WELCOME to the newest feature in the Examiner - and the star is going to be you, the reader.
Each Monday in Examiner People we're devoting two pages to focus on YOUR events, the local community occasions that help make Huddersfield a great place to live.
We'll be concentrating on all those small get-togethers, all those fetes and parties, tombolas, sportsmen's evenings and open days.
It may be an event your school is organising; it may be some fundraising effort for your chosen charity. Whatever it is, the Examiner would like to know about it.
Don't worry, the major weekend events will still be covered in the Examiner news pages. This new feature is for the local, neighbourhood events.
If you want your event featured, there are many ways to do it. Phone or fax us and, if possible, we'll send a photographer along on the day.
Or e-mail us a report and photos and we'll try to get them in. Full details are in the panel on the right.
It's all part of making your Examiner an even brighter, bumper read. We're excited about what's happening with the newspaper; we want you, your friends and your community to be part of it.
Watch out for more new special features in the coming weeks!
(All pictures can be found in the Examiner today - this is an online sample only) - see subsequent pages...
Music in the Park
MUSIC lovers packed their deckchairs and picnics for a feast of entertainment in the grounds of Holmfirth's Holme Valley Memorial Hospital.
Songs from the shows were performed by Three Yorkshire Sopranos, Hade Edge Band and the Vocal Expressions women's choir during a musical extravaganza on Saturday night.
Local radio presenter Mike Meadmore compered the concert, Music in the Park, held by the hospital's League of Friends.
The event was the second staged by the Friends to raise cash for the hospital.
The Friends supplement the service provided by the hospital.
They have provided such things as tropical fish aquaria, beds with electric hoists, blood pressure monitors and syringe drivers in recent years.
The hospital cares for mainly elderly people who need hospital care, but not highly sophisticated equipment.
It also cares for patients who have undergone surgery but are unfit to return home directly.
Huddersfield Food & Drink Festival
THE heat was on during a celebrity cooking contest between Huddersfield Giants and Huddersfield Town.
Soccer player Efe Sodje, helped by chef David Trafford, of the Sodexho catering firm , won the day after beating rugby league rival Jonny Grayshon and chef Damian O'Neil, from The George Hotel.
The contestants battled it out in a marquee in St George's Square as part of the Huddersfield Food and Drink Festival 2003, which ended yesterday.
The audience cheered equally when Efe unveiled his potato rosti and tiger prawns and Jonny produced his guinea fowl wrapped in pancetta.
But Efe was declared the winner, after whipping up his gourmet meal fractionally faster than Jonny.
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Asian arts festival
THORNTON Lodge residents enjoyed cultural and educational activities at an event aimed at uniting the whole community.
Religious songs were performed by youngsters in Arabic, Urdu and English.
Plays were staged and exhibition stands gave details of courses and educational opportunities available locally.
Children modelled clothes in a fashion show with the theme of traditional garments associated with different religions.
People also had the chance to have their hands painted with henna and children could enjoy a bouncy castle.
People from Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and the new migrant community were all involved.
The event, at Thornton Lodge Road, was staged by the Thornton Lodge Support Group and Local Impact.
Beaumont Park gala
HISTORIC photographs of Beaumont Park were on show in its new visitor centre at the weekend.
The annual gala, the fourth to be staged by support group The Friends of Beaumont Park, featured more attractions than ever.
Two inflatable slides gave children the chance to let off steam, while a penalty shoot-out allowed them to show their football skills.
A roundabout and clown show, The Rapide Brothers, proved popular for youngsters, while older visitors enjoyed music from Linthwaite Brass Band.
Ms Lynda Brook, a member of the Friends' committee, said: "We want to raise awareness of the park and encourage people to come and use it.
"We are committed to the restoration of the park and are putting in a lottery heritage bid."
Volunteers are wanted to help with an autumn restoration programme, which coincides with a social history walk at the park at 2pm on Sunday September 14
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Mark and Caroline Lee's charity garden party
NAIL art and T-shirt design entertained children during a charity garden party at The Round House, Hall Bower.
Mark and Caroline Lee and their children, Matthew, 13, and Katie 12, converted a water tower into a home seven years ago.
Mrs Lee showed visitors round the house, while Matthew played football with the boys and Katie helped children design T-shirts and paint their nails.
More than 300 people went to the event, which raised cash for the Berry Brow and Newsome branch of children's charity the NSPCC.
Piscatorial society
YOUNGSTERS sampled the delights of fishing during a taster day on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal at Linthwaite yesterday.
Slaithwaite and District Angling Club staged the event near Westwood Mill, to encourage people to join the fishing fraternity. Five rods were set up along the banks of the canal and people had 20-minute sessions to try their luck.
Coaches were on hand to give tips on attracting a bite. Bream and roach were caught by some of the fishermen and women, but were all thrown back in the water.
Water taxis gave people the chance to sail on the canal free. There was also face-painting and youngsters had the chance to "pond dip" with wildlife experts, to see what creatures were living in the water.
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Netherton flower show
ENTRIES delighted judges in the 62nd South Crosland and Netherton Gardeners' Association annual flower and vegetable show. Secretary Mrs Michele Heeley, said: "It was better than last year. "It was absolutely fabulous. We were extremely pleased with the response we got and the effort that the exhibitors had put in. "The judges were delighted with the standard of entries considering we had quite a dry hot summer." Thirty three exhibitors entered 235 classes. The trophy for best in show went to Mr Anthony Willits with his tray of vegetables.
OTHER RESULTS: Best individual vegetable, the most points in the show, vegetable class: A Willits; Flower class, dahlia class: Frank Drew; Floral class: Margaret Wood; Domestic class: Angela Holmes; Rose class: Caroline Macmillan; Pelargonium or geranium class: Angela Morton.
