Parkhurst Post - July 08
Competition: Stand Alone Emergency Lighting
Parkhurst resident Angus Small has contacted us with information on a cost effective stand alone emergency electrical lighting system that will kick in when the power is cut AND it gets dark.
They operate with a low voltage of 12V allowing the home owner to
install either systems easily without any danger, and it comes with a
day/night sensor, thus ensuring the lamps are not illuminated during
daytime power cuts and thereby conserving the battery capacity for
possible evening outages.
To find out more info on the Cosine Developments system, contact Angus
Small on 084 404 3625, 011-791-0814, angus@cosine.co.za, www.cosine.co.za. Stone and Stewart
on the cnr of 4th Ave and 6th St also stock the units.
Crime Stats
Despite the SAPS assertion that most crime has gone down in South Africa over the 2007/8 financial year, a comparison with the previous year's stats has shown that the crime in the Parkview Police precinct (i.e. where we live) has rocketed. Please note that this does not mean that the crime in Parkhurst has risen, but in our policing precinct which covers around 14 suburbs. Here are the increases:
The crime categories that declined or showed no change were:
-57%: Attempted murder (down from 11 to 7)
Given the increases in our precinct and that we seem to be an increasing target for criminals, it is important that you make sure your security systems are installed correctly, that they works and that you use them. Be vigilant, be aware and be nosy. It is your right to be safe and secure in our suburb.
We have made graphs of this data which can be viewed on our Security Page.
Egoli Gas Map
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(Click on the map to enlarge it) We have managed to get our hands on a map which shows the extent of the gas mains in Parkhurst. It seems to be quite a haphazard pattern depending on who wanted gas in the past. If you want to extend the line to a street where there is no gas, the best bet is to contact your other neighbours to share the cost of the new gas pipe. Contact Mike for more info: 082-937-0848, energy@parkhurst.org.za. Egoli Gas: 011-726-1610, cservice@egoligas.co.za. |
Happy 10th Birthday Café Espresso
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| The celebratory balloon. | Joanne & Nico Hinis | Nico points to the 1st review on their wall of fame. | Café Espresso in action. |
In 1998, while I was in England, I remember my wife e-mailing me that a
“proper” coffee shop had opened up in 4th Avenue: “They have a whole
page of different coffees” she enthused. When I returned - it was
indeed true. At 3.30pm on the 3rd of June 1988 Parkhurst residents Nico
and Joanne Hinis served their 1st customer at Café Espresso in
Parkhurst’s 4th Avenue.
The couple were at a low point in their life and banked everything on a
hope and a prayer by opening a tiny 50m2 café that had 8 tables and
would stay open all day. It was an instant success. The little coffee
shop would soon swallow up its neighbouring shops and spawn 2 other
“sister” restaurants opposite. Little did they, and we, know how
successful they would be, and that they would cause a dining revolution
in Joburg by being the first restaurant to install sliding concertina
doors and thus make it easy to flow out onto the pavement and enjoy our
fabulous Highveld weather. Thus Joburg’s café culture started right
here in Parkhurst.
And there they have stayed. Apart from opening another Café Espresso in
Parktown North (now closed) and another in Victory Park on the other
side of our valley, Nico, Joanne and many of their staff have stayed
loyal to the Parkhurst restaurant which turned around their
lives.
So, from us in Parkhurst who now live in such a cool suburb with all
its restaurants and shops, let us raise a cup of coffee and toast our
very own trendsetting restaurant. CHEERS and HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
Verity Park Upgrade
There have been several complaints from residents and park users
directly to us and via the press about the amount of litter, dog pooh,
vagrants, speeding motorists passing the park, etc. To this end we will
be working with City Parks, the park users and various businesses in
and around Parkhurst to upgrade the park and implement a user friendly
poop pickup and park cleaning system. Also on the cards are new benches
and other improvements. We conducted a survey of the park users (28
responses were received) and the major responses to the 3 questions
asked were the following.
What do you like about the park?
- 17 (61%) find that it is sociable, friendly and has a sense of community.
- 12 (43%) claim that it is good for dogs.
- 10 (36%) like the proximity, convenience and accessibility.
What don't you like about the park?
- 14 (50%) said they don't like the dog pooh.
- 13 (46%) said they don't like the litter and trash.
- 9 (32%) said they didn't like the vagrants.
What would improve the park?
- 8 (29%) Dog pooh collection system.
- 8 (29%) Improve trash collection and empty bins more regularly.
- 5 (18%) wanted more benches.
Generators
While there are no specific bylaws that regulate the use of generators, there are bylaws that regulate on noise, pollution and storage of fuel. Generators are not allowed to be above 40 decibels, they must not run after 10am at night and the fumes must be vented properly. Contact Kim Lugli on 083-383-4359, 011-849.4733 or rezoning&bylaws@parkhurst.org.za.
Annual General Meeting
Light Loads
Parkhurst Clinic
The Parkhurst Clinic is located on the corner of 5th Ave and 14th St (next to the Recreation Hall). It is well attended by residents and workers from Parkhurst as well as our surrounding suburbs. The services are free and are obviously aimed at people who have no medical aid and/or who cannot afford private medical care in most of our cases it will most likely be domestic staff, casual workers or labourers. If you or your domestic worker attends the clinic, it is likely that there will be a long wait that is usually over 3 hours. You may find that paying R300 (plus medicines) to go to a private doctor may be more cost effective.
The services offered at the clinic are:
- Voluntary Testing for HIV (pre and post testing);
- Health Promoters: create awareness of the Clinic;
- T.B. Services: testing and managing the effected people;
- Family planning;
- Anti natal for mothers;
- Child Health: vaccinations and growth monitoring;
- Chronic Disease;
- Emergency Management: stabilizing patient until the ambulance arrives.
- Doctor Services: 8am-noon EVERY Monday and Tuesday.
10th St Footbridge
The footbridge that provides important link from 10th St to the portion of 9th St located in the small enclave of Parkhurst on the other side of the Braamfontein Spruit has become both an eyesore a crime hotspot. It is used by criminals as an escape route after car break-ins and muggings in 10th St/5th Ave.
The residents on both side of the bridge are sick and tired of the problem and came together to bring this problem to the attention of the city. The PVRA also fully supported them and together we have made some progress.
The grass and shrubs that were growing on either side of the footpath leading to the bridge were trimmed by City Parks. Overhanging branches on the street trees in 10th St were trimmed. A new lamp post on the 10th St entrance was erected. Permission has been granted by the city for the residents to erect palisade fencing and gates (to be locked at night).
For more info contact Sally Bailey on sallyb@cyberconnect.co.za.
Sewerage Update
The sewerage spill that was contaminating the Parkhurst Donga which caused nasty smells and sewerage to enter into the Braamfontein Spruit was sorted out in March 08. The problem came from blocked sewerage pipes at the top end of Parktown North.
Resolution Recycling
We now have 93 households in Parkhurst who are using blue and green
Resolution Recycling bins for their recycling. For those who have
noticed some delays in the pickups, they want to let us know that some
of their collection trucks were damaged during the xenophobic troubles.
See the back page for the collection dates every other Thursday and for
more info contact Anthony Matthews 011-618-2246, anthony@resolutionrecycling.co.za
or visit www.resolutionrecycling.co.za.
Batteries and Bulbs
All the Pick n Pay stores are now providing recycle bins for energy-saving light bulbs and rechargeable batteries. Philips, who have a recycling plant going up in Lesotho, have teamed up with Pick n Pay to recycle CFLs (compact fluorescent light bulbs). Without this facility, the mercury from these lamps would leach into landfill and our environment. Pick n Pay has also teamed up with Uniross to recycle batteries which are also responsible for leaching hazardous substances. You can now throw your rechargeable batteries into bins provided throughout Pick n Pay stores. Pick n Pay is also mounting an awareness campaign to encourage people to buy rechargeable batteries. (from www.urbansprout.co.za)
Pensioner Rates Discount
Our Buildings and Bylaws expert Kim Lugli has said that pensioners have until 1 September to apply for their rates rebates. These rebates remain valid for two years unless the property owner's financial circumstances change, in which case the rebate will fall away or a new application must be made.
There are three categories of pensioners defined in the Rates Policy:
- Pensioners dependent on a national security grant 100 % rebate;
- Pensioners whose gross monthly earnings are less than R5 000 a month 100 % rebate;
- Pensioners whose gross monthly earnings are between R5 000 and R9 000 /month 50 % rebate.
- The basic criteria that pensioners must comply with in order to even think about a rebate are:
- You are the owner of the property in respect of which the rates are charged;
- You live on the property;
- You must be at least 60 years old;
- The value of the property must not exceed R1 500 000.
Meter Readers
Our meters are read around the middle of the month by a team of readers who work for a company called Micromega. They sweep through the Parks area in about 2 days and return a few days later to revisit the households which they missed on the 1st reading. If you have been missed and are sick and tired of trying to call the 011-375-5555 “helpline”, then call 0861-113214 or 011-827-3455 to give them your readings.
Village Fair
Sponsors of the planned events are also welcomed. Of course you will be able to brand your product or company in the area surrounding the equipment. Events available for sponsoring are:
- Mechanical Bull: R2500;
- Bungee trampoline: R4000;
- Hot air ballooning: R5000;
- Pony Rides: R4900;
- Horse carousel: R3000;
- Electric min train: R4200;
- Jumping castle: R500
For more info and offers of assistance contact Vanessa Mahomed 082-341-5256, communityspirit@parkhurst.org.za.
Circle of Friends
Braeside Grass Fed Beef
