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Mangawhai gets national exposure
Jam Productions completed their filming over the summer and now our segment is ready to screen. This Town, screening Wednesday August 19, 8.30pm on TV 1 will feature Mangawhai and some of our interesting residents. Some you will recognise, some may be a surprise, but all will certainly contribute to the magic of Mangawhai.

Zonta offers extra placing
Zonta Mangawhai's jungle themed Quiz Night was so successful in raising funds for the annual Spirit of Adventure scholarship that the club will this year be offering two places on the 10 day Youth Development Voyage. Applications are due by September 11, so if you are a young woman aged 15-18, resident in Mangawhai, Tomarata, Wellsford, Kaiwaka, Maungaturoto or Waipu area and meet various other criteria such as being able to swim 100 metres unaided, request an application form by emailing mangawhai@zonta.org.nz or phone or text Sue on 027 555 6636 with your email address.

Plant thief strikes museum garden
Seems some people really appreciate the planting of hebes in the newly established museum gardens, so much so they have helped themselves to quite a number of the hard-to-source purple ones. The museum’s team of gardeners put in a lot of time – including growing these hebes from cuttings – and feel very disappointed that someone would carefully remove the plants for their own benefit. Apparently, the purple ones are difficult to source from nurseries, so whoever took them knew what they wanted.

Group to document local history
On a positive note, a 'History' group is being established at the museum to document and verify stories of times past. The intention is to eventually publish a series of booklets on various topics relevant to the area. If you are at all interested in joining this group, call in to the museum for more information.
 

Snippets n Bit of a sweepstake going on in the village butchery. Dan and Ange's baby is due on September 7, but if you guess the date and gender correctly, it will be a case of winner take all. The jar is looking very healthy... n Richard at Computers Plus in Wood St has a very impressive new piece of printing equipment which can reproduce in stunning colour virtually anything you want, from posters to house and business signs, on everything from cardboard to canvas to aluminium! Call and see what he can do for you. n Paying my rates in the local KDC office when a ratepayer called in to say thank you to the staff for all their help ..."I've been in three times," he said" and everytime I've had good service and achieved what I wanted to get done." n Our new ambulance station is almost complete, St John waiting for communications systems to get set up and a few other little things to sort out. In the meantime, the building is being used to conduct training sessions. n Many who enjoyed “Around the world in song’ concert by the Mangawhai Singers were impressed by Maggie Cameron singing Schubert’s Ave Maria. Rob Innes and Maggie Cameron have recorded a beautiful CD – Whisper of Angels- which you can order by either phoning 0800 944 773, or online www.robinnesmusic.co.nz n Kaipara Art Awards exhibition is on at the Kauri Museum at Matakohe. Call in to see just what is going on in the art world. Free entry to Otamatea residents. n Kaiwaka Cinema: Friday 21 st August, Helen Mirren stars in WOMAN IN GOLD. 7.30pm. $10. n Spotted: sign on a Dune View building site: 'Open Soon. Dune View Rec Centre. Everyone welcome. No joining fee.' Seems the neighbours whipped up the sign to wind up owner Bryce Beauchamp! As the first stage of his build, he's put up a big 'shed' as somewhere for the young ones to play, plus a 'man cave'. If you ever drive down Dune View, you'll know why all the neighbourhood youngsters gather at Beauchamps to swim in the pool, shoot goals etc....!! Bryce thought the sign was a real laugh and may put it up permanently.

Final fundraiser for Dorothy
Daffodil Day has been marked in Mangawhai for many years now through the wonderful effort by Dorothy Freeman in organising what started as a fundraising morning tea in her home and grew into a very large event at the Golf Club. This years Daffodil Day on Wednesday August 26 will be the last from Dorothy so is set to be the biggest and best yet. It’s a 10am start and $10 entry donation gives you morning tea and a game of Bingo. Additional games are available for purchase, and we know how addictive it is! Bring a donation for the Brown Bag raffle too. An indication of numbers is needed for catering purposes so please reply by Friday August 21 by phoning Dorothy on 431 5950.

Booking essential for taste of France
The Tour de France will stop at the Frog & Kiwi on Saturday August 22 – well, sort of! ‘Le Tour’ is a unique dining experience, tasting eight wines from the Rhone Valley, with Jean Christophe from Maison Vauron telling the stories of each wine as you hone your tasting skills. David has prepared seven amazing meals from the Rhone Valley, so be prepared to spend a few hours in the south east of France. Bookings essential of course on 431 4439.

Don’t miss next Operatunity opportunity
I'm In Love With Vienna is the theme for the Operatunity Concert hosted by the Probus Club on Thursday September 17. Tickets sold out very quickly last year so secure yours from Mangawhai Books & Gifts in Wood St, or Bammas in the Village.

Small-town tourism amuses
France, Vienna, Waihola. A friend spotted these signs as they headed into a little town in Otago, and wondered what we could perhaps have for Mangawhai. First sign: Waihola 1100m. Second sign: Slow Down. Third sign: No Doctor. No Hospital. One Cemetery. Fourth sign: Welcome to Waihola. Relax and Enjoy our Lake.

n News and views to share through this column? Contact Jo Roberts 431 4711, email jo.roberts@xtra.co.nz