Fund Raising for the AECC

A very tidy sum has been raised this year for the AECC in La Marina, through the efforts of a large number of people, too many to mention individually.
The next event that will benefit the AECC is a golf match on Saturday 29th June.
We were hoping to have a good turnout but it is in danger of being called off, due to people pulling out at the last minute.
Excuses such as; "I normally play on a Thursday and cant afford´to play twice in a week". Answer, don´t play on the Thursday, play on the Saturday. Or there is Rugby on the TV or they are playing Bowls or Tennis or some other sport. My answer to this is, give them up for the day. Ten Euros from the green fees will go direct to AECC.
This is a Cancer Charity. Statistics show that 40% of people will suffer from Cancer during their lifetime. The AECC helps with early detection and early treatment, saving hundreds of lives each year. So whether you cannot participate in this event because your budgie has died, or you have another commitment, why not make the donation instead?
If you wish to donate or participate in the golf, which is 50€ for the golf and buggy, at Alicante Golf on Saturday at 10.00hrs. Please contact the office at 5 Calle Madrid. or by telephone on 676526763.

Holidays for Pensioners

HOLIDAYS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS

The Town Hall through the department of Social Services is taking names for Holidays in the Valencian Region for 2014.

Persons wishing to register, should contact the Social Services Dept. for an appointment on 966794517         or an appointment can be made through the Offices of the Concejalia de Urbanizaciones , 5 Calle Madrid, Marina Urb. San Fulgencio 966 443 002

Applications must be submitted before 20^th July 2013.

Something different? Bonfires of San Juan in Alicante

For those that have never witnessed this event, you should make an effort to travel through to Alicante. 
The attached is a direct lift from the Blog of Amanda Payne, but I thought it worthy of a wider audience-

The main fiesta on the Spain’s Costa Blanca in June is the Hogueras, celebrated in the week or so leading up to the Noche de San Juan on 24 June. Most of the towns in the Costa Blanca area join in the celebrations, but the biggest display by far is in the city of Alicante.
The festival owes its origins to pagan times and coincides with the summer solstice. Traditionally, old bits of furniture or other unused wood was burnt on bonfires. Nowadays, however, special creations, called “niñots,” are made depicting everything from cartoon characters to caricatures of local and national politicians, in a similar way to the Fallas celebration that takes place in March in Valencia.

 Niñots in the Streets of Alicante

 These are made by skilled craftsmen who spend all year coming up with the designs and building the models. They can cost thousands of Euros to make. The models are put on display in the streets of each town for a week or so prior to the 24th June. In Alicante, the models tend to be huge and very impressive. Prizes are awarded for the best ones and the winner is saved from destruction to go on display in the Hogueras museum.

 Next to each model is an open air café where people who have paid towards the building of that particular Hoguera (or Foguera in the local Valencian dialect) can sit and enjoy a drink or tapas during the festivities. Quite often patrons will get up and dance enthusiastically, either to bands or to piped music. These bars are called “barracas” and some are open to the general public too.

 Burning of the Hogueras

 Then on the big night, all the Hogueras are set on fire, accompanied by fireworks from the castle overlooking the city of Alicante and along the port area and the cheering of the crowds who usually end up with a soaking from the fire brigade who are on hand to make sure that everything stays more or less under control. The children especially enjoy that part of the proceedings!

 There are usually events such as giant paella making competitions, verbenas (open air dances) and competitions for the children during Hogueras week. A special beauty queen, called the “Belleza de Foc” (Beauty of the Fire) is chosen and she is expected to take a leading role in the fiesta plus continue with various civic duties through the year. Usually, the “Belleza” wears a traditional costume with a huge skirt and a lace “mantilla” or head-dress which are specially made and cost a fortune. There is also a junior “Belleza” and both are accompanied by two princesses.The festival is very popular with tourists and locals alike, with huge crowds in the streets and a week long party atmosphere. Not to be missed if you are going to be on the Costa Blanca in June.

Bars and cars

The other day, the Mayor along with Councillors Herrero and Wiszniewski and the officer in charge of the Policia Nacional Autonomico and the chief of the Policia Local invited all the bar owners in the Urb to a meeting at the Social Centre. The reason to explain why the Policia Nacional were in the area.
It was explained that following complaints to Valencia, that a large number of bars were operating, without opening licences or proper safety certificates, they were instructed to investigate.
Currently there are 34 licensed premises. Of those , only 14 have full opening licenses.
The National Police  were also checking that every bar had personal liability insurance for the maximum number of patrons allowed. Certified and functioning fire extinguishers and fire exits were kept clear and clearly signed. Also they were ensuring that there is no selling of alcohol to persons under 18 years . No person under 18 is permitted to be on licensed premises without adult supervision.
  They were not checking into the subject of music in bars. This will be down to the Policia Local.

Bars that do not have Opening Licences, must show that they are in the process of obtaining it and require to have a Certificate of Responsibility, obtainable from the Town Hall.

Speed limits. According to my most recent conversation with our Chief of Police, he stated that the local police patrols will be equipped with hand held radar devices and they would continue to operate them for the next two months.  I have no idea where or when they will deploy them, but only that they will.

30KPH

It never ceases to amaze me how some people claim to know all about the law, particularly when it concerns speed limits. If these knowitalls would care to search the Internet they would actually find that when an area is designated as residential the maximum suggested speed limit is 30KPH and where there are special circumstances ,it can be reduced to 25KPH. In fact there are moves being made to make the 30KPH limit standard throughout Europe for built up area.

European Citizen´s Initiative "30kmh – making streets liveable!"

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