Three New Restaurant Reviews

Three new restaurant reviews have been added to the list. Click on the images below to be directed to their restaurant reviews. For more reviews on excellent restaurants in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye visit our Restaurant Rave section on Ambergris Today Online.

El Patio Restaurant and Lounge
Elvi's Kitchen
Fido's Restaurant

Ecoli Outbreak Points to Cookie Dough

The Consumer Protection Unit of the Belize Bureau of Standards is warning consumers about the outbreak of E.coli in raw refrigerated pre-packaged cookie dough. Consumers are being advised not to eat the Nestle Toll House refrigerated, pre-packaged cookie dough and to throw away the product if they have already purchased it.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Monday, June 22 of this year issued an alert regarding the outbreak of Ecoli in the cookie dough, saying that 70 persons from 30 states in the United States were infected with a particular strain of the Ecoli virus.
Those affected range from persons two to 65 years of age, with 66% being under 19 years old. Females make up the majority of infected persons, representing 75% of the total who have become ill from eating these cookies. “People infected with Ecoli may develop diarrhea (often bloody) and abdominal cramps two to eight days after swallowing the organism, but some illnesses last longer and are more severe,” the Bureau explained in a press release this week. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) meanwhile has posted a warning to consumers advising them not to eat the Nestle Toll House prepackaged cookie. (Source: The Reporter Newspaper)

Moondancer Photo Shoot

Check out the new Moondancer ad for their Costa Maya promo. Ambergris Today collaborated with Jose Luis Zapata Photography for the photo shoot. Take a look at more pictures of the photo shoot at Moondancer Online.

Other Links:
Designing Solutions (Jose Luis Zapata Photography)
Moondancer for Her

Señorita Comunidad Salvadoreña

Here is a video of the dance presentation by the eight contestants of the Señorita Cominidad Salvadoreña fundraiser that took place this past weekend.

Police Cadet Fundraiser

The San Pedro Police Cadet Youth Corp is a group of 30 civil-minded children who meet at the police station three times per week to perform drills, participate in team sport events and to conduct community service projects. They are trained and observed under the guidance of the Police officer in charge of Community Policing.

This group of youths should be commended and praised for their commitment to the community of San Pedro and to youth in general – they are working towards a better San Pedro and a better Belize.

The group has received a kind donation (from a SACNW member) of material to tailor their uniforms, and they must now raise funds in order to have the uniforms sewn. Please show your support to the Police Cadet Youth Corp program in San Pedro by purchasing a $5.00 raffle ticket which will assist the cadets in fund raising and will offer you a chance to win the prize – A brand new Acer Aspire One notebook computer.

The drawing will be on August 12, 2009, at the regular monthly South Ambergris Caye Neighborhood Watch meeting and the lucky winner will be notified and does not need to be present to win. To purchase a ticket please contact PC Tun at the San Pedro Police Station or telephone him at 627-9478; or contact a Police Youth Cadet.

Each ticket sold by an authorized cadet will have special stamp on it and the letter will be validated by a Justice of the Peace. Prize is a lightweight – 2.3 lbs, Mini-note pad – only 8.9 inches – Full color screen, stereo speakers, microphone, web cam, wi-fi, 1 GB RAM, 160 GB hard drive, SD card reader, 3 x USB slots – Windows XP Home Edition – Value: $1,200 Bze

Good luck! Thank you for supporting your local Police Cadet Youth Corps.

San Pedro Town Council Notices

Northern Road Update
The public is hereby informed that the San Pedro Town Council has begun work for the declaration of the Northern Road. Surveyors have commenced their work assessment and thus the cooperation of the residents of that area is asked and is appreciated.

Sunday- Boca del Rio River Clean- up
On Sunday, July 26 the San Pedro Town Council is spearheading a clean-up of the Boca del Rio River. The clean-up will commence at 6:00a.m. All water vessels are asked to exercise caution while traveling through this area. Anyone wishing to volunteer their service may contact Councilor Nano Guerrero at telephone 600-8428.

Tropical wave rains lash Caribbean islands

At least four Caribbean islands were yesterday lashed by heavy rains from a tropical wave located east of the Windward Islands. The heavy rains, accompanied by lightning and thunder, affected the islands of St Lucia, Dominica, Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines as well as Barbados.
The Miami-based National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said that "cloudiness and showers would continue in association with the tropical wave". It said that upper level winds were expected to remain unfavorable for the development of the system for the next couple of days, but that "regardless of development locally, heavy rainfall and gusty winds will affect the Windward Islands during the next day or so as the wave moves westward at 15 to 20 miles per hour".

"There is a low chance, less than 30 per cent, of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours," the NHC said. However, if the system develops into a tropical storm with winds of 29 to 73 miles per hour, it would be called Ana - the first named storm of this year's hurricane season that ends on November 30.

Cases of Dengue Reported in Belize

Cases of Dengue In Belize

Over the past week residents of the Cayo District have expressed concerns about the recent outbreak of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever in that locality. But after making a few check in San Pedro, Ambergris Today has discovered that there has been a few reported cases on the island as well.

In the absence of the Director of Health Services, Dr. Michael Pitts, Deputy DHS Marjorie Parks spoke to Love FM and said that since dengue is endemic to Belize it is expected that there will be sudden occurrences on an annual basis. Parks said because of Benque Viejo’s proximity to Melchor de Mencos in Guatemala residents in that town are experiencing a slight increase in the number of cases because Melchor is considered a hotspot for the illness.

She further mentioned that the Ministry of Health has already begun an awareness campaign on proper health practices to avoid the fever by destroying breeding grounds for the Aedes Aegypti mosquito responsible for its spread. (More on Dengue in Thursday’s edition of Ambergris Today Newspaper)

* What is Dengue?
It is an infectious disease caused by a virus and is transmitted by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito. There are two types of Dengue; (i) Dengue (ii) Dengue Hemorrhagic. Dengue Hemorrhagic is when a person that is already affected by Dengue gets bitten a second time, then develops Dengue Hemorrhagic which in most cases is fatal. Dengue cannot be transmitted by direct contact by someone who is already infected; it can only be transmitted by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito after it has fed on sick person’s blood. The mosquito can travel for very long distances and thus it can contaminate people from different communities.

Symptoms:
*Sudden and sharp high fever that last for five or seven days.
*Intense pain on the muscles, bones, head and eyes.
*Shin rash, vomiting and diarrhea
*Bitter taste in the mouth
*Some patients can suffer from bleeding episodes in ears and other body parts.
*Dengue Hemorrhagic is particularly serious. It can be fatal especially for children under 15.

Treatment:
There is no treatment or vaccine available for Dengue. If a person is infected he should drink plenty of liquids and rest in bed. He should take some medications to reduce the fever, malaise and intense pain. No aspirin should be taken. If a person suspects that he could have Dengue Hemorrhagic he should immediately go to the nearest medical center.

General Characteristics of the Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes:
These mosquitoes need accumulated and uncovered water for its reproduction so that they lay and rear their eggs. This process can take place both in clean or dirty water. They can develop in any type of receptacle such as bottles, old car wheels, flower vases, roof water drainage, tin cans and toys. Also natural water areas such as ponds, tree holes, fruit peels and plants. These mosquitoes develop in both rural and urban areas but mostly bite during the daytime.

BEL Says Enough Power Supply at the Moment

Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) has sent out a press release stating that it currently has sufficient generation in place to meet the country’s energy demand over the next few days. Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE) advised that following the inspection of the Merida III generating unit, they have determined that the unit needs to be taken out of service until the middle of August. In the meantime, CFE is able to supply Belize with approximately 15 per cent of its energy demand. However, the cost of power from CFE at this time is much higher than normal and BEL will only take power from CFE as a last option.

In addition to CFE, BEL is currently taking approximately 16 megawatts (MW) of power from Belize Aquaculture Limited and 32.5 MW from Belize Electric Company Limited. Hydro Maya remains off line, while repairs are being carried out to its generating equipment. The nozzle and the tools for the repairs to the Gas Turbine have arrived and BEL plans to complete works on the Gas Turbine by July 24, 2009.If any planned power outages are necessary, BEL will provide customers with advanced notice, where possible.

Salvadoran Community Crowns Queen

Jasmin Rodriguez crowned Señorita Comunidad Salvadoreña

The Salvadoran Community of San Pedro selected their representing queen, not in a convention beauty pageant, but through a popularity contest in the form of a bazaar. The event was held on Saturday, July 18, at the Rafael Angel Nuñez Auditorium where Jasmine Rodriguez was crowned as the Salvadoran Queen among the eight competing contestants. She was the recipient of the most votes (monetary contributions) that was raised through sponsorships, donations and fundraising at the bazaar. The pageant was a fundraiser aimed at raising money for the Salvadoran Community living in San Pedro. (More on Thursday’s edition of Ambergris Today)

Seleni Perez

Monica Muñoz

Fatima Pereira

Jessica Flores

Emeli Carpa

Amanda Ack

Yanira Lara

Salvadoran Pupusas were on the menu