Radio coverage At the most recent meeting of Shieldaig Community Council, Alex Gray, station manager of Two Lochs Radio was present to explain it is now in a position to expand, and hope to be able to cover the whole of the Gairloch High School catchment area.
To provide coverage to most of the Loch Torridon area, they are investigating erecting a transmitter in the area above Baile Shuas in Shieldaig.
Money has been raised for set-up costs but ongoing running costs of approximately £1,200 per year will be required.
It is hoped that this will be achieved by sponsorship and advertising. The community council warmly welcomed the proposal and agreed to send a letter of support for the project and to provide any other help it could.
Sea Eagle Camera At the same meeting, a letter was received from Tom Forrest, chairman of Wester Ross Alliance with an explanation of their decision not to fund the proposed project of a camera on Shieldaig Island. However, RSPB are still keen to go ahead and Alison MacLennan of the society has identified further possible funding sources. There was a unanimous decision to work with RSPB on the project and to prepare grant applications on the community councils behalf.
Coast to Coast A display of the work of Marion Notman can currently be seen in Gairloch Heritage Museum and continues until Saturday, May 28. Marion provides the following information about herself and her work, Primarily a landscape painter, I live in Tain and usually take as my inspiration the surroundings of Sutherland and Ross-shire.
I sketch outdoors with oils or pastels. This gives an immediate and instinctive response to the landscape which I can then take back to the studio to explore further.
The impact of changing weather light, clouds, depth of colour, wind on the land and seascape is the challenge and interest for me.
As well as the practical and technical difficulties that this brings, my own mood reacts to a cloudburst, sudden squall, grey calm or shaft of sun and the personal becomes part of the whole.
I have a strong attachment to the uncluttered moors and mountains of the northern Highlands and the occasional intrusions of crofting settlements, tracks and roads, fencing and stone walls.
On the east coast the flat grey estuaries and firths, boulder-strewn beaches, harbours and bridges; on the west coast, the sea lochs and peaty lochans, the fishing communities and the hills dropping into the sea and countless islands and beaches.
Landscape for me is about really looking, noticing and being continually surprised by the familiar as well as the new. And painting is trying to catch this mood more than a moment in time.
In this small exhibition I have travelled haphazardly from coast to coast and back again, experiencing every possible kind of weather! I hope you get a sense of the Highlands that I know.
The museum in now open for the season 10am to 5pm daily, except Sundays and is always worth a visit. New exhibits often appear; and there always appear to be items or pictures on show that one missed on previous visits!
Communion Weekend The Free Presbyterian congregation in Laide have held their twice-yearly communion weekend.
Assisting Rev Donald A Ross were Rev George Hutton, Inverness and Rev John Goldby, Laide (Recently returned from Israel).
Three-Score Years Annette MacKenzie, Mihol Road, Gairloch, will be signing up for her bus pass today (Friday) when she will turn 60. A family member says that Her age has finally caught up with her hair colour! All her children and grandchildren (five now) will be around her to celebrate this special day. Happy Birthday Annette from all your friends in the community and beyond and thanks for your continuing contribution and input to community matters. Give Colin a shot of the pinny now!
