drama school. 

Apart from providing the online audience with some fantastic memories of the shows many of them had been lucky enough to see live, the cast also clearly had a great time getting together with old friends to relive some of the highlights of their recent performing past.

But then having a cool time with your mates and entertaining people into the bargain is what the Young ‘Uns has always been about.

Now Shea and the team has led the way maybe the adult Llan Operatic Society should think about doing a similar thing for some of its more recent shows. Just a thought.   

* You can still catch the show, here: https://www.facebook.com/Llangollen-Operatic-Young-Uns-428765077289488/videos/123892546292344

Fundraiser in memory of Dai Davies reaches over £2,000

* Dai Davies has pysiotherapy at Nightingale House last year.

According to a story in the Denbighshire Free Press, a fundraiser in memory of a much-loved Wales goalkeeper has raised more than £2,000.

Dai Davies, who had who run a natural healing centre in Llangollen, died aged 72 on February 10, following a battle with cancer.

* For the full story, see: https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/sport/19101868.dai-davies-played-50-times-wales-also-played-wrexham/

Welsh Government's coronavirus update

Latest coronavirus update from the Welsh Government (dated yesterday) is:

• The First Minister has today set out the results of the latest three-week review of the coronavirus regulations in Wales.
• He has confirmed Foundation Phase children will return to school in a flexible and phased way from February 22
• And he has set out a roadmap for future considerations in the next three-week cycle if the public health situation continues to improve: https://gov.wales/lockdown-continue-further-three-weeks-pupils-return-school
• Written statement: https://gov.wales/written-statement-review-health-protection-coronavirus-restriction-no5-wales-regulations-2020-1
• Watch the First Minister’s press conference: https://twitter.com/WelshGovernment/status/1362737563211943941
• Education Minister’s message to parents and teachers: https://twitter.com/WG_Education/status/1362662487921942529 

• The Welsh Government has published an update to its Coronavirus Control Plan which takes account of vaccination and the emergence of new variants: https://gov.wales/coronavirus-control-plan-alert-levels-wales-coming-out-lockdown
• The latest summary of advice from the Technical Advisory Cell is published at https://gov.wales/technical-advisory-cell-summary-advice-15-february-2021
• Operational guidance for schools: https://gov.wales/operational-guidance-schools-and-settings-support-limited-attendance
• Housing Minister Julie James has published a written statement about the Public Health (Protection from Eviction) (Wales) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2021 https://gov.wales/written-statement-public-health-protection-eviction-wales-coronavirus-regulations-2021-18-february
• Julie Morgan, Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services, has published a written statement about The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Suspension: Local Authority Care and Support) (Wales) Regulations 2021: https://gov.wales/written-statement-coronavirus-act-2020-suspension-local-authority-care-and-support-wales

Coronavirus in numbers

• The latest figures published by Public Health Wales today show there have been 533 newly reported cases of coronavirus, bringing the total to 200,989 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Wales since the start of the pandemic.
• Very sadly, there were 16 deaths reported by Public Health Wales today. The total number of deaths reported by Public Health Wales is 5,205.
• These figures are updated daily at: https://public.tableau.com/profile/public.health.wales.health.protection#!/vizhome/RapidCOVID-19virology-Public/Headlinesummary

• The number of people who have received a Covid vaccine in Wales is being published every weekday by Public Health Wales.
• The latest figures show 839,065 people have received their first dose
• And 25,433 people have received two doses of the vaccine
• https://public.tableau.com/profile/public.health.wales.health.protection#!/vizhome/RapidCOVID-19virology-Public/Headlinesummary
• If you think you’ve been missed off the vaccine appointment list: https://gov.wales/get-your-covid-19-vaccination-if-you-think-you-have-been-missed

What to do if you have symptoms of coronavirus

• The symptoms of coronavirus are a high temperature, a new, continuous cough and a loss or change in smell or taste.
• If you have symptoms of coronavirus, however mild, you must self-isolate at home for 10 days from when your symptoms started.
• Guidance about self-isolating: https://gov.wales/self-isolation-stay-home-guidance-households-possible-coronavirus
• Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
• You should arrange to have a test to see if you have coronavirus once you are self-isolating. You can book a test at https://gov.wales/apply-coronavirus-covid-19-test
• You should continue to isolate while waiting for a test result.
• Got a question about what to do if you’ve got coronavirus? Visit https://gov.wales/self-isolation-stay-home-guidance-households-possible-coronavirus 

Where to find the latest information

• Information about the new national measures in place in Wales is available at: https://gov.wales/alert-level-4 and the roadmap in and out of alert levels is at: https://gov.wales/coronavirus-control-plan-alert-levels-wales

• Information about coronavirus is available on the Welsh Government’s website at https://gov.wales/coronavirus and https://llyw.cymru/coronafeirws
• Questions about Covid-19 vaccines? Visit: https://phw.nhs.wales/topics/immunisation-and-vaccines/covid-19-vaccination-information/ and https://gov.wales/vaccine-coronavirus
• Want to join Wales’ vaccination team? https://gov.wales/join-covid-19-vaccination-team
• If you think you’ve been missed off the vaccine appointment list: https://gov.wales/get-your-covid-19-vaccination-if-you-think-you-have-been-missed
• Information about support for businesses is available at the Business Wales website https://businesswales.gov.wales/coronavirus-advice/
• The Welsh Government holds a regular media briefing about coronavirus. These are on-the-record, on-camera and supported by a BSL interpreter. These are held at 12.15pm, broadcast on BBC One Wales and live-streamed on our @WelshGovernment Twitter channel.

o   The First Minister held today’s press conference. You can watch again at: https://twitter.com/WelshGovernment/status/1362737563211943941

o   Slides used in today’s press conference: https://twitter.com/WelshGovernment/status/1362739135723626506