Erica Pattison and Yvette van Eyssen.

Reborn artists bring dolls to life
"OH, what a beautiful baby, may I take a closer look?" is the reaction Erica Pattison and Yvette van Eyssen usually get from broody women when they take their babies shopping at the Somerset Mall.

Martin writes historical books that read like fiction
IT is a hot summer's day in Stellenbosch when renowned author, Martin Meredith, sits across the table from me talking about his latest book, Diamonds, Gold and War: The Making of South Africa and his tour of South Africa, while researching his next book on the search for human origin.

Full-time chaplaincy a first for local hospital
"YOU are much too young to be a chaplain", or "Where is your collar?" are some of the questions Devin Atherstone hear every day. This 30-year-old trained minister of religion, was appointed as chaplain at the Hottentots Holland Hospital six weeks ago. It is a full time job, only he does not get paid a salary.

Boek oor ervaring in Taiwan is meer as 'n joernaal
"Met die afklimslag van die vliegtuig terug na Suid-Afrika nadat ek twee jaar in Taiwain Engels gegee het, gee my broer my 'n volgepropte koevert met elke e-pos, elke poskaart en elke brief wat ek huis toe geskryf het met die opdrag: 'Sit dit in 'n boek'," vertel Katy Roberts, inwoner van Somerset-Wes.

Fifteen-year-old tackles varsity life
ROBIN PRENTER of Gordon's Bay enrolled at Stellenbosch University three weeks ago.

'Koos Sas' is 'n tawwe uitdaging vir Loukmaan
EK probeer om 'n onderhoud met die ster van Die Ballade van Koos Sas te reël vir skuins voor 10:00 een Donderdagoggend. "Jammer," laat hoor sy publisiteitsbestuurder, "hy slaap dan nog." Ek wil-wil my vererg vir sulke arrogansie, maar bedink my vinnig toe ek na sy program vir die afgelope agt weke kyk.

Twins pass matric despite dyslexia
WHEN May and Katy de Clercq were little girls, experts predicted that they would never finish school due to severe dyslexia.

Gary's passion is to sculpt in bronze
Gary Gordon is a talented young Strand sculptor, presently working as a plumber, who has a deep burning passion to sculpture full-time in bronze.

Sven's debut take unusual look at life in Cape Town
THE Cuban music in the restaurant takes a back seat to the author's explanation of how the title and cover of his novel, with the unusual title of Apetown, came about.

Local matrics exceed expectations
LOCAL learners once again did high schools in the Helderberg proud with excellent results achieved in the 2007 final matric examinations. Although few schools obtained a 100% pass rate this time around, many managed to produce several A-candidates and some schools also improved on their pass rates.

Liefde vir Afrikaanse kinderstories laat hom CD maak
'n STRAND-inwoner, het pas 'n CD met gewilde Afrikaanse stories vrygestel en sy kop staan nou televisie toe, hy wil die reeks uitbrei en sy karakter, Nieltjie, uitbou tot 'n maatjie vir elke Suid-Afrikaanse kind.

Lwandle community gives thanks for new church
SOME 500 adults and 100 children attended the official dedication and opening of the new, Masibulele Presbyterian Church in Lwandle on Sunday, November 15 by the Minister of Labour, Membathisi Mdladlana, an elder of the Gugulethu Presbyterian Church. Also present were eight overseas guests, who were honoured for their financial contributions.

Sad farewell for four Dutch students
FOR four young students of the Fontys Sports Academy in the Netherlands, Friday, November 30 will be a sad day because they will leave Macassar Primary School where they have been part of the school family for nearly three months now.

Coreen trap Wes-Kaap plat vir Bright Lights
TOE Coreen Vlok as vrywilliger betrokke geraak het by die ACVV Bright Lights invalsentrum vir hoë risiko kinders op Somerset-Wes, het sy nooit kon droom dat sy vier jaar later 500 km per fiets sou aflê om mense in die Helderberg bewus te maak van dié organisasie nie.

Strand-skrywer wen goud
In 2004 het You, Huisgenoot, Drum, Human & Rousseau Uitgewers, SABC Education en Radiosondergrense 'n skryf-inisiatief bekendgestel: nooi jong skrywers om deel te neem aan 'n multi-media-skryfskool, loods 'n skryfkompetisie vir skrywers jonger as 35 jaar en publiseer die beste inskrywings. 'n Strand-inwoner, Derick Muller, het weggestap met die eerste prys in die Afrikaanse afdeling en sy boek, Vuil skottelgoed, is pas bekend gestel.

Ubuntu project aims to change lives of children
THE Ubuntu Youth project has changed the lives of many children in the Free Sate, under the watchful eyes of animal activist and author Beatrice Wiltshire. Now she has moved to the Helderberg and her aim is to change the world for children here, giving them a chance to regain a feeling of self-worth.

Een van slegs twee dierefisio's nou in Helderberg
DIE Helderberg spog met een van slegs twee meestersgraad-gekwalifiseerde dierefisioterapeute in die land. Marinette Prinsloo (Teeling) het pas haar kwalifikasie voltooi en in die Helderberg begin praktiseer.

Skreeusnaakse Lizz kuier op Kaapse verhoog
Vir sommige mense is sy die skreeusnaakse televisiekarakter, vir Pieter-Dirk Uys is sy "die boere muffin" en vir haarself die "banierswaaiende dwergie wat vir die kunste baklei".

Joubert se miniature sorg vir weghol-sukses
Die son breek hier en daar deur die wolke en val in silwer strale oor sy skouer, op die klein olieverfwerkie waarmee hy besig is. Die kwas se punt is skaars dikker as 'n potlood en die miniatuurwerk word maklik deur sy hand omvou, maar aan detail en emosie is daar geen tekort binne die beperkende raam van 5cm by 5cm nie.

Werlou sets new SA body-building record
LOCAL bodybuilder Werlou van Tonder astounded the body-building fraternity this year when he set a record for being the only South African novice to ever win all his divisions, the South African Novice Championships and his weight division at the South African Championships in the same year.

Gwen het groot planne met Temperance Town-skool
TOE die laaste leerder gegroet het, die laaste boek en pakkie bordkryt weggepak is by Jean Gant Primêre Skool op Lourensford Landgoed in 2002, het Gwen Opperman, wat hoof van die skool was vir jare, se hart gebloei.