Beware if a card is posted through your letterbox from a Company called PDS (Parcel Delivery Service) suggesting that they are unable to deliver a parcel and you must contact them on 0906 6611911. DO NOT call this number as this is a premium number scam from Belize.

If you call this number you will hear a recorded message and the call will cost in the region of £15.

Police Ward Surgeries: Local Police officers will be holding ward surgeries on the following dated.

The idea of the meetings is to bring residents up to date on the latest policing initiatives in our area and for them to listen to YOUR concerns.

Carnegie Library, Corporation Road: Mon, Nov 19, 5pm-7pm Mon, Dec 17, 5pm-7pm Mon, Jan 14, 5pm-7pm Mon, Feb 18, 5pm-7pm Mon, Mar 17, 5pm-7pm Moorland/ Broadmead Surgeries at community house.: Mon, Dec 3, 4pm-6pm Mon, Jan 28, 4pm-6pm Mon, Feb 25, 4pm-6pm Mon, Mar 31, 4pm-6pm GAVO Awards Night: Jane and I had a fantastic evening at the Gwent Association of Voluntary Associations awards night.

Individual and groups from across the whole voluntary spectrum were rewarded for their efforts on behalf of their communities.

The most rewarding part of the evening was that all the winners were nominated by the communities themselves adding some genuine kudos to the evening.

I had the honour of presenting the Supreme Volunteer award to our friend and my fellow Grassroots contributor Jean Watkins. (I was too frightened to give it to anyone else.. only joking Jean).

The evening was hosted in his own inimitable style by the UK's original and best town poet Goff Morgan.

It is a brave person who heckles Goff when he is on stage I can tell you.

The audience were also treated to a classy solo performance by the very talented Leanne Taylor.

Even a dodgy microphone couldn't disguise the quality of Leanne's singing. This is a local girl who could, with the right break, be gracing stages worldwide Even a night of a hundred great memories has to have a highlight. The event kicked off with yet another fantastic performance from the boys and girls of the Newport Scout and Guide Gang Show. These are youngsters who love their city and sing it out loudly and proudly. They even sing a song about Newport that will make the hair on the back of your neck rise with pride and emotion. Immaculately turned out, well coordinated and full of energy these youngsters (and the adults who have worked so hard to get them that good) are fantastic ambassadors for our city. We don't hear enough about the thousands of good kids in Newport. These are amongst the best in Britain.

Awards: GAVO handed out well deserved awards to very worthy winners in the following categories: - Young Volunteer of the year Award, Sports Awards, Environmental Awards, Caring in the Community Award, Contribution to the Community Award, Communities First Award. Inspirational Volunteer Award and Supreme Volunteer Award.

Come on Lliswerry and Nash. Look at those awards, look at the people around you working with and for our community. We have some of the hardest working community-minded people in Wales working for the people of Lliswerry and Nash, running our youth and sports clubs, organising Christmas events and trips to the seaside, coordinating Neighbourhood Watch schemes or working to see that a community has its fair share of resources. It is easy for those of us who benefit from the work done by these good people to take them for granted. I and my colleagues know a lot of people working hard in our area who at the very least deserve a nomination by those they help.

For further details of how you can take part in next year's decisions contact GAVO on 241550. Let's see some Lliswerry and Nash names amongst next years winners.

A Musical Feast: Don't miss the musical event of the year at St Patrick's Church, on Friday, November 9.

The City of Newport Male Choir will be performing their highly popular annual concert featuring guest artiste Samantha Talbot, still smiling from her recent honeymoon. St Patrick's is one of the choirs' favourite venues.

The superb acoustics in the church seem to bring out the very best in them. People who have had the pleasure of hearing them sing in the church before will know what to expect, those who haven't will not be disappointed.

Tickets cost £5 and can be either bought on the night (subject to availability) or pre-ordered by ringing Glyn Suller on 668594 or Jeff Ganner on 430205 or Mike Price on 876652. See you there!