Freezing Jimena and Castellar request declaration as 'disaster area'

Frost damage in Tesorillo
(Photo: europasur.es)

JIMENA/CASTELLAR (Agencies) The freezing weather is doing away with this year's crops of oranges and avocados, according to Juan Salido, agricultural union's Campo representative. He added that there had been no temperatures as low as the -5ºC of last Tuesday, since 2205, which means that 80% of the avocado crop is destroyed. Many farmers changed much of their orange groves to avocados, as they are better priced. "But avocados go black very quickly in this kind of weather, and it often means that the damaged trees have to be uprooted and replaced," said Salido. Damage to oranges appear later but his estimate is that about half of this year's crop is already lost. His union is planning to request the area to be declared a 'disaster area' (zona catastrófica), which, he says "Doesn't mean a lot but at least we can get it off our chests. The area most drastically affected is>>>

We knew she liked cats, but ...

Our friend Sheila likes cats. She has several of them, but on Sunday she met another one and no doubt wanted to bring it home. Here's the story: she and friends went to Castellar Zoo to see the new arrival, a baby tiger that is yet to be named. We had coffee with Sheila this morning and were told that another friend, Graham Who Works At The Zoo, is itching to get Prospero down there to take photos of the changes that have been going on. We'd love to do that, except we have no car at the moment - so if anyone's heading that way, let us know (or, if you see Graham Who's Hard To Miss, tell him what we said here). Nice pics, Sheila.

Welcome to ... No Name Yet

(Photo: europasur.es)

CASTELLAR The zoo in Castellar has a new member. She was presented to society in general and the media in particular on Friday at a press conference at the Holiday Inn Express in Los Barrios, where she was shown to everyone and where a chat was given about the kind of care she needs, etc. The daughter of Rahin and Tronca, the little nameless 'kitten' is the result of a lot of work with her parents, both of whom were rescued, one from a private home, the other from a circus. She has no name as yet, but the zoo, which houses some 500 animals of all kinds of species, is using Facebook to find a name for her (although I can't find any reference to it there...)

One of the castle's oldest inhabitants is 90

CASTELLAR Juana Avilés is one of the castle's oldest residents, Juana Avilés, had her 90th birthday last Wednesday. She celebrated the event with friends and family, as well as the Mayor, Juan Casanova. The Avilés family, of which only Juana and her three single brothers remain, refused to be moved to Castellar Nuevo when 40 years ago, the new village at the bottom of the hill was opened. The new village now contains some 3,000 residents, while the castle area is home to only about 150, mainly foreign people - plus, of course, the Avilés family, who take great care of their flower-bedecked courtyard, over 20 cats and who knows how many chickens.

 

Fitting memorial for Freddy Field

CASTELLAR At 11 this morning, Rosemary Field handed the Mayor of Castellar, Juan Casanova, an olive tree and a plaque that will be placed at the entrance to the cine theatre in memory of her husband Freddy Field, who died last December. Among many friends and family Freddy was remembered for his love and commitment to Castellar, where he lived for the last five years of his life. An emotional Rosemary said that this had been her husband's wish. Freddy, whose mother was from Jimena and had a British father, was born in La Línea. He lived in Gibraltar for most of his life and died aged 52 on December 5, 2010. He will be remembered by Castellar as>>>someone who first became involved in helping Ian and Victoria Cann to raise money for an X-ray machine for the village health, fund raising in all manner of ways and later via the production of a pantomime. Freddy's involvement with Castellar also included raising funds for repairs to the side door at the Santuario del Santísimo Cristo de la Almoraima, also under the Canns' direction.

Municipal finances make TV redundant

Ayuntamiento (andaluciarustica.com)

CASTELLAR (Agencies) The municipal television is stopping daily transmissions because of cutbacks. Castellar Mayor Juan Casanova made the announcement after taking stock of his first 100 days in office. The channel will only emit one news programme per week, principally on Council sessions and institutional announcements. The six people on staff will be placed in other departments, all of which are being reorganized. The web page and press department will be maintained. The annual cost of the TV channel amounted to €120,000, which the Mayor thought excessive for Castellar. Jimena, just up the road from Castellar, stopped TV broadcasting last year, has no press office and its website has not been updated since May 27.

 

Castellar castle feria coming up this weekend

CASTELLAR The village's traditional annual Velada del Divino Salvador, which celebrates the patron saint of the castle at Castellar, has been extended to three dayas: August 5, 6 and 7. The newly elected government has thanked the neighbourhood association at the castle for working hard at getting the feria going despite severe financial constraints. The result is 20 hours of different activities and events, the full programming of which we offer below. We must point out that this velada ('mini-feria') has no connection with the following weekend's Full Moon Flamenco Festival (more details later), except that both are in the castle grounds - and that is an excellent reason to be there.

Jimena began getting water from Majarambú yesterday

Reservoir at Castellar

JIMENA (Press release) Mancomunidad de Municipios del Campo de Gibraltar announced that the municipality of Jimena is receiving water from the aquifer at Majarambú, in Castellar, as from yesterday, Wednesday. This aquifer, the wells of which are now supplying Jimena, could also supply Castellar with drinking water should this be necessary. The new supply complements that of the Guadiaro River, which on occasions was not quite enough. Jimena will have three alternative drinking water sources: the Guadiaro River, the wells at Majarambú and, in a near future, that of the connection with the Guadarranque reservoir.

First of Campo ferias starts the season off at Castellar

The first of a string of ferias in the Campo de Gibraltar gets under way this evening at Castellar. Top of the list of events is the crowning of the Queen of the Fair, infant and older, which is interesting (to foreign residents) because both of them are of British origin. Anna Daphne Brophy (with her cortege: Mireya Rubio, Natalia Sierra, Cristina Espinosa and Aroa Márquez) is the Queen of the older ones, and Mara Emberley of the younger ones, with her cortege: Patricia Ledesma, Davina Gómez, Cristina Hernández and Alicia Gavilán. The feria comes together with a romeria, which will bring in some of the best horses and riders of the area. There is More (See complete programme below), but it is good to know that the fairground rides are at a special reduced price today and tomorrow.>

Jimena and Castellar receive €115,902 from municipal employment plan

JIMENA/CASTELLAR (Press release/Photo: file) Some thirty mayors, among whom were those of Jimena, Castellar an Tarifa, recently subscribed to the 2nd Plan de Ayuda Municipal al Empleo with Diputación Provincial de Cádiz. This refers to the renewal of the first such plan that is still current. Jimena is to receive €83,331 in 2011, and Castellar €32,571. Thus, some 40 people will have employment under the plan, which starts next month. 80% of the amount will go to contracting workers, the remaining 20% to purchase of material needed for repair or rehabilitation of public roads and/or buildings. Castellar has employed 37 workers under the scheme, with two-month contracts for plumbers, albañiles, gardeners and painters. (This item is also published on CampoPulse)

Tragedy in Castellar: 14 month old girl drowns in reservoir canal

(Agencies/Photo: EuropaSur) A little girl, aged only 14 months, died yesterday after falling into an irrigation canal. The child was was a foster daughter of an experienced fostering family, well known in the village. The couple apparently found her floating in the canal at about 4pm yesterday but despite immediate calls to the emergency services, it was not possible to revive her. According to our own sources, the family, the head of which is the local postman, is 'absolutely devastated' as they have long experience in 'bridging' children prior to adoption. They have fostered almost 20 such kids in the past, and belong to a network that works with the Junta de Andalucia. The Mayor of Castellar, Francisco Vaca, declared a full day of mourning today.

Five arrested in Jimena robbery

JIMENA (Press release/Photo: illustration only) Yesterday, the Guardia Civil from Jimena and Castellar arrested five people, including two minors, for allegedly stealing copper cable from the Las Buitreras electricity station. The incident took place when the GC, who were carrying a control point at the entrance to the municipality of Jimena from the A-405, at dawn. When they stopped two cars, one behind the other, for speeding, the first one slowed down but the one behind, a Skoda Fabia Combi, tried to avoid the control point, swerving sharply and coming off the road. The two occupants ran away on foot. Having been unable to stop them, the agents searched the vehicle, where they found a large amount of copper cable covered by black rubber insulation. Checking back to the first car, which had been retained with its occupants, they found that the driver's hands were stained black. Further inspection revealed a metal saw with replacement blade in the spare tire compartment. The driver, answering to the initials C.C.A., ad the two minors in the car were arrested and charged with robbery. Further investigation took the GC to>

La Almoraima lost €1,7 million last year

CASTELLAR (Agencies/Photo: TioJimeno) What was once the largest estate in Europe, La Almoraima, has anounced operating losses of €1.7 million for 2009. This is below their forecast, which amounted to €2 million. Expecations for the current year amounts to a loss of €610,000, and €228.000 for 2011. The reason given by the management of the nationalised estate is that the cork market has suffered enormously since 2008 and the figures are 'dragging' since then. (You might like to read about the industry in How did that Cork get in your Bottle?)

Jimena's Adult Education centre registration open for Spanish for Foreigners and more

Xemina, the adult education centre in Jimena that is the centre for the whole AE programme in the municipality, and Castellar, has opened its register for the 2010/2011 year. Among courses on offer are Graduado Escolar Secundaria for Adults, Basic Education, Initiation to Computing, English and Inter-Cultural Spanish for Foreigners. Register at the centre, Calle Sevilla 77, or call 956 641 196 for more information between 11am and 1pm. The centre's head, Ricardo Gómez, tells us that this year he would like to start an access to university groupfor over 25s, and hopes there might be enough people interested in the idea. Let him know.

Castellar heroin ring busted

CASTELLAR (Agencies / Photo: from Guardia Civil video) A drug specialising in heroin traffic and based in Castellar was busted yesterday, according to a press release from the Guardia Civil. With ramifications in Algeciras, La Línea and San Roque, as well as in Madrid and Palma de Mallorca, Operation Almenara concluded with the arrest of eight people, confiscation of 814 grammes of heroin, other drugs, cash, computers, mobile phones and arms. The gang had been under watch, in an operation headed by the GC in Algeciras, since December but it was only in April that a man of North African origin was seen arriving from Madrid by bus and being handed a parcel of the drug. He was arrested at the Algeciras bus station. (See the full story on CampoPulse)

XVIII Full Moon Flamenco Festival at Castellar

The 28th edition of Castellar's Full Moon Flamenco Festival is coming up on Saturday, August 14, starting at 10pm. Mayor Francisco Vaca has apologised that this year it will only be for the one night. However, the quality of the music, in all its Flamenco facets, is excellent. The venue, inside the ancient castle, seats only 250, so if you want to attend, head right now for the Town Hall or the Alcázar Hotel, where you can get a ticket for €20. The opening act is cantaor José Lérida 'El Pañero', who began singing in public only last year, though he is 38. He comes from a long line of Flamenco singers, from the Triana vein. He is followed by Lidia Cabello, one of the new generation of bailaoras (dancers) and who began her career under the topmost star Cristina Hoyos. After that comes Macarena de Jerez, one of the purest voices of today. Closing out what is sure to be a wonderful evening is bailaor David Palomar, whose young age belies a career that includes dancing at the Bienal de Sevilla (can't go higher than that), with guitarist Vicente Amigo (one of the very best in the world) and the Palau de la Música in Barcelona as well as at the Teatro Real de Madrid.

Campo photos in exhibition at Castellar castle

A group of photographers of the area, all of whom post their work on Flickr in a group calling itself  'Campo de Gibraltar: Al Sur del Sur', have come together to create an itinerant exhibition. Its first exposure will be at the castle in Castellar starting today, June24, until Sunday 27. Some 40 pictures can be visited daily from 11.30am to 2pm and from 7.30 to 8pm. The photographers are Ángel L. Duarte, Antonio Carmona, Sergio Franco, Lalo F.O., Ramón Orza, Felipe López, Fernando Osuna, José Mª Arroyo, César Hernández, Juan Carlos Otero, Pedro M. García andjavascript:void(0) Juan Machado. This is also a good reason to visit the castle if you haven't already.

Spanish classes for foreigners: register now

The Xemina Adult Education Centre today opened their registration books for the 2010/2011 courses. Aside from other choices for Spanish speakers, there are also Inter-cultural Spanish Classes for Foreigners. Depending on the number registered, classes are organized in the morning or evening, in Jimena as well as in Castellar. If you are interested in learning Spanish, you can find out more at the centre on Calle Sevilla 77 (photo of plaque on door), or by phone on 956 641 196. As it is so often said: "It's never too late!" This is an opportunity not to be missed.

Have a laugh in Castellar

Laughter Therapy sessions are due to begin at the Casa de la Juventud in Castellar next Wednesday, April 21. Anyone interested in taking part must register, free, at the Town Hall from 10am to 3pm. Sessions will be from 5.30 to 7pm but another session will be added after that if warranted. The therapy includes a number of activities aimed at 'awakening the child inside us all', according to the announcement, including body expression, eye contact, self-esteem development, rhythm, music awareness and body awareness, among others. The Council's Department invits everyone to take part and to leave their prejudices at the door.

Castellar-Sotogrande road 'will take two months to repair'

The Provincial Delegate for Public Works, Pablo Lorenzo (l. in photo) yesterday visited the 'hole in the road' on the Arenillas road (A-2100), which has been closed since February. Accompanied by Mayor Francisco Vaca, Lorenzo said that work began soon after the subsidence caused by bad weather (estimate €350,000) but reconstruction of a tube under the road has been needed. The tube, dating from the 1960s was made of corrugated iron and is to be replaced by one made of concrete. Work is expected to take another two months to complete, according to Lorenzo. The Mayor and the Delegate also visited the industrial estate, where flooding occurred several times during winter storms. Lorenzo repeated his promise that the under-road water courses on the A-405 will be widened, without specifying when.