THE recent closures of live music venues is such a hot topic that organisers of a crisis forum have had to shift to a bigger venue. The February 23 meeting of musicians, promoters, groupies and the general public has been moved from Jimmy’s Den to the Bakery. Deville’s Pad in East Perth this week announced…

THE WA Blind Cricket Club is worried it will be unsafe to continue playing in Maylands if local dog walkers get their way. For more than 20 years, the blind cricketers have been playing on Shearn Memorial Park, an active reserve beside the busy Central Avenue. Local dog walkers want the park fenced off completely…

AROUND 25 people gathered outside Perth’s Japanese consulate to protest the killing of dolphins in Taiji. The demonstration called for an end to the annual dolphin drive hunt in the coastal town, which Sea Shepherd says results in the death of several hundred dolphins and small whales. “For a staggering six months of every year—September…

BAYSWATER library is set to be adorned with bunny rabbits and a doe-eyed child. Local artist Namo Osaki wants to transform the tired-looking library wall overlooking the kids playground in Bert Wright Park with a manga-style mural. Osaki was awarded a grant last year to undertake a community art project that would “add vibrancy” to…

WOOD STREET in Inglewood and Rosebury Street in Bedford have been singled out as “problem areas” by around 50 locals who attended a crime forum at the Bedford RSL. Forum co-organiser David Lagan said drug dealers were “running product in and out of the area”. A spate of vehicle break-ins were also cited as a…

THE sculptors who brought us Beaufort Street’s nudie animals on a bike are in town for a new exhibition featuring the popular Dogman and Rabbitgirl characters. Gillie and Marc use the strange creatures to try to spread a little love throughout the world. “It’s a very unusual match but amazingly a match made in heaven:…

HERITAGE was the real winner in the council merger debacle, says Mount Lawley Society president Paul Hurst. Mr Hurst says Bayswater city council, under the pressure from the society, mimicked Stirling’s heritage guidelines during the merger process, which should have ongoing benefits. Paul Collins a “Stay in Stirling” campaigner and MLS member, says local heritage…

FACEBOOK gripes, planned pyjama protests and mass petitions have greeted the WA government’s decision to cancel late-night trains. The Perth public, rarely this upset over an issue not involving football, has reacted furiously to the dumping of 1am and 2am weekend trains from April. PTA media hound David Hynes says the late-night carriages are underutilised…

A CONTROVERSIAL laneway party will be held in the newly revamped lane in Leederville, despite concerns from residents, traders and half the Vincent council. Councillors were split down the middle: Four for, four agin, with mayor John Carey throwing his casting vote in favour of the February 21 shindig. Organisers “Rough Love” say it’ll feature…

Voice photographer Matthew Dwyer was out and about in Aberdeen Street, Northbridge when he came across this little fella. That’s it, we just thought it was a cute pic. Any Voice reader know what it is?