Christmas Lights at the Kings Arms Burton

A little bird tells us that the Kings Arms Christmas decorations and lights are going to be spectacular this year. It may cause a spike in the National Grid's power drain when they switch on, but surely they will cheer everyone up and bring a smile to even the more dour of faces these cold December days and nights?

We will send our undercover photographer to get some pictures (we may have to dress him as an elf to blend in, but what the heck!) - but if you can't wait, why not pop along and see for yourself?

Kings Arms, Main Street, Burton LA6 1NR http://kingsarmsburton.co.uk/

Cumbria's new Police & Crime Commissioner

In the first PCC elections in November, Richard Rhodes was returned as the first PCC for Cumbria. As time goes on we will no doubt see him out and about, he may possibly even manage to visit small villages like ours, but in the meantime, if you want to contact him, here are some handy links:

Cumbria Police & Crime Commissioner website: http://cumbria-pcc.gov.uk/

Cumbria PCC on Twitter: http://twitter.com/cumbriapcc

If you wish to contact the Police and Crime Commissioner please do so using the contact information below:

Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner
Carleton Hall
Penrith
Cumbria CA10 2AU

Telephone: 01768 217734
E-mail:commissioner@cumbria-pcc.gov.uk

Cumbria PCC candidate info now online

Leaflets for the various candidates are slowly going out, but it's a mammoth task covering the whole of the county, so if you've not had information about the candidates, why not pop along to the Choose My PCC website (set up by the Home Office) http://www.choosemypcc.org.uk/candidates/area/cumbria where you can find summaries of each candidate and their election addresses.

Who are Cumbria's Police Commissioner Candidates?

We've been asked who the candidates are who are standing in the Police and Crime Commissioner elections for Cumbria on Thursday 15th November, so here is a screenshot showing the official list as published by the Returning Officer at SLDC.(Click to view a larger version.)

The Polling Station for Burton is Burton Memorial Hall, and voters on the list should have received a Poll Card through the post by now. If you haven't had one, nor arranged a postal or proxy vote, you need to contact the Electoral Registration Officer as soon as possible to ensure you will be able to vote on the day, or if you're not on the Voting Register complete the form you can obtain here: http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/how_do_i_vote/registering_to_vote.aspx or https://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/register_to_vote/electoral_registration_applica.aspx and send it into the Electoral Registration Officer as soon as possible.

Contacts:
Electoral Registration Officer
South Lakeland District Council, South Lakeland House
Lowther Street, Kendal, LA9 4UQ
Tel: 0845 050 4434

Confused about the PCC Election?

The Electoral Commission website has provided 2 helpful pages about the voting process for the new Police and Crime Commissioner on 15 November. http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/pcc.aspx and  http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/how_do_i_vote/voting_systems/police_and_crime_commissioner.aspx

It's especially useful to watch the video they have provided, which explains you can vote for two candidates - a first choice and a second choice, so that's one X in each of the two columns on the ballot paper.



http://youtu.be/PptcuCdSur0

Once elected, the Police and Crime Commissioner will serve until May 2016, a term of 3½ years.

The Electoral Commission has produced a booklet about the election of the Police & Crime Commissioners, a copy of which should be delivered to every household before the 2nd November. However, you can also download a PDF version of the booklet using the link here: http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/PDF/PCC-booklet-public-info-FINAL-ENGLAND-English-web.pdf

More information on the candidates standing, including copies of their statements, may be found online from 26th October on the Home Office website  http://www.choosemypcc.org.uk/ or you can pre-order printed copies by calling 0800 1 07 07 08. The Electoral Commission also has a Helpline if you have questions about the election, where you can talk to a real person, call 0800 3 280 280. Both calls are free from a landline, charges from a mobile phone will vary depending on your service provider.

Election or non-event? You choose!

Why does the Home Office think that having the information about candidates for the Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC) elections on Thursday 15 November should only be available after October 26th? Isn't that getting a bit late in the day? It's certainly too late for village newsletters like Burton News, which are published monthly, to carry it in their November issue.

Also, today is the first that I've heard an advert on local radio (Lakeland Radio) about these elections. The information is online, but not everyone has access to the internet still or wants it in that format, but if you want printed info you have to ring up and ask for it. (You can phone now on 0800 107 0708 and pre-order a printed copy.) Which begs the question, if you don't hear or read an advert telling you this, how would you know that you can ask for it?!

The election of Police & Crime Commissioners is the biggest change in the way police forces are managed for decades and yet it's being carried out in a less than voter-friendly manner. An election taking place in November seems destined to attract a low turn-out - dark nights are never an encouragement for voters to turn out, and the Electoral Reform Society is predicting a turn-out of around 18.5% as against a more usual 60%+ for a general election. How is this democratic? How will the person elected reflect the electorate with such a low turn-out?

In Cumbria there are 4 candidates standing. Whichever of them gets the most votes, it still means that the most powerful person in policing in Cumbria would have been elected by a minority of the electorate.

The PCC will have the power to set out the crime plan for the county, set the budget and precept for the county police force, and hire and fire the chief constable and the deputy chief constable. These are huge powers, and they should be in the hands of (preferably) a non-political elected police authority or of a commissioner who is elected by a majority of the electorate, not just by the votes of the few who realise how important these elections really are.

http://www.choosemypcc.org.uk/ Home Office website about the Police & Crime Commissioner elections
List of candidates standing in Cumbria: http://www.southlakeland.gov.uk/pdf/SPN%20-%20PCC.pdf (PDF file)

The Polling Station for Burton-in-Kendal is Burton Memorial Hall, polling hours are 7am - 10pm.

Food Fun Night

At the Fun Food Night at Burton Memorial Hall on Friday 2nd November, Diana Brown, an independent consultant for The Pampered Chef, will be demonstrating how to make easy yet impressive Canapes for Christmas. There will also be a cook-off between two volunteers, a wine bar, raffle and loads of fun! 

Come along on the night to taste the food, try the fabulous Pampered Chef range of products and be inspired! Just imagine all your Christmas presents sorted in one night for all your foodie friends and family. 

Ordering also available on a dedicated page of the Pampered Chef website towards this event. Free delivery after the event to LA6 area, or £5.00 for delivery direct to your door (free over £100) anywhere in the UK. 30 day trial with easy free return and collection from your door. 

http://www.pamperedchef.biz/tastingcumbria?page=host-search-results&showId=3807898

 

Doors open 7pm, ends 10pm. 

Cost £3 per person. 

Contact for details: 01524 781306

Burton Onion Show Sun 7th Oct

Sunday 7th October is the Annual Onion Show here in Burton-in-Kendal. It is held in the Kings Arms Hotel on Main Street, and entries for classes are accepted from 10am until 12 noon. Judging starts at noon, and all entries will be auctioned, starting at 2pm, along with an Auction of Promises.This year the proceeds of the Onion Show will be split, in the main, between Burton Children's Sports Committee and the Burton First Responders: two great village causes.  Other local causes will receive a donation.

List of classes:
3 Dressed Onions
3 Leeks
3 Onion Sets
2 Cabbages
2 Cauliflowers
3 Beetroot
3 Carrots
3 Salad Veg
3 Vegetables
5 Vegetables
Heaviest Onion
5 Dessert Apples
5 Cooking Apples
Pot Plant
Vase of Dahlias
3 Chrysanthemums
Chocolate Cake
Fruit Pie
Loaf of Bread
Novelty Cake
4 Cup Cakes
Tray Bake
3 Poultry Eggs
Heaviest Vegetable
Novice Class (any veg)

Children’s classes:
 Miniature Garden
 Fruit and Veg Animal
 Autumn Produce Picture
Best of British Theme
3 Decorated Biscuits

List of Promises:
Side of Smoked Salmon.
Walking Stick
Furness Fish and Game Hamper
Bulk Bag of Logs
Half Rib of Hereford Beef
Days Ferreting with Neil Shaw
Dinner 4 4 @ 4teen Hutton Close
Brace of Pheasants + Haunch of Venison
Days Driven Pheasant Shooting @ Heversham
Weekend for 4 @ Peter House Farm Cottage, Bassenthwaite
Park House Box of Beef
Greek Hamper
Meal 4 2 @ 17 Milnthorpe
Weekend at Seathwaite Cottage
Pet Portrait
John Jackson Photo
Carlisle United Signed Football
Ed Wallers Slate Coasters
Natalie Jackson Christmas Cake
Day’s Joinery
County Cricket Match Tickets (Venue TBC)
Mollie’s Marmalade
Pure Essence Voucher
10lb Pack of Traditional Free-range Pork
Trip around the Lakes in open top MG Sports Car
Thwaites Brewery trip for 2 groups of 8
Meal for 2 @ The Canal Turn
Side of Lamb
Slate Place Mats
Platos B&B
Day’s Salmon Fishing on the Lune
MUFC & Liverpool Football Plaques
1 year’s Gym Membership for 2 @ Holgates
4 hour Bush Craft/Forest Skills Kids Session
Wash, Cut and Blo Dry
Hand-crafted Walnut Mirror
Round of Golf for 4 @ Kirkby Lonsdale
Fish Supper for 4 @ The Kings Arms
Mike Earl’s Renowned Dibbers
Pritchard’s MOT
Dinner B&B for 2 @ The King’s Arms
Alex Rutlidge Team GB Water Polo Signed Sportswear (Local Olympian)

Memorial Hall Autumn Coffee Morning Sat 13th Oct

Coming up next Saturday, 13th October, from 10am-12noon, at Burton Memorial Hall is the Annual Autumn Coffee Morning with Stalls.

CraftMarket 2012 - what a weekend!

What an amazing weekend we had at CraftMarket 2012! Saturday was busy all day, Sunday suffered a bit from the horrible cold, windy and torrentially wet weather, but everyone who came said how much they enjoyed it, and how fabulous all the crafts on sale were. We have loads of photos online on the Memorial Hall's Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/BurtonMemorialHall. If you spot something in the albums and want to contact the crafters to buy from them, we also have a list of them here with website links: http://www.burtonweb.org.uk/viewpage.php?page_id=43.

The catering by Rachel and Jo-Anne - the Vintage Village Hall team - was delicious, and much praised during and after the event. It was lovely to meet so many talented and friendly people with such a wide range of crafts, and also to meet all the lovely folks who came along to chat, browse and buy, and who supported the event so magnificently!

Countdown to CraftMarket 2012!

Just 2 weeks until CraftMarket2012 at Burton Memorial Hall where the lovely Vintage Village Hall ladies, Rachel and Jo-Anne are doing the food, so please do come along and support them and our fabulous crafters. We have an amazing assortment of crafts on sales - glass, ceramics, wood, painted, knitted, crocheted, sewn, jewellery, cards, hand-made soaps, candles, and much much more! All this and those amazing cakes by Rachel and Jo-Anne - how can you resist???

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bmh_craftmarket/sets/72157629594016228/

CraftMarket 2012, Burton Memorial Hall Sat 29 & Sun 30 September 10am - 4pm both days
Admission 50p adults, accompanied children free!
Onsite parking, disabled toilet, level access, vintage tearoom.

CraftMarket 2012 Sat 29 & Sun 30 Sept.

CraftMarket 2012 Sat 29 & Sun 30 Sep, 2012, in aid of the Burton Memorial Hall

The event is being organised as a fund-raiser for the Memorial Hall, which is a registered charity (no. 505018), and all stall  and entrance fees help to pay for improvements to the Hall. Last year the event raised almost £900 for Hall funds, which was an amazing result for us in the first year of the event.

Taking place on Saturday 29 September and Sunday 30 September, the CraftMarket 2012 will be open to the public between 10am and 4pm each day and admission is 50p per adult on the door (accompanied children will have free admission.)

Crafts on sale will include jewellery, rag rugs, raku ceramics, kiln formed and fused glass, watercolours and cards, knitted, crocheted and sewn items, canalware, turned wood, hand-made soaps, felt-craft, bookbindery, character vacuum cleaner covers, and wooden door huggers!

Refreshments will be provided by the Vintage Village Hall PopUp Tea Room, this will be a 1950s Vintage Tea Room, with deliciously sinful home made cakes and refreshments throughout both days.

There is lots of free parking outside of the Memorial Hall, and the Hall itself has good level access and disabled facilities.

Burton Memorial Hall is a well-loved and much-used community building in the centre of Burton-in-Kendal. More details about this event or the Hall are available from 01524 781306, or see the links below.

Event details: http://burtonweb.org.uk/viewpage.php?page_id=41
Crafters 2012: http://www.burtonweb.org.uk/viewpage.php?page_id=43
Flickr albums: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bmh_craftmarket/

Burton Twunch - social media & lunch!

Burton Twunch - social media training lunch session Thursday 21 June, 12 noon - 2pm

Want to learn about how social media can benefit your business? Why not join us for Twunch.

Twunch is a social media lunch where you can learn how to use Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other social media for the benefit of your business.

Learn what you want to learn, have lunch and meet other local small business people. Friendly and informal sessions.

Cost £6 per person includes light lunch.

Booking essential, call Anne on 01524 781306 or Ann on 01524 781409. Limited number of places.

Venue: Kings Arms Hotel, Main Street, Burton-in-Kendal

Barry Morgan talks to Sally Moon

Listen to local author Barry Morgan talking to BBC Radio Cumbria's Sally Moon about his new sc-fi novel, Moonbeams.

Yobunny Blog: Barry in print: Moonbeams, by B.J. Morgan

Yobunny Blog: Barry in print: Moonbeams, by B.J. Morgan
Available as a Kindle eBook and as a print on demand paperback:

Burton-in-Kendal author publishes 1st book: Moonbeams by B.J. Morgan

"A glimmer on the horizon attracted his attention. Earth's Moon was rising, as it had done for millennia and would do so for millennia to come. As he watched it climb, Paul remembered the fear that this sight had struck into the hearts of mankind..."

One galaxy, two budding Galactic Empires, a recipe for disaster? Follow the struggles of Jan Oremus, Demil Verne, Paul Trevell, Admiral Stern, and others as they make their first tentative moves towards escaping from the planet of their birth.

Barry says...

Moonbeams came to me in a flash (is that a pun?) some 30 years ago and has fought to see the light of day ever since. Often on the 'back burner' of life but the flame never went out. Now published on Amazon through Kindle Direct Publishing, an option for new authors that the digital revolution has made possible.

I was an industrial chemist for the greater part of my working life, and now am a self-employed computer repair technician (always had an interest in electronic things - fixing TV's when only a schoolboy.) Quite a change of direction, but after 33 years playing with smelly chemicals I thought enough was enough, and being made redundant proved to be the catalyst (once a chemist, always a chemist!)

Moonbeams by B.J. Morgan is available from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006TOFA9C and you can meet the author here: Barry Morgan on Amazon

Click to open the Publisher spec sheet

Now available as a print-on-demand book from Create Space: https://www.createspace.com/3774801 and Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0955094747/ref=cm_sw_su_dp

To boldly go.... into 2012

The recent news has been full of gloom and doom and despondency over the state of the economy and the effect this will have on businesses, but there is a school of thought that says, "if you talk it down, it will happen", so here at BurtonWeb we're adopting a more positive approach. We're blowing a large raspberry at the doom and gloom merchants and saying, "we can make it better", by supporting our local community in any way we can, and by not being made afraid by the media.

Whatever the doom-sayers say, the UK is not a poor country, just a badly managed one, so we need to let the decision-makers know what we expect of them and tell them to stop wasting our money (i.e. income tax, VAT revenues, road, tobacco & alcohol taxes, NI contributions, council tax, and whatever else they prise from us) and get themselves sorted. A positive mental attitude and a healthy dose of common sense would help us along enormously, so how about it? Let us boldly go in 2012...