Ambergris Today – San Pedro’s famous Lobster Festival is getting a big boost from one of Frommer’s travel guides. Our ever popular Lobster Fest has been featured in Frommer’s “300 Unmissable Events and Festival Around the World”.
The 300 plus page guide book features the Lobster Fest on page 78 describing it as, “Street stalls and restaurants take part in this opening-season party, so there’s no end to the opportunities for sampling lobsters prepared in all maker of guises – barbecued, soaked into ceviche, topped with tangy citrus butter or crowning crispy tacos.”
And Ambergris Today is proud to mention that a picture used in the spread is one of our own, credits to our newspaper in the guide book. Frommer’s describes the “300 Unmissable Events and Festivals Around the World” guide book as their inspirational guide and will put you on the right track to diving into local life and catching vibrant memories to take home.
“Whatever floats your boat or revs your engine there’s a celebration to suit your mood – from crowd crazy tomato throwing at Spain’s Tomatina to peaceful retreats watching nature’s awesome cosmic show at The Northern Lights, and glamorous cultural events for the jet set. We’ve organized our favorite events by theme so you can follow your passions around the planet.”
Whether you have the body of an athlete that yearns for adventure and exotic sporting challenges, an enquiring mind seeking the world’s weird and wonderful spectacles, or just want to armchair travel, our events and insights will take you to the beating heart of the action.”
We are happy and proud to have been featured in Frommer’s top 300 unmissable events around the world. For more information on the book you can visit www.whatsonwhen.com/300festivals
The 2nd Annual Tres Pescados Slam Tournament scheduled for August 12th, 13th and 14th, 2010 has been approved once again as a qualifying event for the IGFA Inshore World Championships held each year in Islamorada, Florida. Belize will again be 1 of only 3 countries outside of the USA approved as a qualifying event bringing prestige and professionalism to our annual fly fishing event and local guides.
Also this past week the 2010 IGFA Inshore World Championships website began listing the names and biography of the entrants in this year’s World Championship event that is to be filmed by ESPN with our past winner, Thomas Reckling, representing the Tres Pescados Slam Tournament of Belize. Thomas will be competing against a field of about 12 fly anglers and 16 light tackle anglers.
Thomas Reckling, 42, was born and raised in Houston, TX. He is the father of 6 kids, 3 boys-3 girls – and the husband of Michelle who is an incredibly understanding wife. He spends the majority of his fishing days in the Galveston bay complex with a few days fishing the middle and lower coast of Texas. When he has the opportunity to travel it is typically to Mexico or Belize. (more…)
Ambergris Today – Nayobi Rivero was crowned the new Miss Chiquitita of San Pedro over the weekend, bringing back the pageant alive after a 10-year respite. Six beautiful girls lit up the stage with their sparkling personalities and radiant glow.
Legends Burger House hosted a party last Friday night to raise money for Derrick to go to Berklee. It was a St Patty’s themed party and the turnout was amazing. $1700bz was raised that night, with a $500 future donation and all funds raised were to be matched by a third party up to $1000US. If all come through it will a total of just over $4000Bz raised.
Derrick has been accepted into the Berklee’s Five-Week Summer Performance Program, now in its 22nd year, is the largest, most comprehensive summer music program available–anywhere. Better known as “Five-Week,” the Berklee Five-Week Summer Performance Program, with its diversity of study options, world-class Berklee faculty, visiting artists, and state-of-the-art facilities, is the premiere contemporary music summer program for young musicians. Each summer, approximately 900 participants from across the U.S. and around the world (70 countries) share in this unique summer experience–all instruments, all contemporary styles, and all levels of musical ability. Five-Week is your opportunity to experience the summer of a lifetime, at the world’s most prestigious institution for the study of contemporary music.
Fundraisers for Baby Daniel in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye
San Pedro Sun – Friends and family of Baby Daniel continue their efforts to raise funds for the upcoming medical treatments that he will require. The San Pedro Lions Den was the venue for one of those events which took place this past Sunday. Residents of San Pedro gathered at the fundraiser where they were treated to a combined bake sale, food sale and raffle. Drinks were on sale as well. An AMAZING $8400bze was raised from this event!
Pedro’s Inn also held a fundraiser over the weekend for Baby Daniel in the form of a poker tournament on Friday Night. The poker tables were full, and organizer Peter Lawrence was very pleased with the turnout for this worthwhile event.
This effort continues and individuals wishing to join forces to assist Baby Daniel and family are asked to do so by contacting Mel Spain at 605-9595, for further information. A bank account has been set up for “Daniel’s” appeal. Belize Bank account name, Ilda Guerrero and Daniel Martin Estell. Account number 210900346.
Reef Radio and Castillo’s Hardware present the 2nd Annual Moose’s Children’s Kite Contest at Crazy Canucks Beach Bar on Sunday April 4th from 11:00 am. Prizes include: 1st Prize (Moose’s Favorite) a $200 Belize Bank Savings Account, 2nd Prize (Eiden’s Favorite) $100 cash. 3rd prize: Alfonzo’s Favorite – A New Beach Cruiser Bike.
Prizes will also be awarded in the kid’s category for: Largest Kite; Smallest Kite; Prettiest Kite; Most Original Kite and Highest Flying Kite. Adult Team prize will be Braggin’ Rights and a trophy which will be displayed at Reef Radio.
Children’s Rules:
1. Each child must build their own kite (adult assistance Only is permitted).
2. Each child must bring a really big smile and use it during the competition.
Adult Team Rules:
1. Each team must build their own kite (children’s assistant only is permitted.
2. One team member must go up with the kite – for safety this will be done from a barge offshore.
PedrosHotel.com – Come on out on Wednesday March 17th from 6:00 pm onwards for the Pedro’s Inn St. Patrick’s Day Costume Party! This amazing night features a Costume Contest, a Wet T-shirt Contest, a Beer Chugging Contest, a Beer Pong Contest and a Leprechaun Tossing Contest with a $1,000,000 Prize!).
They will also be featuring an Outdoor Tent with Live Music, Irish Stew Food Special, $4 Green Draft Beers, $10 Paddy Bombs, and $5 Jager Shots (which means you can Ring the Bell finally!)
Prizes include an Overnight Stay at Victoria House, and Overnight Stay at Banana Beach Resort (including Breakfast), an Overnight Stay at Pedro’s Caye Caulker, Two Tropic Air tickets to Belize Municipal Airport and much more.
Joanne O’Brien presented her ideas and hopes for the community in helping stop abuse.
A lot has been said about spousal and child abuse. Everyone has at one time or another seen programs or heard talks on how it is wrong, and should not be happening in these modern and civilized times. However, the sad fact is that it takes place, and mostly behind closed doors. Abuse does not discriminate against color, race, income or geography. It occurs in the places least expected, as well as where most expected. In our homes, in our schools, on the streets, abuse happens. And it should not.
Joanne O’Brien was a social worker for 14 years in Canada. Later she founded the non-profit Direct Abundance. She has worked with the homeless, abused, and abandoned, and now she is bringing her experience to Belize. In 2007, she came to Belize bringing donations of school supplies to four different schools. She networked and through her associations on Ambergris Caye, she found out about a highly publicized domestic violence incident. She knew then that there was a serious need for someone with her kind of knowledge and expertise to bring much needed help. With her work in Canada done, she knew she could try to make a difference in Belize. For the past few months, she has done just that.
On January 22nd – 24th, O’Brien held a workshop sponsored by The Word at Work and BNE (Belize Natural Energy) Trust. The Ministry of Human Development, The Police’s Domestic Violence Unit, the Health Department and many other organizations and individuals joined at Banana Bank Lodge to participate in identifying where the gaps and challenges lie in dealing with Domestic and Child Abuse. Of utmost importance was the need of a National Directory. This directory will list the numbers and contact information for anything from Doctors, lawyers, shelters, counselors – any of the services available in the country.
In an interview with The San Pedro Sun, O’Brien stated that a committee is being formed, and funds are being solicited by way of international and national grants, as well as via marketing, and word of mouth. It is the present committee’s hope that San Pedro can be the first to provide a haven for women, one that can be a model for the rest of the country.
On Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010, Joanne O’Brien hosted a meeting at the Lions Den wherein the subject of Abuse was broached. The purpose of the meeting was to create an awareness of Domestic Violence, that it is NOT a socio-economic problem, and the campaign currently in progress is to build a safe house for women and children. This home will be a model for the rest of the country. As a result of the meeting, there was talk of a possible land donation and a space to facilitate groups of victims. A request also came in for workshops to be taught at the San Pedro Roman Catholic School for the teachers. Learn more at DirectAbundance.com Source: San Pedro Sun
Island Academy is hosting a Party in Paradise on Friday February 26th from 7:00 pm until 11:00 pm. This Luau features Pibil, Mini Burgers, Shrimp on a Stick, Poker, Black Jack, Roulette, Bingo and more.
Members of the community met at the Lions Den last night for United Against Abuse San Pedro. The workshop was led by Joanne O’brien of Direct Abundance and the goal was to help raise awareness about the need for changes in the system to help eradicate domestic violence. The long range goal is to build model shelters in San Pedro and each district on the mainland.
Until the shelter can be build here on the island there is a plan in the works to start making monthly counseling services available to Women Children and men so that those in abusive situations can get the help they need. It was also discussed how impactful the United Against Abuse workshop was at the prison and how the male prisoners were very receptive to the workshop and agreed that there is a flaw in the system and it needs to be fixed.
There is a petition going around town for people to sign in support of eradicating Domestic Violence here in San Pedro as well as all of Belize. If you wish to know more or help get involved in away way please contact Joanne’ Obrien at www.directabundance.com
