The Placencia Breeze
Page 6
croc corner
Peninsula News Briefs Tipsy Tuna Bartender Wins Mixology Competition; Takes on Next Challenge in Havana!
Nancy Rodriguez preparing to represent Belize in Havana, Cuba at the Pan American Cocktail Competition. (Photo by: Belize Bartenders Association)
In late August, Nancy Rodriguez of Tipsy Tuna Seaside and Sports Bar left Belize to compete in the Pan American Cocktail Competition held in Havana, Cuba shortly after placing second in the first National Bartenders Cup 2018 held by the Belize Bartenders Association. Rodriguez joins first place winner Stacy Avila of the Lazy Lizard Bar in Caye Caulker at the competition. Rodriguez has been quickly advancing her way in the world of mixology. She won the annual Old Master Rum Punch Competition at the 2018 Placencia Lobsterfest. Congrats, Nancy! ▪
Kirwin and Friends Give Just Under 100 Seine Bight Kids Free Back-to-School Haircuts! On Saturday, Sept. 1, Seine Bight Village community activists Kirwin Ramirez and JoseMaria Aleman and friends provided 85 boys and 13 girls with free hair cuts just in time for the new school year that started on Monday, Sept. 3. Volunteers included Darnell Major, Jose Maria Aleman, Allana Castillo, Marsha Guzman, Shannon Augustine, Wilfred Delgado, Darwin McCloughlin and New Level Barber Shop from Hopkins Village. In addition to hair cuts, some kids were also treated to a hairwash. Kirwin Ramirez, who was featured in our August issue and recently made waves on social media Darnell Major was one of seven Seine Bight with his YouTube music video, "Giving Up is Not barbers who donated his time to the effort. an Option," is currently raising funds to produce a Many women also assisted. music album to promote positive social change. ▪ (Photo by: KIRWIN RAMIREZ)
Bubba Wubba's Win First Flying Pig Wiffle Ball Tournament, a Placencia Sidewalk Fundraiser
Above, Team Bubba Wubba's are Wiffle Ball Tourny Champs. Right: The Flying Pig bartender, Sheldon Duncan, strikes the ball. (Photo by: MUZAMANZIE PHOTOGRAPHS)
A total of eight teams comprised of 40 players competed in The Flying Pig's first Wiffle Ball Tournament on the Placencia sports field. Bubba Wubba's placed first, Ranguana Caye, second and The Flying Pig, third. According to Patrick Gonzalve of The Flying Pig, the event raised close to BZ$3,000 for the Placencia Village Council's ongoing road sidewalk project. About 50 people came out to watch the sports match that is a variation of baseball. Gonzalve said he is planning to organize another Wiffle Ball Tournament before the next year comes around. ▪
September/October 2018
Summer Croc'in Had Me a Blast, Summer Croc'in Happened so Fast! By MARISA TELLEZ, GRECIA MENDEZ and MIRIAM BOUCHER of CRC
A
s our hot and humid Belizean summer moves forward into fall (or what would be considered the rainy season in Belize), we can’t help but reflect on the huge amount of work the Crocodile Research Coalition (CRC) accomplished this summer season. We covered five out of six of Belize’s districts for research and outreach and surveyed hundreds of kilometers of amazing aquatic habitats in search of Belize’s two iconic crocodile species, the American and Morelet’s crocodile. Our surveys were conducted by foot, motorboat, kayak, canoe and even by drone! This summer was also an exciting time for crocodile nesting. Last year we struggled to find any crocodile nests, which may have been due to the horrific hurricane season last year (a pattern observed amongst our colleagues throughout the region); however, this year we marked around 15 crocodile nests and were able to use game cameras to catch some croc moms hard at work building, maintaining, and excavating their nests (check out our Facebook Croc Cam videos!).
around Gales Point …The night was dark as we conducted our surveys; however, it contrasted with the astonishing brightness of the bioluminescence of the waters that was visible during the four nights that we were there. As we surveyed along the lagoon, adjacent rivers and creeks we noticed that the habitat for the crocodile was ideal; however, few animals were spotted (a similar pattern we observe in the Placencia Lagoon). Historically, this village used hunting as a means of subsistence and also sold crocodile skin to the British industry; today crocodiles in Belize continue to face hunting pressure due to illegal hunting for the illegal trade of skin and meat nationally and internationally. The CRC also participated in multiple community events including the Annual Placencia Lobsterfest, World Crocodile Day at The Belize Zoo, and of course, conducted outreach with camps on the peninsula. We also had the opportunity to stay with many amazing organizations and communities throughout the country from Programme for Belize in Orange Walk, to Blue Ventures in Bacalar Chico National Park, to the TIDE ranger station in Payne’s Creek National
So what’s it like to conduct research with the CRC? Well, let’s take an example from our recent surveys See CROC CORNER on page 28
Belize Women's Volleyball Team Vacation in Placencia Village On Aug. 18, shortly after winning the silver medal in a highly emotional 2018 XX Central American Women’s Volleyball Championship in Belize City, the Belize National Volleyball Team was treated to some R&R at the Ellysian Hotel where they still found the energy to play a friendly beach game with Placencia villagers. ▪
Crocodile Research Coalition intern and volunteers at work. (Photo courtesy of The Ellysian)
(Photo: CRC)
