Central Hove Averil Older 01273 772071 VALENTINES NIGHT: For a Valentine's night out with a difference, why not come along to St Catherine's Lodge Hotel, Kingsway, on Monday, February 14, at 7.30pm. Video horse racing is promised, together with black-jack and roulette, live entertainment and palm readings.

It is hosted by Vallance Ward Conservatives and tickets are now on sale at £20, which includes £5 in betting vouchers and a buffet. For details ring 735833 or 325522.

LOCAL HISTORY: People are needed to attend a local history course with a difference starting in late February in Hove. The eight-week course covers Sussex churches, country houses, castles and gardens and is for people who cannot attend regular adult education venues.

Volunteers will attend the specially designed classes, then visit a housebound partner to relay the information. If you are interested in attending as a home student or volunteer, contact Joanne at the Brunswick Older People's Project on 205214.

AGE CONCERN: Robin Atwood, manager of the Age Concern shops in George Street, Portland Road and Station Road, Portslade, is urgently seeking more volunteers. The work is interesting and worthwhile and even a few hours a week will enable Robin to run his shops more smoothly as the combination of holidays and the flu epidemic have taken their toll.

Robin is eagerly awaiting your call on 736065 or just call into one of the shops.

Coldean John Ovenden 01273 691104

RACE NIGHT: Busy Bees fund-raisers present a Race Night at the Coldean Infant School on February 12, 7-11pm. Admission adults £4, children £2 which includes supper, but bring your own drink. Tickets are available from Busy Bees through Julie Payne on 709130 or from the infant school on 607909.

PLAY PARK: The amount of money that has been made available from the Brighton and Hove Council for improvements to the the play park facility in Haig Avenue was £5,000. It was agreed by all three councillors and others present at a public meeting that the money would be used to buy a train to be situated there for the seven-and-under age group. It was felt this would prove very popular.

Coun Tehmtan Framroze expressed his wishes that at some stage the bonfire currently held in Haig Avenue yearly could be held in a more suitable place. The reasons were that it is fairly close to the playground equipment, causes fumes, burns the grass badly also there is dogs mess everywhere.

If you have any suggestions of a more suitable site for the bonfire you could always leave a message for Coun Framroze in the Coldean library and perhaps a discussion could be arranged.

COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: Sue Hollingdale of Busy Bees notified me that the Coldean Community Association held a belated Christmas party at the church hall on Saturday for children up to the age of ten. Many local children attended and she said that they had a fabulous time.

Woodingdean Ray Blackwood 01273 559766

SHOPPING METRIC: Goods sold loose and weighed at the counter are now available in grams and kilograms. A helpful leaflet is available at the fruiterers and greengrocers in Warren Way and at other shops in Woodingdean. It is also available in braille and on tape via the Metric Helpline (0845 601 0540, calls at local rate).

ON THE VERGE: Grass verges in Woodingdean are still being ploughed up by drivers who disobey the rules by parking on the grass, in some cases with untaxed vehicles. Fortunately the offenders are an inconsiderate minority. I wonder if it would be an incentive to park properly if we started to publicise the registration numbers of frequent offenders?

CEILIDH: The church of the Holy Cross in Warren Road is holding a Scottish style ceilidh on Saturday, February 5, at 7.30pm and will include a demonstration of Scottish highland dancing. Tickets are a reasonable £2.

SURGERY: Kemp Town MP Dr Des Turner is holding his next constituency advice surgery at Woodingdean Community Centre on Saturday, February 19, 11.05am-noon. No appointment is necessary.

THEATRE: Armchair Theatre Group meet at Downs Hotel, Warren Road, on Tuesday at 8pm. Call 605911.

Hove to fishersgate Frank Blake 01273 885332

DISABLED: Are there any persons with time on their hands willing and able to drive a Bluebird Mini Bus for the Hove Society for the Disabled? Volunteer drivers are desperately needed to drive people on outings and trips to local theatres and possibly Worthing, Chichester or Eastbourne and maybe London.

The Society are also looking into the possibility of trips to France in the future.

If you can help please ring/fax 01273 207664 or call into 176 Portland Road, Hove. Please ask for the manger, John Oliver.

Cycling: The British Cycling Federation, Sussex Division, in conjunction with Brighton and Hove Council, are holding the Hove Park Festival of Cycling on Sunday, July 16, using for the first time ever the whole of the 2km circuit. The Sussex Juvenile championships will be incorporated in this meeting.

The evening meetings start on Friday, April 28, commencing at 6.30pm, using the smaller 1km circuit. For further information ring 01435 866909.

KARAOKE: Organisers of charity events, rest homes, parties for disabled, elderly or social clubs who would like a sing-a-long with music from the First World War to the present day, ring Mary on 01273 272131 for a great karaoke plus a range of memorabilia from the past. The entertainment is free but help would be appreciated with transportation.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.