THURSDAY 28 MAY

Somerset West: ART STUDIO@15 in Upper Mountain Road offers a weekly open studio for adults every Thursday from 09:30 to 12:00, and 18:00 to 20:30. Aimed at beginner and intermediate painters, participants can take unfinished work or start something new under the guidance of artist and teacher Marusa Sheel. Basic paints, easels, brushes, tea, coffee and biscuits are provided; participants are asked to take their own canvas and preferred paints. Cost is R200. The studio also offers weekly Young Artists classes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Painting the Word workshops on Saturdays or Tuesdays, and private lessons for adults and children by appointment. For more information or to RSVP, contact Sheel on 084 705 4828 or marusa.mason@gmail.com.

FRIDAY 29 MAY

Somerset West: The VICTORIA PARK NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH is hosting a beef burger fundraiser, with all proceeds going to the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. Burgers are priced at R50 each and can be collected from 18:00 at 8 Phoenix Park Drive. For more information, call 064 866 6990.

SATURDAY 30 MAY

Somerset West: THE HUB invites the community to celebrate three years of play at their fun-filled Play Festival at 9 Fagan Street from 11:00 to 15:00. Come play, explore and connect at this family-friendly event packed with activities to build, create, play, eat and connect. For more information contact Lize on 076 140 3437 or Yvonne on 083 975 2374.

MAANDAG 1 JUNIE

Strand: Die CHRISTELIKE AFHANKLIKHEIDSDIENS, of Christians Against Drug, nooi mense wat probleme met middelafhanklikheid het na hul byeenkoms om 19:00 in die kerksaal van die NG Strand Moedergemeente, op die hoek van Birkenhead- en Faganstraat. Bel Gerrit by 073 336 3119 of Werner by 082 826 0972 vir nog inligting of navrae.

WEDNESDAY 3 JUNE

Somerset West: Exploration geologist and co-author of Geological Journeys, Nick Norman, will address U3A HELDERBERG at the Dutch Reformed church at 10:00. Invoking Sherlock Holmes, Norman traces the remarkable journeys of trees and birds across vast oceans, proving that even wide seas are no barrier – a theme drawn from South African geologist Alex du Toit’s landmark work, Our Wandering Continents. Free for members; R20 for visitors. For enquiries call Denise on 072 211 1173.

SATURDAY 6 JUNE

Somerset West: The SOMERSET WEST UNITARIAN FELLOWSHIP gathers at the meeting room at Vonke House, 121 Lourensford Road at 10:00 for “How Islam Came to the Helderberg”, a talk in which historian Ebrahim Rhoda traces the spread of Islam from Cape Town to Mosterd Bay during the colonial period. For enquiries, phone Rev Roux Malan on 084 679 5466 or visit swunitarians.carrd.co.