Did you know.....

 

Info centre looking ahead
With summer holidays not too far off, many volunteer groups are preparing for the busy season, Carters Man-gawhai Information Centre included. This

Thursday, November 13, the call is out for all volunteers, old and new, to attend a training day at The Club starting at 9.30am and finishing around 1pm. The Info Centre is a community service, run by volunteers, to assist both local peo-ple and visitors to the area. Spokesperson Val Cleaver says any-one who would like to join as a volunteer is welcome. "The training session starts with morning tea and a chance to re-ac-quaint ourselves with the regular volunteers and meet the new," Val explains. "Come along on the day and find out how we do things." If you would like a bit more information yourself before you head off to the training day, call one of the following: Tony Williams 431 5114, Dorothy Free-man 431 5950, Jean Goldschmidt 431 5096, Val Cleaver 431 4042.

ASB grant for fairy tern trust Out on the Wildlife
Refuge, the fairy terns have started breed-ing and volunteers are working hard at protecting the nesting sites. These little birds are New Zealand's most endangered and need our help if they are to survive. So far there are seven nests with 12 eggs – a prom-ising start. The NZ Fairy Tern Charitable

Trust, based here in Mangawhai, has re-ceived a $35,000 grant from ASB for contin-ued trapping out on the refuge, predators being of real concern. DOC says there are six main points to ensure the survival of the spe-cies: reduce human disturbance, preda-tor control, advocacy, protection from the environment (weather, tides etc), manipula-tion (cross-fostering, artifical incubation), manipulation of habi-tat.

Fairy tern makes stamp
On the advocacy front, NZ Post has a special conservation stamp issue featuring five of NZ's most endangered seabird species, with the fairy tern featuring on the $1.40 stamp. The Seabird of the Year competition ends on November 24, so go online and vote for the Fairy Tern: www. seabirdoftheyear.org.nz. The hashtag for Facebook or Twitter is #votenzseabird.

All hands on deck!
Cars filling the museum carpark indicate the level of activity inside as volunteers dedicate their time to ensure everything is ready to roll on opening day, December 6. Phew! The exhib-its to arrange, light-ing control, interactive displays, guides to be trained, cafe to organ-ise, cleaning, planting – the summer season will be a real test. And of course, the fundraising is ongoing. Anniversary week-end and Easter book fairs are very popular and the museum is collecting books now in preparation. If you have some, in good order to donate, you can drop them off at the museum, or give Graeme Smith a call 431 4357.

MAZ volunteers are struggling to finish off the planter box and 'volcanoes' on the new streetscape. Try as they might, all attempts to fence off those areas to protect users from protruding steel etc, are failing. Protective fencing, tape etc, is found torn down the next day! But the usage of the new streetscape is encouraging with scooters, skateboards, and bikes all enjoying the concrete space. If you haven't been into the area, make an effort next time you go past. You'll be surprised at what is there. And have a look on their website, www. mangawhaiactivityzone.co.nz to see the concept plans for all stages of the development. Inspiring.
 

Try the new track The Waterfall track was officially opened on Labour Day, so take time out to ex-plore before the heat of summer!. Do the loop – up the water-fall, along the top, and down the Tanekaha. It’s 4-5 hours, or more if you amble! Just make sure you wear suitable footwear. King Road, turn right at the T-junction for the car-park area and good directional signage. Definitely no dogs – it's kiwi country.

Free indoor bowls intro
awn bowls is immensely popular, but have you tried indoor bowls? Every Thursday morning folk get together in the Senior Citz hall in Fagan Place (off Wood St) to play a couple of games. From 9.30-11.30am it’s great fun, lovely people to show you what to do, and the first four weeks are free! For more info contact Tony on 431 5242 or just turn up, have a look, and stay if you want to.

Theatre for the whole family
How about celebrating the end of the school year by taking the family to Otamatea Repertory Theatre’s production of Wind in the Willows? See Mike Carter's adaptation of one of the classic greats of children's literature by Kenneth Grahame, with its themes of friendship and loyalty, and fea-turing the well-loved characters of Ratty, Badger, Toad and Mole. It's gentle and whimsical, and when it was first staged in the UK in 1985 it broke all box office records for a Christmas show. See the local ver-sion at the Otamatea theatre, Bickerstaffe Road, Maungaturoto, on Friday November 21 and 28 at 7.30pm, with 2pm matinees on November 22, 23, 29 and 30. Tickets $20 for adults, $5 for students (a very affordable treat for the whole family) and available online at www.ort.org.nz or from Tony's Lotto Shop in Maungaturoto.

Funds available for local projects 
And don't forget, if you have a project that benefits Mangawhai and meets

the relevant criteria, a grant from the Mangawhai Endowment Lands Account (MELA) could be the boost you need. Application forms available online or from the KDC office in the Village, and completed applcations need to be in by December 12.

Seniors get technical
SeniorNet is holding their last presenta-tion for the year at The Club here in Man-gawhai on November 27, 2.30-4.30pm. It's all about keeping up with technology, so come along and get an update on just what is happening, includ-ing social media, and learn more about the changes too. There will also be a presentation on 3D printing – a fac-tory on your desktop! Grant Sidaway from SeniorNet Federation is the presenter. All are welcome, no need to register, and the entry fee of $5 includes af-ternoon tea.

Library hall set for flower show
An event with a nos-talgic country theme is the Womens Insti-tute Craft and Flow-er Show, on Friday November 21. This has been held in the Library Hall in the vil-lage for over 60 years, featuring prize blooms, floral arrangements, knitting, cooking, pre-serves, woodwork, photography, art, and childrens work. The

schedule has been printed in the Memo. Bring your entry along in the morning prior to judging at 11am. Open for public view-ing in the afternoon, prizegiving at 2pm, and a true country-style afternoon tea available!

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SNIPPETS „November: chocolate of the month at Bennetts is Lemon Cup. You even get to taste before you buy! „ La Croix hairdressing, upstairs at Bennetts, is now open. Phone for an appointment on 431 4465 or 021 534 3134. „Did you know that plans are underway for a bike shop in Mangawhai? The pedals will be turning well before Christmas, but we'll let you know where and when. „And watch out for Mangawhai Rayders out and about on the road as they step up their training for the big Lake Taupo race... „Spotted: the sign on the fence by the light industrial area on Molesworth Drive – Factorys and Storage. Rush Coffee picked up a bronze medal for the best Supermarket Coffee with their Rush Espresso in the 2014 Huhtamaki NZ Coffee Awards. We know it's good too! „Popular annual Beaujolais nights at the Frog & Kiwi to celebrate the new vintage coming up – Thursday Nov 20 and Saturday Nov 22. Book now 431 4439. „ This Saturday Nov 15 is Comedy Night at the Tavern featuring Michelle A'Court plus Jeremy Elwood and Matt Stellingwarf. Tickets online at Eventfinder or from the Tavern. Dinner & Show, or Show only. „Spectacular jumps, thrill and spills with Thundercat racing at the Heads surf beach on Saturday Nov 22. „ The museum has an amazing raffle for Christmas, a magical Christmas Town display complete with twinkling lights, Rudolf and friends, snow covered village buildings and houses – a real family heirloom. Tickets $5, and it will be drawn on opening day, Dec 6. „ Sunday Nov 23, Beach and Country Market on the Domain. Parking on the Domain is free, so please don't park out on the road! „ Heartening to see people helping others. St John Op Shop in the village offered furniture, bedding, kitchen things, clothing or whatever was needed, to the family in Wellsford who lost everything when their home burned down recently.

News and views to share through this column? Contact Jo Roberts 4314 711; email jo.roberts@xtra.co.nz