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April Showers Bring May... Mosquitoes?
Bonaire is a desert island, but you'd never know it after the deluge of rain we've had here over the last several
days. And sadly, it looks like we're faced with at least another day of overcast skies and rain, at least if the satellite images of the Caribbean are any indicator (see http://www.weather.com/weather/sat/caribsat_450x284.html for the latest picture). It's not clear what's causing this unusual weather, but it
should hopefully be past us by the weekend. However, this being Bonaire, we're unlikely to see May flowers as the result of our April showers. Instead, expect mosquito populations to return back to their
"wet" season levels for a few weeks.
In other weather news from UPI, the Colorado State University hurricane forecast team led by Professor William Gray is predicting a 1999 hurricane season as active as last year's deadly season that just ended. Gray
and his colleagues are predicting 14 storms, nine hurricanes and four major hurricanes in the Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico.
As a matter of reference, there were 14 tropical storms, 10 hurricanes and three major hurricanes in 1998, while the long-term average is 9.3, 5.8 and 2.2, respectively.
For Bonaire, this may be good news, as Bonaire and neighboring Curaçao and Aruba are all below the so-called "Hurricane Belt", and therefore have been popular vacation destinations for travelers concerned
about the threat of hurricanes in other Caribbean destinations. Cruisers also seem to concur, as Bonaire's Playa mooring area is frequently packed during the hurricane season.
Hurricane season runs June through November.
Baby Flamingo Alert
It's the season when baby flamingos are hatched and because of the strong winds, often get separated from their flock. If you see a
brownish or white colored flamingo, either floating in the water or walking on land in a non-flamingo area, know that it is disoriented, probably exhausted and will eventually die.
Baby flamingos cannot take off from the water and need a long "runway" on land to become airborne. You can help by capturing the bird, using a towel around its body or just your hands. Don't be afraid. They
cannot hurt you and are literally just feathers and bone.
Take the baby to Marlis at Marlis Sail and Canvas on Kaya Grandi, one block in from the Fishermen's pier. Marlis has facilities for baby flamingoes to rest, recuperate and eat "flamingo food".
When the bird has recovered sufficiently, Marlis will take it to one of the flamingo sanctuaries. In the last 9 years Marlis has saved innumerable birds and returned them to the wild. Marlis does this out of love and
concern and out of her own pocket. She is not funded by any group or foundation, so why not help her and the birds of Bonaire out with a financial contribution, even if you don't happen to run across a wayward
flamingo. (Courtesy of Port Call - for many other weekly stories, pick up a copy of Port Call at most downtown shops or write to mailto:portcall@infobonaire.com for an off-island subscription)
Exhibit: Island Grace
This coming Friday, April 9th, the Bonaire Art Gallery will be opening a new exhibition by famed artists, Renate v/d Byl, entitled
"Island Grace: Food for the Body Food For The Soul"
In Renate v/d Byl's newest series of oil paintings she returns Bonaire to a pre-tourist era. There are no signs of strangers or tourists in her paintings as she explores the special qualities of Bonairean fishermen
and farmers. For Renate, these people are symbols of life lived close to nature-serious, focused and true. It is a cultural primitivism where life is lived according to the rhythms of the sea and the seasons.
The exhibition starts April 9th at 8:00 p.m. with a party open to all, and will run through April 30th. The Bonaire Art Gallery is open weekdays, 10am to 6pm, and Saturdays 10am to 5pm. Phone: 7120.
Contest - Things You Never Hear On Bonaire - First Sponsor
We've now received nearly 100 entries in the "Things You Never Hear On Bonaire"
contest we've launched, but we're looking for even more original lines. This week's big contest news is that the Sandwich Factory (http://www.BonaireRestaurants.com/sandwich ) is our first official sponsor, having donated two prizes - each a large one-topping pizza. Thank you Sandwich Factory! (Any other businesses or individuals looking to sponsor the contest and receive ample publicity should drop us a note at mailto:ContestSponsorship@BonaireENews.com ).
In case you're not familiar with the contest here are the basics: The Bonaire E-News is sponsoring a contest to come up with a humorous list of things you'd never hear on Bonaire. You may enter as many times as you
want, but the originator of the first entry of a given phrase or item (or a similar variant) takes precedence. Each person whose entry gets published by the E-News in May will win recognition (their name in
electronic print) and a prize (we're not sure what we're giving out yet, but it will be in the vicinity of cool t-shirts, or gift certificates for the movie theater or a meal on Bonaire). If we feel a grand prize is
in order for a particular entry, we'll come up with one. The contest runs through the end of April, 1999, and the winning list will be published in one of the early May 1999 editions of the Bonaire E-News.
Here are a couple of the items we've come up with so far for the "Things You Won't Hear on Bonaire" list to give you an idea of possible entries:
* Hmmm, looks like it might snow today
* Is there any coral to see in the water?
* The McDonald's is over there
* Well, you take a left at the next light...
Now it's your turn... Send your entries to mailto:Contest@BonaireENews.com
Bonaire Twin Cinema News & Features - April 8 - 14, 1999
Bonaire Twin Cinema is located in the heart of Kralendijk next to the Exito Bakery and behind
the Cultimara Supermarket. Starting Thursday, April 8, Bonaire Twin Cinema will be offering the following film features (NaFl. 10.- for all normal features, special pricing for matinees on weekends):
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John Carpenter's Vampires - New this week!
- Nightly at 9:45pm
- Late show Fri. & Sat. at 12:15am
By night, vampires rise from loamy graves in search of human prey. By day, vampire slayer Jack Crow (James Woods) leads a contingent of Vatican mercenaries in a long-waged war against these enemies. (Rated R,
Thriller, 107 minutes) For more information see: http://headlines.yahoo.com/Full_Coverage/Movies/John_Carpenter_s_Vampires/
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Enemy of the State
- Matinees Sat. & Sun. at 2:00pm and 4:45pm
- Nightly at 10:00pm
Will Smith stars as a bright young lawyer who gets framed for murder by a corrupt intelligence officer. He must reclaim his life and prove his innocence in this action packed thriller. (Rated R, Action Thriller, 132
minutes) For more details see http://headlines.yahoo.com/Full_Coverage/Movies/Enemy_Of_The_State/
[The Bonaire E-News rates this movie as a 3.5 out of a possible 4.0 stars. Yet another excellent performance by Will Smith, with amazing twists and turns sure to leave you breathless. A well thought out plot with
only minor inconsistencies, and great camera work, including some excellent chase scenes. Sure to frighten you about the possibilities of government invasion of privacy.]
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Stepmom
- Matinees Sat. & Sun. at 2:15pm and 4:45pm
- Nightly at 7:15pm
Susan Sarandon and Julia Roberts star as the ideal mother and the learning stepmom struggling to find common ground for the sake of their children. (Drama, Rated PG-13, 124 minutes) For more details see http://headlines.yahoo.com/Full_Coverage/Movies/Stepmom/
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I Still Know What You Did Last Summer - Last Week!
- Nightly at 7:30pm
In the sequel to the popular "I Know What You Did Last Summer", Jennifer Love Hewitt returns as the attractive but haunted student star, this time accompanying her college roommate, played by Brandy, on a
trip to a posh Bahamian resort won in a radio contest. On the island, the vacation becomes a nightmare and Hewitt's character becomes the victim of a murderous stalker, once again. (Rated R, Thriller, 108 minutes)
For more details, see http://headlines.yahoo.com/Full_Coverage/Movies/I_Still_Know_What_You_Di d_Last_Summer/
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Dinner & A Movie
The Bonaire Twin Cinema also offers a Dinner and a Movie special in conjunction with and DeTuin Eetcafe. Nafl. 35.- gets you dinner, beer or soda, popcorn,
and a ticket to a movie.
The Bonaire Twin Cinema Box Office opens nightly at 6:00pm, and no reservations are required. Tickets are only available at the box office. Questions about the movies? Call Bonaire Twin Cinema at 2400 (Noon to
closing everyday), FAX: 8010, or send an e-mail to mailto:TwinCinema@InfoBonaire.com (please include your phone or FAX number).
Web Site of the Week
Each week, we'll list the addresses of new Bonaire Web sites that we come across.
Our Web site of the week is:
Ocean View Villas - http://www.OceanViewVillas.com
If you have a new Bonaire-related Web site and want to make sure people know about it, send a message to mailto:news@BonaireENews.com with the details.
Quick Takes
- Air Jamaica Update. If all went well today in Miami, the final signatures went on a contract to officially confirm Air Jamaica's weekly service from Montego Bay, Jamaica. The service should start on Saturday, June 26th (a slightly revised date). Air Aruba and Air ALM have both lodged complaints with the central government about this flight, but such complaints are not likely to have an impact as neither airline appears able to provide comparable access from the many U.S. gateway cities Air Jamaica flies from into Montego Bay.
- New Phone Numbers? With the new phone company telephone switches arriving on Bonaire soon, and hopefully coming on line in the next three to five months, the local capacity of the Telbo phone system will be greatly expanded. However, with such expansion, changes will be necessary. According to phone company officials we've spoken with, one of those changes will be the conversion of the Bonaire phone numbering system from the existing 4 digits to a 5-digit phone number. It's likely this conversion will involve only the addition of a new leading number to existing phone numbers. In the meantime, if you're thinking about printing up a new set of business cards or letter head with your current phone and FAX numbers, you may want to wait until Telbo officially announces the new phone numbering system to make sure you don't waste your money by having to reprint in a few months.
- UW Clean-Up Summary. Last Saturday's monthly underwater clean-up, sponsored by Green Submarine, NetTech, Selibon, Buddy Dive, Toucan Diving, and Dive Bonaire (Divi) had over 20 participants, including
several snorkelers, along the northern end of Playa Lechi. Among the things brought up were over a half dozen tires and the usual cans and bottles, all enough to fill a dumpster (about the size of four standard
Selibon trashcans). The next underwater clean-up dive is scheduled for Saturday, May 1st. Free air tanks are provided for participating divers, and a potluck (i.e. bring food for all to share in) BBQ follows the
dive. Meeting time is 10am at Green Submarine at Kaya Playa Lechi 24. Call Eric at 2929 ( mailto:dive@greensubmarine.com ) or Jake at 6773 ( mailto:jake@nettech.an ) to RSVP.
- BonaireLive - New Modems. Bonaire's largest Internet Service Provider (ISP), BonaireLive, recently updated its modem pool with the latest modem technology. The new modems feature up to 56,000 bit per second
download capability via the V.90 standard. Some BonaireLive users may need to download updates for their modem firmware (software which resides in the hardware) to take advantage of the new modems' improved speed.
For details, contact BonaireLive at 5180 or mailto:tjin@bonairelive.com .
- Toner Cartridges. If you know of anyone on Bonaire recycling HP LaserJet toner cartridges, please drop us a note at mailto:news@BonaireENews.com .
- Books for Organizations. NetTech N.V., which provides Web site hosting and design on Bonaire, also sells computer and Internet books on a request basis (i.e. it doesn't stock any books for sale). Taking
advantage of its on-going relationship with book distributors in the U.S., NetTech would like to offer Bonaire's non-profit organizations the ability to order U.S.-published books for their efforts on Bonaire, at
reduced prices - usually 20-30% below U.S. retail price. This low rate would already include all shipping costs. This offer, in addition to Internet and computer related books, applies to any educational materials,
as well as works of fiction and non-fiction. Any non-profit organization that requires such books should contact Jake at 6773 or mailto:jake@nettech.an , providing a title, author, and ISBN number if available. Prepayment would be required, and it typically takes 3 weeks for the books to get to Bonaire from time of order.
Classifieds
Lots of things for sale, and some things being sought. Please note that we do not warrant the accuracy or validity of the
products/services/etc. being presented here - in other words, Caveat Emptor (Buyer Beware). Note: Advertising real estate for sale or rent in our Classifieds is fee based. Contact us at mailto:classifieds@BonaireENews.com for details.
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For Free:
BONAIREAN RIDGEBACKS
Available for good home - Two well-trained Bonairean/Ridgeback sister dogs: happy, healthy (spayed) & playful. Great, loyal protectors & friends. Owner (Mikel-Ann Hall) has to
find them a new home because she has taken a live aboard cruise-ship job. Contact Ruth at mailto:kfc@bonairelive.com or phone 5742.
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Seeking Something:
ROOMMATE
Looking for female roommate to share oceanfront condo. Fully furnished with all amenities. Private bedroom and bath. NAFl. 800, includes utilities.
Call/fax: 7071 or mailto:islandfashions@bonairenet.com
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Real Estate:
CONDO/APARTMENT COMPLEX FOR SALE
Visit http://www.infobonaire.com/html/classifieds.html#apartments for details
RENTAL - BEACH FRONT
Attractive 2-bedroom beach house for rent on a weekly or monthly basis. Fully furnished. Aircos in bedrooms. Ceiling fans in
bedrooms and living room & dining room. Solar hot water heater. Wash machine. Beautiful garden. Very secure location with gated entrance. Convenient
location, near restaurants, marina, resorts, tennis & spa. Attractive rates to responsible parties. Contact for brochure, photos and availability.
Phone: 570-586-0098; Fax: 570-586-4013; e-mail:larryt49@alumni.princeton.edu
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For Sale/Rent:
TELESCOPE
Classic Celestron telescope with 8 inch mirror. Includes the equatorial wedge, tripod, and a complete set of astrophotography accessories. NAFl. 1250 (The telescope also can serve as a nice,
although not too portable, 2000 mm. f/10 telephoto lens, for those elusive green flash pix and head shots of flamingos!)
Call Brad Swanson at 8814
COMPUTER SOFTWARE
Paint Shop Pro 5.0 for Windows 95/98 - Professional paint and graphics software for preparing images for brochures, Web site, at affordable price of US$90.
Eudora Pro 4.0 for Windows 95/98 -
Professional E-mail software for people who live by e-mail - US$45.
Contact Jake @ NetTech, at 6773 or mailto:jake@nettech.an
INBOARD MOTOR
30 HP Inboard Universal Altas Motor. Less than 100 hours since overhaul. Gasoline with 50 liter tank.
Contact Mike Solbach at 6862
KITCHEN STOVE/OVEN
Gas. Works well. NAFl. 200,- or best offer.
Call Carol or Mike at 6862 or mailto:waves@bonairelive.com
MULTIFUNCTION FAX/PRINTER/SCANNER/COPIER
Xerox Office Center Machine. Features plain paper FAX, computer printer & scanner, photo copying. Never used. Asking NAFl. 1500.
Call Cristie at 4435
PELLET AIRGUN
Beeman Kodiak .25 - British made, wood finish. Comes with Bushnell 6-18x40 telescope, maintenance kit, cleaning kit, 1400+ pellets, plastic case. Brand new. Value is NAFl. 2450,-, selling for NAFl.
2200,-
Call 09-5607426 or 09-5607945.
FURNITURE
One (baby) bed (white) NAfl. 150,-
One (baby) dressing table with storage room for clothes NAfl. 200,-
One small refrigerator with missing freezer door. NAfl. 150,-
For more info: call: 6949 (Rita) during business hours or mailto:ritapcf@hotmail.com
BOOKS
Sea Change, personally autographed by author Dr. Sylvia Earle, NAFl. 25,- or US$14. Profits go to benefit the Bonaire Marine Park. Call Jake at 6773, mailto:jake@nettech.an .
COMPUTER HARDWARE
Used 2GB External SCSI Hard Disk - 3 years old - Nafl. 500 or best offer
Used (5 months) 32MB DIMM - Nafl. 75
Call 6773 or mailto:jake@nettech.an
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Want to Buy:
USED CAR
Toyota, Nissan or Mitsubishi, 1993 or younger, under 8000 NAFl.
Respond to Carol at mailto:sunfishworlds@bonairelive.com
UNDERWATER CAMERA
sSecond hand or new. Preferable Sea and Sea, but other makes are also welcome. Will be on Bonaire mid-May for several weeks.
Contact Ed at mailto:eeboshuizen@amoco.com
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