A happy New Year to all our readers!

And for a New Year's Resolution, what better than to take seriously our impact on the environment.

A new web site has detailed recommendations on how to make a difference on the environment and greener living. It includes all sorts of tips on how to go green and save money too.

Just click here.

This year's York Residents 1st Weekend takes place on  Saturday & Sunday, 27th/28th January.

More than forty facilities and visitor attractions are open either free or at a reduced rate to holders of a YORKcard (Residents' Card). Additionally some  fifteen hotels and restaurants have special offers during this period. There are also several performance events.

Most venues are in the city centre, but some (e.g. Elvington Air Museum; Acomb Cold War Bunker) are in the suburbs.

If you don't have a YORKcard, you can get one free on showing identification and proof of residence (e.g. utility bill) at any Library. The YORKcard also serves as a library card, and entitles you to certain privileges throughout the year.

Since some of the Residents 1st tours and events (e.g. Monks Cross Waterworld) have only limited numbers of tickets, it is worth obtaining a copy of the detailed Residents 1st leaflet from the Library to discover how to book in advance. Information is also available at the Information Point in Parliament St. Fri. - Sun. 26th - 28th Jan.

Ian 

 The Camera Club's new year kicked off with a Social Evening on Weds 10th January which was also attended by some members of York photographers group  "BlackDogWhiteWall" - don't ask!

As usual, no-one got off lightly as there were two fiendish quizzes to do.  The super "spread" was needed to refresh the parts that other questions couldn't reach.

The next meeting, "Jim Wilson's Travel Show", on 24th January, promises to be less taxing but no less interesting.  Why not come along and see what we get up to?

Planning permission has been sought to fell the two evergreen trees at the front of the palace gateway. 

As foreign species they are not really appropriate, but they do frame the gateway well. See them before they disappear.

Work has also started on extensive changes within the palace buildings, as described in full detail here. 

With January having been 5.9 degrees above average, and the second warmest on record, some early flowers were seen in a garden in Main Street in mid-month.