Local News

We are looking for the best front gardens, hanging baskets and containers in Dunstable, they must be visible from the pavement

or roadside. Do you know of any that you thought ‘wow that’s lovely’ as you passed by? If you would like to nominate friends/ family or a site contact dunstableinbloom@gmail.com or better still visit our Dunstable in Bloom stall on the market on Saturday 12th June – details of all competitions available including our

new ‘Wheelie Fantastic’ event. And there will be plants for sale.

A report from Hugh Garrod - Chairman of Promoting Dunstable ‘Have you noticed the litter and fly tipping in Dunstable? There seems to be more than usual. It’s such a shame to spoil our town with rubbish like this. Those of us who Popular special markets are like Dunstable feel upset and annoyed that other people do not appear to share this feeling. Our excellent Town Ranger now being held every month Spring is here at last! A reminder how bitterly cold it was in clears up some of it. Sometimes there is even more than he in the centre of the town March but brightened up by these cheery daffodils planted by can cope with. Contact number - Freephone 0800 0130 350 www.thevinedirectory.co.uk16 in Middle Row and Ashton Square. Flood management and regeneration work in this area and Queensway has now been completed and with the summer flower displays in the baskets and towers is looking good. Let’s keep it that way - no packaging or cigarette ends thrown down thoughtlessly for someone else to clear away please! With 2018 marking the 100th anniversary of the end of World War 1 our theme is Remembrance & Peace. There are some lovely plants associated with this including Forget me-nots, Peace roses, Lilies and of course poppies. Why not try and fit some of these into your borders, baskets and tubs. Dunstable in Bloom, in partnership with the Don’t Let Dunstable Die (DLDD) Trust, will be running the best front garden and floral display competition again this year. There are 6 entry categories to choose from and you can enter one or more of the following: • Best Front Garden • Best Floral Container • Best Hanging Basket • Best Commercial Business • Best Community Garden • Best School Project To enter you can do so by emailing your details and entry category to sarah.woodruff@ntlworld.com The closing date is 5.00pm on Friday 6th July 2018 Our first project of the year was to assist the Friends of Dunstable Cemetery and Signpost in a Tidy-Up Day at Dunstable Cemetery on 22nd March. Particularly making sure that graves of all service people buried there are well cared for. On Saturday 12th May a History Event, also with the theme of Remembrance & Peace, will be held in the lovely Priory Gardens. Dunstable in Bloom will have a stall selling plants and flowers. Any contributions very welcome and if you would like to join us details can be obtained from from Mary Chapman on 01582 603710 Spring is here at last! A reminder how bitterly cold it was in March but brightened up by these cheery daffodils planted by Dunstable in Bloom volunteers. Summer’s not far away – so get planting & enter our competitions! Get Involved! With 2018 marking the 100th anniversary of the end of World War 1 our theme is Remembrance & Peace. There are some lovely plants associated with this including Forget me-nots, Peace roses, Lilies and of course poppies. Why not try and fit some of these into your borders, baskets and tubs. Dunstable in Bloom, in partnership with the Don’t Let Dunstable Die (DLDD) Trust, will be running the best front garden and floral display competition again this year. There are 6 entry categories to choose from and you can enter one or more of the following: • Best Front Garden • Best Floral Container • Best Hanging Basket • Best Commercial Business • Best Community Garden • Best School Project To enter you can do so by emailing your details and entry category to sarah.woodruff@ntlworld.com The closing date is 5.00pm on Friday 6th July 2018 Our first project of the year was to assist the Friends of Dunstable Cemetery and Signpost in a Tidy-Up Day at Dunstable Cemetery on 22nd March. Particularly making sure that graves of all service people buried there are well cared for. On Saturday 12th May a History Event, also with the theme of Remembrance & Peace, will be held in the lovely Priory Gardens. Dunstable in Bloom will have a stall selling plants and flowers. Any contributions very welcome and if you would like to join us details can be obtained from from Mary Chapman on 01582 603710 Dunstable in Bloom volunteers. Summer’s not far away – so get planting & enter our competitions! Get Involved! or customers@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk - or alternatively phone 0300 300 8302 But despite the virus some caring volunteers have been litter-picking around Dunstable. There has been activity in Downside and Beecroft. The Dunstable Wombles at Creasey Park borrowed extra equipment from Keep Dunstable Tidy in early March to help them clean up their area. On June 6th our local Rotary will be organising litter-picks around Dunstable. If you are planning this kind of activity, we would love to hear from you at dunstableinbloom@gmail.com and publicise your event. With restrictions easing more could be planned.

4

Years In Dunstable

In 1981 Antonia Vassallo Todaro worked alongside her husband, Papa Carmelo, at the family Delicatessen, Carmelo’s Continental, on Midland Road Luton. Being a working mother, with a husband and four sons to feed, Mama Antonia relied on the traditional Italian recipes that had been passed down to her through the generations. With a little imagination and taking inspiration from her mother, Cira, and grandmother, also Antonia, she added her own twist to each recipe, developing her own menu and with it an idea to bring authentic Italian cuisine to the people of Dunstable. So, on July 19th Mamma Antonia, accompanied by eldest son Carmelo Jr. opened the doors to Dunstables first Italian Pizzeria, Sorrento Pizzeria, located at 204 High Street North where it has remained for the last 40 years. Despite having to wait several months for an alcohol licence - diners had to bring their own wine! - the restaurant and Antonia’s menu proved a resounding success, so much so that within a year of opening the family decided to extend into the cellar. Sorrento Ristorante was born, offering a full A la carte Menu, Italian English & French food served by silver service. It was another hit! It seemed the town had discovered a taste for this new cuisine and the restaurant rapidly gained a reputation for it’s quality food, affordable prices and large, tasty portions. The family are now proud to boast that they introduced the town to many of the dishes we’re used to being served in Italian restaurants today. In 1989 the pizzeria was renamed Donatello’s, the cellar became Grazianos and eventually son no. 2, Micheal, took over as manager.

Today Donatello’s is much the same and Micheal, along with the rest of the family, strive to uphold many of the

Italian traditions and values introduced by Antonia. The joy of serving top quality, homemade food in intimate and welcoming surroundings remains at the fore. If you like traditional Italian this is still the place for you. Whilst Donatello’s today still has an unbeatable selection of traditional, homemade pizzas and pastas, Micheal has moved with the times and ever changing tastes by creating many new signature dishes which have become customer favourites. If it’s not on the menu, with a little notice Donatello’s can create almost any Italian dish so just ask! There truly is something to suit all tastes. This hard work and love of authentic pizza and pasta has paid off! In 2016 Donatello’s won Gold for Best Independent Pizzeria Uk Papa Award. Micheal was a finalists in The Italian Awards Best Pizza Chef 2018 & 2019 and for the last five years they have been finalists in the Pasta Finalists Papa Awards. In 1998 the family decided to expand the business and acquired a century old cottage, at 91 Dunstable Street in Ampthill, which on 28th October, after five gruelling months of refurbishment, opened it’s doors as a 30 seat restaurant. Through continued success the capacity at Donatello’s, Ampthill was extended to 80 diners, set over two floors in five private dining rooms. The building has retained all of its charm with period features including beams, fireplaces and low ceilings. The restaurant has the added bonus of a garden and Alfresco dining area for diners to enjoy during the summer and when lockdown rules apply. Micheal has also made Donatello’s available for private functions and both restaurants can cater for most events. The experienced and friendly staff will be on hand to make any occasion one to remember. Keen to expand the business further, Micheal introduced a take away and delivery service so you can now enjoy made to order, authentic Italian food - “a Donatello’s” - without having to leave the house. As a ‘local business’, Donatello’s has always tried to give back to the community that has supported them for so long and, through hosting fun events such as ‘Pasta Eating’ and ‘Eat A Mile Of Spaghetti’ competitions, they have raised a tremendous amount of money for local charities over the past 40 years. Micheal says “Engaging and helping the local community is important to us and something that we really enjoy”. If you enjoy good food Donatello’s offers variety and versatility that only comes with 40 years of experience. Happy Birthday Donatello’s, here’s to another 40 years!