Windows 7 is expiring in January 2020; the only option is to upgrade to Windows 10, if you want to stay on that platform.

So what’s in a name? What’s better/worse about Windows 10?

The Dirty Dog Challenge, an event where dogs and their owners navigate a mud-filled obstacle course, is on again.

Organised by the Waikato District and Hamilton City councils for the second year, the event is held over two distances, 2.5km or 6km.

The challenge, at the Ngaruawahia Christian Youth Camp on Saturday, June 15, is open to dogs of all shapes and sizes.

Tamahere writer Venetia Sherson and friend and co-author Denise Irvine recently launched their book, Stand By Me.

It is the story of Te Whakaruruhau Waikato Women’s Refuge and courageous women – those who survive domestic violence, and those who help them get their lives back on track.

Te Whakaruruhau is New Zealand’s largest women’s refuge and has helped thousands of women and children during its more than 30-year history.

People’s safety is being put at risk in order to protect old trees that native bats may or may not roost in, a Tamahere resident says.

John Simmons believes about 30 trees in the Tamahere Reserve are leaning perilously over the bordering Tauwhare Rd.

“I’ve been looking at these trees for some time and they are getting pretty hazardous,” he said.

The Tamahere Reserve, partially restored through thousands of hours of volunteer toil, has become ground zero in a stoush between environmentalists and the Department of Conservation.

At the heart of the increasingly bitter dispute – which has triggered countless meetings and threats of legal action – is the country’s native nocturnal flyer, the long-tailed bat.

For the past eight years, Bill Hodgson and volunteers have been restoring the Tamahere Reserve, on Tauwhare Rd.

The Tamahere Lions Best Artisan Market this Saturday, April 13, promises to be an Easter Extravaganza.

The market, from 9am to 1pm at the Devine Rd Tamahere Community Centre, will have more than 70 indoor and some outdoor stalls.

They will be offering gifts, crafts, food, clothes, leather goods, jewellery, canvas, photography, sweets, candles, produce, perfumes, furniture and more.

Drivers should be prepared to lower their speed on many Tamahere and Matangi roads from this month as well as elsewhere around the Waikato.

Lower speed numbers will be going up on many speed limit signs around the district progressively over this month. Check the list for your road.

The new speed limits will come into force once the signage change is completed, estimated to be by late in the month.

The 2019 season of indoor bowls is underway in the Tamahere Community Centre.

The Tamahere Indoor Bowling Club has already held its annual open tournament with 20 teams from around the Waikato participating.

Funds raised at the tournament over the last three years have enabled the club to purchase new coloured bowls.

The Tamahere Reserve has been closed temporarily.

A number of the pine trees in the Tauwhare Rd reserve have been found to be posing a risk to reserve users.

The Waikato District Council has organised arborists to work on the dangerous trees as soon as possible.

Tamahere School’s ultimate family fun night – the annual Pumpkin Night – is on Saturday, April 6.

The popular event, which runs from 3-8pm, features a big range of activities and entertainments and a wide selection of tasty food.

Amusements include a bouncy castle, bumper balls, horizontal bungy, slides and horse rides, a Nerf fun war, dunk the teacher, and a gumboot throw.