The first stage of the Parkes CBD Vibrancy Project has been put into action with the construction of temporary outdoor dining platforms in Church Street.

The project aims to add interest and ex- citement to the main street and adjoining streets to improve the CBD for shopping, working, living and visiting. The dining platforms have been exclusively designed for Parkes Shire Council as modular and transportable infrastructure that will allow businesses to increase their dining capacity and expand the outdoor dining options.

The platforms are particularly suited to businesses adjoining parallel parking spaces with the platform designed to occupy a car parking space and sit between the gutter and fog line with easy access from the footpath. The platform includes side barricades and a shade structure with businesses required to supply chairs, tables and any additional accessories.

Parkes Shire Council’s Economic & Business Development Manager, Anna Wyllie said “after a competitive expression of interest process for the pilot phase, the first dining platform will be trialled with Bella’s Café & Italian Restaurant”.

“Bella’s application for the trial was strong due to their seven day per week operating hours for breakfast, lunch and dinner which allows us to thoroughly test the dining ex- tension. The location in Church Street with access to the northerly entrance of the establishment was also appealing given there will be minimised impact on parking and traffic as opposed to a main street location.”

The dining platform trial compliments other detailed planning and consultation under- way for the southern end of the CBD which include improvements to the road surface, footpaths, parking, lighting, building access and signage. The plans for lower Clarinda Street are on exhibition and can be viewed via Council’s website or at the Administration Centre in Cecile Street.

Do something different this June long weekend and experience real Australian bush hospitality at the famous Parkes Picnic Races.

Spend the weekend in 4 star luxury with a package that includes your own picnic hamper and fully licensed private race marquee, as well as transport to and from the track on race day.

You’ll also receive a complimentary continental breakfast with fresh locally grown fruits each morning you’re with us.

So, if dressing up and and spending the day socialising in the fresh country air sounds good to you, why not come and stay with us?

This is a limited time offer – rooms will fill quickly so make sure you book soon to avoid disappointment.

Call the Station Motel on 6862 0444 to book. Price: $490 for two nights twin share on Friday, 9th June to Sunday, 11th June in- cludes daily continental breakfast and race entry.

Dementia and Palliative Care will be the focus of information sessions run by Arts OutWest in Parkes on 21st June.

Arts and health coordinator Christine McMillan will be a guest speaker at the Little Theatre for two sessions from 11am to 1pm and 5:30 to 7:30pm.

She will talk about Art Connections, an art and dementia program coordinated by Arts OutWest at Jemalong Residential Village in Forbes.

The Dementia and Palliative Care ‘Getting it Together’ sessions provide insights into the management of dementia as a palliative illness and will be of great value to clinicians, health care workers, carers of people with dementia and members of the general public with in an interest in dementia.

The sessions will be held in conjunction with Western NSW LHD Palliative Care Service.

The principal presenter, Dr Jane Tolman, is a geriatrician based in Tasmania and an associate professor of aged care at the Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre at the University of Tasmania where she is involved in both education and research. Jane’s talk will be highlighted by carer stories read by two actors, Kate Smith and Vince Melton from the Central West.

Jane has developed a new staging system for dementia, and it has gained wide- spread traction among carers, families and health professionals for its emphasis on dignity and the importance of palliation.

The sessions are free to attend but book- ings are requested. Register online via
http://profile.eventarc.com/profile/PEPAN- SW.

For further information contact Program of Experience in the Palliative Approach (PEPA) NSW project manager Janeen Foffani on (02) 9515 6424 or 0428 970 012 or PEPANSW@sswahs.nsw.gov.au

Ten community and volunteer groups in the Parkes Shire will receive more than $20,000 in grants recently announced by the Australian Government.

The four groups in Parkes are Parkes Memorial Hill Rejuvenation ($5,000), Parkes Shire Concert Band ($4,800), Parkes Shire Food Service ($5,000) and the Parkes Tennis Club ($2,398).

The Peak Hill Art Gallery received $5,000, the Bogan Gate Community Memorial Hall $1,086 and $3,157 for the Central West Astronomical Society.

In Trundle the Abba Festival received $2,500, the Men’s Shed got $2,900 and the Trundle War Memorial School of Arts $4,000.

Have you got your outfit ready for the social highlight of the year, the Parkes Picnic Races on 10th June?

Dressing for the races in winter is challenging as you want to look your stylish best, but also need to keep warm. Here are some suggestions:

Materials and Fabrics: A wool blend/ tweed has a warm, wintery feel. Leather trims can look great or be brave and wear a whole leather garment, like a pencil skirt. Faux fur trims bring a cosy, yet stylish, touch to an outfit.

Shapes and Silhouettes: Be flexible with sleeve lengths because you can al- ways cover up with a jacket or shawl. Play around with different shapes of sleeves.

Winter Colours: Rich jewel tones are favourites in winter, such as navy, maroon, deep purple, copper, emerald green, mus- tard, oranges, tan and the classic black, white and grey. Metallic accessories are fun to play around with too.

Capes and Jackets: A fun addition to an outfit is to wear a cape over the top. Capes come in many different colours and pat- terns and look very on trend.

Gloves: People love to wear gloves in winter. They can be made of leather, suede or wool and come in a variety of different col- ours and lengths ranging from half palm to full length. This can add in an extra colour.

Millinery: Millinery of the season is often made of felt, wool, leather and silks and is adorned with trims such as feathers, leath- er flowers, lace and veiling. Metal crowns

and headpieces are trending too.

Accessories: Metallic accessories are popular and can be a great way to vamp up a dull dress. Think gold, silver, bronze and chrome, as well as stones and jewels.

Shoes: Put away your strappy summer heels and snuggle into enclosed shoes.

(Source: www.milanoimai.com)