Oba to hold a concert to benefit La Estrella

'Antique' poster
(Photo: tiojimeno.es)

JIMENA The local charity that helps the handicapped (and JimenaPulse's favourite) is to benefit from a concert by Oba, a local band (not the bar & more!) that came together in the 1980s. The idea is to raise funds for La Estrella's summer activities for the kids. The concert is on Saturday, June 2, from 10pm at the Iglesia de la Victoria. Tickets are €5 at the door, and additional donations are accepted. The band Oba (the name is that given to Jimena by the Romans) is made up of several members who look a lot older than in the poster illustrating this item, which is not surprising because they are. You will recognize several of them as people whom you see every day. In any case, La Estrella is hoping for a good turnout because they need the community's support.

Sunday's La Estrella Christmas Market - brilliant!

It was a brilliant day! If you want to download a photo, just click on the little icon that appears at bottom right of the rectangle when you put your cursor over the pics above, then click on where it says LA ESTRELLA - and Bob is still your uncle! Para bajar una foto que te interese, solo tienes que darle a la imagen que sale abajo, derecha, cuando pasas el cursor por encima de las imágens de arriba, y luego donde dice LA ESTRELLA - ¡y ya está!

La Estrella Christmas Market coming up this weekend!

This year's La Estrella Christmas Market, in aid of the local handicapped association, will be held in the cloisters (under a roof if it rains) of La Victoria church on Sunday, December 4th from 11am til everyone collapses (about 6pm). As we write, there are sixteen different stalls selling all kinds of things, from gifts to food (Spanish and English cuisine!), plus a tombola, and, we believe, a raffle. There will also be live music of various kinds (probably, also, traditional Spanish Christmas villancicos, about which you can see on our web album). If you would like a stall (THERE'S ROOM FOR MORE AT ONLY €10 EACH), please call Pepi on 661 385 390 (Spanish) or, in English Alberto on 956 648 169 (his mobile is down!). Whatever else, this is the one charity event of the season that you should not miss.

Cati Ledesma, La Estrella stalwart, honoured in La Línea

LA LÍNEA Catalina Ledesma Mateo, a stalwart member and past president of La Estrella del Regüé, the handicapped association of Jimena, was deservedly honoured in La Línea as part of an annual programme that 'recognizes' unpaid carers, volunteers, associations of the area. Jimena Council, represented by Councillor for Equality and Social Welfare, Mª José Pro, chose Cati because of her strength in adversity, her dedication and commitment to La Estrella and because "her cheerfulness enlightens us all ..."  Grateful parents, carers all, and their charges cheered and whistled as an emotional Cati was paid tribute. They had organized it perfectly, we're told, because it was a complete surprise. Some of the comments: "She has helped us over difficult times." "Cati has the strength we ourselves sometimes need." "Now it's our turn to offer her a little of our strength." "We Love you, Cati!" PLEASE REMEMBER THAT LA ESTRELLA IS HOLDING ITS ANNUAL CHARITY CHRISTMAS FAIR ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, AT LA VICTORIA CHURCH, FROM 11 TO LATE AFTERNOON. PLEASE COME AND HELP! (What is La Estrella, and how does it work? See below)>>>

€55 raised for La Estrella from a First Aid morning

The local handicapped group, La Estrella, the only true charity in Jimena, is to receive a donation of €55 raised from donations during a First Aid 'chat' that was held at the Campoy Restaurant this morning. The chat was held in English by a qualified First Aid instructor resident in Jimena. The unadvertised event was a great success and it is hoped that another one will take place in other parts of the municipality.

San Pablo flea market raises €900 for La Estrella

JIMENA/San Pablo de Buceite (Photo: www.buceite.com) The 14 stalls at the La Estrella charity flea market that had to be set up in the sports centre because of the rain, collected just over €900 for the Jimena charity. The money, which came from the fees from the stalls, donations, raffles and tombolas, goes toward the extra curricular needs of the La Estrella kids, mostly during the summer holidays, imncluding special swimming lessons, studies, camps, etc. The event was organized by the Chiripi Women's Association, the Pensioners and Retired association, with the cooperation of the Los Naranjos Parent Teachers association.>

Another way to give La Estrella a hand: come one, come all!

JIMENA/San Pablo The local handicapped association, La Estrella del Regüé, is holding a flea market on Sunday, March 6th at the main square in San Pablo de Buceite, Plaza Miguel de Cervantes from 12 noon. The weather being somewhat unpredictable at this time of year, we are told that if it rains, they will be under cover at the Sports Centre in the village (see map below). If you would like to have a stall (only €10) please call (in Spanish) 661 385 390 or 687 279 997, or (in English) 666 157 917 to bookone - they're going fast. There will be all kinds of things going on aside from numerous stalls, including a bar, food, lots of music and something they're calling 'Parodies From Our Elders', which is intriguing. Your support is important to the organizers as the funds they raise go to extra curricular activities for their stars, which they may not otherwise be able to do.

Christmas Bazaar raises €1,200 for La Estrella

As promised, here are some of the over 450 photos we took at the Christmas Bazaar. But the really GOOD NEWS is that over €1,200 was raised for the La Estrella stars, which will go towards their extra-curricular activities and summer camp newxt year. They have asked us to say thank you to everyone who took part in what was a great day!

La Estrella Christmas Bazaar was a grand success!

JIMENA This year's Christmas Bazaar in aid of the handicapped children of Jimena's La Estrella association was a grand success. Organized by a few expats and the core La Estrella working members, it took place yesterday in the courtyard of the 16th Century cloisters of Nuestra Señora de la Victoria Church in the middle of the old quarter of Jimena. There were fewer stalls than had been expected, which is a shame for those who missed out, as people flocked from all over the village throughout the day, to the amazement of experienced marketeers. The support for this local charity was something to behold: there were stalls that dedicated their entire proceeds to the cause, including one run by small girls who had made bracelets and necklaces "for their special friends." (photo) A tombola -unusual, apparently, other than at expat markets- was a winner. It wasn´t too much to ask for a euro to win something that had been a donation. There were delicious Spanish, English and American cakes and goodies, canaries, Moroccan lamps, jewelry, clothes ... the list is too long. But the atmosphere, that was something else. The spirit of goodwill arrived in force starting early in the morning for the preparations, and never left. (Watch this space for a slide show coming soon!)

Here it is! Coming next Sunday to a place very near you!!

Yes, the annual Christmas Bazaar in aid of La Estrella, Jimena's premier charity, is scheduled on SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12 from 11am to 7pm. But it's different this time. To start with, the venue is fantastic! Thanks to Padre Antonio and the parish, we are able to use the cloisters at the Nuestra Señora de la Victoria church (map below). Not only are they a beautiful example of 16th century rural architecture, but it also means that we (stallholders and vistors) can be under cover if it rains.  So there´s no excuse not to turn up. To book a stall, (only a few spaces left!) call Tanya on 666 157 917 or e-mail her: tanyaward8@gmail.com. Also, a musical programme, food & drink stalls, and lots more. DON'T MISS IT! and support your local charity. See you there!>

Here it is! This is it!

Yes, the annual Christmas Bazaar in aid of La Estrella, Jimena's premier charity, is scheduled on SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12 from 11am to 7pm. But it's different this time. To start with, the venue is fantastic! Thanks to Padre Antonio and the parish, we are able to use the cloisters at the Nuestra Señora de la Victoria church (map below). Not only are they a beautiful example of 16th century rural architecture, but it also means that we (stallholders and vistors) can be under cover if it rains.  So there´s no excuse not to turn up. To book a stall, (only a few spaces left!) call Tanya on 666 157 917 or e-mail her: tanyaward8@gmail.com. Also, a musical programme, food & drink stalls, and lots more. DON'T MISS IT! and support your local charity. See you there!>

Dogs and dolls, soaps and sops, heat and breezes - all at La Estrella car boot sale

Yesterday's La Estrella car boot sale was a great day out for many. Stalls were being set up by 9am and were in full swing an hour later, though most visitors turned up at about noon. Fortunately, a nice breeze held out all day (or we would have frizzled). A couple of unfortunate circumstances (mentioned elsewhere) did prevent some from attending, including seven stall holders that had booked previously but failed to show. Nevertheless, over €300 was collected for Jimena's favourite charity - one comment about this: "We all know who we missed." (If you don't, ask around.) There were all sorts of things to buy or at least look at, from charming old fashioned dolls to hand made soaps, from crafts made of driftwood to lovely second hand clothes. (Prospero note: I came away with more stuff than I sold! Including a bed for a well-deserved siesta!)  And then, of course, there was the dog show, which went on well into the afternoon, when most stalls had packed up. La Estrella presented the Ward family with a plaque to thank Tanya, Dan and Mark for their initiative. (There is talk of holding a monthly La Estrella fund raiser flea market in the village starting later in the year - let us know what you think, please!)

LA ESTRELLA CAR BOOT SALE on Sunday

Tanya and the Ward family at Marchenilla are still busy preparing for this year's La Estrella car boot sale, to which they're adding a dog show, to be held at their Finca Los Caballos, just past Marchenilla (see map on poster - click to enlarge), on next Sunday, June 6th, from 9.30am to 3pm. This is the place and time to show your support for Jimena's local handicapped organization. If you want to book a stall or need any more information, please call Tanya on 627 649 320. Better hurry as there are some 17 stalls booked already! Tell all your friends about it, and/or send them the poster now (a version in Spanish is available below)! Let's make this one the best ever!

Get ready for the La Estrella car boot sale & dog show

Tanya and the Ward family at Marchenilla are busy preparing for this year's La Estrella car boot sale, to which they're adding a dog show, to be held at their Finca Los Caballos, just past Marchenilla (see map on poster - click to enlarge), on Sunday, June 6th, from 9.30am to 3pm. This is the place and time to show your support for Jimena's local handicapped organization. If you want to book a stall or need any more information, please call Tanya on 627 649 320. Tell all your friends about it, and/or send them the poster now (a version in Spanish is available below)! Let's make this one the best ever!

La Estrella receives €3000 from 'Solidarity Night'

Elite Sound Room Discotheque, the fashionable night spot of Algeciras, held the second edition of its Elite Solidario on Saturday night. Among various awards handed out by the management, including one to former Spain footballer Adolfo Aldana (photo, r.) for 'using his celebrity to raise funds for a number of organizations' (see JP item here), the evening's fund raising took €3000 for Jimena's La Estrella, the handicapped organization. The cheque was picked up by Antonio Mario, representing La Estrella.

La Caixa makes a donation to La Estrella

One of JimenaPulse's favourite local charities, La Estrella del Regüé, has received a €1000 cheque from the Jimena office of La Caixa. In the photo is manager Alberto Piña with La Estrella's President Cati Ledesma and VP Pepi Vallecillo. The money will go towards the activities carried out by La Estrella, such as psychological support, physiotherapy and rehabilitation of the youngsters of the organization. The donation is made through La Caixa's Obra Social programme, whereby 25% of the institution's profits are destined to charitable work. (See more on La Estrella on the old JimenaPulse -  50+ entries. For a summary of their activities see below.)