Widnes restaurant hopes to raise £5,000 to make children’s dreams come true

6:10pm Saturday 2nd November 2013 in News

By Barbara Jordan

Co-owner of Pesto Restaurants Neil Gatt (right) launches the ‘Big Drive’ charity campaign with 007 stunt driver Mark Higgins

A WIDNES restaurant is hoping to raise £5,000 for a children’s charity.

Italian restaurant Pesto in Birchfield Road has launched a ‘Big Drive’ campaign for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which helps to bring smiles to the faces of children facing life-threatening conditions by arranging some very special experiences.

Co-owner of Pesto and long-time motor sport enthusiast Neil Gatt, aged 50, from Tarporley said: “We have already received huge support from our suppliers and partners. Their generosity has meant that we have raised over £1,500 in just seven days.

“The whole team is now gearing up to raise even more and hopefully hit our target for this very worthwhile cause.”

Multiple British Rally Driving Champion and film stunt driver Mark Higgins who recently worked on Fast and Furious 6 and latest Bond movie Skyfall has also pledged his support.

His £200,000 Ford Fiesta R5 which he will drive in this year’s Rally GB in November, the UK’s largest motor rally event, will sport the Make-A-Wish Foundation® UK logo.

Driver Mark Higgins added: “Make-A-Wish is a fantastic charity that helps fulfil some very magical wishes of children and young people that are fighting life-threatening conditions, I’m delighted to help support such a wonderful charity.”

The Farnworth restaurant, which employs 40 people, opened last year after a £175,000 makeover of the former Coterie. 

It was the sixth restaurant opened by entrepreneur Mr Gatt and his partner, Billinge-born Sara Edwards, aged 40, since 2006.

The restaurant group now has ten sites including ‘Pesto in a Pub’ sites outside Bradford, Bromborough and Sheffield as well as city centre restaurants in Glasgow and Liverpool.

To donate to Pesto’s ‘Big Drive’ in aid of Make-A-Wish Foundation® UK please visit http://www.justgiving.com/pestobigdrive

For more information visit www.pestorestaurants.co.uk 

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SYDNEY — Jacki Weaver, Noah Taylor and Miriam Margolyes will voice key characters in Aussie animation company Flying Bark’s first 3D animated kids feature, Maya the Bee Movie.

Jacki Weaver Heads to Rebel Wilson Starrer ‘Super Fun Night’AFM: Universum Takes ‘Maya the Bee’ for Germany

In the film, an official Australian-German co-production, Weaver plays Buzzlina Von Beena, the hive’s control freak Royal Adviser. Taylor (Game of Thrones) plays Buzzlina’s loyal assistant, Crawley, while Margolyes (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets) will voice the role of the Queen of the Hive.

“Jacki, Noah and Miriam bring impressive career experience to this animation, with each adding their own individual dynamic to their character’s personality,” said Jim Ballantine, Flying Bark CEO and the film’s executive producer. “Together they have a beautifully unique voice chemistry, which will make the story of Maya, the Bee Movie an extremely enjoyable film for families and young ones” 

The original Maya the Bee TV series was first produced in the 1970s and gained Maya loyal fans around the world.

The series was rebooted in 2012 for a new generation of fans by Flying Bark’s sister company, Munich-based Studio 100, as a 3D HD television series. It now screens in 150 territories worldwide. Studio100 are co-producers on the film.

Based on the acclaimed books and animated television series, Maya the Bee movie is directed by Alexs Stadermann from a script by Fin Edquist. Barbara Stephens is producing.

Agencies Screen NSW and Screen Australia are providing production financing.

International sales are being handled by Studio 100 subsidiary, Studio 100 Film, which is repping the film at AFM. Studio 100 Film has already secured pre-sales for Maya the Bee Movie in Germany and handful of other territories with several others in negotiation.

The Australian distributor is Buzz Studios with Hoyts Jnr.

The big screen comes to Altrincham

3:20pm Tuesday 22nd October 2013 in News

The family movie Toy Story will be screened at 2pm and, at 6.15pm.

ALTRINCHAM Arts Festival will finish on Saturday, (October 26) with a Fold-up Cinema show presented by Altrincham Film Club at the former New Look store at 4 George Street, Altrincham.

The family movie Toy Story will be screened at 2pm and, at 6.15pm over 15s can enjoy The Commitments, a film about working class Dubliners who form a soul band.

Throughout the day Mark Elliott, founder member of Altrincham Film Club, will edit film of the festival taken by people on mobile phones and video cameras creating a documentary of the first Altrincham Arts Festival.

Mark said: “We’ve rented 250 seats and a local provider will do food and non-alcoholic drinks. “We suggest people take rugs and cushions and wrap up warm because the shop will not be heated.” • Tickets priced £7 are available at the door.

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• Storm Queen debuts at number one

Pupils ‘Blitz’ history

4:38pm Friday 25th October 2013 in News

CLASSROOM BLITZ: Jenner Park primary school commemorates history at present

CHILDREN at Jenner Park primary swapped school uniforms for Forties fashion when they travelled back in time to World War Two.

Pupils brought history alive by focusing on The Blitz and the work, life and times of the people who were around during the Conflict.

Youngsters dressed according to the Days – sporting evacuee, Land Girl and ladies and gentleman’s attire with silent movie star, Charlie Chaplin making a guest appearance.

Head teacher David Morris said: “Throughout the day they were immersed in the music, sights and feelings of the war era to give them more of an insight of what it might have been like to be alive at the time.”

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Rough Copy thank fans for support on X Factor ahead of third live show

6:30am Saturday 26th October 2013 in News

By Hannah Williamson, Chief Reporter

Rough Copy thank fans in Croydon for their support

X Factor finalists Rough Copy have thanked fans for their continued support ahead of the band’s third performance on the live shows.

The boy band made up of Sterling Ramsey, Joey Thomas, and Kazeem Ajobe, have won the hearts of the judges and fans around the country since their first audition.

The group who are being mentored by Take That star Gary Barlow, are one of Croydon’s two remaining acts in the popular competition, along with 17-year-old Greggs worker Hannah Barrett, who is being mentored by Nicole Scherzinger.

Speaking about last week’s performance of Backstreet Boys hit ‘I Want It That Way’, Mr Ramsey, 25, said: “The show was brilliant, every week is a totally different experience.

“Last week vocally we feel it was about 85 per cent. We feel we could have been stronger but we still performed to the best of our ability.”

Asked why they feel the vocals weren’t their best he added: “We had a lot to think about last week, we had to think about the camera shots, there were lots of dancers on stage and we moved around a lot and had to keep our harmonies.

“There was lots to think about but I still think we gave a great performance.”

This week is movie week. The acts are preparing to sing theme tunes from a range of songs and Rough Copy will be singing Bryan Adams (Everything I Do) I Do It For You.

The group chose the song themselves and are looking forward to showing people how versatile they can be.

Mr Sterling said he hoped the band being on the show will inspire people in Croydon to follow their dreams.

“I want people to realise you can pursue your dreams. Just stay positive, work hard and don’t let anything hold you back.”

“We miss Croydon and hope to be back soon, but want to say thank you for your all your support, keep supporting us on the X-Factor and please keep voting for us.”

TODAY’S TOP CROYDON STORIES

• Peter Hagan murder trial hears fight broke out at birthday party
• Road closed after large hole appears in Selhurst
• Woman arrested on suspicion of seaside murder will face no further action
• Army sergeant appears in court on rape and sexual assault charges
• Police appeal after phone snatched from Croydon teen at Elmers End station

Showbiz news

• Chris Brown countersues over fight

• BBC revives festive animation

• Kanye West denies airport attack

• Liv Tyler wants to see good manners

• Price wanted to call son Prince

• Clooney had a laugh with Bullock

Here are just some of the news stories and features in this week’s Redding Pilot in the mail today and at newsstands.

• Election Day brings victories to Julia Pemberton, the first Democrat to be elected first selectman in many years in Redding; Republican Mike Thompson who will take a selectman’s seat; and Margaret “Peg” O’Donnell who will serve a seventh term as town treasurer.

• The town election also brought out a turnout of 40%.

• Redding voters have approved more than $1.3 million in capital projects and two town ordinances.

• Stolen items discovered during a bust in Weston may be linked to burglary cases in Redding and elsewhere.

• The First Selectman’s Civil Medal of Honor — only the third presented so far — has gone to outgoing Georgetown Village Restoration Inc. President Ralph Bosch.

• Analysis of more than 20 private wells in town tested for arsenic and uranium, found one well each exceeded the standard for these metals. There’s no cause for alarm but property owners should take action. Redding health officer’s advisory recommends that residents have their wells tested.

• The Joel Barlow High girls volleyball team won its second straight South-West Conference championship on Saturday, sweeping Newtown in three sets..

• Barlow alum Brooklee Han is competing for a figure skating spot in the Winter Olympics.

• The town’s new zoning enforcement officer, Aimee Pardee, returns to a job she once worked part time.

• SCORE, the business counseling group of retired executives, has honored Redding’s Gerry Casiello.

• Redding Girl Scouts are looking for the community’s help at their food drive on Sunday.

• Barlow High School will have its fifth anniversary Veterans Day celebration on Monday.

• School spirit brought students together for Barlow’s Homecoming festivities.

• Teaching and working with challenging children will be the topic of discussion at the Redding Community Center Wednesday night.

• At the Heritage Center an early Thanksgiving luncheon is among the upcoming events.

• In Arts Leisure: In honor of Veterans Day, the Westport Country Playhouse will present a staged reading of “Mr. Roberts”; Art Garfunkel will perform and chat on Saturday at the Playhouse; Hayley Negrin of Weston is 10 and she was selected from hundreds of girls to be the voice of Peg in a new PBS Kids series, Peg + Cat. The Reel Dad movie reviewer says “All Is Bright,” with Paul Rudd and Paul Giamatti, is an engaging holiday comedy. The Test Drive columnist describes the 2013 Toyota 4Runner Trail 4×4 V6 describes as “a moderately priced off-road adventurer.”

• In Home: Designing dream homes, holiday happenings, home for sale — helicopters welcome!.

Rough Copy thank fans for support on X Factor ahead of third live show

6:30am Saturday 26th October 2013 in News

By Hannah Williamson, Chief Reporter

Rough Copy thank fans in Croydon for their support

X Factor finalists Rough Copy have thanked fans for their continued support ahead of the band’s third performance on the live shows.

The boy band made up of Sterling Ramsey, Joey Thomas, and Kazeem Ajobe, have won the hearts of the judges and fans around the country since their first audition.

The group who are being mentored by Take That star Gary Barlow, are one of Croydon’s two remaining acts in the popular competition, along with 17-year-old Greggs worker Hannah Barrett, who is being mentored by Nicole Scherzinger.

Speaking about last week’s performance of Backstreet Boys hit ‘I Want It That Way’, Mr Ramsey, 25, said: “The show was brilliant, every week is a totally different experience.

“Last week vocally we feel it was about 85 per cent. We feel we could have been stronger but we still performed to the best of our ability.”

Asked why they feel the vocals weren’t their best he added: “We had a lot to think about last week, we had to think about the camera shots, there were lots of dancers on stage and we moved around a lot and had to keep our harmonies.

“There was lots to think about but I still think we gave a great performance.”

This week is movie week. The acts are preparing to sing theme tunes from a range of songs and Rough Copy will be singing Bryan Adams (Everything I Do) I Do It For You.

The group chose the song themselves and are looking forward to showing people how versatile they can be.

Mr Sterling said he hoped the band being on the show will inspire people in Croydon to follow their dreams.

“I want people to realise you can pursue your dreams. Just stay positive, work hard and don’t let anything hold you back.”

“We miss Croydon and hope to be back soon, but want to say thank you for your all your support, keep supporting us on the X-Factor and please keep voting for us.”

TODAY’S TOP CROYDON STORIES

• Woman arrested on suspicion of seaside murder will face no further action
• Army sergeant appears in court on rape and sexual assault charges
• Police appeal after phone snatched from Croydon teen at Elmers End station
• Paedophile who ‘acted out fantasies’ with young girls jailed for four years
• Missing man could be in Croydon

Showbiz news

• Liv Tyler wants to see good manners

• Price wanted to call son Prince

• Clooney had a laugh with Bullock

• Ashton Kutcher sprouts moustache

• Casualty’s Connie sparks rivalry

• Angry Lynch wanted to punch Keating

Rough Copy thank fans for support on X Factor ahead of third live show

6:30am Saturday 26th October 2013 in News

By Hannah Williamson, Chief Reporter

Rough Copy thank fans in Croydon for their support

X Factor finalists Rough Copy have thanked fans for their continued support ahead of the band’s third performance on the live shows.

The boy band made up of Sterling Ramsey, Joey Thomas, and Kazeem Ajobe, have won the hearts of the judges and fans around the country since their first audition.

The group who are being mentored by Take That star Gary Barlow, are one of Croydon’s two remaining acts in the popular competition, along with 17-year-old Greggs worker Hannah Barrett, who is being mentored by Nicole Scherzinger.

Speaking about last week’s performance of Backstreet Boys hit ‘I Want It That Way’, Mr Ramsey, 25, said: “The show was brilliant, every week is a totally different experience.

“Last week vocally we feel it was about 85 per cent. We feel we could have been stronger but we still performed to the best of our ability.”

Asked why they feel the vocals weren’t their best he added: “We had a lot to think about last week, we had to think about the camera shots, there were lots of dancers on stage and we moved around a lot and had to keep our harmonies.

“There was lots to think about but I still think we gave a great performance.”

This week is movie week. The acts are preparing to sing theme tunes from a range of songs and Rough Copy will be singing Bryan Adams (Everything I Do) I Do It For You.

The group chose the song themselves and are looking forward to showing people how versatile they can be.

Mr Sterling said he hoped the band being on the show will inspire people in Croydon to follow their dreams.

“I want people to realise you can pursue your dreams. Just stay positive, work hard and don’t let anything hold you back.”

“We miss Croydon and hope to be back soon, but want to say thank you for your all your support, keep supporting us on the X-Factor and please keep voting for us.”

TODAY’S TOP CROYDON STORIES

• Woman arrested on suspicion of seaside murder will face no further action
• Army sergeant appears in court on rape and sexual assault charges
• Police appeal after phone snatched from Croydon teen at Elmers End station
• Paedophile who ‘acted out fantasies’ with young girls jailed for four years
• Missing man could be in Croydon

Showbiz news

• Liv Tyler wants to see good manners

• Price wanted to call son Prince

• Clooney had a laugh with Bullock

• Ashton Kutcher sprouts moustache

• Casualty’s Connie sparks rivalry

• Angry Lynch wanted to punch Keating

Weekend quiz: Are you a Wirral Mastermind?

7:00am Saturday 26th October 2013 in News

Weekend quiz: Are you a Wirral Mastermind?

Pit your wits against Globe quizmaster Peter Grant, who’s set these tricky brain-teasers for our Saturday morning wake-up call.

The answers – and your Wirral Mastermind ratings – are at the end.

Good luck!

1) In what year was Britain’s oldest brick-built lighthouse at Moreton constructed: a) 1663? b) 1763? c) 1863?

2) Which popular comedienne was unsuccessful in becoming a Wirral councillor?

3) Where was Birkenhead MP Frank Field born?

4) Which area’s name means “a farm or enclosure” where a certain type of beast is kept?

5) Which King granted the monks of Birkenhead a licence to operate a Mersey ferry service: a) Edward III? b) Richard II? c) Henry IV?

6) Which of these historic authors featured Wirral in his travel writings: a) Defoe? b) Pepys? c) Swift?

7) In what year did Wirral-born double-Oscar winning actress Glenda Jackson become an MP?

8) The movie “Blood” was filmed in and around Wirral starring which Merseyside-born Hollywood actor?

9) What was the original name of Tranmere Rovers FC?

10) Which Wirral-based photographer has had his work displayed at the prestigious Smithsonian Institute in Washington?

Answers: 1) b…1763; 2) Pauline Daniels; 3) London – educated in Hammersmith; 4) Oxton; 5) a…Edward III; 6) a…Defoe; 7) 1992 ; 8) Stephen Graham; 9) Belmont Football Club; 10) Mike McCartney.

Ratings:

0-3:   Pretty poor, but the questions were especially tough this week.

4-7:   Not a bad effort. 

8-10: Congratulations! You’re a Wirral Mastermind.

Showbiz news

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• Holden signs book in greengrocers

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• Katy Perry to play Jingle Bell Ball

• Leech: Good to shed nice-guy image

Maldon: Sam Callahan safely through to fourth X Factor live show

8:38pm Sunday 27th October 2013 in News

Maldon: Sam Callahan safely through to fourth X Factor live show

X Factor hopeful Sam Callahan has made it safely through to the next round of the show.

Despite failing to wow the judges with his rendition of U2’s All I Want Is You, taken from 90s rom com drama Reality Bites, the 19-year-old, of Great Totham, was voted through to next week by the public.

After Sam’s ‘movie night’ performance on Saturday, Gary Barlow said: “This is why I think song choice is so crucial, because that song really exposed you voice tonight.

“I thought it was a weak vocal performance from you. There were lots of pitching issues and your technique really wasn’t there at all.

“You’ve got to be so careful with song choice, you will live and die by it.”

Nicole Scherzinger agreed.

She said: “Song choice is everything and I do not want to hear you sing U2.

“I could tell vocally you are getting stronger every week, your range is growing, however, with a song like that you can’t do a watered down, generic version because people are going to see through that.

“Sing something to your girls, sing something else, cater to your audience.”

But mentor Louis Walsh defended his act.

He said: “Hey Sam, I’m happy with the song, I know you’re happy with it, the audience loved it.”

He added: “I’ve never had a harder working contestant than Sam. I’m sure you can do better and, if we’re here next week Sam, we’ll do better and we’ll work hard.”

Showbiz news

• Bieber caught spraying graffiti

• Holden signs book in greengrocers

• Boyle hits street for Poppyscotland

• Fans to feature in X Factor musical

• Katy Perry to play Jingle Bell Ball

• Leech: Good to shed nice-guy image