Tickets are now on sale for a gala event which will honour Hawke’s Bay based Asian entrepreneurs, professionals and community organisations.

The ‘Asians in the Bay’ awards evening is to be held in the Shakespeare Room of the Hawke’s Bay Opera House on Saturday August 25th, 2012. Awards will be presented in three categories: outstanding entrepreneurs; practising professionals; and outstanding community groups.

Hastings CBD will come alive on Saturday, September 15th as the annual Blossom Parade takes to the streets of the central city.

This iconic event has been held for more than 50 years and celebrates the arrival of spring in the Bay.

It’s just eight weeks until the parade but there is still time to become part of the fun and entertainment. Some groups have already begun constructing large floats and others are building smaller ones, but many of the entries are simply walking groups with common or shared interests.

Ever wondered why your power bills are so high?

It could be that you are using more power than is absolutely necessary, but don’t despair, help is on the way. There are some very simple ways of making substantial savings on power; you just need a few good tips to get started.

The Sus’d team at Hastings District Council has identified a number of simple, power saving tips which they will reveal at a free talk to be held in the Hastings and Flaxmere Libraries on Tuesday 31st July. It will be an informal get together, which will give you some ideas on how to save power and lower your costs using the ECCA Energy Wise programme.

People living in rural areas of Hastings District are being reminded that they must remain vigilant after lighting fires to dispose of unwanted vegetation.

Farmers and orchardists regularly light fires at this time of the year to get rid of unnecessary foliage but it is important to remember that the soil and surrounding vegetation remains combustible, even in the middle of winter.

Deputy Principal Rural Fire Officer Gordon Foster says “It is important that fires are attended at all times, as the wind strength can increase very quickly which may cause hot embers to fly into nearby vegetation. Morning is the safest time to light outdoor fires so that they have a chance to burn out before dark. A permit is required all year round when starting a fire that will remain alight after sunset.”