Welcome

This week we've deep dived into the stunning Northern Lights display we got last week.

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And we remember a local legend who died aged 100.

🔆 Finchley's Dance With The Northern Lights

This week, Finchley experienced a rare celestial phenomenon usually reserved for the far north: the Northern Lights.

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Some of has have previously traipsed round Scandinavia trying to spot them.

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But this time we were able to see them from our own gardens while still in our pyjamas.

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Time to answer your burning Northern Lights questions...

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How Does The Northern Lights Form?

It forms when the Sun hurls charged particles - electrons and protons - into space.

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This solar wind is mostly deflected by Earth’s magnetic field, but some particles are trapped and follow the field lines to the polar regions.

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Here, they collide with gases in the atmosphere, creating brilliant displays of light.

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Why This Spectacular Show Now?

The intensity and visibility of auroras hinge on solar activity.

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Last week’s aurora over Finchley was powered by the strongest geomagnetic storm we've seen in over two decades.

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These storms can stretch the aurora further south than usual.

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Why Were They Pink?

Ever wonder why the Northern Lights are often green but we saw them as pink?

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The color specifics of an aurora depend on which gases in the atmosphere the solar particles collide with and at what altitude.

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Lower, denser oxygen tends to emit gorgeous greens, while high-altitude collisions with oxygen can dazzle us with rare reds, linked with intense solar storms.

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We got lucky.

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If It Happens Again, What's The Best Way To See Them?

While the aurora is a common sight in the ‘Aurora Zone’ of Northern Scandinavia, its appearance in Finchley is rare and often subtler.

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For the best view, you should find a dark spot away from street lights on a clear night. This minimizes light pollution.

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Put your camera on a long exposure and you will be able to capture things that your naked eye can't see.

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Hope you got to enjoy the show.🔆

Events

KIDS

Monday 28th October

​Wicked: West End Masterclass | Mon, Oct. 28 | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | Hornsey Vale Centre, 60 Mayfield Road, N8 9LP | £55 | Guest Tutor, Michelle Pentecost (West End Elphaba) from the Smash Hit Musical ‘Wicked' will put students through their paces in an ‘Acting Through Song' workshop. They will work on Wicked material, followed by a Q&A. For ages 7+

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SPORT

Tuesday 15th October

​Wingate & Finchley vs Bowers & Pitsea | Tue, Oct. 15 | 7:45 pm to 10:00 pm | Maurice Rebak Stadium, Summers Lane, N12 0PD | Adults £12, Concessions £8, 11-18 yrs £5 Under 11s FREE | The Blues are back at home for Isthmian Premier League football under the lights on Tuesday night.

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October - pick a date

​Pilates At Peak Performance | 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm | Peak Performance Health + Wellness Centre, 1268a Whetstone High Street, N20 9HH. | Free | Have you been thinking about trying Pilates? Come down to Peak Performance for a free 30 minute taster session.

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ARTS

Monday 14th October

​Barnet Museum – Barnet’s History with The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade | Mon, Oct. 14 | 3:00 pm | Church House, 2 Wood St, Chipping Barnet, EN5 4BW | £2 | Dennis Bird comes to talk about The Trans-Altlantic Slave Trade and will talk about Barnets History with it all. This is the final lecture of the year at Barnet Museum.

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Thursday 17th October

​Artist Development Workshop: The Power of Social Media | Thu, Oct. 17 | 6:00 pm | Online | £8 | Learn how to best harness the power of social media in your marketing at this online Artist Development workshop with Cup of Ambition. Work out what platform is right for your show, learn what content works best or simply understand how to effectively use your budget and time, this workshop is full of practical tools and tips to help you sell your show while not losing your creative magic.

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Friday 18th October

​Barnet’s Windrush Stories Film Screenings | Fri, Oct. 18 | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | Middlesex University, Room C219-20, 2nd Floor, College Building, The Burroughs, NW4 4BT. | Free | Join the MDX filmmaking team behind Community Barnet Plus’ Barnet’s Windrush Stories, to view the short film screenings of both Ingrid and Linette’s personal stories. Panel discussion about Reclaiming Narratives: The Theme for Black History Month 2024.

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Saturday 19h October

​Watercolour Portraits | Sat, Oct. 19 | 11:00 am to 12:30 pm | Chipping Barnet Library, 3 Stapylton Rd, Barnet EN5 4QT | Free | In the Mutual portrait workshop, grandkids and grandparents get to celebrate each other in full, unadulterated water colour. This art workshop is for all levels of ability, all materials and guidance is provided

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Thursday 24th October

​MADE London | Thu, Oct. 24 | 1 Marylebone Rd, London NW1 4AQ | £15 per person | MADE LONDON returns to One Marylebone. This fair selects the most original and innovative designer-makers across the UK. A diverse selection of around 120 exhibitors working in all disciplines makes for an exciting contemporary design and craft fair, one of the very top in its field.

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MUSIC

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Saturday 19th October

​Musical Con | Sat, Oct. 19 | 11:00 am to | ExCel London, Royal Victoria Dock 1 Western Gateway, E16 1XL | From £49 | the world's biggest musical theatre fan convention is back for their third spectacular year on the 19th & 20th October, with multiple guests to give you all your musical kicks. Worth leaving Finchley.

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COMMUNITY

Monday 14th October

​Brent Cross Town Halloween Trail | Mon, Oct. 14 | Claremont Park, NW2 1AJ | Free | The nights are drawing in and the ghosts are coming out! It’s spooky season, find out how much you know about Halloween, creepy crawlies and staying safe from vampires. Collect your trail map and free coloured pencils from the Visitor Pavilion on Claremont Road, then set off around the park and test your knowledge. When you’re done, head back to the pavilion to collect your reward.

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NATURE

Wednesday 16th October

​Wild meadow planting | Wed, Oct. 16 | 12:00 pm to 12:00 pm | Junction of A406 and Falloden Way opposite Edge Hill Avenue Green Space south of junction London N3 3JL | Free | Join us on Wednesday, October 16 (12 PM–2 PM) for a hands-on mission to create a wildflower meadow and participate in a social study on the health benefits of nature exposure. Volunteers will help sow wildflower seeds over 400m² and contribute to a 40-minute study, with the planting contingent on weather conditions.

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Saturday 19th October

​Autumn BioBlitz | Sat, Oct. 19 | 10:00 am to 11:30 am | Omved Gardens, 1 Townsend Yard London, N6 5JF | Free | Take part in citizen science by helping to record the wildlife at OmVed Gardens with Ecologist Kiran Lee. If possible, please bring a smartphone with mobile data and the iNaturalist App downloaded.

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Saturday 26th October

​Community Bulb Planting Event | Sat, Oct. 26 | 12:00 pm to | Friary Park by Friary house, 133A Torrington Park, N12 9AN | Free | Be a volunteer and join in for a spring bulb planting day, all equipment provided! Event is free but feel free to donate bulbs to make the park even prettier!

Events - Book Ahead

Thursday 31st October

​Cold War Spies Week - Spy Mystery Hunt | Thu, Oct. 31 | 11:00 am to 11:45 pm | RAF Museum London, Grahame Park Way, NW9 5LL | £7.50 | Join the historic re-enactors in a spy-themed mystery hunt! Participants will use a series of clues to worm out the secret Cold War Spy! You will be assisted by Military Intelligence Agents to unpack a series of clues around our historic Home Front room. Use your initiative and focus to eliminate characters and find the spy

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Wednesday 27th November

​Poets Corner: Portals Of Discovery | Wed, Nov. 27 | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | Westminster Abbey 20 Deans Yd, SW1P 3PA | £5 | Prepare for an unforgettable evening of poetry at "Portals of Discovery," curated by Jade de Robles Rossdale and held in the iconic Poets' Corner. Readings by seven talented London poets and writers; their own work + selections from the poets commemorated at the Abbey. Lineup includes Daisy Lowe (Writer and Supermodel), James Massiah (Poet and Musician), Greta Bellamacina (Poet and Actor), Cecilia Knapp (Novelist and Poet), Zakariye (Poet) and Jade de Robles Rossdale (Curator, Writer). Linger in Poets’ Corner with a drink from the paid bar after the readings. Worth leaving Finchley for.

Local Lowdown

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Awards

• Blooming Victory. Last week Hampstead Heath picked up three awards at London in Bloom. Gold for Golders Hill Park in the large park category, Gold for the Pergola in Walled Garden and Gold, plus best in category, for the Hill Garden. Congratulations to all the staff and volunteers involved.

Retail

• Playtime Returns. Toys R Us has returned to UK high streets after a six-year hiatus, with WHSmith reviving the brand. They’ve opened 39 concession stores inside WHSmith shops, including three in London, including our very own Brent Cross. Due to success, 37 more stores are planned by Christmas 2024, reaching a total of 76.

Fashion

• Fashion Reunited. British fashion designer Jean Pallant is "over the moon" after her long-lost one-of-a-kind coat, missing for nearly 40 years, was discovered in an Oxfam charity shop in Mill Hill. The coat, made in 1988, looks brand new and was recently featured in an Oxfam fashion show.

History

• Heritage Cerebrated. Barnet is celebrating Black History Month this October with a series of events around the theme "Reclaiming Narratives." Highlights include memoir readings, Windrush film screenings, and a history of Black pilots. The council supports local groups with grants to promote untold stories of Black heritage.

Trains

• Night Shifted. Sadiq Khan is considering expanding the Night Tube to Thursdays but cites financial constraints and logistical challenges. Tory Assembly member Emma Best advocates for the move, citing its potential to boost London’s night economy. The mayor is sympathetic but says expansion requires additional funding and planning.

Finchleyite: Lily Ebert

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Holocaust survivor Lily Ebert MBE, who lived in Golders Green, passed away peacefully last week.

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She survived Auschwitz-Birkenau, where her mother, younger sister, and brother were murdered.

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She made a promise: if she survived, she would tell the world her story.

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Lily kept that promise. She shared her experiences of the Holocaust with millions, including through a popular TikTok account run with her great-grandson, Dov Forman.

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Together, they wrote Lily’s Promise, an international bestseller that highlights her amazing resilience.

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Lily thrived in her later years, receiving an MBE at 99 and meeting King Charles in 2022.

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She passed away at 100.

Editors' Note - From Tessa

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Special shout out to Davis Child #2 who turns 15 today.

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Throwback to the bike he got on his 4th birthday:

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Happy birthday!

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Tessa Davis Sasha Frieze