Green Home, website www.greenhome.ie, was developed as a framework to support and advise householders on ways to save money on their household bills while protecting the environment. The programme focuses on the themes of waste, energy, water and transport and extends the Green-Schools message beyond the school gates into the wider community. The Green Home programme can be undertaken by an individual householder or as part of a group.

Getting involved in the Green Home programme couldn’t be easier. Using the Green Home Themes tab in the Green Homes website menu, you can access the most current and up to date tips, advice and action plans on ways to prevent and reduce waste and energy use in the home, conserve water and find out about sustainable travel options.

For added extras become a Green Home Member! To register your household, community group or business as member
You can help our community to become greener by registering to become a Green Home member on the website www.greenhome.ie. You can avail of the on-line Green Home survey, mentoring from the Green Home team and you will also be entered into the different competition that is run throughout the year. The Green Home Survey is a tool that enables you to monitor the progress your household has made while participating in the programme. All Green Home members are asked to complete the online survey when they become a member. A graph is generated and this provides the householder with a baseline figure of their household’s performance on the four themes. Participants are then encouraged to avail of the online resources and to revisit the survey on completion of these activities. This provides the participant with a pre and post Green Home programme status for comparison purposes as a means to assess any behavioural change.

Baby Massage 5 week course starting Saturday, 13th October, 2012 at Lough Ree Co-op, Main Street, Lanesborough.

Contact Emily Rooney on 086 442 8442 for details or to book. Places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment. Suitable for babies from birth to pre-crawling.

This course is being run in association with Baby Massage Ireland, Irish Chapter of International Association of Infant Massage (I.A.I.M.).

Learn how to massage your infant. Oils and literature provided. Refreshments served after class. An opportunity to meet other parents and their babies. Infant massage is an ancient, beautiful and enjoyable art, which encourages learning about you, your baby and their needs. Benefits of baby massage and loving, positive touch include:

• Wind and constipation relief
• Improves baby’s sleeping patterns
• Helps with Post Natal Depression
• Stimulates weight gain and growth in premature infants
• Nurtures bonding between parent and baby
• Instills confidence in parents handling of baby
• Relaxes both parent and baby
• Aids Digestion
• Stimulates circulation
• Improves skin condition
• Increases muscle tone

One to one baby massage instruction and colic relief instruction available on request.

A County Roscommon Volkswagen dealership has come to the aid of one of the country’s best sports clubs. Lough Ree Sub Aqua Club, based on the River Shannon at Lanesborough suffered a devastating fire to their premises, which caused over a hundred thousand euros in damage to the club house and equipment.

Lough Ree Sub Aqua search and rescue has helped to locate dozens of people who tragically have lost their lives on the waterways of Ireland so when John Keane and Sons, Volkswagen dealers at Lanesborough Road, Roscommon Town heard of the terrible damage done to the club’s transport in the July fire, they immediately responded by offering help with transport for the voluntary club and its divers.

A New Volkswagen LT van was immediately made available by the dealership to allow the Lough Ree Sub Aqua Club continue their work in search and rescue around the country. The dealership also offered help on an ongoing basis to ensure the club could get around and transport its divers to and from search locations and scenes.

“We were absolutely delighted when John Keane rang us and offered the help” said Francis Casey, Chairman of Lough Ree Sub Aqua club. “At the time we were still coming to terms with the damage caused by the fire so it was brilliant to be able to say we did not need to worry about transport – even though our old van was completely destroyed in the blaze.”

“We were pleased to be able to help,” John Keane said. “We know the tremendous work the Lough Ree Sub Aqua Club does for families who are waiting to try and recover the remains of their loves ones from the waterways when tragedy strikes. So we offered our assistance to the club and were delighted they could avail of the new Volkswagen LT immediately and a replacement van until they get back to normal”.

Lough Ree Sub Aqua club lost two rigid inflatable boats in the fire and had substantial damage caused to other equipment as well as their van. They are now fundraising to buy a replacement compressor pump for their club house which was also damaged by fire.

If you would like to give further help please contact Lough ree sub aqua club chairman Francis Casey at 087 9817784.