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Houghton Valley Email Newsletter

22 March, 2011

Civil Defence: Just a reminder about the meeting on Wednesday 23 at 7 pm in the HV school hall to discuss how we can prepare for an emergency. Suggested discussion topics are:

• How to prepare;
• What steps to take when an emergency happens;
• A register (a list of local resources, people with skills).

Locals will be encouraged to input their knowledge and experience. Bring a plate for nibbles after the meeting. Please tell your neighbours.

Here is the link for the  brochure from Civil Defence (link not current): http://www.gw.govt.nz/assets/Emergencies–Hazards/Emergency-Planning/Its-easy-get-prepared-FINAL-DEC-2010WEB-With-award.pdf

See you on Wednesday, Grant

Houghton Valley Email Newsletter

16 March, 2011

Civil Defence: due to the considerable response the HV School hall has been booked for a public meeting on Wednesday March 23 at 7 pm (the school is very kindly letting us use the hall free of charge). John and/or Sandy from Cave Rd will facilitate the meeting. Ricky from Civil Defence has been invited to talk and answer questions. Locals have also suggested others such as a geologist, a fireman and someone who has been helping out in Christchurch. If you know someone you think should be invited, let me know. Early next week an email will be sent out confirming the program for the night. Please tell your neighbours.

Barry Schon (principal of HV School) clarified the schools position in the 24 February newsletter, titled:

“Our School is a Civil defence Centre. What does this Mean?

It’s my understanding that the fact that our school is a ‘Civil Defence Post’ means that there is a radio here that local Civil Defence people will come and use to help monitor any disaster – in the event of a disaster they will have local volunteers who will head to the school, if they are able to. The school itself is therefore not set up to look after big groups of people, although if people had nowhere to go we would of course do our best to look after them. After an emergency we aim to get children back to their families asap, so that we can go to our own families, and we have a system set up for this, based on the emergency contact details we have for each child.”

Christine from Cave Rd provided this emergency checklist:

• Assume you’ll need 2 week’s supply to be comfortable;
• Assume you’ll need a toilet in the garden, so a drum with a toilet seat is good;
• Drinking water: 2 x 35 gallon header tanks would be good. 40 – 50 gallons of safe water for general use; 10 litres just drinking water;
• For a shower you can get battery operated camping showers, or Jerry up a solar shower on a hook in the shower. Wet wipes would be better than nothing. Antibacterial wet wipes are great and for hands. Big problem is food hygiene with no water to wash hands and unclean water in the tap;
• Insist on work premises that meet the code;
• Extra SIM cards – different cell towers get knocked down;
• Real nice to have: a generator, 70 gallons drinkable water, temporary shower, perhaps a tent, a bike/motorbike;
• Store nothing above shoulder height unless the doors lock closed. Don’t have any cabinets that can fall across doorways;
• Have a decent torch, jacket, boots, belt for trousers because you lose weight!
• Baking soda is an excellent deodorant;
• Camera to photograph stuff before cleaning up or throwing away;
• Important documents scanned and stored out of town or online;
• All important numbers recorded and backed up. Squeegee that will scrape into a dust shovel for cleaning up smashed food, Plastic shovel and brush;
• Flattened cardboard boxes to initially collect stuff up;
• Bleach for disinfectant;
• Soap, towels;
• 4 or 5 rolls paper towels;
• Flatbreads – last better than normal bread;
• Tins enough for 5 days;
• Pencil and paper;
• Transistor and batteries;
• Dolphin torch with good battery;
• Garden gloves to pick up glass;
• Really good quality duct tape;
• Insulation tape;
• Felt pen to leave instructions;
• Hand sanitiser 500 – 1000 mls;
• Pets go missing – train them beforehand by blowing a whistle or ringing a bell once a day. Microchip them and register them;
• Some heavy clear plastic to put over broken windows;
• Store emergency kit where it will be accessible if the house collapses. Powdered milk and easy to make jug;
• Tarpaulin.

Alice Kreb Lodge: Yesterday  a meeting was held at the lodge between the WCC and lodge trustees to sort out the lease. The WCC has agreed to survey the footprint of the building and create a lease agreement that will secure its future. In the photo below are Amber, Steve and Dejan from WCC with Brenda.

Houghton valley Community garden: Locals relaxing in the garden on Sunday.

By the way, check out Houghton Bay Community on our Facebook Page for more photos.

Houghton Valley Email Newsletter

7 March, 2011

Sam is very preoccupied with the events in Christchurch, so I’m going to be doing the newsletter for a while.

Civil Defence: Many locals are talking about how a Civil Defence system could be organised for Houghton Bay. The feeling is that if an earthquake strikes, Houghton Bay will be on its own for several days. Do we want to organise a meeting to talk about this in the community hall? Yes or no? If enough people want it, let me know and I’ll book the hall. Apparently there is a fireman who lives in or near Houghton Bay, who knows the area well, and would be good to get as a speaker.

Jenny’s Notice: How is your emergency kit? Get yourself a self charging (dynamo) torch with radio, siren and cell phone charger. No batteries required. The price will be $40 or possibly a bit more, depending on the exchange rate, and we will be getting some more in to NZ in 6 weeks, but can take orders anytime!

Alice Krebs Lodge: See photo of John, Clare and Brenda preparing the Alice Krebs Lodge for refugees from Christchurch.

Sonia’s notice: On March 19 Sonia will be available for healing massage at the Alice Krebs Lodge. Sonia works with subtle healing energies to realign and stretch the body. The first session is one and a half hours. Cost $65.00. A fee is being paid to the Kae Miller Trust for each massage.

Houghton valley Community garden:  This photo  shows the veggies harvested from the garden yesterday.

There is a lot of silver beet at the moment, so please take some.

Piebe’s (Peter’s) Track: Has anyone noticed the orange step opposite the bathing sheds? See photo.

Best wishes to everyone, Grant

Houghton Valley Email Newsletter

28 February, 2011

Houghton Valley Email Newsletter

17 February, 2011

Trail bikes: A trail bike has twice been seen going up the track from the playground to Buckley Rd and then along the track above the school. We need to find away of stopping this before it gets worse.

Community Garden: The HV PlayCentre is about to start a plot. Having both the PlayCentre and the School involved is going to benefit the kids. If anyone is out walking in the evening, the garden needs lots more watering now.

Also if you email Brian he  will send you news from the South Coast Historical Society.

Cheers, Grant

Houghton Valley Email Newsletter

9 February, 2011

Nothing much has been happening – that I know of in Houghton Valley! If you hear or know of anything interesting please let me know. So just a quick note about …

Alice Krebs lodge: Alice Krebes lodge will be open this Saturday 12th at 1.30 pm for anyone who would like to come and have a look. Either come to the lodge or meet Grant at the bathing sheds at Princess Bay at 1 pm and he will walk you to the lodge via the track.

Yoga Class: Jenny has started her yoga class on Tuesdays at 6.45 – 8.30 pm in the HV School Hall. Bring a mat and blanket. Last year the class cost $7.00 not sure how much this year?

Have a wonderful rest of the week 🙂 Sam

Houghton Valley Email Newsletter

24 January, 2011

A big welcome to new email members! Isn’t the weather lovely?

Eatable weeds list: A list of eatable weeds that grow in View Rd Park has been made. So far about 15 have been identified. A booklet will eventually be produced with photos and explanations. The plants identified so far are: NZ spinach, Wild turnip,  Borage, Cat’s ear, Karamu, Taupata, Yarrow, Fennel, Blackberry, Deadly Nightshade, Puha and Valerium.

Ideas for Houghton Bay: Several locals have come up with ideas for Houghton Bay that maybe of interest:

• Arts trail around the local artists’ studios;
• Friendship evenings at the hall including a speaker;
• A proper notice board outside the Community Hall;
• Pedestrian boardwalk between the pavement and the sea from Houghton Bay to Island Bay – cyclists could then use the pavement;
• Alice Kreb Lodge as accommodation for an artist or writer’s residency;
• Creating a local website – a good example is  http://grandarts.org/  A Christchurch web designer has offered this one for emerging communities – http://placerama.com/ (Link not current.)

Do you have more ideas?

Non- Emailers: Last week’s email news was printed out for non- emailers by Christine from Cave Rd. If you know of anyone who would like a hard copy please ring Christine.

Houghton Valley Community Garden: The dirt doctors, Hana and Jacob have been giving the locals useful advice about composting. They make compost mounds, about 1×1 metre, from sticks, green stuff, seaweed, manure etc. When it begins to heat up, they create a hole in the middle for household waste. The heat keeps the rats and mice at bay. After a good storm they collect seaweed at Lyall Bay. They drag it up onto the rocks and leave it until after rain has fallen before taking it to the garden (the rain washes out the salt).

Australearn: US students from Australearn helped dig out tracks at Houghton Valley last week. The tracks make it easier to access the garden and school playground. Dave did a fabulous job at organising this. Thanks Dave!

I would love any ideas you have for the newsletter and any photos (please keep them small) that are relevant to the community.

Sam

Houghton Valley Email Newsletter

January 15, 2011

I hope you had a pleasant break!

Newsletter in print: Christine from Cave Rd has offered to coordinate a list of non- emailers. If you know of someone, phone Christine.

Traffic Issues: The Houghton Bay Progressive Association agreed to write to the council to follow up on the traffic issues at the corner of Houghton Bay Rd and the Beach. The Association also agreed to explore the costs of installing a park bench in View Rd Park in honour of Piebe Kooistra of Hungerford Rd. For 30 years or more Pieter has cut tracks at keep them open within the park.

Houghton valley Community Garden: Local families are now harvesting lettuce, spinach, strawberries, herbs and potatoes. New plots are now being prepared for the winter crops. There is still space available for those who wish to start a plot. A comment: “I interviewed a well known economist this week, who told me we are heading for a world food shortage. I have a little garden at home but my enthusiasm was renewed.” 🙂

From Dave the caretaker at Houghton Valley School: For the past four or five years Houghton Valley has hosted groups of  American students touring New Zealand as part of Australearn. As part of their tour they volunteer a couple of hours working on community projects. There are two or three tours a year and Houghton Valley school has been fortunate to be able to be the beneficiary of their labour. Sometimes they have helped around the school with the landscaping but more recently they have contributed to weed control and the creation of the tracks through the HV School-WCC Coastal Forest Regeneration Project.

Another group of 20 arrive at 9 am on Thursday 20 January and the focus will be carving out new sections of the Haunted Hut track and the Fantail Guide track. This is so people can stroll down through the forest to the Community Garden and playground with greater ease. It’s light work and a great opportunity to meet these young people from all over America amidst the ambiance of our new forest. Simply bring a spade and/or a grubber and stout shoes. They are gone by 11.30 am.

If you have any ideas or stories for the newsletter please contact me.

Have a nice windy weekend, Sam 🙂

Houghton Valley Email Newsletter

17 December, 2010

Its the time of the year when everything shuts down … This will be the last newsletter of the year – we will resume in early January. During the break I will be staying around so if anything urgent comes up e.g. neighbourhood watch or traffic or community notices contact me and I will put a short note out.

Commonsense Organics: Just a reminder that our fundraising day is tomorrow. We will get 5% of all profit made at the Kilbirnie Commonsense Organics tomorrow only. All proceeds go to the community garden. See you there!

Neighbourhood Watch: Greg and Lucy from Houghton Bay Rd saw some hoons doing donuts in the playing field behind Houghton Valley school on Sunday (12th) night at around 10.30 pm. Lucy thought about ringing the police as they must have been cutting up the grass etc, but couldn’t find a local number and didn’t want call the emergency number. Did anyone else see or hear anything?

Fireworks: There is a fireworks display tonight on the back field of Rongotai College behind Bunnings at 9:15pm. The whole family is invited.

Xmas decorations: After last week’s newsletter, Jenny from Houghton Bay Rd suggested “Some streets go all out for Xmas decorations, but as I look down towards the sea I see there are are a few houses flying flags, and thought wouldn’t it be great if lots of people in the valley flew summer flags and pennants.” Is anyone interested?

Houghton bay Rd/Esplanade Intersection: Thanks for those of you who commented on the problems with this intersection, we will keep you posted on the progress.

Merry Christmas to you all – see you in the New Year

Grant

Subsequent reply:

“Yes, we got involved with the car driving on the school grounds the other night, because we thought they would make a mess of the school playing field. I rang the wellington police station (because it was a non-emergency) and was told to hang up and dial 111, which I did. Apparently all calls to the police must go through 111. The police arrived about 1 hour later. In the mean time my husband, my 25 year old son, and a neighbour went to the school grounds and locked the gate with our own chain and padlock to contain the culprits. During the hour waiting for the police they had quite a ‘chat’ to the two young, silly and quite remorseful drivers of two unregistered vehicles. Once the police arrived they were given a warning I believe. No real damage done, and two young fellows will think twice about tangling with the local Houghton Bay Rd, concerned residents, in the future I would think.”

Houghton Valley Email Newsletter

12 December, 2010

Sorry, I am a bit late this week, I had technological difficulties. 🙂

Houghton Valley Community Garden: Locals meet every Sunday at 2 pm to work in the garden. The garden is next to the school playground, all are welcome.
Common Sense Organics in Kilbirnie has nominated next Saturday, 18 December when the garden will get 5% of that day’s profit. So please do all your organic Xmas shopping on that day. The compost bins are finished and ready for your ‘donations’. Spinach, lettuce and herbs can be harvested. (Picture missing?)

Christmas Tree: Ben from Hungerford Rd has made a Christmas tree for the community garden, you are invited to hang a little Christmas bauble on it – thanks Ben!

Christmas decorations: You may have noticed the lovely decorated house on the corner of Houghton Bay and Hungerford Road. They have been putting them up in the first week of December for many years. They often find notes in their letterbox from local kids, saying how much they like them.

Hermit of Houghton Bay: Pat Hutchinson from Island Bay has just published a comprehensive story of the ‘Hermit of Houghton Bay’, in the latest, Wellington Southern Bays Historical Society magazine.  After doing lots of research Pat felt a lot of sympathy for the hard life he had living in the cave in the 1880s and 90s. Pat is also certain that a photograph of the Hermit standing out side the cave establishes approximately where the cave was – on (or under) the  site on No 108 The Esplanade. (Picture missing?)

Memorial: Does anyone know anything about this? (Picture missing.)

Neighbourhood Watch: Keep a keen lookout around your neighbourhood we are still hearing of some dodgy goings on in the area. Make sure your cars are secured and you let your neighbours know if you are going away.

Email me on Thursday if you have any news 🙂

Have a great week! Grant