Cozumel News April 26th, 2016: The Cozumel Turtle Nesting Season Begins, Cozumel El Cedral Festival to begin: The History behind El Cedral, and Aurita’s Corner.
Cozumel Turtle Nesting Season Begins!
2016 Turtle Nesting Season Program at the Lemuel Vega and Rafael Chacón Cozumel Ecology Dept. begins May 15, 2016. The turtle program at the Ecology Department is different than “tours” that are being offered by. com’s or tourist tour sites. The program fees and donations fund only the Ecology Department and volunteers get to work alongside of Ecology staff and local volunteers. The cost is $40 U.S.D. for adults and children. This includes orientation and participation in assisting with the nesting as the turtles are laying eggs during the months of May – July.
If you are interested in participating, you must make the arrangements by either leaving a message on the Cozumel Turtle Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/CozumelTurtles/?fref=ts), calling 01152-987-872-5795 or emailing ecologia@cozumel.gob.mx. The meeting point is 10 p.m. at The Dept. of Ecology on 65 y 31 (65 is also known as Av 8 de Octubre or by the Cenote on 65). Sundays and Mondays are the best days but they depart from this location each day during nesting seasons.
You MUST have your own transportation both ways. Allow approximately 1 to 2 hours – with Ecology Dept. staff and volunteers. Dress appropriately and bring your own headlamp with red filter to assure a full experience.
Please consider bringing the following – Headlamps with Red Filters, triple AAA batteries, caution tape to mark off nests, Old GPS portable, Sharpie black pens, Red Spray paint, Latex Gloves -all sizes. These are items that the program needs desperately, please consider donating these items if you are unable to volunteer.
Cozumel Turtles nesting videos by Pelagic Visions of Cozumel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYLGazDqWSc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vd1Bi65ogAI
More information on the Turtle Search, Rescue and Release Program will be available around July.
Cozumel El Cedral Festival Opens April28th
THE 2016 EL CEDRAL FESTIVAL WILL BE HELD FROM APRIL 28TH T O MAY 4TH. SHUTTLE BUSES RUN PRACTICALLY CONTINUALLY FROM CHEDRAUI GROCERY STORE. Parking is outrageous, I recommend taking the shuttle buses!
How It Started:
There is Story behind the El Cedral Festival held annually in Cozumel. It started as the Festival of Santa Cruz de Sabán some 169 years ago.
In 1847 the Mayans went to war in the Yucatan Peninsula in what was is known as the Caste War. The festival of El Cedral that takes place in Cozumel annually began as the religious festival, “Santa Cruz de Sabán.”
A young man by the name of Casimiro Cárdenas was a member of a group that was attacked by Mayans in a village called Sabán. Knowing the Mayans were very close, Cárdenas found shelter in a church in the Village. When the Mayans attacked, the shelter proved to be useless, and many members of the party were killed. Cárdenas, badly wounded and covered in blood, held his crucifix in his hand and in a moment of consciousness, made a promise that if he ever reached a safe place to settle, he would hold a solemn service to honor the religious power of the crucifix. “Santa Cruz”, each and every year of his life.
The survivors of the attack continued their journey, among them the young Casimiro Cárdenas. They arrived on the island of Cozumel and founded the Village of El Cedral over the ruins of the ancient town of Oycib. After settling, Casimiro fulfilled his promise and celebrated the first service to Santa Cruz de Sabán (Holy Cross of Sabán) in 1848.
When Don of Casimiro Cárdenas died, his wife continued the religious festivities. Today, their descendants, the Cárdenas Montero Family are keepers of the Festival of the Holy Cross of Sabán.
Years have passed and going to El Cedral with the family to celebrate the Holy Cross has become a tradition. In 1975 local authorities decided to join the Cárdenas Family and include commercial and recreational events with the religious festivities.
Today, the festival is the oldest in the state with 169 years of uninterrupted celebration. The Festival at El Cedral includes regional handicraft exhibitions, horse races, bull fights, rooster fights, concerts, gastronomy, competitions, sporting events and many cultural events such as the traditional “Jarana” dance and the unique “Dance of the Hog Head.”
Aurita’s Corner
The airline tickets are booked! I am scheduled to return to paradise on Sunday, June 19th! I am so relieved to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I am still recuperating and in physical therapy, but ready or not I just can’t wait to get home! Thank you for your continued support and patience, I promise to get things back to normal as soon as I can.
Elections are under way once again on the island. If I am not mistaken, this time is for Mayor for certain, as I noticed the current mayor’s wife Gina threw her hat in the ring as they say. She has done a phenomenal job as the first lady and champion of the DIF Program, I think she will make a great Municipal President. As visitors to this beautiful country we can’t meddle in politics, only observe from afar, so enough said. Unfortunately for us, when election campaigns are under way, it is illegal for the Municipal Palace to send out press releases of current event. I will be forced to use second hand information from other publications to keep you informed until the elections are over.
The A.A. 12 step recovery meeting room has moved from Avenida 10 and Calle 5. We are now located on Avenida 15 on the corner of Calle 2. There is a meeting everyday including holidays at 6:00 p.m.
Reminder: The Saturday Mass in English held at San Miguel Church have been suspended until January 2017. See the Cozumel Sun’s section on worship services in English for other alternatives.
STOP BY OUR STORE AND SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY!
Our New Neighborhood store Papelería & Novedades Mama Lilly is up and running. The word is getting out that our prices the lowest in town and the immediate neighborhood is thrilled to have a nearby store. We owe a fortune in merchandise and are purchasing additional supplies weekly as we discover the needs of the community.
I addition to school, Office, and art supplies we do copies, lamination and binding. We have gifts, gift bags and wrapping paper. We also have decorations, clothing, handbags, wallets, reading glasses, games, picture frames, and lots more. Spend your money where it will help a local family, shop with us!
The store is locally owned and ran! Please stop by and give us a try!
PAPELERÍA & NOVEDADES MAMA LILLY
Come Shop with Us!
35 Avenida Entre Calles 17 y 15 Bis
Colonia Independencia
Email: Mapapeleria@outlook.com www.facebook.com/papeleriamamalilly/notifications/
987-120-5903 – 987-118-4453 U.S. – From U.S. 386-445-8702
