Orkney’s artists and craftmakers are being reminded the Visual Artists and Craft Makers (VACMA) fund is again open to applications.

Orkney Islands Council is advising people in Westray that the collection day for waste and recycling will change to Mondays (from the current Tuesday collections) from the week starting 11 October.

Orkney is to play an important role in a pilot project exploring the use of autonomous - or self-driving - vehicles (AVs).

Local people have said they are keen to see early access to mental health services for the county’s young people, and that these are well resourced - that’s some of the key feedback received by Orkney Health and Care (OHAC) when they asked the Orkney community, in July, for their thoughts on how services supporting young people’s mental health can be refined to best meet local needs.

Orkney Islands Council’s Political Leader James Stockan has today (17 September) welcomed the findings of a UK Government inquiry into the current grid charging system.

We are now well into the new academic year, and I have been delighted to see reports of children and pupils returning filled with enthusiasm and optimism for the year ahead. I hope that is reflective of the experience in your own household.

At this stage, I wanted to write to you so that I can help explain how cases of Covid-19 in childcare settings and schools are being managed, and how information that has been gathered since the start of term is helping to inform what arrangements need to be in place going forward.

Eight local athletes have been awarded with a special grant supported by sportscotland to help sportspeople in regional and rural Scotland access competitive and training opportunities.

Orkney Islands Councillors observed a minute’s silence at today’s Special General Meeting in memory of George Stevenson, one of Orkney Islands Council’s first Councillors, who passed away in August.

Extensive upgrading work plans for the Longhope Lifeboat Museum moved a step closer this week after Councillors agreed to provide a grant of up to £100,000 towards the project costs from the Council’s Community Development Fund.

The Longhope Lifeboat Museum Trust’s preservation plans for the Museum building and exhibits will cost around £288,000. The Trust plans to contribute around £48,000 of its own resources and they await the outcome of match funding applications.

After the disappointment of cancelled events in 2020 due to the pandemic, many turned out at the Kirk Green on Sunday 12 September to witness the return of the historic and ceremonial Riding of the Marches.

Councillor Gwenda Shearer welcomed back those on horseback and the crowds who had gathered to watch the annual custom.