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News Archives
Costa Maya Delegates Enjoy Island Hospitality
The eight beauty ambassadors for the Reina de la Costa Maya Pageant have arrived in San Pedro, signaling the commencement of the Costa Maya Festival 2010. Upon their arrival the contestants were whisked away for some sun, sand and sea adventures during the weekend before their heavy scheduling of pageant rehearsals commenced.
Snorkeling Guide passes away during Blue Hole Trip
The Great Blue Hole is a famous diving spot off the coast of Belize City where many tourists and locals have made many dives to explore the stalactite formations and swim among large groupers, nurse sharks and a vast array of species of fish. But this week the atoll reef area was the scene of an unfortunate incident as a snorkel guide unfortunately passed away.
Summer Camp on Steroids
The San Pedro Summer Camp came to an end last week after a full month of great activities for the participating children. Summer Camp on steroids, we call it, as the program was chock-full of activities that ranged from regular activities like swimming, fishing, snorkeling, kayaking and picnics to the extreme like cave tubing, archery, parasailing and scuba diving!
Miss San Pedro Pageants Hotter Than Ever!
Six beautiful young ladies have taken on the challenge to participate in this year’s Miss San Pedro Pageant; they are Genny Rhaburn, Lila Gonzalez, Ivy Alamilla, Mishelby Leiva, Gelie Nuñez and Natasha Stewart. These lovely contestants have begun training and had their official photo shoot this past weekend at one of San Pedro’s top resorts – Victoria House and photos were taken by Maya and Colette of Conch Creative.
Summerwind Yacht Accused of Devastating Reef
Making headline news all over the internet is Billionaire Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Greene for leaving unpaid fines of $1.87 million to Belize after his yacht, Summerwind, tore up the coral reef. Making the news more recently were the Westerhaven, the Great Escape and the Azteca were three notable vessels that ran aground on Belize’s Barrier Beef. Five years ago, Summerwind, also damaged the reef but its owner is now claiming that his vessel never ran aground on Belize’s reef, despite irrefutable evidence.
$90K Plus Fire Damages to San Pablo Home
Residents at a San Pablo home got a pretty big scare in the morning of Friday, July 23, as a fire broke out on the second floor of a concrete home. According to official reports tenants on the ground floor of the building called the San Pedro Police Department as the smell of smoke filled their apartments. The San Pedro Fire Department was called by the Police department at around 8:24 a.m. and quickly left to the scene.
$6Mil Makeover for Old Football Field & Embarcadero
Contract signed with local architectural firm.
Extreme Archaeology
CHAMPAIGN, Ill., July 21 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers say they'll go to great depths -- almost 200 feet -- to explore the mysteries of freshwater pools important to the Mayans of Central America. Researchers from the University of Illinois are engaging in so-called extreme archeology in exploring the pools and underwater caves at Cara Blanca, Belize, a university release said Wednesday.
The Youth Movement (Editorial)
This week I was very proud of my San Pedro youth! Never have I seen such a big group of well-organized young souls working arduously for something they believe in. In the past, event organizers and pushers have always been very well-known and respected adults in our community. Our island teens and young adults have always been auxiliaries to these leaders, great followers but never leaders.
Costa Maya Presents Miss Honduras
Nicole Yaret Hawit Age: 22 years Height: 5' 5" Occupation: Bachelor in Tourism Eye color: Brown Hair color: Brown Measurements: 34" - 25" - 34" Hobbies: Exercising BilBao Show for Sunday at Costa Maya Festival
S.P. Fire Department takes 2nd Place in the National Fire Olympiad
Fire-fighters from across the country gathered at the People’s Stadium in Orange Walk on Friday, July 16, and Saturday, July 17, for the annual Fire-fighters Olympiad. The Olympiad which started out about 16 years ago displays the men’s fire fighting skills in various competitions. And this year the San Pedro Fire Department came in 2nd place and brought home a total of 13 trophies.
Tres Pescados Winner at the World Championships
Mr. Thomas Reckling, winner of the 2009 Tres Pescados Fishing Tournament in San Pedro, Belize, just recently ranked fifth place out of the ten Fly Division anglers at the 2010 IGFA Inshore World Championships. The fishing tournament took place on Tuesday, July 13 in Islamorada, Florida at the World Wide Sportsman Marina. The winner, Robert Collins, is a past 3 time winner of the World Championships and now a 4 time winner with 575 points.
Belize Intl’ Film Festival White Night
For the first time in their five year run, the Belize International Film Festival made it to San Pedro, possible only because of the new Paradise Theater at the Reef Village which was inaugurated late last year. A special White Night was celebrated in San Pedro with a red carpet entrance, movie screening and an after party on Saturday, July 17.
Derrick at Berklee
Derrick Baños left to Boston on Wednesday, July 7 and is currently partaking in a summer program at one of the US most prestigious music schools – Berklee College of Music. Derrick has kept in contact with Ambergris Today and told us that he is honored to be studying at Berklee. He is currently taking nine different classes and is now part of a Rock/Pop Band and Jazz Fusion Band.
Pizza and Karaoke at Cuban Coffee El Pilon
It’s a bit far from being Cuban, but the concept has brought even more clientele and life to the quaint Cuban Coffee Shop on Barrier Reef Drive. Pizza and Karaoke! What a great combo! Pedro Jardines, who has been running the Cuban café for quite some years now, found the perfect allure to his restaurant – infusing the air with the smell of sweet and fresh pizza and readying the microphone for some good ole karaoke.
Miss Belize for Costa Maya Festival, Liliana Nuñez
Miss Belize Liliana Mia Nuñez Age: 23 years-old Height: 5' 4" Occupation: Gym Administrator Future goal: Acquiring degree in personal training Eye color: Brown Hair color: Brown Measurements: 33" - 26" - 36" Hobbies: Exercising
San Pedro Sailing Club Holds First Regatta
Just two weeks after its inception the San Pedro Sailing Club held its first race on Sunday, July 11. At ten in the morning eight sailors in four hobie cats set off from the Catamaran Bar (beach front of Caribbean Villas) to the Palapa Bar and back. The strong breeze ensured a short race and the competitors were back to the finish line just after an hour from starting. The results were as follows: 1st - James and Jex Pearce 2nd - Bradley and Susan 3rd - Forrest Jones and Alice Corrigan 4th - Graham and David Verralls
Waruguma Still has the Hype!
When we first wrote about Waruguma it was a small hole-in-the-wall takeout restaurant that had shot to fame because of the delicious Salvadoran pupusas and other small delectable eats. Forward a few years to the present, Waruguma (Garifuna word for “Star”) is still shining brightly on Pescador Drive (Middle Street) where it has grown in popularity and now serves an even bigger menu that includes “A Whole LOTTA” seafood!
New Findings at Marco Gonzalez Site
Excavating Our Past Lots of interesting stuff is taking place at the Marco Gonzalez Mayan Site, South Ambergris Caye, as current excavations are revealing very interesting findings. Very much exploited and damaged in the past, a new project is working on securing, preserving and bringing the Mayan Ruins back to life. On Thursday, July 8, the board of Directors of the Marco Gonzalez Mayan Site Project hosted a reception for tourism and education stakeholders of San Pedro to view artifacts from the site and meet the visiting archaeologists.
San Pedro Cancer Society Comes to Life
The prevalence of cancer cases on the island and the lack thereof of proper treatment facilities in and near San Pedro has prompted a group of residents to take a stand and work for the common good of helping those affected by the big “C” disease. Taking formation is San Pedro’s very own Cancer Society. The first gathering for the group took place on July 1, 2010 and there are currently 12 members and more are being encouraged to join this group. Ambergris Today met with the groups President – Ms. Monica Prevett who explained to us more about the group and its goals.