I would like to wish my Jewish readers “l’shanah tova u’m’tukah” – a good and sweet new year.
Rosh Hashanah 5767 begins at sunset this Friday evening, and ends at sunset on Sunday.
It marks the beginning of the “Yamim Noraim” (Days of Awe) – the most holy and solemn period in the Jewish calendar, culminating with Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) on 2 October.
Whatever you’re doing to celebrate, I hope you have a very good time 🙂
Today I had the great pleasure of attending a kids’ football tournament arranged by the fantastic Leyton street wardens.
The Street Wardens arranged for children from estates all over the borough to get together for a kick about with other wardens and kids from outside Waltham Forest.
Seventeen teams of children aged between eight and twelve years old participated in the tournament, which was the culmination of football training that the wardens had put on for Leyton’s kids during their school holidays. Continue reading “Go Go Mighty Warriors!”
One of the best things about living in Leyton is our Street Wardens. The street wardens are a team of ten that patrol the area and keep an eye out on what’s going on in the local community. They are extremely popular and a real part of Leyton life. Such was the success of the wardens in Leyton that the scheme has now been rolled out across Waltham Forest borough.
On my way to work the other day, I had the pleasure of bumping into Frank, Ebony and Juliet (pictured with me above) who were on duty outside Leyton tube station.
Ebony (pictured next to me on the left) has been nominated for a National Street Wardens Award. Both local MP Harry Cohen and I have sent letters of support. Continue reading “Leyton’s Street Wardens are the Best in the World!”
Sunday saw Leyton celebrate the 2006 Young People’s Caribbean Carnival in Marsh Lane fields. On a scorching hot day, people came from all over the borough to check out the colourful costumes, enjoy some soca and calypso music and – this applies to me especially 🙂 – savour a good plate of rice, peas and chicken. Continue reading “Jumpin’ Up! at the Young People’s Caribbean Carnival”
On Friday, I cycled down to the playground on Oliver Rd in my ward, opposite the famous Leyton Orient Football club, to see New York youth collective ‘Truce’ bring their message of peace to Waltham Forest, through rap and song.
Truce is a Christian oriented group led by former US gang members, which tries to steer young people from criminality and gang related activity.
This month, Truce is touring all over East London, performing rap and R n B tunes that preach messages of peace, with the aim being to convince our young people, once and for all, that crime just doesn’t pay Continue reading “Calling for a Truce”