There has been a lot of creativity at the Glenkens Youth Group over the past few months. The members often choose to paint or draw, and they are a very talented group. The space is always filled with music, with their own playlist setting the scene. An informal sing-a-long is a common occurrence!

The festive season was made even more enchanting for children in the Glenkens in 2023, thanks to a Christmas Wonderland event at the CatStrand in December.

What’s all the Hubbub? Have you heard? There is a lot going on at New Galloway Town Hall lately.

Perhaps it feels like you’re hearing a lot about menopause these days with celebrities making TV programmes about it and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) shortages making the news.

I can hardly believe we are over halfway through The Together in the Glenkens project! I would like to thank all our deliverers who continue to make all the activities so vibrant and highly beneficial, and of course our attendees, who we hope are benefitting from the programme.

When we pop into New Galloway Community Shop, we know that we will be greeted with a friendly smile from the hard-working shop team.

This year the World Day of Prayer service will be hosted by St Margaret's New Galloway, on Friday 1 March at 2pm. Those taking part will be drawn from all the churches in the Glenkens and the service is open to everyone.

Joining Cubs in January we have Pippin, Hannah’s daughter, who is an inspiration before she comes to the door.

For many years, St Margaret's church in New Galloway have dedicated their collections at Christmas to a charity chosen by the congregation.

A review by Andrew Mellor of the book The Covenanters of the Glenkens by David S Bartholomew.

Just over forty years ago, a helicopter crashed on Mid Standard Hill near Balmaclellan.

A review by Mike Brown of the book Northern Lights: The Arctic Scots by Ted Cowan.

This issue’s winner is Susan Currie from Dalry with this beautiful snap of a fly agaric mushroom.

CatStrand hosts the exciting launch of Swallows, the Hare and the Moon, the latest album from local singer-songwriter, Blue.

In 'From the Bookroom' Glenkens-based author of the novel The Road From Damascus and co-author of Burning Country: Syrians in Revolution and War, Robin Yassin-Kassab, takes readers through some of his favourite books. In this edition Robin speaks about author Khaled Khalifa, friendship and the festive season.

I’m now in my third year at CatStrand and it’s been quite the ride!

Did you know that traditional ballads were being sung in Galloway until at least the mid 20th century?

When I first started going to the Writers' Cafe at the CatStrand, I had no idea I would be entering a world of such creativity and imagination.

Lost People, the latest novel by Glenkens-based writer Margaret Elphinstone, is set in a fractured dystopic world but amid trauma and desolation, hope is there to be discovered.

Kells had a busy festive period, Christmas concert, singing carols for LING lunches as well as doing Christmas crafts, learning about the story of Christmas and writing poetry around the subject!