Tracker pups: A small training group raises dogs in the green hills of Wales to later help protect wildlife on African reserves. The idea started when two trainers saw photos of poached animals and realised their skills could support dedicated conservation work. The young dogs learn to follow scents, stay focused near large animals, and keep calm in busy places, similar to police-trained dogs. When they are ready, they join patrol teams that rely on scent tracking to protect threatened species. Their presence often discourages poachers before trouble starts across wide areas. Many teams stay in touch with the trainers, sharing updates that show how much these dogs can help on a patrol.

Paper retreat: A mechanical engineer in Massachusetts USA built a small summer house in 1922 using tightly rolled newspapers sealed with varnish for most of the walls and furniture. The place kept a normal wood frame, but nearly everything inside, from tables to clocks, was shaped from old papers that still show readable text today. Visitors can explore the rooms and see how everyday headlines became building material, including a brick-faced fireplace with paper details. Instead of modern displays, the house keeps a simple notebook where guests jot down comments about their visit. Over time, the unusual house has become a local attraction that's lasted far longer than anyone expected.

Disk rescue: At Cambridge University in England, archivists are working to save files stored on old floppy disks before the data disappears for good. The project began when disks once used by physicist Stephen Hawking arrived at the library. Their tests found that mould, worn surfaces, and weak magnetism can erase information completely. To protect what remains, the team now looks for disks from writers and public figures who relied on early computers. Because each format needs its own machine, collectors help by lending equipment and sharing know-how. More long-forgotten disks appear as people clear out storage, adding small pieces to a fading digital past.

Web metropolis: Deep in a cave near the Greek-Albanian border, researchers found a huge sheet of connected spider webs spread across a narrow passage, forming a single structure built by two different species. The colony holds over 111,000 spiders gathered on the wall, creating numbers rarely seen in one place. Instead of competing, the species share the space and feed on tiny insects that cluster near the cave's sulphur-rich surfaces. The web itself is made of overlapping funnel-like sections that blend into one massive network. Scientists visit the site to study how creatures adjust to places with almost no light. Even those who dislike spiders might admit the scale is impressive.

Act tough: what others call tough, I call persistent. ~ Estee Lauder

Success is a science; if you have the conditions, you get the result. ~ Oscar Wilde

Do you have an eye condition resulting in vision loss? We are a group of people of all ages and all eye conditions, sharing support along with hints and tips. Join us on Facebook Blindsided NZ or Blindsided.NZ@gmail.com

Widowed men and women - from around 50-mid 70s. We offer monthly meetings with support and friendship with regular activities such as dinners, movies, walks etc. New members welcome. Ph Claire 3543976 or Carol 9814125.

Rangiora Community Chior We practice each Wednesday in term time at 7.20-9pm at 176 King St, Methodist Church in Rangiora. We welcome new members, no auditions required. Follow us on facebook or https://sites.google.com/view/rangiora-community-choir

Free 5km timed run, Pegasus 8am every Saturday,Register at parkrun.co.nz

Citizens Advice Bureau North Canterbury looks forward to helping clients in 2020. We might not always find the answer to problems but we will give it a good try. Please contact us on 0800 367 222

Friendly Friday: is held on the second Friday of each month from 9a.m. - 11a.m. at the Rangiora Methodist Church in King Street, Rangiora. Free morning tea is provided. Good used clothing, bedding, books, toys, jigsaws, produce and vegetables are available at bargain prices. All welcome

The North Canterbury Sunday Market, every Sunday 9-2. 314 Lehmans Road, Rangiora. Food, Stalls, Entertainment

Free notices for not for profits steve@coffeenews.co.nz

1. Who wrote the original Dracula novel?

2. The Sun god of Egypt is Ra, Helios, or Solar?

3. The home video recorder that competed with VHS tapes was _____.

4. What colour was James Bond's Aston Martin in the films?

5. You need glasses with one red and one blue lens to watch this.

Shifting stone: In India, the Taj Mahal's marble can look different as the light changes, giving the building soft tints from morning to evening. Its reflective Makrana stone is the reason for this shift, creating a subtle colour change throughout the day.

Polar palms: Fossil evidence shows that palm trees once grew in what is now subarctic Canada. These tiny plant traces date to roughly 48 million years ago, revealing that the region stayed warm year-round during that era.

Canned fame: Spam, a canned meat product, first hit store shelves in the 1930s and took its name from spiced ham. Affordable and long-lasting, it fed soldiers during war and later became famous enough for its own museum.

Granite glow: Grand Central Terminal in New York City USA gives off a tiny bit of radiation from the granite used in its construction. The stone holds small amounts of uranium, yet the levels remain low enough that there is no danger to the public.

Border bubbles: Only three countries are completely enclosed by another nation - Vatican City and San Marino inside Italy, and Lesotho within South Africa. Their unusual placement creates small, self-contained pockets with their own identities.

The candle quit its job. It felt burnt out.

Did you hear about the golfer who carries extra trousers in case he gets a hole in one?

Teacher: Who succeeded the first president? Student: The second one!

Who serves ice cream faster than a speeding bullet? Scooperman!

When the unemployed actor got a job with a demolition company, he finally brought down the house.

1. Bram Stoker 2. Ra 3. Beta max 4. Silver 5. 3-D movie