At the next Farmers’ Market on Saturday, 4th February the theme will be Bramley Apple Week. As a part of the fun, Zoe is organising an apple pie baking competition. You are invited to celebrate by baking your favourite cake, pie or tart using Bramley Apples.

Bring your entry along on Saturday 4th February and the entries will be judged for their delicious taste and appearance by Cllr Robert Bliss, Chair of Sandgate Parish Council. Robert is a great supporter of our market and comes along every time - and our stall holders suggested that he would make a great judge of local culinary expertise!

There will be lots of delicious produce on sale made from apples including pork and apple sausages, apple preserves as well as pies and tarts and of course Bramley Apples!

Download pdf of Chich New Extra here : chichnewsextra31

We received the £50,000 grant from Kent County Council just before the end of December so it is all systems go. We are in discussions with some prime sites where signals will originate and be sent onwards to the next receiving aerial and finally it will arrive at your house.

We are busy contacting properties to secure their owners’ agreement to having an aerial on their roof. Less intrusive than a television aerial, a cable runs down to a small box. An electricity supply is needed and this uses the equivalent of two light bulbs. Installation is by CUK’s expert team.

You can download the full update about Sandgate Broadband project here. scuk-progressreport140112

The Sewing Space - a new business for Sandgate opened in November - at 104 Sandgate High Street.

• Sewing classes for children and adults
• Craft classes: knitting, felting and more
• Open Sewing: machines for hire
• Craft kits & sewing supplies
• Private ‘Activity’ Parties

Do something different with your friends! Have a great time together, learn a new skill and go home with a beautiful, handmade project.

Day & Evening Classes begin this November in time to make Christmas or New Year gifts. So hurry to the website for details and join us now!

www.TheSewingSpace.co.uk

Great News Sandgate now has its very own wine club!

Join up and become a member and benefit from great deals on top quality wines from Frances, Italy and Spain. Wines are bought directly from the winemakers and delivered to your door. All it takes is a phone cll or email to place your order.

The yearly membership fee is £20 payable with your first order and this will allow you to buy our wines at wholesales prices.  All we ask you to do is to buy a minimum of six bottles per month from a selection we choose from our extensive wine list.

If you would like to join or if you have any queries or would like to know more about the wines please contact Simon Grainger on 01303 226692 or email: sgrainger@thestrictlywineclub.co.uk with your details.

Following the Sandgate Community Trust’s successful application for a £50,000 grant from Kent County Council I am delighted to tell you that communityUk has been chosen by the Steering Group to provide Sandgate with its WiFi broadband service. The monthly costs for this service will be:

Up to 2Mbps      FREE
Up to 4Mbps      £3.99
Up to 8 Mbps     £7.99

It is estimated that 70%-80% of Sandgate residents will get the free service when first set up. Trees and buildings can prevent signals getting to a property but there are ways to solve the problem - they just sometimes take a little longer to resolve.

The service provides residents with a superb gateway to the internet offering:

* Free Webmail (CUKmail)
* Support for learners of all ages (CUKlearning)
* An on-line employment/job-seeking system (CUKcareers)
* Local news and information
* Internet Radio (CUKradio)
* Social Networking (CUKsocial
* Support for small businesses through the CUKbiz channel
* CUKkids, comprehensive Channel for youngsters of all ages
* and much more

CommunityUK.net was the only company that offered a real
community aspect to their broadband proposal plus their business model means that they can provide a free service with no set up or on-going user maintenance costs.

Sandgate has been divided into three zones and the first, the Valley, will be the first installation but it is expected that all three zones will be live by the end of the first quarter in 2012.

Sandgate will be one of, if not the first community in Kent to get a free broadband service and I hope you will agree that this is a very exciting development for Sandgate and a welcomed Christmas present.