GAFC win and training courses for crofters

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🟡 Congratulations to Gairloch / Aultbea FC who got their first competitive win since the club was reformed in a recent match against Lochalsh. More: Facebook

🟡 Congratulations also to The Torridon Hotel, as it has been awarded a prestigious Michelin Key to go alongside the Michelin Star that has already been awarded to its restaurant. More: Alex Banks | Press and Journal

🟡 Plans to introduce a Short-term Let Control Zone that would cover all of Wester Ross are likely to take a big step forward. A council report suggests that proposals could be sent to Scottish Ministers for approval within weeks. More: Olivia Andrews | Ross-shire Journal

🟡 Wester Ross councillor Chris Birt is one of five Highland councillors who have received a vote of no confidence from their colleagues, after he voted to allow a convicted rapist to keep taxi licences earlier in the year. He remains a member of the licensing committee. More: BBC Scotland

🟡 A variety of training courses for crofters interested in producing and selling food are on offer from the Scottish Crofting Federation this autumn. Some course are two-day in-person courses, and some are online. More: SCF

Events

This is just a selection from all the events that have been posted to our people-powered Wester Ross events calendar. There are many more events to check out here. If you know of an event that is not listed on the calendar yet you can help by adding it using this form. It's the best way to get something listed in this newsletter and in the What's On section of the Gairloch and District Times.

🟡 Ewebrew winter events have been announced. Details in the flyer below.

🟡 Macmillan Coffee Morning
A fundraising coffee morning for Macmillan Cancer Support. All welcome.
Fri 25 Sep | 11.00am | Gairloch Community Hall · Gairloch | More info

🟡 Angus MacDonald MP Constituent Surgery
Raise an issue with your local MP.
Fri 25 Sep | 12.15pm | The Lochcarron Centre · Lochcarron & Strathcarron | More info

🟡 Maerl Herring Festival | Illuminated musical flotilla, and storytelling, music and song
Illuminated musical flotilla & storytelling, music & song at Am Bothan, Badentarbat Pier, Coigach.
Fri 25 Sep | 6.00pm | Badentarbat Pier · Achiltibuie & Summer Isles | More info

🟡 Aultbea Men's Shed Soup and Cake Lunch
Come to join the Aultbea Men's Shed for delicious soup, crusty bread and sumptuous cakes and pavlova, at the Lochewe Community Church. Donations welcome towards running the Men's Shed.
Sat 26 Sep | 12.00pm | Loch Ewe Community Church · Aultbea & Laide | More info

🟡 Maerl Herring Festival | Maerl Perfromance Art and Science Report
Celebrate the 10th birthday of the Wester Ross Marine Protected Area – the largest maerl MPA in the world.
Sat 26 Sep | 12.00pm | Coigach Community Hall · Achiltibuie & Summer Isles | More info

🟡 Community Puppet-Build Weekend Workshop
Over the weekend of the 25th-27th September, we are hoping to gather as a community and build a large puppet of Roy the humpback whale – a whale close to the heart of our community - to parade it through the village on the afternoon of Sunday 27th (Weather permitting!)
Sat 26 Sep | 1.00pm | Ceilidh Place Ullapool · Ullapool | More info

🟡 Sitooterie Open Day – Meet the Team
Visit the garden and meet the team. Free but donations welcome. Spring bulbs and fundraising calendars available.
Sat 26 Sep | 2.00pm | The 'Sitooterie' wildlife observation garden · Gairloch | More info

🟡 Maerl Herring Festival | Dreams of the Future
Dreams of the Future: films, short talks & community discussion & market fair at Coigach Community Hall.
Sun 27 Sep | 2.30pm | Coigach Community Hall · Achiltibuie & Summer Isles | More info

🟡 Monday Music Night
Back by popular demand! Bring your musical instrument and join in the fun. Suggested donation of £2.50 per session.
Mon 28 Sep | 7.00pm | Poolewe Village Hall · Poolewe | More info

🟡 Lichen Safari at Flowerdale, Gairloch
Learn to love the lichens of our Celtic Rainforest with an introduction to the species at Flowerdale Estate. Do you like lichen? Have you never heard of it before but want to know more? Join the Ranger for a short walk to discover a whole new world!
Tue 29 Sep | 10.00am | Flowerdale Glen Car Park · Gairloch | More info

🟡 Shieldaig Village Hall Public Consultation Sessions and Q&A Session
Come along to view the plans, ask questions and help shape the future of Shieldaig Village Hall.
Tue 29 Sep, Wed 30 Sep | 12.30pm/6.30pm | Shieldaig Village Hall · Applecross & Shieldaig | More info

🟡 Lochbroom Chess Club
Loch Broom Chess Club will have an open evening for anyone who would like to play some games. All abilities welcome.
Wed 30 Sep | 7.00pm | Lochbroom and Ullapool Church of Scotland · Ullapool | More info

🟡 Social Badminton
Welcoming group. Everyone welcome. Racquets provided.
Wed 30 Sep | 7.00pm | Poolewe Village Hall · Poolewe | More info

Jobs

Do you have a job vacancy you are trying to fill? Reach even more local people by advertising in the Gairloch and District Times. You can book space here.

🟡 Kishorn Port are looking for Gatehouse Security Staff. More: Kishorn Port

🟡 NHS Highland are looking for a Social Care Assistant to work at Strathburn Eventide Home in Gairloch. More: NHS Scotland

More News

🟡 Blood donors in the Ullapool area are being invited to make an appointment to give blood on September 30. More: TownSpot.co

🟡 Diesel has passed £2 per litre at most Wester Ross filling stations. It might be worth shopping around when prices are this high. More: Fuel-Finder.co.uk

🟡 A profitable Ullapool business that is up for sale has dropped its sale price. Ullapool Laundry Services can now be acquired for £75,000. More: Business Partnership

🟡 Poolewe Bridge will be closed from 09:00 to 12:00 today to allow for an inspection. More: Facebook

🟡 Highland Council are planning road closures from Monday 9th November, affecting the Torridon glen to carry out culvert works. More: Facebook

🟡 Kishorn Port hope to get permission to build a new quay. A pre-application public consultation event is planned at Lochcarron on October 27. More: Kishorn Port

🟡 Communities Housing Trust, a charity that has supported numerous rural housing projects throughout the region has announced it is likely to close after thirty years in operation. More: BBC News

🟡 Wester Ross Biosphere are considering organising a Gaelic speakers meet-up in Ullapool - and possibly other places in Wester Ross too. More: Facebook

🟡 And finally, here's a heart warming video of two rescued orphaned baby otters being released back into the wild in the Summer Isles. More: Facebook