Centro Comercial slates vote
to recall Vigilance Committee
By Staff
All stakeholders in the Centro Comercial Owners Association (CCOA) have been notified of an assembly scheduled for Dec. 6 to discuss and act on a proposal to recall the current Vigilance Committee and a follow-up proposal, if needed, to select a new panel. To date, three people reportedly are interested in becoming board members if necessary.
The petition to recall the five-member board was initiated by two residents with ties to the Fideicomiso (Trust), Hector Pavon, administrative director of the Trust, and former golf course manager Edgar Giffenig. They collected signatures of 25 percent of the vote, the legal number required to affect an assembly.
The petition was filed in the wake of the current CCOA committee’s partial demolition of permanent fixtures built on leased common property adjacent to Café Ole. Also, the committee’s decision to end translation of assembly business into English has alienated some owners in the English-speaking community who want to be able to more accurately understand proceedings and correspondence.
The CCOA board believes it acted for cause within CCOA rules and rights – after notifying owners of the pending action, – to demolish permanent structures built on common property. But it is the way the demolition was carried out that angered a number of nearby business owners and supporters of Café Ole, which, it may be noted, has admitted to a breach of Centro rules that helped bring on the demolition.
Currently, the partially demolished bar along with its attendant rubble remains as is behind yellow crime-scene type tape – further angering some nearby businesses – while the legal system purportedly weighs in on what has been a contentious disagreement between the CCOA committee and Cafe Ole business owners who are operating out of rented quarters.
“Someone please explain to me why we have to live with this mess until ‘funds are available’ or until a court case that could take months has been settled,” said one business owner who wished to remain anonymous. “I refuse to accept that I have to live with this mess until some undetermined date. High season is not very far away.” The comment is in response to one by Cafe Ole owner Gary Adams that he was waiting for the courts to settle what he said has morphed into a “criminal” rather than civil proceeding.
Resident Don Dusette writes, “The problem at Cafe Ole is regrettable, but I would think that by now someone would have cleaned up the mess regardless of who is at fault.” The situation has created an impromptu $10,000 needy fund drive whereby a website has been set up to accept outright donations for the Cafe Ole owners who have reportedly run out of money after 18 years of running the business. There is also a fund-raising event at Latitude 20 Restaurant from 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 21 – 100 pesos entrance fee begets a free drink .
The assembly meeting will be held in the Kuuch Muuch Kuxtal room adjacent to the Colonos administrative offices with first call at 9 a.m., second at 9:30 and third at 10 a.m. to attain a quorum.
Stakeholders who want to participate in the assembly are required to register at the CCOA administrative office between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. three days prior to the meeting. Registrants will be asked to provide identification. Those who wish to vote in absentia are required to present or transmit a power of attorney (proxy) signed in the presence of two witnesses.
The recall and selection of replacements, if necessary, is the only business before the assembly.
Baby’s death prompts plea
for lights, bridge use over 307
By Staff
The death of an 11-month old child who was killed while being carried by its mother across Highway 307 a few weeks ago has prompted a plea for people to use the pedestrian bridge over Highway 307 to avoid fatalities in the future.
Olivia Zamudio Escobar, the Puerto Aventuras delegate to the municipal government, filed a formal request with the Ministry of Communications and Transportation for a 500-meter barrier in the area near the Chedraui building to prevent people from crossing and guide them to the safe, albeit less accommodating, pedestrian bridge.
It has become common practice by residents on both sides of the highway to try to “short-cut” across the highway rather than take a few minutes more to use the pedestrian bridge, which allows bicycles and carriages.
On the same day that the child and its mother were struck by a hit-and-run van driver, another one-car accident occurred just up the road a way when a car flipped and crashed. Fortunately, no one was injured in that accident.
The delegate also conducted an “awareness” campaign to alert people to the dangers of trying to outrun speeding cars, taxis and vans on the highway. An alternate, safer way of crossing the highway – particularly by resort residents walking to Chedraui – is to cross under the overpass near the resort main gate about a hundred yards south of the pedestrian bridge and walk on the west-side sidewalk.
Darkness another problem
Delegate Zamudio also referenced the lack of lighting on the pedestrian bridge, the highway and 307 overpass by the resort Main Gate. Meanwhile, self-proclaimed activist Michelle Burkenfield, who lives in the resort, talked with the Pelican Free Press about trying to help local officials achieve sustained lighting on the vehicular and pedestrian overpasses and along the highway.
Lighting fixtures were installed in these areas a few years ago in a major undertaking intended to provide enough light to avoid, or at least diminish, the frequent fatal and injurious accidents. Complaints about the absence of lights have been plentiful and ongoing since, without explanation, the government has been unable to keep them glowing when they are needed. Two reasons are rumored: The government can’t afford to keep the lights on, or, thieves are stealing the copper. Oddly, the lights from Paamul to Playa were on at 11 a.m. yesterday in bright daylight (Wednesday) for no apparent reason.
Snowbirds from large cities in North America, Europe and elsewhere are accustomed to lighted roadways. They particularly have considerable difficulty seeing the road boundaries at night, especially where they have been blacktopped from Puerto to Playa but remain without a center line and lane markers to guide drivers. (The Pelican Free Press welcomes helpful comments and suggestions about the situation from its readers.)
New ferry postponed while
other carrier ships cars, goods
By Staff
The devil in the details is hampering efforts by the United Caribbean ship line to launch a ferry service out of Florida to the Yucatan peninsula carrying mostly passengers but some cars and freight.
Because of some glitches, among them trying to tie down details of ports in Florida and the Yucatan, a previously planned launch of service for April has been postponed to the end of summer or beginning of fall 2015, CEO Bruce Nierenberg has reported.
Tamara Magnusson, a volunteer point person of interest on the Yucatan, said some 2,000 Yucatan snowbirds, ex-pats and residents answered a survey earlier this year that helped boost the company’s confidence in its plans.
Meanwhile, says Magnussen, if anybody really needs to ship a car or goods from Florida before then, it can be arranged by Linear Peninsula ship Lines out of Panama City, Fla. to Progreso on the Yucatan. “You can actually ship anything you want with them as long as you want to pay the price. I have not used them personally but I have friends who have shipped household furniture and vehicles with them.
“Friends brought a car over two years ago and paid around $800.00 US. They were very pleased with the process and service and said they would do it again,” she said.
Group plans Cirque du Soleil
outing for New Year’s Eve
By Staff
While Cirque du Soleil performers prepare for the Nov. 8 opening night of their new adventure on the Riviera Maya, a group of Puerto Aventuras residents is planning a New Year’s Eve visit to the world-popular acrobatic show and inviting all interested parties to join in.
Pauline Harper, who has been informing residents about the night out, said, “…we thought it might be fun to go to a cirque show on New Year’s Eve,” and sought out the particulars to share with others who might be interested.
“We booked tickets for the 7 p.m. show on 12/31 (there is also a second showing at 10:15). Tickets range in price depending on where and whether you want champagne and/or dinner on site. If you are interested, go to the website and book your tickets. The price per person for “show only” is $1,122.00 pesos.”
The new theater built specially for Cirque du Soleil performances is on the premises of the Grand Mayan Riviera Maya resort between Playa del Carmen and Puerto Morelos on the north leg of Highway 307, closer to Morelos. It’s a chance to do some car-pooling or discuss other transportation needs among those who want to sign up for the colorful and historic show and perhaps dinner afterwards.”
The cirque is Montreal, Canada’s gift to the world of dazzling entertainment. Daniel Damarre, president and CEO of the world famous performing arts group, said the local show entitled Joyà aims to showcase “Mexico´s cultural heritage” not only through the performance but also through the region´s cuisine and natural beauty.
The construction of the 600-seat theatre, the company´s first venue in Latin America, started last year at the Grand Mayan Riviera Maya resort between Cancun and Playa del Carmen. The Vidanta Group, one of Mexico´s largest hotel development companies, invested $2 million USD in the building project.
According to Cirque du Soleil, the name of Joyà comes from the Spanish for “jewel” but also alludes to the expression “a hidden gem.” The show will recount the story of a naturalist who journeys into the mangroves with his granddaughter. Their discoveries mark the beginning of a magical quest, revealing the secrets of life.
Damarre explained that Joyà´s theatrical set is integrated with the area’s natural jungle environment and is designed in a way that the artists will interact intimately with the audience. The show will last 70 minutes and involves 24 artists. The performance also combines local gastronomy, with a gourmet dinner available by Chef Alexis Bostelmann, and a champagne prelude.
This week’s opening is sold out. Interested parties may want to communicate with Pauline or Hal Harper at hal_harper2000@yahoo.com or visit the cirque website www.cirquedusoleil.com/joya
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Briefly noted…
The Colonos will hold a general assembly on Dec. 13, an early alert for those who want to be prepared for it. Stay tuned for the agenda… Rubbish collection went missing for a few days for unknown problems and resumed yesterday … Rocky road gone – To the great delight of car owners, the rocky aprons of the Main Gate have been replaced with stamped concrete for a smoother entry to what we refer to as Paradise . Like living on a cloud, yes? … Prince Charles was visiting Mexico this week to tighten relationships on many fronts with Mexico and recalling the part British miners played in developing and working silver mines in the state of Hidalgo …Japan is asking its wholesale fish buyers to stop importing bluefin tuna from Mexico until such time as Mexico implements rules to end overfishing the species … An Ibero American summit to discuss economic, social, educational technological and health issues will be held in December in Veracruz with 22 nation/states participating. They are Andorra, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador, Spain, Guatemala, Equatorial Guinea, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Uruguay, Venezuela and, the host, Mexico…A municipal performing arts center in Playa del Carmen is now under construction and will be ready for presentations in the first quarter of 2015 … President Pena Nieto declares energy reforms instituted last year are giving the economy a new life and appeals to the “civil society to undertake substantive changes” in the wake of 43 kidnapped students missing now for five weeks despite considerable searches and investigations L Noise pollution in the area of 5th Avenue in Playa is bringing complaints from hoteliers who in turn are getting complaints from guests about construction noise. PA hasn’t cornered the market on noise pollution …
The Mail Bag…
Injured monkey spotted
Dear Editor:
This week, we spotted the mature pair of monkeys making their way down Caleta Yalku (near the roundabout where the Hotel Kali sign is posted).
One of the pair had an injured front leg and that monkey did not put any pressure on it. It walked on three legs and did not swing from that leg, either. They climbed the tree and ate some of the berries from on high, Let us all hope the injury is not significant. It would be such a loss to have them disappear.
Signed/Mary and Bernie Strojny