NEW ULM – Char Reinhart-Kalk’s has a very full life, from making time for friends and family to having hobbies like watching romantic comedies, decorating, traveling, to listening to audio murder mystery books–she’s also active around town as owner of Holiday Haus LLC, vice-chair for the EDA, president of the CVB, and a member of the Rathskeller Board at Turner Hall. “My priorities are my friends and family. We do game nights and have dinner as often as we can, but I do love my rom coms and murder mysteries. We have a group of friends that we try to solve murders with. The game is called Hunt a Killer, but we play other board games a lot, too. I read, but I do audiobooks; William Kent Kruger is my passion right now. I love the Cork O’Connor series. I’m really into a good unsolved mystery,” said Reinhart-Kalk. She is absolutely killing it as the owner of two successful rental properties in central New Ulm which are called Holiday Haus, LLC. “The main reason mine are doing well is because of the location and the homes are big enough to split it with another family. One house is right across the street from the State Street Theater, so people can just walk across the street and see a show. I have a lot of repeat guests,” said Reinhart-Kalk. She also does interior design and decorating for all of the holidays in the rentals. Now, they are decked out for Valentine’s Day, but if lodgers came during Christmastime there would be lights, and garland, and Christmas trees up. “Redecorating is also a hobby of mine. I redid my countertops and marbleized them at home. It was my first project,” said Reinhart-Kalk. While Holiday Haus, LLC is Char Reinhart-Kalk’s biggest accomplishment career wise to date, friends and family are also very important. As a mother of three, she blended her family with Dan Kalk in 2017. Her children, now grown adults ages 24, 22, and 20, and are seventh generation decedents of New Ulm. Reinhart-Kalk was born and raised in New Ulm. She graduated from Cathedral, and her first year of college was at Willmar Community College, and then South Central Technical College where she became a certified license dental assistant, which was her career for 26 years. “It was something I cared about. My goal was to take care of myself and my future family and to be there for them,” said Reinhart-Kalk. Reinhart-Kalk owned rental properties since she was 22 years old, but since homes were always her passion, she considered a career change. “I bought the first house, in Holiday Haus, LLC to have a coffee shop. I put it on the market as a rental while I figured out the red tape for the coffee business. It was so successful that I pivoted. A year later, the other house came on the market, and it was a very affordable property,” said Reinhart-Kalk. “I’m blessed to have had a wonderful career in dentistry. It afforded me to be involved in my kids’ lives. It’s just a different path. As my kids got older, I needed more to do. That’s how I got more involved with the community,” said Reinhart-Kalk. More to do besides raising three children, having a new marriage, and running a successful business? Yes. Char Reinhart-Kalk also became the vice-chair for the Economic Development Board (EDA) and president of the Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB). The mayor contacted her for a position on the EDA because of Reinhart-Kalk’s knowledge of rental properties. This is her second year as vice chair. “We’ve been able to do a lot; it’s wonderful on the EDA. We help provide people with loans and grants and rehab loans and identify with city needs,” said Reinhart-Kalk. “We need to keep our young people here–we have so much to offer. I am so passionate about this community. I love when people come back, like Dan, who moved away and came back. I don’t want New Ulm to be a steppingstone for people I want this to be where they settle,” said Reinhart-Kalk. As the president of Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) she works towards getting people into New Ulm with the goal of having them stay overnight, in a hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, or short term rental. Since the CVB is funded with the lodging taxes, Reinhart-Kalk feels it is nice to have a say how the funds get spent. “Our chamber does a fantastic job getting New Ulm out there,” said Reinhart-Kalk. Char Reinhart-Kalk is also a member of the Rathskeller Board at Turner Hall. “I support as many things as I can. We’re members of the Grand. That’s where Dan and I met, so it’s a very special place to us. We need to have culture in our community. I’m also going to work at Lykke Books in the coffee shop,” said Reinhart-Kalk. Char Reinhart-Kalk has a very, very full life indeed. Despite wanting to work for Lykke Book’s coffee shop, she still doesn’t have any plans to open a coffee shop of her own. As for changes Reinhart-Kalk hopes to see in New Ulm in the future, she has to think a moment. “More affordable housing and affordable daycare. We have a really great school system; I want to see that we keep funding the schools with tax dollars. Those are the biggest things,” said Reinhart-Kalk. Over everything, her hobbies, her community involvement, her multiple career paths, she is certain on this: being most grateful for her family and friends. “My priority in life was to be a good mom. I wanted to be home on nights and weekends and be there for my kids. My biggest accomplishment is definitely the family,” said Reinhart-Kalk. Copyright © 2025 Ogden Newspapers of Minnesota, Inc. | https://www.nujournal.com | 303 N. Minnesota St., New Ulm, MN 56073 | 507-359-2911 This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account. A man tragically drowned while trying to help a capsized paddler off Kalk Bay. The paddler was rescued safely. Our deepest condolences go to the hero’s loved ones. At 09h42, Monday, 28 April, NSRI Simons Town duty crew were activated following reports of a paddler on a surf-ski appearing to be in difficulties offshore of Kalk Bay Harbour. Almost immediately additional eyewitnesses were calling, including a Cape Town Traffic Services officer, bystanders and members of a TMNP (Table Mountain National Parks) communications group, reporting the paddler to have capsized about 150 meters offshore of the Kalk Bay Harbour wall. NSRI Strandfontein, CMR (Cape Medical Response), the SA Police Services, WC Government Health EMS and CoCT (City of Cape Town) Law Enforcement were also activated. NSRI Simons Town crew had been at the NSRI Simons Town station 10 rescue base at the time, conducting routine training, and immediately the NSRI Simons Town rescue craft Jack&Irene was launched while NSRI rescue swimmers responded directly to the scene. A local fishing vessel, the Emily Marie, hearing bystanders calling out for help, had seen the paddler in the water and the skipper and crew of the Emily Marie launched their fishing vessel to assist. A local man, age 35, a Good Samaritan, seeing the man appearing to be in difficulties at his surf-ski, had jumped off the Kalk Bay Harbour wall and he swam to the paddler in efforts to attempt to go to assist. The paddler, although in the water, was gradually swimming back towards the Kalk Bay Harbour mouth using his surf-ski to aid in his floatation. The Good Samaritan man had reached the paddler but appeared then to be in difficulties himself. At that stage the fishing vessel Emily Marie had reached the 2 men rescuing both men onto their fishing vessel. An NSRI Simons Town crewman, who was at Kalk Bay at the time, had reached the Kalk Bay Habour wall and was able to relay information to the responding rescue resources. Crew of the Emily Marie, noticing the Good Samaritan man appearing to be lifeless onboard their fishing vessel, initiated CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) efforts while heading back into Kalk Bay Harbour where NSRI crew met with them, boarded the fishing vessel, and continued with CPR efforts. Additional rescue crew, from the NSRI rescue craft, and CMR paramedics, joined with the ongoing extensive CPR efforts but after all efforts to resuscitate the man were exhausted sadly he was declared deceased. The body of the deceased man has been taken into the care of Government Health Forensic Pathology Services. Condolences are conveyed to the family and friends of the deceased man. The paddler, age 57, from Green Point was medically treated by CMR paramedics before being released requiring no further assistance. Our thoughts, care and compassion are with all involved in this tragic incident. We’re proud to announce that our newly rebuilt NSRI Station 21 in St Francis Bay is now officially open. To mark this milestone, we held a blessing ceremony for two new state-of-the-art rescue vessels: the Spirit of St Francis III ... Gqeberha — The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) today officially celebrated the blessing of its latest state-of-the-art Offshore Rescue Craft (ORC), Bay Guardian, at a ceremony held at the PE Deep Sea Angling Club building, adjacent to NSRI’s Gqeberha Sea ... Subscribe today for information about NSRI rescues, news and appeals CAPE TOWN - Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a woman whose body was found on a beach near Kalk Bay lighthouse.The grim discovery was made by a passer-by, who reported it to police on Thursday morning.Police spokesperson Malcolm Pojie said that an autopsy was being conducted to determine the cause of death."We appeal to anyone with information regarding the discovery to call Crime Stop at 08600 10111," said Pojie. Sections the SABR 52 Minnesota Twins Analytics Panel was held at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis the Twins’ Senior Vice President and General Manager; Josh Kalk Baseball Operations Strategy & Innovation; Jeremy Raadt Vice President of Baseball Systems; and Josh Ruffin Assistant Director of Player Development Research Since Levine’s hiring as GM in November 2016 the Twins have won three American League Central Division titles and qualified for four postseason appearances The team also set a single-season major league record with 307 home runs in 2019 when they won 101 games he spent 11 seasons as an Assistant General Manager for the Texas Rangers a period that included two World Series runs He has also worked with the Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Dodgers Kalk is in his seventh season with the Twins where he leads the advance scouting team and assists the major league staff and player development personnel with unique information and ball-tracking data he spent nine seasons in the Tampa Bay Rays front office He holds a Master of Science degree in Physics from Michigan State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics and Mathematics from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Raadt joined the Twins in 2014 as the club’s first baseball systems developer His responsibilities include leading the baseball systems team as they develop applications and software for use across all areas of the baseball operations department from player development and scouting to analytics where he graduated with degrees in computer science business finance and small business management Ruffin works closely with the affiliate coaching staffs to develop minor league prospects He joined the organization in 2019 as an Advance Scouting Analyst in the major league clubhouse he graduated with a degree in Statistical Science in 2014 and earned his Master’s degree in Data Analytics Engineering from George Mason University He has also served as a Data Analyst in numerous efforts supporting the United States Government ON ADVANCE SCOUTS AND HOW TO PREPARE PITCHERS For more coverage of SABR 52, visit SABR.org/convention Meet the Staff Board of Directors Annual Reports Inclusivity Statement Contact SABR This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Dear Reader,Unfortunately our comment platform isn\'t available at the moment due to issues with our paywall and authentication vendor Britain’s Prince William described the past year as “brutal” as he faced work while his wife and father were treated for cancer LONDON — Britain’s Prince William has described the past year as “brutal” following cancer diagnoses for his wife and father Speaking to reporters on Thursday as he closed out a four-day trip to South Africa the Prince of Wales described 2024 as being probably “the hardest year in my life.” trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track has been really difficult for handling the things that they have done King Charles III was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in February, forcing the monarch to step away from public appearances for two months as he focused on his treatment and recovery. Kate, the princess of Wales announced her own cancer diagnosis a few weeks later and is slowly returning to public duties after completing a course of chemotherapy Kate described her illness as “incredibly tough for us as a family.” William’s comments in South Africa marked the first time he has discussed his own feelings in detail Buckingham Palace announced on Friday that Kate and the king would both take part in the national commemoration of Remembrance Day on Sunday to honor those who died during the world wars and all the conflicts that have followed Prince William was in South Africa to announce the winners of his annual Earthshot competition which is designed to inspire entrepreneurs and inventors to come up with new ways to combat climate change and other environmental problems He also attended a meeting sponsored by his United for Wildlife charity which brought together representatives of law enforcement agencies conservation groups and corporations that are working to stop the trade in illegal wildlife products The work has provided a welcome distraction in an otherwise difficult year “It’s more a case of just crack on and you’ve got to keep going,” William said and I enjoy pacing myself and keeping sure that I have got time for my family William and Klum visited Kalk Bay Harbour near Cape Town with model Winnie Harlow and actor Billy Porter In the climax of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” the three Herdmans playing the Wisemen (Leroy Claude and Ollie) following the star to the Christ child and bring gifts of gold The Herdmans felt a baked ham was more appropriate because a person cannot eat frankincense Left to right: Brooklynn Apitz as the Star Angel; Gus Scharf as Leroy; Logan Kimsey as Claude and Alivia Hacker as Ollie Herdman The State Street Theater Company (SSTC) is not bragging about its latest holiday show it is really “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” is based on a 1972 young adult novel by Barbara Robinson a small-town church’s annual Christmas pageant is thrown into chaos when the regular pageant director Armstrong (played by Gwen Ruff) is hospitalized and unable to direct this year Grace Bradley (played by Jennifer Deutz) is forced to take over director duties Bradley assumes her biggest challenge would be living up to the community standards for the pageant but things become worse when it comes time to cast the play trouble-making siblings — attend Sunday School and volunteer to play the main characters The Herdman clan consists of Imogene (Eleanor Kalk) Ollie (Alivia Hacker) and Gladys (Dylan Nilson) The kids are notorious among the community for their habit of cigar smoking The only reason the kids attended the pageant audition was because they heard the church offered free snakes Bradley is forced to cast the Herdmans in the main roles of Mary and the angel because they intimidated the other kids into not volunteering attempts to explain the Christmas story to the Herdman family who have never heard the story of Jesus before Imogene (left) and Gladys (center) Herdman played by Eleanor Kalk and Dylan Nilson have a laughing fit after their brother Ralph explains that the line “great with child” means pregnant Bradley leads the kids in rehearsing the pageant The Herdmans are disruptive and argumentative No one in the town is willing to let their infant play baby Jesus with Imogene Herdman playing Mary Other members of the community including Reverend Hopkins (Richard Gurska) question if the pageant should be canceled this year Bradley realizes that if the town turns the Herdman kids away from participating in the Christmas pageant it will miss the point of the Christmas story Bradley realizes none of the Herdman kids know the Christmas story before they start asking questions and challenging the traditional pageant and inadvertently teach the town and audience the true meaning of Christmas “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” is directed by Wendy Tuttle who said she loved the play from the first time she read it for it’s thoughtful message Bradley’s line “We’re missing the point if we turn them away,” is the message of the entire play It is a story about the importance of tolerance and understanding Tuttle said this year’s holiday production was really exciting due to the youthful energy of the cast Since the story is about a cast of children putting on a pageant Silas Dolan (left) playing Charlie; Amelia Hermanson (center) playing Beth and Mathew Loyd (right) playing Bob Bradley rehearse the scene in which the family learns Grace Bradley will need to direct the Christmas pageant The Bradley children worry about who they play in the pageant Bradley worries he may have to attend the pageant Tuttle said there are several cast members who are 9-13 years old and they have been great to work with “You cannot beat their energy,” Tuttle said One of the youngest actors in the production is 10-year-old Silas Dolan who plays Charlie Bradley the son of the beleaguered pageant director He is also the person responsible for letting the Herdmans know about the pageant Dolan has acted in a few school musicals before “I like that Charlie has a lot of lines and he is funny,” Dolan said Overall he said it is relatively easy to play Charlie since the character is not much different from him in real life The Herdman kids gather in the nativity set during the final rehearsal for the town’s Christmas pageant in a scene from State Street Theater’s production of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” The play tells the story of a small town Christmas pageant that is thrown into chaos when the town ruffians are cast in the lead roles for the pageant L to R: Donovin Weber as Ralph Herdman; Logan Kimsey as Claude Herdman; Gus Sharf as Leroy Herdman; Dylan Nilson as Gladys Herdman; Eleanor Kalk as Imogene Herdman and Alivia Hacker as Ollie Herdman In the play within a play; Ralph plays Joseph; Claude Gladys plays an angel and Imogene plays Mary Dolan said the greatest challenge is that the play is technically a play within a play He’s playing a character named Charlie but Charlie is also playing a shepherd in a Christmas pageant but Dolan is confident audiences will like the story It’s a really interesting production.” Twelve-year-old Eleanor Kalk plays Imogene Herdman–the leader of the Herdman kids She has arguable one of the most challenging roles in the play In addition to playing the tough talking Imogene she has to play her as an actor playing the role of Mary in a Christmas pageant As Imogene takes on the role of Mary she has a change of heart Kalk said it was this change of heart that made Imogene fun to play but she finds herself through the Christmas story,” Kalk said She said the most challenging part of the role was acting cruel to her fellow cast members in the earlier scenes Eleanor Kalk plays Imogene Herdman in “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” Imogene is initially considered an inappropriate choice to play Mary mother of Jesus “Being mean is the hardest part,” Kalk said The Beth character serves as as the narrator in “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” The plays begins with her alone on the spotlight delivering monologue setting up the story and giving important background information Since the play is about putting on a play there are already several layers to the story Hermanson has to go to the next level by breaking the fourth wall and talking directly to the audience She said the hardest part of her role is transitioning from her role as narrator “How do I go from talking to the audience to fading back into the scene?” Hermanson asked It is all a question of timing and hitting the correct mark Deutz recently served as a narrator in the SSTC production “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat” and has helped Hermanson with her role as Beth “I love working with Jennifer,” Hermanson said “She is so helpful and is such an amazing lady.” Deutz agreed that one of the best parts of playing Grace Bradley is being able to work with the young actors and serve as a surrogate mother which is my normal life,” Deutz said Deutz said “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” is a great show for families to watch; especially around the holidays “It gets to the heart of Christmas,” she said “It’s about learning to accept people.” SSTC production of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” will be performed a few weeks after a film version of the story hits movie theaters Tuttle said “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” was selected for this year’s holiday play a year ago before anyone knew a film adaptation was being made Tuttle credits the coincidence to the popularity of the book She hopes people who see the play will be inspired to read the book which is readily available at most libraries and book stores Tuttle gave special thanks to Lykke Books who provided an alternative space for the cast to practice “Anyone of any age will enjoy this play,” Tuttle said Popular books have a way of finding their way into homes across the globe Copyright © 2025 Ogden Newspapers of Minnesota Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account The area just outside Olympia Bakery in Kalk Bay was a hive of activity on Tuesday as Filipino artist Pancho Piano worked on a mural to honour the area’s Filipino history The mural will pay tribute to the seafarers from the Philippines who first settled in the area in the 19th century His work was admired by passers-by and several schools including pupils from the St James RC Primary School who posed for a photograph with him Visiting Cape Town and Kalk Bay for the first time, he said the history and elements of Kalk Bay inspired the design of the mural after a walk-about of the village and the Manilla Steps were named in honour of Filipino settlers (“Kalk Bay steps now named Manilla Steps,” Echo “Kalk Bay is a beautiful community,” he said on Monday and was expecting to finish it by Wednesday With more than 150 murals and stained-glass works many of which are located in religious and public spaces across the Philippines and Europe The mural is between Olympia Bakery and an outdoor exhibition which focuses on the erased histories of Kalk Bay’s Indigenous fishing communities (“Exploring Kalk Bay’s indigenous fishing roots,” Echo the consul general of the Philippines in South Africa said the mural would be a striking tribute to the Filipino community’s rich history in the area “South Africa and the Philippines share a bond rooted in history forged through the brave men who first sailed across the seas in the 19th century,” he said adding that the mural was not just a tribute to the Filipino seafarers but also the enduring friendship between the nations While many Filipinos had returned home after the Philippines had been ceded to America in 1898 and some of their descendants still called Kalk Bay home secretary of the Kalk Bay Historical Association said Filipino culture was a key part of the area’s character “This mural will serve as a poignant reminder of the courage and resilience of the Filipino community and how they became a cornerstone of Kalk Bay’s vibrant history,” he said adding that it was not just a piece of art but a tribute to the enduring spirit of those early settlers and the generations that followed He said the Philippines had long been recognised as a maritime powerhouse with over 500 000 Filipino seafarers working on ships around the world The mural was a salute to those on the high seas today and the Filipino families who had helped establish Kalk Bay as a diverse and flourishing community Mr Piano’s work has appeared in international art events across America He is currently exhibiting his work at the Castle of Good Hope co-curated in collaboration with the Koena Art Institute FORT MYERS, Fla. — Outside of upper management, he may be the single most important person to the Twins baseball operations department and yet there’s a good chance you’ve never heard his name But as much as Josh Kalk would like to remain anonymous his fingerprints are littered across the entire organization Whether it’s leading the way in the big-league team’s run prevention efforts playing a significant role in player development via pitch design analyzing the performance of major-league pitchers or evaluating potential acquisitions the team’s senior analyst in research and development has a far-reaching influence with the Twins Entering his third year with the organization and now 12th in pro baseball the former math/physics professor and writer for The Hardball Times is widely valued by those with the Twins and outside the club as well for his contributions “He’s instrumental basically in all facets,” said Twins farm director Alex Hassan His impact is felt across a number of different departments because of how skilled he is His perspective on a variety of different fronts is just exceptional We’ve benefitted tremendously from his presence and the work he’s done.” You can’t walk two feet in the clubhouse before another Twins pitching coach gushes about the impact Kalk has had on both the team’s players and coaches. A player development enthusiast since his days with the Tampa Bay Rays Kalk is regarded as a savant when it comes to information What began as writing for his own blog and eventually The Hardball Times after he found a backdoor into Major League Baseball’s Pitch F/X data and researched the numbers has developed into a critical skillset required by one of MLB’s most innovative teams in the eyes of Twins general manager Thad Levine people with Josh’s background would not have had immediate access to major-league coaches “He now is one of the chief architects of our pitching planning throughout our whole minor-league and major-league systems He is a consigliere to (pitching coach) Wes Johnson (minor-league pitching coordinator) Pete Maki and (manager) Rocco Baldelli.” Kalk too has developed his approach since he first joined Tampa Bay in 2009 he has refined the way he delivers information to coaches and in the process has become indispensable said Kalk has worked hard to improve how he conveys information and that seeing how critical those advances in communication have been to his career has driven him to encourage other analysts to work on perfecting their delivery “It wasn’t something that happened immediately nor would anybody expect that it would,” Snyder said “But the more exposure he got around other players and coaches the more comfortable he became and the more we realized what a tremendous resource he was.” When Kalk — who turns 44 on March 20 — agreed to do an interview for this story He’s been a constant presence in the clubhouse for more than a year and is always friendly but reluctant to engage further Kalk doesn’t seem to seek attention or desire to see his name in print He’s plenty talkative and heavily involved in pitcher’s bullpen sessions or when he and Johnson head to the backfield to watch Jake Odorizzi’s simulated game but Kalk’s reasoning for keeping a low profile with the media is that he believes it makes it easier for him to perform his job Though almost everyone else in the organization talks on Kalk’s behalf he doesn’t want credit for the success of a pitcher such as Randy Dobnak when a ton of coaching work went into the process and the player made the adjustments He believes that minor-league coaches are far more critical to development and don’t receive enough credit for it Kalk is much more comfortable to see assistant pitching coordinator Justin Willard who spent last season as the Double-A pitching coach and was in Single-A Cedar Rapids in 2018 “He has been an advocate for everyone from interns to middle management and he is very rarely focused on his own personal gain and is almost exclusively focused on the betterment of the rank and file That’s something he’s been consistent on ever since we’ve hired him A lot of people utilize people to enhance their own strengths and contributions I think he’s doing it benevolently to enhance the learning and contributions and skill acquisitions of those individuals He’s much more comfortable championing their contributions than ever speaking positively about what he himself has contributed.” The first story Kalk wrote for The Hardball Times featured a breakdown of how Colorado’s Jeff Francis attacked Philadelphia differently in Game 1 of the 2007 National League Divisional Series than he had during the regular season by using more off-speed pitches he penned a piece on the work he’d been doing researching the “gold mine of information” available via Pitch F/X data who did his undergrad at University of Wisconsin-River Falls and graduate work in physics at Michigan State was one of the first people to find the backdoor into the raw data provided by Pitch F/X a double major in physics and math and a professor of those subjects at Bluefield State College (W used Pitch F/X data and other sources of information to profile Tom Glavine He also investigated subjects such as whether or not relief pitchers suffered working on consecutive days how fatigue affected a pitcher’s fastball and ways to identify if a pitcher is injured “He’s spent such a long time in this research space,” Twins assistant GM Jeremy Zoll said “His ability to convey his findings in a simple manner — it’s clear when you’re talking to him how much he has dug in on various aspects of baseball research and pitching research.” Kalk’s work drew the attention of several teams The Rays emailed him about an interview and Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said Kalk also interviewed with the Cleveland Indians and his early years were spent working strictly with the Rays’ front office His work changed as Kalk became more involved in player development in 2013 Two key moments in Kalk’s growth in player development were when Tampa Bay named Dewey Robinson its roving minor-league pitching instructor and Snyder was named the pitching coach for Single-A Bowling Green who won a World Series ring with the 2007 Boston Red Sox was named the minor-league pitching coordinator who played independent ball as late as 2011 was still close enough to his playing days that he and Kalk could bounce ideas off one another and experiment with them “That’s really when things started,” Snyder said “Our relationship continued to grow in terms of marrying both worlds and integrating him into development “He helped simplify it for me so I could simplify it for the player and the player could more easily make what we’re trying to bring to them more actionable Everybody has the information nowadays for the most part I think some organizations use that information developmentally better than others for the department while he was here and really on the front lines of all this stuff.” who took over as Tampa Bay’s major-league pitching coach in 2018 and Kalk worked closely over the next few years When Snyder was promoted to Triple-A Durham in 2015 Kalk made a point of going to North Carolina six or seven times a year for 3-4 day stints He felt comfortable working with Snyder knowing that his ideas wouldn’t be shot down without consideration Snyder respected the depth of the research and the level of the information Kalk possessed He also knew their working relationship benefitted both “You wind up pushing one another,” Snyder said “Just the viewpoint that he brought with the physics background and the intelligence and understanding of ways this could be applied … I was fresh enough out of the game I could actually try some of the things he had theories on and it was just cool I would not be where I am as a pitching coach without him.” With his contract expiring in Tampa Bay in 2017 Falvey said Kalk was looking for new opportunities Falvey wanted to add the senior pitching analyst to the organization because he knew Kalk could work in a variety of areas Kalk joined the Twins in December 2017. Asked over the weekend if Kalk was the biggest free agent the Twins acquired that winter, an offseason that included the signings of Fernando Rodney, Addison Reed, Lance Lynn and Logan Morrison Kalk was more focused on player development and advanced scouting Then Baldelli was named as the team’s manager and Johnson was hired as the team’s pitching coach With both featuring a heavy background in biomechanics Johnson and Kalk hit it off almost immediately Not only is Kalk now involved in analyzing pitching performance he has become an architect in providing Johnson and Baldelli with an objective view when it comes to game decisions “I can’t put a price on what Josh Kalk does for me and what we’re doing,” Johnson said “You always keep in mind that he’s a tactical guy That doesn’t mean he’s giving you the best strategy But multiple times a day I talk to Josh because I want to make sure our tactics are at least moving in the right direction “I take his tactics and then I try to develop the strategy.” The goal of Kalk’s tactics are to remove the emotion of the game from any decision being made he can also advise Johnson on what types of pitchers work well against certain opponents Kalk normally wants the Twins to make choices that “make the most sense.” In the heat of the moment But the Twins realize Kalk is guiding them in the right direction when it comes to the big picture “He’s an incredibly talented guy and he’s a good communicator,” Baldelli said We’re looking for someone who is going to think about things look at things in a way that we may not be and he does that He’s a huge asset to everything that we do here “What it does is it promotes a lot of really positive conversation in addition to everything else.” offering tactical advice to the coaching staff and assisting in player acquisition decisions Kalk’s work is heavily based in pitch design with minor-leaguers Though it’s virtually the same as pitch development pitch design has become a trendy name for the application of analytics to the process Kalk can look at all of the information generated by a pitcher’s profile and determine which new pitch would benefit him best the way Kalk has figured out how to apply his information to Twins minor-league coaches is a key ingredient in the organization’s recent uptick in player development “He’s a big reason why the Twins are churning out arms,” the source said would insist the improvement is due to the efforts of the minor-league coaching staff And while this offseason’s purge of coaches should leave little doubt the Twins do a good job of hiring those same individuals Kalk wants to credit are more than willing to thrust that attention back on him “He’s been instrumental in our pitching development and pitching programs,” Zoll said Martinez and really the whole coaching staff in the minor leagues has been so huge for the whole department When you look back at where we were two years ago to where we are now it would be hard to overstate the impact he’s had.” As the roving assistant coordinator each of the past two years Martinez has had plenty of chances to work alongside Kalk He said it’s Kalk’s ability to easily convey his points that makes him an effective teacher “The first time I sat down and talked with Josh but it was nothing I’d ever heard before,” Martinez said “It was something right out of the gate that I wanted to emulate when I talked to players; I didn’t want them to be confused I wanted them to understand right away what point I was trying to get across Talking with Josh about a lot of different things helped me do that.” New York Mets pitching coach Jeremy Hefner only had two years working with Kalk he soaked up a lifetime worth of knowledge Hefner first worked with Kalk when he was an advance scout in 2018 the two worked closely together when Hefner moved into his role as the team’s assistant pitching coach “Josh helped me (and others) learn about 10-15 years’ worth of information in two-plus years,” Hefner said “I would not be in the position I’m in if he hadn’t been willing to share his experiences and knowledge He brings a unique perspective to baseball discussions — a perspective to not be right but to help get the team in the best situation to win.” But it’s not just the coaches that Kalk wants to improve He also hopes to develop the other analysts within his R&D department Hassan noted that Kalk preaches to other analysts about the importance of improving their communication with coaches because of the critical role it plays in the process a player’s development could get lost in the process “He had to work really hard to get better at that and tailor his message and figure out how to contribute,” Hassan said he’s found a team that allows him to contribute in a variety of ways He’s made such a large impact on the organization in such a small amount of time that not even his reluctant ways with the media can suppress it “It speaks volumes to his abilities and strengths but also his diplomacy to able to manage that,” Levine said “It’s a great time for our sport that he has taken such an active role.” (Top photo of Josh Kalk (right) speaking with Bob McClure (left): Brace Hemmelgarn / Courtesy Minnesota Twins) Blurring the lines between dirtbike and e-bike the CAKE Kalk OR combines big torque with scant weight for one insanely fun ride I’ll be frank about this: I don’t know what to call the CAKE Kalk OR the Swedish electric bike brand CAKE invited me to Moab to sample its off-road electric bike I originally saw the Kalk OR at the Outdoor Retailer show last year I immediately wrote it off as a glorified e-bike The aesthetics reminded me of Apple products with only a helmet; I wasn’t expecting much performance so I felt other safety gear wasn’t required My preconceived ideas of the Kalk OR drifted away across the Utah desert as my jaw started to hurt from smiling so hard The most immediate and poignant characteristic of the Kalk OR was the weight; more accurately the Kalk OR was roughly 65 to 130 pounds lighter than the gas-powered dirtbikes in my current collection It’s hard to overstate the effect of this tremendous weight advantage; the chassis reacted dramatically quicker to much lighter inputs was worlds easier to change compared to a heavier bike The effectiveness of these lighter inputs also meant being able to ride for longer durations before fatiguing The narrow tires and less substantial components that originally had me skeptical of both durability and the potential performance of the Kalk OR made sense after riding the bike The lack of mass compared to dirtbikes meant smaller impact forces and less momentum to change allowing all the smaller and lighter components to do the same job as portlier versions on gas dirtbikes Another apparent characteristic of the Kalk OR was the power delivery of the electric motor The torque delivery to the rear wheel was instantaneous with even small throttle openings Throttle control when traction was high or low required close attention to avoid unloading the front tire or breaking the rear end loose This was even more important because CAKE bikes lack a clutch The CAKE power delivery wasn’t at all like any e-bike I’ve ridden It ramped up more quickly compared to even the most powerful e-bike I’ve tried The 11kW motor delivered a claimed 280 Nm of peak torque to the rear wheel has a claimed output of 250 W (regulations limit e-bike motors to 750 W) and 70 Nm of peak torque usable for pedal assist The CAKE OR had a claimed top speed (with stock gearing) of over 50 mph while pedal-assist e-bikes are limited to 28 mph Although the CAKE OR’s power delivery eclipsed e-bikes Modern 450cc four-strokes are nearing 60 horsepower (44,742 W) and 250cc bikes are in the upper 30s (26,100-plus W) but the great equalizer here was the 152-pound weight My seat-of-the-pants dyno said that the power-to-weight ratio of the Kalk OR produced just as much fun as my 450cc trail bike but on the majority of terrain I considered fun I could not say that about any e-bike I had ridden to date The Kalk OR had three riding modes based on the aggressiveness of power delivery I rode in the middle mode except in deep sand These riding modes and individual throttle control affected the range The 2.5kWh swappable battery kept us out for a few hours on both days including substantial riding in sand on the second day CAKE claims typical range is 3 hours or 62 miles; this limited range was the biggest nick in the fun factor for me compared to gas-powered dirtbikes I would have to stop riding for a reason other than being physically shelled The Kalk OR had three engine braking modes; the lightest mode freewheeled when I chopped the throttle while the most invasive mode gave the engine braking feel of a 450cc four-stroke which felt like the engine braking of a 250cc two-stroke I felt the ergonomics for trail riding were spot-on The narrowness of the pegs and their relation to the bars and steering stem worked well for both the tight-radius slower turns on the Slickrock Trail and the wide-open sand washes in the surrounding desert The one item that felt lacking was the seat: hard and wholly uncomfortable for me It seemed to be built for looks but not actual use But luckily it wasn’t much of a factor because I ride off road almost exclusively in the standing position I also believed that the high-end Ohlins suspension could have used some tweaking outside of clicker adjustments I felt the compression dampening in the air/oil forks ramped up too steeply (I feel the same about almost all dirtbike air-sprung suspension) and that the rebound of the shock was a tad quick But these are relative nit-picks from a guy that tests dirtbikes All I could hear was the hum of the chain and the wind flowing through my helmet I originally thought I would miss the sound of a gas motor and the feeling that sound conveys when you whack the throttle and let the clutch out The relative silence added greatly to my experience of riding in Moab I have dirtbikes and have ridden e-bikes and enjoy all of them But CAKE created a class of its own with the Kalk OR It’s insanely fun and a wholly different experience to me than a dirtbike or an e-bike But the barrier to entry is high, as MSRP with one battery is $13,000. That’s higher pricing than the majority of dirtbikes and e-bikes. So who is the Kalk OR for? It’s for me — if I had more disposable income. I’m already a dirtbiker and a mountain biker but never felt like an e-bike scratched an itch. The experience is different enough from a dirtbike or an e-bike to warrant consideration, and it’s incredibly fun. But you have to have the money to spend. Of course, I’m still hopeful and asking Santa to slide a Kalk OR down my chimney. I promise to be a good boy. Seiji Ishii is the Climbing, Cycling, Fitness, Travel, and Powersports editor at GearJunkie. For 20+ years, he has been writing about cycling, climbing, outdoor endeavors, motorsports, and the gear and training for those pursuits. Ishii has trained elite and professional endurance, action, and powersports athletes for 30 years. Before GearJunkie, Ishii was a freelance contributor to print and web publications related to his interests and professional experiences. He continues to pursue climbing and cycling objectives seriously. is now on display at the Olympia Gallery in Kalk Bay The exhibition focuses on the erased histories of Kalk Bay’s indigenous fishing community and their connections to the ocean “The exhibition is about remembering the indigenous fishing community because Kalk Bay has changed over time and become very gentrified and heritage are being erased quite quickly,” Ms Kwaai said adding that it explored False Bay’s complex history and referenced the indigenous !Xam and Khoi Khoi tribes as well as the enslaved seafaring peoples from Indonesia and East Africa under Dutch and British colonial rule "It also highlights the Filipino influence and the ongoing struggles of small-scale fishers against the legacies of apartheid the exhibition has been in development for over a year The photographs displayed were chosen to represent as many families and aspects of community life as possible adding that she had purposefully selected images of the Sassman The pictures tell a story of a community that played sport and softball teams all included," she said "I want people who have ancestry in Kalk Bay to see their families up there and know they belong to the land The exhibition includes augmented and virtual reality aspects aimed at reconnecting local youth with their heritage and the ocean through snorkeling and free diving “The exhibition features QR tags which will allow visitors to access historical photos and stories of old Kalk Bay," she said The Olympia Gallery was founded by resident Keri Muller who was involved in every aspect of its development from fundraising and constructing the display board to curating and installing the exhibits "I love the idea of transforming a derelict old wall into something beautiful and that it also brings more than just art to the public,” Ms Muller said adding that Ms Kwaai’s work had been chosen as the next installation because she had been gathering photographs and stories for some time and the exhibition provided the perfect opportunity to display them "It just worked out really well to have her be the next installation and use it as a kick-off for her QR tags which feature spoken stories - a fantastic addition," Ms Muller said The exhibition is set to remain on display for a year "I want everyone to be represented on that wall," Ms Kwaai said Michael Charboneau Field Mag may receive a minor commission from purchases made via affiliate links and although it bears a strong resemblance to the Kalk it’s a totally new design from the wheels up The Bukk is a heavier, more powerful model that falls within the European A2 category (motorcycles with up to 47 horsepower) According to the rider testimonials Cake released the Bukk is more like a traditional motocross bike than its Kalk sibling and it’s built for romping around backwoods trails and soaring over jumps It also packs plenty of power—more than any other Cake model The Bukk features a 72-volt battery and a motor that can produce 16kW of peak power and 420 Nm of torque. It weighs 187 pounds and has a top speed of 62 mph. (For comparison, the Kalk OR has a 51.8-volt battery and weighs in at 152 pounds.) The Bukk also comes with upgraded Öhlins and WP suspension components that offer increased travel and ground clearance and it wears burly off-road tires designed for maximum grip in the dirt While not available in a street-legal version like the Kalk the Bukk definitely has the edge in terms of pure performance the Bukk’s electric drivetrain operates without a clutch or gears: All you need to get moving is a twist of the throttle the result is a “a rollercoaster-like experience rather than the bumper car-like experience with a clutch.” Added bonus: The quiet electric drivetrain allows you to hear the landscape around you as Cake frequently points out when marketing its bikes the Bukk lets you explore the backcountry without blanketing it in tailpipe emissions (or engine noise) LEARN MORE Read one New Yorker's review of Cake's electric and commuter-friendly Ösa Please check your email and enter your one time pin below:   Open in Gmail Sorry there was an error loading the audio Two of South Africa’s most celebrated chefs – both of whom are exceptionally strong on sustainability – were flying high this week While chef Kobus van der Merwe of Wolfgat in Paternoster was preparing a Weskus braai for HRH Prince William in Kalk Bay chef Johannes Richter of The LivingRoom at Summerhill in Durban was in Dubai to be honoured among the top chefs on the planet The two chefs worked together as recently as October, flying to Italy for the Ein Prosit food and wine festival in Udine. And a new collaboration is coming soon.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads which uses data technology to promote small-scale fishers and was an Earthshot finalist in 2023 hosted a meet-and-greet event with small-scale fishers in Kalk Bay harbour The event was part of the prince’s visit to Cape Town to announce the five winners of the Earthshot Prize was asked to prepare a fish braai on the harbour wall at Kalk Bay Led by Hilda Adams, the fisherwomen of the Weskusmandjie, a group of small-scale entrepreneurs in Steenberg’s Cove/St Helena Bay, were among the guests of honour. The women and their collective work with Abalobi supply pantry items for the Abalobi Marketplace Prince William handles fresh yellowtail before it is prepared by chef Kobus Van der Merwe and his crew for a royal fish braai in Kalk Bay Using yellowtail supplied by Abalobi, Van der Merwe and his crew braaied outdoors and used the limited facilities of a local fish and chips takeaway. He chose to make yellowtail sosaties, serving everything on Wolfgat’s bespoke crockery, in which the chef takes great pride. advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads First up was roosterkoek served with Wolfgat’s signature bokkom butter, along with heerenbootjie paté and mussel parfait; this combination is a feature of Wolfgat’s Strandveld Snacks course, which sets the course for your Wolfgat experience when dining at the restaurant On serving the melted bokkom butter in a skillet and explained that it is meant to be dunked we do not have a photographic record of this Yellowtail sosaties were then served with soutslaai raita Chef Kobus van der Merwe of Wolfgat serves Prince William’s table US rapper Tobe Nwigwe and entertainer Billy Porter Sharing Prince William’s table on the Kalk Bay harbour wall were model and television host Heidi Klum, American actor and singer Billy Porter, Canadian fashion model Winnie Harlow and US rapper Tobe Nwigwe. Harlow is also an activist for people with the skin condition vitiligo.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads Asked whether the prince and others at the table seemed to enjoy their Weskus-style braai Richter said on Thursday: “They are basically trying to create a second larger international platform to San Pelegrino with us receiving one knife in our first year of featuring in the guide The team and I are thrilled that this first international accolade is in the bag 🙂🥂.” are preparing for a new collaboration – a weekend of endemic dining at Van der Merwe’s restaurant in Paternoster on the West Coast Only weeks ago the two were in Italy for a collaboration at the Ein Prosit food and wine festival in Udine. The 25th annual event was held in late October.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads Chef Johannes Richter and Johanna Richter at Ein Prosit Van der Merwe said of their experience in Udine: “My recent visit to Italy for the Ein Prosit festival was a refreshing reminder of the true essence of collaboration: igniting creativity sparking innovation and building friendships along the way “In a world – and profession – that is often dominated by competition Ein Prosit is a reminder that there is profound beauty in unity and sharing Johannes Richter said: “Collaborating with Wolfgat in Italy was very special No South African restaurant has had a greater influence on us and sharing our first large international collaboration with Kobus was very special “What we enjoyed most about Italy was the fact that we could share the place we love most (Summerhill herewith giving our unique terroir and culture diversity a platform we believe it deserves in an international context.” the two chefs will prepare a multi-course tasting menu with wine pairings showcasing “the contrast and harmony of two distinct regions” Richter said: “Kobus and I have shared the idea of collaborating locally for a while and this highlights our endeavours of bringing South Africa into the local fine dining scene showing the full scope of what this beautiful country has to offer and how it can inspire.” The chefs will present two lunches and a dinner that will take guests “on a journey across South Africa’s culinary landscape” led to sweeping changes and the postponement of the next awards event until the first quarter of 2025 the organisers of the Eat Out awards listened and took action a strong friendship has been forged between the Richters and Van der Merwe will celebrate the contrasting South African landscapes and diverse ingredients from which Wolfgat and The LivingRoom’s culinary experiences are inspired from the shoreline of the West Coast to the subtropical terrain of KwaZulu-Natal Van der Merwe said: “Working alongside Johannes and Johanna Richter there is a shared inspiration that happens effortlessly even though our small restaurants are located on opposite sides of the country “Apart from this professional connection that’s genuine Van der Merwe added: “It’s fantastic to cook with someone who shares a similar ethos I think what Johannes is doing in Durban is an excellent representation of hyper-local cooking It’s at once similar yet distinct from what we do here at Wolfgat but I think our food really complements each other I’m excited to host this weekend with Johannes and Johanna.” also the front-of-house manager at The LivingRoom will oversee the service and wine programme in collaboration with Van der Merwe and the Wolfgat team Saturday, 23 November (lunch and dinner); Sunday, 24 November (lunch) | Wolfgat, Paternoster | R2,500 per person | To book, visit www.wolfgat.co.za and click on the Dineplan calendar. Nice to see our Chefs rocking it but can someone please get Prince William a vetkoek or four! Liewe land, hy lyk skraal soos ‘n paal. Knowledge of healthy eating and self-discipline are probably part of the standard of upbringing in the royal family. Isn’t it, among other things, the purpose of the modern monarchy to be a good example to the people? Cape Town used to be the playground of The Royals in the “old days”! Please William, we are begging you, lose the beard. It does not suit you. let the man grow a beard if he wants to. i don’t see him commenting on your facial hair. go air your disapproval of a stranger’s facial hair somewhere else please, instead of repeating it in DM article comments (this isn’t the first comment about this that you have posted). The main thing is that the yellowtail was clean-shaven before it was skewered. Its awesome having William in our little corner of the world. Agreed. But why are his dining companions all from North America if he is visiting southern Africa? Are there no local models and musicians and celebs who can share a meal with him? Do we have to find something negative to say? Remember in the world of marketing, any marketing is better than no marketing. Let us (South Africa) just be happy for the positive marketing around his visit. Finish and klaar. Agreed, happy to see us on the other side of the coin; even for just a brief sec. Apart from his very active work in numerous charitable trusts the man has a masters degree in geography, is a qualified helicopter pilot and can speak Swahili. Your CV please. Great story. More people abroad need to know about S Africa’s great chefs. I’ve shared this to my account at b sky b. , because so many Brits have exited this dead bird site for a place less dominated by misinformation. Would be good to see @DailyMaverick on there regularly In the Rhineland (Germany) there is a saying: Let’s put butter on the fish. Wouldn’t a creation made from fresh goat cheese and fynbos honey be appropriate for a fish as noble as yellowtail? ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " Donald Fridjohn and Derek Craig performing for Two Oceans Ultra Marathon runners last year They are ready for this weekend's runners Two Ocean ultra marathon participants run past the band at the 21km mark of the 56km epic run Kalk Bay songwriter and guitarist Paul de Villiers has become a legend in the eyes – and ears – of the cyclists and runners who take part annually in the Cape Town Cycle Tour and the Two Oceans ultra marathon he’s entertained passing athletes with live music – just to give them a bit of encouragement This weekend he and the band will be at it again as the Two Oceans Marathon sweeps through town “I used to think that the front runners wouldn’t be interested – just because they are focused on their times,” he said when this writer visited them before the ultra marathon “But we started playing early at 6.15am to include the front runners – and they responded well.”  when his family would regularly take chairs up onto the pavement outside their house in Main Road to watch and cheer the athletes on “Sometimes we took a skottel up and made breakfast with friends while we watched In 2003 my son Vaughan and his friends set up their DJ system and played loud music for the cyclists to give them a boost – and that went down really well,” he remembered they had a rock band called YB50; nowadays let’s play some live music for the runners and cyclists next year’ – which we did,” Paul recalled “It was a hit – and since then we have played many times with a variety of different musicians.”  Paul has also written and performed a moving song about life in the township of Masiphumelele near Noordhoek who waited 10 years with her name on the housing waiting list before receiving her home Masi is a happy place – and that was inspirational for writing the song,” he said The reaction they get from cyclists and runners is amazing was full of praise for the band. “When you run an ultra shouts on the pavement – but I found the garage band very encouraging especially after you have run for more than 21km and the road is starting to take its toll,” said Ntsikelelo He said as he faced the daunting Chapman’s Peak his mind replayed some of the tunes he heard from “that house in Kalk Bay” as he tackled the first big climb of the day Kgosi Lubambo from Jozi said the band added gees to the popular stretch between Muizenberg and Kalk Bay I normally don’t stop when I run,” Kgosi said “But the magic of music in that garage in Kalk Bay made me pause for a selfie and I finished my race with aplomb.” especially when the distance starts taking a toll And Paul and the gang are absolutely committed to providing runners with entertainment.” “One time, my daughter-in-law, Caitlin de Ville, the electric violin phenomenon stepped out onto the pavement in a little red dress with her violin… and immediately caused a five bicycle pile-up right in front of us!” Paul laughed “So we realised that we’d have to tone down Cait’s act a little.”  And there have been other incidents over the years “Once we were shut down by the cops; another time a nasty neighbour threatened to shoot us Always the participants – runners and cyclists – love it Cake announces new models as well as racing initiatives for 2021 Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen Cycle World may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site Copyright © 2025 Cycle World. An Octane Media, LLC Publication. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Known on Instagram and TikTok for her unique South African accent and videos that make light of the daily struggles of South Africans such as load shedding, potholes, and politics, Hall visited Cape Town for three weeks last month. She spent two days in Simon’s Town and three days in Kalk Bay last week before returning “to the real world” on Friday August 30. Her visit to Cape Town included a book signing of her first book, The Memoirs of a Clumsy Potato, at Canal Walk on Thursday August 15, and her first stand-up comedy show in Hout Bay on Saturday, August 17. Of the stand-up comedy show, she says; “It was nerve-racking.” Her time in the far south was more chilled, she said, and she was captivated by Kalk Bay’s unique charm and artistic vibe. Among the highlights of her visit were attending the show Legendary at the Kalk Bay Theatre and seeing the penguins at Boulders Beach. “I had so much fun. The show was great and I love rock but it was also funny and interactive. I may just have my next show there,” she said. She toured Simon’s Town in a tuk-tuk and of the penguins, she said: “They are the cutest little distinguished gentlemen. I was very surprised when they made a sound like a donkey. I always thought people were rude when they called them ‘jackass penguins’, but now I know why”. Both experiences left a lasting impression on her, but it was the quirky atmosphere of Kalk Bay that stole her heart, she said. “As an artist, I found Kalk Bay very interesting and enjoyed walking about.” She said she would be back to explore more of the far south. Kalk Bay Theatre co-owner Ash Searle said it was an “amazing surprise” to see Sami Hall at the theatre — and in the front row. “The cast had a fantastic time performing for her, and she loved the experience so much that she will be performing her next one-woman show here,” he said. CAPE TOWN - The City of Cape Town fire crews are still battling a blaze on the mountain slopes of Kalk Bay. The municipality said several firefighters were dispatched to assist with the protection of a nearby property. Two choppers and a spotter plane were deployed for aerial support and water-bombing. The city's fire and rescue spokesperson Jermaine Carelse said the ground crews relied on aerial support as the blaze gained momentum. "The speed at which the fire is spreading. A third chopper is inbounded as the aerial vehicles are currently water bombing at the head of the fire. At this stage, no property has been damaged. Further updates will follow." South African National Parks (SANParks) in Table Mountain National Park urged the public to steer clear of Main Road between Clovelly and Kalk Bay. Traffic is currently being diverted to Muizenberg Main Road. Subscribe to daily business and company news across 19 industries house and sectional-title prices have jumped by 68% and 31.8% respectively this year from R4.762m in 2023 to R8m and from R4.55m to R6m with very little movement in land sales due to lack of availability And it’s not only vacant land where stock shortages are being seen According to Paula Giusti and Jonathan Alexander area specialists for Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty especially those in the entry and mid-level price bands with well-priced homes being snapped up soon after they come onto the market “Lack of available stock is another factor driving up prices in the area and this is not likely to improve any time soon as a growing number of buyers seeking coastal living in Cape Town are realising that this coastal strip offers excellent value compared to other areas like the Atlantic Seaboard “It used to be that the majority of buyers here were locals looking to move closer to the beach or retire this is no longer the case as Kalk Bay has become very popular with upcountry buyers and has also started to attract the attention of foreign investors “We’re currently marketing a R6.5m home in which five foreign buyers are interested and we’re also starting to see this level of interest in St James and Fish Hoek.” A significant drawcard in Kalk Bay is the wide variety of property options from quaint cottages and quirky flats to oceanfront apartments and expansive hillside homes “Many of the older properties have been renovated in recent years so there are some stunning homes in the area,” say Alexander and Giusti “There are also a few secure developments which are especially popular with upcountry buyers but these homes tend to be in very short supply “The property that is currently attracting the attention of foreign buyers is a stunning three-bedroom villa in The Majestic an exceptionally well-maintained secure development in the heart of Kalk Bay close to all the shops and restaurants with its own gym “One of only four villas in the complex it’s set back from main road so while it’s conveniently centrally located it’s still very peaceful with ocean views from the bedrooms.” many of the family-sized homes within the Kalk Bay village are renovated houses which were bought from retirees who downsized ”Most of these buyers are empty nesters who relocate to Kalk Bay looking to make the most of a tranquil and quality ocean lifestyle “The smaller cottages and flats tucked away up cobbled streets near the main road tend to attract younger buyers who enjoy the vibe of the village and easy access to the eclectic boutiques cafes and restaurants as well as to the beach where they can hop into the ocean for a swim or surf “Foreigners like to buy property in this area as investment that they can rent out when they're not staying here themselves.” They add that there is also a strong rental market which are very much in demand: “This represents good opportunities for investors who can look forward to great long-term capital growth and excellent short-term returns “Kalk Bay has its own very unique character In one way it has a very European feel with its cobbled roads and trendy onsite shops cafes and restaurants yet with a distinctive local influence and it therefore has a very eclectic demographic which adds to its considerable charm “And there are few places where outdoor lovers are as spoilt for choice Along the oceanfront they can enjoy seaboard walks water sports and an invigorating dip in the tidal pools or sea and the mountains above Boyes Drive have several marked walking trails along which hikers can enjoy a profusion of bird life and indigenous vegetation and spectacular sea views.” Choose a topic below and thereafter view all articles on the topic using the "Next >" button or swiping left Choose a topic below and thereafter view all articles on the topic using the "Next >" button or the keyboard right arrow key