Hilton welcomes a new artist with an impressive resumé, Mariánne Eriksson has had 10 successful one man exhibitions with excellent reviews from newspapers around South Africa. Marianne's art has sold around the world. She has travelled widely, holds a diploma in art and design from Pretoria Technicon, and studied in Paris for a year. She works in pastels, watercolours and acrylics, and has been in her new home for just two months where she has opened Hillberry Art Gallery. The quiet, space and views from her lofty studio in Hilton inspire her. She developed from a realist to a largely romantic impressionist, sometimes an expressionist, but always painting to classical music. Mariánne is essentially an abstract symbolist, and a colourist at heart, influenced and inspired by the famous French artist Raoul Dufy. Painting in a large format brings her great joy but she will accept smaller commissions to suit her client's pocket. She has written and illustrated 13 children's books, and #1 is on sale in the gallery (R75-00).

She is enthusiastic about stirring up the local artists with invitations to regular soirées where they can share their work and thoughts. She also offers art appreciation sessions once a month for discussion on techniques and problems artists may be having (R250-00 per afternoon). Coming up will be works focused on the Meander and Drakensberg. We look forward to sharing more as Hillberry Art Gallery makes its mark on Hilton!

With the beautiful April weather, Hilton bowlers have been out in full force and on Saturday we had 42 bowlers playing tabs-in. On Thursday we played for chickens generously donated by Lister and Lister and these were won by Doug Robertson, Taffy O'Neil-Williams and Arthur Dougherty.

Congratulations to Chris Lake and Andy Hitchcock on winning the final of the men's nominated pairs against runners-up Fred Palmer and Bill Lambert. Well played all of you.

League matches start on Saturday, 3rd May, therefore the Quarry Spar sponsored Chicken Run will take place on Tuesday 6th May.

The monthly Investment Facilitators tournament is scheduled for this Friday, 2nd May at 8.30, followed by men's league practice in the afternoon. Good luck to all our league players.

Duties for the week 4th May to 10th May: OOD – Jean Pluke, Tabs – John Pluke, Lock-up team – John Arnott's team, Teas on 10th May – Rina and Neil Tainton. Biscuits Anton Leisegang and Andy Hitchcock.

News supplied by Hilton Bowling Club.

She is beautiful inside and out, Hilton's Melissa Vurovecz is through to the TOP 24 stage of the Mrs SA contest. You can help Melissa with a vote, simply SMS 'Melissa Vurovecz' to 35959. Let's get our local lady to the top!

Follow Melissa...

http://melissavurovecz.wix.com/melissavurovecz

https://www.facebook.com/melissa.vurovecz.co.za

https://twitter.com/MelissaVurovecz

There will be an exciting Seminar in Hilton (a first for Hilton!) for the 55 to 75 age group entitled "LIFE AFTER WORK" at GRACE COLLEGE on the Hilton College Road, on SATURDAY 24 MAY 2014.

The Life after Work Seminar will explore all the issues surrounding "RETIREMENT"

• How to prepare for it on many levels
• The Role of relationships
• Mental Health
• The Role of Exercise
• Hobbies and Volunteering
• Spirituality and Aging
• The (Bucket) List.

There will be opportunity to engage with others in guided small group discussion. We have a great line up of speakers, entertainment, teas and a lunch included. Each participant will receive a Take Home Pack with all sorts of useful information and brochures and there will be stalls displaying various kinds of volunteering opportunities. Books on the subject will be displayed; some will be for sale on a cash basis only.

This is a HILTON initiative, being sponsored by several HILTON businesses, primarily to meet a perceived need in our community although people from surrounding areas such as Howick and Pietermaritzburg are, of course, welcome to attend. There are 120 places.

The Seminar will start at 8am with registration and go through to 2pm.

Booking is essential (the deadline is 11 May 2014) and the cost is R70.00 per person.

To book: email Pam Bircher on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (082 454 1307) who will send you a booking form to complete giving details for payment which secures your place.

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD!

You have been invited to hear Diana Veness sing at the upcoming Dunrobin Market on Saturday, 26th April 2014 form 9am till 1pm. Diana will perform songs from the 40s,50s,60s,70s,80, and some more modern songs too. Her music includes a mixture of jazz, country, folk, ballads and even rock!

If you are looking for an entertainer read through the songlist below and see if Diana sings any of your favourites.

Diana's songs from 60s – 80s
BLOWING IN THE WIND
BLAME IT ON THE BASSO NOVA
CATCH THE WIND
RED RUBBER WALL
I'M A BELIEVER
HAPPY TOGETHER
LODI
KING OF THE ROAD
YESTERDAY
THERE'S A KIND OF HUSH
LET YOUR LOVE FLOW
GREAT PRETENDER
BY THE TIME I GET TO PHOENIX
HAVE I TOLD YOU LATELY
HELLO YOUNG LOVERS
SEALED WITH A KISS
MR TAMBOURINE MAN
PUT YOUR HEAD ON MY SHOULDERS
SAVE THE LAST DANCE FOR ME
TOP OF THE WORLD
THINGs
OUR DAY WILL COME
WORLD WITHOUT LOVE
A HORSE WITH NO NAME
GENTLE ON MY MIND
BLAME IT ON THE MOON
I HAVE TO SAY I LOVE YOU IN A SONG
LESSON TOO LATE FOR THE LEARNING
HEARTACHES BY THE NUMBER
SINGING THE BLUES
JAMAICAN FAREWELL
I WILL
CALIFORNIA DREAMING
BROWN EYED GIRL
YESTERDAY WHEN I WAS YOUNG
THE GAMBLER
TRY A LITTLE KINDNESS
I JUST CALLED TO SAY I LOVE YOU
WALK ON BY
GUITAR MAN
KINGSTON TOWN
SISTER GOLDEN HAIR
LAYLA
AIN'T NO SUNSHINE
ISANDS IN THE STREAM
IMAGINE
JUST THE TWO OF US
TEACH YOUR CHILDREN WELL
CLAIR
LEAVING ON A JET PLANE
ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE
MAKE IT WITH YOU
NIKITA
I'LL BE YOUR BABY TONIGHT
LAST THING ON MY MIND
DREAM LOVER
FATHER AND SON
IF YOU COULD READ MY MIND
SAM
QUANDO QUANDO
PEARLY SHELLS
STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT

Diana's songs from the 30s to 50s
MOST UNUSUAL DAY
WALK RIGHT BACK
JUST A WALKING IN THE RAIN
SOMEWHERE THERE'S a SOMEONE
SWAY
AUTUMN LEAVES
LOVE LETTERS
EMBRACEABLE YOU
I'VE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN
MY FOOLISH HEART
SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME
WHERE OR WHEN
QUIET NIGHTS (CORCOVADO)
SUMMER SUMBA (SO NICE)
ONE NOTE SUMBA
CRY ME A RIVER
I WISH YOU LOVE
IT HAD TO BE YOU
LET'S FALL IN LOVE
THESE FOOLISH THINGS
I'M IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE
TAKING A CHANCE ON LOVE
TILL THERE WAS YOU
MISTY
NIGHT AND DAY
THE NEARNESS OF YOU
THE LOOK OF LOVE
BEYOND THE SEA
MY BABY JUST CARES FOR ME
ON THE STREET WHERE YOU LIVE
SMILE
DREAM A LITTLE DREAM OF ME
KISS ME HONEY HONEY
MAGIC MOMENTS
FLY ME TO THE MOON
THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT
MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS
A WHITE SPORTS COAT
DON'T FENCE ME IN
SECRET LOVE
BLUE MOON
OH WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MORNING
ISLANDS IN THE SUN
TULIPS FROM AMSTERDAM
ONE DAY AT A TIME
HOW GREAT THOU ART
FLOWER OF SCOTLAND
I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU
CATCH A FALLING STAR
ALL OF ME
YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE
DON'T LET THE STARS GET IN YOUR EYES
RETURN TO ME
EVERYBODY LOVES SOMEBODY
WELCOME TO MY WORLD
OUR DAY WILL COME
TWELFTH OF NEVER
WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL
A CERTAIN SMILE
THE GLORY OF LOVE
CHANCES ARE
UNCHAINED MELODY
PORTRAIT OF MY LOVE
WONDERFUL WORLD
IT'S NOT FOR ME TO SAY

SEVERAL NEW AGE JAZZ SONGS LIKE "CREEP" and "BACK TO BLACK" Amy Winehouse
And a variety of Christmas songs
And Christian songs

Click here to read more about Diana Veness.

Knight Security Solutions celebrate 25th years in business this month and to mark this milestone they are offering an alarming birthday deal for you!

Get a 10 circuit keypad system with installation and 3 months monitoring at just R1500.00!

This birthday special is to install a 10 circuit keypad system with the following:
1. 1 x 10 circuit LED display keypad in the main bedroom.
2. 2 x magnetic contacts.
3. 3 x fixed panic buttons.
4. 3 x internal pet proof passive infrared beams.
5. 1 x 50VA mall mounted transformer.
6. 1 x 12 Volt 9amp hour battery.
7. LED status light.
8. Internal and external siren.

The important Terms and Conditions:
The entire system remains the property of Knight Security Solutions until fully paid for.
Monitoring from our 24/7/365 control room.
Armed Response from our 24/7/365 reaction units.

This deal is valid until 31st May 2014.

Contact Knight Security Solutions on 033 3305911 or Gary on 082 8947628 for more information on this great birthday deal.

HiltonVillage.co.za congratulate Renen Energy Solutions on their new premises and share their warmly welcoming first newsletter...

'After a summer of rain everything is looking super lush and vibrant. With the onset of autumn the verdant greens are being offset with ochre tones as trees start to turn colour. Its captivating and magical; especially when the air is crisp, clear and crystal. We look forward again this year to refreshing mornings, warm cloudless days and, if the weather Guru's are to be believed, very chilly evenings!

With our focus still firmly on sustainability and an ever expanding awareness of the increasing needs of South Africans to stay warm as autumn turns to winter, Renen decided to add yet another incredible, high quality and innovative product to our already expansive product range. We also decided that it was high time that our wonderful clients, that's you, could visit us in style and comfort and have opened a showroom and office in Hilton. We would love to welcome you in person and look forward to chatting to you soon about the best way to meet your energy requirements for your home, office, enterprise, farm and more. We would also love to introduce you in person to our colourful fireplaces and stoves and show you how they work (some of them are even automatic!).

We look forward to making you a cup of coffee...

Warren, Luke & Ingo'

On Saturday 5 April representatives of the Hilton Community Security Initiative (HCSi) set up stalls outside Spar and Jaxx at The Quarry shopping centre in Hilton. The aim was to raise awareness of the community security initiative, and attract support and membership from Hilton residents. Dale van Ryneveld, Chairperson of the HCSi, says "Bobbies-on-the-Beat has been successfully running pro-active neighbourhood patrols over the last seven years. This was introduced in 2006 due to the unacceptable level of crime in Hilton. Crime subsequently reduced dramatically, but we now need to adopt a more holistic approach to managing crime in our town". The HCSi currently has support from approximately half the residents, and is looking to grow this number in order to expand their crime prevention initiatives. If you would like further information, please sms 076 790 6311, or send an e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Click here to join as a paying member of this initiative.

Waist circumference is an independent risk factor for heart disease. That is, if your tummy is more than 80cm if you are a lady and >94cm if you are a gentleman, when you put a tape measure around the broadest circumference then you have a higher risk of heart disease as well as diabetes even if all your other health parameters are normal.

The reason being that the "abdominal fat" that gathers at the waist is like an organ of its own that produces certain bad chemicals that in turn cause abnormalities in blood vessels generally but the damage is more marked in the heart due to the smaller calibre of blood vessels that feed the heart. Researchers have found that the fat deposited here is a more dangerous fat than when it is anywhere else in the body. So the beer boep (muffin handles) is a "dangerous" appendage.

This is a cause for concern at a time such as the Easter season – when adding to the appendage is a real danger. This does not mean abstinence is mandatory. The key word is: moderation. By dishing up a portion of each of the festive foods, that is possibly less than you would usually, you can still celebrate and enjoy whilst you keep that waist circumference at least at the measurement it currently is and then aim for a reduction when the new year's resolutions kick in.

Your own health is certainly a present that you can give yourself at Easter time and by concentrating on this one principle of reducing "waist circumference" you will prevent two serious chronic conditions and be able to celebrate more Easters with your family.

Remember also that alcohol contains calories that by definition of the "beer boep" tend to go to the waist. Once again moderation is key, for women one glass of wine (or equivalent) and for men two glasses (or equivalent) is the recommended maximum daily dosage. If you are trying to lose weight cutting out the alcoholic beverages will certainly cut down on calories.

Healthy living is a choice. Heart disease and Diabetes (type 2) are both preventable diseases. At the same time if you have either disease they are also a "manageable" and one can certainly prevent progression and further complications. Whilst tis a season to be jolly and being jolly is also good for the heart, think about what you eat and drink this time of the year before just plunging into the indulgence as a matter of course.

Written by Dr Claudine Lee (GP 26 Hilton Avenue 033 343 2243) with a special interest in women's health, diabetes and lifestyle diseases).

Local lady Melissa Vurovecz's duties as a Top 24 finalist in the Mrs SA 2014 contest include fundraising for CANSA, the pageants official charity focus. Mrs SA teamed up with Honey Fashion Accessories to provide a delightful gift set.

You can help Melissa to meet her targets by buying this gorgeously feminine bracelet and earrings duo for your mom.

Call Melissa to arrange your memorable Mother's Day purchase soon.

The Hooked on Books team presented brief performances based on various books to Laddsworth Primary School children in recognition of World Book Day on 23rd April. The team's energetic portrayal of each story made the children excited about reading books.

Pictured below L-R are Kwezi Peterson , Callum Pollard, Kaitlyn du Preez and in front are Brady Bullock and Sarah Kelman.

News supplied by Laddsworth Primary School.

The Jaxx Roll on Wednesday 16th April was won by Chris Purchase, Fred Palmer and Vernon Hickinbotham. Plate winners were Anton Leisegang, John Fowler and Ron McDonald. Thanks to Jaxx Restaurant and Dulcė's for their vouchers.

On Saturday 19th Graham Appleby, John Pluke and Judie Ashmole won vouchers supplied by Lindsay's Coffee Shop, to whom our sincere thanks goes.

League practice will be held this Friday at 14:00, following which league teams will be chosen. Should you wish to be considered, but are unable to attend the practice please let George Oldham or Thelma Mylne know as soon as possible.

The next IF Sponsored Trips competition is planned for Friday 2nd May. Skips are requested to check their teams and to confirm their participation with Dave Garrard on 033 343 4246.

The draw for the Club Singles Tournaments will take place 8th May after bowls. Entry lists for both men and women are on the board.

Duties: 27Apr – 3rd May: OOD: George Oldham. Tabs: Vince Seale.

Duty Team: Dave Hammond. Teas on 3rd May: Nina & Mike Guest. Biscuits: 29 Apr & 1 May: Chris Lake & Margie Meek.

News supplied by Hilton Bowling Club.

Maritzburg College awarded two scholarships to Laddsworth Primary School pupils, Brogan Tedder received the Laddsworth closed scholarship and Scott Butler was awarded an all-rounder scholarship. This is the first year a closed scholarship has been made available to Laddsworth Primary School, an increasingly strong feeder school for Maritzburg College.

Pictured here L-R: Brogan Tedder, Gavin Lambooy (Headmaster at Laddsworth Primary School) and Scott Butler

At its meeting on Saturday the committee decided that as from 1st May tabs-in time will be 13:45, with play to start at 14:00. These times will apply all year round.

There will be no league practice this Friday due to it being Good Friday. Practices will resume on Friday 25th. There will be normal tabs-in this Saturday at 13:30, when we will be playing for vouchers from Lindsay's Coffee Shop.

Despite the flurry of holidays ahead, there will be bowls on all the regular bowling days.

Advance notice is given that the Coaches Standing Committee of NIBA will be conducting a Bowls Clinic at Hilton on 17 June. Attendance will be restricted to 24, and there will be no tabs-in games on that day. The clinic will cover a measure of fault correction, laws of bowls, etiquette and tactical play. Watch the notice board for details

Pictured here are Barry Collier and Salas Ngubane with Hilton Bowling Club's new lawnmower.

The entry form the club men's singles is on the board.

Duties: 20 - 26 Apr: OOD: Thelma Mylne. Tabs: Mike Mylne. Duty Team: Fred Palmer.

Teas on 26 Apr: Jill Bannatyne & Graham Appleby.

Biscuits: 22 & 24 Olga Hutt & Derick Hull.

News supplied by Hilton Bowling Club.

You are invited to a presentation by Tim Barry on "Back to the Woods – a guide to idle parenting"

Thursday, 8 May 2014 at 18h00 – Cordwalles Preparatory School (101 Howick Road, PMB)

The talk covers research on "fertile neglect" and how children are hard-wired to grow. It covers the ideal conditions in which their natural urges towards exploration and growth are stimulated. It also looks into how some of the most widely accepted parenting practices hinder this process.

Tim Barry is a psychologist in private practice. He has a particular interest in finding alternatives to the prevailing consumerism that typifies Western life.

Anyone who has concerns about how indiscriminate access to technology and pop-culture impacts on their children should attend this talk.

R50 per person and R80 per couple. All proceeds from this presentation go towards ensuring the sustainability of Singakwenza's health and early education programmes.

Singakwenza, which means "We can do it!" is a non-profit organization that aims to provide low cost, high impact Health and Early Education through empowerment programmes to economically disadvantaged communities.

RSVP: Linda Hill 082 3211 283 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.singakwenza.org

The "Straighten up South Africa" program was initiated by the Chiropractic Association of South Africa (CASA) in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) in the hopes of improving spinal health awareness at 'grass roots level'. Children of today are considerably more stationary due to the increasing time spent on digital devices both for work and play. Back pain in adults is the biggest cause for absenteeism in the work place and is responsible for a great reduction in productivity and costs billions each year.

If we consider the spinal cord is responsible for almost every function of the body, it makes sense that if we don't look after it through good posture we will start to exhibit signs of ill health; be it through low back pain, headaches, poor balance etc.

I felt it was necessary to begin educating the youth of Hilton in good posture and demonstrate a short exercise program at local schools starting with Laddsworth Primary School. After a brief talk on good postural habits I demonstrated The "Posture Pod flying friends" exercises with the help of the Easter bunny. The exercises are great fun and are well received by children.

Let's work together for a straighter; healthier South Africa.

Dr Julie Forsyth is offering a free spinal health assessment for children under 13.

Thanks to the generous donations from many of our members, we now have a brand new mower. Salas, our grounds man, used it on Saturday for the first time and produced a really good playing surface.

Chris Purchase has made a beautiful new trophy for the Club Singles competition to replace the old "Mixed Singles Shield". The new shield was handed to last year's winner, Doug Robertson.

Two enjoyable competitions rounded out our bowling week, with the IF Trips on Friday and a Quarry Spar Chicken Run on Saturday. Winners on Friday were Jean and John Pluke and John Bayley. Runners-up were Derick Hull, Etzel Nuss and John Aubrey. Well bowled, and thanks to Investment Facilitators for the handsome meat pack prizes.

The Chicken Run was won by Tom Hartley, Basil Fann and Pat Bennet, who charged into the lead after scoring eleven shots on the last two ends. The management of the Quarry Superpar are thanked for their on-going support for our club.

Members and potential visitors are reminded that we have gone back to a tabs-in time of 13:30.

Duties: 13 - 19 Apr: OOD: Ron Buchel. Tabs: Dave Hammond. Duty Team: Gil van der Hoven.
Teas on 19 Apr: Bill Lambert & John Aubrey. Biscuits: 15 & 17 V. Hickinbotham & Richard Lister.

News supplied by Hilton Bowling Club.

The Hilton Community Security initiative (HCSi) is a community driven and funded project to pro-actively combat the scourge of crime in the area.

The purpose of the HCSi is to:
• Assess and utilise technology and Social Media to facilitate real-time communication between residents for any crime/security-specific information;
• Adopt a pro-active and holistic approach to crime reduction and security issues affecting Hilton residents, facilitating discussion forums and interaction between residents, the HCPF, Hilton SAPS, armed response companies and other relevant role-players;
• Assess and implement pro-active neighbourhood patrols (currently Bobbies-on-the-Beat, under review, depending on funding and requirements). At present this program covers seven designated areas within Greater Hilton and consists of regular patrols in the different areas by Residential Guards either on foot or bicycles, supported by a dedicated Patrol vehicle;
• Assess the viability of surveillance cameras in strategic locations where feasible and beneficial.
• Erect, where feasible, fences to prevent criminals easy access routes into residential areas. To date over 400 metres of fencing have been erected.

It is essential for the HCSi to further develop to pro-actively deal with rising incidents of crime. To achieve this substantially greater support is required from residents. Low crime levels in the recent past have seen membership declining and current membership numbers provide insufficient funding to sustain this initiative and allow it to grow.

Crime is now on the increase again, and it is IMPERATIVE we reverse this trend.
• Support us on Saturday 5 April at The Quarry Centre Market day, where HCSi representatives will be available to discuss the program in greater detail;
• Join the program – contact 076 790 6311 for more details;
• Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/TheHiltonCSi and on Twitter @TheHiltonCSi

Without sufficient community support and involvement, the current community crime management program will unfortunately have to be dissolved by August this year – however we simply CANNOT allow this to happen.