Roman-style dinner to reveal York’s classical past

New light will be shone on York’s fourth century leisure complex as part of this year’s classically-themed Big City Read held by Explore York Libraries and Archives.

While this summer’s book The Orpheus Descent by York author Tom Harper delves into the myths of Greek classical history, this dining event explores York’s Roman history. The one-off talk and dinner will be held at the National Trust Treasurer’s House near a rich seam of Roman remains including the nearby former baths and gymnasium.
(more…)

Foxwood Community Centre

The committee which runs the Foxwood Community Centre is urging residents to attend a meeting on Wednesday 3rd September which could determine the future of the Centre.

Page 1 click to enlarge

Page 1 click to enlarge

The Centre lost its Council grant this year – part of a range of cuts to leisure provision in the City imposed by the Labour leadership.

Consequently the Centre can no longer afford to employ a caretaker.

In turn this means a big increase in the workload for a handful of volunteer committee members.

Responding to a survey on the Foxwood are,a 88% of residents said that they thought that the York Council should continue to support the centre. This may become an option again following next May’s Council elections when a change in political control – and policies – is anticipated.

However, in the interim, a difficult 9 months is in prospect for the Community Centre.

The Centre has issued a newsletter to potential volunteers but is keen for anyone with an hour or two to spare each week to attend the meeting. The Centre serves a wider area than just Foxwood with volunteers for Woodthorpe, Acomb Park and the Acomb side of the City generally, being invited to get involved.

Page 2 click to enlarge

Page 2 click to enlarge

Details of activities taking place at the Centre – together with booking arrangements – can be found on their web site

There is some good news, with York Cares having agreed to rejuvenate the play area at the Centre, together with the Foxwood Park, when they undertake their “Big Challenge” in the neighbourhood during early October. Details here

The door to door survey has also revealed mixed feeling about the future of the play area to the rear of the Community Centre.

It is only now open when the re is an event taking place. There currently aren’t sufficient volunteers available to keep it in good condition so it may be that it will have to become a communal garden or allotments.

Details of the options are expected to be on display at the centre in early September.

Acomb Explore’s first transatlantic event to be with Orange Prize-winner

Achilles2
Author Madeline Miller will be talking about her Orange Prize winning novel, The Song of Achilles, live from the East Coast of the USA.

The talk, including a question and answer session, will be broadcast from Boston via Skype to a large screen at Acomb Explore on Thursday 21 August, 7-8pm, with entry by ticket only.

The American writer is a classical specialist and her book is a very human retelling of the Ancient Greek tale of the god Achilles and his lover Patroclus, hero Hector and the siege of Troy.

“A captivating retelling of the Iliad and events leading up to it through the point of view of Patroclus: it’s a hard book to put down, and any classicist will be enthralled by her characterisation of the goddess Thetis, which carries the true savagery and chill of antiquity.” Donna Tartt, in The Times

Madeline Miller was born in Boston and grew up in New York City and Philadelphia. She attended Brown University, where she earned her BA and MA in Classics. She has studied at the University of Chicago’s Committee on Social Thought and in the Dramaturgy department at Yale School of Drama, where she focused on the adaptation of classical texts to modern forms. While for the last ten years she has been teaching and tutoring Latin, Greek and Shakespeare to high school students.
(more…)

Sports event for visually impaired and blind people

York’s first sports event for visually-impaired or blind residents organised by City of York Council as part of its Celebrating Ability Week is taking place on Sunday 10 August at Joseph Rowntree School, Haxby Road, York.

The event is the first of its kind and has been organised by the council in conjunction with the Wilberforce Trust, the York Blind and Partially Sighted Society and British Blind Sport as part of Celebrating Ability Week (4 to 10 August).

The afternoon of sports and games gives residents a chance to try different activities adapted for visual impairment and to find out more about continuing the sports on a regular basis across the city.
(more…)