On song
Houston will be alive with the sound of music this weekend as the latest in the series of Carrick Nights events takes place.
People are welcome to go along to the village’s Carrick Centre on Friday, from 8pm onwards, to enjoy music from the Kentigern Quartet and Maria Wilson.
Works by Beethoven, Haydn, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Dvorak, Britten and Ravel will be among the music performed.
Tickets cost £12 for adults and £5 for students and children.
Call 01505 229597 or send an email to thecarrickcentre@gmail.com for more information or to book tickets.

Open day
staff at St Columba’s School, in Kilmacolm, are inviting potential students to an open day.
Both the junior and senior schools will be opening their doors on Thursday, March 1, from 9am to 3pm.
The open day promises to provide an opportunity for prospective and current families to see the early years, junior and senior schools in action.
Guests can head along anytime between 9am and 3pm.
Visit www.st-columbas.org for more information.

Food for thought
STAFF at the Co-op store in Houston have organised an ‘Ad-Lent Calendar’ for local foodbanks.
The concept, launched by The Trussell Trust, is a way to help others who need a little help over the Easter period.
Staff ask participants to collect one foodbank item each day of Lent and then, after the 40 days are up, all of the goods are handed over to foodbank volunteers.
Once the 40 items have been collected, they should be dropped off at the Houston Co-op foodbank donation bin.
To find out more about this and other fundraising ideas, visit http://bit.ly/2C8524A.

Quiz is hot stuff
VILLAGERS can get stuck into a curry and quiz night in Kilmacolm.
This will take place on Saturday, March 3, from 7.30pm, at the village’s Scout Hall.
Tickets cost £10, which includes a curry.
There will also be a bar on the night selling beer, wine, spirits and soft drinks.
Money raised will help to support activities organised by the Kilmacolm Scouts.
All are welcome to attend.

Have a wizard time
FANS of the theatre can follow the yellow brick road to an upcoming production in Kilbarchan.
The junior section at St Paul’s Drama Group, based in Johnstone, will be staging The Wizard of Oz.
Tickets are now on sale for the production, which takes centre stage at Kilbarchan Performing Arts Theatre from March 21 to 24.
Due to the limited size of the venue, organisers advise interested parties to buy tickets now to avoid disappointment.
Tickets, which cost £10 for adults and £8 for children and concessions, are available at the Top Cards shop, in High Street, Johnstone.

Say it with flowers
LINWOOD Community Development Trust has set up a new online ordering system for flowers.
The group is offering hand-tied bouquets ahead of Mother’s Day, which takes place on March 11.
Just like Roots of Linwood, all surpluses for Blooms of Linwood will go back into the community.
Visit the website at www.linwoodtrust.org.uk/store/category/14_flowers/ and place an order before March 5 to ensure that flowers are ready for the day.

Craft fair
KILBARCHAN Craft and Gift Fair promises a shopping experience for everyone.
It will take place at Kilbarchan Guide Centre on Sunday, March 4, from 1pm to 4pm.
Just in time for Mother’s Day and Easter celebrations, there will be over 20 stalls of gifts and crafts to suit all needs.
Tea and coffee will be on offer and there will also be home-baked goodies to enjoy.
Entry costs £1.50 for adults and 50p for kids.

Go grappling
Wrestling fans are in for a treat as the sport makes a welcome return to Lochwinnoch.
Renfrewshire-based entertainment company Respect Pro Wrestling promises to bring the stars of the future to the event.
It takes place at the Lochwinnoch Annexe on Saturday, March 10, from 6.30pm to 9.30pm.
Tickets cost £5 for kids and £8 for adults.
All money raised on the night will be used to help fund more clubs and groups for the people of Lochwinnoch.
Details of tickets and the competitors who will feature on the show will be revealed on the Respect Pro Wrestling Facebook page.

A less bumpy ride
A DATE has been set for postponed resurfacing work in Kilbarchan.
The work at Easwald Bank will take place in mid-to-late April.
This has been scheduled to avoid clashing with the impact of works at Deafhillock roundabout.
Roads chiefs have said that, as part of the project, there will be regular inspections to monitor the surface, with potholes being filled as and when required.

Abbey habit
renfrewshire residents are being invited to explore one of the area’s most iconic visitor attractions.
The 850-year-old Paisley Abbey is believed to have been the place where William Wallace was educated and is also the final resting place of six high stewards of Scotland, including Marjory Bruce – daughter of Robert the Bruce.
This earned the abbey the title of Cradle of the Royal House of Stewart.
Guided tours take place regularly and are open to everyone.
To find out more about this medieval gem, visit the website at www.paisleyabbey.org.uk.

Big Adventure
Families who are looking to keep their little ones entertained may well find that a visit to The Big Adventure is just the ticket.
The multi-levelled soft play area, in Linwood, offers a wide range of activities, catering for babies and toddlers all the way up to kids aged 12.
Admission prices range from £3.95 to £7.50. To find out more, visit www.thebigadventure.com.

Great Experience
All roads lead to Hillington Park for a fun-filled day out for children and adults alike.
The Experience is an indoor go-karting and laser tag arena that helps families banish boredom.
The Refuel Café also offers the perfect pit-stop for tasty treats.
To find out more, visit www.theexperience.org.uk.

Museum visit
Take in some local culture this winter by visiting Paisley Museum and Art Gallery to find out more about the town’s textile heritage, as well as its enviable natural history and archaeology collections.
Find out more by visiting www.renfrewshireleisure.com/paisleymuseum/.

Kids’ club
having fun will be child’s play for youngsters who head along to a busy shopping mall this weekend.
Staff at intu Braehead, in Renfrew, have free entertainment for kids lined up every Sunday, from noon until 4pm.
A spokesperson for the intu Braehead Kids’ Club said: “Launch their imagination and don’t let your little ones miss out on a whole heap of fun and free activities.
“We have out-of-this-world fun, including face painting, balloon modelling, arts and crafts, science activities and exciting appearances from storytime characters.
“It’s all here waiting to entertain them at the intu Braehead Kids’ Club.”
Parents should visit the customer service desk on level two at the shopping mall to sign their kids up as club members.
Youngsters will then receive a goodie bag, as well as exclusive kids’ club discounts.

Bingo time
IF you are feeling lucky, head along to a bingo night at a Johnstone church.
The fun takes place at St Aidan’s Church every Sunday and all are welcome to attend.
Doors open at 6.30pm, with the bingo starting at 7.30pm.

On song
LINWOOD Community Choir is welcoming new members to the group.
Singers can head along to Linwood Baptist Church, in Erskinefauld Road, to join in the fun.
Sessions take place on Tuesdays, from 6.15pm to 7.45pm. No prior experience is required, nor is the need to read music - the group promotes singing for fun.
The cost is £3 per week and everyone who goes along will be made welcome.