Ninja turtles may have made a comeback with the kids lately, but a turtle discovered in Berkeley Vale recently isn’t of the ‘cool’ kind.A Red-eared Slider Turtle was found at a home in Berkley Vale this week, prompting Central Coast Council to renew its call for residents to keep an eye out for these pests.Council’s Noxious Weeds and Pest Species Officer, Mr Paul Marynissen, said the warmer weather means the turtles are on the move.“We have had unconfirmed sightings of Red-eared Sliders from across the Coast, including at Berkeley Vale, Kanwal, Tuggerawong, Hamlyn Terrace and Woongarrah and now one captured by a keen eyed resident in their backyard in Berkeley Vale,” said Mr Marynissen.“With the weather warming up all reptiles, including these turtles, are more active and on the move looking for food, so we are more likely to spot them if they are here.”Council is encouraging the community to keep an eye out for these turtles when they are out enjoying the natural environment, particularly around waterways.“If you spot a turtle in the local environment, look for the distinct red markings over the ears, it’s a sure sign for these aggressive animals,” said Mr Marynissen.“Red-eared Sliders are also distinctive in the way they retract into their shell.

Tickets are available for a Christmas concert at The Art House tomorrow (Friday 2 December) for what is the very first Christmas concert at the new $12.7 million venue.Opened in May, The Art House is slated to be the new premiere arts venue for the Coast, and an array of national performers are on the calendar for 2017, including comedian and television personality Kitty Flanagan and country singer Darren Coggan.Council’s Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said it was exciting to be able to celebrate Christmas at The Art House.“Christmas is a magical time, especially for children and we’re thrilled there are some wonderful concerts planned to celebrate The Art House’s very first festive season.”Led by Green Point resident Mrs Karina Moss-Hollands, the Concertante Ensemble has been running for more than 10 years and comprises string players from the Sydney Symphony and beyond.Listen in awe as the group performs the magical Christmas Concerto by Corelli.“The Pastoral movement is one of the best known movements of its kind alongside the pastorals from Handel’s Messiah and Bach’s Christmas Oratorio,” Mrs Moss-Hollands said.“One would not expect more glorious music in Heaven!”The Christmas Concerto was commissioned by Cardinal Pietro Ottoboni and published posthumously in 1714 as part of Corellis’ Twelve concerti grossi, Op. 6.The concerto bears the inscription Fatto per la notte di Natale (made for the night of Christmas).Its composition date is uncertain, but there is a record of Corelli having performed a Christmas concerto in 1690 for the enjoyment of his new patron.The program also includes Tchaikovsky’s String Serenade Waltz, Copland’s ‘Hoe Down’, Vivaldi’s Concerto ‘Alla Rustica’ and Schnittke’s fun ‘Polka’ for Strings.On 23 December at The Art Wyong a special production of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Ballet will be performed at 2pm.'Play me a Story...The Nutcracker' combines exquisite violin playing, storytelling, illustrations and dance to tell the much loved story of a tender hearted little girl, Marie, and her favourite toy, a wooden Nutcracker carved to look like a soldier.Tchaikovsky’s famous music has been transcribed for two violins and percussion, and will be performed by violinists Ms Esmeralda Tintner and Mrs Lisa Stewart and percussionist Ms Kerryn Joyce.

A clock has been installed at The Entrance by the local Lions Club in partnership with Central Coast Council.The clock is located in Bayview Mall outside the cinema and was instigated by Council and The Entrance Lions Club to complement the recently upgraded mall area.Council’s Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said Council is happy to support these great community initiatives to improve the local community.“Council has always supported and worked together on various programs associated with the Lions Clubs across the Coast,” Mr Reynolds said.“Over the last few years, we have supported various Clubs with grants totalling more than $20,000 to support a range of projects such as community events, improvements to facilities and purchase of equipment to expand the range of services supplied by those Clubs and to assist with their volunteer development.“The new clock at The Entrance is a great example of where Council and the local Lions Club are working together to improve the amenity of our local community.The clock was built locally and uses modern technology to stay on time.Recently The Entrance Lions Club’s celebrated their 60th anniversary, making them the oldest Lions club on the Central Coast.Lions Club President, Mr Ken Bulkeley, said it’s a proud achievement.“Next year will see 100 years of Lions Clubs working to assist their communities and we acknowledged this milestone at our anniversary last month,” Mr Bulkeley said.“It’s great to see our ideas come to life and often this is made possible through the support of Council.“The clock is an idea we’ve had for a few years as we knew it would complement the area and become an asset the community can be proud of.”Find out how Council can support your community group by visiting centralcoast.nsw.gov.au

Summer has well and truly made its presence on the Coast!

Are you affected?A free workshop is being offered to the 14,000+ Central Coast residents currently utilising solar power systems to find out how they will be affected by the closure of the NSW Solar Bonus Scheme at the end of 2016.Scheduled for Monday 5 December at Woy Woy Community Centre from 5.30pm-7.30pm, the workshop is one of a series being run by the NSW Department of Industry, in collaboration with the Office of Environment and Heritage, with the support of local partners including Central Coast Council.An independent energy expert will provide information to residents receiving a 60c or 20c subsidised feed-in tariff about how they will be affected by the changes, plus advice on what needs to be done in the lead up to the closure.Participants will find out how to get the most value out of solar power systems in homes and businesses after the scheme ends.The workshop will also examine a range of clean energy opportunities including:Understanding different metering arrangements and their benefits;Emerging technologies including battery storage and energy monitoring devices;

Central Coast Council Libraries, in partnership with Coast Shelter, are bringing brand new books into the lives of families spending time in temporary accommodation on the Central Coast over Christmas.Finishing on Friday 9 December, this is the last call for residents to give the gift of a brand new book to those in need this holiday season.All Central Coast Council Libraries act as collection points so gift books can be taken to branches located at:

Central Coast Council invites members of the community to attend a public meeting at the Cowrie Restaurant, Scenic Highway in Terrigal on Monday 19 December 2016.The public meeting will commence at 5.30pm, will be run by an independent facilitator, and is to consider potential road works in part of Scenic Highway.Council would like to thank the owner of the Cowrie Restaurant, Mr Brett Dengate, for agreeing to host the meeting, and urges interested members of the community to attend.

Gosford Regional Gallery will play host to two national exhibitions starting Saturday 10 December, furthering its commitment to attract significant touring exhibitions to the Central Coast.Council’s Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds said it will be a busy summer period for the gallery.“It’s wonderful to see two fantastic bodies of work on display right in our own backyard,” said Mr Reynolds.“As one of the state’s leading regional galleries, Gosford Regional Gallery has proven time and again that it is an ideal venue to display work of this significance and calibre.“I’d encourage everyone to take the opportunity over the holiday period to see these wonderful exhibitions and support the great work of the gallery.”Behind the Lines presents the humour and nostalgia of 2016’s best political cartoons, while Bare:

Central Coast businesses, sporting groups and community organisations are rushing to support a new digital promotional campaign for the Central Coast called This is the life.So far over 70 organisations have registered their interest in becoming a partner and helping to tell the Central Coast story.The Central Coast Express Advocate was one of the first to become a Gold Partner to the This is the life campaign.“There is no doubt that the Central Coast is God’s Own Country,” editor Mark Nolan said.“Just the other day I was home after work, walking with my daughter on Umina Beach, watching the sun set over the blue water and enjoying the cool sea breeze, thinking ahh, this is the life.”“We think it’s important to get behind this great initiative and will be sharing positive This is the life stories about the Central Coast in the paper and online.“It’s time all of us Coasties told our friends and family just how great life is in this spectacular region.”Council’s Administrator Ian Reynolds thanked all those organisations who have already signed up to support the campaign.“Now is the perfect time to promote positive perceptions about the Coast and make a strong stand as a region,” Mr Reynolds said.“By all coming together, businesses, sporting groups, community, the arts, the education sector we can help drive positive perceptions of the Central Coast and make it the very best it can be,” Mr Reynolds added.“Since working and living on the Coast I have been amazed by what is on offer here and it’s time we let other people in on these secrets.”Become a Partner - local businesses, educators, sporting and community groups can help spread the word by becoming a campaign partner.

Central Coast Council will hold an Extraordinary Council meeting on Wednesday 21 December to present the financial statements of the former Wyong Shire Council.The meeting will be held at the Central Coast Council Chambers, Hely Street, Wyong at 5pm.The meeting will be open to the public to attend and can be viewed live on Council’s YouTube Channel.