Cozumel News July 29th, 2014

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Cozumel news July 28^th, 2014: Airplane Digital Library a Success, Motorcycle Fines for no Helmet, PROFECO Alert, No Chikungunya in Quintana Roo, Parking Meters Still on Melgar, Latest on the U.S. to Yucatan Ferry, Ironkids Cozumel 2014, and saving the most important for last, The Cozumel Blood Drive.

The Cozumel Blood Drive is the latest in my new section, Volunteer and Donate. If you have not already done so, check out: Cozumel CAM School for Disabled Children, The Cozumel Sea Turtle Rescue Program, The Humane Society of Cozumel, Rancho Universo Horse Sanctuary and Horse Therapy Centre, and the Three Kings Day Drive.

If you are already part of one of these wonderful organizations, please proof the information that I have taken from your website and Facebook page. Please contact me with any changes and updates. I am a one-woman operation and really need your help in order to provide my readers with the most current information available. Thank you for your assistance!

Airplane Digital Library a Success

The Biblioavión that was inaugurated on May 22^nd located at 130th Avenue between Calles Hidalgo and 7 South received 588 visitors of different ages during the month of June.  The “Library-plane” is a fuselage of an aircraft which was adapted as a digital library in San Gervasio Colony, near the park, “John Paul II”.

Of the 588 students and parents that visited in June, 415 used the digital library and 173 used the television room. According to statistics from the Island Museum, the 415 people visited the digital library during June consisted of  187 elementary school students, 170 secondary school students , 22 high school, 3  described as “top-level” (University?), and 33 parents.

During this month the audiovisual hall is offering a “Wild Summer” program that involves the screening of documentaries on wildlife animals in various parts of the world.

Motorcycle Fines for no Helmet

Traffic authorities have begun fining those on motorcycles without proper helmet $450.00 pesos.  Transit Management has warned that they are tough on those who are riding on motorcycles without the necessary protection.  Their failure to comply with traffic regulations represents a serious hazard, especially for children who are transported in these vehicles unprotected.

The Deputy Director of Transit, Domingo Vivas Osorio, said fines of $450.00 pesos will be given to riders who are caught driving without a helmet.  He stated that any person caught without a helmet, will be admonished, as if it was a vehicular accident because of the risk of serious injuries.

Vivas Osorio said that the helmet should be the one corresponding to motorcyclists not helmets meant for work in construction or riding a bicycle. He urged the community not to risk driving without adequate protection.

PROFECO Alert

Federal Consumer (PROFECO) is making operational surveillance linked to various practices by tourist service businesses, to ensure they do not engage in commercial abuse.

The project, referred to as The “Holiday and Tourism Summer Program 2014”, started on July 16^th and will continue until August 18th. Under scrutiny are restaurants, bars, hotels, timeshares, renters of tourist services, and local sellers of items related to domestic and foreign tourism (cameras, swimsuits, sunscreen, souvenirs, among other things).

They remind everyone to get involved and encourage people to report any anomalies that might occur in a store because the major objective of the PROFECO is to defend the rights of consumers.

No Chikungunya in Quintana Roo

Juan Ortegón Pacheco, Secretary of Health for our State, Quintana Roo announced that to date there have been no cases of the Chikungunya Virus reported. He stated that Chikungunya is present in Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Florida, and although we have a constant flow of visitors epidemiological and entomological surveillance is conducted constantly. If detected, immediate action will be taken to ensure that it does not spread and turn into an epidemic as it has in other places.

When asked what protocols would be followed by the health authorities in the event of the virus reaching Quintana Roo, he emphasized “the part we’re doing is monitoring the symptoms presented by patients, joint pain, fever, and of course, once you confirm that it is Chikungunya, immediate action would be taken by visiting the home, eliminating breeding sites of mosquitoes and spraying the adult mosquito.”

He stated that Chikungunya will be hard to keep out, as it has spread from Africa to the Caribbean to the United States; the important part is to be prepared to stop it from spreading once it does arrive.

Parking Meters Still on Melgar

Apparently the City has been unable to reach an agreement with the company “Olimpus Meters S. A. de C. V.”, owned by Víctor Manuel Negrete Villalobos, as the meters are still on the waterfront. The company contracted with the previous administration for a period of 15 years and a very expensive cancellation clause. They have reported the business venture as a financial loss; apparently they are not losing  enough to accept the settlement. The current administration reports they will continue the negotiations so they can implement their remodeling plans for the waterfront that does not include these meters.

Latest on the U.S. to Yucatan Ferry

A few weeks back friend Anne Harris forwarded this information to me. I am sorry for the delay in getting it to you. If it will make a difference to you if the ferry comes to Mexico from Florida or another Gulf City, it might be worthwhile for you to communicate with this company. Thank you Mrs. Harris!

Bruce Nierenberg, the CEO of United Caribbean Lines, has issued an open letter to prospective passengers on the long-proposed ferry line that would connect Florida with the Yucatan peninsula:

Friends,

We are making good progress on getting a start date for the service. I expect to have that in the next month. We are targeting to start by April 2015. More info will come to you shortly and you will all as our first customers  know before anyone else all the details

I have a logistical question for you.

If we brought the ship departure point closer to where you are driving from so you did not have to drive to Florida would that be okay with you and in fact be preferred?

Example : if we left from a port on the Gulf Coast of the U.S. for the trip to the Yucatan…… which could reduce your driving time up to 10 hours by not having to go to Tampa……. and still provide all the services you need for you, your family and your cars, cargo, pets etc. would that be okay?

(A yes or no answer will suffice. I don’t need a specific port mentioned as I’m just trying to find out if they would be okay with a port closer to where they left from like in Gulfport, Mississippi for example. It can take about 8 to 10 hours off the drive to the ship for them. I also have found that the Gulf States ports are very much interested in showing our passengers a lot of appreciation.)

Let me know by return email.
BNIERENBERG@aol.com

Ironkids Cozumel 2014

Isela Valenzuela Jiménez, Manager of the Cozumel Hotel Association confirmed that Ironkids 2014 is coming to Cozumel on October 4^th.  This children’s sporting event called “Ironkids Cozumel”, is backed by a company called “Asdeporte.”  The Ironkids circuit which is known to be present in countries such as USA, England, Japan, France, New Zealand, among others, stressed that they will consider adding various circuits in the Mexican Republic. Vera Cruz and Acapulco were mentioned.

Ironkids Cozumel 2014 will consist of athletes from 6 to 13 years of age who will compete in a combination of swimming, cycling and running. The different distances and categories are yet to be announced. Ironkids Cozumel will be a great addition to our other successful events, Metlife Ironman 70.3 Cozumel; ITU Cup Cozumel, and the Ford Ironman Cozumel.

The Cozumel Blood Drive

The Cozumel Blood drive was started by friend Ronald Mannes to assist anyone in Cozumel in need of Blood. Cozumel does not have a blood bank and hospitals require that patients and their families provide their own blood donors when needed in emergencies and even for scheduled operations.

Realizing how difficult it is for family members in the middle of a medical crisis to have to leave their loved one to search for blood donors, Mr. Mannes set up a Facebook page that can be used to recruit and maintain a list of volunteer donors and their blood types.

When a call for help comes to our attention, members on the list are contacted and the need is posted on the Facebook page. If you have not already done so, please sign up at:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/cozumelblooddrive/

The current moderator of the Cozumel Blood Drive is Ms. Liz Toth, also available through Facebook. She can be contacted to join, ask questions, or assist in making donation. Soon the forms will be in English to make it easier on English speaking community.

 Requirements for donating blood

People over 18 and less than 65 years of age.
• Body weight greater than 50 kg /100 pounds.
• For women: they are not in their period and not lactating or have been pregnant in the last 6 months.
• Not being sick at the time of the donation (or allergies to food or medicine).
• Had last meal at 22:00 hrs/10pm and arrive in state of fasting.
• If you have had surgery in the last 6 months, you can donate, if you did not receive a blood transfusion.
• Have not had alcohol for 3 days.
• Have not taken aspirin or some other medication over a period of 7 days prior to donation.

In addition if you have a tattoo over two years old you can donate blood.
(I asked the administrator do you have to show proof and she said no. but we will have to see, should not be a problem.)

Women on hormone replacement can donate blood

Please talk with your friends and explain the importance of this program. Ask them if they would be willing to save a life by signing up. After joining the group please pm me with your contact info and state if you are here full time. Remember by helping others you are helping yourself.

Cozumel Blood Drive

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