by Jim Starke
by Jim Starke
April 2007 |
|
|
Hi everyone,
It's that time of year when Vieques is hoppin'. The Cultural Festival is this month and so is Easter. I hear great things about "DUFFY'S ESPERANZA, established 1969", clearly the old codger has done it again, or in this case, still! Or is it over again and next door with a new generation of Duffy, Mike. He is also doing the Chez Shack gig for Grill Night.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service asked me to tell those fisherman that want to flyfish from the beaches that when they wade out onto the grass flats and coral areas, that they are destroying the fragile habitat that is part of the draw of the island.
In their words, as I can't say it any better:
"Several people have complained to us that fly fishermen are stepping out on the flats in different areas to fish. Particularly in Ensenada Honda and other areas on the south shore. Unlike Florida or other areas, the flats on Vieques are either very shallow reefs or seagrass beds, there are very few sand flats. Walking out on these can cause damage to the reefs and grass beds. Maybe you can put on your fishing page that although fly-fishing is great on Vieques, please do not wade out into the shallows.
The shallows on Vieques still have healthy coral and seagrass beds."
And in response to my questioning them about enforcement:
FWS cannot, but DNER can since there are local laws prohibiting the destruction of coral. Plus elk horn or stag horn coral are now listed as Endangered by NOAA, impacting these is a Federal Offense and a felony.
These corals can grow in shallow water and can even break the surface at low tide. The relatively intact marine ecosystem on Vieques is the big draw for fishermen, kayakers and snorkelers alike, to impact it would be to impact all the users.
So, come on people, let's clean up our act and think about the ecology of the island. If you kill the habitat, you won't have the fish there that you are coming down here for. Use the beach or better yet use our outfitters like Wildfly Charters and Caribbean Flyfishing. Try to show a little class, or you may be spending more money on fines than you would have on a charter. These guys know where they are to. So clean up your act, be good to the island and be good to yourselves, and stay out of the water.
OK, that's my rant, now the calendar.
Thanks for reading and have a great visit!
Jim
|
A P R I L 2 0 0 7 |
|
| Thursday, 5th | Mass of The Last Supper. Catholic Church, Isabel II. 7pm. |
| Friday, 6th | Predication of the Lord's Passion, 3pm and Easter Vigil, 7pm. The Catholic Church, Isabel II. |
| Sunday, 8th | Easter Mass. Catholic Church, Isabel II. 11am. Reach for Success garage sale and car wash 10:30 AM till 4:00 next to La Casa de la Juventud, in front of the Chinese restaurant. Call Carmen Portela-Weir 787 243-1352. Easter Brunch at bbh, $25, call 787 741-1128 for reservations. |
| Wednesday, 11th | “Tito and the Mantaray” on the big screen. Fort Count Mirasol Museum, 7pm. |
| Thursday, 12th | Opening of art exhibition: “In Concrete” by Rafael Trelles. Fort Count Mirasol Musuem. |
| Friday, 13th | El Jardin at the Crow’s Nest closed for a private function. |
| Friday, 13th - 15th | Culture Festival and Book Fair at the Fort Count Mirasol Museum.
Local crafts, music, books by Viequenses, activities for children. Call 787 741-1717 for schedule of events. |
| Saturday, 14th | NLUS Tag Sale to benefit USCG San Juan Sector. Imagen Optica in Isabel II, 8 am. |
| Sunday, 15th | Beach Doggies - Celebrating Our 7th Successful Season. 9am - 1pm. |
| Wednesday, 21st | Spring Fling & Duckie Derby to benefit homeless animals. Casa La Lanchita, 5:45-7:45 pm. Call the Vieques Humane Society 0209 or Joan 741-2286. |
| Monday, 30th |
Last day to submit comments for Vieques NWR Draft Plan. For info or questions contact Sandra Ortiz@fws.gov or call 787-741-2138. |
|
By Day of the Week |
|
| Daily | VINYASA YOGA at Hix Island House,9:30am, 435-6850. |
| Mondays |
REACH FOR SUCCESS- Support, counseling, and education offered at the
Youth Center in Isabel II. 12-5pm. MOVIE NIGHT at the Blue Moon Bar & Grill at Inn on the Blue Horizon. Giant Screen TV. Various Snacks! 741-3318. MEDITATION FOR HEALING at La Casa de Yoga 6pm, 435-7510. SPIN STUDIO BIKING WORKOUT at Utopia Fitness. All levels welcome, bring water & towel. 6pm, 717-669-6496. |
| Tuesdays | CITY HALL- The Mayor’s Office receives the first 15 visitors,
starting at 8am. REACH FOR SUCCESS- Support, counseling, and education offered at the Youth Center in Isabel II. 12-5pm. MEDITATION IN MOTION- with Maureen at the Yoga Pavilion at Hix Island House, $15. 3:30 pm. Call Maureen, 787-909-9066. HAPPY HOUR at El Jardín at The Crow’s Nest,5-7pm, chance to win free tab. 741-0011. ALL YOU CAN EAT Southern BBQ at the Island Steakhouse $23 per person TAPAS NIGHT at Blue Moon Bar & Grill at Inn on the Blue Horizon. 5-10pm. MARINE LIFE EXHIBIT - guided tours at VCHT, 1-3pm. |
| Wednesdays | KRIPALU YOGA ON THE BEACH at Sunbay (in the shade) 9am 435-7510. VYLI-Young Leaders Club. 741.2254. TAPAS NIGHT at the Blue Moon Bar & Grill at Inn on the Blue Horizon. 5-10pm RESTORATIVE YOGA FOR STRESS at La Casa de Yoga 6pm, 435-7510. |
| Thursdays | KRIPALU YOGA ON THE BEACH at Sunbay (in the shade) 9am 435-7510. MARINE LIFE EXHIBIT - guided tours at VCHT, 1-3pm. DOCUMENTARY FILMS -Vieques History and Peace movement at Casa de Kathy, 367 Calle Bromelias, Esperanza, free. 8pm. Call first: 741-3352. SPIN STUDIO BIKING WORKOUT at Utopia Fitness. All levels welcome, bring water & towel. 6pm, 717-669-6496. SCIENCE OF MIND, interfaith meditation, 7-8pm; call 741-0321 for info. |
| Fridays | KRIPALU YOGA ON THE BEACH at Sunbay (in the shade) 9am 435-7510. MARINE LIFE EXHIBIT - guided tours at VCHT, 1-3pm. MOFONGO NIGHT at Carambola Restaurant at Inn on the Blue Horizon. 741-3318. THE PALMS BAR, BBH...5pm - ??? PASTA at Martineau Bay Resort, includes soup, salad and desserts, 6- 10pm LA MAQUINA DEL AMOR after hours at MBAR. 10pm--2am. |
| Saturdays | MARINE LIFE TANK TALKS - guided tours at VCHT, 1-3pm. VYLI CULTURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP INIT-1-3pm. VYLI SALES ON MALECON- 5-7pm. SPIN STUDIO BIKING WORKOUT at Utopia Fitness. All levels welcome, bring water & towel. 4:30pm, 717-669-6496. THE PALMS BAR, BBH...5pm - ??? PRIME RIB NIGHT at Paso Fino restaurant, at Martineau Bay, 6-10pm. KIM BIRCHALL PERFORMS at El Jardín at The Crow’s Nest. Guitar and voice, 7-10pm. LIVE MUSIC W. KARAMBA at the Blue Moon Bar & Grill, 9pm. KARAOKE at Mar Azul, 9pm. |
| Sat. and Sun. | KRIPALU YOGA in the Gazebo at Sunbay. 9am 435-7510. |
| Sundays | SUNDAY BRUNCH with Chef Kevin at the Doghouse Cafe 8am-1pm. RADIO VIEQUES transmitting from 740am and on the internet at http://www.radiopr740.com/. 3-4pm GUEST CHEF NIGHT at the Doghouse Cafe. 741-0341 AFTER THE BEACH PARTY with DJ. Blue Moon Bar & Grill. 9pm. |
| Wed. - Sun. | FORT COUNT MIRASOL MUSEUM - Open 8:30am - 4:30pm. |
PS: If there is anything you would like to see in the newsletter or have any feedback please email Ask Judy. Thanks. askjudy@enchanted-isle.com
If any of you would like to see something specific in this newsletter please contact the webmaster and I will do my best to investigate for you.
Email: whats_happenin@enchanted-isle.com
