Headlines for May 2009

• Make your vote count in the Euro Elections - Wednesday, May 27 2009
  Scottish Borders Council has launched a campaign to help make people aware of what they need to do to cast their vote in the European elections on June 4.
• Children’s Minister visits Eyemouth family support service - Monday, May 25 2009
  Adam Ingram, Minister for Children and Early Years, paid a visit to Scottish Borders Council’s family support centre in Eyemouth last week.
• Potential foster carers respond to campaign - Monday, May 25 2009
  The launch of a recent campaign to recruit new foster carers in the Borders has had some positive results.
• Harestanes reports record visitor numbers - Monday, May 25 2009
  Harestanes Countryside Visitor Centre has had its best start to the season in nearly 10 years.
• Tyres dumped at Soutra – again - Friday, May 22 2009
  For the fourth time in just over a year, a huge pile of tyres has been dumped at a layby on the A68 near Soutra.
• New Deal for Home Carers - Friday, May 22 2009
  This week, Scottish Borders Council introduced new contracts and work patterns for home carers designed to improve the consistency and quality of care for an increasing number of older people and people with disabilities who need support to remain at home.
• Chief Executive launches ‘Dispatches’, a new monthly blog - Friday, May 22 2009
  This week, Council staff and Elected Members will get an in-depth insight into the role of their Chief Executive thanks to a new ‘blog’. The blog, ‘Dispatches’, will be launched today (Friday 22 May 2009).
• 0300 100 1800 – one call does it all - Tuesday, May 19 2009
  Scottish Borders Council has launched a new customer service telephone number, 0300 100 1800, to make it easier for customers to contact the Council.
• Walkerburnies launch debut single - Tuesday, May 19 2009
  Primary 4-7 also known as 'The Walkerburnies’ from Walkerburn Primary School released their own CD single entitled ‘Everybody Get Up’ last week.
• Scottish Borders Eco-Challenge winners - Tuesday, May 19 2009
  The winners of the first ‘Scottish Borders Schools Eco-Challenge’ were presented with their prizes during a special ceremony at Old Gala House today (Tuesday 19 May).
• Gala library hosts Scottish music and family history evening - Tuesday, May 19 2009
  Family history enthusiasts gathered at Galashiels Library recently to enjoy an evening of Scottish music and family history with a demonstration of ‘Scotland’s People’ - the official online government source of genealogical data for Scotland.
• Borders trio bound for UK school games - Tuesday, May 19 2009
  Two swimmers and their coach from Swim Team Borders have been selected to represent Scotland at the UK School Games in September 2009.
• Pupils encouraged to ‘Walk n Talk’ - Tuesday, May 12 2009
  Forty eight primary schools, nearly 8,000 pupils, in the Scottish Borders will be taking to their feet in support of Walk to School Week from 18 – 22 May.
• Council restores memorial to Australian airman - Monday, May 11 2009
  Scottish Borders Council has restored a memorial to a young Australian airman buried in one of the most remote war graves in Scotland.
• Raising the Flag for Homecoming - Monday, May 11 2009
  The traditional May Bank Holiday raising of the Saltire and Northumberland flag at the Scotland - England Border was extra special this year. Local band Scocha (pictured) joined the event at the A68 Carter Bar crossing and raised a Homecoming Scotland 2009 flag to mark Scotland’s year of Homecoming.
• James Henderson (1908-2007) celebrated at Old Gala House - Monday, May 11 2009
  A new exhibition of artworks by the late James Henderson will run until Sunday 14 June in the Pringle Room at Old Gala House.
• Foster carers needed for children and young people - Monday, May 11 2009
  Scottish Borders Council today (Monday 11 May) launched three new posters at the start of Foster Care Fortnight to boost its recruitment of foster carers.
• Good quality education at Greenlaw Primary School - Friday, May 8 2009
  An inspection by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education (HMIe) took place at Greenlaw Primary School and Nursery in March. It covered aspects of the quality of education at the school and how young people benefit from learning there.
• Calling all budding artists - Wednesday, May 6 2009
  Young artists in the Scottish Borders are being invited to help shout out the green message.
• A new way of contacting Scottish Borders Council - Tuesday, May 5 2009
  Scottish Borders Council is introducing a new customer service telephone number to make it easier for customers to contact the Council and have their enquiries dealt with at the first point of contact.
• Museum service appeal for photographs of Berwickshire - Tuesday, May 5 2009
  Do you have photographs tucked away that show life as it used to be in Berwickshire?
• Borders residents urged to make their mark in Register to Vote Week - Friday, May 1 2009
  Scottish Borders residents whose names are not included in the Register of Electors will miss out on their right to vote in the upcoming June elections according to Les Walker, Electoral Registration Officer.
• Newly refurbished toilets open to the public - Friday, May 1 2009
  Four blocks of public conveniences have been refurbished and have been re-opened as part of Scottish Borders Council’s (SBC) plan to review the 52 facilities in parks, towns and picnic sites across the area.
• Council encourages Borders residents to be greener gardeners - Friday, May 1 2009
  Next week (3-9 May) is Compost Awareness Week and Scottish Borders Council (SBC) is encouraging residents to think about composting their household waste.
• Council Tax collection hits another high despite recession - Friday, May 1 2009
  Despite the current economic downturn, residents of the Scottish Borders have continued to pay their Council Tax and water services charges on time.