Breaking news

Issue 186 is coming soon.

Content includes: unscrambling of laughably garbled Evening News 'reportage'; local Arts initiatives; planning issues;  a flood of plumbers;  Broughton history; film news; dates for your diary; policeman's helmet; much goss; and an unvarnished appeal for renewed support.

Two local community events are running today, Saturday.

The Montgomery Park Fair runs from 11:00am until 5:00pm. And friends, neighbours and locals are all welcome in Redbraes Community Garden from 3:00pm onwards: expect Flamenco, Zimbabwean music and a BBQ.

The Edinburgh Schools Jazz Orchestra (ESJO) is celebrating 20 years with a free concert on 4 September in Broughton St Mary's Parish Church (see Events).

Past and present band members will join professional soloists and small groups, plus an entirely professional band composed of former ESJO members led by Chris Grieve of the Tommy Smith Band.

Here is a brief postscript to this year’s (37th) great Christian Aid booksale (Issue 183).

The recently published, superbly produced and detailed booksale Report reveals that the sale of books raised a remarkable £79,392.

Acquisition of special collections has enriched the collections of numerous individuals, and certain important holdings of: the University of Indiana; the Foger Shakespeare Library, Washington DC; and the National Library of Scotland.

How long have you nursed a secret desire to master American tribal-style belly dancing? Now's your chance.

Drummond Community High School has launched its new programme of adult education classes for Autumn 2010. There will be an open information evening to show what's on offer on Wednesday 8 September, 6:00–8:00pm. Free taster classes will run in the week from 6–9 September (see pdf below).

Adult education at Drummond is immensely popular. Currently, over a thousand locals attend courses each week.

Groups of residents who 'befriend' their local parks may sound – to the cynical or uninitiated – slightly absurd.

Absurd or not, such green oases and those who cherish them are proving effective focuses in and around which Edinburghers – who, apart from sharing a postcode might think they have little in common – can coalesce as communities.

The next meeting of the New Town and Broughton Community Council will be at 7.30pm on Monday 6 September in the Library at Drummond Community High School.

For an agenda, click on the pdf below. This month's meeting will include a special presentation by GVA Grimley and CDA Architects on plans for the redevelopment of 10–15 Princes Street.

Community councils represent your views to City of Edinburgh Council officials and elected representatives.

The Edinburgh World Heritage Trust has disbursed funds for the restoration of a prominent New Town corner-block.

Nos 22–22a Dundas Street and the adjoining 37 Northumberland Street were awarded £12,993 towards the cost of stonework repairs to the frontages, parapet wall and chimneys.

The four-storey, B-listed properties were built in 1807 to earlier designs by Robert Reid and William Sibbald, whose other local projects include London Street and Royal Crescent.

A 31-year-old woman walking from the New Town to Stockbridge was attacked and left unconscious by a man on Friday 20 August between 9:00pm and 11:00pm. Police have appealed for witnesses.

The victim, who sustained a facial injury, later regained  consciousness under McKenzie Bridge and phoned family members for help. She had not been robbed, and police suspect it was a sexually motivated attack. After treatment in hospital, she was released.

Two Gormleys have again been targeted in fashion make-overs of dubious taste.

The figure in the pool at Bell's Mill Weir (pictured right) looked a shade downcast in tarty, mandarin poncho; the figure in Stockbridge (below) seemed more at ease in a skimpy dress combining pink, polka dots and flowers.

All just a bit of summer fun, but is it still funny?

When will people tire of these repetitive cross-dressing pranks in favour of more original and thoughtful re-interpretations?