• Advise your security company if you are going away and ensure that you supply all the necessary information regarding key holders and emergency contacts. Also ensure that your alarm system is in good working order.

• Inform your neighbours of your holiday plans so that they can keep an eye on your property.

• Stop all newspaper deliveries and ask a friend or neighbour to collect your post. A bulging post box is a real giveaway that you are not at home.

• If you are hiring a house sitter, ensure that you teach them how to use your alarm correctly. Also advise your security company about who they are and what their contact number is.

• Double check that you have locked and secured all windows and doors before leaving home. Thunderstorms and wind can trigger false alarms.

• Ensure that all your out-buildings (garage, cottage, garden shed) are secured. Also ensure that external PIR beams are in working order and cut away excess foliage near these external beams so that false alarms are not triggered.

• Never leave a key in a door which has glass panels or glass near the door lock.

• Having security gates fitted on outer doors is a highly effective security measure that gives you an extra line of defence.

• Sliding doors can be secured simply by placing a piece of timber cut to size in the sliding rail. Make sure that sliding doors cannot be lifted vertically. Preferably have a sliding gate across the front all sliding doors.

• Full fencing and sturdy driveway gates are a good deterrent. Make sure that your gate motor and battery are also secured. You can also link your gate motor to your house alarm system.

• Have good exterior lighting, preferably on a timer or movement sensitive. Criminals do not like lighting.

• Do not leave ladders, spades or tools lying about outside as they can be used to break into your house. Do not leave other valuables in view from the road as opportunistic criminals will steal these.

• Clear signage indicating that you have a security company also helps to discourage criminals.

If you need assistance please contact the KSS offices on 033 3305911 at any time of day or knight. For further security advice you can contact Keshen on 083 393 5265 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. You can also contact Gary on 082 8947 628 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

News supplied by Knight Security Solutions.

Supporting local, ethical, caring companies who are doing things the right way goes beyond the feel good factor. Every rand we spend directly impacts our environment, our economy, and our own health and happiness, ultimately.

Saying no to faceless big corps who are high on spin and promises but low on integrity and therefore cost goes way beyond just getting a cheap deal. While it may seem like a bargain, it’s costing us these things in the end.

Each rand we spend is a vote: for the kind of world we’d like to live in, the kind of world we’d like our children and grandchildren to live in. How are you voting?

At The Hemp People, we support only ethical, eco-responsible companies which is why we’re so in love with Peach & Moon.

They’re a family-run business based in Cape Town. They keep bees and grow organic olives, herbs and essential oils on their farm high in the Winterhoek Mountains of the Western Cape. Their organic CBD oil is imported from Holland and all their products are lab tested.

We’re offering 15% off all Peach & Moon products for the whole of December with code PEACH15.

News supplied by The Hemp People.

Active Fire Services was founded in 2016 as a Fire Equipment Service and Installation division of Global Learning Services, and Pro-Safe Health and Safety Consultants.
Active Fire Services promotes fire safety as a core value and are dedicated to ensuring that your company is safe against the risk of fire and complies with the necessary Regulations as per the relevant SANS Standards.

Fire is the greatest threat to any business and home and therefore fire defence and protection is an essential consideration to ensure complete asset protection.
With an increasing number of industry related fires and the direct impact on business continuity and bottom line, fire risk is a serious factor relating to down-time and loss of productivity. We can assume that our insurance will cover us financially, for loss, due to fire, however the losses are far more entrenched in the form of loss of life, impact on reputation and legal implications.

Active Fire Services is committed to providing you with industry specific, world-class and modern solutions to fire risk management. We insist on quality driven service and live by the ethos of “Service while you Save”.

With over 20 years of industry experience, our SAQCC registered technicians offer friendly, efficient, and professional service and advice to suit your every need within the fire protection sector.

Be it supply, installation, servicing or maintenance, our quality of workmanship is always assured, thereby giving you absolute peace of mind.

We are about RESULTS and SERVICE!

We professionally supply, service, maintain, recharge and install state of the Art firefighting equipment and systems.

Our scope of expertise includes:
· Fire Extinguishers (portable, trolley and ceiling mounted units)
· Fire Hose Reels
· Fire Hydrants
· Fire Boosters
· Fire systems

 News supplied by Active Fire Services.

Join us at Piggly Wiggly for our November and December Christmas programme. 

23 November – The Wykeham Collegiate Wind Ensemble will be performing at 9am
30 November – Drakondale Girls Choir Christmas performance at 9am
1 December – Drakondale Girls Choir Christmas performance at 11:30am
7 December – Father Christmas visit with sweets and a letter writing station between 10am and 12pm

News supplied by Piggly Wiggly-Midlands.

Come join us at the Howick Hospice Christmas Market
Our Preloved Shop will be open, along with stalls.
Best of all, all our Christmas Decor will be on SALE

News supplied by Howick Hospice.

Dog training is a great way to build trust and mutual respect while bonding. A well trained dog with good manners is more manageable, relaxed, content and confident and this results in better quality of life for the dog.

The trainer learns the importance of patience, consistency and understanding the dog. The use of force free training methods also teach us that violence is not necessary to get what we want and helps to nurture kindness and compassion.

These are just some of the benefits experienced by those attending our township dog school in Mpophomeni.

These photos of our senior class show our top handlers in action enjoying quality time with their dogs.

News supplied by Funda Nenja.

Working with ToPS Species (Threatened or Protected Species).

This time it's a very rare (and absolutely adorable)... Tree Hyrax (Denrohyrax arboreus).

This juvenile arrived earlier this week after being found in the Balgowan Conservancy, wandering alone in the daytime. Being nocturnal mammals this was highly unusual.

Tree Hyrax, unlike the Rock Hyrax are solitary and tend to stay in their immediate family group, consisting of a mother and her young during the breeding season.

They are arboreal folivores, this means that they feed on foliage (leaves), and make use of cavities in trees as dens, which the mother and her young will inhabit during the daylight hours. This little one can skillfully climb tress at the amazing age of 1 day and eats solid food from day 3!!! It will be returned to the wild shortly.

We would love you to join our Custodianship Program. It is a fun way of supporting us and being involved. To find out more, just click this link: http://www.freemekzn.co.za/become-a-custodian/

News taken from FreeMe WIldlife Facebook page.

What started out as a small farm stall, Piggly Wiggly has now grown into a formidable force in the Midlands offering a one-stop shop for all good country experiences.

The Coffee Shop serves up generous breakfasts and is the perfect lunch-time spot. Grab an award-winning cappuccino, nosh on a fresh farm-ranch salad and enjoy the relaxed, pretty setting.

So from fresh organic food, to incredible home decor, ceramic painting, candle dipping, and plenty of kids activities, make Piggly Wiggly your favourite spot!

Piggly Wiggly parkrun is a free weekly 5km timed run
we meet every Saturday at 8am you can register online at www.parkrun.co.za

News supplied by Piggly Wiggly.

Christmas Service Times for Howick Churches.

Assemblies of God

25 December 2019       Christmas Day Service 7:30 am
31 December 2019        New Year’s Eve  Service 10:15 pm

Christ Church Howick

22 December 2019  5:00pm    Picnic and "Carols by Candlelight"  5:00pm (actual service will start at 6:00pm).

25 December 2019              Christmas Day Service 8:00am - 9:00am.

Howick Family Fellowship

25 December 2019               Christmas Day Service 8:30am - 9:30am.

Howick Presbyterian Church

25 December 2019           Christmas Day Service 8:30am.

Little Mozambique will be open for Christmas Lunch on 25 December.

Book your table and enjoy a stress free lunch with delicious food.

Little Mozambiue will use their normal menu for Christmas Day and will be open until 4pm.

News supplied by Little Mozambique.

For the month of December only, get 10 % off all chandeliers, pendants, ceiling fans and wall fans.

“FOR YOUR PEACE OF MIND, WE HAVE CCTV AND A SECURITY GUARD”. To avoid the taxi rank, please use Bell Street. Drive past the “Former Shoprite Building”, take the first left, and first left again and you will find us on the complex on the left.

News supplied by Harvard Electrical Wholesalers.

Thank you to the uMngeni Community for investing in the UCSI.

On Thursday 28 November 2019 the UCSI, along with Municipal Officials from uMngeni Municipality and JB Marks Municipality (Potchefstroom – North West), Law Enforcement, SNIPR, TrackBox and affiliated Security Companies will be performing a training exercise and operations demonstration.

This will take place from Stockowners Business Park between 9am – 12pm. The public is welcome to join us.There will be lights and sirens through the Hilton, Merrivale, Howick and surrounding areas, as well as the Starlight VCAT helicopter.
The UCSI has been identified as a “Best Practice Model” and we would like to thank every single person who has been a part of making our communities safer.
Become a contributing member of the UCSI and ensure the sustainability of the project. Go to www.ucsi.org.za or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 News supplied by uMngeni Community Safety Initiative.

Nordic Santa has arrived at The Ugly Duckling 

Available in a variety of Sizes and Colours!

Pop into the The Ugly Duckling and see what other goodies are new instore.

Bespoke and unique furniture, carpets, curios, clothing,jewelry, doorknobs, wall art and a variety of decor items to add to your home.

News supplied by The Ugly Duckling.

I had the privilege of representing the u24 Ultimate Frisbee South African team at the World Championships in Heidelberg, Germany this year. The trip was an amazing experience and I learnt a lot both on and off the playing field.
I had the opportunity to spend a few days with family relatives before the tournament started. I stayed in a small village called Hornbach, about twenty minutes outside of Heidelberg. The family was very accommodating and helpful with immersing me in the rich German culture.

The tournament included 51 teams from 27 different countries from across the globe. It was split into three divisions Men, Women and Mixed of which South Africa participated in the latter. We played a total of eleven games and two warm-up fixtures against Singapore and Czech Republic. Some of my highlights were playing the Irish team, as they were definitely one of the best spirited teams in the tournament and fun to be around. My second is playing the Singapore team as they finished 3rd overall, it was amazing to watch and play against such a strong team. The final highlight was to be able to witness some of the best u24 players in the world play in the finals.

Although we did not finish with the desired result in placement we were awarded the spirit trophy for the Mixed Division. This is given to the team which most embraces the Spirit of the Game. In addition we moved up three places from our original seeded ranking.

Thank you for supporting me throughout this wonderful experience and helping me achieve my dream of competing at this high level. Your support, financially or in other manner, has been highly appreciated. Thank you to all who helped make this happen.

Here are a few links that may be of interest to you.
https://www.facebook.com/SAu24wilddogs - pictures of the action and tales of the team.
World Flying Disc Federation: http://www.wfdf.org/ - more about the sport of Ultimate Frisbee
Opening ceremony video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlMVuwHQ3Qc
Highlights from Day 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBejGGsD3T4)

News provided by Stuart Rencken (Grade 11 at Howick High School.)

Artefacts was born when the owner Sandi, had finished a huge Company Rehabilitation Consultancy and could not decide whether to continue Financial Consulting or start on a completely new project.

While driving around Howick one day I drove past the old "Bloo Monkey" in the Falls Precinct and an idea began!! It had the space, it had the potential position and it could bring out a passion that started as a young child being dragged by my father to Auctions and Antique shops collecting high end Art, furniture and Glass.

So with a deep breath I purchased the property and went about redecorating and redesigning the property to suite Antiques, Art, Gifting, Jewellry and generally a shop that anyone of any age could come in and buy something for everyone for every occasion as well as an Interior Decorators Heaven for their clients.

The Art Gallery side came about by mistake, I was in a shopping centre and saw a little HARTS Art Exhibition. On chatting to a member I found out that there are 100's of Artists and Crafters who have no outlet or a place to sell their amazing treasures. So the concept of being Howicks Art Gallery started most especially as there is so much wall space in the shop.

All products are of the highest quality and if anyone brings in furniture or items that need repair before going on the floor we have a workshop to bring the love back. Anyone can bring in their Art and Furniture on a consignment basis and I add on a mark up to cover the overheads and insurances as well as marketing and sales of their products.

To compliment that I purchase new items that always work with the shops eclectic concept as well as refurbish furniture and make specialised items.

Our biggest selling points are the atmosphere and layout of the shop that all our customers love, but also you cannot find the same anywhere else in the Midlands and we try and keep prices at a Howick rate and not tourist rate even though we do have some good tourist traffic and accommodate their shopping requirements which also gives our locals the options to buy goodies for their overseas visits and visitors to our part of the Midlands Meander.

We are based on the far side of the Falls Precinct being 2 Harvart Street, Howick.

There is plenty of safe parking and if you want a cup of coffee while you wander around we can do that for you too...

News supplied by Artefacts Gallery.

Finding balance, this is what CBD boils down to. ⁠
⁠
Just like you, your body is in a constant quest for balance—or, in biological terms, “homeostasis.” Homeostasis depends on your body maintaining a stable internal environment. Overall homeostasis includes each variable within your body—countless things like blood glucose, body temperature, blood pressure, hormonal levels, and more.⁠
⁠
One of the most important tools your body uses to achieve homeostasis is the endocannabinoid system (ECS). In basic terms, CBD helps your ECS to function better so you can manage outside stressors while maintaining your inner equilibrium: home sweet homeostasis.

News supplied by The Hemp People.

Anyone can enjoy a pint at their local pub, but Lions River beergarden offers a very different experience. Just imagine sharing a craftbeer with good friends while nibbling on a home-grown country platter and enjoying the beauty of Lions River. We don’t offer the ordinary. For an extraordinary BrewWithAView, come visit us!

You can hire us for your event. We’ll bring the kegs and our mobile bar and serve your guests.

News supplied by Lions River Craft Bewery.

Holiday Opening TImes for Howick Businesses

Active Fire Services

Annual shutdown from 13th December to 13th January.

Casablanca Flooring

Annual shutdown from 18 December till 8 January 2020.

Phalane Property Group Midlands

Close 20 December reopening 6 January 2019.

Eat at Andrew's

Open 7 days a week during school holidays.

Open Christmas Eve for a booked lunch and Christmas Day for a booked lunch.

Home Trends

Monday to Friday 9h00am to 4h30pm.

Saturday 8h00am till 2h00pm.

Howick Hospice

16 - 23 December 8h00am to 3h00pm

24 December 8h00am till 12h00pm.

Closed 25 December reopening 2 January 2020.

HowickVillage.co.za

Annual Shutdown: 23 December 2019 to 10 January 2020. Office opens 13 January 2020.

Little Mozambique

Open 25th December till 16H00 and closed on the 26th December.

Midlands Building Supplies

24 December close at 12pm

25, 26, 27, 28 December Closed.

31 December close at 12pm.

Closed all public holidays.

Sisonke Transfer Services

Closed 25 December only.