The Isle of Man has been formally inaugurated as a world biosphere reserve by the UN’s educational, scientific and cultural organisation UNESCO.

The Secretary of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere programme Mr Han Qunli presented Chief Minister Howard Quayle MHK with a certificate marking the achievement at a ceremony at the Manx Museum.

Biosphere reserves are considered to be outstanding areas for people and nature while maintaining a healthy balance between the two. Of the 669 sites around the world, the island is the first jurisdiction to be recognised in its entirety, including all its landmass and territorial waters.

The accolade was the result of two years’ work compiling a weighty submission and the International Co-ordinating Council of the Programme on Man and the Biosphere announced the island’s acceptance into the world network in March.

At the ceremony Mr Han Qunli praised beach cleaning charity Beach Buddies for its work. Along with former head of the UNESCO programme, Professor Peter Bridgewater, he attended a meeting at the charity’s base in Niarbyl which resulted in an agreement for an ongoing relationship where the charity’s success story is shared with the world.

Founder of the charity Bill Dale said having UNESCO’s support is a landmark achievement. ‘What we’ve done here is unique and the Isle of Man is now set on a worldwide stage which is a remarkable thing. Mr Han Qunli wants to work with us and he spoke about us at the ceremony. It was a just a very nice for us and it’s a tribute to all the volunteers.’

‘It’s far too early to say that what we have achieved in the Isle of Man can be replicated on a much larger scale elsewhere, but this is a unique opportunity which UNESCO Biosphere feels is worthy of progressing.

‘Beach Buddies is delighted, and humbled, to join with UNESCO Biosphere to progress this project in the sincere hope that we can start an initiative which can make a positive change to the worldwide environment and tackle a pollution problem which no one, so far, has been able to solve. We live in hope that we have, in some small way, contributed to making a change across the world.’

Bonfires and firework displays will be taking place across the island this weekend to celebrate November 5.

Displays will be starting on Friday, with the first at Michael Primary School starting at 6.30pm. A bonfire will be lit on Peel beach later that night at 7pm, with the display starting at 7.30pm.

On Saturday, fireworks will start in Laxey at 7pm at Laxey fire station. Ramsey’s display, meanwhile, will be accompanied by music and lighting, in Mooragh Park, starting at 7.30pm.

There will also be a display in Port Erin on Saturday, taking place on the beach and also starting at 7.30pm.

A display on Douglas beach will also take place on Saturday, starting at 7.45pm, with the recommended position for viewing being at the war memorial on the promenade.

There will be no displays in Onchan, Port St Mary, or Castletown this year.

The fire and rescue service has asked the public to make sure their firework night is as safe as possible.

A statement from the fire service said that there has been a decrease in incidents involving fireworks in recent years, as the public are more safety aware.

Fireworks went on sale on October 25, and will be sold until November 5, with displays allowed to be held between October 28 and November 6.

All fireworks bought should have BS 7114 on the side of the box, and if any fireworks are not marked in this way, the public should call Trading Standards on 686520.

The fire and rescue service has asked the public to light all bonfires at least 18 metres away from any other object such garden shed, hedging or fencing.

In addition to this, the fire service have advised the public to follow the ‘firework code’, which says that fireworks should be lit at an arms length, using a tape stand, and standing well back after they are lit. Alcohol should not be consumed when lighting fireworks.

When holding a lit sparkler, gloves should always be warn, with sparklers never being given to any child under the age of five.

Children should be attended at all times, with all pets should always be kept indoors.

The ManxSPCA has also reminded the public to watch out for wildlife,particulaly hedgehogs. If wood is stored on open ground, it should be checked before ignition.

For more information, read the ManxSPCA article in tomorrow’s Courier.

The fire and rescue service has reminded the public that it is illegal to set off fireworks in a public area, and it is also illegal to set off fireworks after midnight, with the only exception being New Year’s Eve.

For more advice on fire safety, call the community safety team on 647329.

Inventor Mike James is delighted his brainchild product Nasaleze is now being produced from new manufacturing premises in Douglas.

The family business was based for a number of years at Unit 2 and 6, The Shipyard in Ramsey.

But now the company has moved to bigger premises at Unit 3, Woodside House, Ballafletcher Business Park.

It means there is more room to expand the growing business making the product Nasaleze, a non-drowsy powder nasal spray used in the battle against allergies that cause problems such as sneezing, and hay fever.

The island’s Lieutenant Governor Sir Richard Gozney will be officially opening the premises on November 24 but Business News was invited inside to see the place in action.

Nasaleze is sold around the world and is particularly popular in Russia.

And on the day we visited the staff were busy preparing units for Sweden and France.

Nasaleze Ltd is based at the new premises which have pleasant views over the Millennium Oakwood, Ballafletcher.

A second company called Nasaleze International Ltd, based at Nunnery Mills, Douglas, markets the product worldwide.

The Nasaleze story began in the late 1980s after the family moved to a new house.

Mr James’s then teenage son Paul appeared to be suffering from allergies and was sniffing and sneezing.

Mr James was in the business of making cosmetic face masks at the time and remembered using a white cellulose powder in the production process. He suggested his sneezing son sniff some of the powder off the back of his hand. The sneezing stopped shortly after along with the other symptoms.

Mr James was astonished and quickly realised he was on to something. He then set about researching and developing his ideas. After extensive research he felt ready to bring his invention to market and Nasaleze was born. These days Mr James still keeps a keeneye on the business but is more than happy for his daughter Samantha Bottomley to be at the helm of the manufacturing business with her husband Simon Bottomley, who is production director.

Mr James told Business News: ‘ While I started it all a few years ago, now, being 86, I am more than happy that my daughter and son-in-law are running the thing and they are in charge here.

‘I am very proud of them, there aren’t words enough, they have been absolutely fabulous.

‘I am indeed very proud.’

Former beauty therapist Samantha says she loves the challenge of running the company .

Production ended in Ramsey during August ready for the big move to the new unit.

Samantha said: ‘We had been at the shipyard for 12 years. We had been thinking about moving to larger premises for some time.’

Originally they planned to build a new headquarters atJurby but decided they needed to invest in plant and machinery.

‘We decided to look for bigger premises.’

Samantha explained that in the end they decided to settle at Woodside House which was ideal for their purposes.

The building’s landlord is Keith Lord of Mannin Investments, the man behind the new Mannin Hotel in Douglas.

And Samantha said the ironic thing was that Keith Lord built her parents’ house back in 1988/1989 at around the same time as her father was inventing whatwas to become Nasaleze, his big labour of love.

She said: ‘To me I’m a big believer in fate and when I found out Keith Lord was the landlord I just felt there was something telling us to be here.’

There are also strong links between Mike James and Paul Duxbury who is managing director of the marketing arm at Nasaleze International.

Mr Duxbury’s son Matt is export director and is passionate about the growing popularity of Nasaleze around the world.

He said he is a firm believer in spreading the message about the Isle of Man worldwide.

Nasaleze Allergy is sold under the company’s own brand but also as a distributor’s or pharmacy chain’s private label such as Boots the Chemist.

Matt Duxbury said Russia is ‘pretty much our biggest market. We have 80 per cent distribution across the whole of Russia. It’s quite a logistically challenging territory.

‘China is also doing very well. We have some very big launch plans for America.

‘We definitely needed to ramp up the production capacity of the factory.’

The biggest seller has been the allergy blocker.

The two navigation lighthouses in Ramsey are to be refurbished.

The ‘pepperpot’ structures are on the north and south piers.

They have been in place for more than 120 years and the work is designed to ensure they continue to assist mariners for many decades into the future.

The scheme is scheduled to get under way this weekby the Department of Infrastructure.

A recent inspection of the four-metre-high lighthouses, which were built in the late 1800s, revealed them to be in urgent need of complete renovation.

Concern has been expressed that if this work does not take place the lighthouses may suffer a similar fate to the one that used to operate on Port St Mary breakwater, which was famously washed away during a violent storm in January 2009.

The refurbishment of the two Ramsey lighthouses will be undertaken by local contractors and overseen by a specialist restoration company.

The ‘pepperpots’ will be dismantled and work carried out to repair and refinish the cast iron panels, which have suffered extensive corrosion and fractures.

The project is programmed for completion by the end of spring 2017 and the total cost for rebuilding both structures is estimated at £100,000.

Tim Cowin, head of highway and asset management at the DoI, said: ‘Maintenance schemes such as this one in Ramsey help to ensure the long-term integrity of the island’s structural assets. Investing time and money now means we can hopefully avoid the need for more costly interventions in the future.’

He added: ‘While scaffolding was in place earlier this year for the structural inspection the opportunity was taken to give the lighthouses a quick lick of paint, as we were unsure of the extent of the renovations required.

‘Unfortunately it turns out they are in such poor condition they need to be taken down and rebuilt.

‘The lighthouses are an important part of Ramsey’s marine infrastructure and this work will help to preserve them for generations to come.’

Temporary navigation lights will be in place on Ramsey’s North and South piers while the lighthouses are restored.

A Farmhill resident has labelled waiting times at Noble’s Hospital ‘ridiculous’ after having to wait five months to have a tooth removed.

Eleanor Bannan, aged 43, was first referred to Noble’s Hospital by her dentist in late August as she had to have her tooth removed and the procedure could not take place at the surgery due to a high risk of bleeding.

Following a letter being sent from Noble’s on August 30 informing her that she was on the waiting list, Eleanor was seen at the hospital on September 21 where she was told the tooth did need to be removed and she would be seen in six to eight weeks.

Eleanor, who is visually impaired and is a wheelchair user, then received a letter informing her that she had an appointment on February 14, meaning that she would have to wait around five months.

She said: ‘I can’t eat on that side because it hurts. The temporary filling is only about half there now because it’s not designed to stay in. I have got a hole in my tooth now and the filling is not going to last until February.’

‘The waiting time needs to be improved or the communication. He said it would be six to eight weeks and I thought “That’s not too bad”, but now it’s in February I’m thinking “Wow, really?”. It’s not good. The waiting time is ridiculous just to have a tooth out.’

However, following the Manx Independent’s request for information on waiting times, Eleanor has now received an appointment on December 8 at Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital’s outpatient department.

A statement made by the Department of Health and Social Care said: ‘The department would not wish anyone awaiting a procedure to be in serious pain or discomfort. In this case, it may be aware that the relevant clinician is not aware that this patient’s pain has increased, and the impact it is having, following initial referral.

‘The current waiting time for oral surgery at Noble’s Hospital is approximately five months from the date that a decision is made that treatment is required.

‘There are two consultant oral surgeons at Noble’s Hospital, and their workload is prioritised based on clinical need and covers all forms of oral surgery such as cancer, trauma etc., not just complex dental referrals.

‘It is a common misconception that the referring clinician – such as a GP or dentist – determines the urgency of a case; they do not.

‘It is, quite rightly, determined by the appropriate consultant at Noble’s Hospital who reviews and grades all incoming referrals based on the clinical information in the referral letter. Referring clinicians are free, and encouraged, to express a professional opinion on urgency when making a referral – and this is always taken into account – but it is, ultimately, the consultant’s decision. This is because the hospital consultant has a responsibility to prioritise cases taking into account the entire list of patients awaiting treatment whose clinical needs will vary greatly.’

A drug dealer with three previous prison sentences has made a return trip to Jurby after yet another drugs conviction.

Christopher Peter Corkill, of Head Road in Douglas, was found with a haul of drugs worth between £39,000 and £40,000 comprising 8.7 kilograms of cannabis resin, 127 grams of cannabis bush and 63 ecstasy tablets.

Sentencing 40-year-old Corkill to five years, three months and 14 days’ custody, Deemster Alastair Montgomerie said he ‘showed a remarkable inability to learn from his mistakes’ but had reached a turning point.

‘Mr Wood [Corkill’s defence advocate] said the court should not give up on you. And I am not giving up on you. But you need to take a good look in the mirror and decide to change your life. Take assistance that is being offered and stay away from drugs and the people who traffic them,’ he said.

‘If not, it will be you who are giving up on yourself because you are now at real risk of being in and out of prison serving long sentences: the choice is yours, no one else’s.’

The court heard Corkill had served significant prison terms in 2002, 2008 and 2010.

‘I don’t wish to preach to you,’ Deemster Montgomerie told him. ‘But you are now 40 years of age. You didn’t have much but what you did have, you have now lost through your behaviour and there is a real risk of you becoming institutionalised. They say life begins at 40 so now is the time to take a good honest look at yourself and ask “what does the future hold for me?”.’

The court heard Corkill had denied three charges of possessing cannabis bush, cannabis resin and ecstasy tablets with intent to supply, when he initially appeared in court in July. He had also denied criminal damage, using criminal property and possessing criminal property. Deemster Montgomerie told him he was being generous in allowing 25 per cent discount in sentencing for Corkill’s later guilty pleas, entered in October prior to a trial taking place.

Defending Corkill, Stephen Wood told the court his client had made progress between prison sentences but his life could nonetheless be described as ‘chaotic and difficult’.

He said Corkill had been approached at a low ebb in his life and ‘foolishly’ agreed to act as a warehouseman for the drugs. He had been paid £2,000, some of which he had then blown on a night out. He had agreed only to store the drugs in his car for 12 to 24 hours, he said.

He was not, he said, ‘someone selling narcotics to children on a street corner’ and was keen to make something of his life on his release from prison.

The island’s first credit union is up and running.

But it won’t be officially launched until the new year.

Three and a half years in the planning, the Manx Credit Union opened its doors to savers and borrowers on Thursday last week.

Letters and emails have been sent out to some 660 people who had previously expressed an interest in joining.

They have been invited to fill in an application form which can be downloaded from the Manx Credit Union’s website and then call in to its offices at Nadine House on North Quay, Douglas.

The office is open three days a week - from 10am to 2pm on Saturdays and Tuesdays, and 5pm to 7pm on Thursdays.

Treasurery and vice chairman David Talbot said: ‘Our doors are open but we haven’t got an official launch date yet. We wanted to approach this gradually.

‘The staff are all volunteers so what we are trying to avoid is having a queue from North Quay to the Steam Packet!

‘We’ve a potential queue of 660 people who had expressed an interest in joining. What we’ve done is emailed them or written to them giving them the chance to come in. It will take a few months to get a full measure of demand.’

The Manx Credit Union is a financial co-operative that has been set up to help local people save and to provide affordable and responsible loans. Membership is open to anyone over the age of 16 who lives in the island.

There is a £2 joining fee and member pay a £3 administration fee each year to help cover the credit union’s costs. Members must keep at least £5 in their Membership Share Account at all times. You can save up to a maximum of £5,000.

No interest is paid on savings but members agree an annual dividend which is paid from profits earned during the financial year.

All savings are 100 per cent protected through a trust under an arrangement approved by the island’s Financial Services Authority.

Another important role of the credit union is to provide an alternative to payday loans or doorstep lenders.

Members and savers with the Manx Credit Union over the age of 18 are eligible to apply for a loan. Loans from £50 to £5,000 will be available from early 2017, with a typical interest rate of 12.7 per cent APR (1 per cent a month).

You can opt to repay your loan weekly, fortnightly, 4-weekly or monthly. The interest rate is fixed and your repayments won’t vary.

If approved, a loan repayment schedule will be agreed for up to five years for a secured loan or up to two years for an unsecured loan.

Those who have been turned down for a loan in the past, may be given help to secure a loan.

As the law stands, credit unions are not protected under the government’s Depositors’ Compensation Scheme. But following a Tynwald vote, legislation is being drafted that would allow for the separate DCS for credit unions.

With the top three sides all having lost once, this season’s Shimmin Wilson Shield is shaping up to be the closest for some time.

Leaders Ramsey B have played one more game than their nearest rivals but they do have the points in the bag.

They face Vagabonds B this Saturday and with second-place Southern Nomads on a free week, Ramsey could stretch the lead to six points with a win.

John Cannan’s Vagabonds side are not enjoying the best form and they took a big beating from Nomads last weekend.

They won’t be relishing the trip to the Mooragh where James Wren and vice-captain Neil Hulme appear to have a side hungry for victory (apart from the 155-0 defeat away at Southern Nomads but we won’t mention that).

Ramsey shocked Douglas B last week with a tireless display of running rugby and with a fair weather forecast Vagas can expect more of the same.

At Port-e-Chee, Douglas B will get the chance to draw level with Southern Nomads when they host Emerging Nomads.

The southerners’ second string have been plugging away all season but have lost all six of their matches.

Douglas should just be a little too organised for them on the day.

If playing, expect Nathan Knights to sniff out a try or two for Douglas. He grabbed a hat-trick last week despite being on the back foot and is clearly one to watch.

In the final game of the afternoon Western Vikings could go second if they pick up maximum points away at Castletown.

Town are winless after three and although on their home patch, they may find Vikings a little too strong.

The Peel men beat Emerging Nomads easily last week and appear to have a little bit of momentum this season.

FIXTURES: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5

South Lancashire/Cheshire Division One

Widnes v Douglas @ Widnes

South Lancashire/Cheshire Division Two

Marple v Vagabonds @ Marple

South Lancashire/Cheshire Division Three

Aspull v Ramsey @ Aspull ko 1.30pm

Shimmin Wilson Manx Shield all ko @ 2.15pm

Ramsey B v Vagabonds B @ Mooragh Park

Douglas B v Emerging Nomads @ Port-e-Chee

Castletown v Western Vikings @ Poulsom Park

We have arrived once again at the annual Battle of the Bands that takes place at Amber.

Commencing this weekend and running each Saturday throughout November at the Douglas venue, the competition showcases the huge variety and wealth of bands and singer/songwriting talent that the island has to offer, and heat one is no exception.

First up this Saturday night rock and pop, singer/songwriter The Ian Thompson Band will go up against Indie/Etherial Rock boys, The Clown Calls For War.

These two bands in turn battle it out against Post Hardcore outfit, Ignite The Sky for a place in the final which will take place on Saturday, November 26.

Also due to appear throughout the heats this month are last year’s entrants Han FX and Matt Kelly and The Fletcher Christian Mutiny alongside Eóin Ó Maol Mhuaidh, Tiger T and new metal behemoth on the block, Aeons with an overall winners’ prize of £750 up for grabs in the final.

The doors for each heat and the final will open at 8pm with the music kicking off from around 9pm for these free events and I’ll be reporting each week as the competition progresses.

In the meantime, for any further information please visit www.facebook.com/Amber-Bar-317692424912775/

Elsewhere and next door to Amber, Jaks play host to classic rock covers band Penthouse Dive on Saturday night in what is certainly one of their regular gigs at the Douglas based bar.

The three piece band that features Mark Riley on guitar and vocals, Mark Cleator on bass and Mark Brabbs on drums play covers from the likes of ZZ Top, Foo Fighters, The Police, Thin Lizzy and the like.

This band is a regular on the covers circuit so are well worth checking out if those influences sound like your cup of tea.

For more information on the band and any of their forthcoming shows, please visit www.facebook.com/groups/penthousedive

To finish this week we head north to Bar Logo in Ramsey where four-piece soul and classic blues band Borderline will be taking to the stage on Saturday night.

The line-up of the band that consists of Heinrich Koop, Keith Randall, Alan Presford and Nigel Johnson play a set that mixes rhythm ‘n’ blues, rockabilly, a little country and western, 60s soul and delta blues. Think Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, BB King, Muddy Waters and Jerry Lee Lewis.

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Steve Leach brings the latest rumblings, murmurings, news and views on forthcoming events in and around the island’s music scene. Help support the scene by emailing leachsteve@hotmail.com

After a two-week league break, all five Manx hockey leagues are back in action in a jam-packed Saturday this weekend.

With the NSC astro-turf pitch reopened, it will be a good opportunity for the league’s finest to test their skills on the new surface as it hosts a full day of PwC Mixed Premier League hockey.

With the privilege of playing the first league game at the venue, Emma Leeming’s Ramsey Crookall Bacchanalians B host Partitionware Castletown Cammags. The home side hit seven when the two met earlier in the season, but since then Cammags have steadily improved through the season so expect this one to be a closer affair.

Crowe Morgan Valkyrs A are next up to take on Harlequins A in a game they know they must take both points on offer in to keep pace with the top of the table.

Nick Hamer’s Quins have struggled in recent weeks after a promising start and could look at this game as an opportunity to turn their season round.

Thirdly to the main event, as the top two go head-to-head and there’s bound to be fireworks in this one. Realistically, a win for Jamie Brown’s Bacchas against second-placed Canaccord Genuity Vikings A would see them place one hand on the trophy.

Steven Underwood’s All-Blacks are not to be underestimated though, with four straight league wins and will never be more focussed than in this one.

Over to PwC Mixed Division One where LJ Ramsey A will look to continue their perfect season against a struggling Bacchas C side who have found some form in the past few weeks.

Any slip-ups will be likely pounced upon by Dave Hall’s Valkyrs B, but they will have their work cut out as they attempt to thwart a strong Vikings B squad.

At the other end of the division it’s a real four-pointer between Ian Perry’s Vikings C and Saracens Sabres, with the victor taking a major step towards league survival.

In PwC Mixed Division Two, it remains nerve-shreddingly close at the top of the table. The two undefeated sides of Castletown Cammags and Bacchas Colts will try to keep their record alive against Harlequins Colts and Ramsey Rookies respectively.

Completing Division Two as north hosts west; Ramsey Ravens will start as favourites against Valkyrs C, having fired eight without reply in the first week.

Finally over to PwC Mixed Division Three where there are just two games in action. Donna Harrison’s league leaders will look to put last week’s disappointment behind them as they host Saracens Sharks, before Harlequins B and Bacchas D round out a busy day of hockey.

FIXTURES

PwC Mixed Premier Division

2.05pm Ramsey Crookall Bacchanalians A v Canaccord Genuity Vikings A @ NSC

Umpires. Ian Duggua, Peter Foxton

11.05am Ramsey Crookall Bacchanalians B v Castletown Celts @ NSC

Umpires- Alex Cave, James Harrison

12.35pm Harlequins A

v Crowe Morgan Valkyrs A @ NSC

Umpires- Gary Corkhill, TBC

PwC Mixed Division One

12.35pm Ramsey Crookall Bacchanalians C v LJ Ramsey A @ RGS

Umpires - Paul Hunter, Tim Leeming

3.35pm Canaccord Genuity Vikings B

v Crowe Morgan Valkyrs B @ NSC

Umpires- Kirsty Bowley, Dave Whiting

2.05pm Canaccord Genuity Vikings C

v Saracens Sabres @ CRHS

Umpires - Hayley Taylor, TBC

PwC Mixed Division Two

12.35pm Partitionware Castletown Cammags v Harlequins Colts @ CRHS

Umpires - Dee Gimbert, George Powell

2.05pm LJ Ramsey Ravens

v Crowe Morgan Valkyrs C @ RGS

Umpires - Vic Ferns, Rob McKenzie

2.05pm LJ Ramsey Rookies

v Ramsey Crookall Bacchanalians Colts @ RGS

Umpires - Connor Duggua, Paul Hunter

PwC Mixed Division Three

12.35pm Harlequins B

v Ramsey Crookall Bacchanalians D @ QEII

Umpires - TBC, TBC

11.05am Crowe Morgan Valkyrs D

v Saracens Sharks @ CRHS

Umpires - TBC, TBC

PwC Mixed Under-16s

11.05am Ramsey Crookall Bacchanalians A v Saracens @ QEII

Umpires - Helen Cave, Ben Cunningham

3.35pm LJ Ramsey Rogues & Rascals

v Crowe Morgan Valkyrs @ RGS

Umpires - Alexandria Smith, Sandra Smith

3.35pm Canaccord Genuity Vikings

v Harlequins @ CRHS

Umpires - Andrew Bentley, Alison Middleton

Woodgate Aviation has given its hangar at Isle of Man Airport at Ronaldsway a ‘facelift’ which transforms its appearance.

The hangar, built in 1996, is about a third of the size of the new 33,000 sq ft hangar the company built at Belfast International Airport.

The front door of the hangar was replaced by a new purpose-built, hydraulic door to give it a completely different look. The door is 20 metres wide and six metres high.

The work was carried out by construction firm, Green City Contracts, and took three weeks to complete, including fabrication and installation.

The Belfast firm manufactured the metal frame and installed the hydraulic and electrical equipment with the panels supplied by Steadmans.

Woodgate Aviation general manager, David Shaw, said: ‘The work was completed to a high standard.

‘We operate a cargo and aircraft charter business from our Ronaldsway hangar with nightly flights between the Isle of Man, Dublin and East Midlands.

‘Only a few weeks ago, our freight delivery service from Ronaldsway featured in the BBC2 series ‘‘Skies Above Britain’’ with our pilot Mark Penarski at the controls.

‘Mark works from the hangar and has seen a complete transformation with this new hangar door. The hydraulic door is a modern solution, with fewer moving parts.

‘It is better suited to the coastal environment which we operate from and should provide a longer operational life span.

‘Woodgate Aviation has had a presence in the Isle of Man since 1976 and upgrading our hangar with a new hydraulically operated door is a sign of our commitment to maintaining and growing our presence on the island.’

Union Mills have been plunged into the Canada Life Premier League’s relegation zone after they were hit by a three-point deduction by the Isle of Man FA.

The Millers were handed the penalty after it emerged they fielded two ineligible players in the opening game of the season against Colby.

Mills won the game in question 1-0, but have now lost the points in addition to the three-point penalty, and will now have to replay the fixture.

The deduction leaves Mills second bottom in the standings on two points, two behind third-bottom Colby and safety.

The Millers’ first team aren’t the only side to fall foul of the FA’s disciplinary committee.

Fellow Premier League side Ayre have also been zapped with a three-point deduction, also for fielding an ineligible player.

This leaves the Tangerines, who have yet to gain a point this season, further adrift at the foot of the top-flight standings.

Michael United, Ramsey and Union Mills’ combination teams have also been rocked by points deductions.

Combination Two side Michael have accrued a three-point deduction for fielding a non-registered player as have Combination One team Mills.

Ramsey have received a three-point penalty for failing to fulfil a league fixture. Clubs have the opportunity to appeal the decisions.

l Two games were called off on Saturday afternoon after the appointed officials failed to notify the Referees’ Society that they were unavailable.

The section of the TT Mountain Course between Ballig Bridge in St John’s and Ballabooie junction at Cronk-y-Voddy is scheduled to be closed between 10am and 4pm on Monday.

The closure has been put in place to allow the removal of Girdwood Bridge, which is on the St John’s side of Glen Helen and was originally built in 1869 to form access to a slate quarry.

The Department of Infrastructure advises motorists that the alternative route heading north will be via the Poortown Road, from Ballig Bridge to Peel, and then from Peel to Kirk Michael along the coast road, and vice versa.

If all goes to plan, the bridge is set to be replaced on Thursday (November 10), when another 10am to 4pm closure is scheduled.

Access to properties will be maintained but anyone living across Girdwood Bridge will be required to park their vehicles in the Glen Helen car park while work takes place.

The job is being carried out by EG Services Ltd on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Food and Agriculture. For further information, call 407550.

Fairtrade shop Shakti Man will celebrate the opening of its new and expanded store today (Friday).

The shop has moved from 66 Parliament Street to 18 Parliament Street in Ramsey and is now laid over three floors.

The restoration of Shakti Man’s new home was made possible thanks to the support of the Ramsey Regeneration Scheme, as well a range of private investors. Also integral to the project were the engineering and building team, and former and current Shakti Man staff.

Shakti Man’s founder Leni Lewis said: ‘As well as giving all our products room to be properly appreciated, our beautiful new store has much more scope for individually showcasing the artisans we work with around the world.

‘Behind each product are many life stories; stories of vibrant creativity, incredible skills, families and communities transformed. It’s wonderful to be able to share this deep insight into the many reasons why we love what we do.’

The shop will celebrate its opening, which also marks 12 years since it first opened, between 3pm and 8pm.

Shoppers will have the chance to explore the new store and there will be music from Loose Crew at 6pm, drinks by Apple Orphange and food from Vivaldi Catering.

Leni said: ‘We’re so excited about our new space and also to be celebrating 12 years of doing beautiful things.

‘Shakti Man was born out of a resistance to “business as usual. Since then we’ve been on a real journey of transformation and come to see that it’s all about making the most of the world we live in; about helping to change things through connection and collaboration.

‘Fair trade is, in the best sense, an upside-down way of doing business. It’s interesting that this has been reflected in the way our new store has come into being – it was as if the building told us what it wanted so we could bring out the best in what we found there.’

Leni added: ‘Shakti Man is an ever evolving philosophy for awareness, whether it be for business practice, customer relationships, creative expression or reflection and contemplation. So, as the French proverb says, “Until further notice, celebrate everything!”’

Corinthians can clinch the Cu-Plas Railway Cup’s fourth and final semi-final spot on Saturday afternoon.

St George’s, St Mary’s and Peel have already secured their place in December 3’s semis and the Whites will join them if they beat Union Mills in the Canada Life Premier League at the weekend.

The latter were hit with a six-point deduction this week for fielding an ineligible player, which has plunged them into the top-flight relegation zone.

Although they need the points in their bid to stave off the drop, Corinthians should claim the win they need to land a first Railway Cup spot since the 1980-81 season.

Bottom side Ayre’s woes were increased this weekend as they were also hit with a points deduction for fielding an unregistered player.

To make matters worse the Tangerines, who now sit on -3 points, travel to leaders St George’s this weekend as the second half of the league season begins.

Geordies won the reverse fixture 13-1. Expect a similar result here.

There’s a western derby in the south, so to speak, as Peel host St John’s at Colby’s Station Ground pitch.

These are always close affairs, but third-place Peel will be eager to build a good run of form ahead of next month’s Railway Cup.

A good game is on the cards at Glen Road as Laxey play host to Rushen.

Both teams looked well placed to clinch places in the Railway Cup, but dropped points in recent weeks saw them drop out of contention .

Rushen could still theoretically make the cut but require Corinthians to get no points from their remaining two rearranged games against Mills and St Mary’s.

After last week’s 5-1 defeat at Old Boys, Rushen will be keen to bounce back against the Miners who haven’t won in three games. The Spaniards won the reverse fixture 6-0, but this should be a closer affair.

Second-place St Mary’s need to keep winning to maintain the pressure on Geordies.

The Bowl outfit make the short trip to Douglas Athletic and Springfield Road this weekend looking to complete a league double over the Pinks.

Colby’s proposed game with Ramsey has been postponed.

Any one of four teams could find themselves top of the table in JCK Division Two come Saturday evening.

Only two points cover the leading quartet in the second tier, with Braddan still leading the way on goal difference from Foxdale but Castletown now just a single point behind and Douglas Royal a further point adrift.

The top two sides shared the spoils at Victoria Road last Saturday thanks to Andy Glover’s last-gasp penalty to maintain Braddan’s unbeaten start to the season, but the Swans face another potentially tricky test this weekend when they host Gymns.

Having been denied late on in their last outing, Foxdale will be hoping to get back to winning ways this Saturday when they travel to Crosby to face the league’s Jekyll and Hyde sides - Marown - at the Memorial Playing Fields.

RYCOB suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Governor’s Athletic last Saturday to leave them mid-table and they will be hard-pushed to bounce back this weekend when they travel to in-form Castletown who will be hoping to go top of the table.

Youthie’s conquerors Governor’s have Pulrose United in their sights this time around and may fancy their chances at Bemahague given that Pully lost to RYCOB in their previous outing two weeks ago.

Elsewhere in the division, Onchan and Douglas Royal will be favourites to win their respective matches, with the Os travelling to Michael United and the Whites entertaining bottom-of-the-table Malew.

The Kensington Group Practice on Westmoreland Road in Douglas was evacuated earlier today after two cars smashed into the premises.

Telephones could not be answered for some time.

But now the premises are open again and phones being answered as normal.

Pictures taken by our photographer Mike Wade show the cars that crashed.

A framework for the island’s new programme for government will be debated in Tynwald on November 15.

Its priorities include:

Creating the environment for economic growth

Ensuring lifelong learning (starting with preschool) and that education is aligned with economic needs

New population and appropriae taxation policies

Making sure our planning system supports growth in a sustainable manner

Reforming of government to ensure the right services are delivered in the right place at the right time and at the right cost

A sea services agreement that meets with the needs of our island community

Affordable and sustainable health and social care

Read the document in full here

Chief Minister Howard Quayle will move that Tynwald adopts the programme at the November sitting.

One of our reporters has talked to Mr Quayle this morning and is writing a story about it for Tuesday’s Isle of Man Examiner.

Good quality broadband should be available to all, with a minimum standard of quality in the same way as electricity, water and fuel.

That’s the view of Chief Minister Howard Quayle as he was pressed in the House of Keys to outline what plans he had to improve broadband and telephone links in rural areas.

Mr Quayle said that we have 100 per cent coverage for fixed-line voice and broadband across the island, 91 per cent coverage of VDSL high-speed broadband, and around 99 per cent 4G mobile broadband coverage.

He told MHKs: ‘In comparison to many rural areas of the UK and Europe, we are well served in terms of coverage.

‘That said, I am aware that anecdotally many people, particularly in rural areas, are concerned that they are not getting a good deal in terms of their broadband, and that we must do more to improve the quality of service and terms of speed.

‘I believe we should begin to see availability of good quality broadband in the same way we see availability of electricity, water and fuel: a necessary utility, which should be available to all, with a minimum standard of quality.’

The Chief Minister said the island’s infrastructure has to keep pace with demand, which was why the Department of Economic Development had recently commissioned a report from a specialist telecoms analyst.

One of report’s recommendations is that the DED works with the Communications Commission to consider developing a programme to measure broadband quality.

It also suggests government engages with telecoms operators to better understand specific constraints getting in the way of increasing download speeds, particularly at peak times.

Ayre and Michael MHK Tim Baker welcomed Mr Quayle’s comments.

‘Broadband is of such fundamental importance to modern business life and children’s education and social life, that this is an issue that needs addressing,’ he said, but voiced his concerns that the commercial interests of the telecommunications suppliers may not deliver the level of investment the island requires.

Mr Quayle agreed: ‘Obviously, providing additional facilities in rural areas where there are low volumes of users is always going to be a problem.

‘I think there is possibly a two-pronged attack on that.

‘Maybe we as a government have to work with them on enabling masts to be set up, to make it much easier for the coverage; and maybe look at instead of numerous telecom companies having their own infrastructure, looking at maybe a shared infrastructure throughout the island.’

l What do you think? Email opinions@newsiom.co.im

The 11th Team of the Week of the Canada Life Premier League campaign sees two of the division’s stalwarts making their seasonal debut.

St John’s goalkeeper Damyan Petkov and St George’s full-back Julian Ringham both pick up their maiden TotW stripes of the term after impressing in Saturday’s latest round of top-flight matches.

Petkov helped the 10-man Johnners earn a point in a 3-3 draw with Laxey after Sam Ingham was sent off at Glen Road, while Ringham was one of Geordies star turns as they beat Union Mills 9-2 at Glencrutchery Road.

Slotting in alongside Ringham in the TotW’s back four are Alex Harrison (St Mary’s), Chris Cannell (Corinthians) and Martin King (DHSOB).

September Player of the Month Harrison makes his fifth TotW outing of the season after impressing in the Saints’ backline during their 4-1 win at Colby.

Cannell was one of Corinthians’ top performers as the Whites kept their Railway Cup qualification bid alive with a 5-2 win at Douglas Athletic.

King continued his recent fine form in the heart of the Old Boys’ defence as they all but ended Rushen’s Railway Cup hopes with a thumping 5-1 win at Blackberry Lane.

King’s Old Boys team-mate Josh Thomas forms a three-man midfield with St George’s winger Chris Bass Jr and St John’s Andrew Chadwick.

The latter was man of the match for the Johnners at the weekend netting two goals and then shining at the back for the Saints after Ingham’s dismissal.

Wing wizard Bass Jr was one of the Millers’ main tormentors on Saturday edging out Corinthians in-form wideman Josh Ridings and DHSOB’s Gary Quirk for a place in this week’s hypothetical XI.

Up front the team’s three-pronged attack managed 10 goals between them at the weekend.

Grabbing the lion’s share of these goals was Peel striker Ashley Webster who netted a double hat-trick against former club Ramsey as the westerners triumphed 9-2 at the Bowl on Saturday evening.

This takes his tally for the league season to 18 despite only scoring in three games.

Laxey’s Shaun Kelly and St Mary’s Darren Hudgeon both netted braces in their side’s respective games with St John’s and Colby to secure their places in the line-up.

Claiming the Referee of the Week honours for a third time this season is Andy Lodge who impressed with the whistle during St Mary’s win at Colby.

Team of the Week 29/10/16

Goalkeeper: Damyan Petkov (St John’s)

TotW apps this season 1:

Defence: Martin King (DHSOB) TotW apps: 2

Alex Harrison (St Mary’s)TotW apps: 5

Chris Cannell (Corinthians)TotW apps: 2

Julian Ringham (St George’s)TotW apps: 1

Midfield:

Chris Bass Jr (St George’s)TotW apps: 4

Andrew Chadwick (St John’s)TotW apps: 2

Josh Thomas (DHSOB)TotW apps: 4

Attack:

Darren Hudgeon (DHSOB)TotW apps: 3

Shaun Kelly (Laxey)TotW apps: 3

Ashley Webster (Peel)TotW apps: 2

Referee:

Andrew Lodge (Colby v St Mary’s)RotW apps: 3