"Though my corner of Hackney has yet to attain a Middle-Earth level of cosmic grandeur, the ongoing battle between local people and the forces of regeneration has been growing in stature. We've got our very own Dark Lord, in the shape of a property developer called Dr Roger Wratten, who has an underground island base in Tunbridge Wells and a henchman with a glass eye. Ranged against him is a hobbit-like band of local people, who since late November have been barricaded inside Francesca's cafe at 34 Broadway Market, blocking Wratten from pulling it down to build a block of flats."

(Via SocietyGuardian.co.uk | Communities | Hari Kunzru: A dispatch from Tony's cafe: .)

10:14:36 PM    

"Canterbury Foods, maker of processed goods for school canteens and fast food caterers, has been broken up by administrators after its directors failed to persuade its bank they could recover declining sales - in part blamed on Jamie Oliver's campaign for healthier school dinners.

The company, which makes cheap burgers, sausage rolls and other pastries, had been in the midst of a radical review which had seen the workforce more than halved to 270 employees. A factory in Hackney, east London, had been shut and the firm's meat products business was sold last month for £4.5m."

(Via EducationGuardian.co.uk | Schools special reports | Jamie effect finishes school meals firm: .)

10:10:47 PM    

"Dear Broadway Market occupation supporters, A public meeting will take place on January 16th at 7pm in St Mark's Church Hall, Lansdowne Drive, E8 (regardless"

(Via hackneycommunitynews at Yahoo! Groups A Public Meeting about nos 31 and 71 Broadway Market: .)

9:37:22 AM    

"PROTESTERS occupying a cafe to save it from demolition have rebuilt part of the building destroyed by workmen. The activists took over Francesca's in Broadway Market again on Boxing Day after being kicked out by court order five days earlier. Campaigners"

(Via Hackney Gazette Protesters reclaim cafe: .)

9:25:12 AM    

"DRINKING water supplies to hundreds of Stoke Newington homes and businesses face disruption over the next four months as part of a £3 million mains renewal scheme. Work to replace five miles of ageing and leaking Victorian pipework began on Tuesday. Supp"

(Via Hackney Gazette Warning over water supplies: .)

9:24:50 AM    

"A HEAD teacher at a Hackney primary school was made a Dame in the Queen's New Year honours. Anna Hassan, from Millfields school in Hilsea Street, Lower Clapton, is one of five Hackney heroes celebrating after being awarded gongs. The 59-year-old was made"

(Via Hackney Gazette Head teacher is made a Dame: .)

8:46:52 AM