September may be drier and cooler than normal, with average sunshine. The first week is the sunniest and the last week may be the cloudiest. The third week is the driest and warmest with the least number of wet days, while the fourth week sees most rain. There are more wet days in the second half of the month. Atmospheric pressures should average about 1018mbs, with southerlies predominating. For fishermen, the highest king tide may be around 18th. The best fishing bite-times in the east are at dusk from 1st - 3rd and 16th - 18th, (and in the west around noon on those days). Chances are also good in the east for noon of 9th - 11th, and 23rd - 26th, (and in the west around dusk on those days). For gardeners, the best pruning days are 3rd - 12th (waning moon descending), and 18th - 24th are best sowing days (waxing moon ascending). For longer shelf-life for crops, harvest at neap tide days on 12th and 26th. (KEN RING) PN For future weather for any date, see www.predictweather.com
Guerrilla Gardening at Leys Institute Local residents are so distressed by the lack of maintenance of our mothballed, forlorn Leys Institute that they have resorted to guerrilla gardening. A couple of weekends ago some St Mary’s Bay locals breached the wire fence cordoning off the Leys Library and Gymnasium, and proceeded to clean up the grounds. The lawns were mowed, the shrubs were trimmed and the gardens weeded, giving the buildings’ surrounds a much needed general spruce up. Council officials and the Waitemata- Local Board assured us all when the Leys Institute was closed that there would be ongoing maintenance of the buildings and the site. We certainly hope that this will happen, and that the local community won’t need to step in again. At a recent workshop, Board Chair, Richard Northey, told Friends of Leys Institute, “on 20 August 2019 the Waitemata- Local Board approved the development of an indicative business case to understand service and investment options to improve the use of the Leys Institute. Since the Institute’s closure, in December 2019, the council’s project team has been working to identify solutions to allow for the preservation and its reopening. The findings from this work will be presented to the local board for consideration and to seek a decision on the preferred options before going out to engage with the community on its future.” The community will be heartened to hear that detailed work on strengthening the Leys is happening. They certainly expect the Waitemata- Local Board to opt for full upgrading of the Institute, and
the return of the library and community services. The Waitemata- Local Board is due to receive a report from council on - including the Leys Institute. community facilities in West Waitemata, Friends of Leys Institute encourages all who are interested and have the time, to attend the next Waitemata- Local Board meeting on 15 September. See the Local Board webpage for meeting details. And do keep letting Waitemata- Local Board members, and Councillor Pippa Coom, know of our expectations regarding the Leys Library PN and Gymnasium. Friends of Leys Institute Co-ordinator, Helen Geary, heleng@maxnet.co.nz
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LOCAL NEWS
Ken Ring: Auckland weather diary, September 2020 – weather by the moon
