Three fantastic festivals are about to get under way in Wanganui – the Wanganui Festival of Glass, the Wanganui Literary Festival and the Jazz Festival.

Minister for the Arts, Culture and Heritage Chris Finlayson will officiate at a combined opening for the festivals on Friday, September 18, at the UCOL Atrium.

The Festival of Glass runs from September 19 to October 4, with headquarters at the PSIS Information Centre, 148 Victoria Avenue. As well as featuring glass artists' work in central city business premises, a range of other activities are planned.

Sarjeant Gallery Exhibition: Featuring the work of Wanganui glass artists using a variety of techniques - September 12 to November 22.

Camera Club Exhibition: Glass art and architectural glass - September 18-27 at Community Arts Centre, Taupo Quay. Christine Haber and Mark Brimblecombe won the Glass Art and Architectural sections of the Wanganui Camera Club competition, with prizes sponsored by the Wanganui Glass Group. Christine's photograph (left) is of a paperweight made by Wanganui Glass School graduate April Niland. Mark's photograph (right) is of the church at Koroniti Marae.

Inspiring Windows self guided tour: Includes War Memorial Conference and Convention Centre, local churches and Wanganui Collegiate Chapel. Wanganui District Council Chambers' "the Wanganui Story" features talks by artists Greg Hall and Julie Greig at 11am & 2pm - Saturday, September 26.

Wanganui Glass School: Displaying work and demonstrating glass blowing during the festival, corner of Liverpool and Wicksteed Streets.

The Festival of Glass also includes a programme of workshops – details are available online at www.wanganuiglass.co.nz.

Wanganui Literary Festival: Hosts featured writers Kate de Goldi, Kevin Ireland, Hamish McDouall and Joan Rosier-Jones, amongst others, at various venues around Wanganui - September 18–20. More details are available at www.writersfest.co.nz.

Jazz Festival events are scheduled for September 19, 20 and 26:

Jazz Café: Six class jazz acts at the Rutland Arms Inn, 10.30am-4.30pm, Saturday, September 19. More information at www.wanganuijazz.org.nz.

Susan Gai, Australian Jazz Singer, backed by Abacus at the RSA in St Hill Street – 6.30pm, Sunday, September 20.

Brunch and Bubbly Cruise: The Jazz Club has arranged a cruise on the paddlesteamer Waimarie, with Wanganui Rivercity Trad Jazz Band – 10am-12pm, Saturday, September 26. Bookings essential, phone (06) 347 1863, email riverboatswanganui@clear.net.nz or call in at 1A Taupo Quay.

Mayor Michael Laws this week released figures on the uptake of the government's rates subsidy scheme by Wanganui residents and urged residents "to take advantage of this offer of free money from the government".

"This is, literally, a gift horse. Please take advantage of it: we have our council dedicated to ensuring that you get the maximum dollars available."

The rates rebate scheme is a subsidy of up to $550 off the combined rates bill of both the Wanganui District Council and Horizons Regional Council for the 2009/10 financial year. It is administered by the Wanganui District Council and available to persons on lower incomes paying rates.

"By our calculations, anyone on national superannuation automatically qualifies if they don't have too much income from investments. Even then there is a sliding scale so please take the opportunity to register."

This year has seen a 10% rise in applications processed by the council with 1502 applications to Tuesday, September 15, totalling $738,023.

"Our rates team are well experienced in getting ratepayers the maximum subsidy. Please take advantage of that expertise and potentially save yourself hundreds of dollars!"

Wanganui events to celebrate International Peace Day are being co-ordinated by Operation Peace Through Unity and United Nations Association of New Zealand and include:

Handspan Sculpture additions
Saturday, September 19, 5.15pm, at Handspan, Queens Park
Chief Human Rights Commissioner Rosslyn Noonan will dedicate some 250 little children's hand prints, newly made by Ross Mitchell-Anyon and added to the sculpture, to a culture of peace and nonviolence for the children of the world.

Love Wanganui! Parade for Peace and Reconciliation
Sunday, September 20, 10am-12 noon, Majestic Square
Bring the whole family and join in the Wanganui Peace Parade to celebrate the skills, talents, volunteer services, acts of kindness and goodwill, entrepreneurship, arts, cultures and faiths that make up the fabric of our community.

Wanganui International Day of Peace Celebration
Sunday, September 20, 2pm-5pm, Quaker Settlement, 76 Virginia Road
A panel-led discussion on the theme "Reconciliation, Truth and Bridgebuilding". A statement resulting from the discussion will be taken to Wellington and handed over to the International Team at the Launch of the World March for Peace and Nonviolence on October 2.

Wanganui Contributory Walk
Monday, September 21, 12 noon, Handspan sculpture, Queens Park
The launch of the walk from Wanganui to Wellington to meet up with the International Launch of the World March for Peace and Nonviolence on October 2. After a short moment of silence as part of the worldwide Peace Vigil at 12 noon, the walk will start southward toward Wellington.

Wot do Wgi yth hv 2 say? Wanganui District Council wants to know, and it wants to know by text.

The Council is trialling Communitxt - an innovative system pioneered by former Wanganui resident and now Fried Marketing director Adam Hutchinson - in an effort to better engage its community, particularly younger residents.

The challenge for Wanganui's young people, then, is to put their texting fingers to use and text in their perceptions of Wanganui.

Young people between the ages of 12 and 24 are encouraged to text their views on Wanganui – their likes, dislikes and ideas for improvement – to 4882 right now.

Text 'Wanganui' then leave a space, include your age and then your comment.

Standard text messaging rates will apply.

Youth Committee information

Youth Wanganui website

Public notice is hereby given in accordance with Sections 78, 82, 83 and 89 of the Local Government Act 2002, that the Wanganui District Council is proposing to rename Airport Road and Landguard Road to Chas Poynter Drive.

The Council has, by resolution, determined that renaming Airport Road and Landguard Road to Chas Poynter Drive is an appropriate way to recognise the contribution made to the Wanganui District by the late Chas Poynter, Mayor of Wanganui from 1986 to 2004.

Submissions are now invited on the proposed name change. Submission forms are available:

• from the Wanganui District Council offices at 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui
• from the Wanganui District Library, Queens Park
• by phoning the Council offices on (06) 349 0001
• and on this page

Submissions relating to any aspect of the proposed renaming should be made in writing, and addressed to:
Wanganui District Council
PO Box 637
101 Guyton Street
Wanganui
or
faxed to (06) 349 0000

Submissions close on Monday, 28 September 2009, at 5.00pm.

At the close of the submission period Council will prepare a summary of submissions and will notify the availability of that summary and where the summary can be inspected. If necessary the Council will then hold a public hearing to provide the opportunity for submitters to address the Council. Persons who have made a submission and who have requested to be heard will be advised of the date, time and place of the hearing. Following the hearing Council will make its decision on whether the proposed name change of Airport Road and Landguard Road to Chas Poynter Drive will proceed.

Enquiries about the proposed name change can be directed to Dave Wan, phone (06) 349 0001 ext 8016.

Details of the following vacancy are available on this page:

Senior Wastewater Engineer
Applications close 1 October 2009

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings

Council – Extraordinary Meeting – Friday, September 18
- Approved Entranceway Signage – Prohibition of Gang Insignia Bylaw 2009 Notice; Forestry Management Review; Ballance Statue Civic Function; Decision of New Zealand Geographic Board on the Spelling of Wanganui; Sister Cities Activity Report; Proposal for International Relations Subcommittee; Southern Entranceway and Sculpture Options; Kowhai Park Toilets. Confidential item: Port Issues.

Community Development – Tuesday, September 22
- Mural Art in Castlecliff; Youth Committee; Port/Coastguards; Community and Cultural Portfolio Activity Report; Krupp Gun Relocation; Iwi Liaison; Public Arts Strategy; Strategy and Policy Activity Report; Heads Road Cemetery Management Plan; Plaques and Monuments Discussion Paper Consultation; Environment/Waste Education in Schools; Adoption of Wanganui Local Emergency Management Plan; Property Group Activity Report; William Birch Pool Reserve; Wanganui East Pool – Options for Additional Funding; Draft Waste Management and Minimisation Submissions; BMX – Progress Castlecliff; Montgomery Road – Road Stopping.

Finance and Infrastructure – Tuesday, September 29

Council – Monday, October 5
- Visitor Information Centre.

Unless otherwise noted, meetings are held at 3.00pm in the Council Chamber, 1st Floor, Municipal Office Building, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui.

Agendas are available at the Customer Services Counter, Municipal Office Building, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui, and the Wanganui District Library two working days prior to the meeting.