Enrolment set to open at Oxford House: Oxford House Adult Education Centre will start enrolling on Monday, August 4.

Enrolment times are Monday - Friday from 10am to 3pm (closed Monday, August 25, and Tuesday, August 26) and on Monday, September 1, and Friday, September 12, from 10am to 3pm and from 6.30pm to 8.15pm (closed Friday evenings).

A variety of courses are available which include all levels of computer skills, art and craft, basic skills, first aid and sign language.

For further information please contact the centre on 01633 612245.

Coffee, tea and toast at community group: Crosskeys Community Group is based at St Catherine's Community Hall, Gladstone Street, Crosskeys.

Tea, coffee, toast and marmalade is served from 10.30am to 12pm every Tuesday morning.

Group organisers invite you to come along and have a chat, exchange ideas and have a laugh, followed by bingo sessions every Tuesday. Doors open at 2pm for a 2.30pm start. Admission is £1 and raffle is £1.

Judging of the community garden took place on Tuesday, July 22.

The community group sends its thanks to everyone who helped to prepare the garden for judging and also thanks for donations.

Comments of "stunning", "gorgeous", "a credit to us all", "wonderful" and "what a picture" were received.

The gardeners are arranging an open day on Saturday, August 16, from 10am to 2pm.

Admission will be £1 for adults, which will include refreshments. Children go free.

There will be a bric a brac stall, bottle stall, books, plant stalls and more.

All proceeds go to replenishing the community garden. Everyone is welcome.

Islwyn Ramblers' Walks: Islwyn Ramblers have organised the following programme of walks in the coming week.

The first walk is due to be on Saturday, August 9.

Anyone interested should meet at Ebbw Vale Railway Station at 9.35am.

The route will be a a rail ramble linear walk from Ebbw Vale to Newbridge (ten miles in length) and to Crosskeys (16 miles) The next walk is on Wednesday, August 13.

Meet at the Full Moon car park at 6.30pm for a walk around Hafod Tudor Valley.

Contact Maggie Thomas on 01495 273057 for more information about both walks.

Islwyn Acoustic Guitar Club: Pamela Wyn Shannon - a guitarist, singer and songwriter from Massachusetts - is playing at the Crosskeys Hotel on Friday, August 22 She has attracted international attention with her mesmerising Celtic-influenced folk music.

Pamela's lyrical vocal style compliments her inventive modal guitar work which has been described as a tiny chamber orchestra working in unison at the end of her hands'.

There is said to be an elliptical quality to her Celtic influenced compositions which create its own time frame and rules and is reminiscent of the magic found in UK psychedelic folk music such as Pentangle and Incredible String Band.

Pamela is at the Crosskeys Hotel on Friday, August 22, from 7.30pm for a play around/open mic session. The concert starts at 8.45pm.

Tickets are £6, £5 for concessions. To get tickets, call the club secretary on 01495 270078 or e-mail islwynacoustic@fsmail.net To find out more about Pamela, go to myspace.com/pamelawynshannon or see girlhenge.com Champion chips: Congratulations are sent to Leighton Gillispie, Risca Fish Bar, Tredegar Street for being awarded another certificate for outstanding achievement by the Good Eating Guide.

Congratulations on diamond wedding anniversary: Congratulations from Risca Male Choir to Walter and Doris Swidenbank on their diamond wedding anniversary.

Doris is remembered for her part in the choir's 1973 celebrity concert when she accompanied artists Cynthia Clover and Emlyn Ellis (at the time of Friday Night is Music Night fame) and even rehearsed with them at her home prior to the event.

Night of entertainment: Ynysddu RFC presents Ricky Valance with Tell Laura I Love Her on Saturday, August 9.

Tickets are £5 and are on sale at the club house, or from 01495 200377, and include a light buffet. Doors open at 7pm.

Short Health Walks: WALK Newport is on Monday, August 14, at 11.30am from Mill Health to Tamplin Lock.

It will be a scenery walk along the Monmouthshire/Brecon Canal.

Anyone interested should meet at Mill Health of Pentwyn Lane.

On Thursday, August 7, there will be another walk at 11.30am from Glasswork Cottages.

This will go along the cycle path towards Cwmbran, along the river Usk.

Please arrive 15 minutes before start time.

Canal side Events: On Thursday, August 14, at 12pm there will be the official opening of the new canal basin at south Sebastopol.

Boat convoy to leave Pontymoile at 11am.

Access by car via Bevans Lane, off roundabout at North End of Cwmbran Drive, junction with Avondale Road.

Risca RFC preseason fixtures: Two friendly fixtures have been arranged by Risca RFC club prior to the start of the 2008/9 seasons.

On Saturday, August 16, Risca will have a home fixture with Blaina RFC. Kick off at 2.30pm.

On Saturday, August 23, the team will visit Malvern RFC.

The league season starts on Saturday, September 6, with a home game versus Nantyglo. Kick off 2.30pm.

Correction: In last week's grassroots, the carnival was stated to be on August 3, but that is the wrong date.

Risca Carnival and fete will be held on Sunday, August 24.

Also in the choir news column, the prices were stated to be £10 for adults and £8 concessions. Again, this is not the case.

The prices are £10 and £8, both prices for adults.

We apologise for the mistake.

4:49pm Thursday 31st July 2008

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