Ynysddu news

Memorial Stone On The Move: The big move is on Sunday, May 20, when the stone will be relocated from its resting place in the Glan-y-nant Gardens in Cwmfelinfach to a temporary position within the park to make way for drainage works.

It was unfortunate that the stone was sitting right on top of the place where the council had to excavate. You could say X marked the spot'.

Once the work is completed the gardens will be put back as before.

Scrum On Down And Try U13's Rugby: If you are in school year 8 and would like to play Under 13's Rugby, please come along to train at Ynysddu Rugby Club on Sunday at 11.00am.

For more information phone Karen on 01495 223591.

The Mog Cabin Opens: Martin and Stephen welcomed their customers old and new when their store opened after the May Bank Holiday in High Street, Ynysddu.

Residents will be able to access a pay point facility and pay their utility bills from the store as well as purchase the normal day-to-day groceries.

Babell Chapel Celebrations: To commemorate the 175th year of the poet Islwyn's birth, the Local Sirhowy Valley Partnership presented a workshop evening in the Cwmfelinfach Community Hall recently.

There was a slide show about Babell and its importance to the community as well as discussion on the history of the chapel and the surrounding area and how the chapel could be brought back to life and used by the community.

Lots of ideas were put forward but the most favoured was to use the chapel as a heritage site where visitors can experience historical memories (using film, photos and sound) of the surrounding area.

This has been done in other parts of the welsh valleys. However, a committee to take this forward was not formed at the meeting so it is hoped that interested parties will come forward.

Trip to Swansea and Mumbles: Only a few seats left for the Cwmfelinfach Residents bus trip to Swansea and Mumbles on June 6 at a cost of £7.

For all those interested please contact Duncan at the Post Office in Cwmfelinfach or telephone Shelagh on 01495 200509.

Please hurry, as these trips are always a great success and the bus fills quickly.

Change to Social Evening: There is a change of date for this month's Cwmfelinfach Residents Association social evening.

It will be held a week early, on Friday, 18th May when the Macmillan Nurses will be the guests. Macmillan Cancer Relief is a UK charity, supporting people with cancer and their families and has always been well supported by the residents Artwork to go on Railings: New railings are planned for the children's play park on Station Avenue, Ynysddu.

This is all part of the ongoing Links and Loops project run by the council and Groundwork Caerphilly to enhance the entrances to the cycle path.

An artist has been engaged to work with local children to design panels for the fence.

Ynysddu Primary and the youth club will have the chance to contribute to the scheme with both being asked to come up with their own designs for the decorations.

Stone Carving: As part of the Links and Loops project run by the Council, residents last summer were invited to get involved in a project to create artwork with a local theme.

An art workshop was set up in Ynys Hywel and stone benches were carved by anyone who wished to turn up.

Artist Michael Disley was commissioned to design three stone carvings, which will be set on the entrances to the cycle path in Cwmfelinfach, Wattsville and Ynysddu.

The designs were shown to residents throughout the valley for them to choose their favourite.

Cwmfelinfach's choice of carving was called The Flannel Mill which harked back to an early textile industry in the village.

The stone carving can be seen, together with three stone benches, where the cycle path crosses over the river road near Pont Lawrence Bridge.

Drawing Attention to Animation Club: The Cwmfelinfach Regional Animation Club (CRAnC) which is run by Tom Maloney, deputy head teacher at Cwmfelinfach Primary School, is in the process of making a movie about the dangers of electricity.

Mr Maloney said: "We have already filmed and edited the opening scene and animated a section on the dangers of flying a kite near overhead lines.

"We were lucky to receive a donation from Western Power Distribution, which enabled us to purchase a much-needed iMac computer, which has greatly improved our animating, and editing process.

"The last film produced by CRAnC was Bad Influence? on the subject of graffiti and anti-social behaviour.

"This was recently entered into the Zoom Welsh Young Film makers Festival and although we did not win a prize we had a mention in the festival brochure."

Darts Season Round Up: The Progressive Club's Ladies Darts team finished the season runners up in the Risca Ladies League.

Team captain Jeanette Lewis said: "We had another successful season and are looking forward to the final of the Knock Out Cup at the Progressive Club on May 22.

"Amanda Probyn is in the semi-finals of the singles and will be presented with an award for achieving a 180."

Delivering Kindness: Tina and her co-driver are back after an exhausting trip to take tonnes of aid out to the eastern European country of Kosovo to help people affected by the 1999 Balkan War.

They had such a fantastic response to their appeal there was too much aid to pack into the lorry.

They had to keep some of the non-perishable items for their next trip.

Everything is boxed, sealed and labelled. They now need somewhere to store it.

Has anyone got a dry garage or storeroom they are not using?

Please call Sue Logan on 01495 200742.

What's On: Monday - Bingo at the Black Prince 9pm start Thursday - Ynysddu Hotel, free pool all night from 7pm (Over 18's only) Friday - Karaoke at the Black Prince Saturday - The Progressive Club, female vocalist Sunday afternoon at the Black Prince - Live entertainment vocalist Mark Ryan at 5.30pm followed by Karaoke