Thursday, October 11, 2007

Calendar Sales Benefit Bonaire’s Jong Bonaire

Part-time Bonaire resident, Bart Landheer, is a photographer and designer and has just published two new 2008 calendars, and a portion of the proceeds from each sale is donated to Bonaire’s teen program, Jong Bonaire.

For those who are getting ready for 2008 and want to be able to look at beautiful images the entire year, choose either one of the two calendars available--Bella Italia or Just Vegetables--and ordering online is easy.  For each calendar sale, Bart will make a $5.00 donation to Jong Bonaire.  This is a fantastic way to help out Bonaire’s teen program while making your holiday gift giving easier.

To view the calendars or order online, click here.  (Source:  Sunspots Bonaire)

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Bonaire’s Special Olympics Team Brings Home the Gold (and Bronze!)

The recent days have found Bonaire’s Special Olympics Team of 14 athletes and their coaches in Shanghai, China for the Special Olympics World Games. 

Bonaire is proud to have already won four gold medals, as well as four bronze medals with their team of 14 athletes.  Today brings additional competitions in bowling, athletics, and tennis. Go, Bonaire! (Source:  Special Olympics Bonaire)

Monday, October 08, 2007

Bonaire Wellness Connexions Announces Next Mountain Bike Race

Bonaire Wellness Connexions has just published the race course for the next mountain bike race on December 2, 2007--this one will provide a new course with new views of Bonaire.

All the race details are available by clicking here (in PDF format).  If additional information is needed, contact Bonaire Wellness Connexions, or visit their web site by clicking here.  (Source:  Bonaire Wellness Connexions)

Friday, October 05, 2007

Casablanca Restaurant Offers Regatta Special

Casablanca Restaurant is offering a special during the Regatta on Monday and Tuesday, October 8-9, 2007.

Those coming to dine on those evenings will receive a 10% discount off any dinner on the menu. (Source:  Casablanca Restaurant)

Thursday, October 04, 2007

40th Annual Bonaire International Sailing Regatta Gets Under Way

After 39 years of exciting races and spectacular activities, this year Bonaire celebrates the 40th edition of the International Sailing Regatta of Bonaire. The preparations have been in full swing, and the event will begin this weekend with a full spectrum of activities.

For those not already familiar with the Bonaire Regatta, it’s an annual sailing event with many races along the rugged coast of Bonaire and Klein Bonaire. All kinds of boats, hailing from all over the world, participate in this sailing competition. Added to this are windsurfing- and freestyle competitions. Daily races in various categories are scheduled during the day; the evenings are filled with a variety of cultural and folkloric shows and band performances. The races are held close to the shore so spectators can easily follow them.

The week’s schedule of events can be viewed by clicking here (in PDF format).  For additional information, visit the Regatta web site by clicking here. (Source:  Bonaire International Sailing Regatta web site)

Note Update October 9, 2007: A revised schedule of events has been posted and is available by clicking here.  (Source:  Regatta Foundation)

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Patagonia Argentinian Restaurant Re-Opens after Vacation

The Bonaire Insider has just been advised that the Palacios Family of Patagonia Argentinian Restaurant are back from their extended vacation, and the restaurant will re-open on Thursday, October 4, 2007.

For the remainder of this week, the restaurant will be open for dinner only, beginning at 6:00 PM as usual.  Starting next Monday, October 8th, 2007, Patagonia will re-open for lunch Monday through Friday. (Source:  Patagonia Argentinian Restaurant)

Final Quarterly Underwater Cleanup Held in Conjunction with World Cleanup Day

On Saturday, September 15, 2007, a group of over 30 divers, snorkelers, and shore support gathered together to assist with an underwater/shoreline cleanup of a portion of Bonaire’s waterfront promenade.  This cleanup was held in conjunction with World Cleanup Day, and also was the kick-off event for the island’s Love Our Planet week.

After a comprehensive briefing by Jake Richter of NetTech, the divers entered the water in front of the Dive Friends Yellow Submarine facility to bring up any new trash.  If the trash had already become colonized by corals, hydroids, or other organisms, the cleaners were expected to leave the trash in place.  Only new trash without any sort of marine encrustation or animal inhabitation was to be fully checked, and only then brought to the surface.

At the shoreline, the trash was sorted, checked once again to be sure no marine creatures had been inadvertently included, and then counted, before it was disposed of responsibly.  Although it has been only two months since a cleanup at this location, the volunteers did bring up quite a bit of trash made up of all sorts of paper and plastic food and beverage containers and utensils, glass bottles, caps and lids, clothing, shoes, light bulbs, fishing line, rope, strapping bands, and even a fuel filter!  Car parts, two tires, and building materials were also retrieved.

After the dive, all participants and their families were welcomed back for a Pot Luck BBQ—Dive Friends Bonaire and NetTech, the sponsors of the quarterly Bonaire cleanups, provided drinks and main courses, while participants supplied side dishes. 

Images from this cleanup are available online at the Bonaire Insider Photo Gallery by clicking here.  The 2008 schedule of cleanups is available now and can be viewed by clicking here.  (Source:  Dive Friends Bonaire and NetTech, N.V.)

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

The Flamingo Rockers at Special Musical Evenings

The Flamingo Rockers will hold several special musical evenings, in conjunction with the upcoming Bonaire Regatta.

On Sunday, October 7th, from 4:00 PM until 7:30 PM, the Flamingo Rockers will hold their monthly “Chill Out” party at Sunrise Restaurant where they will be playing their “Regatta Repertoire.” To assist with encouraging Bonaire’s young musicians, they will also host special guest group “Femssa”, a ladies-only group from the School of Music.

The Rockers will be headlining the Regatta musical program on Monday, October 8th. They will play on the main stage. The Freewinds band will warm up the crowd for the Rockers, who will take the stage around 11:30.  (Source:  Flamingo Rockers)