Join us in celebrating the launch of award-winning Hilton author's new middle-grade novel. Author Bridget Krone will be in conversation with Kim Ward.

The Cedarville Shop and the Wheelbarrow Swap (2022) is published by Catalyst Press (USA). From the award-winning author of Small Mercies, named a Best Middle-Grade Book of 2020 by Kirkus Reviews

“I’ve decided that some people put out fires and leave the world cold and hopeless and others nurse the kindling, blow like mad and fan the flames with whatever they have at hand so that everyone feels its warmth.”

A lot of things can feel just out of reach in 12-year-old Boipelo Seku’s small, impoverished village of Cedarville, South Africa. The idea of one day living in a house that’s big enough for his family is just a faraway dream. But when Boi stumbles on a story about a Canadian man who traded his way from a paperclip to a house, Boi hatches his own trading plan starting with a tiny clay cow he molded from river mud. Trade by trade, Boi and his best friend Potso discover that even though Cedarville lacks so many of the things that made the paperclip trade possible, it is fuller than either of them ever imagined.

In a chain of events that turns Boi’s tiny spark into a warming fire, Boi learns the power of friendship and community, and finds that something’s value isn’t in what you can trade for it, but in the good it brings to the people you love.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Star Selection

Advance Praise
“Bridget Krone has crafted a loving, funny story about a vibrant South African community where Boi’s bold dream of a big swap goes in all kinds of unexpected directions. When the threads are knit back together, they become a hymn of kindness and joy.” — Jane Kurtz, author and winner of the 2022 IBBY-IREAD Outstanding Reading Promoter Award

“In this humorous, optimistic tale, Krone explores the mutability of friendships and the perils of trying to hold on to them too strongly. […] A compelling look at friendship and community uplift under harsh circumstances.” —Kirkus

“This novel is an engaging read with a satisfying ending … the theme of grace ties everything together: when all seems an impossible knot, if one keeps looking and persevering, the secret to untangling might click into view—a timely message for our world.” —Africa Access Review

BRIDGET KRONE is the author of two novels for children: Small Mercies (2020) and The Cedarville Shop and the Wheelbarrow Swap (September 2022). Small Mercies is the recipient of a 2022 Stepping Stones Honor Award, listed on the 2021 Outstanding International Books List by the US Board on Books for Young People, and Kirkus Reviews named it a Best Middle-Grade Book of 2020. Formerly an English teacher, Bridget currently works as a writer of English textbooks for South African schools, and writes novels between textbook commissions. She lives in Hilton and is married with two grown-up sons.

KIM WARD lives in Hilton, but tries to get away to the Drakensberg mountains as often as possible to hike and camp with her husband. When she is home, she looks after her two sons and two sausage dogs and is a proofreader and editor. She received her English Honours at UKZN, her Masters in Environmental Education from Rhodes University, and worked for WESSA as the Eco-Schools co-ordinator for 10 years. She was part of the organising team of the Midlands Literary Festival in 2019 and 2020 and loves interacting with authors and reading books.

RSVP (Call or WhatsAp) Ian 0829333354 / Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

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MiTH 27th July 2022

INFO: 082 331 7271

ENTRANCE: R50.00 - Cash or Zapper at the Door

VENUE: The Knoll Historic Guest Farm

9pm: Who Wants To Live Forever

The team that brought you the richly textured Tom Waits 70's retrospective "Heart of Saturday Night" in '21 are back with their next big music show, "Who Wants to Live Forever".

Music raconteur Rob Boyd leads off with his "tragic young rock stars never die; they live forever" theme, backed up with a powerhouse band comprising Brian Bedingfield, Gareth Barry, Roly Struckmeyer, Paddy Austin and Mark Butler with Kath McClelland on raw and raunchy Joplinesque vocals.

Expect more stunning dancing from dynamic duo Nadja Bartel and Bonwa Mbontsi, and grande dame Dee Bedingfield in a divine character cameo. With script by Rob Boyd, and Paul Spence on show direction, this MiTH headline on July 27th is a tantalizing, mouth-watering taster of the fantastic rock show comin' down the pipeline.

8pm: Erin Fourie and Alan Strang

Erin Fourie returns to the MiTH stage, joined by special guest Alan Strang in the later half of the set.

Erin has been on the Midlands music circuit for almost 20 years and regularly performs around Hilton and Howick in her acoustic folk style which has been likened to Joan Baez, among others. She has performed in numerous cabarets at the Hexagon Dive, was a top 10 SA Idols contestant and even managed to snag a role in The Sound of Music at the Durban Playhouse. In recent years she has collaborated with several local musicians on various projects and is delighted to showcase her current work with Alan Strang.

 

Alan has had a strong interest in music throughout his life, particularly in the areas of Scottish and Irish traditional music and folk music. A self-described “late starter” on the music scene, he became actively involved in the Buskers & TJs Acoustic Music clubs in Johannesburg. Principally a singer, Alan also plays guitar and enjoys creating harmonies with other musicians. In collaborations such as Almost Harmonic and PentUp, he performed at music festivals in the 90s, including Splashy Fen, Four Winds in PE, and Barleycorn in Cape Town. He has recorded and performed often with the Waldorf String Band, latterly becoming a regular member of the band.

7pm: Rosie Whitfield

Rosie is a 26 year old singer, songwriter, and pianist, born and raised in the Midlands of Kwa-Zulu Natal. She began piano at the age of 7 and has been composing her own pieces since the age of 12. She identifies as a contemporary folk artist whose work has been influenced by artists like Nora Jones, and Celtic Women. She also enjoys putting music to poems like Robert Frost's "Stopping by woods on a snowy evening".

ABOUT MiTH: Arguably the KZN Midlands’ best-loved music venue, Music in The Hills (MiTH) is an opportunity for beginners, professionals, and passionate music fans to share the joy of music at The Knoll Historic Guest Farm. Visit www.mith.co.za for more details and directions. Musicians can contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for slots.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: MiTH takes place every second Wednesday at The Knoll Historic Guest Farm, Knoll Drive, Hilton. Doors open at 6pm and the music will kick off at 7pm. Entrance is R50 at the door. Bring your own booze. Food and soft drinks are available for sale.

DIRECTIONS TO MiTH: Take the N3 to Hilton, take the Hilton turnoff and go South into the Village (away from Hilton College). Travel 5,2km along Hilton Avenue (past two sets of traffic lights and Crossways Pub) and keep going straight as Hilton Avenue turns into Dennis Shepstone Drive. At the 5,2km mark, Knoll Drive will be on your right – the entrance to MiTH is the *second* entrance on your left into The Knoll Historic Guest Farm.

Do you have a small business? Are you employing Domestic staff?

Have peace of mind knowing you have hired the right people. PostNet Hilton offers Criminal Record Checks with quick, reliable results sent directly to you – at an affordable price.

Call PostNet Hilton for more information 086 006 1004.

This week in the news from Hilton in the KZN Midlands you will find a number of suggestions to make it really easy for you to choose a little local business to deal with.

Subscribe to our newsletter in order to receive weekly prods that lead you in a loyally local direction, and read the latest issue online here.

Thank you for each and every referral and transaction you contribute to the local business people in your neighbourhood!

#LoveLocalRealHard

 

'It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Tony Clark, after a long struggle. May his dear and gentle soul now rest in peace! There will be no funeral. For those who may have wanted to send flowers, please rather send a donation in Tony's name to Funda Nenja, FNB Howick, 62458766197. Thank you! We also think of all our family and friends at this time - your loss is as great as ours. Tony will leave an enormous void!'

 

Supplied.

KSS and AET would to express their deepest condolences to all the families of those that lost their lives on the R617 on Saturday night. We are deeply saddened. To the SAPS Members, Security Service Providers, Medical Emergency Service Providers and active community members who continue to put their lives at risk to keep us safe. THANK YOU.

You all remain in our constant thoughts and prayers as you get out there and really do make a difference in our community.

Thank you Gary, Renee, Sashen, Pat and the entire KSS TEAM for everything you do.

Thank you SAPS (all divisions), uMngeni Protection Services, other Security Service Providers, private and state Emergency Medical Responders, RTI, Fire, not-for-profit organizations and active community members.

THANK YOU!

More about Knight Security Solutions

Reliable and affordable - our counter to counter network offers you speedy deliveries you can track... Call us on 086 006 1004 for more information - or just stop by the store.

 

PostNet Hilton is at 37 Hilton Avenue.

Due to a number of apologies received, including some from key participants, the upcoming Hilton Ratepayers Association Annual General Meeting for 2022 will now take place on Wednesday, 27 July 2022 at 5.30pm at ANEW Hotel, Hilton Avenue.

This is an important meeting, we look forward to welcoming ALL ratepayers and younger members are especially welcome.

More about Hilton Ratepayers Association.

A team of 20 swimmers will lead the medal charge as they head to Birmingham for the Commonwealth Games which begin on Thursday, 28 July.

Spearheading the challenge will be Olympic gold and silver medallist and world record-holder Tatjana Schoenmaker, who will be looking to defend both her 100m and 200m breaststroke titles in Birmingham, and the man who already has an incredible 17 medals from three Commonwealth Games so far, Chad le Clos.

Le Clos is looking to break the record for the most medals won by a single athlete in Commonwealth Games history – with just one more medal needed to tie the record with shooters Phillip Adams and Mick Gault and two needed to break it.

At the last Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, Australia in 2018, swimming was the sport that produced the most gold medals for Team South Africa with six. They also added three silvers and three bronzes to the overall South African haul.

Le Clos claimed three golds and a silver as well as a bronze in the 4x100m medley relay while Schoenmaker walked away with two golds.

Le Clos withdrew from the World Championships in Budapest recently with breathing problems but maintains he’s back on track.

“It took me a while to get back but I’ve been working hard in my training,” he said from his base in Plymouth in the UK. “I’ve really taken this year very seriously, I’ve been working on a lot of different aspects of my game in order to get myself ready for Commonwealths so this has always been the focus for me.”

Now 30 years old, Le Clos will be competing in the 50, 100 and 200m butterfly as well as the 100m freestyle and believes the South African men can also do something special in the 4x200m freestyle and 4x100m medley relays.

“Medals in the relays for us should be celebrated like gold medals so I’m very excited about that,” he said. “I’m checking up on the boys quite often, messaging them all privately just to see how training has been going... I think we can surprise a lot of people. I think if we all just do our jobs and all have a good week and we put ourselves in a spot where we’re competitive, I think that would be amazing.”

There are a number of youngsters on the team who will be looking to follow in Le Clos and Schoenmaker’s footsteps, including the likes of Lara van Niekerk (who recently claimed bronze in the 50m breaststroke at the World Championships in Budapest) and teenage Olympians Matt Sates and Pieter Coetzé.

“It’s a big Commonwealth Games for a lot of people,” said Le Clos. “Not only myself but we have a lot of youngsters coming through. Of course, Lara picking up a medal in the 50 was amazing at world champs. Matthew’s had a phenomenal year and a half, Pieter has had a great season. And of course, Tatjana – she’s a superstar and of course she’s got titles to defend so I think it’s a huge week for us as South African swimming,” added Le Clos.

Van Niekerk (19) reckoned: “It has been a busy time since Worlds catching up on school work and exams, but training has been going well, and luckily I have had the gym to train in when it gets really cold here in Pretoria.

“I am looking forward to being part of Team SA, and as I did for Worlds. I just want to focus on my own race and on really enjoying the whole experience of being at a big Games,” she added.

Sates, who struggled with a cold just before the World Championships, said: “I have been in the UK since World Champs preparing for the Commonwealth Games, and I am happy with how preparations have been going. It took a few days to recover fully after being sick during Worlds, but now I am now feeling good.

“I am still deciding on what events I will swim but will focus on the freestyle and individual medley races. This will be my first Commonwealth Games and so I just want to focus on doing my best, and on enjoying racing with the top swimmers again. It is always an honour to represent Team SA.”

There are also three disabled swimmers taking part in the Para swimming events in Birmingham. Christian Sadie claimed silver in 2018 in the S7 50m freestyle and will be looking for a return to the podium, while Cornell Leach and Alani Ferreira will be aiming to do the same in the women’s events.

“I am getting more and more excited by the minute for the Games,” said Ferreira. “This is my first Commonwealth Games so I’m very excited to be given the opportunity to race. There normally aren’t any races for the visually impaired.

This is the first time within my career that there are, and the only race is the 50m freestyle which is not my main race. It’s actually normally not even in my race schedule but I’m very excited to have taken this one on for the time being and to give it my best shot.

“The preparation has been interesting because it’s not my normal distance training for my 200 free and 100 breast and 200 IM so I’ve really enjoyed a bit of a change in the process and I’m so excited to see how I do in this race and just to go and represent.”

The swimming programme kicks off on Friday, 29 July and runs until 3 August.

SA Swimming team at the Commonwealth Games 2022:
Men: Guy Brooks, Pieter Coetze, Brenden Crawford, Michael Houlie, Chad Le Clos, Andrew Ross, Matthew Sates
Women: Aimee Canny, Emma Chelius, Dune Coetzee, Kaylene Corbett, Erin Gallagher, Rebecca Meder, Olivia Nel, Michaela Pulford, Tatjana Schoenmaker, Lara van Niekerk
Men’s Para: Christian Sadie
Women’s Para: Alani Ferreira, Cornelle Leach
Coaches: Rocco Meiring, Wayne Riddin, Eugene Da Ponte, Theo Verster
Manager: Julie Cassim

Supplied.

Infusion Therapy at KetaMIND Clinics offers new hope to those with resistant depression, suicidal ideation, bipolar disorder, OCD, PTSD, post partum depression and chronic pain conditions like CRPS (RSD), fibromyalgia, neuralgia and migraines.

Those who don’t respond to traditional antidepressants often embark on a trajectory of ever-increasing doses, combinations of different drugs, behavioural therapy and repeated electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Eventually they might be described as ‘Treatment Resistant’ and hope is all but lost.

Our infusions target specific receptors in the brain and have been demonstrated to repair damaged synapses (junctions between nerves) in a predictable and sustained manner. Instead of simply ‘numbing the senses, our infusions offer a transformative awakening, realignment of purpose and restoration of hope in responsive patients.

Dr Ralph Gilbert MBChB (UCT) offers infusion therapy at the Hilton branch of KCSA and is a Member of The American Society of Ketamine Physicians (ASKP), a member of the Society of Sedation Practitioners of South Africa (SOSPOSA) and the Society of Ketamine Practitioners of South Africa (SOKePSA).

To visit the Hilton branch, please see all contact details below:
Address: Suite 3 Hilton Health Medical Centre, 3 Monzali Drive, Hilton, KwaZulu-Natal
Tel: 087 702 8542
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website: www.ketaMIND.co.za

 

After a CoViD break, SPAR KZN is excited to get back onto the courts with the announcement of the dates for their second SPAR KZN Schoolgirl’s Fast 5s Netball Challenge.

This year the fast-paced Fast 5s tournament will venture to seven regions instead of the previous four from the inaugural challenge in 2019. Getting the 2022 tournament underway with the KZN North Coast Regional, host school Empangeni High School welcomes teams from their area on Saturday 30 July.

August sees three tournaments, the first at Durban North College where teams will meet for the Durban North Regional on Saturday 13 August, followed by the KZN South Coast Regional at Southcity Christian School on Saturday 20 August and then heading inland to Ferrum Hoërskool for the KZN Northern Regional on Saturday 27 August.

Kokstad College welcomes teams for the KZN Southern Regional on Saturday 10 September, followed by the Highway Regional at Hillcrest High School on Saturday 17 September. Rounding off the challenge is the midlands’ schools meeting at Voortrekker Hoërskool for the Pietermaritzburg Regional on Saturday 15 October.

The running of the programme will differ slightly from region to region, depending on the number of schools and if the hosts will run games in a round robin or pool game format. The coaches can give instructions from the sideline during play, and they have an unlimited allowance for substitutions. Eight players can represent each team, with coaches ensuring five players are constantly on the court – Goal Shooter (GS), Goal Attack (GA), Centre (C), Goal Defence (GD) and Goal Keeper (GK).

Previous winners from the first year, back to defend their titles are Hillcrest High in the Highway / Durban Regional; St Anne’s College in the Pietermaritzburg Regional; Tholokuhle High School in the KZN North Coast Regional and Creston College in the KZN South Coast Regional

With all netball eyes turning their attention to Cape Town for next year’s 2023 Netball World Cup, these ‘hoopful’ youngsters taking to the courts in the SPAR Challenge will dream and aspire to one day be representing their country at its highest level in years to come.

Games will be livestreamed on the SuperSport School’s Mobile App and website.

For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page or follow on Instagram.Ready to play ball. Pictured at the launch of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirl’s Fast 5s Netball Challenge date announcement are Netball Tournament Director for Schoolgirlsports, Marguerite Wagner; former Protea’s Netball star, Baby Proteas coach and teacher, Precious Mthembu and Advertising and Sponsorship Manger for SPAR KZN, Nozipho Mkhize.

Photo credit: Val Adamson

 

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With today being our first day back at school, our children came prepared with donations towards a number of Mandela Day collections and projects. From second hand clothing and books, to dog and cat food, and time spent re-planting aloes on our Cowan House verge, our boys and girls embraced the true essence of service to others this Mandela Day.

"There can be no greater gift than that of giving one's time and energy to helping others without expecting anything in return." - Nelson Mandela

More about Cowan House

Love Hilton was originally a name (inspired by the success of Love Howick) and a project that developed out of the HBI started by Kate Warr. As you know Kate did a remarkable job of creating an initiative to clear verges and beautify areas that were unkempt. Kate handed the reins over to Cilla Hillcove who has worked tirelessly to keep this initiative going, with support from amazing and consistent donors, Shell Garage, Harcourts, Hilton Build It, Garlington HOA, Quarry Spar, and BP Garage. Under the banner Love Hilton, Cilla has been managing this initiative that has sparked an immense amount of community pride.

The idea to expand the name Love Hilton to include other initiatives was in order to house everything under a name that perfectly exemplifies the vision for Hilton's future. The Hilton Ratepayers Association is setting the wheels in motion to turn Hilton into a "Special Rating Area" or an "Urban Improvement Precinct" called Love Hilton. This new iteration will offer a neat umbrella opportunity for community initiatives and improvement projects to have long-term sustainability and ongoing support. The proposed designations for Love Hilton include security, maintenance and tidiness, amenities, social issues, and the environment.

Thank you to every community member and business who has embraced and supported the various initiatives for positive change.

 

More about Love Hilton

This week in the news from a sunny Hilton in the KZN Midlands you will find; a focus on Hilton Health and some fun activities in the KZN Midlands.

Subscribe to our newsletter and read the latest issue online here.

Have fun while you #LoveLocalRealHard!

 

D3 Studio is an intriguing Decor and Decorating Studio - offering beautiful and unique gifts to hand picked items for your home! Ranging from linen, pillows, curtaining, lamps, carpets, furniture, glassware, ceramics to exquisite pieces of decor.

Expect to find bespoke decor, beautiful gifting items, wide range of scatter cushions, quilts and throws, lamps, furniture and more.

D3 Studio offers a full Interior Decorating and Design service.

More about D3 Studio at 37 Hilton Avenue.