FREE TEEBALL AND ROOKIE BALL

Every Saturday morning the Western Magpies Softball Club are offering free teeball and rookie ball modules for local kids at Brains Park in Kelston. Club president Tua Raroa says the program is aiming to get the community active and teach local kids the basics of the games. The events will run until the last Saturday in March. For more information or to register, call

Deb Raroa on 021 2631590.

ALCOHOL SALES

A city policy on alcohol sales is before the courts. The Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority is holding public hearings at the Auckland District Court this month. There were 2693 written and more than 100 oral submissions on the council’s provisional policy that was consulted on in 2014, a council press release says. The current hearing is because some organisations appealed. When in force, the city’s Local Alcohol Policy (LAP) can influence where and how many new alcohol licences are allowed. It can also influence when alcohol can be sold in the city. The council says the LAP will be a key tool in minimising alcohol-related harm.

FRUIT IN SCHOOLS

This year, 543 schools will take part in the Fruit in Schools program, an initiative which sees high quality seasonal fruit and vegetables delivered each week. Up to 24 different types of fruits and vegetables are on the menu throughout the country and more than 20 million servings of produce will be dished up. Both staff and students can sample the produce, with adults taking a lead in showing kids how to enjoy tastes they might not have experienced previously, the Ministry of Health says. The Government invests about $8 million into the Fruit in Schools programme.

CORRECTION

On February 14 in the Western Leader we ran a story on page 5 about fiddle mitts for delirium patients at Waitakere Hospital. A name was printed incorrectly as Elaine Doherty. The correct name spelling should have been Elaine Docherty. We are sorry for this error.