News Garden blow


ABIDfor government funding for a plan to turn a village park into a sensory garden has been refused. Hollingbourne Parish Council


has learned its request for £250 fromtheMinistry ofHousingwas rejected due to a high number of applicants. The money would have pro-


vided sensory equipment and plants for villagers with physical andmental health problems. The government, however, has


urgedthose behindthe bidto keep the project alive and to apply for funding elsewhere.


Bluebellwalk


HEARTofKentHospice is holding a six-mile bluebell walk through the North Downs on May 5, to raisemoney for its crucialwork. Potential hikers can begin their


trek anytime between 8.30am and 10.00am, starting from Harriet- shamVillageHall. Tickets cost £10 for adults and£3 for children.Dogs are welcome, but must be kept on leads. For more information, visit


www.hokh.org/events/detail/blue- bell-walk-2019.


Business Focus


downsmail.co.uk


Fromchips to chops as Donda looks to expand


BUSINESSMANDondaMichae- las is serving up “fish and clips” after transforming part of his chippy into a barber shop. The Bearsted entrepreneur,


alongwithwife Samand palsWes and Sarah Mason, has converted the disused restaurant section of Marino’s Fish Bar into the parish’s first gents’ coiffeur for 60 years. Donda,who has been in the fast


food business for a quarter of a century, told Downs Mail: “Own- ing a barber’s shop had always been an ambition of mine, but I don’t know the first thing about cutting hair, so recruiting the right people was as important as refit- ting the restaurant.” The barbers, called The Hairy


Bear in a nod to Bearsted FC, opened on April 10 and now em- ploys four stylists. Sam, who runs the Roseacre


Launderette, said: “Bearsted had hairdressers but no good, old-fash- ioned gent’s barbers.


Donda and Sam Michaelas with barber Nick Michael (left)


“My 12-year-old-son Pedro had


to go intoMaidstone to get his hair cut.We’dhave todealwiththe traf- fic, parking…itwas a lot of hassle. “So when we were looking to


move into the business, we thought that, ifwe hadtodealwith that amount of hassle, a lot of other people around Bearsted probably did aswell.” The business partners canvassed


online and the positive response prompted them to make plans to convert the restaurant atMarino’s. “Insixweeks,we’ve totallytrans-


formed the place,” saidDonda. Wes, who owns System For


Safety a fewdoorsdown, saidthat, while the project had made him apprehensive, hewas also excited. “We’ve hada lot ofpositive feed- back already," he said.


LOCAL businesses are as important an element to community life as a parish council, cricket club or the Women’s Institute. Here at the Downs Mail we have always recognised the pivotal role commerce plays in a vibrant, thriving economy. Be they small, medium or large enterprises, we have tried to celebrate the great things they bring jobs, career paths, training, entrepreneurship, industry awards, innovation and prestige.


That is why we have been promoting our recently enhanced Business Notice Board (BNB) at downsmail.co.uk in recent months.


And it is paying off. Our BNB is rapidly becoming a place where the business world can communicate with one another, share ideas, offer advice, drum up business or simply promote themselves. And it is completely FREE to use.


You can use it as many times as you like without having to pay a penny. Perhaps you have news you’d like to share, seek tenders for an important contract, trumpet a new product or put feelers out for specialist expertise. Feel free. Use it, it’s yours!


12 Maidstone East May 2019


Taking notice


ORGANISATIONS are able to make as many entries and use as many categories as they wish on our Business Notice Board.


They can upload an image, headline, detailed text, contact details and links to their own and associated websites. The service is quick and easy to use go to the business notice board page on our website and just click on the red post your free listing here button or submit your business news link to get started.


Directory advert


THE Downs Mail Business Directory is a searchable database of local businesses, suppliers and tradespeople where companies can advertise for a year for just £48 plus VAT.


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