Local Round-up: Women's choir holds high notes

Forth Valley Chorus has won a major singing competition.

The women's choir was named the Sweet Adelines UK and Netherlands Regional Ladies Barbershop champions for the second year in a row, beating 23 other contestants.

The women will travel to Denver, Colorado, next year to compete in the international heat of the competition and are looking for sponsors and paid performance bookings to help fundraise for the trip.

For details see www.forthvalleychorus.org.

Learn to hang out with flora

There will be free workshops to demonstrate how to plant containers and hanging baskets at Dobbies Garden Centre in Lasswade on May 17, 21 and 22. Visitors are invited to take along a container, including quirky objects such as handbags or wellies, and be shown how to create a display.

Hello Kitty, says Sick Kids

ONE of the world's most famous fashion icons has dropped in on Edinburgh's Sick Kids Hospital.

The Japanese Hello Kitty character visited the Sciennes hospital, with staff saying the children "absolutely loved" the visit, organised by Radio Lollipop.

You beauty - West End salon lifts award

A BEAUTY sanctuary in the heart of Edinburgh's West End has been named Beauty Salon of the Year at the 5pm.co.uk Scottish Health and Beauty awards.

Chamomile Sanctuary, which was the only winner in Edinburgh and the Lothians, was selected from 35,000 nominations.

Eleven city boutiques were nominated for the awards, with salons in the shortlist including KHD Hairdressing in Newington and Greens Health and Fitness in Slateford.

Meetings at Juniper Green

A MEETING of the Juniper Green Community Council and Village Halls Group will take place tomorrow.

The two AGMs will be held in the Juniper Green Village Hall at 7.30pm. Members of the public are urged to go and find out what's been going on in the community over the last year.

Runner in funds salute to veterans

A ROYAL Navy Reservist will run the Edinburgh Marathon to raise funds for the care of veterans.

James Grogan, 23, who lives in Edinburgh and is based at HMS Scotia in Fife, will take on the marathon on May 22 in aid of veterans' charity Erskine, which runs a care home in Gilmerton.

Mr Grogan, who is deployed on operations in the Middle East, has been training in temperatures of up to 25 degrees.