Down Your Way for Mon 1st August

A reminder, now the school holidays have begun of the activities at St. James Library, events include; Rhymetime for young children every Tuesday morning from 10:30 -11:00am. Also this year’s Summer Reading Challenge events began on Saturday 23rd July and the theme this year is Circus Stars! Children between the ages of 4 and 12 will be able to collect a Circus Stars membership card from their  local library, and on their next visit they can also collect a Circus Stars Stage, showing the 3 parts of the Circus Skills Academy: Practice, Rehearsal and Show Time! For every two books children read, they will receive a set of stickers. Once they have read six books from the library they will be rewarded with a special medal and certificate. Complete the challenge and enter a prize draw with the chance to win a £10 book token. Is there a cost? Most activities are free but there is a small charge for some activities to cover costs.

Events included in the Circus Stars theme will be as follows; Big Top Biscuits (Free)  4-8s on Thursday 28/07/2011 at 3.00pm-3.45pm, Beast Quest (Free) 6-12s on Friday 05/08/2011 at 2.30pm-3.30pm, Circus Stars Rhymetime (Free) Under 5s on Tuesday 09/08/2011 at 10.00am-11.00am, Life Sized Clowns (Free) 4-8s on Thursday 11/08/2011 at 2.30pm 3.30pm, K'Nex Building Afternoon (Free) All ages on Friday 19/08/2011 at 2.30pm-4.30pm, Very Hungry Caterpillar (Free) 4-8s on Tuesday 23/08/2011 at 2.30pm-3.15pm, Lion Tamer and his Lion Craft (Free) 6-12s on Wednesday      24/08/2011 at 2.30pm-3.30pm, Magic Ballerina (Free) 6-12s on Tuesday 30/08/2011 at 2.30pm-3.30pm, Teddy Bear's Picnic (Free) Under 5s on Tuesday 30/08/2011 at 10.00am-11.00am.
 
Remember Dad’s and Grandparents can come along too! For more information telephone the Library on 01604 751037 or drop in to St. James Library during opening hours; Monday closed Tuesday to Friday 2.00-600pm, Saturday: 10.00am-2.00pm. Who says that nothing happens at our Library?!

More events to keep your children or grandchildren entertained are being organised by the Council’s Museum service; A Medieval Family Fun Day, from fighting knights to fire eating. A day of medieval activities and crafts for all the family is on 13th Aug 11 at Abington Park Museum from 11:00 - 16:00, Free admission but may be a small charge for some craft activities. Museum Summer Holiday workshop - Picnic Basket is on 16th Aug 11 at Northampton Museum & Art Gallery 10:00 - 15:00, Free admission, no need to book. Other summer holiday workshops at Northampton Museum & Art Gallery: 9 August - Pirate Day, Free but may be a small charge for some activities. 23 August - Sea Creature Craft Day, Free but may be a small charge for some activities 10am - 12pm and 1pm - 3pm. 30 August - Watercolour Painting with Clare Carney 10.30am - 14:30pm, Tickets £5 - suitable for over 8s only.

Telephone 01604 838111 to book & pay or call in person at the Museum in Guildhall Road. Alternatively, why not just stay in Jimmy’s End, we are blessed with open spaces and there are some lovely walks! We have of course Victoria Park which connects in to Foot Meadow, Sharman’s Lake (or latterly St. James Small Park) which is accessed through Sharman Road or Abbey St and is a delightful little spot which then leads on to what was formerly the “Grav’s” or gravel pits (Stortons Pits) and Sixfields Lake. From there you are in “the countryside” and can walk right out to Kislingbury, Blisworth and Gayton and beyond or up to Hunsbury Hill or East along the canal and river towards Billing! You see. Despite the ever increasing development on the outskirts of town, we in Jimmy’s End can still access the Countryside on our doorstep. Perhaps, and lamentably not quite as fantastic as a walk out on what used to be the legendary Six Fields but still very enjoyable and a welcome relief from the traffic of Weedon and St. James Roads and all the negatives we seem to be able to find. These areas are truly an escape and we have them here in St. James!

The Friends of the Library Group are planning a St. James Community Information day for 3rd September on the Square. The group will have a stall giving information about the Friends group and facilities at the library. The Residents Association and the Doddridge Centre are also joining in. Other groups and stall holders are also welcome to pitch up and they are very welcome to discuss the event further by using the contact details below. The groups are also hoping to attract some sponsorship for the event to pay towards costs and to provide entertainment for children etc, so if you are a local business and can provide, food drinks, entertainment or good old fashioned hard cash for the benefit of the community, then please, please make contact via the details below. The Planning is still at an early stage, but it is hoped to hold the event on the precinct outside the Library if the weather is good or inside the Community Centre if it’s raining. Watch this space for more details in the next few weeks.

The Annual General Meeting of the St. James Residents’ Association takes place on Thursday 22nd of September at 7.00pm at the Doddridge Centre. This important meeting is where the changes to the Association rules are made, if any, the Treasurer and Chair give their annual reports and more importantly the committee is elected for the coming year. Any resident wishing to stand for a management committee post, must have attended at least three residents meetings in the previous year. For ordinary committee posts a minimum of one residents meeting must have been attended in the previous year (which would include the AGM, if it’s your first meeting). The association is always looking for new committee members to help run the association and nominations are welcomed from all members of society, regardless of age, race or gender.

A planning application (N/2011/0690) has been lodged with the Council for the erection of a first Floor Extension and pitched roof over existing flat roof, and the change of use from shop and flat to shop and self contained flat and dwelling. Simply, the owners wish to build a house on what is at the moment a store room at the rear of the shop in addition to the flat above the shop. Once again, there is no provision for parking and the property will have no garden and will probably look a bit odd. The premise in question is the convenience store at the junction of Althorp Road and St. James Park Road, opposite Victoria Park. The plans can be viewed, and you can comment online at www.northampton.gov.uk/planning or in person at the Guildhall or for more details, telephone 01604 838915.