guardian the 2 WEDNESDAY 21 JANUARY 2015 Briefly Nice day for a picnic Sport Tasman is hosting their annual New World Teddy Bears Picnic this Sunday, 25th January from 10.00am – 1.00pm at Thorps Bush, Motueka. Entry is free and there will be games, a colouring competition and spot prizes on the day. Bring the whole family and don’t forget teddy. Tata Titanic It’s that time of year again for the annual Tata Titanic Cardboard Boat Race. This is the events 18th year and in the past there have been boats resembling wedding cakes, fire engines, submarines, sea creatures and cars – what will your cardboard boat look like this year? The challenge is not only to complete the course, but to impress the judges with the most dramatic sinking. Entry forms are available on the day with an entry fee of $10.00 per craft. All competitors must be able to swim and wear a flotation vest. It’s all on at Tata Beach, Golden Bay, on 25th January from 9.00am. Mini Music Festival There is going to be the most amazing Music Fest in the cafe gardens at Riverside from 4.00pm to 10.00pm on Thurs 22nd! Featuring an all star line up of local performers, includingb Gabor Irmalos, Aroha Beat Project, Irie Vibes and much MORE! Plus kids entertainment, pony rides, circus shows, and of course great food and drink options. Tickets on the door, just $5.00 adult and $2.00 kids! This Town Go to the Motueka Market this Sunday 25th and chances are you’ll see your face later on TV One! A film crew from JamTV will be there from 9.00am for at least an hour and a half filming for “This Town”. Centre stage will be local muso A.J. Hickling. Many of you will have enjoyed his great piano playing in recent years in unusual places. His Father’s Will Golden Bay author Suzanne Clark will be speaking about her newly released book “His Father’s Will” at the Motueka Library next week. Her novel is based on the life of her grandfather, William Tyrrell, born in Takaka on 24 December 1891. Information was researched from a framework of authentic material set alongside family stories, events of the time and seasoned with the author’s imagination. Come and hear Will’s tale as he grows from troubled boyhood to a man who fights adversity at every turn and strives to make his way in the world. Suzanne will be at the library next Friday, 30th January between 7.00pm-9.00pm. Twilight concert Dance along to newly formed band Fortune Cookie, also known locally as “four professional musicians and a bank teller.” It’s on this Friday, 23rd January at Takaka’s Village Green between 6.00pm and 9.00pm. There will also be local singer Laura-Mae, a Smoke Free Rock Quest and NZ X-Factor entrant. Everyone’s welcome. Winding up for music festival Book your tickets now for the Adam Chamber music festival and gala dinner. It’s on at Woolaston Estate, January 29th featuring the New Zealand String Quartet, Ying Quartet, David Griffiths (clarinet), Helen Webby (harp) and a surprise guest. What better way to ease in to 10 days of spectaular music making by partaking in a gala dinner. There will be great food and wine which is included in the ticket price as well as the live music and transport. Get your tickets from Ticket Direct. One of the 25 firemen that were called to the scene on Sunday afternoon. Photo courtsey of Ken Horrell. Fire destroys roof of home Twenty-five firefighters were called to a King Edward Street house on Sunday afternoon after the residents noticed a fire coming from within the ceiling. Motueka’s Chief Fire Officer Mike Riddell says they are still investigating how the fire started but they are not treating it as suspicious. Brigades from Motueka, Kaiteriteri, Mapua and Richmond were on the scene with three water tankers and a fire engine from Richmond containing a thermal imaging device used to scan the structure for heat sources. It took firefighters 45 minutes to get the blaze under control which “looked a lot worse than what it was,” Mike says. He believes that the slow burning gib board ceiling meant that the roof was sealed off well from the rest of the house, and if it weren’t for that, the fire would have spread rapidly throughout the home. The roof and ceiling suffered the most damage, as well as some water damage in parts of the house, though some of the furniture had been saved as they were covered with tarpaulins. A rare encounter in Tasman Bay A pair of local fishermen were lucky enough to experience a rare sighting of a large ocean creature during the snapper season in Tasman Bay late last year. Jason Manson and Aaron Sharkie were fishing off Adele Island when they noticed a black fin appear on the surface of the water some distance away. As it gradually approached they discovered it was an ocean sunfish which are usually found in tropical and temperate waters. Sunfish are the largest boney fish species in the world and can grow to weigh up to 1000kg and nearly 2 metres in length. “The ocean sunfish feeds on jelly fish and ironically jelly fish were around our fishing spot,” Jason says. He managed to capture a short video of the creature which can be viewed on YouTube.