RENATE Luhn has been inundated with stray cats since a vacant block of land in Skinner St, Hastings, was cleared of old car bodies and dilapidated sheds. The 81-year-old, who has two cats of her own, said the motley lot – of all ages and sizes – were mostly in poor health, even though she described some as gorgeous. The strays make their presence felt at her Salmon St home in the mornings and evenings, but lie low under the deck on hot afternoons. Although sympathetic to the cats’ plight, Ms Luhn said they were not welcome. “The place stinks,”…
Day: February 14, 2017
TWO men were captured on CCTV pouring petrol from a can over a man’s car before setting it alight in Heatherlee Close, Somerville. The men – one aged 17 and the other in his late 20s or early 30s – received burns to their hands, and possibly their faces, when they lit the fire at 5.30am, Monday 13 February. They ran off along Graf Rd before disappearing. A Holden Commodore was destroyed in the attack. Detective Senior Constable Paul Smith, of Mornington Peninsula CIU, said anyone with information should call him on 5978 1430 or Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000.…
CFA brigades from Baxter, Langwarrin, Hastings and a breathing apparatus van from Frankston battled a fire which destroyed a portable office at the rear of the Somerville recreation centre on Saturday night. Crews were alerted to a bin fire at 10.40pm at the rear of the mechanics hall by a passer-by. When they arrived, a large column of smoke was seen rising from the rear of the old rec centre, which itself was burnt out in November in a blaze which caused $1.75-$2 million damage. On Sunday 5 February crews were called to a “small” blaze inside the rec centre’s…
AS Coolart Homestead’s first artist in residence, Somers artist Timothy Growcott feels so privileged to work in the grounds of the magnificent 19-century mansion that he gets into character, literally. “I occasionally dress in a period costume, especially if I am doing art demonstrations, because it’s such an incredible building and I like being part of the history,” he said. Since February, Growcott has used a studio at the back of the estate as a creative space several days a week, producing a range of artistic works and occasionally holding screen printing demonstrations. Growcott said the 87.5 ha estate provided…