Services

HOLY Cross: Mass at 6pm on Saturday with Bishop Edwin.St Mary Magdalene: Mass at 11am with Bishop Edwin.St Michael’s: morning service at 9.30am.St David’s: morning service at 11am.Manod Orthodox: Third and Sixth Canonical Hours at 10am and the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom at 10.30 am.Calfaria: Christmas service, afternoon.Bethesda: Rev Huw Dylan Jones, 10am.Bowydd: Rev John Owen, 10am.Bethel Ffestiniog: Cyfarfod Eglwys, 10am.

Sports

BLAENAU Amateurs FC’s match at Pentraeth on Saturday was postponed, as was the reserves home match against Llandudno Junction Res.This Saturday, the first team are at Gaerwen and the reserves were due to play at Llangefni in mid-week and are home to Denbigh Res this Saturday. Bro Ffestiniog XV’s match against division 2 leaders Shotton Steel at Dolawel was also called off due to a waterlogged pitch and this Saturday they have a long trip to take on Canton in Cardiff in a SWALEC Challenge Cup tie Their next scheduled Division 2 match is home to Harlech on 5 January.

Darts

THE BLAENAU men’s darts team were beaten 5-3 at the RWF Club on Sunday evening by Porthmadog in a Gwynedd Super League match.Next weekend they will be away at Llanfechell on Anglesey.Salt binsIT HAS been reported that Gwynedd Council will not be providing salt bins after winter 2015-2016 as there is no statutory obligation on them to provide this service. There are 19 such bins located in the area but two of them are in the Maentwrog Parish. The Ffestiniog Town Council has decided to look into the costs of providing this service by using local companies with the council likely to provide this service.

Health meetings

IT IS nearly two months since a letter was sent to Dr Peter Higson, chair of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, by the Town Council, also signed by Gwyn Roberts on behalf of Dolwyddelen Community Council.Evan G Williams, on behalf of the Ffestiniog Hospital Defence Committee, requested a meeting be held in Blaenau to discuss concerns about the lack of essential health facilities in the area. No reply has been received despite sending an e-mail to remind them that they are still waiting for the board’s response.Christmas lightsHEAVY rain on Thursday evening meant there wasn’t the usual activities in town for the annual switching-on of the town’s Christ-mas lights.Community carol singing by the local schools and the four local choirs as well as the Oakely Band didn’t take place. There had been the usual festive competitions for both the juniors and seniors, with Gethin Rhys Davies winning the first prize for his mince pies and Lowri Mai Davies second in the junior section. The junior Christmas card winner was Gwawr Elen, with Deion John in second place and Erin Medi Harris in third. The junior craft winner was Hanna Serian with Mari Wyn Harris and Gwawr Elen second and third. In the senior section, Annette Parry won the mince pies award with Joan Hatton both second and third. In the hat or scarf-making competition, Joan Hatton was first with Pauline Humphreys and Mair Davies in second and third. The best picture of Blaenau Ffes-tiniog was won by S Roberts ahead of J Keogh and Dafydd Roberts. Best decorated shop was Parti 4 ahead of Seren Waverley and Lolfa Harddwch and the best decorated window house was Neuadd Wen ahead of 5, Penybryn, Bethania and 6, Maenofferen Street.The best decorated house was 1 Glan Dulun, ahead of 7 Tai Gelli and 47 Pengwndwn. Neuadd Wen won the Harvey Memorial Cup and the night’s fancy dress winner was Gemma Williams.

Buses

THE TOWN council is to discuss a letter sent to Express Motors by the Dolwyddelen Community Council stating their disappointment that the X1 bus service is drastically reduced between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Betws y Coed.

Maenofferen Gallery

THE MAENOFFEREN Gallery hosts an exhibition by the contemporary photographer Jeremy Dean.In its glass case are examples of the work of the potter Jane Wil-liams.Admission to the gallery is free during the library’s opening hours.Choir successesTHE TOWN council chair, Cllr Erwyn Jones, has congratulated both the Ysgol y Moelwyn and the Rhiannedd y Moelwyn ladies choirs on their success at the north Wales choral festival held at The Venue, Llandudno where both won their groups.AM responseTHE TOWN council has received a reply from Edwina Hart AM, Minister for the economy, sci-ence and transportation about the problem of drivers refusing to give way at Manod and elsewhere in the area and a meeting will be arranged with Iolo Tegid to discuss this further.AdviceA MACMILLAN support co-ordinator will be at the library on Friday afternoons between 2 and 4pm.On Mondays between 10am and 1pm, a Citizens Advice Bureau representative will be there. Both advisors are willing to give any relevant advice where needed.

Refugees

IN JANUARY next year, Gwynedd Council will be accepting refugees from Syria.With that in mind, local councillor Bedwyr Gwilym has put forward a notice of motion asking Ffestiniog Town Council to make a public statement saying it welcomes refugees in the town if suitable housing is empty and available.

International rugby star

LOCAL player Jessica Kavanagh Williams was a member of the Wales Ladies seven-a-side rugby team that came fifth in an international tournament which took place in Dubai last week. Jessica is also part of the Caernar-fon/Scarlets squads.PlaqueTHE INNER Wheel, whose founder Margarette Goulding was brought up at 134 High Street, have requested that a suitable plaque be placed at Gard Encil, Church Street, in her memory. This will be made of Ffestiniog slate and should be the same meas-ure as the other plaques already placed at Gardd Encil and the council would send that information on to the Inner Wheel.

Sefydliad y Merched

AR NOS Fawrth, 1 Rhagfyr mwynhaodd yr aelodau ginio Nadolig blasus yng Ngwesty Pisga ar noson sych a thawel.Enillwyd y rafflau gan Delyth Hughes, Megan Jones, Valerie Davies a Blodwen Wallpamur a chafodd pob aelod anrheg i fynd adref.Trefnwyd i fynd i’r gwasanaeth canu carolau yn Ebeneser, Dolgellau ddydd Gwener, 4 Rhagfyr.Bydd ein cyfarfod nesaf ar nos Fawrth, 26 Ionawr, pan fydd social i ymuno am y flwyddyn newydd. Croeso i aelodau newydd i ymuno â ni yn ein adeilad ar Heol Wyn.