People

News about People on, from, and going to Bonaire

Thursday, November 03, 2011

Best Wishes and Good Luck to Miss Bonaire, Benazir Charles, at the 2011 Miss World Pageant

In October, 2010, Benazir Charles was named Miss Bonaire for the 2010 and 2011 season.  But, besides having a whirlwind year as Miss Bonaire, this lucky lady is currently in London awaiting this weekend’s (November 6th) Miss World 2011 pageant. 

With the Miss Bonaire competition, our island’s young ladies are given the opportunity to make a difference in the world by displaying their elegance, confidence, and intelligence, all essential qualities to become the island’s icon.  Benazir has certainly demonstrated her leadership qualities during the past year of her reign as Miss Bonaire, and the island is rooting for her in the upcoming Miss World Pageant.

The final show of the Miss World pageant will take place on November 6th, 2011 (from 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM local time on Bonaire) and the Miss Bonaire Organization is organizing a get-together in combination with a BBQ at El Mundo Restaurant next to Wilhelmina Park (on Kaya Grandi), where there will be TV screens set up so that everyone on Bonaire can come together and support Miss Bonaire in the Miss World pageant 2011 and watch the final moments live.  Entrance is free to watch the pageant, but if the BBQ is desired, the cost is $10.00 per person, which also includes one drink.  Proceeds from the BBQ go the Miss Bonaire Organization.

Good luck, Benazir, we’re proud of you!  (Source:  Miss Bonaire Organization)

Monday, October 31, 2011

Queen Beatrix and the Prince of Orange, Willem Alexander, Complete State Visit to Bonaire

Her Majesty, Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands, her son, Willem Alexander, Prince of Orange, and his wife, Princess Maxima, completed a whirlwind visit to Bonaire today.  They spent their time on Bonaire, their first state visit since Bonaire became a special municipality of The Netherlands, touring facilities with a special emphasis on education, social services, and Bonaire’s nature.

The Bonaire Insider caught up with the royal entourage at the Mangrove Info & Activity Center at Lac, where the Queen and her son explored the island’s important mangrove forests.  Upon arrival at the center, the entourage was welcomed by Elsmarie Beukenboom (director of STINAPA) and Elly Albers (director of the Mangrove Info & Activity Center).  After a short presentation, the group was then escorted out to the mangrove area, where they took to the water in the center’s solar-powered touring boats.  While on the water, Kalli de Meyer, director of DCNA (Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance) explained the importance of the mangrove ecology and how this area serves as the nursery area for many of the species of marine life that visitors see today on Bonaire’s reefs.  During the tour, Lac’s uniqueness was explained, its RAMSAR and IBA status, some of the threats and challenges for management, as well as the excellent work
being done to protect the bay and restore conch population via the IUCN NL/Lottery funded conch project.

The Queen expressed her gratitude to the parks and DCNA for the outstanding work in protecting nature on the islands. Her Majesty explained that this is why she took the unprecedented step of becoming a patron.

As always, the Queen and Prince Willem Alexander were gracious, exhibiting a keen interest in this facet of Bonaire’s nature.  View images of their visit to the Mangrove Info & Activity Center on the Bonaire Insider Photo Gallery by clicking here.  (Source:  Bonaire Insider Reporter)

Monday, October 17, 2011

Bonaire’s Own Captain Don Stewart Publishes His Next Book, “Sea Trauma”

Sea Trauma, the latest book by Captain Don Stewart, is hot off the press and is now available for sale. The book is an adventure story which carries a strong underwater environmental theme while portraying a series of adventures, leading to an exciting conclusion.

Sea Trauma is a novel about a family and their many adventures, set in a quick-paced and action-packed undersea story. The book interweaves the theme of nature protection when the family and their supporters need to find the courage to challenge various obstacles in an effort to rejuvenate and rescue the oceans, which have been pushed to the brink of death by pollution.

Sea Trauma follows Captain Don’s last book, Reef Windows, and both books are available for sale on Mondays at the Meet the Captain event from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on the Kunuku Terrace at Captain Don’s Habitat. The book also may be purchased at most bookstores on Bonaire as well as at the Captain Locker at Captain Don’s Habitat.  Captain Don will be presenting and autographing copies of his book at a book signing held on Saturday October 29, 2011 from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at Addo’s Book and Toys, located at Kaya Grandi #36 in Kralendijk.  (Source: Captain Don Stewart)

Tuesday, August 02, 2011

Bonaire to Host The Wounded Warriors for the Sixth Consecutive Year

For the sixth consecutive year, Bonaire is proud to welcome the Wounded Warriors to their “home away from home” as they use SCUBA diving for rehabilitation and recreation from August 6th through 13th, 2011.

During this week, severely wounded troops and their significant others will travel to the island to complete the final step in the process of obtaining their dive certifications. Representatives of the Diving Equipment & Marketing Association’s (DEMA) Be A Diver Program and the North American office of Tourism Corporation Bonaire will also be joining the group. All accommodations and diving will be provided courtesy of Captain Don’s Habitat Bonaire. Each year the people of Bonaire warmly welcome this group and show them not only the natural beauty and pristine waters of the island, but also the friendliness and genuine hospitality of the Bonairean people.

This year’s contingent of seven Wounded Warriors has suffered life-changing physical injuries which they received in combat while stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. They and their partners will be kept busy with a variety of activities beginning with the completion of their PADI and HSA dive certifications, which will take place on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday next week. Once certified, they will continue diving throughout the week, both from the dock of Captain Don’s Habitat and via boat dives to Klein Bonaire and other famous Bonaire dive sites. The group will also enjoy shopping, sightseeing, dining, a Texas-style steak dinner, and experiencing the island’s culinary fare at a signature event called “Taste of Bonaire.” The highlight of the week will take place when the Bonaire community gathers to meet these extraordinary troops and their companions at the reception held in their honor at the home of Lt. Governor Glenn Thode.  As in previous years, the Bonaire Insider once again will be following the activities of these very special visitors and will keep readers informed about the Wounded Warriors’ activities throughout their week on Bonaire.

Sponsors to date of the Sixth Bonaire-Be A Diver-Wounded Warrior Scuba Certification trip are: 9Line LLC, Adams Unlimited Public Relations & Marketing, AERIS, Bikers Bonaire, Bonaire KFC, BonaireTalk.com, Bonaire Quad Tours, Bonaire Guided Motorcycle Tours, Bonaire Tours & Vacations, BonPhoto, Budget Rent A Car Bonaire, Captain Don’s Habitat, Caradonna Dive Adventures, Inc., Care Coalition, Caribbean Travel & Life Magazine, Chat & Browse Bonaire, Casablanca Restaurant, Disabled Sports USA, DEMA/Be a Diver, Dive Training Magazine, Henderson, H.S.A. International Training Center of New Jersey, Islands Magazine, Jack Chalk, Jewel Of Bonaire, NetTech, N.V., OCEANIC, PADI, Paradise Moon Bar & Restaurant, Pasa Bon Pizza, Patagonia Restaurant, Princeton Tec, Rum Runners, Scuba Diving Magazine, Sunset Bar & Grill Restaurant, Tourism Corporation Bonaire, and the Wounded Warrior Project.  (Source:  TCB-NY)

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Carl Roessler to Receive Bonaire’s Lifetime Achievement Award

A panel of distinguished media chose Carl Roessler to become the third North American to win Bonaire’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. He will travel to Bonaire during the island’s Bonaire Lifetime Achievement Award Week, from August 20-27, 2011, a highlight week of the Bonaire Dive Into Summer Program. 

During his stay in Bonaire, Mr. Roessler will lead various seminars available to visitors and residents on oceanography and photography and will share his knowledge and experience through a variety of activities. He will be accompanied by his family and will be hosted by Captain Don’s Habitat Bonaire.

Mr. Roessler is an internationally recognized and acclaimed pioneer of the dive-travel industry. He has had a long standing commitment to protect and promote Bonaire. He opened numerous international dive locations to western dive tourists. His services to dive tourism, underwater photography, and his ethical standards of developing environmentally sensitive diving, have been recognized by induction into The International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame, and the NOGI Award from the Academy of Underwater Arts & Sciences.

With his long time friend Captain Don Stewart, Mr. Roessler was one of the earliest voices promoting sustainable diving on Bonaire. His history with Bonaire dates back to early 1969 when Mr. Roessler brought regularly scheduled group of divers, who were oriented to photography, on diving excursions to Bonaire. During those early years, he and Captain Don Stewart actively encouraged the Bonaire government to institute sustainable tourism practices. To ensure that Bonaire’s marine life remained both healthy and accessible to divers, Mr. Roessler was active in trying to get areas which had particularly good fish populations set aside for diving rather than a hunting area for fisherman.

In addition to orchestrating early dive tourism and environmentalism in Bonaire, Mr. Roessler actively promoted the beauty of Bonaire’s reefs through a variety of photo articles in Skin Diver Magazine, and brought top dive manufacturing companies to Bonaire, to make a promotional film on the wreck of the Windjammer. During his time in Bonaire, he’s logged over 100 dives on the wreck.

Mr. Roessler is now retired from the diving industry and volunteers his time to the Historical Diving Society, The International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame and The Journal of Diving History.

The Bonaire Lifetime Achievement Award honors long serving, high performance professionals whose careers have truly made a difference. It is for achievement over a period of several years rather than a single contribution and it is awarded for achievement that distinguishes the individual’s work and provides a legacy for future generations. Past recipients of the award include Dr. Sylvia Earle and Dr. Eugenie Clark. (Source: TCB-NY)

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Grammy Award Winner, Natalia Jimenez, Charms Bonaire

On Friday evening, June 10th, two-time Grammy Award Winner, Natalia Jimenez, charmed an enthusiastic crowd of fans in a live concert on Bonaire.  Images of Natalia may be viewed on the Bonaire Insider Photo Gallery by clicking here. 

Natalia Jiménez Sarmiento was born in Madrid, Spain and is a popular Spanish singer. She is the lead singer of the Spanish pop band, La Quinta Estacion, and her musical talents are obviously inherited, as her father was also a singer.

She definitely “wowed” the audience on Friday evening, inviting them to sing along with her and dance at the front of the stage.  She had an engaging style, drawing in the audience quickly, while keeping them entranced with a variety of songs in Spanish-style or pop throughout the evening’s concert.  (Source:  Bonaire Insider reporter)

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Karol Meyer to Return for the 2011 Bonaire Freediving Event Hosted by Buddy Dive

The famous Brazilian freediver Karol Meyer will return to Bonaire for the 3rd consecutive year to host the Buddy Dive Freediving Event, to be held July 31 through August 14, 2011. Karol is renowned in the sport of freediving, having broken seven world records including the Guinness Book of Records in 2011 in Static Apnea, with a time of 18 minutes, 32 seconds, the World Record in Tandem No Limits with a depth of 121 meters, and the South American Record in Variable Weight, with a depth of 93 meters.

The event this year will feature Karol hosting an evening presentation to highlight her diving accomplishments, special workshops on breathing and apnea tips and a two day freediving clinic, open to the public for $195. (Source: Buddy Dive Resort)

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Bonaire Bids a Final “Ayo” to One of Its Icons, “Uncle Bud” Pearson

It is with great sadness that the Insider reports on the passing of a Bonaire icon, “Uncle Bud” Pearson.  Clayton Baird (Bud) Pearson, Jr., lived on Bonaire for approximately 30 years, and he was known and loved by all--visitors and those living here alike.

Bud was the owner/proprietor of the Sand Dollar Grocery for twenty years, and thus came in contact with many of the island’s visitors who stayed in the northern hotel row.  He always greeted everyone in his store with a smile which lit up his face. 

He is survived by his wife, Karen Pearson, and sisters Diane, Barbara, Nancy, and Dorothy.  Come and celebrate Bud’s life at Sunset Beach (located at the northern traffic rotary) at a memorial service on Thursday, March 31st, 2011 from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM.  Those who would like to make a charitable donation in his memory can do so to Bonaire’s Animal Shelter, Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire, or Bonaire National Marine Park.  Condolences to the family can be emailed to unclebuddy@gmail.com.  (Source:  Extra)

Friday, March 11, 2011

Bonaire Residents Awarded New Yoga Teaching Certification

Long-time Bonaire residents Don and Desiree Seaver have attended and graduated from Kripalu’s 200 hour yoga teachers certification and are now sharing their new knowledge, instruction and insights with students in the yoga classes they are teaching at Bonaire Basics and Bon Bida Spa and Gym.

Both Desiree and Don are well known to many Bonaire visitors. Desiree had a salon in Kralendijk for many years, continues to offer her on-site haircutting service, and is also known for her unique jewelry and artwork. Don is well known among both the windsurfing and kite-surfing communities, being active in both, and also known for his beautiful hand-made furniture.

Kripalu yoga expands the practice of physical yoga postures and breathing exercises to include relaxation techniques for integrating body, mind and spirit. The certification conforms with standards of the Yoga Alliance and gives Don and Desiree a thorough background in technical skills necessary to teach yoga safely and effectively.

Kripalu is widely recognized in the yoga community and is the largest yoga and holistic health retreat center in North America, graduating more than 500 yoga teachers from its certification trainings each year. It has a professional association of 2500 registered yoga teachers and more than 30 affiliated yoga studios. For more information about yoga with Don and Desiree Seaver, click here. (Source: A Place for You)

Friday, September 10, 2010

The Bonaire Insider Welcomes Ann Johnson as Guest Editor

The Bonaire Insider is pleased to welcome Ann Johnson as a guest editor.  Ann will assist the current editors, Susan Davis and Jake Richter, with covering Bonaire tourism news for our readers. 

Ann first came to Bonaire in 1996 to vacation as a windsurfer and diver. She loved the island and returned several years on vacation before deciding to leave a challenging banking career to start a massage business on Bonaire.

She worked for many years at a major U.S. bank in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in the Foreign Exchange Department responsible for helping companies hedge their foreign currency risk while also functioning as a regional sales manager, managing several offices across the U.S. She decided that the high stress of this job was not something she wanted to do for the rest of her life, and so she decided to study massage, which fit in well with her active lifestyle and pursuit of mind and body balance. After completing her massage program and becoming a certified massage therapist, she partnered with Bonaire Windsurf Place to open the Massage Hut at Lac Bay in 2004.

She continues to operate The Massage Hut offering massages, sea salt body scrubs and Bonaire Salt Products for retail sale at The Hut. She served on the board of the King of the Caribbean Windsurfing Competition and is an active windsurfer and biker.

Ann will be a welcome addition to the Bonaire Insider’s editorial crew, as she has significant writing experience from her time in the banking industry.  We hope you will enjoy her stories!  (Source:  Bonaire Insider)