|
p5
Voting fraud charges have been brought by the Special
Branch against two Hackney Conservative and three Liberal Democrat Councillors. They were
due to appear at Bow Street Magistrates Court on 2 December. The local Labour Party says
the outcome of the borough elections was affected by electoral fraud and that had Labour
won Northwold Ward where they say there was possible fraudulently obtained proxy votes
Hackney would now have been Labour controlled rather than a hung Council.
 The Stoke Newington Festival organisers report that the
successful 1999 festival was attended by 50,000 people with a total of 84 events. Feedback
indicated (surprisingly?) that most people prefered it to be spread over three weekends.
There was a 40 per cent box office increase.
Christmas Pantomime at the Hackney Empire this year is 'Cinderella'
starring Helen Latham (from Brookside/Dream Team) as the heroine. It runs from 7 December
- 9 January. Box Office 0181 985 2424.
Good News! The Piano Bar has been relaunched. It's now open in the
evenings from Thursday - Saturday with occasional Sundays. It kicked off again on 18
November featuring jazz funk and 'jammin' acoustics'. The owner, Stella Jones, also hopes
to include poetry and literature readings in the future. Private bookings are available.
114 Stoke Newington High Street. Phone 0171 249 0616 for details.
Could this be the ultimate Stoke Newington Christmas Gift? Two short
films by local film-makers Michael Parfitt and Giles Musitano. Unless you've been under a
rock for the last year or so, you will have heard of the first possibly the only entirely
local cult film in the world, the mini-masterpiece 'Perfect Day'. The second, a kind of
companion piece, is the extraordinary 'Almitra's Question'. Completely different in tone
to 'Perfect Day', this film is a deceptively simple collective reading of a mystical text
by Kahlil Gibran, and in it members of the Stoke Newington community manage to conjure up
the spirit of the author and the power of his uncompromising message. Both films are
available in limited quantities by mail order from Otto, 56b Sotheby Road, London N5 2UR
by enclosing a cheque for £9.00 singly or £15.00 for both. Add £1.00/£1.50 p&p.
You can email Otto Organic Film Imaging at: otto@ottoman.demon.co.uk.
Help with repair costs through housing renovation grants is being offered
by the Council if you own or are buying your own home and you fit into certain categories.
Liz Watson, from Hackney Council's Private Sector Housing service, said: 'If you have
lived in your own home for more than three years and are worried about its condition you
may be eligible for help. The amount you can get depends on your income and other assets.
We may be able to help you with the cost of essential work.' Call Liz Watson on 020 8356
4556 between 9.30 am and 5.00 pm Monday-Friday or write to: London Borough of Hackney,
Private Sector Housing, 205, Morning Lane, London E9 6JX. A leaflet, 'Are you missing out
on a House Renovation Grant?' is also available.
The Point club in Stoke Newington High Street has had its application for
a renewal of its weeekday and Sunday music licence refused.
The Neighbourhood Committee heard objections from local residents on grounds of
disturbance and noise. The licensing enforcement officer said that undercover officers had
visited the club and had paid for entrance after the time it was supposed to stop
'admission to new patrons' and had stayed until 'well after' the hours to which the club
was licensed. 'Amplified music' continued until after 3 am. Wow.
Amazon Fitness For Women are open over the holidays, including New Year's
Day, but closed from 25-27 December. Club facilities can be used by non-members for £5.00
per visit from 24 December-1 January. 134 Church Street. Phone 0171 241 1449 for more
details.
Did you know that Clissold Wines is the only shop in Church Street to
have stayed in the same business for the past 103 years? We don't think proprietor Jim
Murphy has been there quite that long.
Thanks to Yum Yum restaurant a Thai cookery short course is being run at
Waltham Forest College. Lasting 5 weeks it costs only £105.00. Further details from
Atique. Tel: 0171 254 6751.
Your millennium hangover is best treated with natural remedies, according
to Clissold Park Natural Health Centre. Try it and see. Visit them at 154 Church Street.
Tel: 0120 7249 2990.
|
. |
