Tenerife News

Feline fundraiser huge success

2004-10-31T07:41:00.000-08:00

The grand rastro in aid of the inmates at the La Rosaleda cat sanctuary in Puerto de la Cruz on October 10 was a huge success, aided and abetted as it was by brilliant sun tempered by a cooling breeze wafting straight off the nearby sea.

A valiant band of Rosaleda volunteers manned the cats’ own stalls and around 25 other pitches were variously rented out to private individuals wishing to rid themselves of their household surplus; collectives raising money for their own favourite charities and regular stall holders who do the rounds of local markets.

Plenty of people pleaded for the rastro to be turned into a regular Sunday event, but sanctuary president Marleen Patterson is understandably holding out on that one – the cats and cat related business keep her far too busy to organise such a thing, so failing the arrival of an enterprising, cat-loving, entrepreneur on the scene, La Rosaleda rastros will remain sporadic.That’s unfortunate because the total takings are a big help for the Casa Felino. The latest earned it exactly 1,171 euros.

Carmen is a sell-out

2004-10-21T01:21:00.000-07:00

In a memorable meeting of the festivals Glyndebourne Festival Opera comes to Santa Cruz this week as part of the XXXIV Festival de Ópera de Tenerife when the British company’s visually stunning version of one of the most popular operas of all time, Bizet’s Carmen, will be seen all too briefly – by those fortunate enough to have procured a ticket – on Thursday October 21 and Saturday October 23.

Billed as a “modern” vision of the work, the generous helpings of flesh on show singled out this, David McVicar’s production of the opera, as “steamy” and “seductive” when it was first seen on the manicured lawns of Glyndebourne in 2002 and where it was still being performed at this year’s festival.For musical director Timothy Redmond the switch from historic garden party setting to avant-garde opera house wasn’t exactly easy.“It’s certainly a challenge to stage the opera in a new building like this and one which is still settling in,” he said, “but we have all been really surprised by it and by the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra also. I believe this festival, in a place like this, could become truly great.“I hope the organisation one day decides to commission an opera especially for the Auditorio. That would really be something.”

A lot of music lovers who have been left out in the cold, unable to obtain seats, would probably prefer the organisation made the festival more accessible by laying on a few more performances first, however. Carmen, and their next offering, La Boheme, to be staged on November 18 and 20, are totally sold out.

Spain gives gay marriages the go ahead

2004-10-13T08:29:00.000-07:00

To the not unexpected exasperation and indignation of the church authorities, Madrid has approved draft legislation aimed at legalising such unions.
If the bill is approved by parliament it will make Spain only the third EU nation to sanction gay marriages which could begin to take place as early as next year.Under the bill married gay couples will be entitled to draw a pension after a partner’s death, to divorce and to adopt children.
The Spanish premier, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, who has never made any secret of his intention to dismantle what he terms “church advantages” and create a secular state, deftly countered the criticism of that church when he said last week: “I deeply respect the opinion of the Catholic Church, even if they are highly critical of my government. I only ask they demonstrate the same respect.”
Churchgoing in Spain has been in notable decline since the death in 1975 of General Franco. Surveys have shown that half of all Spaniards now practically never go near a church service.

Snails rescued from motorway works

2004-10-10T01:36:00.000-07:00

Environmental correctness brought work on the widening of the TF-1 autopista to a temporary halt last month when biologists were called in to move a community of snails whose habitat faced destruction by the scheme.
The team undertook the wholesale transfer of 640 Hemicycla plicaria snails, endemic to these islands, to two separate areas of similar characteristics well away from the roadworks.When the team revisited the snails’ new territories they found a total of 47 had, so to speak, popped their clogs. A head count on the survivors was carried out with some difficulty, but not all the transferred creatures could be accounted for.“They have probably moved on,” said a spokesman for the snail action group. “Or perhaps they have dug in for the winter.”The team plan to return to their snail studies after the rains when, they hope, the colony will be more active and easier to track down.

Botanical gardens back on track for greatness

2004-10-07T01:33:00.000-07:00

Eight long years after the enclosure of the land earmarked for the enlargement of Puerto de la Cruz’s Botanical Garden, things might at last be on the move again.

Cash flow problems and bureaucratic delays have meant the site has lain fallow since the completion of the first phase (the massive wall) and the second (initial excavation) of this ambitious scheme which will eventually put the garden up there among the biggest and best in Europe.

Now comes news that three years after the bulldozers moved out work could begin shortly on the the site’s infrastructure and landscaping in readiness for planting. The date being bandied about is the first quarter of next year.

The infrastructure includes an underground visitors’ centre and the landscaping means the creation of a tropical jungle environment, complete with a 12 metre high cascade, streams and a lake.

Once concluded – and it could take 2 to 3 years – the garden, which is visited by half a million people a year, will grow from its present 20,000 square metres to 55,000 square metres.

Royal Navy in town

2004-10-06T05:09:00.000-07:00

September 9th, Tenerife once again played host to one of Her Majesty’s warships, this time being the turn of the Royal Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel, HMS Dumbarton Castle. This ship, the Royal Navy’s premier patrol ship, made a four-day visit en route to a three-year posting to the Falkland Islands, where she will be taking over the role of patrol vessel from her sister ship, HMS Leeds Castle.

In an exclusive interview with Tenerife News, her captain, Lieutenant Commander John Garratt, said that the visit had been at the request of his crew, whose members were looking forward to seeing the island and sampling its scenery, entertainment and local colour.

Lt. Cdr. Garratt said that the ship had just completed a very demanding period following an extensive refit, and that this would be the ship’s first foreign visit for more than a year. During her stay, the captain took the opportunity to call on Antonio Bello, Deputy Mayor and the island’s President Ricardo Melchior, as well as entertaining some of the island’s naval chiefs on board.

The ship has called at the Canary Islands only once previously, with a visit to La Palma several years ago. Up until now her main role has been the protection of the offshore assets of the United Kingdom, including oil and gas installations and fisheries within the 200 mile limit.

The current Dumbarton Castle, launched by Princess Diana on 3 June 1981 and accepted into service with the Royal Navy on 9 March 1982, is the third ship of that name to see service with the Royal Navy. The first was a frigate originally in the Scottish Navy and added to the Royal Navy List in 1707. She later saw action against the French early in the 18th century. The second was a Castle Class corvette built at Dundee in 1944. She spent most of the war in the North Atlantic, employed in anti-submarine operations against the German U-boats. After the war the ship was engaged for a while in Air-Sea Rescue duties before going into reserve in 1946 and subsequently being sold for scrap. From this predecessor, the present Dumbarton Castle has inherited the battle honour “Atlantic 1944-45” to add to her own “South Atlantic 1982” following her participation in the Falklands conflict.

The Dumbarton Castle is one of two Castle class ships, designed for a dual role with the ability to carry out fishery protection and offshore patrols with the added flexibility of being able to operate helicopters as big as the Sea King from the large flight deck. Fitted with a sophisticated navigation and tracking system to locate and intercept other vessels, they also carry detergent spraying equipment for the dispersal of oil slicks. The ship has a total complement of fifty-two, which consists of approximately six Officers and thirty-nine Ratings, with temporary accommodation for a complement of Royal Marines. As I saw from a tour of the ship with Lt. Gemma Fullman, Correspondence Officer, the accommodation is comfortable and spacious, with most officers and senior ratings in two-berth cabins and junior ratings in four or six-berth cabins. Two large recreation spaces are also provided fitted with television, DVD/Video, radio and Hi-Fi equipment.

After Tenerife, the ship will call in at Rio de Janeiro, before proceeding to the Falklands. We wish the Dumbarton Castle, its Commanding Officer and crew a successful tour of duty in the South Atlantic. In thanking Lt. Fullman for her help, may we also wish her a successful forthcoming tour of duty as an Information Officer in Afghanistan.

Improvements for Drivers

2004-10-05T02:41:00.000-07:00

DRIVERS on the road between Valle de Arriba and Arguayo, Santiago del Teide should see big improvements after a 1,700,000 euros improvement scheme was officially opened on September 10th 2004. Mayor Juan Damian Gorrin and island councillor for roads, Lorenzo Dorta, presided at the inauguration of the work, which has brought new sewage, electricity and telephone lines, new pavements, more drainage and parking spaces, as well as watering systems for the roadside flowers.

Friends of Tenerife Barbeque

2004-10-04T07:11:00.000-07:00

Friends of Tenerife Barbecue

The Friends of Tenerife held a very successful social event last Thursday, when over fifty members attended a barbecue, held at the Orchid Garden in Puerto de la Cruz. The weather was good, with not too much sun, for which chef Gareth Hand must have been grateful, as he spent much of the time working over hot coals. An excellent meal was enjoyed by all, consisting of chicken, sausage and bacon kebabs accompanied by a wide and varied selection of salads followed by summer pudding and ice cream. After the meal, a raffle was held and background music for the afternoon was provided by guitarist Oscar Cantero with Colin Price at the piano.

The event was so successful, that it is hoped to be repeated next year. The next event in the Friends of Tenerife social calendar is a New year’s Eve Dinner at the Hotel Palmeras Playa. Anyone wanting to reserve for this event should contact Susan or Wendy on 922 36 80 88 or 922 32 09 78. The Friends of Tenerife wish to thank everyone who contributed to the success of the occasion, especially the owner of the Orchid Garden, John Lucas for his hospitality.

New play facilities for local kiddies

2004-09-28T01:38:00.000-07:00

Led by Miguel Angel Santos, the council for tourism from Adeje town hall has inaugurated a new children's play park in San Eugenio Alto.

The Area has always been a firm favourite with families, but up until now has lacked adequate play facilities for the kids.

The new park, which covers an area of 800 sq meters, features the children's play area with plenty of brand new equipment as well as a multi use court for different sporting activities such as football and basketball.

Sansofe a huge success

2004-09-27T08:49:00.000-07:00

For the thirteenth year in a row the Sansofe event has been an unmitigated success. Over 60,000 people took part in the recent cultural, sport and leisure initiative which was principally centred in El Medano and Los Abrigos. Organised by Grenadilla de Abona town hall, the event has put on a range of activities throughout July, August and September with something for all ages including summer camps, dance classes, cinema classes, painting exhibitions and workshops.

Hospital plans due to reach fruition

2004-09-14T03:44:00.000-07:00

Building work on a new hospital complex with space for 336 beds and 60 day centre places is due to start in March next year. Other facilities will consist of services for the disabled, a treatment pool, a chapel, a cafeteria and a tree-lined zone with parking for 400 cars. Architect Jose Angel Dominguez said the complex in El Mojon in Arona will be similar in size to the Canaries University Hospital in La Laguna and will cover over 37, 403 m2 with another 64,000 m2 of land available for expansion.

Information on Tenerife Holidays

2004-09-12T01:07:00.000-07:00

For lots of great information on Tenerife Holidays visit this comprehesive web portal that contains all you need to know about holidays in Tenerife

Resort Properties Opens New Resort

2004-09-07T01:18:00.000-07:00

Here is some great information about a Tenerife company: Resort Properties.

5th September 2004

2004-09-05T02:33:00.000-07:00

Tenerife Gets Tough on the Dealers

In a carefully planned and executed operation special agents in Tenerife have arrested five people in connection with drug offences.

Operating under the title of Operacion Muro (Operation Block) the agents performed a series of raids on the Veronicas area of Playa de las Americas and the San Telmo area of Los Cristianos. Two youths were arrested as they attempted to sell drugs to English tourists, and quantities of hashish and cocaine were recovered from stashes hidden in the cracks of a nearby wall.

This kind of law enforcement sends a clear message - Tenerife will not tolerate these kind of lowlifes who deal in crime and misery.

The all new Tenerife News is live!

2004-08-26T03:21:00.000-07:00

Welcome

Tenerife News is live, long live Tenerife News.

On a weekly basis we at Tenerife News will bring you the latest events, happenings and newsworthy incidents from this sun-drenched rock in the Atlantic. Whether it's the opening of a new restaurant, coverage of local politics or just the passing on of juicy gossip, our intrepid news hounds are on the case.

So if you have any news that you think is worthy of publication or know of any events, fiestas or happenings that will be of interest to the visitors and locals of the island, then contact our news desk at:
news@teneriferesorts.com

Be Good

Ed

26th August 2004

With most of the island's residents taking their holidays, the month of August is traditionally a slow news time. However, we bring you a few snippets to keep you happy until life returns to relative normality and the kids go back to school in September.

Tough on Crime

The National Police have released their half yearly statistics which show an encouraging reduction of the crime figures in Tenerife. Their "war on crime" appears to be making the streets of Tenerife a safer place with the figures showing an overall crime reduction of 5.2%. Thefts from cars showed the largest reduction (almost 45%) whilst robberies and bag snatches also saw a substantial drop. The south of the island was the big success story with offences cut back by 11.07% over all.

Bar brawl ends in knifing

A drunken fight between British holiday makers and locals in Playa de las Americas ended in bloodshed when one of the Britons was stabbed and fell in a pool of blood. Although the knifeman was able to escape in the ensuing melee, eyewitnesses were able to give a good description and he was later apprehended and arrested by the police. The injured holiday maker was rushed to the Hospiten Sur clinic then later transferred to Santa Cruz hospital where his condition was described as serious.