Flower power is sprucing up city

COLOURFUL hanging baskets are adorning rows of homes in Dingle - thanks to Liverpool City Council.  Alongside housing associations, the city’s neighbourhood staff have been working with residents to create the stunning baskets which brighten up people’s homes and give communities a bit of a lift.  Now, more than 1,000 baskets adorn homes around the bread streets area of Dingle – and the initiative has proved so popular it’s being rolled out across the city.

Councillor Steve Munby, the city’s cabinet member for neighbourhoods and central ward councillor said:- “This initiative is planting the seeds for community participation. These beautiful plants really do make a difference – the project has uplifted the whole area as it makes it a much brighter place to be in.  Everyone who takes part in the project is a winner and that is why the council has set aside money which groups can apply for to assist with bulbs, planting, equipment and installation.  Our neighbourhood staff are working across the city to help our communities become a more pleasant place in which to live. If lots more people take up the offer then our city will look even more stunning than ever.  In the past we have held numerous Respect week and other initiatives to make areas clean and safe but now is the time to go beyond crime and grime and towards a creative agenda to make our neighbourhoods more beautiful.”

The council has funded the scheme through the Working Neighbourhoods Fund and housing associations have also chipped in.  If you have an idea which involves working with local residents to improve an area please contact your local neighbourhood team on:-  0151 233 3001.

CASH SEIZURE - NORRIS GREEN

ON Thursday, 18 June 2010, officers from the North Liverpool Burglary Team along with Neighbourhood officers seized a large amount of cash from a house in Norris Green. While investigating a burglary officers executed a Theft Act Warrant at an address in Morningside Road, Norris Green. Officers recovered cash, estimated to in the region of £157,000. A 49 year old man and a 19 year old, both from Norris Green have been arrested on suspicion of money laundering and on suspicion of burglary. They are currently being questioned by officers. Detective Chief Inspector Chris Green said:- "This is a significant cash seizure following a detailed investigation. Officers will continue to act on all information provided by the public to disrupt the activities of those believed to be involved in criminality. I would urge anyone with information about crime in their area to contact police or Crimestoppers."

PERFORMERS THEATRE SCHOOL LAUNCH THEIR SEARCH TO FIND DANNY AND SANDY

ONE of Liverpool’s leading theatre schools is throwing open its doors for its annual musical theatre Summer School, which is open to youngsters from across Merseyside between the ages of 7 and 19 years.

To coincide with those ‘Summer Days’, Performers Theatre School are proud to announce that this year’s production will be ‘Greasemania’! Now they are looking for a cast to star in it! The search has begun for Danny, Sandy, Rizzo, Frenchy, Marty, Jan, Kenicke and Vince Fontaine! There are also parts for The "Pink Ladies" the pink-jacketed, gum-chewing, hip-swinging girls' gang and also The "Burger Palace Boys" - a super-cool, hard-looking group of high school wheeler-dealers...or so they think!

Could you be the next Danny or Sandy...?

Auditions will be held on Sunday, 27 June 2010 from 4:30pm at MDI (24 Hope Street, Liverpool, L1). The two week course includes dance, acting and singing workshops as well as rehearsals and coaching. The course costs £130.00 and there is a 10% discount for siblings.

The summer school is run by tutors with extensive experience of theatre and working with young people, with all the current police checks and chaperone requirement in place. The show will be choreographed by Craig Thompson who co-directs alongside leading Liverpool vocal coach, Suzanne O'Keeffe. Performers Theatre Summer Schools are not just about cultivating acting, singing and dancing for today’s youth, but also about building self-discipline, self-confidence and self-esteem, enabling participants to grow and develop over the summer.

Participants of the Performers’ Summer School in previous years have subsequently been selected to appear on stage by leading producers in professional productions such as Joseph & The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Evita, Annie, Scrooge, Doctor Dolittle, Twopence across the Mersey and many more.

For further Information on all the courses and to download an application form visit:- liverpoolsummercamps.co.uk  Alternatively you can call 0151 708 4000 or via email.  (Please not that places are strictly limited).