THE WANTED'S MAX GEORGE PLAYED FOR SALFORD CITY

In the absence of any Salford City fixtures this Christmas, and, by popular demand, we thought we'd re-run our interview with Max George that featured in the last printed issue of Salford Star (issue 8).

The interview was done at Max's home in Swinton in autumn 2008 when he had big hopes for his previous band, Avenue, and he tells why he chose music over a footy career with Man City and Salford City.

SALE NOW ON! EVERYTHING MUST GO! AND IT’S ALL FREE!

GIVEAWAY SALE MUST END JAN 5TH!

Free Laptops! Free Digital Camera! Free Projector and Screen! There’s even Heaters, a Hostess Trolley and a Wardrobe. And it’s all Free, Free, Free!!!

Yes, it’s the fabulous Charlestown and Lower Kersal NDC Closing Down Sale! Everything must go, that hasn’t gone already –like the, er, people, the houses and the spirit!

For full details of all free items click here!!!

SALFORD STAR

Seasonal Salford greetings to all our readers. The Salford Star online will continue with daily updates throughout the holidays, including more Mary Burns awards. Keep clicking and have a great time.

WITH ATTITUDE AND LOVE XXX

CHARTER GROUP 2011 LAUNCHES TO CAMPAIGN FOR FREE SPEECH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SALFORD 

Following this week's court case between the University of Salford and Dr Gary Duke, a new free speech campaign is launching in the new year.

This follows revelations at the court hearing that the University had sought to get details of all bloggers and contributors to a satirical web site lampooning University bosses. The University has been accused of seeking `to silence its critics'.

SALFORD STOCKING FILLERS: Part 4

HOOKY'S HACIENDA BOOK and TO HULL AND BACK

Looking for last minute stocking fillers with a Salford theme? You can't go wrong with Peter Hook's brilliant self-penned profile of the Hacienda and the `Salford lot', now out in paperback. And, for added intrigue, find To Hull And Back: On Holiday In Unsung Britain, which includes a big chapter on Salford, amongst "places everyone loves to overlook"…

SALFORD COUNCIL UNDERVALUED TESCO LAND BY £10MILLION!

Salford City Council's sale of land for the new Tesco megastore near Salford Precinct was dramatically put on hold today amid revelations that the land was undervalued by `at least £10million'.

Under threat of legal action by Salford Shopping City owners, Salford Estates, the Council has now made a voluntary undertaking not to complete the sale to Tesco while it reviews its position.

SALFORD UNIVERSITY SUES FORMER LECTURER

University of Salford v Dr Gary Duke
Manchester Civil Justice Centre
Old Bridge Street West
21st December 2010 2pm free

"Clearly the UK libel laws are abused by those with the deepest pockets who can instruct lawyers when they feel wronged. It's a law for the rich. That's why I believe this case is important and is about human rights."
Dr Gary Duke

Today sees the long awaited court case where the University of Salford sues its former lecturer, Dr Gary Duke, for libel in the Manchester Civil Justice Court. Unusually for a libel case, the guy accused of libel is quite looking forward to the court hearing…

FESTIVE TOUR SONGS FOR SALFORD RANGER TEAM

"…And on the Twelfth Day of Christmas my Council gave to me – 12 redundancy notices, and no-one in Salford to look after a pear tree…"

It was a top night at Kersal Moor on Saturday, with Christmas carols, Santa and lots of hot chocolate drinks. But then the festive cheer faded. In the closing speech, thanking the Salford Ranger Team for helping to organise the event, it was announced that their funding had been cut…

OH YES IT IS!!!

Mother Goose
Salford Arts Theatre
until 24th December 2010
£7/£6

Has that Dame had a shave lately? This year's Salford Arts Theatre panto, Mother Goose, sees a proper Salford dame in the lead role. Burly and hairy, with a heart of golden eggs, we're sure she'll totally thrill all the family.

Mother goose runs until December 24th and there's still some tickets left for the cheeriest and cheapest panto in town.

START IN SALFORD 
FRAGMENTS
Salford Museum and Art Gallery
Until March 2011

Weird things happen when drawers are opened, Salford's closed pubs come alive, and backlit images of children take on new guises. Meanwhile, animations are fired onto walls, scary dolls heads are slapped into frames and quirky comic stories become art in themselves.

Fragments, which opened this month, shows previously unheralded Salford artists getting total recognition, as reviewer Gareth Lyons discovers.

Click here for the full review…

SUPERCHOIR PERFORM GRAND FINALE
The Printworks, Manchester
Sunday 19th December from 3pm

The Manchester Show Choir, which has loads of Salford people within its ranks, is performing a `grand finale' before Christmas at The Printworks this Sunday, aiming to help raise £100,000 for the Christie.

SALFORD TOYS FOR IRLAM

Last Sunday, motorcycles went on a tour of the area surrounding Irlam, collecting toys for the children of families affected by the gas explosion. Dozens of bikes took part, lots of toys were collected and the day was followed by a social at the Tiger Moth pub.

NO CORO ST FOR MEDIACITYUK

Contrary to the hype hitting the media today, the Coronation Street studios and set are not moving to Salford and MediaCityUK. Instead the new Coronation Street complex, which will vacate its Quay Street home in Manchester, is being re-built on a 7.7 acre site in Trafford, at Trafford Wharf.

ITV will have a presence at MediaCityUK but it will be based "across several floors" within the Orange Building.

SALFORD COUNCIL CUTS TO HIT `£40 MILLION'

Salford City Council has today issued a press release stating that the cutbacks in the city "are expected to exceed £40million in the first financial year", while Salford Council Leader John Merry reveals, "it is inevitable that severe budget cuts will impact on some of the services we provide…"

£150,000 ON OPERA AS SALFORD FACES HUGE CUTS TO SERVICES

Salford City Council is proposing to spend £150,000 on an opera at The Lowry next year, while inevitably making cuts to public services.

Last night the ConDem Coalition Government announced that Salford Council's funding would be slashed by over £30million. Today the Salford Star can reveal that the Council is planning to spend £150,000 towards commissioning an opera for the Manchester International Festival.

THE CON DEM AXE MAN COMES TO SALFORD

The ConDem Government tonight announced the full scale of cuts to local government, and Salford is one of the biggest losers despite being one of the most deprived cities in the country.

According to Salford Star calculations from the complicated tables of figures, Salford City Council stands to face cuts of £23.7million in 2011-12 ( 8.52%), and a further £9.8million in 2012-13 (3.9%), making a staggering total of £33.5million over two years. And this on top of cuts that have already been made this year.

Salford Ranger Team and Friends of Kersal Moor present:
SALFORD CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES
Kersal Moor, Moor Lane
Saturday 18th December 6:30-7:30pm free

Father Christmas, carols, mince pies, snow and surprises come to Kersal Moor this Saturday for the annual Christmas Festivities on the Moor.

MUST HAVE CHRISTMAS PRESENTS: Part 3

A SUZUKI METHOD SKATEBOARD
A SUZUKI METHOD NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY TICKET

Wow! Two Christmas prezzies instantly sorted for fans of Salford's ace band Suzuki Method. First up, the specially commissioned Suzuki Method skateboard – it's real, it's happening and it's available now!

And how about a Suzuki Method New Year's Eve Party ticket for The King's Arms to go with it, for only a tenner?

MUST HAVE CHRISTMAS PRESENTS: Part 2

A SALFORD STAR HOODIE/T-SHIRT

We've got very few items left in stock but for the perfect Salford Christmas present what more could you ask for than to own a genuine Salford Star hoodie, t-shirt or sweatshirt? Your loved one needs one!

HANKY PARK NEED YOUR VOTES!!!

Last night, Salford band Hanky Park took part in the final of Be The Source on SKY TV 203 channel. Now they need Salford votes to win a recording session and a £10,000 prize of which £1000 will be donated to the Salford Foundation Trust, helping our young people.

Salford City 1 Woodley Sports 1

RUSTY SALFORD REMAIN UNDEFEATED

It's been almost a month since Salford City last played but tonight the team remains undefeated for nine league games after a humdrum home draw with Woodley…

TWO FESTIVE SHOWS FOR SALFORD CHORAL SOCIETY
Handel's Messiah
Saturday 18 December 7.30pm
Royal Northern College of Music

Christmas Concert
Wednesday 22 December 7.30pm
St Philip's Church, Salford

Salford Choral Society is gearing up for two concerts this Christmas, firstly performing its annual Messiah showpiece next Saturday at the RNCM, and the following Wednesday doing carols and readings at St Philip's Church.

Christmas Songs In Islington Park
Wednesday 15th December 2010
11:15-11:45am

On Wednesday morning, St Philip's Primary School will be performing Christmas songs in Islington Park. Everyone is welcome to attend.

YOUR STATE OF EMERGENCY

To coincide with Human Rights Day, a top film by Salford movie maker Mark Ashmore has been re-released free online.

The 30 minute drama, Your State Of Emergency, is based on real human rights atrocities throughout the world transformed into the now. Watch what happens as a white, middle class family get the treatment usually handed out to subversives under regimes like Pol Pot and, er, the USA in Abu Ghraib…

SALFORD COUNCIL SAFEGUARDING GETS WORSE

A new OFSTED Report on Salford City Council's Children's Services states it all in the first paragraph…

"In 2009, Salford City Council's children's services were adequate. This year they are performing poorly because of continuing significant weaknesses in safeguarding arrangements."

OFSTED gave Salford City Council Children's Services the lowest possible mark of 1 in its Annual Children's Services Assessment.

HANKY PARK IN SKY TV BAND FINAL

Ace Salford band, Hanky Park, have reached the final of Sky 203's Be The Source - beating hundreds of bands nationwide. They're on Sky 203 at 9pm this Saturday, December 11th, and are up against six other bands, the winner being judged by the amount of public votes.

The Salford Star urges everyone in the city to vote for Hanky Park because…

MUST HAVE CHRISTMAS PRESENTS: Part 1

A JOE COFFEY PRINT £10

Joe Coffey's being called the `New Lowry' and prints from his exhibition, Hoodlife, currently on show at The Cornerstone until Jan 2011, are selling like hotcakes.

Catch the exhibition before it closes and then order a print for a great Salford Christmas present - and Joe will even sign it for you.

SOUNDS LIKE ANOTHER CHRISTMAS
Wed 8th December – Sun 12th December
Various venues.

From the same team that brings us Sounds From Another City, comes Sounds Like Another Christmas – a five day live spectacular starring bands, theatre, DJs and all manner of experimental wonder shows at Salford venues, Islington Mill, The Old Pint Pot, The King's Arms and St Philips Church.

The mini-fest starts tonight at The King's Arms with live musical theatre from Dinosaur Planet and Liz Green.

OLD AND VULNERABLE LEFT IN COLD

Last week, Salford Council was awarded `excellent' status for its Adult Social Care services. But following a re-organisation of care for the city's older and vulnerable citizens, many have actually been left without adequate care.

Nigel Pivaro investigates the process that has seen loads of small Salford based care companies edged out in favour of big organisations from outside the city…and the initial affects on our cared for community…

THERE'S STILL HOPE !!!!

Campaigners trying to keep Hope Maternity Unit open were relieved today when the decision to close Salford's baby unit was deferred until January or February.

The North West NHS Board decided to delay their decision to close the unit
after concerns were raised over capacity and safety issues.

"It's a stay of execution" says Jeanne Lythgoe of the Salford Maternity Forum "We fight on!"