Novena 2011, carry on regardless

LOS ÁNGELES  (neé Estación) There will be those who wonder why we haven't made more of our favourite local feria, known as the Novena. For one thing we have been busy earning a crust and for another, we have yet to receive a programme from the Town Hall or anyone else (if you have one, please drop it by the office), and, being carless, we therefore have to rely on our good friends at TioJimeno for information and reportage (you can see a lot more about it there, too!). We are very sorry to miss this lovely little feria but can offer today's activities below. Several things went on last night (see TioJimeno) and lots going on today and tomorrow. (Editorial: You will notice that La Novena is much better organized and offers many more events and activities than anything in the main village. It also appears to be much less 'political', with neighbours joining in to help and take part. A lesson that really must be learned up the hill.)

Council studies trafficx flow changes in El Gurugú

(Press release) The municipal delegate for Los Ángeles, Juana Jiménez, and the Chief of Police, Francisco Espejo, toured the El Gurugú area yesterday, to work out the possibilities of alternative traffic flow for the streets there. Shops and commerce have increased considerably and there is a petition from the neighbourhood association for order to be put into the area's traffic and parking facilities. A decision, and an announcement is expected in the next few days. (Watch this space!)

New protection shields for Yellow Brick Road

New protective railings were being installed this morning on the corner where the children's playground is, on the A-405, as the result of petitions from users of the 'Yellow Brick Road' (from Jimena to Estación, or Los Ángeles) are, who rightly believe that this being a tricky corner  (known  locally as curva del Tropezón) of the road, there was aditional danger for pasers.by or children playing. Work was being carried out by the Junta's Road Demarcation Department, in response to pleas from the Council Other work in the same vein includes new elevated zebra crossings in Los Ángeles that were installed last week.

'Fiesta de los 18' is revived

(Press release) They were traditional once, these celebrations. It's the Eighteen Fiesta in our best translation for something that fell by the wayside for a number of years.The idea is, and always was, to offer public recognition to all those in te municipality whose 18th birthday is this year. The event, this coming Friday, September 10, is divided into two parts: first, a reception by the Mayor at the Reina Sofía Cultural Centre at 8pm and then, a party at the Plaza Práxedes Gómez under the marquee used for the Novena this last weekend. There's more: the Council is putting on two free buses, one from Tesorillo at 7.15, the other from San Pablo at 7.30. They are only for those attending the reception and party. (The press release says nothing about how they're supposed to get back home...)

Novena gets under way!

The kids loved it, especially Nuria Peña Pérez, who became this year's Queen once the cavalcade arrived at Plaza Práxedes Gómez having ridden around the streets of Estación in the company of her Ladies in Waiting. This was the beginning of an intense weeekend of festivities in honour of Jimena's patron saint, Our Lady Queen of the Angels, whose procession will bring things to an end on Sunday. Last night, too, was the 29th edition of our Flamenco Festival (which was supposed to have been presented by José María Macías, but who died very recently and who received a special, emotional tribute - and about which more later), as well as a series of other activities: SEE TODAY'S FULL PROGRAMME HERE. The full programme and that for horses and riders are only a click away on the sidebar. Use it!

Urban Mile Race schedule

The organizers of the Michigán Urban Mile Race, scheduled for tomorrow (and reported here), have announced the schedule for the race as follows:

• START: Calle Algeciras, corner of calle Castellar (Estación de Jimena)
• DAY: Saturday 4  September 2010
• REGISTRATION: from 17.30 on the day
• RACE STARTS AT: 18.30 horas

The ladies meet tonight

Another annual event associated with the Novena celebrations in Los Ángeles (a.k.a. Estación) is the dinner for Women Only of the municipality, though this year budgetary restrictions have set it 'off programme' (the official start is tomorrow evening). So, if you are of the female persuasion, you could book yourself a dinner (€12 per head) and turn up tonight at 10pm at the Municipal Marquee. But there's more: music & dancing (the men sort of hang about, 'off limits), prizes for best dancing, best flamenco costume - and a whole lot of fun. The spirits behind this event are the tlocal wo women's organizations: Mujeres del 91 and Patio del Chato.

Cookery competition is a tradition of the Sunday at Novena

Called Concurso de Platos Típicos in Spanish, competition is intense on Sundays at the Novena celebrations in Estación de Jimena (or Los Ángeles). Local an area cooks bring their best efforts (photo of 2008), to be judged in several categories such as first and entré dishes, desserts and Typical of Jimena. The organizers hope to improve on the 84 dishes that competed last year. This year's edition is the 23rd and takes place at Plaza Práxedes Gómez, by the railway crossing, at midday on Sunday. CHECK THE FULL PROGRAMME HERE.

Urban transport at last!

No, sorry. This charming little train is only available during the Novena celebrations of Los Ángeles (or Estación). It travels through the streets of the village, starting and ending at Plaza Práxedes Gómez, by the railway crossing, where everything is happening during the three days of fun and games. This year's Novena starts this coming Friday, and we thoroughly reccommend this 'feria' (not strictly a feria, but - too long to explain here)! CHECK THE FULL PROGRAMME HERE.

New dining rooms for primary schools in Estación and Tesorillo

CEIP Aljibe, of Estación (or Los Ángeles), will have a dining room and lunch service as from this school year. Mayor Pascual Collado, Councillors Jesús Rodríguez and Juana Jiménez, visited the school yesterday to se the work in progress. Rodríguez, Councillor for Education, also announced that similar work is being carried out at the CEIP José Luis Sánchez in San Martín del Tesorillo. The work is directed from the Junta's Department of Education and it is plannd that the new lunch service (in demand for a number of years) will be available at the beginning of the school year.

La Mojá, one of many events during La Novena

This is only one of many events held during celebrations in honour of Our Lady Queen of the Angels, Patron Saint of Jimena. The photos go back to 2008, but the main difference is that the people will be just a little bit older this time around. More important: they still have their little child inside. Enjoy!

SEE THE FULL PROGRAMME OF EVENTS BELOW

FULL PROGRAMME FOR LA NOVENA

From Saturday, August 29 to Sunday, September 3

7.30 am and 7.30 pm

Santuario de la Reina de los Ángeles

Liturgies in honour of our Patron

Rosary and Eucharist

Officiated by: padre David Muñoz Medina.

Friday, September 3

Gloria Estefan Tribute Party on Friday

A tribute to Cuban singer Gloria Estefan (image) is scheduled at Plaza Práxedes Gómez (next to the railway crossing) in Los Ángeles (a.k.a. Estación de Jimena). Singer and dancer Susana Cárdenas, and her group, will be onstage with all the Latin rhythm on Friday, 27 August, a 11pm. Entrance is free. This is a prelude to the Novena celebrations (in honour of Jimena's Patron Saint, Nuestra Señora Reina de los Ángeles) to be held in Estación the following weekend and is held in the main marquee that will be used then. (Watch this space and keep an eye on our UpComing Events calendar on the sidebar.)

Street lights repaired in Los Ángeles

(Press release) A large number of street lights have been replaced recently throughout Jimena's Los Ángeles district. Many of them were simply old, and plenty of others were not working. Jimena's Public Works Department carried out the work to recondition the stree lighting. (do you know why the district has changed its name from 'Estación' to 'Los Ángeles'? Watch this space.)

Reina Sofía Cultural Centre: the venue chosen for most local activities

(Press release) The Reina Sofía Cultural Centre, on Calle Castellar in Los Ángeles, is being used by several local groups for a host of activities. Facilities include the main auditorium (photo) and three smaller rooms. The latter will also includes a computer centre to be opened next week, according to the municipal delegate Juana Jiménez. The facilities are in use every day by a diverse selection of activities: oil painting classes, library, clothes collection, young farmers association, as well as several study courses, among others. To book the facilities, call 956 641 236.

94 points out of 100 for Jimena's Consumer Services

Jimena's Consumer Services office, headed by Juana Jiménez (centre), has received 94 points out of a possible 100 in an annual evaluation carried out by the Consumer Department of Diputación de Cádiz. The score places Jimena among the top such services in the province. The Oficina de Atención al Consumidor is located in the Reina Sofía Cultural Centre in Los Ángeles. Opening hours are in the morning of the first Thursday of the month, though in reality you will find Juani there most mornings, where she attends to her duties as Municipal Delegate for Estación.