Pumpkins are not traditionally grown just to make Halloween lanterns. Creating a lantern out of the hollowed out remains was the by-product of making delicious pumpkin dishes, soups and pies. Even as an ingredient to beer.
Click on the poster and see some of the horrific waste that comes each year with Halloween.
Phishing is a scam where criminals typically send emails to thousands of people pretending to come from banks, credit card companies, online shops and auction sites as well as other trusted organisations.
Don’t be tricked into going to a fraudulent site through a phishing email – it may look exactly like the real thing but is actually a fake, designed to trick victims into entering personal information.
Signs you are being phished:
* The sender’s email address may be different from the trusted organisation’s website address.
* The email may be sent from a completely different address or a free webmail address.
* The email may not use your proper name, but a non-specific greeting such as “Dear customer.”
* A sense of urgency; for example the threat that unless you act immediately your account may be closed.
* A prominent website link. These can be forged or seem very similar to the proper address, but even a single character’s difference means a different website.
* A request for personal information such as username, password or bank details.
* You weren’t expecting to get an email from the organisation that appears to have sent it.
* The entire text of the email may be contained within an image rather than the usual text format. The image contains an embedded link to a bogus site.
Use email safely:
* Do not open emails which you suspect as being scams.
* Do not forward emails which you suspect as being scams.
* Do not open attachments from unknown sources.
* If in doubt, contact the person or organisation the email claims to have been sent by … better safe than sorry.
* Do not readily click on links in emails from unknown sources. Instead, roll your mouse pointer over the link to reveal its true destination, displayed in the bottom left corner of your screen. Beware if this is different from what is displayed in the text of the link from the email.
* Do not respond to emails from unknown sources.
* Do not make purchases or charity donations in response to spam email.
* Don’t click on ‘remove’ or reply to unwanted email.
* Check junk mail folders regularly in case a legitimate email gets through by mistake.
* When sending emails to multiple recipients, list their addresses in the ‘BCC’ (blind copy) box instead of in the ‘To’ box. In this way, no recipient will see the names of the others, and if their addresses fall into the wrong hands there will be less chance of you or anybody else receiving phishing or spam emails.
* Similarly, delete all addresses of previous parties in the email string, before forwarding or replying.
* If you are suspicious of an email, you can check if it is on a list of known spam and scam emails that some internet security vendors such as McAfee and Symantec feature on their websites.
* Most Microsoft and other email clients come with spam filtering as standard. Ensure yours is switched on.
* Most spam and junk filters can be set to allow email to be received from trusted sources, and blocked from untrusted sources.
* When choosing a webmail account such as gmail, Hotmail and Yahoo! Mail, make sure you select one that includes spam filtering and that it remains switched on.
Calls have been made today to improve safety on a deadly rural road after a man died in a crash.
Mark Wood, 38, died following a collision involving a Volkswagen Golf and Honda Jazz on the B999 Aberdeen to Tarves road between Pettymuick and Pitmedden Bridge on Friday, October 6.
Councillor Paul Johnston, who represents the Mid-Formartine ward, criticised the condition of the road last month. He said: “There are locations all the way along that road where past tragedies remain marked, and that is a sobering thought.
“There’s been at least five (fatalities) since I’ve been a councillor.”
Repair work has since been carried out after those incidents, but Cllr Johnston would like to see additional safety measures.
He added: “There have been requests for better reflectors on the road and crash barriers.”
Between 2000 and 2014 there were 10 fatal accidents on the road.
In 2009, a 55-year-old van driver was killed on the Aberdeen to Tarves road, and in 2007 a 34-year-old man died on the Bridge of Don to Pitmedden stretch when his car crashed at a junction a few miles west of Potterton.
A teenager also died in a smash on the road the same year.
In 2006, a 46-year-old biker died after his vehicle left the road, in 2003 a 30-year-old woman lost her life in a one-vehicle crash and in 2002, three people died following collisions on the road.
Fellow ward councillor Andrew Hassan added: “I was saddened to hear about the fatal accident.
“In recent years there have been fewer road accidents in Mid-Formartine but it’s a reminder, if we need one, that accidents happen on our roads and if any measures can be put in place to address blackspots I would hope that would be considered by officers.”
Aberdeenshire Council’s infrastructure services committee chairman Councillor Peter Argyle said: “Whenever these things happen it’s obviously an appalling tragedy.
“The police and council spend a lot of time looking at what caused the accident and if there are things that can be done in terms of engineering or other measures, I have no doubt that will be something that we will be looking at.”
Warning after two rural businesses targeted in overnight raids
Police Scotland is urging rural business owners to ensure they have robust security measures in place following two break-ins overnight.
Officers received a report at around 12.30am on October 17th that a store at The Square, Tarves, had been targeted. Entry was forced and goods were taken.
They received a second report that a store at Main Street in Methlick had also been targeted overnight. Entry was again forced, however nothing was taken.
Detective Sergeant George Nixon, who is leading inquiries, said: “This is the second time the store at Methlick has been targeted in less than a month which is completely unacceptable. Crime of this nature is generally extremely rare in the village, so to have two similar incidents reported to us in such a short space of time won’t be tolerated.
“Inquiries into both incidents overnight are ongoing and anyone with information that could assist is urged to contact Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 if you would prefer to remain anonymous. Both break-ins took place through the night when the areas and roads would have been quiet so if you were out and about and saw anything unusual, please let us know.
“I would also appeal to business owners in small communities across the north-east to ensure your premises are locked and secure when you leave tonight and that you have appropriate security measures in place. Robust locks and safes are crucial to keep stock safe, while appropriate alarms and security lights can help bolster security. I would also advise against keeping large amounts of cash on the premises and to keep high-value items locked away.
“It is also important that you keep a note of any suspicious people who might visit your business that you don’t recognise as being from the area and cause you concern. It is entirely possible that those responsible are not local and might come in beforehand to scope out your set-up.
“A great deal of proactive police work is carried out on a daily basis to ensure the areas you live in are as safe as they possibly can be, however if the worst does happen it is vital you have robust security measures in place to ensure potential thieves don’t stand a chance.
“For general crime prevention advice and tips on how to keep your business secure, you can speak to your local Community Policing Team by dialling 101.”
Ellon Cinema volunteers will be running a very special night on Friday (see below) as this will be their first Opera event and are hoping that it will prove popular. They are planning to offer a seating at table option and a licenced bar for both pre and half time refreshment. Online bookings are already coming in and they will be offering the usual pay at the door option for those who make up their minds last minute.
If successful, Ellon Cinema will be looking at putting more from the All Opera 17/18 series (which includes a ballet) during 2018.
Georges Bizet’s Opera CARMEN – 7 pm for 7:30 – Staged by Argentine director Valentina Carrasco, this is a modern interpretation performed in the enchanting setting of the Terme di Caracalla in Rome, the archaeological site of the Roman Baths where a unique theatrical stage comes to life. Captured live in HD from their summer programme this is an encore version intended especially for showing in theatres and cinemas world wide.
Next Cinema Event: Sunday, 29th October
Captain Underpants (U) – 3 pm Based on the worldwide sensation and bestselling book series, and boasting an A-list cast of comedy superstars headed by Kevin Hart and Ed Helms, DreamWorks Animation brings audiences the long-awaited global movie event, CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS: THE FIRST EPIC MOVIE. This raucously subversive comedy for the entire family tells the story of two overly imaginative pranksters named George and Harold, who hypnotize their principal into thinking he’s a ridiculously enthusiastic, incredibly dim-witted superhero named Captain Underpants
Goodbye Christopher Robin (12A) – Provides a rare glimpse into the relationship between beloved children’s author A. A. Milne (Domhnall Gleeson) and his son Christopher Robin, whose toys inspired the magical world of Winnie the Pooh. Along with his mother Daphne (Margot Robbie), and his nanny Olive (Kelly Macdonald), Christopher Robin and his family are swept up in the international success of the books; the enchanting tales bringing hope and comfort to England after the First World War. But with the eyes of the world on Christopher Robin, what will the cost be to the family?.
See our web site: victoriahallellon.co.uk/cinema for films planned for the months ahead
Look out for Tarves People’s Party this evening…it’s ‘Penny for the Guy’ time! 
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Poster-20th-October-17.pdf