News

L'Illa a Escena back this weekend with 'Evocación', a piano and dance recital

Wednesday, 21 February 2018 10:35

Foto evocacion Formentera's department of culture and festivities presents Evocación, a “choreographic recital” based on big-name composers like Albéñiz, Falla, Turina and Granados and dashes of contemporary poetry by way of Julio Herranz.

Taking spectators on a ride through some of the most recognised work in the Spanish classical catalogue, Evocación makes stops at Isaac Albéñiz's suite Iberia, Enrique Granados's Goyescas and Manuel Falla's La Vida Breu. On their way, Evocación's performers explore adeptly a repertoire which spans music and dance and dust off an all but forgotten mode of spectacle that brought success to an alternating cast of artists like La Argentina, Pilar López and Mariemma.

In this tribute to Spanish music and dance, ivory-tickling chops mingle with stirring dance moves, delicateness and brute force take shape, the sonic and visual come to the fore and a veritable chorus of elements converge in seamless union.

J. Jaime Hidalgo de la Torre will play piano at the event. Beyond his capabilities as a musician, Hidalgo de la Torre is a composer and currently director of Formentera's polyphonic choir. Nieves Portas will head up the dance effort. The pair, both seasoned and highly-regarded artists in their own right, are also instructors at the Formentera school of music and dance.

The evening performance, part of L'Illa a Escena, will begin Saturday, February 24 at 8.30pm in the Sant Francesc cinema. The day of the event, tickets will be available at the box office for €5 or €3 for those under 25.

Formentera expands swimming zones at beaches and coves

Tuesday, 20 February 2018 17:33

foto centre nautic obres1 Formentera's Office of Environment reports that bidding has begun to enlist a company in placing buoys across Formentera's coastal waters.

The Council oversees yearly efforts to place buoys at beaches, coves and swimming areas. This year, the effort has been expanded to include Punta Rasa and es Caló d'en Trui (Cala Saona), es Caló de Sant Agustí, es Pujols, Punta Prima, es Caló des Mort (Migjorn) and Llevant. The expansion is aimed at creating zones where snorkelers can safely enjoy nearby undersea flora and fauna.

Environment secretary Daisee Aguilera noted that beaches are principally intended for swimmers. She added that buoying operations, in addition to promoting healthier undersea habitats, are about “showcasing the island's most iconic spaces by safeguarding nearby meadows of posidonia seagrass, home to scores of living things”.

Aguilera pointed out that the Council is limited in terms of the action it can take to prevent hordes of yachts accumulating on the island's coastline. The secretary described the buoys as “boundaries in an area often overrun by watercraft that come too close and imperil swimmers” and asserted they had “no impact on seagrass meadows below”.

The department has a yearly budget of €53,261 (VAT included) for buoying efforts. When granted, the contract will last two years with possibility of one two-year extension. The deadline to apply is Monday, February 26. Full details on the offer are available at http://www.caib.es/eboibfront/mob/visor.do?lang=ca&mode=view&idEnviament=605390

Council announces second round of exams for taxi licences

Monday, 19 February 2018 11:27

Foto parada taxis formentera1 The Formentera Council's Office of Mobility wishes to report it will soon host a second series of exams for taxi permits issued by the municipality. The guidelines for the examination process, adopted by the administration and published February 1, 2018 in issue 15 of the regional gazette (BOIB), can also be found in the mobility department's section on the Council website (www.consellinsulardeformentera.cat) or at https://goo.gl/Mmx453.

Examinations will take place March 20, 2018. Applications will be accepted by the Council's Registre General, located at the Citizen Information Office (OAC), at carrer de Ramon Llull, 6, in Sant Francesc.

The names of successful and unsuccessful candidates will be published on the administration's bulletin board on March 7.

Crews get to work on Formentera's nautical sports centre

Tuesday, 20 February 2018 13:33

foto centre nautic obres1 Two divisions of the Formentera Council, the Office of Sport and the Office of Infrastructure, are together announcing the start of an effort to build Formentera's centre for esports nàutics, or “nautical sports”.

Designed to meet the diverse of needs of local companies in the nautical sector, the facilities will enfold a municipal sailing school as well as a space equipped for administrative and informational services and an area dedicated to education and training.

The new Centre d'Esports Nàutics is the Council's first attempt to connect islanders directly with the sea. Sports secretary Jordi Vidal put the effort in context by explaining that “whether it's about going in for a closer look, education or just having a good time, engaging with the ocean is a vital part to islanders' identity”. He framed the longstanding effort as aimed at “promoting water sports and respect for this fabulous sea we've got around us”.

A venue for nautical sports has long been a subject of interest for island residents. Now, set for completion in six months' time, construction of the €1m centre stems from a partnership between Demarcació de Costes, the administration of the regional environment ministry's ses Salines reserve and the port authorities of the Balearic Islands. Local infrastructure and mobility secretary Rafael González described the current phase as “the dawn of an initiative many years in the making”and said collaboration from an array of entities was “crucial to securing the best possible site: s'Estany des Peix”.

Crews prepare to repave various spots across island roads

Friday, 16 February 2018 16:08

Tram carretera porto sale The Formentera Council's Office of Infrastructure and Mobility report that Monday, February 19, repairs and upgrades will be performed on several points across Formentera's network of arterials.

In la Savina crews will repair a raised pedestrian crossing on highway PM-820-2, goes towards Illetes. Likewise, in es Ca Marí they will not only repave the road surface and tackle assorted flaws, but they will also reposition a speed bump. Upgrades and action to strengthen the road surface are also in the works at several points along the Porto-Salé road. A range of road work is planned for the es Mal Pas road as well, as is the replacement of a speed bump near the bar in es Cap.