Venue Partners Contribute to Community of Cool

Miho Wada during last year’s festival at The Village Cafe, Jazz in Martinborough’s “second stage” and valued venue partner.

“One of the outstanding features of Jazz in Martinborough over the last nine years has been the invaluable contribution made to the ongoing success of the festival by our venue partners.  They are an integral part of our Community of Cool,” says festival producer Ted Preston.

Each year the cafes, bars and restaurants of Martinborough have provided venues for over 200  bands, groups and musicians.  “At our first festival we were able to provide places for displaced Canterbury jazz school groups with the help of our venue partners,” says Ted.  “And every year since they have contributed in any way they can to make our festival successful.”

The Village Cafe, hosted by Chris and Bruce, even became the main stage for three years of the festival.  “They’ve been great!” says festival music director Lee Quayle.  “The Village Cafe is our second stage, providing us with the space for bigger groups than most of the other cafes can provide,” adds Lee.  “Bruce and Chris have supported us immensely each year and we totally appreciate their help.”

Other stalwart venues of the festival include Circus, Medici, Martinborough Hotel (in various guises), Martinborough Brewery, Peppers Parehua and P&K.  “Even the Puke has been on board most years, despite the fact they’re not really a jazz crowd!” says Lee. … Continue Reading

Ventana Workshops

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News from Martinborough Mens Shed

Winter has seen activity continuing apace at and for the Martinborough Mens Shed.

Expansion 

The big news is that after several months of anticipation and planning we have taken delivery of two, forty-foot containers. These will provide additional space for the activities that have been a struggle to accommodate in the current courthouse premises. This expansion has come about for a two-fold reason, i) out of last year’s survey of members other activities were identified as being of interest, such as welding, metal work and pottery; ii) existing machinery that takes up space will be moved to the containers. This will enable freeing up space for other activities such as the speakers’ programme, which continues to draw strong interest.

Many thanks to Dinah Cresswell for her wonderful support and generosity in allowing access to the rear of the Shed property for the positioning of the containers. Also, deep gratitude to Trevor Hawkins for his generous assistance with the earthworks.

Like the Silver Ferns, sponsors have enabled this work to succeed. These include Trust House Masterton; Wairarapa Building Society; Martinborough Community Board; Eastern and Central Trust; Susan Stephens Real Estate; P&K Mitre 10 and our landlords, South Wairarapa District Council. … Continue Reading

Martinborough Golf Round-Up

The treacherous but beautiful 18th green’.

As we pass into our final month of Winter with Spring creeping ever closer, it’s always uplifting to see lambs in the paddocks – especially when they’re appreciating a beautiful day of sunshine of which we have been lucky to enjoy several in July.

By in large the golf hasn’t been too badly affected by the wet weather, and despite being very soggy underfoot in places, the course is looking great and the greens are running superbly…catching many of us unawares with their speed….number 18 has been responsible for quite a few expensive three (and more) putts!!

Grumpies have been unlucky with the weather on a few occasions but winners have included Roger Smeaton and Andrew Lawler. 

Ladies golf in July seems to have been dominated by Julie Weber who has won three times and been runner up once when Adele Cairns snuck past her!  Riverside Cup matches finished with Martinborough ending up in second place.  Team selector, Gretel Dick, was grateful to Jo Loe and Sandra Petersen who played in all the matches and won all their games – nice work ladies!!

Thursdays have had the rub of the green (excuse the pun) with some beautiful days; winners have included Andy Morison, Chris Ranish, Stu Taplin, Mariana, Andrew Sim & Malcolm Wood. … Continue Reading