Darwen Silver Surfers Enjoy Christmas Party

Members of a Darwen computer club enjoyed a day out to Smith Hills Hall, Bolton where they were entertained by a popular piano player. The event was organised by the group of "silver surfers" who attend regular computer clubs at Darwen Resource Centre and Knott Street Community centre.

Alan, a pensioner who attended the event (pictured below) told us "We all had a good meal and the entertainer was a piano player who really got us all singing and dancing. We all had a great time!"


The group kindly submitted photographs if their outing to be uploaded to Darwen Online, your local community website for news, events, photographs and discussions. If you are having an event of any kind over Christmas or in the New Year, be sure to e-mail us some information and we'll list the event in our "What's On Guide" for free.


So, get involved with your local community website and submit your own photographs or video clips from events you attend over the Christmas period and throughout 2009. Darwen Online is a free website for the town, bringing you local news & views plus information on local events.

If you are interested in joining the computer club please contact the Knott Street Community Centre for more information.

Join our Facebook Group

Our facebook group now has over 100 members supporting Darwen Online, the towns first and best community website & business directory. Since launching in July 2008 the site has boasted hits from all over the world as people keep in touch with what's happening in their "home town".

Darwen Online is showing a steady increase of visitors month on month as people in the town start to gain awareness of the site. Our facebook group is just one of many groups on the popular networking site which is dedicated to Darwen. Others include "Say NO to the bus lane" and "I lived in Darwen . . . . and Survived".

In the summer we saw a facebook group battle between rivals over the proposed bus lane. "Say NO to the bus lane" was started by local MP Janet Anderson whilst a local worker started a group supporting the bus lane.

Despite the council performing it's own poll showing local residents were in favour of the bus lane, it would appear that the story of these two rival facebook groups tell a very different story. Whilst very few people ever signed up to the group in favour of the bus lane, the MP's group against the bus lane continues to grow and now boasts over 500 members!

Talk to Santa LIVE with 107 The Bee

Local radio station, 107 The Bee, is providing local children with the chance to talk to Santa LIVE on Christmas Eve with their "Santa Phone In".

Santa will be taking time out from his busy schedule to take last minute requests and questions from local youngsters from 10am on Wednesday 24th December.

Visit this link to pre-register your child for a free call from Santa and be sure to stay by your radio and phone on Christmas Eve! Registration is open to primary school aged children.

Jake Berry calls for Mayors chain to be returned to Darwen

Jake Berry, the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Rossendale & Darwen has today revealed that he is in discussions with Colin Rigby the leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council to try and secure the return of the Mayoral Chain to the newly formed Darwen Town Council.

Jake Berry commented “the chain used by the current Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen was at one time the Mayoral Chain for Darwen. Following on from the recent ratification of the referendum forming a Darwen Town Council, I have written to the Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council to request that he formally investigates the possibility of returning of the Mayoral Chain to Darwen”

The Mayoral Chain had both a Darwen pendant and Darwen links and I hope that, if returned to the town, the chain will be restored to its original condition. The return of the Mayoral Chain to Darwen would also be of historical importance to both the heritage and identity of the town and I know this is something about which the people of Darwen feel strongly.”

Jake Berry commented further “All off the Darwen Conservative Councillors voted in favour of the Town Council and I know they will support the return of the Mayoral Chain to Darwen.”
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Darwen Band's Music Available Online

A local band, Silent Dog, has uploaded it's own songs to the Internet for people to download, listen to and review. The groups first EP, entitled A Long Winter, is now available to download online through PROJECT OPUS.

Project Opus is an online music community website designed to support artists, fans and local music. The site allows artists to easily self-publish their music and even earn revenue for downloads - removing the need to sign a record contract first. For the fans, it provides them with a way to easily access music they love and support the artists who make it.

To listen to A Long Winter by Silent Dog please visit the site at: Project Opus


Since uploading their first album people have left reviews complimenting the mellow tunes which make up the EP. Songs can be listened to for free and can be downloaded for less than £1.00 each. Music fans visit the site from all over the world but most listeners are from 'across the pond' in the USA. The most listened to track from A Long Winter is track #1 "Come To My Aid" which has been listened to by 282 people.

It is probably worth looking into Project Opus for local bands who are looking to publish their own songs on the Internet. Along with MySpace the Internet may help boost your way to stardom!

Have you found any songs you like on Project Opus?

New Darwen Lidl Grand Opening

The new Darwen Lidl store opened it's doors to customers for the first time on Thursday morning at 8am with massive in-store opening offers, free tea and coffee and other free gifts. Various attractions will remain available throughout the opening weekend so don't worry if you cant get down on Thursday!

The store's inflation busting prices include special gifts, kitchen essentials, musical instruments, golf accessories, home entertainment, DIY tools and of course food and drink.

Opening day shoppers can enjoy free tea, coffee and mince pies outside the main entrance after unloading their shopping and returning the shopping trolley. Spend over £30 on your shop and receive a free car wash (8.30am - 4pm Thursday & Saturday).


There is also free face painting for children on Saturday & Sunday and a free gift wrapping service on Christmas gifts purchased from the store. If you get chance to visit the new store today you will be greeted by staff and stilt walkers in fancy dress handing out various flyer's containing all the special offers for Christmas.

Early shoppers were even treated to a bunch of free flowers and a free newspaper on their way out of the store!


The MASSIVE OPEN DAY OFFERS include:

• Targa Satellite Navigation System £79.99 (RRP £139.99)
• 19" Widescreen LCD Flatscreen Monitor £69 (RRP £119)
• Portable DVD Player £49 (RRP £99)
• Circular Saw £19.99 (RRP £34.99)
• Christmas Food & Drink (Reduced)
  

Have you been to the store yet?

Snowfall in Darwen

Darwen woke up to a light dusting of snow on December 2nd 2008. It wasn't enough to start building snowmen - you'd barely gather enough snow for a snowball but never the less it was more than enough to extend the journey time along the A666.

Despite only being subject to light snow showers early Tuesday morning the cold snap ensured snow was still on the ground when most people made their way into work/school between 7.30 and 8.30am. Traffic was moving at a snails pace through parts of Darwen as school buses ploughed their way through the slush. It appeared that many children gave up waiting in the cold for their late buses and many could still be seen walking round the town centre past 9am when most schools start.

Many schools now have a policy of sending pupils home when there has been snow, especially when it makes travelling to and from school a problem, but although buses were running later than usual it is thought that the majority made it into schools on time.


Darwen has been subject to sub zero temperatures for much of the last week and things are forecast to get worse before they get better. Online weather site Metcheck have warned heavy snow could be on the way for Thursday morning and although Friday is expected to be sunny, temperatures will struggle to get above freezing for much of the day.

Our advice - wrap up warm and if in doubt about school closures ring them up before sending your children in.

If the forecast is correct and we do see snow on Thursday we'd love to receive some of your photographs - send them in and we'll feature the best ones in a special news article.

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Darwen's Unsung Hero Award

Florentin Boudjeko was presented with the Gold Unsung Hero award at the Christmas lights switch on last week in recognition of his voluntary work. Darwen Online approached Florentin for an interview in which he shared his joy and surprise at winning the award.

Mr Boudjeko holds regular dance classes where he teaches Salsa to beginners and advanced students. The classes have proved very popular and some of the people who attend his classes nominated him for the award as a way of showing their appreciation.

Florentin's salsa group is celebrating it's 1st anniversary in January and he now holds more regular events than ever before as more and more people sign up to learn salsa. He says people of all ages attend his class, from children to pensioners - and everyone seems to have a great time learning to dance, keeping fit and meeting new people.

In our interview Florentin talks about his time in Darwen and his plans for the future:

How long have you lived in Darwen?
I moved to Darwen 2 years ago after living in Manchester for a short while. Before that I lived in Cameroon where dancing is a part of life!

When did you start the salsa lessons?
I love dancing and saw an opportunity to start teaching others for free so I started up the "Darwen Salsa Group" in January 2007.

How did it make you feel to receive the 'Unsung Hero' award?
It was a lovely surprise to find out I'd been nominated in the first place, but even then I didn't expect to win. I didn't know anything about it until the Thursday before I received the award when I was told I'd been nominated. When it was announced that I'd won Gold I just felt so proud. I never expected anything from anyone I just teach Salsa because I enjoy it - it comes from the heart, I have a real passion for dancing.

You've recently introduced new classes to cope with the demand. Do you think winning the award will increase the popularity even more?
I hope so - the more people I can teach the better! It gives people something to do and it's nice seeing people smile. I have students of all ages and I try to encourage people to dance with different partners whenever possible. It helps people build confidence and also provides the opportunity to meet new people.


I'm really busy now but I love doing what I'm doing. So much so that some of my friends feel like I've let them down. I enjoy fishing and playing football in my spare time but whenever a friend calls me up these days I'm always busy. I'll always put my students first though - I've met some wonderful people and would never let them down - I'm just going to continue expanding hopefully.

I see you also run salsa parties in addition to your classes?
Yes, from time to time I host salsa parties which are a slightly more relaxed affair. It is where people can let their hair down a bit and test out their new skills. The parties are often arranged by other people - I just host the events. I attended a party on Friday at St Edwards Parish Hall where the money raised from the event was going to charity.

You must be quite busy now then?
Yes, I'm always on the go. In addition to teaching salsa I also provide a translation service for the citizen advice bureau in Manchester. They sometimes deal with people who can't speak English so I translate into French for them. This helps French speaking people who are looking for advice etc.

What are your plans for the future?
Eventually it would be nice to get a job connected with teaching Salsa in some way. I was shocked to discover many young people in this country seem to need lots of alcohol before they start dancing so I'd like to teach teenagers to dance without being drunk.

I might look towards holding some sort of after school event for 8-14 year olds. They teach children to sing and dance from a young age in Cameroon, I'd like to offer a similar service here in Darwen.

One day it would be nice to open up a salsa club in Darwen! I will just have to wait and see how things unfold for me. The award was a really nice surprise though and I am so proud to have been nominated - winning Gold was just a brilliant feeling.

Anyone who is interested in learning salsa should contact Florentin on 07784 290181. Classes are held in Darwen on Wednesday evenings, Saturday mornings and Sundays.

Caitlin Jones received Silver in the Darwen Unsung Hero award for raising money for cancer research and Chris Stephenson was awarded Bronze in recognition of his voluntary work in the town.
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