Pooches Get Their Chance To Shine At Milnrow Dog Show

Whether you adore Akitas, are bonkers about Boxers or love Labradors, there’s bound to be something for every dog-lover at Milnrow Fun Dog Show.

If you think you have the most handsome hound or prettiest pooch, your four-legged friend has the waggiest tail, you bear a striking resemblance to your canine or you think you can take star prize in the Musical Sit competition, then make your way to Milnrow Memorial Park on Sunday 12 April, and show everyone how ‘woof-derful’ you and your dog are.

The fun competitions will be judged by Dawn Bishop, Centre Manager at Dogs Trust Manchester. Dogs Trust will also be offering free microchipping for dogs as from April next year it will be illegal not to have your dog microchipped.

Dawn says: “I am thrilled to have been asked to judge the fun competitions but we also want to microchip as many dogs as possible on the day so would encourage all dog owners who haven’t yet got their dog microchipped to come along.

“Dogs Trust is the largest dog welfare charity in the UK and we believe microchipping gives owners the best chance of being reunited with their dog if they go missing. That’s why we are giving people at the show the opportunity to get it done for free.”

Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary, Rochdale Dog Rescue and Greenmount Wild Bird Rescue will also be at the event. The canine competition classes are £1 per entry, with proceeds going towards laying a wheelchair accessible path in the park. The fun gets underway at the Newhey Road Park at 12noon with the show closing at 3pm.

If you want to get your dog microchipped but can’t make it to the event, go to www.chipmydog.org.uk to find more free microchipping events.

If you are interested in registering to compete with your dog please contact Sue Hancox at slhhalf596@outlook.com.

UPDATE: 07/04 - Pawtraits of Newhey are now donating a Pawtrait Gift Session with 10 inch desk top frame  worth £175 to the overall winner of the show.

MO Joins Forces With The Milnrow & Newhey Districts Community Carnival Committee

We are delighted to announce that Milnrow Online will be partnering with the Milnrow & Newhey Districts Community Carnival this year.

Milnrow Online will be providing comprehensive coverage of this years carnival as well as supporting the carnival organisers with their social media efforts both in the run up to the day and during the event itself. We will be working with the committee, partners and participants of the event to ensure that this years carnival is the best to date.

Jonny Shaw, Editor of MO commented "I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with the carnival committee, this is a great step forward for Milnrow Online in the local community and I hope that together we can create a great day in the community calendar."

This year's carnival is set for Saturday 13th June. The parade will set off at 1pm from Haugh Lane, Newhey and proceed through Milnrow before ending at Milnrow Memorial Park for a Summer Festival.

If anyone would like to take part in the parade, have a stall or would like more information on the event, please contact the Carnival Secretary on 07786 850266 or email milnrowcarnival@yahoo.com.

Rain Does Not Deter Clean Up

Milnrow litter pick event has biggest turn out yet despite the weather.

Sixteen volunteers gave up their Saturday morning this week to clean the area in and around Edmund Street car park opposite The Bobbin pub. Over 20 sacks of refuse were collected in two hours plus a range of items fly tipped and dumped over the wall into the river.

Local campaigner Andy Kelly said “Despite the dreadful weather, volunteers have turned out again because they want to make their area look better and take pride in its appearance. With this many helpers we can do the equivalent of four or five days work in just 2 hours. It restores your faith in people.”

New Life Community Church on Edmund St also provided free coffee, tea, toast and biscuits to help the team warm up and dry off. Pastor John Oldham said, “We have had neighbours and passers by stopping to thank us for the clean-up. It's really encouraging to speak to people we don’t usually meet and we get a real sense of achievement too.”

Anyone wishing to volunteer with the Keen Volunteer Team can call Andy on 07947 609277 to find out where the next litter pick will take place. Use the same number of you want to nominate an area.

Keen Green Volunteer Team On Milnrow Clean-Up Mission

Lib Dem campaigner, Andy Kelly, will be leading the Keen Green Volunteer Team this Saturday morning (27th) in a litter picking operation through Milnrow Village.

The group will meet at Edmund Street car park (near The Bobbin) at 9:30am. New Life church have kindly offered tea and coffee to volunteers before starting at 10am.

If you are free and willing to help just turn up on the morning wrapped up warm, all help will be welcomed.

The Church Of England Are Looking For The Next Benefice of Milnrow & Newhey

The Church of England are looking for a new 'Priest-In-Charge: The Benefice of Milnrow and Newhey' to preside over St. James, Milnrow and St. Thomas, Newhey.

The post is open to current priests of a central tradition and would be based at Milnrow Vicarage. Below is the listing form the CofE website.

"Nestling under the South Pennines, the two parishes of St James Milnrow and St Thomas Newhey are looking for a new priest in charge. This will be an exciting adventure as the two parishes are coming together into a united benefice in this glorious part of Rochdale Archdeaconry. 

The congregations are both welcoming and healthy with good lay leadership. They are looking for a pastor to help them develop their gifts and ministries and lead them on the next phase of their journey. The congregations are seeking to develop their work with children young people and families. 

Both churches are set in communities which take pride in their identity and a key part of the task of the new priest is to help them reach out to their communities and strengthen the links with the schools in the area. 

If you are an energetic priest of central tradition, an inspirational communicator of the faith and an approachable pastor then you could be just the person who we are looking to welcome here. 

Milnrow Vicarage, 40 Eafield Avenue, Milnrow, Rochdale OL16 3UN"

For further information see their website or contact the Archdeacon of Rochdale.

The Ven Cherry Vann (Archdeacon of Rochdale)
57 Melling Rd
Oldham
OL4 1PN

0161 678 1454

Milnrow Carnival Marches On To Facebook

Its nearly that time of year for the 47th Milnrow & Newhey Districts Community Carnival.

On Saturday 13th June 2015 the carnival will once again be taking to the streets of Milnrow and Newhey for the community highlight of the summer but they need your help! 

If your interested in joining in with the fantastic parade or being one the many stall holders in the beautiful Milnrow Memorial Park then get in touch as soon as possible.

To support the carnival on Facebook and keep up to date with all the latest carnival news click the following link and 'Like' their Facebook page. http://bit.ly/MilnrowCarnivalFB

Cheeki Monkeys Are Back In Milnrow

Cheeki Monkeys BIG Baby & Children's Market comes to Milnrow Cricket Club in April (Sunday 12th). Running between 1 and 3pm, the market provides large savings on quality, gently used babies' and children’s toys, clothes and equipment.

The events provide a place for local families to make money while recycling unwanted items. Also on offer are homemade tasty treats, handmade and unique crafts and a way for parents to find out more from local businesses with a family focus.

For further information join the event on Facebook http://bit.ly/CheekiMonkeysMCC or see the website to book a stall http://www.cheekimonkeys.co.uk.

Activisionary Hosting A Litter Picking Event In Milnrow

Are you at a loose end tomorrow morning? (Saturday 21st)

Activisionary are hosting a 1 hour litter picking event in Milnrow tomorrow morning.

Meeting Place: entrance of Hollingworth Academy
Start Time: 9am
Finish Time: 10am

Organisers explain that anyone is welcome but urge volunteers to bring their own protective/gardening gloves and suitable outdoor clothing.

Milnrow Band Add Both Youth And Experience To Their Lineup

Following their performance at the recent North West Regional Championship, Milnrow Band has welcomed a pair of new players to the ranks.

Ellena Newton joins on solo Trombone replacing Chris Binns who relinquished his seat to join the Black Dyke Band in September.

The 15 year old is currently studying at Chetham's School of Music, is a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and was a finalist in the Brass category of last year's BBC Young Musician of the Year.

Meanwhile, the experienced Dave Hebb joins on second Euphonium, making a welcome return to the band after previous stints as both a player and a conductor. Dave replaces Leah Smedley who has stepped down to start a family with her husband Mark.

The bands spokesperson explained: “It's a warm welcome back for Dave and we are also absolutely delighted to welcome such a superb young talent to the band as Ellena on a permanent basis.”

The band are next in concert at the Ribble Valley Music Festival on 8th May following Easter.

Milnrow Cricket Club Joins CAMRA

Milnrow Cricket Club recently became accredited by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

The club regularly has two cask ales and is looking at introducing guest beers to their range too. Because of this link CAMRA members will now receive MCC member prices at the bar on production of their membership card.

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale is an independent, voluntary organisation campaigning for real ale, community pubs and consumer rights.

For further information see www.camra.org.uk.

Milnrow Juniors FC Needs You!

Milnrow Juniors FC at The Soccer Village on Wildhouse Lane are looking for new members to join their club and be part of a quickly growing and respected organisation. There is focus on fun and individual player development, with age and ability specific groups led by professional coaches. Players ages range from 4 to 13 yrs old and take part in training sessions at the state of the art indoor facilities at The Soccer Village. A spokesperson for the club explained "let us guide your child through their football journey."

To join please contact Kevin Dunkerley on 07973 814675 or email kevindunkerley@milnrowjuniors.net to pre-register your child then fill out a copy of the form below and hand in at reception to qualify for a FREE no obligation trial session. 
Everyone welcome.

www.milnrowjuniors.net

Milnrow's Spring Clean

Extra funds have been made available by the Pennines Township Committee to target the general tidiness and appearance of Milnrow and Newhey, also Ogden if merited.

Councillor Martin Rodgers has already suggested the Beresford Garage site in Newhey and the length of Milnrow between The Bobbin public house at the junction with Kiln Lane and the Free Trade Tavern should be considered for the majority of the work, however the ward councillors are receptive to any suggestions about the clean-ups.

Cllr Martin Rodgers
Phone: 01706 643594
Mobile: 07807237876
Email: Martin.Rodgers@Rochdale.Gov.Uk

Spring into Life With Top Tips from Topaz

British Summer Time is just around the corner so many of us are looking to come out of hibernation to kick-start our fitness regime again.

Local fitness expert Karen Austin has 5 amazing tips to help get your summer workouts sizzling so you can start working towards that beach body you want.

“The winter can have a negative effect on your schedule with dark nights and dark mornings, the cold and rainy weather puts a downer on your energy levels and all you want to do is stay inside were it's warm and cosy and you put off working-out so much that it becomes the norm,” says Karen

“All that inactivity during the winter will make you put on a few pounds and make it harder to get back into the swing of things but there are some cheats you can use to get used to working out again.”

Find a friend to work out with - Having a workout buddy helps you stay motivated during your workouts and also to keep going by not wanted to let each other down by not going

Try a new class - Starting a new class keeps you from getting stuck in a rut and just going through the motions - Your body will be tested by trying new exercises and you can get great results by keeping your body on it’s toes.

Get outdoors - Now the summer is coming the weather is more welcoming for runs around the park or joining a Bootcamp or just a good long family walk or bike ride at weekends.

Early morning classes - Now that the mornings are brighter there’s more encouragement to throw back the duvet and get out there for a workout.

Water workout - What could be better when the heat picks up than to take a refreshing swim

If you want more details on how to get back into fitness and for local classes contact Karen on 07966477151 or email karen@topazfitnessacademy.com.

Edmund Street Car Park

Image credit: Google

Councillor Martin Rodgers wants to reassure businesses and residents in Milnrow that no decision has been made to sell the Edmund Street Car Park and in fact that the ward councillors had met local traders to discuss leasing part of it.

Plans are being made to improve the appearance of the car park and possibly paint new parking spaces including disabled bays. Any income raised by the Pennines would be re-invested in the local community.

Cllr Martin Rodgers
Phone: 01706 643594
Mobile: 07807237876
Email: Martin.Rodgers@Rochdale.Gov.Uk

Comic Relief fun morning at LOUD!

Join Beth Kitchen and BK Dance at LOUD Studios this Friday (13th) morning for some Comic Relief fun! Entry is £3 per child. Albert Mill, Milnrow between 9:15am and 11:15am.

'Landlord & Investor' seminar to be hosted by Ellen Kay in Milnrow

Are you looking to enter the property market or expand your portfolio? 

If so Ellen Kay Lettings & Management Services invite you to attend their Landlord & Investor seminar at Milnrow Cricket Club, Thursday 12th March 2015 between 6:30pm and 9pm.

Key topics of interest will be:

• The Conservation of Your Investment
• Energy Performance Certificates
• Deposit Dispute Schemes
• Insuring Your Property
• Gas Safety Certificates
• Inventories
• Tax Liability

Entrance fee: £10
For further information please contact Ellen Kay on 01706 524025 or ellen@ellen-kay.co.uk.

Meet your Councillors this Saturday

The three ward Councillors for Milnrow & Newhey (Brett, Buttterworth and Rodgers) will be at Butterworth Hall on Saturday 13th March from 10am until 11am, no appointment necessary.

The Advice Bureau is held on the second Saturday of every month.

Cllr. Allen Brett
Home - 01706 641203
Mobile - 07812 220436

The Blue Mangeroos come to Milnrow

The Blue Mangeroos lead singer, Vikki

The Blue Mangeroos, a six piece pop and rock covers band from Rochdale and Heywood, will be playing at Milnrow Cricket Club on Friday 13th March 2015 from 7:30pm.

Members £1
Guests £2 (on the door)

For more on The Blue Mangeroos see their website.

Milnrow and Newhey Area Forum

The next Milnrow and Newhey Area Forum will take place at Milnrow Cricket Club on Thursday 5th March 2015 from 7pm.

The agenda will include:

1. Introductions and Code of Conduct
2. Greater Manchester Police 

3. Minutes of the previous meeting and matters arising 

4. Ward News 

5. Youth Service Update 

6. Open Forum 

7. Any Other Business 

8. Date and time of the next meeting 

For further information see the the 'agenda reports pack'.

Contact Information
Support Officer: Tracey Knight
Phone: 01706 922227
Email: tracey.knight@rochdale.gov.uk

First Group to Raise Saver Bus Fares from Sunday 1st March

First Group Plc in Greater Manchester announced yesterday some price changes to saver tickets to come into effect on Sunday 1 March 2015. All other fares remain unchanged including all single tickets.

First's network-wide day ticket will increase by 20p, the week ticket by 50p and the month ticket by £2. Despite these increases, saver tickets remain cheaper than in 2012. For example the day ticket is 30p cheaper (£4.50 vs £4.20) and the week ticket is still more than 20% cheaper (£18 vs £14). Customers currently paying £50 for a month ticket can avoid any increase by switching to buying their month ticket via their mobile.

All other ticket prices are unchanged including single fares which have not increased since 2012. Other value for money tickets including the Young Persons 16-18 week ticket at £10 are also unchanged.

First explained that some rises were necessary to meet increasing costs of operation and to provide a solid business platform to drive further service improvement for customers in 2015. In the last 12 months alone First has invested over £12m* in new buses across Manchester as well as investing in initiatives such as mobile ticketing to improve service quality for customers together with training & development for staff. Plans are now also in place to introduce Wi-Fi on buses and real time information for customers on First buses in Manchester this Spring.

Ian Humphreys, Head of Commercial for First in Manchester said: "Despite having to absorb increasing costs, I'm very pleased that we've been able to hold the prices of most of our fares. It means that the majority of our customers will benefit by paying exactly the same for bus travel."

"However, most costs associated with operating buses are increasing and therefore we need to review our fares from time-to-time to take account of rising costs and ensure we can continue to invest in improving services for our customers in future. In 2014 we've introduced a number of improvements for customers including luxury buses, new cross-city routes and a range of fares and ticketing initiatives.

"These price changes will help support the extensive 7-day network of services offered across Manchester, many of which are largely dependent upon fares from customers to cover their operating costs.

"I appreciate nobody likes it when prices go up but we have worked hard to keep any increases to a minimum. The cost of travel on a First bus still represents excellent value-for-money, and customers can continue to enjoy unlimited travel across the network for less than £2** per day.

"Our aim in 2015 is to continue to give value-for-money to our customers and to build upon the customer growth we have delivered over the last two years."

Here are the details of the changes:

Annual Ticket
Online/by phone - Increases from £500 to £520

Monthly Ticket
Online/by phone/from TfGM Travelshops - Increases from £50 to £52
Using our mTicket App - Increases from £48 to £50

Weekly Ticket
Adult - Increases from £13.50 to £14
Child - Increases from £6.70 to £7

Day Ticket
Adult - Increases from £4 to £4.20
Child - Increases from £2 to £2.10
Group - Increases from £8.60 to £9

Night Ticket
Adult - Increases from £4 to £4.20

Special saver products
No changes to:
Rochdale Road Day/Week
SuperSaver
Quids in
Wilmslow Road Day/Week
Bolton 519 Week
Tameside Day

Single Tickets
No changes

*£12m in 61 new buses, services 41, 42 & 348/350
**Based on a month ticket at £52 across 4 weeks