Konect Directory Bathgate Aug13 by Konect Magazines

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Launch issue - August 2013

directory

WIN Bottle of Joseph Perrier Champagne

from Nineteen Twelve

Local walk Cairnpapple Hill, a walk through time FEATURE Bathgate Town Centre Technology A better reception plus local businesses, community information and more!

The new community magazine for Bathgate

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Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Message Welcome to the first issue of your new community magazine, The Konect Directory for Bathgate. We've been producing this magazine for the Livingston and Calders areas for some years and it has become an indispensable handbook in local households â&#x20AC;&#x201C; an entertaining read with specially-written articles on local people, local history and local businesses. We're now bringing it to Bathgate too. The aim is to put local people in touch with the great range of businesses and facilities that we have on our doorsteps. We've been finding out about the behind-the-scenes work of Enterprising Bathgate and how they are working away to continually improve the town centre. And we've been talking to Stein's who have renovated one of Bathgate's historic buildings and opened an exciting new cafe bar, Nineteen Twelve - read all about it on pages 8 and 10. Nineteen Twelve are giving away a bottle of Joseph Perrier Champagne for one lucky Konect reader this month, enter the competition on page 10. An appropriate prize to celebrate their opening and our first edition! We've also put together pages of useful information, what's on and a list of clubs and classes in the area. I'm sure there's more going on that we have listed on the What's On page for this month, so if you have an event on in September that you would like to promote or you're involved in a community club that's not listed, please let me know and we'll make sure it's included next month. The Konect Directory will be delivered to you free of charge every month. Please support our local businesses, and thanks for reading the magazine.

Helen-Jane, Editor hj@konectdirectory.co.uk 07854 492638

www.facebook.com/KonectDirectory

www.konectdirectory.co.uk

Contents Features Bathgate Town Centre Chantilly Lace Regulars Charity of the Month Technology Local Walk

8 24 22 26 32

Competitions and Puzzles Competition Crossword & sudoku Community What's on Useful Information Clubs & Classes Index of Advertisers

10 30 36 36 37 38

The Konect Directory is delivered to 10,000 homes throughout Bathgate. Copies are also left at the library, post offices, convenience stores and other locations around Bathgate.

Advertising enquiries: Charlene Gaffney 07772 941899 charlene@konectdirectory.co.uk Jenny Thomson 07824 469266 jenny@konectdirectory.co.uk Advert booking deadline: 10th of the month prior to print Artwork/copy deadline: 13th of the month prior to print

Front cover photograph by Jenny Thomson: The landmark Bathgate building now renovated and housing Nineteen Twelve cafe bar.

To advertise call Charlene on 07772 941899 or Jenny on 07824 469266

~ New menus, incl senior citizens & children ~

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Regular live entertainment - call us or check website for details

THE BALBAIRDIE

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Fresh food made to order Telephone Orders Welcome Open:

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Under new management Computerised Injection (virtually pain free) Intraoral camera /caries detector Laser dental treatment Laser tooth whitening in just 45 minutes. Up to 40% OFF private dental treatment

We are now registering new NHS, Denplan and Private patients

To advertise call Charlene on 07772 941899 or Jenny on 07824 469266

D.B. General Builders ■ Fencing ■ Driveways ■ Decking ■ Landscaping ■ Monoblocking ■ Groundworks ■ Home renovations ■ Property maintenance

Call David on

07747 062426

Local ■ Established ■ Reliable www.dbgeneralbuilders.co.uk david_bathgate@sky.com

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ACE EXHAUSTS & TYRES

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Feature

Working hard in Bathgate Town Centre By Helen-Jane Shearer

Bathgate town centre has changed a lot in recent years - locals and visitors alike will have noticed that it's gradually reinventing itself as a traditional high street for shopping, services and entertainment. After a difficult patch, this hasn't happened by chance though. It's thanks to the energy and vision of the local business people who run Enterprising Bathgate – working with West Lothian Council and other organisations, they have been working hard to get local businesses pulling together, applying for grants on behalf of Bathgate and administering schemes for the long term improvement of the town centre. I met with David Stein of Stein's Butchers, who is the chairman of Enterprising Bathgate, to find out more. “Bathgate is a Business Improvement District (BID), modelled after the likes of Oxford Street London, and is one of just a few BIDs in Scotland,” he explains. This means that each business within the BID pays

a levy, and this money, along with government grants and other sources, is used to make improvements that will benefit the whole town. “One of our biggest projects recently has been the Premises Improvement Scheme. The first stage of this scheme saw grants handed out to local businesses to improve the appearance of their shop fronts - updating signage, painting, replacing windows, and so on. The collective effect on the town centre of many small improvements has made a big difference.” The next phase is a more general premises improvement push, aimed at not just shop fronts but aspects such as customer bathrooms, staff areas and other investments in the buildings, making for lasting improvements in Bathgate's retail building stock. “We're not trying to compete with Livingston in term of shops,” says David, “We're aiming for a completely different offering. Bathgate can offer a diverse range of shops and services with a more local and individual character. And services such as hair and beauty salons, dentists, lawyers, and so on. Which is why Enterprising Bathgate has also invested in floral displays, amongst other things – it's important to make it an p10 attractive shopping environment.”

S& S Home

Improvements / Maintenance

To advertise call Charlene on 07772 941899 or Jenny on 07824 469266

Well-know building now housing Nineteen Twelve (date of photo unknown)

Feature (continued)

p8 David's own big project at the moment,

which you can't have failed to notice in the town centre, is the renovation of one of Bathgate's old character buildings, and the opening of a new cafe bistro – Nineteen Twelve. The building, on the corner of North Bridge Street and South Bridge Street, has an interesting history. glass of wine with your lunch, and at the Designed by a local architect and builder same time it will be simple, quality food called T K Irvine, who later became done really well like stovies, homemade Provost of Bathgate, and completed in soups, baking, clootie dumplings. I love 1912 (hence the name of the new cafe) it clootie dumplings, my granny always started life as an auction house and has made me one instead of a birthday seen many businesses through its doors cake!” laughs David. “And if you want - the Norbury Hotel, the Scone shop, a glass of champagne with your stovies, a Ford garage, a dance hall, a casino, why not?” Everything is made from insurance brokers, hairdressers, carpet the same quality meat and ingredients shop and takeaway, to name a few. It you get from Stein's Butchers and of was destroyed by flood in 2009 and has course there's a selection of fine wines been empty since, but David was keen and champagnes. With free wifi and to rescue it. He has renovated it using great coffees, it will be a great place to a team of local tradespeople, restoring meet for business or pleasure. Children many of the original features and adding are welcome – they get the same good some new touches too. Reclaimed quality food, just in smaller portions – wood from Bathgate Academy's old and there is a takeaway selection. sports hall forms the benches and table tops. “And when we removed As afternoon becomes evening, Nineteen the floorboards and were levelling Twelve transforms into a bar offering the concrete slab in preparation for artisan beers, boutique vodkas, malt laying new boards, we discovered whisky and bespoke gins. David plans a that by polishing the old concrete live music schedule, and has many other slab we got a beautiful terrazzo ideas such as film nights. “It is going to effect. So we decided to polish be the place to meet up in Bathgate.” the whole floor instead of putting boards over There's a lot of work it.” It was non-factory still to be done, but real WIN a bottle of Joseph made concrete composed progress is happening Perrier Champagne! of local stones, unlike Bathgate is bootstrapping Nineteen Twelve are giving the homogeneous itself and revitalising its away a bottle of Joseph Perrier ready-mixed concrete town centre. Support Champagne. To enter the of today. So it's now a local businesses by prize draw, please email your stunning polished floor shopping locally and name and phone number to editor@konectdirectory.co.uk, with a beautiful red tinge using local services! or text your name and email that compliments the address to 07854 492638. sandstone of the building For more on Enterprising Closing date for entries is 15th itself. Bathgate and the August 2013. Winner will be Bathgate Business picked at random and notified So what else different Improvement District, see by email. Entrant details may about Nineteen Twelve? www.bathgatebid.net. be passed to Nineteen Twelve. “I want to raise the bar. For more on Nineteen I love European cafe Twelve, follow them on culture, where it's common to have a facebook 1912. 10

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01506 633133

2 S o uth Brid ge S t re e t , Bat hg at e , We s t Lot h i a n E H 4 8 1 T W

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accomodation, restaurant, weddings, seasonal events, conferences

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To advertise call Charlene on 07772 941899 or Jenny on 07824 469266

Spotlight on: Chantilly Lace

By Helen-Jane Shearer

Holly describes her vision for Chantilly Lace: “When you walk through the door looking for your wedding dress, you need to feel really special. My experience of shopping for a dress was that the shop staff didn't treat it as if it were the most important thing happening to me at that time. But it should be! Like in the movies,” she laughs, “where the bride-to-be gets champagne at her dress fitting and is made to feel really special. That's what Chantilly Lace will be like.”

“When I was looking for my wedding dress, I couldn't find any shops selling non-designer dresses. It was impossible to find a nice dress for less than £1000 - and most are much more.” Holly Sneddon is explaining to me the story behind Chantilly Lace, her new bridal shop opening in Bathgate this month (August). “I thought, 'There has to be a better option, there has to be a way of having a beautiful dress without paying those prices'” So, with her own experience behind her of trailing around countless bridal shops, Holly set about finding a solution. The answer was in importing non-branded dresses at a fraction of the price of the designer brands. And for the past two years, she has been running a very successful online business selling bridesmaids dresses, flower girl dresses, veils and accessories by importing them at a much reduced rate and selling them online. Following the success of this, she is now extending the principal to a full bridal shop, where beautiful, quality and of course affordable bridal dresses will be stocked in addition to her current range of bridesmaids and flower girl dresses. You will be able to visit and see the dresses, have a fitting and choose from a wide range of beautiful dresses that look as stunning as the designer ones, are great quality but leave a much smaller hole in your wedding budget. “I want a shop where anyone, from any walk of life, can come and find a beautiful dress without worrying about the price tag”, she explains. “We stock a wide range of dresses to suit all tastes, from ball gown styles, or modern elegant fish tail dresses, or 50s style....really something for everyone.”

What else will be different about Chantilly Lace? “You will be able to buy bridesmaids or flower girl dress on the spot and take it home if we have the size and style in stock that you want. That is very unusual for a bridal shop.” They will have samples of many styles of wedding dresses in stock in sizes 8 – 20, so you will be able to try something your size and then order the style you want. Holly can order in up to size 24. “We also have a huge range of veils in stock, at least 30 different styles, which again you will be able to purchase and take home on the spot.” The shop was in the process of being painted when I spoke with Holly. She explained that the interior décor and feel of it is very important. “Being in a beautifully painted and decorated shop to choose your dress is important, it's all part of the experience.” It sounds like the Chantilly Lace experience is a must for all local bridesto-be. The shop opens at 13 Hopetoun Street, Bathgate, on the 10th of August.

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Chantilly Lace

OPENING SATURDAY 10TH AUGUST

Champagne & canapes From 12 noon

Opening Times

Tues, Wed, Fri & Sat 10am to 5pm Thurs 10 am to 8pm

Closed Sunday and Mondays

Tel: 01506 815561 Specializing in bridal dresses & wedding party wear Bridesmaid & flower girl dresses veils, tiaras, crystal shoes & christening dresses

Bridal dresses start from £400 Cathedral veils start from £50 Bridesmaid dresses from £110 Flower girl & christening dresses start from £40

13 Hopetoun Street, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland, EH48 4PA To advertise call Charlene on 07772 941899 or Jenny on 07824 469266

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5 George Place, Bathgate, EH48 1PA

07594 031 420

Open: Mon-Fri 8am to 4pm, Sat 9am to 4pm

Call for collection or delivery

New pizza bar opening see instore for details

Available up to 12 noon *single filling roll regular drink

To advertise call Charlene on 07772 941899 or Jenny on 07824 469266

Charity of the Month

At first glance, Kidzeco in Bathgate looks like a nice shop for quality second-hand baby goods and children's wear, with a large range of items attractively displayed and a safe play area for your toddler while you browse. And it is of course all of these things - it's a great place to get quality items at a fraction of the cost of buying new. But it is much more than just a shop. Kidzeco is a resource centre, mainly for parents with young children but also for socially isolated people, with or without children, to get involved by sharing or learning craft skills and contributing to the work of Kidzeco. The concept is Tracy Murdoch's, who set it up 3 and a half years ago. I visited her at the shop to find out more.

“When my son started to grow out of things, I thought 'What can I do with this, it's too good to throw out'” she explains. She wanted to run a recycled baby goods shop, but also wanted to use it to further her passion for children and families' issues. “I had previously been a Development Worker, which had been an eye-opener for me in terms of the number of families and children in social isolation and difficult circumstances.” So whilst reducing waste and landfill is important – 40 tonnes have been saved from landfill so far via Kidzeco - for Tracy it's more about making things affordable for young families, teaching

Kidzeco them how to reuse and recycle things themselves, and being a venue for classes where parents and preschoolers can get involved in fun activities. “The classes are not the sort where you leave the kids, it's very much about parent participation – we end up rolling around on the floor with the children!” says Tracy. “I wanted Kidzeco to be a 'proper' shop from the beginning,” she says, and she has certainly achieved this. Items are organised into sections, making it easy to browse for what you want. There is a wide range of prams, pushchairs, cots and accessories as well as kids' clothes, swimwear, toys and books. All items are cleaned and quality checked before being offered for re-sale. There is a play area for your toddler while you browse and a separate parenting room with a changing table and comfy sofas for breastfeeding. But Kidzeco is all about affordability and reusing, not just re-selling. They have lots of ideas for re-using things at home, or making things out of items you already have. A room to the side has sewing machines, fabrics and projects in various stages of completion including baby quilts, bags and bunting. This is where “Fun with Fabrics” classes are held, where you can come and learn new skills in arts and crafts. The group makes quilts, blankets, clothes and accessories from recycled fabrics. They recently donated twenty quilts to an Alzeimer research fund-raiser, and some knitted blankets donated to Dogs Trust. So other charities benefit too. In addition, Kidzeco's in-house designer can make bespoke handmade clothes from remnants of new fabric donated by fabric shops – fabric that would otherwise be thrown out, but is turned into beautiful new items. The most satisfying aspect of Kidzeco for Tracy is the involvement of young people who, funded by various grants, are bringing their skills and energy to Kidzeco, when they would otherwise be unemployed. There is always something going on at

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Kidzeco, and Tracy has many more plans - she would like to set up a skill-sharing group, in the near future; they are opening a new shop in Livingston next month and have much larger plans for Bathgate later this year. Visit Kidzeco at 11 King Street, Bathgate, or call them on 01506 815534. Kidzeco is a not-for-profit community interest company. www.kidzeco.net Volunteers and donations All donations of babies' and children's clothing, equipment and furniture are accepted – almost everything can be used in some way, either to re-sell or be turned into other things. We can collect larger items from your home, please call us to arrange uplift. Also craft items such as beads, jewellery, trims, buttons and fabric donations are needed too. We are always looking to expand our team and have various volunteering opportunities including retail, warehousing, admin, play and craft work. If you would like to be involved, please get in touch.

Kids parties Kidzeco also has a party room for hire with a choice of standard or themed room. Special offers: Two hours soft play party £75 Two hours disco party £50

To advertise call Charlene on 07772 941899 or Jenny on 07824 469266

Stefan Walczynski 07957 808 366 billthrill@utilitywarehouse.org.uk www.utilitywarehouse.org.uk/billthrill

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VW Garage

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Technology

A better reception

TV's been around for a long time and we're all familiar with the standard roof aerial's coaxial cable. But what happens when an old-style aerial isn't enough? It might be because your Freeview reception isn't up to scratch, or because you want to upgrade to Freesat - or it might be because you have a Smart TV that's just begging to be connected to your broadband, or because you want to have TVs in multiple rooms. Freeview boxes can be particularly prone to reception problems, especially if they're the fairly cheap ones you can buy in supermarkets. If the signal isn't strong enough you'll encounter picture freezes and the picture degrading into a series of large blocks. Upgrading your aerial to a better one can help address this: the better the signal going in, the better the experience you're going to get from your TV. Remember too that aerials can benefit more than just your TV: you can also buy dedicated aerials for FM radio and DAB radio.

The upgrades that can feed your high-tech TV by satellites, and while many are scrambled plenty aren't; in most cases, accessing them requires a slightly different kind of satellite dish to the one you'd use for Sky. If you've bought a TV in the last few years there's a very good chance it's a smart TV with some kind of internet features: even relatively affordable sets such as Finlux's £269 32F8030-T comes with internet services including BBC iPlayer, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. While some such TVs include wireless network connections, including the Finlux we've just mentioned, home wireless networks aren't usually up to the job of streaming HD TV - especially if other family members are using the same network for their laptops, tablets or smartphones. For best results we'd recommend a wired broadband connection, which connects to your TV via an Ethernet cable - and we'd make the same recommendation for smart Blu-Ray players with internet features as well as games consoles such as PlayStations and Xboxes.

If the signal's good enough, you can run the aerial to multiple rooms and install extra points without having to install a new aerial. The process is fairly straightforward - your aerial has a box called a splitter, which provides multiple connections for the cables to your new points – but it's important to use the right cable: cheap cables can suffer from interference and poor signal quality. If in doubt, ask a professional installer. Another popular option is Freesat, which offers all the benefits of satellite TV without the expensive monthly subscriptions. With over 150 channels including six free HD ones it's a great service, but of course you'll also need a satellite dish so you can receive it. You'll need a dedicated Freesat SD or Freesat HD box, too, although if you're an ex-Sky customer you should be able to use your existing dish with your new Freesat box. Freesat isn't the only satellite service you can access. Many European channels are broadcast

The problem for many households is that the TV, games console or smart Blu-Ray player is nowhere near the internet router, and while you can run Ethernet cabling over door frames and around skirting boards to connect your device to the router the results can be rather unsightly. A professional installer can run the cabling and make it invisible, and we think it's well worth doing: not only will you have the best possible speeds from your internet connection, but you won’t have to look at any unsightly cabling.

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To advertise call Charlene on 07772 941899 or Jenny on 07824 469266

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Fair Deal Valets Professional mobile car valeting Open daily from 8am 6-10 Glasgow Road Bathgate, EH48 2AA

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Puzzles

Quick Crossword

Across 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 13. 15. 17. 20. 21. 23. 24.

Take away (6) Irish lochs (6) Couch (4) Wraps around (8) Disregarded (7) Hard, strong alloy (5) Hints (5) Supply (7) Easy going (8) Ashen (4) Heavy mass (6) Woken up (6)

Down 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 12.

Nothing (4) Vegetable (6) Umpire (7) Drudge (5) Type of fish (6) Tends sheep (8) Ran very fast (8)

13 14

19 21

14. Authors (7) 16. Power, stamina (6) 18. Gas (6)

19. Prickly plants (5) 22. Untruths (4)

Sudoku

THAT REMINDS ME, IT'S YOUR 50th NEXT WEEK

Sudoku solution on page 38

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konect EE

the

Launch issu

e - August

2013

directory

OFFERS & VOUCHERS from local businesses

Bottle of

WIN

Joseph Pe rrier from Nin Champagne eteen Tw elve

Local wa Cairnpapp lk le Hill, a wa lk through time FEATUR E Bathgate Town Centr e Technolog y A better reception plus local

businesse

Th e ne w co mm un

To advertise call Charlene on 07772 941899 or Jenny on 07824 469266

s, commu

nity informa

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more!

for Ba thg ate

Local walk

A walk through time

for you and entry into the burial chamber is via a ladder. There is a very obvious feeling of tranquility and peacefulness inside, no matter what is going on outside, but it is good if you can time it to be the only visitor and really enjoy the peace.

If you like a walk to include a fabulous view and have something of historical interest thrown in, then a hike up Cairnpapple Hill is an ideal choice. Follow the brown tourist signs from Bathgate and Torphichen to the hill and you will find space for a few cars at the side of the road near the steps that lead up Cairnpapple Hill. Head up the steps and you are among the Bathgate Hills with panoramic views. A well marked path leads up the hill, although it can be a little muddy underfoot if it has been raining and the wind can most certainly cut through you so wrap up if it's a cooler day. It is not a long walk although it is fairly strenuous for a short period. You will soon see a little ahead of you a strange looking corrugated iron hut that would look more in place during WW2. This is home to the Historic Scotland ticket office for admission to the Cairnpapple cairn and henge itself - one of the most important prehistoric sites on mainland Scotland. It is also home to the custodian who takes great pleasure in telling the history of the site and giving a guided tour. The henge itself is only open during the summer months and it is most definitely worth paying the entry fee and taking a look inside. Once up the steps of the concrete dome, the door will be opened 32

By Karen Murray

You can enjoy this walk any time of the year, but if you want to go inside the henge itself it is open 1 April - 30 September, Mon Tue Fri Sun, 09:30 to 17:30 (last entry 17:00) Adult £4.50, Child £2.70, Concession £3.60 Activity at this site can be traced back over 5000 years when our Neolithic ancestors built a henge. Fast forward 1000 years and the henge is no longer in use but the local community is using the site as an important burial area. The most recent activity dates from 400AD with Christian burials and as Cairnpapple is only a mile east of St Ninian’s Church in Torphichen there is a theory that Cairnpapple is linked to the Sanctuary Stone in the churchyard. If you're visiting outwith the summer months, you can still walk atop the concrete mound protecting the important site and take in the views, and the walk up the hill and all around the Bathgate Hills is pleasure enough alone. p34

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Local Walk

photograph by Dave Cleghorn

(continued)

p32ď&#x201A;&#x2020; Not only is the site of

huge historical interest, the views are simply magnificent - the hill is considered by many to have one of the best vantage points in central Scotland with views all the way to Goatfell on Arran in the West and the Bass Rock in the East. If you want to extend your walk, why not walk along the B792 to the village and check out the stone too. Historic Scotland organises various events at Cairnpapple from time to time so if you want to combine walk with activity, 34

keep an eye on the Historic Scotland website. Otherwise simply enjoy the walk and the views and look out for the wind that always seems to blow across the Bathgate Hills.

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A warm and friendly welcome awaits all our new and existing customers to our award winning building located within the heart of your town centre. Our facility offers a wide range of services, including: Simpson Library: With free internet access and our recently improved children’s reading space. Sign up for free today and take advantage of our excellent book stock. Advice Shop: Problems with Money, Debts, Housing, Energy or Benefits? Drop In for a consultation or call the Advice Shop on 01506 283000 or e-mail Advice.Shop@westlothian.gov.uk Credit Union: Every Wednesday 11:00- 12:00 Payments Office: For your council tax and rent payments. Customer Information Services: Enquiries relating to Council Tax and Housing Benefit, council tax, council tenancies,

homelessness, request a free bulky uplift and concessionary travel. Registration: Service for registering births, deaths and arrangement of marriages. Marriage services can be conducted within our lovely Cran Gevrier suite. Café by Food Creations: Enjoy the indoor and garden café with freshly prepared food and home made baking, with top of the range Fair Trade Coffee. Community Garden Orchard: Enjoy the peaceful setting within our fully enclosed garden space, enjoy a cup of coffee, read your book or newspaper and enjoy the summer sun.

Community FaCilities: At Bathgate Partnership Centre, we work closely with West Lothian Council to deliver a first class community facility for our local community. We continue to go from strength the strength and now have over 50 regular groups, ranging from classes for the children under 5 to supporting the over 50’s in structured programmes. If you are interested in enquiring about the current groups that meet here or are interested in hiring a space for a children’s party, celebration event or a meeting space, then please contact staff at the reception for further information or call 01506 283333. We look forward to welcoming you.

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What’s On & Useful Info Tuesday 13th August Creatures of the Night Join us for an evening stroll around Polkemmet Country Park, where we hope to see night-time creatures like bats, badgers and foxes. Bring a torch and wrap up warm. Suitable for: all. Meet: Visitor Centre, Polkemmet Country Park. Time: 8pm – 9.30pm. Cost: adult £3.31, child £2.28 Saturday 17th August Medicinal and Edible Plants A slow walk around Polkemmet’s trails and riverside to see which plants are safe to eat and which are not! Which are useful medicinally and which have interesting folklore. No botanical knowledge required. Suitable for: all. Meet: Visitor Centre, Polkemmet Country Park. Time: 2pm – 3.30pm Cost: adult £3.31, child £2.28 Saturday 24th August Scavenger hunt A fun hunt in the woods looking for a secret list of things. Are you ready to be Polkemmet’s top scavenger? Yummy prizes! Suitable for: 5-12 year olds. Meet: Visitor Centre, Polkemmet Country Park. Time: 2pm – 3.30pm. Cost: £2.28 29th August to 1st September Bathgate Music Festival See www.bathgatemusicfestival. com and facebook page for full information. Programme includes Party in the Park; concert programme at the Regal Community Theatre; Live n Local with lots of local pubs and venus hosting events; Community programme; Live @ the Steelyard. Sunday 1st September Little Boghead Walk Little boghead nature park contains a mix of habitats, all beneficial to wildlife. Explore the many small ponds, connected by a boardwalk, where you can see all sorts of pond life, as well as the many dragonflies that enjoy the surrounding wetland habitat. Local countryside ranger led. Suitable for: all. Meet: Sylvan Way access point, Bathgate (room for 4-6 cars) Time: 2pm – 3.30pm. Cost: free. To include your event here, please email editor@konectdirectory.co.uk or call 07854 492638

August 2013 Bathgate Regal Community Theatre The Regal hosts an exciting programme of film, music, theatre, comedy and children’s events. A unique venue for your performance, celebration, conference or event, and spaces for classes and workshops. See website at www.bathgateregal.org for complete up to date listing.

Bathgate Library information Simpson Library Bathgate Partnership Centre, South Bridge Street, EH48 1TS Tel 01506 282910 bathgate.lib@westlothian.gov.uk Opening hours: Mon – Fri 8.30am – 8.00pm Sat: 9.00am – 5.00pm Bookbugs Bookbug West Lothian delivers free story, song and rhyme sessions for babies, toddlers and pre-school children in local libraries, working in partnership with the Scottish Book Trust. Bookbug Bathgate is the first Friday of each month, 10.30am – 11.00am in the Simpson Library. The library service is available 24/7, 365 days a year on www.westlothian.gov.uk

Last Post Times Bathgate Post Office 76 North Bridge Street, EH48 4PN. Opening times Mon 8.00 – 17.30 Tues 9.30 – 17.30 Wed - Sat 9.00 – 17.30 Last collection times Mon – Fri 17.30, Saturday 12 noon – at the Post Office Last collection for special deliveries Mon – Fri 17.00, Sat 11.45. Boghall Post Office 11 Elizabeth Drive, Bathgate, EH48 1SH tel 01506 652657 Opening times Mon – Fri 9.00 – 17.30, Sat 9.00 – 12.30 Last collection times Mon – Fri 5pm, Sat 12 noon – at the post office.

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Clubs & Classes BATHGATE Bathgate Playgroup Bathgate Partnership Centre Mon – Fri 9am-11.30am and afternoon sessions Mon & Wed 12.30pm-3.30pm. Newland Concert Brass Friendly band based in Bathgate. We welcome brass and percussion players of all ages and abilities. Training Band Mondays 6.30 – 7.30pm in Bathgate Partnership Centre Junior Band Mondays 6.30 – 7.50pm in Bathgate Partnership Centre Senior Band Mondays 8.00 – 9.30pm in the band hall on Belvedere Road. For more information see the website at www.newlandconcertbrass.org.uk Baby and Toddler activities Kidzeco, 11 King St, Bathgate Classes include Kidz Play (soft play), Baby Times (songs and rhymes for 0-1 year olds) Kidz Tales (storytelling) Sunshine Kidz, (play, toys, crafts); various dance classes incl cheerleading, street and hip hop, Baby Discovery (explore textures and sounds) Toddler Times and Eco Kidz. Please call Kidzeco for class times and availability on 01506 815534.

Sports, Hobbies, Learning, Support Groups & more... West Lothian 50 Plus Network New members always welcome for educational, social, recreational and cultural activities. Monthly meet-ups, visits and day trips. Over 25 different activity groups, including arts, crafts, walking, theatre etc. See www.westlothian50plusnetwork.co.uk or call 01506 635510. Office hours Mon - Fri 10am - 2pm. MOMS (Mums Offering Mums Support) Kidzeco, 11 King St, Bathgate Mon 1pm – 3pm. Group for new and expectant mums to meet other mums, share ideas and experiences and generally have a chat and a cuppa! £1 includes hot drink. Call Kidzeco for more info 01506 815534. 31st West Lothian Scouts Scout Hall, Majoriebank Street Thursdays 7pm – 9pm

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