Here and now Magazine by Dave Riches

Here

Now a z i n e

m a g

Issue 14 Aire Valley

The Local Magazine for Local People

May ~ June 2009

Priceless

NEW Spring Fashion Feature Win a 4’ 6” Bazille Bed Frame Worth £100 PLUS a FREE Bedroom Carpet see page 30 (Terms & conditions apply) with

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Editor’s Message

CONTENTS

urrah...it’s officially spring and the sun is shining as I write this message! Let me reassure you that in these trying times of

Body & Soul

economic turbulence, Here & Now Magazine continues to work harder than ever to help local businesses reach directly into the homes

Star treatment at The Yorkshire Clinic

of their local target market, and to keep local

Who pays the bills when you are off work?

people abreast of the local services available

Bradford Cancer Support Fashion Show

Fashion Show Fundraising Event

to them. As a small family run business

ourselves we appreciate how important it is to be seen by the correct people and our aim is to offer more support in 2009 than ever before. We have an exciting fashion supported by feature in this

4-7

Fashion Feature

8-12

Homes & Gardens 14-23

edition which have produced ourselves The we Yorkshire Clinic

using local and amazing fashions from andgirlsDebenham’s

Your flat roof will never leak again

local suppliers. We hope you like it. We

have also introduced feature On Thursday an 16thinformative April, countless women and several

The conservatory of your dreams

produced for us by West Yorkshire Police,

FREE roof surveys will save you money

men came together at Bradford Grammar School to watch a fashion show to show their support for the charity, Bradford Cancer Support. The theme of the night was fashion for all occasions at the show, which had been put together to raise money for the charity. The Yorkshire Clinic organised the event, working closely with Debenham’s at the White Rose Centre, and they are proud to have raised £2000 on the night through entry fees, raffle tickets and generous donations. The models, all local girls, women, boys and men, wore clothes that had been supplied by Debenham’s. Each outfit had been chosen and styled by personal shoppers to suit the trends of the season as well as the personalities of the models. The range of clothes and different outfits was wide and every fashionista in the audience could be sure to find something that would suit them. From everyday to cruise wear, wedding outfits to summer dresses, all times of the day and all occasions were covered during the show, which left the audience inspired and hungry for another piece of fashion. Bradford Cancer Support is an Independent Registered Charity. The charity supports people whose lives are affected by cancer in the Bradford Metropolitan District of West Yorkshire. The organisation offers counselling to people affected by cancer as well as fun activities such as water colour painting and pottery to take one’s mind off cancer and help gain a sense of pleasure. Bradford Cancer Support has many fundraising activities planned this year and invites you to join them as they raise money to help people in need. For more information about the charity and how you can help, go to www.bradfordcancersupport.org.uk or phone 01274 776688.

working in partnership to keep you safe in your homes and informed about the area.

Here and now Magazine...

It’s everywhere you want your business to be, and gets your business seen by thousands!

Life & Leisure

24-36

Probably the best Balti Restaurant in the area Resolve to stop burglaries Does your business need a solution?

Distributed to selected homes in Gilstead, Eldwick, East Morton, Micklethwaite, Crossflatts, Keighley, Steeton, Silsden, Crosshills and Skipton and through Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons stores.

Many thanks to our Contributors: Natalie Cabaj, Angela Riches, Phil Barraclough, John Gallery, Shipley Building Plastics, British Blinds, Celia Hickson, West Yorkshire Police, Bingley Roofing and Helen Carter. HERE & now! is produced by MAD Publications Ltd as a free local magazine. The Publishers cannot accept any liability for any advertisments in this publication.

HEAD OFFICE and SALES: Suites 1 & 7, Albion Mills, Greengates, Bradford BD10 9TQ

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Please send in your letters to Angela Riches, Editor, HERE & now! Magazine, Suites 1 & 7, Albion Mills, Greengates, Bradford BD10 9TQ or send an email to editor@madpublications.co.uk

T: 01274 420091 * Please note that it is not possible to provide individual replies to all letters and emails. All rights reserved, no part may be reproduced without prior written permission of the publishers.

Body

Star T Soul

at The Yorkshire

To advertise in this section call 01274 420091

Mr Bollen

Professor Schilders

Treatment

e Clinic

ou often read of top sportsmen and women jetting off to the States for treatment of their injuries but how many people are aware of the steady stream of the elite sporting world who make their way to this quiet corner of Yorkshire? Manchester United, Liverpool, Middlesbrough and Sunderland football clubs as well as the Bradford Bulls, Leeds Rhinos and Wakefield Wildcats are just a few of the clubs who bring some their players to the Yorkshire Clinic, to receive the very best of care from two of the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most renowned specialists in sporting injuries. Who do they go to see? Mr Steve Bollen and Professor Ernest Schilders. Between them they have almost 30 years of experience in looking after elite sportsmen and women. Both lecture nationally and internationally in their specialist areas and they are constantly in demand as the leading experts in their fields. Little is known about the fact that they carry out the majority of their consultations and corrective surgeries on leading sporting figures and members of the public alike at The Yorkshire Clinic in Cottingley. Mr Steve Bollen, who has a special interest in soft tissue injuries of the knee and ankle, started to look after Bradford City and the Bradford Bulls in 1992. As his reputation spread, more and more clubs sent their players to see him. He now has every wall in his office covered with personally signed photographs from almost every sports person you can think of, thanking him for getting their careers back on track. Testament to his expertise and he is rightly proud of every one of the images and thank you notes on his walls. Among Mr. Bollens accolades is the fact the he has been President of the British Orthopaedic and Sports Trauma Association. He also examines for the Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine and has been Clinical Director of the Orthopaedic Department for the Bradford Hospital Trust for the last ten years. Professor Ernest Schilders joined the team in 1999, specialising in injuries of the shoulder, groin and hip. Professor Schilders trained as an orthopaedic surgeon in Belgium and the

United States. He commenced his professional career at the University Hospital Antwerp and was subsequently appointed as a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at the Bradford Royal Infirmary in 1999. His special interests are shoulder and hip arthroscopy and groin injuries from sports. Professor Schilders is recognised as one of the leading hip arthroscopists (examination of a joint with a device called an arthroscope inserted through a small incision in the skin) in the country and is currently conducting several large studies looking at femoroacetabular impingement and instability of the hip. Professor Schilders is also a reviewer for the British Journal of Sports Medicine and Sports Medicine publications. Since 2008, he has been appointed as visiting Professor in Sports Medicine at Leeds Metropolitan University. Between the two of them, Professor Ernest Schilders and Mr Steve Bollens have successfully treated thousands of patients, both famous and everyday people who need them to repair their injuries, allowing them to lead a normal life again. Everyone knows that the Yorkshire Clinic is the place to go to receive the very best of private health or NHS care. It is a wellknown fact that some of the best cosmetic and reconstructive surgeons work there and now you know that the Yorkshire Clinic can offer a sports injury service too. There are plans to open a Centre of Orthopaedic Excellence in Spring 2010. You can find out more about Mr Bollen by logging onto the following website: http://www.stevebollen.co.uk For further information about Mr Steve Bollen or Professor Ernest Schilders and their specialist areas, call 01274 550621. The Yorkshire Clinic also has on-site Pathology, CT and MRI as well as the usual Ultrasound and X-ray and are able to offer any athlete the full gamut of services to diagnose and treat most injuries they may suffer.

Phil Barraclough

hil Barraclough has always been involved in the insurance market. He feels passionate about how people should be properly protected. He has been involved with various Insurance Companies and Insurance Brokers and obtained his (degree equivalent) Associateship of the Chartered Insurance Institute (A.C.I.I.) some years ago. He then was granted Chartered Insurer status following his Associateship and length of service in the industry. More recently, he has worked in the Financial Services side of the industry and again he has obtained his full Financial Planning Certificate qualification (Cert PFS). Presently he is a Business Consultant for Insurety Capital Healthcare, part of the very large continental group April. In the past he has had roles from Section Leader, Inspector, Assistant Regional Manager to Senior Account Manager with different companies. These roles involved business development and much travelling when he called on General Insurance Brokers and Independent Financial Advisers. Now, he is dealing directly with the

public and enjoying the experience very much as he feels it is very satisfying to discuss a clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needs and how he can then help them. He is currently explaining to potential clients the need for Accident & Sickness Insurance, whether they be selfemployed or employed, to protect some of their net profit OR income, if these problems arise. Also, he has a product available, where there is a money-back provision if no claims are made over a twelve year period, depending on age of the client. This product is an addition to the Accident & Sickness cover and creates a lot of interest amongst the people to whom he talks. He also has access to other products including Term Assurance and Private Medical Insurance (also with a money-back provision). Phil lives in Eldwick, Bingley, is married with two sons and came back to this

area some 25 years ago, after moving away when he got married. In his spare time he swims plays badminton and learns ballroom and latin dancing too. He loves singing, playing guitar and tennis and used to be involved as an actor in amateur dramatics. He is also involved with art groups. Family tree research, local history and handwriting analysis, as well as digital photography are all areas of interest and he has exhibited digital photographic prints in a number of art galleries. He is also keen on astronomy with his own telescope.

W progrE amme

速

Spring into summer fashio

Colours are key as we step into the warmth of summer. With the colour blocking trend, come many options of combining colours of matching or contrasting nature to create your own individual image. Also, catwalks and high street shops hav warmly welcomed a new shade of orange to join the fashion rainbow this year - the soft shade, coral. For a very subtle look, you can experiment with nude colours. Beige, sand and coffee-with-milk are all fantastic shades of the nude family that will prove essential as we move through the summer months. Finally, black maintains a strong appearance on the runways and you are encouraged to keep using your black garments - this season black can be spiced up by bright colours or heavy jewellery for a classy look.

A feature by Natalie Cabaj Blocks of colours The colour blocking trend is simple yet fabulous - you create a colour blocking outfit by using your favourite colours divided by sharp horizontal lines. As flowers are born and decorate the scenery, you will be encouraged to match the lively colours of nature. The colour blocking trend allows you to stay loyal to one family of colours at a time or mix and match across the rainbow. The easiest way to block your colours is to choose trousers in one colour, tops in another. Use pieces that are singlecoloured and without any patterns. If you are looking for a consistent use of the rainbow, create your outfit using shades of the same family: fuchsia with red, orange with sunshine yellow, turquoise with navy blue, grass green with lime etc. These colour combinations will give your appearance harmony and should be accompanied by shoes in a colour of the same family to complete the look. For a more courageous outfit, mix colours that contrast each other. Combining red with blue, orange with turquoise, bright yellow with a dark purple or lime green with pink makes you stand out and such an outfit will express the fun side of you. If you feel really brave, try using more than two different colours together. To complete the appearance step into a pair of bright coloured shoes that will bring you even closer to reaching the rainbow. Sky-high heels are fabulous as they elongate your legs and add that extra feminine touch you are looking for.

Fashion in the nude

Nude shades such as beige, sand, pale pink and coffee-with-milk will be prominent throughout the summer. Consider your skin colour when choosing your perfect shade of nude. Fair skin should be dressed in darker nuances, for instance cinnamon, while darker skin looks fantastic in lighter tones such as crème or pale salmon. You are allowed to be adventurous with cuts and details to make your appearance eye-

catching. This season’s runways suggest that the silhouette of the nudecoloured attire is unique and designers encourage you to let the shape of your outfit call for attention. Baggy trousers and over-sized tops and jumpers give your appearance the necessary volume. Asymmetric cuts, unique embroidery and multiple layers will bring the nude-coloured outfit to life. To complete the look, accessorise your outfit with shoes and a bag in a matching colour. Whether there is a spacious bag by your side or a small it-bag resting on your hip, it needs to be in harmony with the subtle colour of your outfit. Jewellery should be kept to a minimum for your appearance to be as natural as possible.

The softest orange Among the most popular of colours this summer is coral - a soft shade of the warm orange family, which has entered the catwalks and has made its way into high street shops and fashion boutiques. Coral looks fantastic with dark denim and you will be able to find both tops and trousers in this fantastic new shade. With the sun daring to come out from behind the clouds, you can look forward to days when you can wear your favourite coral top with a fabulous pair of denim shorts – this outfit is the perfect choice for the early summer months. You can also choose to put your coral item with something black. Orange tunics and tops look spectacular with black tights. Underlining your outfit with a pair of flashy heels will complete the outfit. If you feel adventurous, you can dare to marry your coral pieces with other colours.

As for jewellery, coral looks fabulous with pearls. Pearl earrings, necklaces or bracelets are ideal as they add to the very soft tone of the colour. However, the shade is open to diversity – don’t be afraid to mix it up and choose attention-seeking jewellery in a completely different colour to go with your coral attire.

ve Black beauty You may be tempted to retire your black pieces and replace them with colourful items but try to resist. Throughout the summer, your black clothes can easily be incorporated into your wardrobe and given a fresher and more summery look, so there is no need to give up on them. Spicing up your black clothes with bright colours will ensure that the outfit loses the dramatic, grave touch and becomes more lively and vivid. Also, you can use heavy jewellery in rainbow colours to pep up your black pieces. Whether it is sparkly white gems, metal accessories or bright, colourful, bangle bracelets, your accessories will prove essential in the creation of beautiful black outfits.

Clothes supplied by Caron Cobé, Yeadon, and ISIS Goddesswear, Saltaire. Shoes supplied by Tip Toes, Guiseley. Photography by Cream Photography. Hair and make up by Yazz Number One Hair Studio, Rawdon. Venue: Quebecs Hotel, Leeds. Models: Kelly, Charlotte, Sarah, Becky and Cath.

The big BANG-le With more sunshine and brighter days, it is tempting to hope that the season of short-sleeved tops is soon to arrive. Therefore, it is crucial that you acquire a few pieces to decorate your wrists this summer. Heavy bangle bracelets are the answer to your questions. This magnificent piece of fashion is not only the difference between a dull dress and a fantastic frock - the bracelet dots the i of your entire appearance. With many fantastic accessories available in high street shops and fashion boutiques, the bracelet has become an expression of your personality it can represent the mood your are in or the woman you want to be and help your outfit make a statement. From subtle nudes to the brightest of all rainbows, there are many different ways for you to espress your personality through your choice of outfit this summer. Enjoy the summer fashions of 2009 and use them in creative ways to complete your own, individual style.

I would never have guessed that my six week placement would lead to an amazing job writing about fashion and directing photo shoots with award-winning hair dressers, a professional photographer and beautiful models. It turns out, that dreams really do come true. The preparation for the photo shoot was time-consuming and demanding. But, gosh, did I enjoy it! With previous experience in writing about fashion, I knew exactly what photos I was hoping to get and Amanda, my photographer, was very good in understanding what I wanted to achieve with my feature. The clothes came together really well. My chosen hair and makeup artists were all up for the idea, being experienced with photo shoots and shows. The chosen venue, proved to be perfect for the trends I wanted to promote and the tone of the feature. Finally, the models I chose to work with were almost as excited as I was, which raised my expectations and made me look forward to the event even more. On the day of the photo shoot, I was thrilled to see everything come together nicely. The models turned out to be naturals in front of the camera, which made everything so much more enjoyable and fun. At the end of the day, I was happy with the outcome – I could not wait to start working on the beautiful pictures I knew we had achieved. Planning and managing the photo shoot was an amazing and valuable experience for me and I would like to thank MAD Publications for giving me this amazing opportunity. Also, special thanks to Caron from Caron Cobé, Maria from ISIS Goddesswear and Joan from Tip Toes for supplying beautiful pieces for the shoot, the team from Yazz for their exotic hair and makeup performance, Stuart and his team at Quebecs Hotel for allowing us to use their beautiful venue, Amanda from Cream Photography for donating her time and skills to my project and the gorgeous models for their time and smiles.

Fabulous photos

The story behind Here&Now Magazine’s fashion feature

When Natalie Cabaj, a journalism student at Leeds University’s Trinity & All Saints Campus in Horsforth, joined the team at Here & Now Magazine on a six week work placement, we immediately knew that we had another star in the making! Natalie threw herself completely into everything we gave her and anything we asked her to do, coming in early and working late and the odd weekend when we needed her to meet deadlines, in fact completely immersing herself with complete passion into her work. So when Natalie found out about the fashion feature we were introducing to the magazine, she asked if she could produce the features. I was bowled over by her energy and enthusiasm but not sure if she realised the amount of work involved, so I asked her to research and produce her first fashion feature for the February edition to see what she came up with. I have to say that it was great and we had good feedback from our readers. However, we wanted to progress on to using local models and fashion suppliers for the next one. True to form, Natalie volunteered to project manage the whole process. Natalie was amazing at finding the venue and everyone involved. The great thing about using normal girls as opposed to professional models is that we are able to show how today’s cutting edge fashions look on the people who actually buy and wear them rather than reflecting totally unachievable images on professional models who have also been airbrushed to within an inch of their lives. The girls in this feature are natural, beautiful local girls, made to look like models by the team from Yazz and the great clothes they are wearing. Natalie took complete control from the word go on the day. She was there before everyone else, making sure that everything was in place, with a

Models

Kelly

Natalie Cabaj running order of the day and refreshments for everyone. We had two hair and makeup rooms, one dressing room and pretty much the full scope of the gorgeous bedrooms and other areas of Quebecs Hotel to use as our backdrops and settings. The day was hectic, frantic and exciting and certainly something we will be doing on a regular basis. The models themselves were also students at Leeds’ universities and friends of Natalie. They gave their time willingly to be pampered, preened and dressed in the most fabulous clothes from Caron Cobé Fashions in Yeadon and ISIS Goddesswear in Saltaire and shoes from Tip Toes of Guiseley. It was every girl’s dream Sunday! The girls were on such a high at the end of the day and didn’t want to waste their lovely hairdo’s and makeup so they all went out for dinner in Leeds to make the most of it. Well done girls, you were brilliant! At this point, I would like to sincerely thank everyone involved, especially those who gave up a whole Sunday to be there on the day. Paul Shakeshaft and his inspired team from Yazz Number One Hair Studios in Rawdon and Yeadon came along and created fantastic hair and makeup for the models on the day and Amanda Ramsey of Cream Photography did all of the photographs in a truly magnificent venue, Quebecs Hotel in Leeds, which provided some stunning backdrops and settings for the models. Thank you to Stuart Ward, general manager of Quebecs for his cooperation, his hotel and the team looking after us were brilliant.

Becky

Caron Cobé - 01132 391191 ISIS Goddesswear - 01274 583555 Tip Toes - 01943 873385 Cream Photography - 07939 063407 Yazz Number One Hair Studio - 01132 504511 Quebec’s Hotel - 01132 201791

Angela Riches Sarah

Charlotte

Catherine

Fashion Show Fundraising Event supported by The Yorkshire Clinic and Debenham’s

On Thursday 16th April, countless women and several men came together at Bradford Grammar School to watch a fashion show to show their support for the charity, Bradford Cancer Support. The theme of the night was fashion for all occasions at the show, which had been put together to raise money for the charity. The Yorkshire Clinic organised the event, working closely with Debenham’s at the White Rose Centre, and they are proud to have raised £2000 on the night through entry fees, raffle tickets and generous donations. The models, all local girls, women, boys and men, wore clothes that had been supplied by Debenham’s. Each outfit had been chosen and styled by personal shoppers to suit the trends of the season as well as the personalities of the models. The range of clothes and different outfits was wide and every fashionista in the audience could be sure to find something that would suit them. From everyday to cruise wear, wedding outfits to summer dresses, all times of the day and all occasions were covered during the show, which left the audience inspired and hungry for another piece of fashion. Bradford Cancer Support is an Independent Registered Charity. The charity supports people whose lives are affected by cancer in the Bradford Metropolitan District of West Yorkshire. The organisation offers counselling to people affected by cancer as well as fun activities such as water colour painting and pottery to take one’s mind off cancer and help gain a sense of pleasure. Bradford Cancer Support has many fundraising activities planned this year and invites you to join them as they raise money to help people in need. For more information about the charity and how you can help, go to www.bradfordcancersupport.org.uk or phone 01274 776688.

Call Celia Hickson for further information

Tel: 07976 979287

Does recession immunisation exist? O r put differently, what can small business owners do to help their businesses to survive this recession? Historically, small business owners and entrepreneurs do prove to be resilient in tough economic conditions. Many small businesses have an edge on larger organisations in that they can rapidly adapt and flex to suit the market and their customers. However, this can be a double edged sword as the collective brain power available to drive the change can be limited, often to one brain if you are a sole trader. It could be said that spending time and effort on planning is a waste of resources, as everything has changed and no-one can predict how your market will be affected. But many business advisors and pundits are warning that doing nothing is no longer an option and that the small business owner who typically muddled along before this current recession will have to “wise up” and start to focus heavily on sales and marketing. This is all very well if your previous experiences have been in a competitive market where customers were a precious commodity. What if your customers have always found you and word of mouth kept your order books full and the cash flowing? Right now getting the message that you need to “own the voice of the customer” could be giving you sleepless nights. Marketing strategists and gurus talk about market segmentation and customer profiling. What this means is understanding your customers; where do they live, what is their age profile, where else do they spend their money, how have their spending habits changed? If you have a list of previous customers, you could survey them and listen to their answers carefully. If you don’t have a customer database, you could use your family and friends, neighbours, anyone who you think will give you an honest opinion about your market. Taking your top customer out to lunch could give you some real insight into how they are feeling about their business at the moment. Newsletters, events, and promotions can all be used to get customers talking and thinking about you. Writing to customers detailing your latest promotions and giving them an incentive to reply, perhaps a competition or an offer may seem old hat but it gives you an opportunity to update your customer database. If you have email addresses, e-bulletins and emails can put you in front of your customers again. Simple things can boost your profile; if you work in customer’s homes ask if you can put a sign up whilst you are working there. Invest in some magnetic door signs for your car and have some cheap business cards with you wherever you are and hand them out! If you work mainly business to business, try some breakfast networking or an evening seminar to find new businesses to sell to. If your industry has a trade magazine or a trade fair you need to consider the merits of being there. If you don’t want to commit to taking a trade stand, just attending could fire you up with new ideas about how to get new customers and keep existing ones. By giving your customers high quality, keen prices and excellent customer service exactly when they want it, you can’t guarantee that you will get repeat business but you are well on the way to earning it. Building relationships with your existing and new customers is one survival strategy that could pay dividends in the current market and in any future market. Small business owners are well known for their toughness and temerity. Let yours shine!

Classes in your area BINGLEY Eldwick Memorial Hall, Otley Road, Bingley Tuesday 09:45 - 11:15 am Myrtle Park Primary School, Ash Terrace, Bingley Thursday 6:00 - 7:30 pm Thursday 7:30 - 9:00 pm (Slim & Salsacise) BURLEY IN WHARFEDALE Queens Hall, Main Street, Burley In Wharfedale Thursday 09:45 - 11:15 am MENSTON Kirklands Community Centre, 119 Main Street, Menston Monday 6:00 - 7:30 pm (Slim & Salsacise)

SHIPLEY Low Ash Primary School, Wrose Road, Shipley Saturday 10:00 - 11:30 am (Slim & Salsacise) Tuesday 6:00 - 7:30 pm Tuesday 7:30 - 9:00 pm (Slim & Salsacise) Victoria Hall, Victoria Road, Saltaire, Shipley Wednesday 6:00 - 7:30 pm Wednesday 7:30 - 9:00 pm (Slim & Salsacise) *

Trialists lost on average 7.25lbs in two weeks. Class Fee - £5.50 ** Valid until 30/05/2009 Bring this advert with you to claim offer below.

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Free membership** worth £10 plus free portion pots® worth £4.88when you pre-pay for five weeks classes

Homes

Gardens

To advertise in this section call 01274 420091

Your flat roof will never leak again!

or the last five years, Shipley Building Plastics has been supplying local tradesmen and DIY enthusiasts. Our success is down to friendly, knowledgeable staff who can assist any customer with any requirements. We pride ourselves on specialising in the sale of the bespoke Rehau UPVC windows, doors, conservatories, fascias, soffits and GRP roofing (Glass-Reinforced Polyester).

GRP GRP roofing is fast becoming the industry leader for flat roof solutions and the standard in flat roof replacement because of its versatility, strength, durability, low cost and choice of colours.

A brief history of GRP GRP was discovered in the late 1940s. It was quickly adopted during the 1950s and 1960s for a wide range of applications where its corrosion-proof properties allied with its high standard strength and excellent appearance. It soon proved to be invaluable. Its first main application was for boat building where it gained acceptance in the 50s. The uses of GRP have since broadened to the extent that it has today. It has become the standard material for the construction of small craft, water tanks, building cladding panels, roof lights and high performance waterproof coatings. In the last ten years, a rapid growth has occurred in the GRP roofing industry as more and more people realise the benefits of GRP.

Other applications for GRP The durability and lightweight of GRP make it the ideal construction material for a wide range of applications from lorry aerofoils to roofs, boats, ponds and automotive body panels. GRP is also used in hostile industrial settings for applications such as tanks and underground pipes. This is due to its ability to withstand high temperatures and its resistance to chemicals. Unlike other roofing materials, GRP has properties that cause it to be ideally suited for small aircraft construction. As well as being an inexpensive material, it is robust, flexible and will never corrode. A number of RNLI lifeboats are constructed completely from GRP - these vessels are used in heavy weather for inshore rescue. GRP is also used throughout the automotive industry for after sale body kits, body repair kits, kit cars and body panels for production cars.

Interlock At Shipley Building Plastics, we are constantly looking at new products in an effort to bring the very best to our customers at the right price. This is why we have taken onboard Interlock Speedfit Plumbing range 15mm and 22mm. We can also provide 32mm and 40mm waste and fitting as well as traps and we have 110mm soil pipes with underground drainage pencilled in for early July.

Why use Interlock? Interlock offers you a complete and flexible plumbing and heating system manufactured in a BS EN ISO 9002 approved facility. It is manufactured to BS 7281, Part 1 and 2, Class S and awarded BSI Kitemark License No KM52006 for thermoplastic hot and cold pipes and fittings produced in polybutylene. Interlock pipes and fittings are both manufactured from the same raw material. Therefore, we are offering uniform expansion and contraction with an extensive range of both pipes and fittings available in 10mm, 15mm, 22mm and 28mm (In stock 15mm and 22mm. 10mm and 28mm available on request). Interlock fittings house an â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ring, spacer, washer and grab ring and employ a simple push-fit technique for joining the fitting to the pipe. It is suitable for both sealed and open-vented heating systems. With its low thermal conductivity and high resistance to corrosion, Interlock offers you the ideal product for all domestic water supplies and central heating applications.

Blinds

the latest thing in home fashion trends With the ever increasing focus on home fashion and the need to create more space in our homes, the humble blind of yesteryear has had a makeover and now provides a fashion statement in its own right. And as spring truly marches on, our houses feel lighter and brighter when we adapt a simpler window treatment to complement our choice of interior decoration.

The choice is infantesimal Don’t misunderstand me, the fact that the blind offers a more minimalist look doesn’t mean that you have to compromise your style, quite the opposite in fact when you look at the number of styles, materials and fabric designs available you will be quite spoilt for choice. From the simple roller, roman and venetian blinds to the more dramatic plantation shutters, the humble blind offers more choice and benefits than many other window treatments around today. Quite apart from your design choice, a blind can provide black out, thermal and shading properties to a space, factors that are not only a practicality for every day living, but provide that all important ambience for your home. Blinds have come such a long way in the past 5 years, there are now even non drill options that allow fitting into expensive extensions like conservatories and velux windows without the worry of compromising the fixture.

DIY or Made to Measure? Well that all sounds great you say, and some of you will be completely unphased by the thought of juggling a drill, spirit level and tape measure. But what if I have awkward windows, a new conservatory or quite frankly just don’t do DIY? If you don’t want the hassle of fitting yourself there are many specialist companies who offer a fully made to measure and installation service – not only will they take the responsibility of measuring and fitting your blinds for you, but as trained professionals they can help you choose the right treatment, colour and style to truly enhance your home.

years guarantee. That says a lot for the confidence of these companies in the quality of their product and fitting – where else nowadays can you get a FREE no quibble guarantee for 5 years for a product? Thinking of changing to blinds, a quick call to one of the many specialists will provide you with a bespoke measuring service and no obligation quote so you can see for yourself why so many people choose to go Made to Measure.

BUY ONE GET ONE

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Choose from 100’s of fabrics from our roller or vertical blind range • Buy 1 get 1 FREE • FREE measuring • FREE fitting

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£20*

Is this just expensive? So far so good, but does all this extra design advice and service come at a price? Of course price is subjective, but made to measure blinds do not come at a premium, in fact pound for pound, the range and quality of the products you can source directly from the specialists is on the whole superior to that found on the high street, and sometimes even with the additional service can work out as cost effective. In this climate that has to be good news! Not only that, but as the blinds have been fully measured, manufactured and fitted by the company who produce them, they normally come with a 5

Arrange a visit from one of our local experts:-

0800 881 8855 Quoting code HN04BO Email: sales@britishblinds.co.uk www.britishblinds.co.uk

The buy one get one free offer is available on selected products and fabric options. Cannot be used in association with any other th June offer. Offer ends 30 31st May 2009. The British Blinds full terms and conditions of sale apply - see our website for full details. *Price shown is for each blind when purchased through the buy 1 get 1 free promotion.

9684 • British Blinds ad 136x92.indd 1

20/04/2009 13:57

Acorn

Glazing and Building Services

corn Glazing and Building Services - your local family-run specialist in replacement doors, windows and conservatories - have built up a superb reputation in the area for fair pricing, excellent workmanship and great customer service and their integrity is second to none. They know that by adding a conservatory onto your home, you increase your leisure living space and add significant value to the property. This is a smart home improvement to make at a time when many homeowners are facing the growing demand for space and when selling and buying homes has never been more difficult. Many people actually decide against a conservatory because they think it will cost

a fortune and that it will be a long, drawn-out process due to planning permission regulations. Acorn want you to know that since October 2008, there has been a relaxation in planning laws, which means that smaller installations now qualify as ‘permitted schemes’. This means that homeowners don’t have to apply for planning permission, as long as the conservatory meets a set of conditions. Most importantly the conservatory must not extend more than three meters from the back of a terraced or semi-detached property and more than four meters from the rear of a detached home. The fact that you can now add a conservatory to your property without going through the often lengthy and laborious

planning process means that you can have the much desired addition to your home in less than two weeks! Being forced to ‘sit tight’ in a home that you have outgrown is very frustrating and conservatories remain an exceptionally costeffective way of getting that extra room, with an average conservatory priced at around £8,000. Compared to an extension, conservatories offer great value for money and make your house more desirable when you eventually decide to move. Perfection comes in many shapes and sizes. Acorn Glazing and Building Services can provide them all!

Free Roof Surveys Will Save You Money Roof Care and Maintenance “Free roof surveys will save you money”, says Julia Wilson of Bingley Roofing Contractors Ltd. She has contacted Here and Now Magazine to give readers the benefit of expert guidance on keeping your home’s roof in good condition. Many of us neglect to appreciate how important it is to maintain your home’s roof in good condition. It is difficult to know as we are not roofing experts and we think it is most likely to be expensive. In truth, the roof plays a vital role in keeping your house watertight and warm and should be inspected once or twice a year to ensure it continues to provide this important role.

How to Check Your Roof Most checks can be done from the ground level. Binoculars can be helpful and a neighbour’s property may also be a useful vantage point. Inspection through the loft access trap may show daylight penetration possibly caused by missing covering or damaged flashings. It is not advisable to attempt accessing and surveying the roof yourself as this presents many hazards. It would be recommended that a reputable and experienced roofing contractor carry out this on your behalf as they would have the suitable safety equipment. A good roofing contractor would generally carry out this quotation free of charge and then recommend any necessary works. IF YOU CHECK YOUR ROOF AS ADVISED, PREFERABLY BEFORE THE INCLEMENT WEATHER IN THE WINTER MONTHS, YOU WILL POTENTIALLY PREVENT WATER PENETRATION CAUSING DAMAGE WITHIN YOUR PROPERTY AND SAVE YOURSELF MONEY. REMEMBER, IF YOU ARE UNSURE, ASK A PROFESSIONAL ROOFING CONTRACTOR TO PROVIDE YOU WITH A ROOF SURVEY AND QUOTATION. THESE ARE USUALLY FREE OF CHARGE. A REPUTABLE COMPANY WILL ADVISE YOU ACCORDINGLY OF THE WORK THAT IS REQUIRED AND OFFER A GUARANTEE FOR ANY ROOFING WORKS THEY COMPLETE.

What to Look For Debris on the ground from broken slates, tiles or defective mortar indicates that there may be a problem. If you have missing tiles or slates, have them reinstated before damage occurs to roof felt, timbers or plaster ceilings. Moss, leaves and other debris can block gutters and cause the overflow of guttering, which can then cause damp to penetrate when running down the walls or to back flow into the roof area. Moss retains moisture, which may damage the roof covering, particularly if left on the roof in frosty weather. Careful removal is advisable and treatments are available to slow down reformation. Hips ridges and flashings can become detached in windy weather if pointing is not maintained. Look in gutters or gullies for signs of mortar droppings. Leaning chimneys or pots may need attention. Seek expert advice. Where a fuel fire is used check for smoke exiting through brickwork or at base of pots. Pointing and re-flaunching may be required. Many roof coverings such as lead or thatch require specialist repair. Do not use unskilled labour or quick-fix materials as these could cause greater long-term damage and greater expense.

For further information or enquiries, please contact Bingley Roofing Contractors Ltd on 01535 273272

Life

Leisure

To advertise in this section call 01274 420091

Dining Out at the

Balti House - 9 Browgate, Baildon, BD17 6BP Open 6 days a week including bank holidays (closed T

or a true Balti dining experience, you just have to visit the Balti House in Baildon! This is a real treat for lovers of traditional Punjabi cooking but it’s not all about the food - it’s about the whole experience and this was one of the best. Balti House is set in a 17th century cottage on Browgate, the main road through Baildon, with parking available on the road or directly opposite in a large car park. There is a deceptively large upper floor and a more intimate dining area as you enter, which is usually kept for larger parties to share one big table, while upstairs there’s room for any number of people to dine together. We chose a Saturday evening at 7pm and when we arrived there was already a large party downstairs so we were shown upstairs to a table for two, perfectly situated to have a full view of the room and everyone else’s food! I like to see how other dishes look so I’m sure I make the correct choice. The first thing that struck me about this restaurant was how well the Asian decor fitted into this very traditional high beamed ceilinged cottage. The atmosphere was really lovely and as the restaurant quickly filled up, there were diners of all ages, all seemed to be having as good an experience as we were. The second thing I noticed was how pristine everything was. It can’t be easy to keep such high beams dust free but every aspect of this

Balti House, Baildon

Tel: 01274 585600 www.balti-house.com Tuesdays) / Sunday to Thursday 6pm until 12 amFriday / and Saturday 6pm until 12.30am restaurant was immaculate, including the glasses and cutlery, which is something I am very particular about and at the Balti House they gleamed. Being a traditional Balti restaurant, there is no alcohol for sale but diners are welcome to bring their own, which many did. It seems strange to see people coming in carrying a bottle of wine or a carrier bag of beer but what a great idea; you get to drink exactly what you want and not have to pay restaurant prices or corkage. Excellent! Balti food is cooked and served in traditional heavy cast iron woks. The beauty of this is that all flavours are captured and you don’t lose any of the taste on transfer to plates. Ideally, the food should be eaten without cutlery, scooped up with Naan or Chapati bread but cutlery is on hand if you prefer. The menu here is extensive, so take a while to study all that is on offer. We started with Poppadoms and a pickle tray, followed by the special starter for two people at £5.95, consisting of sheikh kebab, chicken wings, chicken tikka and fish tikka and it was absolutely lovely. For my main, I had a Balti King Prawn Bhuna - a combination of spices fried together and cooked with capsicums, onions and tomatoes. It is quite a dry, medium strength dish but bursting with taste, this cost £7.95. My dining partner chose the Tandoori Mixed Grill which was chicken tikka, sheikh kebab and tandoori chicken with a beautiful aromatic sauce served separately. This gave you the option of eating it as a dry

dish or making it into more of a curry consistency. The sauce was so delicious that I shared it and dipped a few of my prawns in it. The Tandoori Mixed Grill was £8.95. Unfortunately, we did not have room for puddings as we had a rather large and very filling mushroom naan to share, which at the price of £1.85 will make sure your appetite is more than satisfied. Next time we will leave the naan and go for one of the scrumptious looking puds on the desert menu. The pace at the Balti House is just perfect. We never felt rushed and there was ample time between courses so that you didn’t get that ‘over-full-very-quickly’ feeling. All in all, a really good place to dine and experience some traditional Punjab food and atmosphere in the heart of Baildon. And guess what... they also do a great takeaway service!

Parking Welcome Atmosphere Food Value

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23/04/2009 17:33

Jungle Beat! Christine Goode

Principal The May School of Dance & Theatre Arts

he May School of Dance and Theatre Arts have the sites well and truly set on their annual show – Jungle Beat, which will be held at Bingley Arts Centre in July. Christine’s team and many of the parents are busy making costumes and making sure that pupils attend all rehearsals in order for the production to become an even better, more spectacular show. Christine knows only too well the value of the support from parents, without whom they would struggle to have everything ready on time as there are over 400 costumes to prepare. Tickets are selling really well already and as they have not increased in price for 2 years, it makes it easier for family and friends to come to the show to support the children. The children themselves are really excited as usual about the show but especially so this year as they are performing scenes and music from Jungle Book (of course), Hairspray and Fosse, Mamma Mia and many more West End favourites. They are also performing Michael Jackson and 80’s street dance to showcase their full range of talents.

This is why The May School of Dance is so popular and successful - the range of performing arts available is endless and each is taught by an expert for that particular genre. Only the very best performing arts teachers are accepted by Christine to tutor her pupils, among whom, by the way, are her own two children. Christine is keen to spread the word that non-show classes are still available for those not wanting to take part in Jungle Beat. Adult ballet classes are also becoming very popular as they strengthen and stretch your body into a lean shape, get you fit by giving you a good workout and are also great fun. If you have always wanted to try your hand at dance, tiddly tots or drama, it’s never too late. Call The May School of Dance for class times and availability and have fun getting fit while learning a new skill, you will probably make some great new friends too.

To book tickets for Jungle Beat, complete the booking form below.

53 Main Street, Crosshills, Keighley Tel: 01535 634433

new conference concept has been launched in Shipley, West Yorkshire at the YO YO Bar and Restaurant group. ‘Fusion Conferences’ represents a shift-change in the food served at conferences and meetings as this popular local restaurant brand moves into the conference market. Yo Yo Shipley is a 200 capacity venue and is available for weekday meetings and events where the high quality fusion menu, normally reserved for high-end diners, is now part of the conference and meetings package. Delegate rates begin at £27.50 per person per day and the venue can also offer very competitive day hire rates. Yo Yo Little Germany branch in Bradford also offers meeting space for smaller training courses, meetings and events. Subtitled ‘Not a sausage roll in sight’ the new concept was recently launched to a selected audience of local business people in

order to assess their views. Owner Simon Dunn explained the launch into the meetings and conference market with ‘Fusion Conferences’ and how the demand for the service emerged as lunchtime dining has declined. ‘Fusion Conferences’ menus include the subtle taste of European Café Style Food with that of Japanese, Thai and Chinese food. For example; a warm bacon and mushroom salad with chats on a bed of mixed lettuce with a wholegrain mustard dressing, or alternatively pad Thai noodles with mango and peanuts. “ ‘Fusion Conferences’ is an answer to the usual food served at many venues and a recognition that it is the food that plays a most import part in the success of any meeting or conference for the attendees. Whilst the organiser naturally needs to know that there is sufficient space, the right equipment, lighting and comfortable seating, which we have, it

is the attending delegates who usually cite the food as the most important part of the experience,” comments Simon Dunn. ‘Fusion Conferences’ is available at both venues on any day of the week and to launch the concept, a special introductory offer of free room hire is available to new bookers who place two or more meeting or conference bookings during May and June 2009 for any date until the end of October 2009. A new brochure is available with details of ‘Fusion Conferences’ and online at www.fusionconferences.co.uk. For further details please contact: Simon Dunn, Fusion Conferences, Yo Yo Bar and Restaurant, Rosse Street, Shipley, West Yorkshire, BD18 3SW Tel: 01274 599880 Email: simon@yoyocafebarandrestaurant.co.uk

! n o i t i t e p Com WIN

a 4’ 6” Brazille Bed Frame worth £100 (not including mattress) PLUS a FREE Bedroom Carpet (from a selected range - not including underlay and fitting). To enter just complete the entry form and post to Here & Now Competition, C/O United Carpets Woodfloors and Beds Shipley, Steadman House, Otley Road, Baildon, Shipley, BD17 7EX. The prize winner will be notified by United Carpets. The value of the bed frame and carpet can not be used in conjunction with any other offer and can not be used against any other purchase. Terms and conditions apply.

Name: ............................................ Address: ...................................................... ...................................................................... ...................................................................... Tel Number: .................................................

Business Solutions W

alsh Taylor is a specialist business recovery and insolvency firm. Its principal is Mary Taylor, who first started in insolvency work in 1983. For the past two decades Walsh Taylor employees have gained great experience working in independent firms, specialising in finding positive solutions for businesses and individuals facing financial pressure. The sum of all this experience is brought to bear on every new case that contacts the office. Our management team have over 100 years combined experience in insolvency, offering solutions to sole traders, partnerships and limited companies as well as private individuals. We are a supportive practice, ensuring all possible routes to survival are fully explored. Walsh Taylor works closely with your professional advisors (such as your solicitor or your accountant) to identify your options and we advise you of the implications and costs of each option. Our initial meeting with clients will be free of charge. Every client will assume prior to a chat with Walsh Taylor that we won’t have the inside knowledge to understand their trade. However, with our experience in the insolvency market, there are very few trades we haven’t seen before. Although we would love to be surprised with a new one! As well as being experienced in many different business sectors, Walsh Taylor also understand the many pressures that can build up and add to a demanding situation. These pressures come from a number of sources:

The key to Walsh Taylor’s success, however, is to listen and understand how the client’s business works. • Appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of their particular trading activities • Understand that the business is their life • Understand the pressure they are under • Provide more than one solution and always look for the survival of the business • See firsthand what the present economic conditions mean for business

• Banks reducing or pulling overdrafts and or loans • Pressure prior to the renewal date for an overdraft • Crown liabilities of VAT/PAYE/Corporation Tax and Self Assessment • Council tax is a common creditor, who will aggressively collect but is often open to arrangements if a dialogue can be established • Debtors paying late. It may help to outsource collections to undertake this role for you. Are the late payers causing other problems that are affecting profitability? Walsh Taylor Business & Corporate Recovery Specialists Limited is an established member of the Insolvency Practitioners Association.

Don’t hesitate to contact us for further details on how Walsh Taylor can help you and your business.

Call: 01274 589 694 Email: confidential@walshtaylor.co.uk and we will respond to your communication Pop into our office at: Unit B, Shipley Wharf, Wharf Street, Shipley BD17 7DW

Monday to Wednesday 9am to 4pm / Thursday 9am to 4pm and 7pm to 9.30pm / Friday 9am to 4pm and 7pm to 10pm / Saturday 9am to 3pm and 7pm to 10pm / Sunday 10am to 3pm

he Terrace Café Bar & Bistro in Saltaire continues to build a superb reputation for excellent quality of food and service. When patron Eric Poli made the decision to open Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings to offer an authentic French Bistro, he never dreamed that it would become so popular. Diners can choose a fixed price three course menu or from a superb a la carte menu. Eric himself is well known in the area for his outside catering and is in great demand for his wonderful wedding feasts and all kinds of private functions, so he is well placed to produce the excellent food you will find on the menus at The Terrace Café Bar & Bistro. Being open from 9am Monday to Saturday, it is the perfect place for breakfast

and that can be anything from ‘the works’, boiled egg and soldiers to a truly continental selection with everything in between. It is also the perfect place for a lazy Sunday breakfast or lunch. For lunch, there is a delicious choice in light snacks, soups, salads, ciabattas and jackets and of course full meals. The children have their own

‘Tots Corner’ to choose from. Fancy afternoon tea, then there’s a mouthwatering selection of homemade cakes and beverages on offer giving your feet a welcome break from shopping. Frenchman Eric, his restaurant manager Jo Hatchett and their team have transformed The Terrace to provide a friendly and relaxed atmosphere both during the day and in the evening. It is easy to see why people come time and time again. They now also do private functions, being an excellent venue for small weddings and celebrations, and their live music on Friday’s ranges from jazz to solo acoustic or a traditional French accordion player. Try The Terrace Café Bar & Bistro... You will see what all the fuss is about.

Written by Helen Carter

Keighley Cougars mascot Freddie Cougar with Castleford Tigers mascot JT after their arm-wrestling contest at the Challenge Cup tie against Castleford Tigers. Freddie was undefeated in the best of three-bout.

Keighley Mayor Cllr. Amjad Zaman (left) and Cllr John Philip (right) from Keighley Town Council present Cougars chairman Neil Spencer with a cheque of £12,000 for the Cougar Community Foundation.

ithout doubt, the highlight of the last few weeks at Cougar Park was the visit of engage Super League side Castleford Tigers for the fourth round of the Carnegie Challenge Cup on April 5. The record book will show that Cougars lost 64-20 but that’s not the whole story by any means. The Cougars were playing a full-time professional team from a league competition two above the one that Keighley operate in each week. And, according to Cougar Head Coach Barry Eaton, the players emerged with their heads held high scoring four tries and acquitting themselves well in a tough game situation. Our boys scored four tries including a Lee Mapals hat-trick. Two of his touch downs will live in the memory for many years as they were long range efforts, both of which started near the Cougars own line and ended with the fleetfooted winger scoring after a foot-race against the Tigers defenders. Apart from what happened on the pitch, the club enjoyed its biggest match attendance for quite some time with more than 3,200 people on the terraces and in the stands at Cougar Park. It brought back memories of ‘Cougar Mania’. We saw loads of Keighley fans who haven’t been to a match at Cougar Park for several years and it was great to see them once again. We just hope that they enjoyed what they saw so much that they’ll be coming more often to our home games. The atmosphere at the game was fantastic. The Castleford fans were very friendly and seemed to be made up almost entirely of family groups, which illustrated perfectly what’s on offer every week at every game in the sport, never mind Cougar Park. As an added part of the entertainment on the day our furry mascot Freddie Cougar proved his fitness once again when he beat Castleford Tigers mascot JT in a best of three arm wrestling competition at halftime. It amused the fans for a few minutes and proved once again that Freddie’s fitness campaign earlier in the year has paid off. And the club’s great relationship with Keighley Town Council was underlined when the Mayor Cllr. Amjad Zaman and Cllr. John Philip presented the club with £12,000 at halftime as their contribution to the Cougar Community Foundation. We are very grateful for their support because it really helps us deliver a great service to the town and its various communities. When Cougars kicked off their Cooperative Championship One season with a fixture against Oldham on March 22 it was a special day for a number of reasons.

Firstly, and this is most important to us at Cougars, we won. It was an outstanding performance against a side fancied by many shrewd commentators to be the favourites to reach the Grand Final. The victory got our league campaign off to a racing start. Secondly, we staged a family fun day in conjunction with the Keighley ten-kilometre road race. The club provided face painters and stilt walkers to entertain the children and there were also opportunities to test skills as well as learn new ones on various bits of equipment. Everybody who came along seemed to enjoy the event and it all helped to make the occasion of the first league game that bit more special. Thirdly, we were fortunate to have an important guest at the game in the shape of Alastair Campbell, the Keighley-born former Daily Mirror journalist who became the official spokesman for Prime Minister Tony Blair. Alastair had written on his website blog that when he had lived in Keighley in the 1960s one of his ambitions was to have played for the Cougars. Our Media Manager John Huxley wrote to Alastair inviting him to come to a game and he accepted. On the day of the game Alastair drove up from London and linked up with his son Callum who is a student at Manchester University. During his time at Cougar Park, Alastair met the club’s administrative and marketing staff, players and fans. He was even allowed to be in the players’ dressing rook while Head Coach Barry Eaton gave his final team talk just before they went out onto the field. John Huxley accompanied him during his visit and reported afterwards that Alastair seemed to enjoy himself. And it might be worth buying a copy of ‘The Times’ sometime in the future because Alastair was using his visit to the Cougars and his return to Keighley as the subject of an article in the paper’s glossy magazine. While he was at Cougar Park, Alastair met a group of school children who had taken part in the Cougars’ version of the TV programme ‘the Apprentice’.They had been studying a media and marketing module in the Cougar Pride classroom and at the Family Fun day they not only displayed some of their work but also put items they had designed on sale. Alastair seemed very impressed with their efforts and gave the kids some credit for showing so much imagination and ambition to succeed. We’re just about to enter another exciting phase of our Community programme with two brand new ‘Street Academies’. Keep your eyes on the local media for more details and yet another important guest at Cougar Park.