THE latest community news from Blaenau Ffestiniog

Siop Siarad

BET Huws, the Meirionnydd area’s language development officer recently discussed Hunaniaeth’s project aims and objectives.

She stated that it is the Welsh Government who funds the project but is managed by Gwynedd Council.

She also stated that they work with areas in Meirionnydd where there is a risk of losing the Welsh language.

They also work with large companies to promote the use of Welsh, which can benefit their companies.

There is a need to raise awareness of the language on immigrants to Welsh areas.

She was very happy to see that the Ffestiniog Town Council operated in Welsh with an interpreter available at its meetings and that all documentation was bilingual.

It was stated that a monthly meeting of the Siop Siarad group based at Blaenau Ffestiniog is an opportunity for learners to chat with those who are fluent in the language and helps to raise the confidence of learners to practice conversations in Welsh.

Services

HOLY Cross - Mass at 6pm on Saturday with Fr Shaji Pennati.

St Mary Magdalene - Mass at 11am with Fr Shaji Pennati.

St Michael’s - United churches services at 10am and a Candlelit Carol service there at 5pm.

Manod Orthodox - Third and Sixth Canonical Hours at 10am followed by Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom.

Carmel - Rev Dewi Morris.

Bethesda - Lesson and Carol Service with Rhian Williams.

Bowydd - Children’s service.

Bethel, Ffestiniog -Rev Anita Ephraim 10am.

Clwb Cerdded

TAITH leol fydd yr olaf y flwyddyn yma i aelodau Clwb Cerdded Stiniog a gofynnir iddynt fod ger Ty Gorsaf am 9yb ddydd Sul; mae esgidiau cryf, dillad addas a phecyn o fwyd yn hanfodol i’r daith.

Lights

DESPITE the cold weather there was a decent turn out for the annual switching on of the town’s Christmas Lights, which took place on Thursday evening, again organised by Blaenau Bendigedig, who thank all who contributed to the evening.

There was a prize for the best Christmas-decorated commercial premises with Waverley in first place; Amazing Drapes and Siop Gloddfa in second and third and highly commended were Eifion Stores and Siop Parti.

1 Glan Dulyn was the house winner with 45 Pengwndwn and 4 Penygroes Terrace in second and third for the best house window was 54 High Street, who won the Harvey Cup with Market Square and 5 Penybryn Terrace in second and third and highly commended was 135, Manod Road.

For the children there was chance to see and meet Santa at Ty Gorsaf and there was the traditional carol singing to end the evening with pupils of local schools and choirs taking part.

Trees

THE Dref Werdd has agreed to work with the town council to arrange a planting day with the children from Ysgol Manod for the four apple trees offered by the Snowdonia National Park.

It is felt that suitable land is available at the playing field boundary at Manod for the trees and the Council has agreed to buy them up to the value of £100.

Camera Club

JOHN Roberts from Caernarfon was the judge for the John Worthington Roberts Memorial Trophy competition where members of the Camera Club were asked to enter a set of four landscape images.

Rory Trappe placed first; Tom Dodd second and Alwyn Williams third.

In the club’s black and white print competition, judged by Dave Jones, from Deeside, Carl Senior and Alwyn Williams were placed first with maximum marks, Iona O’Neill second and third with Carl’s print being awarded the overall winner.

Wildlife photography was the subject of a lecture given by Alan Price from Pentrefelin at the club where he explained the techniques and equipment used to take his images.

Corners was the theme for a recent club competition judged by Tom Dodd who placed Gareth Williams’s image of an underground station as the winner.

Archeological Society

THE latest talk on the society’s calendar was by Dr Jane Kenney on Machu Pichu and the Inca Empire.

The Incas themselves were the elite monarchy ruling many peoples of the area with the main language being Quechua which is still spoken today in some areas of the former empire.

Although Machu Pichu is regarded by many as the only Inca site, there were in fact many highly important cities built under Inca control. Machu Pichu is renowned as the most spectacular it is in fact the name of the mountain ridge that it is built on.

As in other areas it is not just the amazing construction techniques of close fitting stonework between which you could hardly get a bank card, but the terraced food growing plantations on extremely steep slopes on the edge of deep chasms.

A fascinating talk which the audience of 20+ appreciated greatly.

The next talk of the society’s autumn season will be on Thursday, 14 December, at 7pm for 7.30pm at the Day Centre, Y Ganolfan.

The guest speaker is Ken Brassil who will speak on Charles Darwin – his north Wales connections. The talk will be bilingual.

Tea and coffee at 7pm for a 7.30pm start.

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