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'North Navan Communities - News, Issues & Discussion' is steadily growing.

Navan unveiled it's modernist Christmas tree cone and street decorations but we would like to see "Nollaig Shona" lit in festive lights since we've only seen 'Merry Christmas' in Navan.

The Johnstown Shopping Centre shop decorations appeared in early November and they do provide festive cheer.

Old Johnstown Village has trees and lights and so too has the Kentstown Road Apartments.

Johnstown Tidy Towns will again make the Johnstown roundabout sparkle soon but it's a bright spot so they're very easy to miss.

Hopefully the January sales will provide more led lights if you have suggestions on where to light up?

PLEASE ensure your decorations, cars and sheds are all secure to prevent theft.

The generous donations from residents in County Meath have made Christmas more special for someone less fortunate.

The deadline has now passed to donate to the Meath Christmas Shoe Box Appeal For Disadvantaged Children BUT if you get presents and gifts which you don't want then consider regifting them to a local charity shop in January.

View more on Colaiste Na Mi twitter feed and a brief video clip on Community Sports Hub Navan.

Colaiste Na Mi twitter feed

Photos

Video Clip

Information provided by the HSE:

HSE statement:

The national mumps outbreak that started in 2018 in several regions (west, northwest and northeast), with subsequent spread to most regions in 2019, is still ongoing.

Mumps activity peaked in May 2019 but declined during the summer months. Since the second week of September, mumps cases have increased again.

Mumps symptoms

Symptoms of mumps include fever, headache, tiredness and swollen, tender salivary glands. Mumps often gives the appearance of swollen cheeks or jaw.

What to do if you have symptoms of mumps

If you have mumps symptoms you should stay at home, not go to school or work for at least five days after symptoms start to prevent spread. If making an appointment to see your GP let him/her know you think you have mumps.

Both the Newgrange Monument and the Hill of Tara will be busy as usual on the solstice weekend.

Darker earlier in the evenings does mean the stars are usually easier to view and if you have young children perhaps it's a chance to show them what's up there. App's for your smartphone such as Google 'Sky Map' can be extremely useful and at the time of writing this Saturn, Venus, Pluto and Neptune were all visible at 5pm in the southern sky!

Finally a request to pedestrians and cyclists to ensure they can be seen on dark evenings since our street lighting isn't good enough and HiVis reflective clothing is highly recommended.

Tidings was written and directed by Christian Craughwell who makes short films purely as a hobby. This one features 2 local residents, Peter and Maura Heylin, and parts are filmed in Dalgan Park.

Our elected Councillors have voted to accept an increase of €3,000 in their annual 'discretionary' fund to give to community groups. (reference posted video clip in May)

Councillor Alan Lawes spoke to us about his objection, to the 'discretionary' nature of this fund stating that it is Taxpayers Money but they will have absolutely no say in how it is distributed which is undemocratic.

He goes further to suggest that the money granted to groups could potentially influence future elections by giving current candidates up for re-election a potentially unfair advantage over new candidates.

We understand that there are Council controlled checks and measures to account for its fair and proper use. We have also seen the fund be put to good use and are in no way suggesting any misconduct or inappropriate use has taken place. The question of who gets a donation and why is something left for the Councillor's conscious.

Pandora's Box has been opened and all eye's will now be focussed on how each Councillor distributes €75k each over the next 5 years.

The JTT have been making contact with local Schools to target projects that can directly involve the school children. The funds raised at Smith's SuperValu bag packs is being pledged to fund ongoing school support.

Extract below from posting by Johnstown Tidy Towns:

"One of the main challenges facing us as a group is with the lack of volunteers. We totally understand people have families and commitments, especially at weekend where sports play a major part in your Saturdays and Sundays but without your support and feet on the ground, we just can't do this. With this in mind going forward, next year, and as the evenings get brighter and warmer ( here's hoping 🤞) we would like to get together on one week day evening, and possibly every weekend instead of every second weekend.

This will only happen though with your help and support.

We are aiming to Target one estate every weekend ( this will be highlighted the week before to give plenty of notice) and we would love to see you and your families come along if we are on your road/green space and give a hand out. As usual all equipment will be provided.

This initiative will not be starting until next year."

An article in the Meath Chronicle told us that some of our hedgerows are 100's of years old and in need of protection. One of these runs alongside the open lawn of the Estate and the residents have established a plan to protect it.

There's also planting to encourage the bees which we'll leave as a surprise to hopefully see in late January.

You can find the Orchard Estate on Google Maps here.

Check out their Facebook Page for more.

With around 1600 students our video clip last month highlighted the impact the school traffic has on the entire neighbourhood. It's clear that there is no quick fix solution to make the car journey any better and what we see daily is most definitely here to stay for the time being.

The only long term solution is a complete and drastic lifestyle change which will involve walking, cycling and car shares.

With climate change firmly on the agenda either we choose to change our behaviour or we fully expect changes to be imposed on us either through taxes or more traffic congestion.

Is it time for the Council and the Schools to lead and communicate the way forward?

See last month's video clip

Advice posted on Navan South Communities Unite

Dear Members,

We have had a lot of car thefts across the County of Meath in numerous locations in the last number of weeks, not just in the Navan area.

Whilst some of these have been crimes of opportunity, other thefts may have been due to high technology being used to gain access to vehicles.

Working with our local Garda and Meath Crime Prevention, there are a number of helpful suggestions motorists can do to help prevent theft as follows:

• Do not leave keys in ignition whilst car is in your driveway or outside your dwelling, especially on cold/frosty mornings. (Can compromise insurance).
• Do not leave keys in your hall / kitchen counter, or any other visible locations where thieves may have easy access.
• Consider using a steering lock.
• Consider using a tracking system.
• Consider fitting an immobiliser or alarm.
• Do not leave devices, laptops, expensive sunglasses, or shopping bags visible in your car overnight.

More suggestions can be found on the attached leaflets given to us by Meath Crime Prevention. Please read at your own leisure.

We ask all members to be mindful towards each other regardless of the circumstances of theft, this can be a traumatic time for the victims of crime, and they need neighbourly support and compassion during this time.

As always, If anyone notices suspicious activity in your neighbourhood, please contact your local Garda Station on 046-9021445.

We thank all community members for their vigilance and community spirit being helpful and kind towards each other, and always looking out for your neighbours.

Your Friendly NSCU Admin Team.

The ice cold mornings signal the return of damp windows which highlights an unhealthy home environment. Moisture is naturally in the air but it soon brings with it the black mold.

There is a practical reason it appears but more importantly there is a practical way to reduce and even prevent it.

See our Previous Article from 2017

The ground preparation works for Fargonstown started in earnest in November after the Council announced the long awaited housing development of up to 1,600 homes.

Now the site off Academy Street (near Maxol Garage) has submitted plans for 544 homes via the 'fast track' planning application directly to An Bord Pleanala.

Homes are needed everywhere in Ireland and few contest this but the infrastructure and services for these new families is rarely mentioned in a positive light.

Interestingly this new development does show a playground within the communal park but will it actually be created.

We notice too that the site directly north is marked for a future school development which quite possibly is for Ar Na Ri Primary School who are currently located in portacabins next to Navan RFC and Navan Tennis Club.

See Belmount Planning Application