In Brief

* Included in the New Year's Honours List, is Joan Healey, a Dingwall-based volunteer with the Citizen's Advice Bureau (CAB). Mrs Healey received an MBE.

* The plan for the Lochluichart wind farm has been deemed acceptable. Permission has been granted by the Scottish Government for work to commence, subject to conditions detailed in the document of Approval.

* Scores of shoppers bade a fond farewell to a Dingwall High street Institution. The Town's branch of Woolworth's slashed prices by 70% (later 80%). Whilst customers were keen to snap up the bargains, they were sad that Woolies, having served Dingwall for many years, was closing with the loss of 14 jobs.

* With the announcement that 26 year-old Matt Smith is to be the new Doctor Who, critics warned of a "toddler in the Tardis". However, the young actor has been widely praised for previous TV and Stage roles - three of them alongside former Doctor Who companion, Billie Piper.

* Ross-shire folk are being asked to recycled their Christmas cards as part of an ambitious annual scheme which helps fund the planting of new woodland. I wonder how this is done? Waste Aware Scotland has teamed up with conservation charity - Woodland Trust - for the scheme, which started on January 5th, 2009.

* January 4th, 2009, marked the 200th Anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille. Braille opened the door to literacy and independence by inventing his code of raised dots for blind and visually-impaired people.

* Making sure the 'sleep mode' switches off your computer's hard disc and monitor when they haven't been used for 15 minutes, is an easy way to save energy - especially if you have a tea break habit According to the Energy Saving Trust, a lunch hour switch off will save 9kg of CO2 per year.

* There is growing evidence that noise-related stress is a significant health hazard. According to the World Health Organisation, unwanted noise is causing hearing impairment, including Tinnitus, disturbed sleep and triggering stress hormones that could in turn affect the immune system and metabolism. The biggest offenders are loud music, aircraft and traffic noise.

* The wonder of the night sky is under growing threat from light pollution. When the night is clear - and skies are truly dark - you can see thousands of stars splashed across the heavens. A blanket of light pollution allows only a few of the brightest stars to shine through. Main offenders are badly-designed streetlights, security lights (including those fitted by householders) and floodlights used for large areas such as games pitches.

Pam Morrison