Local residents rejuvenate waste land

LIKE every Town or City, somewhere there are neglected areas of wasteland that could do with a little love and understanding or a complete clean up! Such was the case for an area of San Luis, close to the salt lake, which for years has been nothing more than neglected grasslands. Local residents took the initiative, cleared and beautified a portion of the plot but were overwhelmed by the complete area, so in stepped Torrevieja’s Environment Councillor Eduardo Gil Rebollo, to clear the area and offer the city’s help to manage it for local residents.  

On Thursday 24 November, a large group of local International residents, actively participated in the regeneration of a plot of almost 3,000 square meters, located in the Urbanisation San Luis, between the lake and Amorrio Minerva, by planting 30 trees. The planting was organized by the Department of Parks and Gardens of the City of Torrevieja, attended by the area’s Enviroment Councillor, Eduardo Gil Rebollo, the Councillor for Foreigners and New Technology, Pedro Valero, the Councillor for Culture and Festivals, Eduardo Dolon Sánchez and Director of the Foreign Residents Office, Graham Knight.

Each of the trees planted was assigned the name of the person who chose the plot and planted their tree, using a small wooden stick, which was inserted into the soil by each of the trees. Many of those placed were in memory of loved ones who had passed away. Gil Rebollo said that in three or four years these trees will provide great foliage and completely change the appearance of this plot that was once only waste land .

Patronal Fiesta’s in full swing

WITH a chill in the air, longer nights and twinkling lights throughout the city, the festive season is certainly in the air. Torrevieja’s ‘Fiestas de la Inmaculada’ is underway and runs until after the long weekend holidays, to December seventh. There are free events, exhibitions, children’s plays, concerts and even a cycling day to keep you occupied. Certainly; something for everyone.

A full list of events can be found in the new guide to the Fiestas, a lavish production available throughout the city from corporate offices and other strategic outlets. With the International Gala starting things off on Wednesday night, 17:30-hrs on Thursday evening begins with the traditional walking through the streets of the Giants and Big Heads, in pied piper tradition, followed by the city’s children, with thousands of sweets handed out to all of the followers and onlookers. They walk everyday throughout the activities and leave from the Town Square.

Many of the events take place in the specially erected Marquee Tent to be found in the Port’s Fairground area. The artists are all well known Spanish acts but for the ridiculously inexpensive price of just €5:00 you can immerse yourself in many different styles of Spanish music. Leading the pack is the Des O’Connor of Spanish TV, Bertin Osborne (Friday, 3 December), vocalist, actor and TV Presenter, who is on stage at 22.30-hrs. The following night, the ‘Delinguentes’ perform along with flamenco guitarist Tomatito at 23:00-hrs. Monday the area kicks off at midnight with local DJ’s peforming and things pick up again on Tuesday, 7 December at 23:00, when million album selling pop-rock band ‘Pignoise’, led by Álvaro Benito and Maldita Nerea are on stage.

Tickets for these concerts can be purchased at Servicam, Torrevieja’s Municipal Box office outside the theater plus the Sprinter sports store in Torrevieja, Elche and Orihuela.  And don’t forget that Dramatic License are performing ‘Funny Ha Ha’ at the Virgen del Carmen and Richard Street and the Temptations are on at the Orihuela Costa Resort on Friday also.

But that is not all that is happening over the week. On Friday at 20:00-hrs in the Municipal Theatre there is a DVD presentation, highlighting 50-years of Torrevieja to celebrate the ‘Dia del Ausente’. To accompany this, there are a series of concerts throughout the week plus an exhibition of photographs in the Vista Alegre Exhibition Centre from December 7^th through January 7, 2011.

For Dog Lovers, there is a Dog Agility show, on Saturday at 15:00-hrs in Urbanization Limonar and San Luis. At 17:00-hrs, the fabulous Floral procession takes place, along with members of the expatriate community, The Ex-Servicemans Association, Torry Army and Los Costaleros, finishing at the Inmaculada Church. The Belen exhibition will also open on Saturday evening at 20:00-hrs.

Sunday morning starts bright and early at 8.30 as the dog agility trials continue while at 10:30 there is a cycle race through the city starting from Avda. Gregorio Maranon. At noon, Associations day is celebrated in the Marquee Tent, which highlights the many different association within the city while at the same time the Giants and Big Heads are on the streets again plus services in the Inmaculada Church. The loud fireworks will also be let off at 14:00-hrs in the Port area.

The Children’s Parade starts at 16:00-hrs on Sunday afternoon and makes it way from the Municipal Theatre to the Virgen del Carmen. The evening concludes with the performance by Pignoise at 23:00-hrs. 

The schools are all closed from Monday December 6 through Wednesday and so on Monday morning there is a bicycle ride though the city, with registration from 9:00-am. There are a full range of activities throughout the day plus something specially for Torrevieja’s youth taking place in the Marquee tent from 17:30 featuring computer games, human football, DJ’s and much more.

There are many other activates over the next two days, finishing with the Diego Rameriz awards on December 7 and for the youth and a late night DJ performance at the Marquee from 23:00-hrs. More information can be found at www.hijosdelinmaculada.es or by picking up a glossy copy of the Fiestas Patronales en Honor a la Inmaculada Concepcion. 

A Classical start to the New Year

THE New Year is just a month away and to ring it I with style, why not book your seats now to see and hear Torrevieja Symphony Orchestra ‘Ars Aetheria’, who will perform on Sunday, January 2, 2011, at 12:00 Noon in the Municipal Auditorium-Theatre. Their New Year Gala Concert has been a long time in preparation and this newest addition to the musical groups in Torrevieja promises something just that little different.

The Concert Orchestra will present a challenging, symphonic program, comprising such varied pieces as the Blue Danube Waltz, Emperor Suite, Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Pizzicato Polka, Tristch-Tratsch-Polka, Under Thunder and lightning plus excerpts from the opera Carmen de Bizet . An interesting mix of well known classical music plus others that we all will recognise.

Torrevieja’s Councillor for Festivities, Eduardo Dolon, accompanied by the president of the Ars Aetheria, Pelayo Mellado, and the orchestra's director, Francisco Sánchez, presented this new musical project, which begins with a clear intention to continue in this realm for years to come. This first concert will feature concertmaster Rafael Carrasco Tome (Member of the National Youth Orchestra of Spain) and as first cellist

Mariano Melguizo (Cello professor of Music Conservatory of Murcia and founder of the Orchestra Spanish Radio-Television RTVE-). The orchestra is composed of (no pun intended) 64 musicians and teachers.

Tickets for this noon performance, can be purchased through Servicam or at the Theatre Box office, Tuesday to Friday, during office hours from 11:00 to 13:00 hours. Tickets are priced at €12:00 (rows 2 to 11) and €10:00 euros (rows 12 to 24). A very special and different way to bring in the New Year.

Torrevieja’s new salt queen honoured

ON Monday, 29 November, Torrevieja’s Mayor Pedro Hernandez Mateo, along with the councillor for Culture and Festivals, Eduardo Dolon Sanchez, presented the new Queen of Salt for 2010/11, Cristina Baeza Morales, along with her Maids of Honour, Yasmina Herranz González Pérez and Silvia Torres.

The Mayor congratulated the Councillor for Culture and Festivals on the excellent show put on last Saturday in the Municipal Theatre, which resulted in the Proclamation and Coronation of the Torrevieja Salt Queen. Mateo Hernandez presented the three young torrevejenses, all of who were visiting the Plenary Hall of the City Hall for the first time. The mayor gave all of the finalists gifts in the shape of a typical, salt lake boat, crystallized in Torrevieja Salt, and congratulated them all for being the representatives of torrevejense women, both outside and inside the city.

Hernandez Mateo encouraged them to enjoy “this journey that has just begun” for these three ladies who will represent the people of Torrevieja throughout 2011.

Two weeks of non stop activities in Torrevieja.

With just four weeks to go until Christmas, with the exception of the obligatory Christmas Dinner Party and visiting Santa with the kids, the cultural and entertainment scene leading up to the festive season is absolutely full of activities for you to pick and choose from.

Many of the events, including the St. Andrews Gala on Saturday and Wednesday’s International Gala offer free entry, so there are few excuses for you not to get out of the house and enjoy yourself. In fact, there has been so much on offer over the past couple of weeks it’s no wonder that some resident’s, here to enjoy their retirement, often wonder how they would fit all these activities into their schedule if they had a job to go to! Last weekend we had the 27^th edition of the This Is Spain Show and at the IFA in Alicante no less than five exhibitions with included Bridal, Arts and Crafts and costumes and services for Fairs, Fiestas and Celebrations plus items made in the Alicante province not to mention nightly entertainment and sports.

This trend of non-stop activities continues and the last weekend of November is no exception with a wide variety of shows and culture taking us into December and the Patronal Fiestas.

On Friday 26 November we have the traditional monthly Classic Car event outside Ole del Mar in the Torrevieja’s Marina Salinas with a display of classic and interesting cars on show from 2000 to around 2130-hrs. A chance to show off your own motor, chat with other owners and for visitors to look at some interesting cars. That leads nicely into two events that are happening at the IFA in Alicante, the Sprint Tuning Car show and ExpoCar, the largest collection of pre-owned cars for sale, under the one roof. On Sunday morning, a contingent from Noche del Coche will be showing their faces in daylight hours and visiting these car shows. They are meeting in the McDonalds car park, beside Burger King, at 9.30 for a 9.45 start, to drive to the show in convoy (www.NocheDelCoche.com). The Sprint Tuning Show is more for the young at heart offering a display of beautifully turned out cars, sporting Lamborghini doors, customised paint jobs, neon, LED Lights and almost every conceivable ICE (In Car Entertainment) system that your heart desired, from LCD TV’s to the audio systems that at half volume, would do your hearing absolutely no good at all!

On the cultural front, we have a Celtic theme at the Virgen Del Carmen Cultural Centre at 2000-hrs on Saturday where there is the third annual St. Andrew’s Gala, a night of humour, song and music featuring Shani, Greentown, The Rascals plus traditional pipes and drums from Spain and Scotland. Tartan is not obligatory but adds to the atmosphere. For those looking for a bit more glamour on a Saturday night, over at the Municipal Theatre, also at 2000-hrs will be the presentation and crowning of Torrevieja’s Salt Queen. Before the show, starting at 1930 you can enjoy a ‘Taste of Scotland’ for a small donation to AFA, Otherwise admission is free with tickets available at the door or from the Municipal Box Office. If there are any left, it will also be an opportunity to pick up a Fiesta Calendar, sponsored by Alamo International, which makes a fabulous Christmas Present.

On Sunday morning November 28, if you fancy a quick romp around Torrevieja, this is the day to do it. Just head down to the annual Patronal running race that is held at 9.30 but you need to be there up to an hour before, in the Plaza de la Constitución to apply for a number, or call 96 595 32 16 for more information. For those with kids that they wish to keep occupied, on Sunday morning at11.00 in the Park of Nations there is a performance called ‘TV Show 2010’ and your guess is as good as mine what that is all about. That’s followed at noon in the Municipal Theatre by a free concert by the Union Musical Torrevejense as a homage to Miguel Hernandez. If the kids still have some energy left, at 1700-hrs in the Marquee in the Port Area, there is a musical theatre entitled ‘Willy Fog’ for just €3.00. Still looking for something to do on Sunday evening, don’t despair, there is plenty to choose from! At 1900-hrs you have three choices, Torrevieja Children and Youth Choirs in the Music Palace, a concert by Los Salerosos in the Municipal Theatre or the end of year Gala from the Ruth Kingsbury School of Dance in the Virgen del Carmen.

With November out of the way, the Patronal Fiestas kick off in the Fair Ground Marquee on Wednesday December 1 with ‘Everly Brothers’ (no relation to Don and Phil) and ‘Route 69’ guaranteed to have you rocking in the aisles and the best things about it, admission is free. There is a bar, although you will have to pay for your own drinks! Everyone is invited and there are seats and room for dancing.

On Thursday we start to enter the Festive spirit as the Giants and Big Heads roam the streets of Torrevieja starting from the main square at 1700-hrs. They are out and about again on Friday at 1730-hrs and then if you want some entertainment, you are again spoilt for choice. On Thursday evening you are also treated to a dance festival at 1700-hrs in the Marquee in the Port. Moving to Friday December 3, at the Orihuela Costa Resort, Richard Street, former lead singer for 22-years with the Temptations is performing   but get in quick, as the show is almost a sell-out. Spanish singer and TV presenter Bertin Osborne is performing in Torrevieja’s Fair Ground at 22.30 and, in the words of Mony Python, ‘And now for something completely different’, Dramatic Licence are performing a David Witney comedy play, ‘Funny, Ha, Ha’ at the Virgen del Carmen at 19.30-hrs; an early start to allow you time to get to one of the other shows!

The Patronal Fiestas have lots of other artists and offerings through the week. More information is available in the Cultural Guide while tickets can be booked at the Municipal Box Office outside the Theatre. The run up to Christmas also includes performances by The Rascals, the annual Christmas Carol Service, street entertainment, concerts, dance and exhibitions. 

It’s almost time for ‘Almost A Panto’

TORREVIEJA’S Santa Run has grown from strength to strength over the past few years and this year looks like being a bigger event than ever. This year will be no exception to others with all participants running, and I use the word lightly, along the promenade, all dressed as Santa. This year the organisers are asking those that still have their outfit from last year to wear it again this year, but there will be new suits for anyone that needs one. 

This year’s event takes place on Sunday 5 December 2010, starting at 10:30 from Hombre del Mar, Torrevieja in aid of the AECC. Registration is just €10:00 and includes a Santa Suit. You can do your part by registering at OK Gym Los Dolces. Tel. 966 765 755 or Capital Hair & Beauty Torrevieja. Tel. 965 708 802.

One of the many groups and associations taking part in December’s event are a few of the cast from Showgroup Torrevieja who are taking time out from learning their lines for their next production to ‘run’ for a good cause; the AECC  cancer charity. Cancer, as we all know, can strike anyone at any time and everyone knows someone that has suffered from it.  As cast members Shirley & Ray said, ‘Several of our family and friends have suffered from cancer in one form or another. We hope that by doing our bit, the money we raise will help towards the care and treatment of others and the research needed to find cures for this disease.”

They are just two of the many (and the more the merrier) who will be supporting this excellent. However the Showgroup Torrevieja’s fund raising efforts don’t stop with the Santa Run because in the New Year you can go and see them in different costumes, as Shirley (their acting writer), Ray (an ugly sister), Lisa (Buttons) and Linda (our director) are all to be found on stage in their winter production of ‘Almost’ a Panto!’ Apparently or allegedly, this panto is a little more Sinderella than Cinderella and not for kids, as you may find yourself shouting out “look behind you” for completely different reasons at you would do normally, at this time of year! If Carry On movies and Brian Rix farces are your cup of tea, then this show will be perfect for putting a smile on your face, and all for another good cause.

Whilst the performances of ‘Almost a Panto’ are not until January 6, 7 and 8, 2011 the Christmas and New Year celebrations are rapidly creeping up on us, so reserve your tickets now. Their chosen Charity for this season of performances is DEBRA (The Butterfly Children). ’Almost a Panto’ ,  is being performed by Showgroup Torrevieja at Los Arcos Restaurant, doors open at 1930 for curtain up at 2000-hrs. Tickets cost just €8:00 with a 10% reduction for groups of 10 or more and are available from Los Arcos.

250 classics at Mar Menor

Over 250 classic cars made the journey to the Explanada de Lo Pagán, San Pedro del Pinatar on Sunday November 7^th, for the VII Concentracion Automoviles Clasicos Mar Menor. Numbers of cars may have been down slightly from last year but visitors were not disappointed with the display of cars ranging from 1923 to 1985, staying within the 25-year old cut-off point for Classic Car status.

Representing the International Motoring fraternity were Phoenix Car Club, Freewheelers, Noche del Coche and Club Torrevieja Classics and Specialists Cars. The event was organised by the Ayuntamiento de San Pedro del Pinatar along with Automóviles Clásicos Mar Menor and remains one of the best events in the region. 

Jimmy Cricket: the consummate entertainer

JIMMY CRICKET: two little words that just seem to put a smile on everybody’s face. And last week in Torrevieja’s Lounge Bar was no exception as Jimmy had everyone rolling in the aisles during his non-stop, laugh a minute show. It’s all good clean fun and although there were not any children present on the night, Cricket never has to resort to blue language, he can always get a laugh, a smile or even bring a tear to the eye with one of his more poignant songs or poems, in his own inimitable style.

Born in Cookstown, Northern Ireland, he entered show business, as many did in the sixties, by signing up to be Butlin’s Redcoat in1966, at Ireland’s one and only Butlin’s, south of the border in Mosney, County Meath. Getting the feel for entertainment he then moved over to the mainland and spent the next two summers at Butlin’s Holiday Camp in Clacton. He then switched coats, to a blue one in 1972, working at Pontins holiday camps in Southport and Morecambe, all the time honing his trade,

Jimmy Cricket is probably best known for his TV appearances, reaching the finals of 'Search for a Star' and then appeared before HRH The Princess Margaret on the following night, live for ITV's Royal Gala Show 'A Night of Hundred Stars' from the National Theatre, almost 35-years ago!

The jokes may be old but the audience on Wednesday laughed away. Over the last 45 years Cricket has perfected his timing. It is the secret of good comedy and he is certainly a master of it. On stage, he not only told jokes but recited poetry, chatted with the audience, sang and even juggled! A true entertainer in every sense of the word and a joy for those that made up the packed house at the Lounge Bar, for what is becoming a regular, annual event. If you missed him this year, keep watching this space and if he’s in Torrevieja in 2011, get yourself along for an evening of good clean fun that is guaranteed to send you home with a smile on your face. 

Make your Vote count in 2011

All EU residents, on the Padron in Spain have a right to vote in the Local Elections. If you voted back in 2007, you’ll probably find your name is still on the list, or at least it should be! Sometimes, computer glitches and upgrades can wipe your names off the record so it’s worth checking but, you must do it before December 31, 2010, for the May 22, 2011 elections. 

On November 18 there was a presentation entitled ‘Did you Know…. The Municipal Padron and your right to Vote’, in Torrevieja’s Music Palace. Next May 2011, elections take place in Spain to decide who will govern the hundreds of town halls (Ayuntamientos) throughout the whole country, not to mention regional and national government, for which only the Spanish can vote for.

Registering on the municipal census, the “PADRON”, is a legal obligation to all those who reside anywhere in Spain. Not only is the ‘padron’ a form of municipal census, it is the basis upon which investment from national and regional government is allocated and is the means through which residents can obtain local services. In fact, being registered on the municipal ‘padron’ is essential when soliciting most social services and benefits.

One of the most important issues is that registration on the ‘padron’ in itself does not automatically entitle a non-Spanish E.U. resident to vote in the elections, you must inform the the "Statistics Office" (Oficina de Estadistica) of the Ayuntamineto of Torrevieja, situated in Calle Union Musical Torrevejense, (the office where one signs on the 'padron'). Their staff suggest that the most convenient time, with less waiting, is on Thursdays and Fridays of each week, during the hours of 08.00h and 14.00h. All applications to register to vote should be made BEFORE 31 December 2010, plus it’s a perfect opportunity to get yourself  a new and updated copy of your pardon.

The statistics office will receive enquiries from he following groups of residents:

1. Those EU residents who did not vote in the last municipal elections in 2007. (i.e. those 'new' residents who have registered on the padron since May 2007). In this case it is *IMPERATIVE* that the resident calls at the Statistics office and makes a PERSONAL APPLICATION *SOLICITING the RIGHT* *TO VOTE.*

2. Any resident who may have any doubt as to whether their name is included on the Electoral Register.