THE latest community news from Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Services

HOLY CROSS - Mass at 6pm on Saturday with Bishop Edwin; St Mary Magdalene - Mass at 11 am 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 followed by the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom; Calfaria - Christmas service; Carmel - Rev Gwilym Williams; Bowydd - Rev Anita Ephraim; Bethesda - Christmas service, 10am.

Sports

BLAENAU Amateurs FC are out of the Mawddach Cup after their first-round 3-1 defeat at Llanrwst and this Saturday they resume their Alliance league 2 programme with a home match against Llanllyfni. The Reserves were beaten 4-3 at home by Llanstumdwy who they meet again this Saturday in an away Gwynedd Cup tie, and they will be there again on the 17 in a Safeflue Shield tie. Bro Ffestiniog XV had a thrilling 40- 31 points home win over Caernarfon at Dolwael on Saturday.Gallery THE Maenofferen Gallery hosts an exhibition by members of the local craft group led by Stephen Owen. Admission is free during the library’s opening hours.

Cashpoint

THERE is welcome news in the area that, since the closure of the HSBC branch and the lack of access to cash at some times of the day and weekends, the Co-operative store has agreed to install a cashpoint at its store with additional access to round-the-clock financial services. This will double the external ATMs in the town.

Advice

A REPRESENTATIVE of the Citizens Advice Bureau will be at the library every Monday from 10am till 1pm ready to help with any relevant questions one might have.

Lights

ON Thursday evening, the town’s Christmas lights were switched on and a parade took place from the Commercial Square to the town centre. Christmas carol were sung by pupils of the Ysgol Tanygrisiau, Maenofferen and Manod and members of the local choirs on a stage placed in the car park behind the council offices and the Oakeley Band were entertaining at Y Cell. Compering the evening was Gwenlli Evans who gave the names of the properties which had won the various best Christmas decorated classes, with Siop y Gloddfa winning the first prize in the shops class, Parti 4 in second and joint third were Sweet Dreams and the Beauty Lounge. The best house window was won by 5 Penybryn Terrace; Penmaen, with Wynne Avenue in second place and 68, Manod Road third. The best Christmas decorated house prize was awarded to Dafydd Hughes of 1 Glan Dulyn, Rhiwbryfdir who also won the Harvey Memorial Cup as the best overall winner. Second in that class was 52 Pengwndwn with Old PO Peniel and 4 Peniel Terrace joint third. Also present in his grotto was Father Christmas with various stalls on the site.

Appointment

LOCAL man Gareth Roberts who has been a deputy headmaster for three years and then headmaster for the same number of years at the Maenofferen Primary School, has been appointed deputy headmaster of Ysgol Bro Idris, Dolgellau and will take over his new post at the end of April next year.

Donations

THE sum of £2,550 was raised in memory of the late Karen Roberts of 8 Bowydd View, £1,000 of which has been donated to the local Child Care Charity and the balance to the Liverpool’s Walton Centre Charity.Fell RaceIT has now been confirmed that next year’s popular Moelwyn Fell Race is to take place on Saturday, 8 April, where the runners will set off from the Bro Ffestiniog Rugby Club site. The organisers are members of the Rhedwyr Hebog running club who have joined forces with the local Blaenau Amateurs FC to secure the long-term future of this iconic race. The race will follow its traditional route, and is expected to attract runners from various parts of the country. As well as the seniors events there will be junior races for the 12-18 age groups, as well as a fun run for primary school children. Full details will be available early in the new year.

Clwb Merched

CAFODD aelodau’r clwb Nos Fawrth noson allan i’r Venue, Llandudno ar 25 Tachwedd, lle cafwyd perfformiad gwych o Kiss me Kate gan gwmni Opera Gogledd Cymru. Ar y ffordd yno cafwyd bryd o fwyd yng Ngwesti Talycafn a diolchwyd i Ann Rushworth am y trefniadau trylwyr.

Hospital

THE memorial hospital defence committee has been informed that, at last, the public petition they made in the area regarding the loss of the inpatient beds, x-ray and minor injuries units which shows over 99 per cent wanted them back, and which was personally taken to Cardiff some time ago by a delegation from the defence committee, is to be considered on Tuesday, 13 December along with correspondence between them and the First Minister. For those interested, a live broadcast of the meeting will be available on TV.

Choir

FOLLOWING their recent concert at St Asaph Cathedral, the Rhiannedd y Moelwyn ladies choir has been invited to sing some carols at Ysbyty Gwynedd’s front foyer on Tuesday, 13 December at 6pm and then at the Pengwern, Ffestiniog on 19 December.

If you’re a member of a club, society or group, send your news to [email protected]