On the Grapevine

This week covering Belvoir and Donegall Road

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

By Des Meredith, Brian Dunwoody and Billy Dickson

Training takes place on Wednesdays, from 6pm-7pm, at Hydebank Playing Fields.

The girls’ team have already played two matches, they lost against Glentoran Girls and won against Ballymena Girls.

If you would like to take part, contact Adrian on 07703393041.

The two boys’ teams are also looking for members, contact Ian on 07930759777 for more information.

There has been an upsurge in anti-social behaviour behind the shops near the bonfire ring on the Old Milltown Road.

Anyone who witnessed such behaviour is asked to contact the police.

Enjoy the wildlife and the early spring flowers that inhabit the woods, river bank and the meadows of this outstanding location.

If you would like to take part in the walk, meet at the Minnowburn car park on Saturday, May 17, at 11am.

Belvoir Presbyterian Church is holding a lunch on Sunday, May 18, after the 11am service to raise money for the ‘Vision of Good Hope in Moldova’ children’s orphanage.

Contact Joan Crooks on 9064 8420 to book a place.

Belvoir Community Association’s Housing Sub-Committee meets on Tuesday, May 20, at 10am.

If there are any issues you would like discussed, please contact the secretary on 9064 6946.

The Belvoir Players Studio, Belvoir Drive, presents ‘Snow White – The Remix’ by Patricia Byrne on Wednesday, May 21, at 11am and 2pm.

The theme of the show is the beauty industry and its effect on the self esteem of girls and young women.

Tickets are priced £7, with a £5 concession, and can be booked from the Belvoir Players Studio on 9049 1210, or through Castlereagh Borough Council’s arts officer, Chrissie Williamson, on 9049 4566.

Milltown Baptist Church is running a Ladies Aerobics Fit Club every Thursday from 7pm–8pm.

Admission to the club, which caters for ladies aged 16 and over, is £2.

Donegall Road

Donegall Pass Presbyterian Church which has been converted into a restaurantlFANE Street Primary School’s Car Boot Sale, which was held last Saturday, was a big success.

It was a very enjoyable morning for all concerned and the hope is that it will not be long before there is another car boot sale at the school.

Maurice Williamson from Boy’s Brigade House responded to the request in the Grapevine for old photographs of Donegall Pass Presbyterian Church.

Maurice also has a painting of the church which some Grapevine readers (especially the former Boy’s Brigade members) might be interested in seeing.

The church is now a restaurant.

Last week’s meeting of the Blackstaff Homeowners’ Association decided unanimously to support a call for a public enquiry into the decision of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to demolish 538 properties and replace them with 270 new builds in the area.

The Homeowners’ Association members expressed the view that there is nothing in the proposals that would be to their advantage. However, it is acknowledged that many people outside of the Homeowners’ Association have expressed support for the proposals.

Hopefully, solutions to this issue can be found before or at a possible public enquiry.

A Housing Executive brochure giving advice and guidance on regeneration plans has been delivered to Village homes that fall under the designated Urban Renewal Area.

Residents are advised to study the contents of the brochure and write down any questions they would like answered, as Housing Executive staff will be commencing door-to-door surveys from Thursday, May 15.

The surveys will discern the area’s housing needs for redevelopment, including any special requirements you may have.

Jim Newell will be the speaker at the Tyndale Reformed Church Family Service in Donegall Avenue this Sunday, May 18, at 6.30pm.

Jim is very popular with young people as he uses the ‘Mr Men’ characters to illustrate Bible messages.

He has long associations with the Methodist Church in the Sandy Row area as he was superintendent of Primitive Street Methodist Church Sunday School before the church was demolished under redevelopment.

Everybody including adults will be made welcome.

The Nubia Play Park & Multi-Sports Pitch, which was officially launched this week, is already proving very popular with the local children and parents.

With the removal of the paramilitary memorial and the provision of play equipment, the former community garden is now seen as a place for everybody to enjoy.