Lugger Fest and The Waverley visits Gairloch

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🟡 A 59-year-old man has been arrested and charged after three people were hurt in a crash on the A832 near Dundonnell at about 12:50 on Tuesday May 19. The incident involved a motorbike and two cyclists. More: BBC News

🟡 Highland Council has paid out almost £580,000 to motorists for vehicle damage over the last five years, because of pot holes. The council has the largest compensation bill of any Scottish Local Authority. More: Alasdair Fraser | Inverness Courier

You can report pot holes to the council (and the rest of the world) using the website: fixmystreet.com

🟡 Mullagrach Island, the northernmost island in the Summer Isles, is up for sale with a guide price of £350,000. It can "easily be reached by boat from the harbours at Ullapool and Old Dornie, and by helicopter." More: Savills

🟡 There is now Pickle Ball equipment available at Aultbea Hall. If you want to book a session email: [email protected]

Events

If you are organising an event and you'd like us to help you promote it you can share the details with us here for free. A new issue of the Gairloch and District Times comes out tomorrow with a comprehensive What's On Guide for the area. You can buy it from any of these shops.

🟡 There's a busy weekend coming up in Ullapool, as sailing boats from far and wide gather for Lugger Fest. There's a packed programme of sailing-related talks, music and events running from the evening of Friday May 22 to the following Monday. The full programme can be found on the festival website (if you scroll past all the photos). More: Lugger Fest

As part of the Lugger Fest celebrations, Ullapool Museum has dropped its entry fee for the day on Saturday May 23. More: Facebook

The "fantastic" Aultbea Teas Team are running a fundraising baking stall at Lugger Fest and they have put a call out for donations of baked goodies. More: Facebook

🟡 On Monday May 25 at 19:00, The Wester Loch Ewe Trust is inviting locals to a consultation event at the Old Schoolhouse, Inverasdale. Organisers said: "This consultation is an opportunity to share ideas, discuss future possibilities and help shape the next stage of development for Wester Loch Ewe. We encourage everyone with an interest in the future of our community to come along and take part."

🟡 The next Wester Loch Ewe Community Council meeting will take place on June 3, at 19:30, in the Old Schoolhouse, Inverasdale.

🟡 On Saturday June 13, there will be a fundraising coffee morning and talk on behalf of Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance at Gairloch Community Hall. Details in the flyer below.

🟡 And on August 19, the Poolewe Ceilidh Partnership will be holding a hoolie in the village hall in support of the Poolewe Swimming Pool. Organisers are on the hunt for donations to the raffle too. More: Facebook

Jobs

You could reach more than 1400 people by advertising your job vacancies with the Gairloch and District Times. Book your advert here.

🟡 This week our featured job ad is a part-time administrator post with Wester Ross Fisheries Trust. More details in the advert below.

🟡 Applecross Community Company are looking for a "creative and collaborative" film maker to tender for a part-time role as a videographer to document the story of Applecross Community Woodland. More: Job Outline (pdf)

🟡 The Loch Maree Hotel seek a "versatile and enthusiastic Hotel Assistant/ Trainee Chef". More: Facebook

🟡 Harbour House in Ullapool is looking for a Kitchen Porter to do morning shifts. For more info email: [email protected]

More news

🟡 You have until Friday May 29 to take part in this Bike to Care online silent auction and raffle for Hospitality Aid - a charity that supports hospitality workers. The Torridon Hotel is supporting the appeal, and you can buy raffle tickets that include the chance to win prizes donated by the venue, or bid on an overnight stay there. More: Bike to Care

🟡 Gairloch Pharmacy have said they are moving ahead with their private Shingles Vaccination service. They are also open to providing Covid vaccinations if there is local interest. More: Facebook

🟡 In her first annual report after taking on the role of NHS Highland Director of Public Health, Jennifer Davies has called for more investment in young people and early years services. "Currently, 1 in 5 children in Highland are affected by poverty and 1 in 3 live in remote or rural areas where accessing essential services can be a significant hurdle," she said. More: NHS Highland

🟡 A recent report from The Ferret reveals that SNP politician Calum Kerr owns a six-bed holiday let in Achiltibuie, which is typically let out for around £1,200 a week. More: The Ferret

🟡 In a report released today, MPs on the Scottish Affairs Committee at Westminster, (which includes local MP Angus MacDonald among its members) have told the government that the amount to be paid out by renewable energy companies as part of a new mandatory "community benefits" fee should be doubled from £5,000 per MW to £10-12,000 per MW. Among other things, the committee is also calling on the government to make standing charges consistent across the country. More: Scottish Affairs Committee

🟡 Highland Council recently launched a public consultation on proposals to introduce new Short Term Let Control Zones covering much of The Highlands, including Wester Ross. Industry lobby group, the Association of Scottish Self-Caterers has dubbed the plans: "performative policymaking designed to scapegoat self-catering businesses for decades of wider housing failure." More: Caroline Wilson | The Herald (£)

🟡 Local politicians David Green MSP and Jamie Stone MP have written a joint letter to the Foreign Office urging officials to intervene with Israel on behalf of a number of their constituents who were participating in a humanitarian mission to deliver aid to Gaza by sea. At least one local man, Mr Hugh Stirling, is believed to be in Israeli detention. More: Facebook

🟡 Highlands MSP Maree Todd is a minister in the new Scottish Government, with responsibility for Mental Wellbeing, Public Health, Sport, Alcohol and Drugs. More: Scottish Government

🟡 Last week the Waverley Paddle Steamer came for its annual visit to Wester Ross. Thanks to everyone for sharing their photos of the ship with us. In the gallery below you can see photos from The Shop At The Pier, Allan Templeton, Puffin-Along Boat Tours, Sooz MacDonald and Ally Tibbitt. If you take a photo that you'd like us to share more widely you can share it with us here.