Friday, December 24, 2021

Isla Mujeres News & Events Friday, December 24


 
~Please visit our sponsors~
email: info@mvcisla.com

 Sites we host:
Isla Mujeres News & Events on Facebook 

Isla Mujeres History on Facebook & Website  

     Quintana Roo remains in Green on the state semaforo thru Jan. 2nd. The Contagion Rate for our Northern Zone has increased significantly from 1.0 last week to 1.4, and the Governor expressed concern about increasing cases moving our status toward Yellow or Orange. (When this statistic exceeds one, each infected person is infecting more than one other person and the curve is rising.)
      He urged Isla Mujeres to comply with the prevention protocols, where officially reported cases have risen 27% to an average of about 0.5 cases daily. He expressed concern about the state's most populous municipality of Benito Juarez (Cancun), where reported cases have increased 97% to nearly 20 daily and about the 335% increase in Solidaridad, where Playa del Carmen is located. The state's Hospital Occupancy Rate has dropped to 2% for general beds and 1% for beds with ventilators.
      He said the rapid transmissibility of the Omnicron variant presents a great challenge, noting that it hasn't yet been reported in Quintana Roo, and that many countries are responding by resuming restrictions. He spoke about the increasing risks during the holidays due to increased travel, with more crowds, fiestas and socializing. 
         He listed nine actions that have been implemented to protect the residents and visitors in response to the increased contagion rate and concerns about Omnicron:
1. Fortification of vaccination--Third doses (boosters) are being administered to residents age 60+. (Q Roo has an exceptional vaccination rate, reporting 90% of adults are fully vaccinated.)
2. Testing in hotels and schools with daily reports to detect positive cases in these locations.
3. Promoting the use of open spaces and well-ventilated areas.
4. Monitoring of ferries and boats.
5. Inspections, sanitizing and filters (checkpoints) for public transportation, as well as installation of warning signs in areas of high contagion advising compliance with sanitary protocols.
6. Establishing filters at specific state entry points such as ports and airports.
7. Establishing sanitary 'bubbles' with rapid testing modules at strategic points where crowds gather, such as paraderos ('stops'), mercados, tianguis (flea markets / conventions), etc.
8. Working together with the business sector & municipalities to re-implement the "Yellow Hats & Vests" Program. (High-visibility volunteers are stationed in popular public areas with signs advising compliance with protocols.)
9. Identifying the colonias with more C-19 cases and installing signs in areas of high contagion.
















There's a 15% discount for property taxes paid in January, 10% in February and 5% in March. There's a 10% discount for businesses who pay their trash fees for 2022 in Jan thru March.





Holiday hours for the department-grocery store Chedraui and the ferries--Ultramar, Jetway & Ultracarga




Wednesday's Christmas Caravan-Parade!










   This blog is brought to you by....

MaraVilla Caribe   Bed & Beach    Four rentals with large glass doors overlooking our white sand beach and the beautiful Caribbean sea, with  kitchenettes & fast WIFI. In the upscale neighborhood of  Bachilleres, convenient to downtown or the colonias, yet separate.  Quiet & Private.   
Free amenities include hammocks, portable beach chairs, beach towels, washer & dryer, loungers, shared bikes, BBQ grill, and safes.  Panoramic views from the rooftop terrace. Large sliding doors open to a patio & the white sand backyard-beach, overlooking the Caribbean sea.  Downtown is  ~ a mile away; we're on all four bus routes or  flag a $3 taxi. Off street parking. In the quiet neighborhood of Bachilleres sleep to the sounds of the sea.$275/$325/$425 wk   $40/50/$65nt  Monthly Discounts
Fine dining a few steps away at Da Luisa or try the neighborhood eateries a couple blocks farther. We provide a list of links & direction to over 20 eateries within ten minutes walk, including Mango Cafe,  Mike's Pizza, Brisas, Rosa Sirena, Coco Jaguar, Manolitos, Green Verde, Kash Kechen Chuc, and the large department store-grocery Chedraui & the local craft brewery.  Visit marinas, bars, & beach clubs that are minutes away by bike or on foot. Attend Yoga classes a couple villas away at Casa Ixchel. Fresh juice, produce & tortillas a few blocks away in the village, as well as a variety of other stores.

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Sources for Weather Information:
LINK to Civil Protection Q Roo weather bulletin  (Spanish)
LINK to Mexico National Weather Service (Spanish)
 LINK to satellite images for the Mexico National Weather Service
 LINK to GOES East Band 16 GIF (animation)
LINK to a private weather station on Isla Mujeres

LINK to US National Hurricane Center 


 

Tuesday, December 21, 2021

Isla Mujeres News & Events Tuesday, December 21


 
~Please visit our sponsors~
email: info@mvcisla.com

 Sites we host:
Isla Mujeres News & Events on Facebook 

Isla Mujeres History on Facebook & Website  

The Christmas Caravan will start at 5pm on Wednesday, Dec. 22, near the "La Hach" restaurant on Prolongacion Garrafon Avenue (aka prolongacion Rueda Medina). It will travel down the main streets to the Posada del Mar (downtown by Playa Centro/Jax) and end at the Christmas Esplanade behind the Casa de la Cutura. There will be a Christmas show and popular characters. Wear your mask correctly, maintain social distance and use antibacterial gel frequently. Attend & Enjoy with your family!


 Cold Front / Norte #14 is expected to bring some clouds and squalls / intermittent rain this week, being encircled on Tuesday means rain is expected.


Over the past week, audiences continued to gather at the Christmas Esplanade behind the Casa de la Cultura for performances, and the municipal government gave away toys to preschool and grade-school children.

Tuesday (Dec. 14) night's festivities included a pet-costume contest, as well as singers, dancers, and prizes.  These screenshots are from this FB VIDEO

 

Tues, Dec. 14  The City thanked the volunteers with the DIF (social service agency) who donated meals for the truck drivers who spend the night on the island, then transport trash to the mainland, removing thousands of tons of accumulated garbage from the Trash Transfer Facility since this administration took office on Sept. 30th.


Wed, Dec 15 Students from the Cesar Mendoza primary school visited the police C5 facility, with students from a grade school in the mainland area of the municipality, and learned about operations associated with 911 and making reports/complaints.  The police department continues working to promote and strengthen ties with the community.


On Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday, (Dec 13, 14 & 15) senior citizens received their booster dose of Astra Zeneca C-19 vaccine in a third shot at the Bicentennial Dome in La Gloria. Seniors from the mainland part of the municipality were transported over on Wednesday for their shots. 


Wed. Dec. 15   The municipal Department of Public Services has been patching potholes.

And painting the fence around the airfield.....


Wednesday, Dec. 15  Christmas with the Community...Navidad con la Gente... continued at the Explanada Navideña when the island's preschoolers were invited to attend and receive a gift.  Dancers performed, including a couple youngsters on skates...








The City thanked members of the Ávalos Solís and Prianti Solí families who donated meals for the truck drivers who spend their nights on the island then transport trash to the mainland. 



 At Thursday's (Dec. 16) press conference, Mayor Atenea Gomez Ricalde said more than 16,000 ton of trash have been removed from the Trash Transfer Facility since she took office.  As of December 16th, the tally is 16,471 tons, in 940 trips to the Continental Zone landfill, which cleared 105 (square) meters of land.

      She said that although the winter holiday season hadn't official begun, a significant number of visitors have arrived, increasing the amount of trash being generated. She reminded the residents to respect the trash collection schedules and to put out their trash at the appropriate times and places. She said trash generation increased up to 25% with high season and now they were collecting 55 tons daily, when the normal amount is 35-40 tons. She asked the community to be good hosts to the tourists and to inform them of places where they can put their trash. 

     She said the Parks and Gardens Department has completed 70% of the work of painting the fence around the airfield. She said they have been cleaning and pruning along the airport perimeter and along Rueda Medina avenue and in various parks including La Jaula and Electricistas, as well as in the colonias Caridad del Cobre, Cañotal and Meteorológica. 

    She said the recent installations of public lighting have included 14 LED lights on Rueda Medina at "Devil's Curve" / "Curva del Diablo" and 11 lights along the eastern malecon. In seventy-seven days a total of 104 LED lights have been installed and there have been 268 repairs and responses to citizen reports.


On Thursday, Dec. 16, the island's grade school students were invited to attend the Christmas Festival at 5p and receive a gift. There was a contest for singing La Rama (a traditional Christmas carol) and a photograph with Santa booth, as well as performances by dance troupes.

On Thursday evening at 7p, the popular state Police Band, la 𝗢𝗿𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶́𝗮 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗥𝗼𝗼 performed.  HERE is a FB video of that performance.

Here is a YouTube video of them performing (elsewhere)  La Chica de Humo


Thursday...Workers with the municipal Department of Park and Gardens....


On Thursday, Dec. 16, the City thanked members of the Ravell Gómez, Martínez Ravell and Delgado González families for providing meals for the truck drivers who spend their nights on the island before transporting trash to the mainland landfill. 



On Thursday, Dec. 17, municipal officials met with representatives of Aguakan, to discuss the company's investment of approximately 37.7 million pesos in 2022 which includes construction of three wastewater collection cárcamos, with two in the Southern Zone (Zona Sur) and the installation of a sewage network at the northern tip of the island. Renewal of the tap water network is scheduled to increase its transport capacity.

   This work is scheduled to begin in the second half of January, 2022, and will be suspended during the Easter holidays to avoid traffic congestion during that period when a large number of tourists visit are expected. The article in Spanish is here.


Friday, Dec. 17  Workers with the Parks & Gardens Department at the El Pescador baseball field cleaning and pruning.


FB VIDEO from Saturday, Dec 18 Navidad con la Gente at the Christmas Esplanade behind the Casa de la Cultura.


Brief FB Video posted on Sunday of gift giving and shots of performances.  FB video of Sunday evening's performances by singers and dancers.

Monday, Dec 20 photos posted with caption saying that in addition to the Festival bringing our community together, it also helped the island's economic recovery. The City thanked the families who buy local products and support the islanders


The discount on impounded vehicle fees continues thru the end of December. It is 50% for vehicles impounded in 2019-2021, 70% for 2016-2018, and 90% for those impounded in 2015 or before.


On Sunday night (Dec. 19) seven Cuban refugees (six men and one pregnant woman) landed on the Caribbean side of the island in this small boat. They were taken into custody by the municipal police and given medical exams before being turned over to the immigration authorities, according to Isla Mujeres al Momento...photo credits.


   This blog is brought to you by....

MaraVilla Caribe   Bed & Beach    Four rentals with large glass doors overlooking our white sand beach and the beautiful Caribbean sea, with  kitchenettes & fast WIFI. In the upscale neighborhood of  Bachilleres, convenient to downtown or the colonias, yet separate.  Quiet & Private.   
Free amenities include hammocks, portable beach chairs, beach towels, washer & dryer, loungers, shared bikes, BBQ grill, and safes.  Panoramic views from the rooftop terrace. Large sliding doors open to a patio & the white sand backyard-beach, overlooking the Caribbean sea.  Downtown is  ~ a mile away; we're on all four bus routes or  flag a $3 taxi. Off street parking. In the quiet neighborhood of Bachilleres sleep to the sounds of the sea.$275/$325/$425 wk   $40/50/$65nt  Monthly Discounts
Fine dining a few steps away at Da Luisa or try the neighborhood eateries a couple blocks farther. We provide a list of links & direction to over 20 eateries within ten minutes walk, including Mango Cafe,  Mike's Pizza, Brisas, Rosa Sirena, Coco Jaguar, Manolitos, Green Verde, Kash Kechen Chuc, and the large department store-grocery Chedraui & the local craft brewery.  Visit marinas, bars, & beach clubs that are minutes away by bike or on foot. Attend Yoga classes a couple villas away at Casa Ixchel. Fresh juice, produce & tortillas a few blocks away in the village, as well as a variety of other stores.

 ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

Sources for Weather Information:
LINK to Civil Protection Q Roo weather bulletin  (Spanish)
LINK to Mexico National Weather Service (Spanish)
 LINK to satellite images for the Mexico National Weather Service
 LINK to GOES East Band 16 GIF (animation)
LINK to a private weather station on Isla Mujeres

LINK to US National Hurricane Center