Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Dutch Television to Air Series on the Nature of the Dutch Antilles, Bonaire is Slated to be First

A series of weekly TV documentaries about nature in the Dutch Caribbean, entitled “Tropical Kingdom,” will soon air on Dutch television (Nederland 2) by the broadcast organization, Llink, starting April 1st, 2010. 

Each week another island will be featured, showcasing its unique biodiversity on land and in the water and the efforts to protect it. This beautiful documentary series was directed by Dutch documentary-maker, Willem Mouissie, and produced in partnership with DCNA, the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance, as part of their efforts in this Year of Biodiversity 2010.  Their aim is to promote the Dutch Caribbean biodiversity as the richest in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The series will highlight luxuriant coral reefs and majestic cloud forests, bringing an entirely new natural world to the Dutch Kingdom when Bonaire, Saba, and St. Eustatius become part of Holland later this year.  The series will examine the implications and effects of the changing political structure in these areas.  This new status will bring about ten thousand new species to Holland’s biodiversity.  Of these, 200 are unique in the world, and about 100 species are threatened with extinction.  How these areas and species can be protected under the new political structure is one of many questions to be answered.

In the first documentary on April 1st, Bonaire will be highlighted.  The film crews met with the dedicated volunteers of the Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire (STCB) to discuss the island’s sea turtles (both resident population and visiting turtles), as well as with those whose work takes place in the island’s important mangrove forests, and also with the various caretakers of Bonaire’s nature, both above and below the water.

The series promises to be enlightening, so those with access to Dutch television should plan to watch. (Source:  MINA, Amigoe)

Monday, March 08, 2010

BWC Hosts Upcoming Events--Half Marathon and Cycling Races

Bonaire Wellness Connexions will host several events in March and April, including a half-marathon run, and two mountain bike races.

On Sunday, March 14, everyone is invited to participate in the 2nd BWC Half Marathon, but there will be a fourteen-kilometer run, and a seven-kilometer fun run as well.  Participants don’t have to be athletes to participate, as one can also walk the course on either the 7K or 14K categories. The course is a 7K loop that starts and finish in front of Karel’s Beach Bar. To register, please visit BWC at Les Galleries shopping mall in downtown Kralendijk.

Then, on Sunday, April 4, BWC will hold its next mountain bike race of the 2010 season beginning at 7 AM. The race will take place in the area of Lagoen and Washikemba with a course that is varied and exciting. Participants must pre-register before the race day. 

Lastly, on Saturday, April 17 BWC will host a North Mountain Bike Ride, with one of the best and most challenging mountain bike areas on the island.  This north ride has been planned for intermediate and advanced riders as the course will include single-tracks and technical trails of about 45 kilometers (about 2-1/2 hours of riding); entry is FL 25.00 per person (USD $15.00), and includes drinks and fruit. (Source:  Bonaire Wellness Connexions)

Friday, March 05, 2010

Eighth Annual Special Olympics Walk-A-Thon Will Be Held Sunday, March 7th, 2010

The Special Olympics Bonaire will hold it’s eighth annual Walk-A-Thon to raise funds for their programs for the island’s participants in Special Olympics.

Those interested in participating should plan on checking in at the Slave Huts at 5:00 AM this coming Sunday.  Everybody is welcome, and the route may be walked, run, or cycled.  The entire route is 30 kilometers, but participants can finish whenever they are tired or ready.  Entry fee is FL 25.00 (about USD $14.00) and includes a t-shirt, water and snacks en route, and lunch at the finish.  Tickets are available at TCB, Chat ‘n’ Browse, or from the board members or coaches of the Special Olympics Bonaire.

The water and snack stations will be set up every five kilometers (about every 3 miles) and will include only healthy snacks.  Lunch at the completion of the route will be served from 10:00 AM through 1:00 PM at Pasadia Karino Rincon.  T-shirts can be picked up at Hotel Rochaline either tonight from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, or Saturday, March 6th, from 10:00 AM through 4:00 PM.

Come out for some great exercise and help a worthy cause!  (Source:  Special Olympics Bonaire)

Thursday, March 04, 2010

Noted American Pianist, Marilyn Kredel, to Play Recital on Friday, March 5, 2010

Tomorrow evening will be the night to enjoy the next classical music concert on Bonaire when the noted American pianist, Marilyn Kredel, will perform a recital at Cacique Hall.

Ms. Kredel has played at Carnegie Hall, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, and also in Rome for the Vatican.  She’ll be here on Bonaire to play a special concert with all proceeds being donated to the Fundashon Piano Grandi, with the ultimate goal of procuring new bass strings for the grand piano used in these concerts.

She’ll perform a remarkable program with compositions from Scarlatti, Chopin, Beethoven, Dvorak, and Liszt, as well as two pieces from the twentieth century.

Tickets are FL 30.00 (about USD $16.85) per person in advance, or FL 35.00 (about USD $19.65) at the door.  Entrance for children with a school ID accompanied by adults is FL 10.00 each (about USD $5.62).  Advance tickets may be purchased at Books & Toys or Flamingo Bookstore on Kaya Grandi, or at the reception desk of Plaza Resort Bonaire.  The concert begins at 8:00 PM, and Cacique Hall is located at the Plaza Resort Bonaire.  (Source:  Classical Music Board Bonaire)

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

Mark March 28, 2010 on the Calendar--It’s the 21st Annual Bonaire Rotarally

This popular annual event, sponsored by Bonaire’s Rotary Club, will be held on March 28, 2010.  The car rally is enjoyed by tourists and residents alike, who make a day of it beginning with the car rally, and ending up with a tasty BBQ.

Last year, the event had a record turn-out with 82 autos and the Rotary is looking for a new record in 2010!  The rally will begin at 9:00 AM at the Kompleho Deportivo Bonaire (Sports Hall), with a finish at the Old Sunset Beach location on Playa Lechi.  Entrance fee of FL 75.00 (about USD $42.00) includes two tickets to the end-of-the-day BBQ.  For those who cannot compete in the rally, but wish to enjoy the BBQ, the tickets are FL 25.00 each (about USD $14.00).  Participation in this fund-raising event will benefit the BIBLIO Bus (Library Bus).  Tickets can be purchased in advance of the rally at Sunbelt Realty, It Rains Fishes Bar & Restaurant, Akkerman’s Auto Supplies, or from any Rotary member.

Those wishing to learn more about Rotary’s involvement in the Bonaire community may visit their web site by clicking here. (Source:  Bonaire Rotary Club)