Community News: Munro bagger gets ready for speaking tour

Dr Gerry McPartlin, 66, who climbed the peaks in just 88 days, will be speaking at St Mary's RC Cathedral Hall, on York Place, tonight at 7.30pm, in a talk entitled "Grandad's Mad Munro Marathon".

Following a trip to St Aloysius College in Glasgow on November 18, Dr McPartlin will return to Edinburgh for a talk at St Thomas of Aquin's High on the 25th.

Restaurant in canopy appeal

A RESTAURANT in the Grassmarket has appealed a decision to refuse it permission to put up a canopy at the front of its building.

City council planners rejected Made In Italy's application on the grounds that it would have an impact on the appearance of the Old Town conservation area.

Firms to meet useful agencies

A BUSINESS event hosted by the city council will introduce small firms to agencies that can assist them.

"Open For Business" in the City Chambers on Monday night will include representatives of Business Gateway, environmental health, trading standards and licensing.

Power of the blogosphere is discussed

MORE than 100 bloggers, political professionals and activists are to debate the power of the blogosphere as part of Saturday's Political Innovation event.

The Edinburgh University conference, at 10-4pm at the School of Informatics, will debate "Can the blogosphere make Scottish politics better?".

The event is to help politicians and social media experts understand how politics is likely to change in the face of new media.

City pizza fan through to finals

A PIZZA fan from Edinburgh is through to the finals of a national recipe competition.

Sophie Paterson had her Pizza of the Gods short-listed in a competition run by Pizza Express. If her recipe, which includes a tomato and pepper pasate, butternut squash, chorizo, goats cheese, chilli, rocket and parsley, is successful in the finals it will be added to the menu at Pizza Express in Holyrood Road.

Christmas fair set to raise funds for Sick Kids

A CHRISTMAS fair in aid of the Sick Kids Hospital is being held at Meadowbank Sports Centre later this month.

The event is to raise funds for the Sick Kids Friends Foundation. The hospital's radiology department has arranged a silent auction thanks to many generous donors with sought-after lots set to go under the hammer, including signed football merchandise, jewellery, red letter days and hotel breaks.

The event is being held on November 27 from 11am-3pm. Admission 1.