An item of "Breaking News". Will appear on the Breaking News page and the front page.
Are you constantly disturbed by the sound of bills landing on your doormat, politicians knocking on doors, young neighbours studying into the small hours of the morning at weekends? Help is at hand.
City of Edinburgh Council's Noise Team are this week highlighting the effect of excessive noise on individuals, and how each of us can avoid making a din of our own.
In Issue 181 (Briefly, p.3) we reported how CEC have begun 'finding and fixing' defective street lamps at night, when broken ones are easier to spot.
Judging by the lamps in Drummond Place, someone in the Roads Department has not fully grasped the principle.
Council Leader Jenny Dawe's April encyclical waxes lyrical about the imminent arrival of Edinburgh's first tram.
It is to be displayed at an unspecified date, in an unspecified location, so that the city's adoring masses can ooh at the 'quality of the vehicle' and aah at its size, experiencing 'for the first time how many passengers can be carried'.
This, she assures us, 'will be a real milestone for the project'.
Hmm. The words 'cart', 'before' and 'horse' spring to mind.
The British Heart Foundation (Scotland) is looking for volunteers to help the charity with various tasks, ranging from placing collecting-cans in local shops or clubs to organising fundraising events which involve the community.
It needn't be a drag since personal hobbies or interests can easily be turned into fundraising events with the help of a local Fundraising Volunteer Manager.
For more information and contact details, go to 'Letters'.
Two good causes are looking for locals' support this weekend.
Broughton St Mary's Parish Church is holding its annual Spring fair in Bellevue Crescent on Saturday, 11am–2pm: gifts, jewellery, home baking, tea, coffee, gallons of soup.
Friends of King George V Park and Scotland Yard will run a short, snazzily equipped litter-picking session in the park on Sunday, from 3pm. Dress casual. Company fashionable.
Applications to vote by proxy in the 2010 General Election should reach the Electoral Registration Officer by 5pm on Tuesday 27 April. If, after that date, you wish to vote by proxy owing to a medical emergency, the deadline is 5pm on Thursday 6 May.
In each case, applications should be made to the Electoral Registration Officer, 17a South Gyle Crescent, Edinburgh EH12 9FL.
A record crowd of around 200 people attended tonight's Hustings in Broughton St Mary's Parish Church. Eight out of nine candidates attended, the only absentee being Cameron MacIntyre (Independent).
Rob Hainsworth (pictured centre) chaired with a firm hand and two-minute egg-timer.
All sides agreed that the turn-out was a heartening vote of confidence in the democratic process, despite widespread cynicism over Westminster propriety and politics.
Following introductory statements, questions covered:
A further two candidates will stand for the Edinburgh North and Leith constituency, having announced their candidatures shortly before yesterday's 4pm deadline.
David Jacobsen represents the Socialist Labour Party, and Cameron MacIntyre is an Independent.
Spurtle is making strenuous efforts to ensure all candidates attend this evening's Hustings at Broughton St Mary's Church (Bellevue Crescent), 7.15–9.00pm.
With nine candidates now standing, Edinburgh North and Leith is the most hotly contested constituency in Edinburgh:
Despite today's reopening of UK airspace, links to and from Edinburgh continue to be disrupted by the knock-on effects of volcanic ash.
With many flight arrangements still up in the air, passengers are advised to contact their carrier before travelling.
Comprehensive transport advice is available from the Scottish Government at http://www.scotland.gov.uk or by phoning 0800 027 0504 (if phoning from abroad, add 44 at the start of the number).
As promised, the Spurtle will again run hustings for Westminster Parliamentary candidates in the Edinburgh North and Leith constituency.
The event will take place from 7.30–9pm on Wed. 21 April at Broughton St Mary's Parish Church, Bellevue Crescent.
Each candidate will give a 2-minute introduction about themselves. Then our impartial Chair will invite questions from the audience, to be put to each candidate in turn.
To enable as many questions as possible to be answered, there will be an emphasis on concise responses.