what's new in plimmerton? october 2014 newsletter
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What's new in Plimmerton? October 2014 newsletterTRANSCRIPT
Sue’s Harry bird watching
Plimmerton Residents’ Association Newsletter
What’s new in Plimmerton?
October 2014
Tweets and twitters for twitchers in Plimmerton The bird report from Sue and Harry This is nesting time for many of our wonderful birds like kereru (wood pigeon) riroriro (grey warbler) and ruru (morepork). Cat owners are asked nicely to keep their pets fed to the brim and indoors at night if possible.
If predators like rats, possums and feral cats have been seen in your area please call the SPCA to have them removed.
The Great Kereru Count is on until 5 October. Bella asks, “Have you seen fat white-aproned wood pigeons about? Or just their mighty fruity poo?” You can report all kereru sightings in your garden or neighbourhoods to www.kererucount.org.nz
It’s our tern now Sue says, “It’s great to see lots of white-fronted terns on the rocks. Occasionally we are lucky enough to see a black-fronted tern amongst them. They are greyish without the white area between beak and head and they have red legs and beaks. There’s also a pair of Caspian terns in the fire station area.”
Sue has an update on our sole shore plover and a sad pied shag tale … with a happy ending.
More fantastic bird photos on our web site.
Send us your bird images for the web site to [email protected]
www.plimmerton.org.nz/explore-nature/local-shore-bird-report/
Want to share your well behaved dogs with people less fortunate? Canine Friends Pet Therapy are looking for nice calm dogs to visit and provide comfort to people in hospitals and rest homes in this area. Register at www.caninefriends.org.nz
The local co-ordinator will contact you and arrange to meet you and your dog. When your application is approved your dog will receive the red Canine Friends scarf and the person part of the pair gets the official red badge. You’ll then be allocated a place to visit fortnightly or weekly. All sorts and sizes of dogs are welcome as long as they are reasonably calm and they enjoy meeting people.
Jean, the local co-ordinator, is currently looking for small lap dogs to visit Emerson Home for an hour fortnightly. Check out their web site today!
WW 100 stories Solved … the mystery of Karehana Bay’s ANZAC Cove 1916.
Find out how the house was named www.plimmerton.org.nz/
Gallantry at Gallipoli distinguished conduct medal for Lance Corporal Wilfred Singleton in 1915. Dairyman and farmer, he was a handsome strapping young man listed as being six foot two with a fair complexion blue eyes and black hair. When he enlisted he was working on the farm at Porirua Hospital. Read his story www.plimmerton.org.nz/history/ANZAC-stories/Wilfred-Singleton/
Karehana Park playground, paths and pavers on the way With settled weather the path from Airlie Road to the playground entrance has started. There are now places for more donated pavers to be added in this area. Consultation on the park’s playground has been completed and options are now being prepared by PCC for the community to review. Photos, plans and updates on progress www.plimmerton.org.nz/events/karehana-park/
Stop press: meeting at the park on Thursday 9 October at 6pm to look at playground options (54 submissions were received)!
Holiday swimming lessons at Dash Swim School Various levels and times from 8.30 – 10am. $50 a week school age, $45 pre-school.
Call 237 1518 or visit www.dashswimschool.co.nz
Soap suds and sponge cake on Sunday Car wash and bake sale at Plimmerton School Sunday 19 October Have your car cleaned and stock up on delicious homemade baking treats. You will be supporting year 8 students (final year of primary school) who are fundraising for their end-of-year dinner. Organiser Michele Saunders says, “Let’s make this a real community event and celebrate the success of our wonderful local children as they move on to the next chapter in their lives.”
Oh beehive! Kaye is organising the rental of bee hives from a Hawkes bay company. She saw a Country Calendar programme about encouraging bee numbers and decided to put the manuka on her Ogilvy Terrace property to good use. She says that you can contact her if you are keen to have bee hives on your property. “You will be doing your bit to save bees. You really don’t have to do too much, and you get a supply of natural honey as part of the lease arrangement.” Contact Kaye 021 128 3041
Doggy doo doo etiquette One day this week we picked up 19 of other people’s doggy doos between Plimmerton and Mana on the Ara Harakeke walkway. We should not have to do that! We pick up our dog poo, every other dog owner should do their bit. Residents complain about people not picking up dog doos in Steyne Ave. Others object to people putting used doggy doo bags into their bins or throwing them into the bushes.
We feel compelled to publish the rules for doggy doo doo action in Plimmerton:
Pick up your dog poo immediately it exits the tail end of your pet
Use a doggy doo bag or pooper scooper(which you always carry with you)
Do not hiff the bag into the bushes (doggy doo bags are biodegradable but people do not want them decorating their herbaceous borders. Worse, supermarket bags et al are not biodegradable and the flung ensemble becomes an installation)
Please do not put your full doggy doo bag into someone else’s bin on the pavement. Lazy and not nice
Put your tied bag into one of our many PCC bins which are emptied daily
If you see an unpicked-up poo do the decent thing and use one of your doggy doo bags to remove it
If you see people passing a doggy poo, that their dog has just passed, then politely ask them to remove it.
We hope that the culprits are people who are not Plimmerton residents but those who come to walk their dogs here. Some people need to be reminded to treat our environment with respect.
Be part of Porirua’s future – have your say on future growth in northern Porirua Find out more about what is proposed www.pcc.govt.nz
Community Connect Porirua … free electronic newsletter If you and your organisation would like to know more about community activities in this area just join this email list. Organiser Jenny Lester says, “Representatives from established organisations in Porirua have set up a free electronic (web-based) panui for the community. This will inform community organisations and government agencies about the services, programmes and activities delivered in Porirua. It will also publicise relevant events, create a two way link to national organisations and keep everyone up to date with local issues.”
Email [email protected] with yes in the subject line. Give your details including contact name, organisation name, email address (info or admin). October’s issue will include upcoming training events, a funding calendar and other interesting items that will be useful for all community groups. Sign up today to keep in the loop.
Police Neighbourhood Support newsletter On our web site now the crime stats for August 2014 from Simon Bygate Community Constable www.plimmerton.org.nz/neighbourhood-info/police-updates/
Glam and Glitz at Plimmerton Ritz Wednesday 15 October Plimmerton Boating Club 7-9pm Zonta Club of Mana’s BIG annual fundraising event for educational scholarships for local women.
Pre-loved accessories, bags, shoes, jewellery and clothing in great condition. If you have fabulous items to donate and you’d like them collected call Maureen 233 0727, 027 496 6197 or Jenny 233 0728 [email protected]
Bebe’s Babes at Bottle Creek Gallery October 16 – November 9 Robyn Hall says “This exhibition features five female artists from my family. Bebe was my grandmother and took up art when she was widowed. Now her three daughters and two granddaughters also paint. Our styles are varied in content and media.” Find out more www.plimmerton.org.nz/top-stories/in-the-news/
Artable Wear Show 12 Sept – 15 October Wearable Art show featuring local artists’ works previously seen on the WOW catwalk! Emerging Light Gallery Steyne Ave (near the station). Plus lace making demonstrations during the weekends. Note exhibition date extended due to popular demand (and correction of a previous typo)!
Plunket Coffee Group New hatchlings and their parents welcome. Mondays 10-11.30am. www.plimmerton.org.nz/neighbourhood-info/plunket/
Mana Little Theatre opening night Wednesday 24 September Martha Josie and the Chinese Elvis Season runs 24-27 Sept at 8pm, Sunday 28 at 3pm, Wednesday 1 to Saturday 4 Oct at 8pm. Always great value entertainment. Link to www.manalittletheatre.org.
Tickets 233 1127 or [email protected]
Greet the neighbours, meet new people, exercise the dogs, walk the kids, burn off winter calorie storage, breathe fresh sea air, see who is building, enjoy spring birdlife … The benefits are endless. And how can you partake in this delight? You can spend half an hour a month delivering this newsletter! If you have two legs in reasonable working order contact us today [email protected]
Big Spring Clean Getting Plimmerton ready for summer. Sunday 9 November All hands to the pump! Families, college students, the young and the fit, the determined and doddery - everyone welcome. Let’s get Plimmerton ship shape for summer. Come along to Big Mac’s Slabs at 10am and you’ll get bags and gloves and be allocated an area to clear. People with mowers, weedeaters, and other heavy duty gardening kit are welcome too. There are lots of areas that need to be cleared as well as cleaned up.
Free sausage sizzle for the workers when all the decks are sluiced.
Ideas, volunteers, groups keen to help contact [email protected]
Defib training saves lives … Monday 29 September at 7pm Join Wellington Free Ambulance staff and our own local firefighters at St Andrews church hall to learn the basics and practice working the defibrillator. You could save lives! People of all ages welcome. Gold coin donation for the ambos.
Plimmerton Kindergarten new playground, no ifs, no (cigarette or dog) butts Diane Khan says, “We love our new playground and are happy to see it used out of hours by local children. However we have had problems with adults leaving their doggy poos and cigarette butts in the area. Let’s keep the playground clean and healthy for kids.”
We suggest that if you see people smoking near playgrounds that you point out the signs and remind them that playgrounds are non-smoking areas. Also dogs are not permitted in any playground areas. Full stop.
People should appreciate being able to use these facilities and respect kindergarten property. Remind kids to pick up their rubbish too … playgrounds, playing fields and parks in this area are littered with plastic bottles, chip packets, and wrappings from things consumed by young people who do not have to pay for their own dental treatment.
Mana Arts Labour Weekend exhibition 25, 26 and 27 October Open every day from 10am – 4pm at Mana Arts clubrooms in Plimmerton Domain.
A wide variety of artworks on display. Raffles for two paintings will be drawn at the end of the exhibition. Any queries contact organiser Jeanette Menzies 233 1881.
Bring bees to your garden and Plimmerton The simplest thing you can do to encourage bees is to plant bee-friendly plants in your garden (and in empty spots around Plimmerton). Start with bee favourites - wildflower plants and lavender. Bees are great pollinators and play a key role in producing the food we eat so get planting. For more info on bee-attracting plants talk to the helpful people round at Palmers. Or find the bee friendly plant poster on our web site www. http://plimmerton.org.nz/explore-nature/bees/
Mainly Music Mana music and fun for pre-schoolers Fun session for families to enjoy together and for children to grow through singing and movement.
Mondays 9.30am at St Barnabas Church on Mana Esplanade during term time. Each 30 minute session is followed by morning tea, play time and story time and costs just $3 per family per session.
Call Alister or Barbara 233 1054 or check out Facebook “Mana Mainly Music”.
St Barnabas Church garage sale and mini gala Saturday 11 October 9am-noon treasure hunters alert At St Barnabas Church on Mana Esplanade. Come and do some treasure hunting … craft, books, toys, clothes, baking, bric-a-brac … lots of bargains!
Your neck of the woods … garden gorgeousness in Gordon Bella says, “This month’s stunning property is in Gordon Road. The spot is perched in a small gully with breath taking views but some real space constraints. They have cunningly used a palette of native shrubs to frame their access and home. If this is your place … nice one! You’ve won a voucher from Café Vella. Contact PRA to claim your prize [email protected]”
See if you are the winner http://plimmerton.org.nz/your-neck-of-the-woods/
Kapi Mana … stories of interest to Plimmertonians Brash happy to reach the beginning of the road … regional councillor Jenny Brash was there for the historic turning of the first sod marking the official beginning of Transmission Gully.
Porirua Club grabs photo award … Kapiti Camera Club wins annual inter-club photography competition.
Everything we drop or spill on the ground can end up in the harbour … reminder to keep chemicals out of our drains.
New group to care for our harbour … committee to co-ordinate harbour and catchment strategy and activities.
Veins of Bebe’s babies run with paint … exhibition by three generations at Bottle Creek gallery Pataka from October 16.
Trampers tackle bay area trash deposits … More than 60 huge rubbish bags were filled during a recent beach clean up.
www.plimmerton.org.nz/top-stories/in-the-news/
Mosaic seat production under way! On Sunday 21 September mosaic artist Kerry Scott introduced a keen team of volunteers to the design and process for making two mosaic concrete wave seats (same as the pairs of seats in Queen’s Ave with the paua insets). Over the next few weeks these people will work on the mosaic at the mosaic workshop in the Mungavin Hall in Ranui. If you missed out but would love to be involved email Kerry [email protected]
Kerry showed the group some of her work throughout Australasia which is simply stunning. Porirua is very lucky to be having Kerry’s input to our villages. Her recent works in Waitangirua and Ranui are fantastic see this week’s Kapi Manan for more.
Bridge balustrade and entrance enhancement Work is under way to enhance the entrance to Plimmerton. This includes highlighting the bridge at the start of Steyne Ave by turning the seaward side balustrade into an art work, (the road bridge crossing the Taupo Stream as you come over the rail crossing). The balustrade has been designed by Plimmerton landscape architect Linda Kerkmeester in consultation with artists from Ngati Toa (Hongoeka).
It features a series of waves with the original names of landmarks around the coast as well as reed-inspired railings reflecting Taupo Swamp plant life.
You can see the design www.plimmerton.org.nz
Stories about the landmarks will be added to our site soon. These will be a valuable resource explaining the history of people living here. They will also be part of the planned Green and Gold trail which will allow residents and visitors to explore the social and natural history of this area.
Chem-Dry moves in to old Piano Shop in Cedric Place Barry Timms, managing director of Chem-Dry, tells us that they have moved their five operations into this area. They are the people you call first when flood and mayhem hit your home. You’ll find them listed in the trade section of our web site.
Floods 24/7 cleaning and protection, stain treatment, flood and fire restoration, pet urine removal. Contact 499 2222, [email protected]
Karehana Park massive response Thanks to all the locals who responded to the playground planning project recently. Fantastic feedback with 54 submissions received!
Book club vacancy Wednesday evening book club meets monthly. Place available from October. Free range reading. Lots of laughs, wine and nibbles … and great reading. Contact [email protected]
Electronic version of newsletter ONLY soon Only a few more issues of What’s new in Plimmerton will be delivered to your letterbox. It’s time to move to electronic delivery. We will continue to print copies and have them available at key points around the area for those who do not use electronic communication. We are thinking the chemist and doctor’s, The Big Salami and real estate agents (for new residents). Any other places we should consider that will make it easy for those of you who want to keep on with a printed newsletter? Let us know! Tell a committee member or put a note in Pip Piper’s letterbox at 22A Steyne Ave.
Don’t miss the news … send your email today to [email protected]
Our website: http://www.plimmerton.org.nz/ and our email: [email protected]
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