It’s not long now until the Bestival and with it being a sell out your going to find it hard to get your hands on some tickets  if you haven’t purchased them already

But it’s not all sad times, if you’re aged between 15 to 24 you still have a chance to win a PAIR of bestival tickets thanks to the Isle of Wight Primary Care Trust.

All you need to do is pee in a jar and send it off, its as easy as that and then you’re in with a chance of winning two bestival tickets worth nearly £300

You can get hold of a FREE kit from your local pharmacy, GP, Connexions or any under 25 drop in clinic on the Island. You can even order a kit online.

The draw takes place on the 1st of September 2010 and remember, every test that is completed correctly will be in for a chance. GOOD LUCK!

** CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE PRIZE  DRAW **

In this day and age there should be no reason why a young person on the Island should not have access to a personal computer at home.

We are now in the tech age, computers play an important part in our life, from school homework, banking, shopping, research and even fun.

The Island Youth Project  has launched “Island Computer Project“  to get  more computers in homes that don’t have them. We fix PC’’s and refurbish computers from donated parts, they stay in the local community and are given away free to the younger generation who really need a PC but can’t afford one. The project is great for the environment and is much better option than allowing them to go to landfill in other countries.

If you can help us make some of the younger generation happy please get in contact. We can arrange collection of all donated items and if your a business and provide us with old equipment we are happy to provide you with free advertising on our website in exchange for your donations.

Idea of items we need: Old Computers, Computer Cases, Monitors, Hard Drives, Floppy Drives, CDROM Drives, DVD Drives, Cables, Sound Cards, Graphic Cards, Motherboards, RAM, Keyboards, Mice, Power Supply’s, Printers, Scanners, Webcams, PSU’s, Microphones & Speakers.

This year’s games are being held in The Azores in Portugal and the Isle of Wight is sending athletes in three different sports. These are swimming, sailing and athletics.

The competition is held between 26 – 30 May and 18 other islands are also competing, including teams from Crete, Jersey, Sardinia, Majorca and Malta.

It is the seventh time the Isle of Wight has taken part in the World Island Youth Games and history has shown that many athletes successfully go on to represent the Isle of Wight in the NatWest Island Games.

Isle of Wight Council’s Community Development Manager Lee Matthews is the team’s manager and is hoping to do the Island proud. He said “With the Isle of Wight 2011 NatWest Island Games coming up next year, the World Island Youth Games represents a great opportunity for our athletes to show what they can do in the sporting arena while also being ambassadors for the Isle of Wight.

“I know they will be doing their best too bring medals home, but importantly this will give the youngsters the valuable experience of taking part in top level competitions.

Leader of Isle of Wight Council David Pugh said “I wish the team the very best of luck in The Azores. Fingers crossed there won’t be any flight disruption with the recent ash cloud problems but I am sure everyone taking part will have a great time.

“When you consider some of the islands the Isle of Wight will be competing against have populations running into the millions, it is credit to the athletes that we have been successful in the competition in recent years”

The cost of getting to the competition has been met through the Youth Opportunities Fund and also by Wightlink, which has sponsored the sailing team.

On Wednesday 2 June at Firestone Copse near Wootton Bridge, an event called ‘Go Wild in the Woods’ takes place between 1030 – 1630 with a range of activities being held including tree climbing, a canoe safari, butterfly walks and pond dipping.

It’s an early start if you want to take part in the chorus walk, which begins at 0500 and allows everyone taking part to enjoy the amazing variety of bird song.

Also during the day is the Isle of Wight’s first ever ‘BioBlitz’. This event asks people to record all species seen on the day and those taking part are advised to bring a camera along.

Wildlife experts will be on hand during the day to give advice and also identify insects or creatures they see in the woods,

More information can be found on www.wildonwight.co.uk and the main activities take place from 1030. Anyone is welcome to come along and there’s no need to book.

Parking at Firestone Copse is limited so car sharing is encouraged, although there is also a free shuttle bus available from the Isle of Wight Steam Railway car park in Station Road, Wootton.

Go Wild in the Woods has been organised by the Isle of Wight Biodiversity Partnership of which Isle of Wight Council is a member.

Cowes High School

Local residents, organisations and interested parties are being invited to find out more about the new Cowes One School Pathfinder Project at an event later this month.

On Tuesday 25 May between 1500 – 1900, visitors can attend an open day at Cowes High School where information about timescales, highways issues and possible locations for the new secondary school will be available.

Isle of Wight Council officers from the School Reorganisation Team will be present on the day to answer questions and comment on the proposals.

Sports clubs are also being invited along to talk about proposed sports facilities that will make up part of the new school.

There’s no need to register and anyone is welcome along.

The council has reduced a list of bidders hoping to win the £35m-plus contract to build the school down to the final two, with the local authority expecting to make a decision on its preferred bidder by mid-June.

The funding for the school was previously secured by IW Council as part of the government’s Building Schools for the Future (BSF) scheme.

The new school will be run by the Cowes Pathfinder Partnership.

The pavement, which will run between St Nicholas Close to St Johns Road, will take around eight weeks to build with an anticipated completion date of Friday 16 July 2010. Vehicle and pedestrian access to all properties directly affected by the works will be maintained at all times throughout the works.

During the works, a one way system will operate along Whitepit Lane in a west to east direction from the junction of Elm Grove to St Johns Road. A diversion route will also be in place for traffic travelling in a westerly direction via St Johns Road, St Johns Place, Trafalgar Road, Carisbrooke Road, Cedar Hill and onto Whitepit Lane.

The one way system and diversion route will be removed over the period of the Isle of Wight Festival (11, 12, 13, 14 June) to minimise traffic congestion during this period in Newport and the surrounding areas.

Meanwhile, construction work on a new footway on the eastern side of Gunville Road from Forest Road to the Hollows near Carisbrooke will commence on Monday 24 May. This scheme will last around ten weeks, with an anticipated completion date of Friday 30 July 2010.

A lane closure will be required to undertake these works, and traffic lights will be in operation for the duration of the scheme. People and drivers will still be able to access their properties at all times throughout the duration of the works.

Yaverland retained their QCAs

The Isle of Wight is once again leading the way for the quality of its beaches in the latest Keep Britain Tidy Blue Flag and Quality Coast Awards (QCAs).

Isle of Wight Council is welcoming news that the Island has three Blue Flag beaches while also receiving 11 QCAs, giving it a total of 14 awards

Shanklin joins Ventnor and Sandown beaches in being awarded both a Blue Flag and a QCA while Colwell, Cowes, East Cowes, Gurnard, Seagrove, Springvale, Totland and Yaverland retained their QCAs.

The Island’s total of fourteen awards once again puts it joint top in the country alongside Torbay.

With 111 QCA’s awarded across the country, this means the Isle of Wight can boast almost exactly ten percent of the UK’s QCA beaches.

The criteria beaches must meet to win the award includes good access, facilities including lifeguard provision, litter free and clean bathing water.

To win a Blue Flag, similar criteria are required but with far more stringent water quality testing.

Isle of Wight Council Deputy Director for Economic Development, Tourism and Leisure John Metcalfe said “Once again we have demonstrated that the Island is a high quality visitor destination; nowhere in the UK can better the Island for top quality beaches and we are no doubt the envy of many other UK destinations.

“Over the last year the council has strived to further improve the quality of our beach facilities, for example by introducing this season innovative new access paths for less able visitors, and the refurbishment of several beachside toilets. Other regular work continues to maintain existing standards such as daily beach cleaning, the introduction of new dog control orders and maintaining the provision of our highly trained lifeguards.

Isle of Wight Council Cabinet member responsible for Tourism George Brown said “This type of recognition is extremely important and brings the Island national and international recognition. Our ongoing tourism marketing campaign is well underway to attract visitors from across the UK and there is the continuing popularity of the so-called ’staycation’. We know that potential visitors will be impressed by these awards.

“We have stunning award winning beaches, vast areas of outstanding natural beauty and many famous events and attractions. What more could you ask for in one destination”

The council did not enter Ryde East for a Blue Flag or QCA this year because following public consultation, dogs are not banned on the whole beach. This meant the beach did not meet the necessary criteria to be entered. The council continues to provide all other facilities at the beach that would otherwise allow it to qualify for a blue flag.

Times are changing

The Sandown Bay Safer Neighbourhoods team remains dedicated to maintaining an active presence in every community by continuing its regular tour with the Isle of Wight Mobile Police Office.

Residents and visitors are welcome to discuss policing and community safety issues with their local police officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) on the 14th of each month.

The times and places for the mobile police office’s tour are changing from this month (Friday, May 14, 2010) in the Sandown Bay area:

Perowne Way, Sandown (at the shop): 9.00am – 10.00am
Sandown High Street (near the library): 10.10am – 11.00am
Brading Bull Ring: 11.20am – 12.20pm
Sherbourne Avenue, Bembridge: 12.30pm – 1.20pm
St. Helens Green: 1.30pm – 2.10pm
The Roadside Inn car park, Nettlestone: 2.15pm – 3.10pm
Seaview Esplanade: 3.20pm – 4.20pm

Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Ken Payne said: “We strive to provide an excellent service to residents by offering opportunities for them to meet their local Safer Neighbourhoods team every month. All members of the community can influence our policing priorities. There have been 33 fewer victims of crime in the Sandown Bay area since the start of April compared to the same time in 2009. We will continue to act on people’s concerns and feedback so they feel safe about where they live. This is part of our commitment to spend most of our time visibly working in your neighbourhood, tackling your priorities under the Policing Pledge.”

For those who cannot attend police beat surgeries, the Sandown Bay Safer Neighbourhoods team can be contacted at Shanklin Police Station by phoning 101 or e-mailing sandownbay.snt@hampshire.pnn.police.uk.

Mini-Com users can call 01962 875000. Information can be given anonymously by calling the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111. From outside Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, call 0845 045 45 45.

Police are appealing for possible victims of fraud on the Isle of Wight to come forward.

Officers from the island’s Targeted Patrol Teams (TPT) are investigating several reports of money being obtained from members of the public by deception.

Investigating officer, PC Sam Burrows, said: “A number of Islanders have lost money by paying hundreds of pounds in cash in advance on the promise of discounted electrical goods, which are then never delivered.

“We believe more people could have been affected by similar frauds on the island so far this year. I’m appealing for anyone who thinks they are a victim of this type of deception to contact us.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Ryde Police Station by phoning 101. Mini-Com users can call the police on 01962 875000. Information can be given anonymously by calling the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111. From outside Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, call the police on 0845 045 45 45.

Many of the finds, including some that have a very important historical value and are very rare, were donated by those who found them. Amongst the finds are a 13th century silver brooch that was donated by a lady member of the Isle of Wight Metal Detecting Club.

A Bronze Age dagger, a silver spoon and a 16th or 17th century silver toothpick, which was also used as an ear scoop, are also part of the display.

Members of the public can also visit the museum in Newport free of charge for one day only. As a celebration of Adult Learners Week, both the museum and Newport’s Roman Villa will be open for free between 1000 – 1630 on Saturday 15 May.