Food for thought
PEOPLE can enjoy some tasty treats in Johnstone town centre and support worthy causes at the same time.
A fundraising event will take place at the Wee Cafe @ 47 on Saturday, July 8, from 9am to 4pm.
Derek Brown, who owns the High Street business, will be donating 100 per cent of all food takings to Johnstone Burgh Football Club and St Vincent’s Hospice, in Howwood.
Businesses in the area have played their part by donating various goodies that will be used as prizes for a raffle being held at the cafe.
Prizes up for grabs include free meals and vouchers for various shops and businesses.
Anyone who would like to buy a raffle ticket can pop into the cafe, with the winners to be revealed on Sunday evening.

Scouting for support
MEMBERS of the Johnstone Scout Group will be sprucing up their hall this weekend, with volunteers being asked to lend a hand.
Help is needed on both Saturday and Sunday as the hall’s interior is to be repainted.
Anyone who has an hour or two to spare is asked to show their support.
The group is also keen to hear from anyone who can donate paint brushes, rollers or trays for the big spruce-up.
For more information or to volunteer your services, contact Scout leader Alisdair Connell via email at johnstonescouts@hotmail.com


Community garden
PEOPLE with green fingers are invited to find out more about work being done at a community garden in Kilbarchan.
The Getaway Garden drop-in session is a chance for guests to meet the volunteers and take part in some gardening and wildlife activities.
These will include a mini-beast hunt, gardeners’ question time, tips on what to feed birds and advice on growing vegetables.
The event takes place at the Cartside Terrace venue on Sunday, July 9, from 1pm to 3pm.
Everyone who goes along will be made welcome and no advance booking is required - simply turn up on the day.

Get on board
NATURE lovers can get on board a boat-themed event at the RSPB base in Lochwinnoch.
The event, dubbed ‘Make your own Mondays: River Adventure,’ will take place on Monday, July 10, with sessions being staged from 11am to 1pm and from 2pm to 4pm.
Youngsters can build a boat and head down to the river to sail them.
They will then be able to explore the river to find out which creatures live below the surface.
Booking for this event is essential. It costs £5 per child, although members of the RSPB Wildlife Explorers will pay a reduced fee of £3 and adults can take part for free.

Feel good factor
THE Active Communities team is hosting drop-in sessions every Friday to give Johnstone residents the chance to find out about health matters, community issues or simply pop in for a chat.
People can go along to the Feel Good Friday sessions at the Old Credit Union, from 10am to noon.
There are also opportunities for people of all abilities to get involved in gentle exercise.
Visitors can bring a friend and stay for a cup of tea or coffee.
The sessions are free of charge.
To find out more, call 0141 258 9923 or visit www.activecommunities.co.uk

Make new friends
YOUNGSTERS who are looking forward to starting primary school after the summer holidays are invited to attend a get-to-know-you session.
The ‘Ready Steady Go School’ summer play sessions take place at Erskine Baptist Church.
Kids who are about to start lessons at Rashielea Primary, Bargarran Primary and St John Bosco Primary can go along on Wednesday, July 19, from 1.30pm to 3pm.
And there will be a further session on Wednesday, July 26, from 1.30pm to 3pm, for children who will be attending Inchinnan Primary and Barsail Primary.
This will be followed by a session for children at St Anne’s Primary and Bishopton Primary on Wednesday, August 2, from 1.30pm to 3pm.
It is also a chance for parents to get to know each other over tea and coffee in the lounge area.
Organisers are charging a fee of £5 per child, although parents and siblings can attend for free.
For more information or to book a place, send a text message to Amanda on 0796 996 6438.

Just for laughs
ANYONE who is looking for a laugh can head into Paisley town centre this weekend to enjoy a taste of the entertainment that will be on offer at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
The MZA Sneaky Fringe Previews will take place at Paisley Arts Centre, in New Street, on Friday and Saturday, from 7.30pm.
Among those taking centre stage are Daniel Sloss, Craig Hill, Micky Bartlett and Mark Nelson.
Audience members are asked to note that these shows will contain some adult humour and are not for those who are easily offended.
For more information, including admission prices, or to book tickets, visit www.renfrewshireleisure.com/mza-sneaky-previews/

Girl power
MEMBERS of the 3rd Erskine Girls’ Brigade group will be celebrating their 35th anniversary in 2017 and are hoping to make this their best year yet.
The group is on the lookout for new members to add to its numbers.
Registration for new members is under way for the 2017/18 session, which starts on Tuesday, August 22.
All girls from primary one to S6 age are welcome to get involved.
You can find out more online at www.girls-brigade-scotland.org.uk/companies/3rd-erskine

Psychic night
SPIRITUALISTS can prepare to be spooked at a psychic night in aid of MND Scotland.
Scottish psychic Carol McGee is coming to Inchinnan with her brand new show.
The event will take place at Inchinnan Community Centre on Saturday, August 19, from 7.30pm.
There will also be a raffle on the night, with prizes to be won.
Tickets cost £12, with proceeds being used by MND Scotland to support those who have been diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
Log on to www.carolmcgeepsychic.com for more information.

Bowling along
LOCHWINNOCH Bowling Club is to host an open day and crafts event.
Both members and non-members alike are welcome to go along on Saturday, July 15, from 12.30pm to 5pm.
The main function room will host craft tables, while there will be bowls for women and men on the green.
Those wishing to add a craft table can do so for £10 and should contact 0771 932 8612 for more information.

Feline good
VOLUNTEERS at Johnstone Cat Rescue are appealing for funds to keep their services running.
This worthy cause helps to reduce the vast number of stray cats in Renfrewshire.
A few dedicated volunteers make up the group, who work seven days per week, throughout the year, to rescue and rehome as many cats as possible.
They have to accommodate these cats and feed them and provide necessary equipment.
Johnstone Cat Rescue receives no funding from the government or any other agency and relies totally on the goodwill of the public to keep going.
To make a donation, go online at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/margaret-finnigen-3.

Snap to it
A PHOTOGRAPHY competition is being staged by the team at the RSPB nature reserve in Lochwinnoch.
To enter the annual event, keen snappers are asked to take photos at or from the Largs Road reserve, where there is plenty of wildlife to be seen.
There are two categories - birds and other - and the deadline for entries is 5pm on Friday, July 14.
It costs £4 to enter.
For more information on how to get involved, call the reserve on 01505 842663.
The winners will be announced on Facebook and posted at the reserve.

Lend a hand
A PAISLEY charity is on the lookout for a helping hand this summer.
Accord Hospice helps to provide specialist care and support for patients and their families, both within the hospice and in patients’ homes within the community.
To find out more about Accord and the work the charity does, visit www.accordhospice.org.uk.
To make a donation to the hospice, call 0141 581 2000.

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