Local fire in hills of near by Funchal today (Friday 13th). …. pete
More news from Sue :
Deadly fires rage on in Portugal
Portuguese fire fighters are continuing to battle dozens of forest fires that are sweeping through the country and have killed two of their colleagues.
50 fires are burning in central and northern parts of the country, according to the Reuters news agency. The country’s civil defence agency says that 1,500 fire fighters have been mobilised to tackle the blazes. Around 18,000 hectares (44,500 acres) of forests and bush land are now believed to have been affected. Temperatures in some areas were forecast to reach 40C (104 degrees Fahrenheit).
Portugal’s only national park – the Peneda-Geres National Park in the north-west of the country – is one of the areas under threat. Earlier this month the civil defence services registered 1,000 new fires over a single weekend, a record high for the year.
Trapped by flames
The fire fighting attempt has been hampered by strong winds that have whipped up the fires. Portuguese civil protection officials say a female fire fighter died after being trapped by flames in Gondomar region. In a separate incident, a fireman was killed after his vehicle fell into a burning ravine in the mountainous Sao Pedro do Sul area.
The current fires are the latest to have hit Portugal in recent years. In 2006, six fire fighters were killed whilst tackling a wildfire in the centre of the country and in 2003, 18 people were killed in fires described as "the worst in living memory".
Debut articles (I think) from Martin :
Economic News : Law that cuts the amount of salt in bread enters into effect.
As of the 12th of August, Portuguese bread is required to contain less salt, with the entry into force of a law hailed by doctors and public health experts but that raises several doubts.
The new law sets a maximum of 1.4 grams of salt per 100 grams of bread and requires that labels on the packaging of pre-packaged foods provide information about the relative and absolute amount of salt in the container, as a percentage of the product and per serving or portion.
Bread manufacturers and bakers regret that the law leaves out products such as breakfast cereals and accuse the government of failing to give support to the sector.
POLICE “SLOPE TO THE WALL” A DOZEN SUSPECTS
A man was yesterday morning, arrested for drug possession in a police operation carried out by elements of the Police Station of Funchal and the Rapid Intervention Brigade (BIR), around the Farmers’ Market, an official source confirmed within the Public Security Police. In this action, targeting locations notorious for drug trafficking, a quantity of heroin was seized amounting to about 50 doses. The commissioner Adelino Pepper said. "It was a routine activity in the vicinity of the Farmers’ Market in Funchal city centre, near the Larguinho, the Fair and the Largo do Pelourinho, where about a dozen individuals were subjected to a search (slope to the wall?) as is usual in actions of this type. The person arrested in possession of the quantity of drugs, was caught by police in Largo do Pelourinho, which led to the Regional Command presenting the accused to the Court. During this activity conducted by the Regional Command other individuals were detained for purposes of identification. One was detained for possession of a portion of the drug in quantities for personal consumption, which called for his referral to the Commission for the Deterrence of Addiction.
MAJOR POLICE OPERATION AT THE PORT OF FUNCHAL.
The newspaper knows of at least one taxi driver being arrested for being in possession of a weapon and that the PSP booked offenders for lack of legal documentation. A major traffic enforcement action started early in the morning, with about 30 bods from the Public Security Police, the Department of Immigration and people representing Tourism, in the main streets of Funchal concentrating on the access roads to the port of Funchal.
The reporter followed the “Stop” operations that focused on dozens of taxis, coaches and 4wd vehicles promoting their activities, and some of the ‘time-share’ sales characters all geared up to cruise ship passengers .
From 6 o’clock in the morning, the Regional Command of the PSP launched their operation at the roundabouts of Sá Carneiro and Ribeiro Seco with their highly visible equipment and counted on the back-up of deterrents such as a car “tow-away” trailer and the uniformed members of the Rapid Intervention Brigade.
Tour guide’s transportation licences, business licenses, liability insurance certificates, including copies of their legal and mandatory periodic inspections, were some of the documents most requested by the PSP in this major operation, which also included inspection of the interiors of vehicles.
Police found that many items required to be present were missing and it was noted for their records.
The Journal knows that at least one taxi driver was arrested for being in possession of a weapon. The driver was travelling with this dangerous weapon in the boot of his taxi.
Police action has since been extended to the Avenida do Mar, Avenida Sá Carneiro and Avenida do Infante, showing the PSP are going to be especially firm with regard to frequent transgressions,such as stopping in areas reserved for local parking or in the bus stop bays.
The Journal also found that these combined efforts are being mounted as the result of complaints made by various tour operators regarding how cluttered the port area becomes as some taxi companies and others promoting the tourism industry, hassle the tourists at the port of Funchal. .
The station on Avenida Sá Carneiro, where there are bus bays, is also a concern for the PSP.
This huge police operation is still going on along the streets of Funchal. Results of the ongoing police operation will be announced later in the day by the regional command
More news from Sue :
PSP identifies suspects in raids in the streets of downtown Funchal
Police handcuffed four people near a bar in the Largo do Pelourinho taking them into police custody for questioning
Police action triggered this morning in areas connoted with drug trafficking was far from discreet although it was said that it was a routine activity in this vicinity. Quantities of heroin (about 50 doses) were confiscated and several found to be in possession.
As part of an ongoing criminal investigation , officers of the squadron PSP Funchal supported by elements of the Rapid Intervention Brigade , carried out raids around 9.30am on several individuals in Larguinho da Feira , next to the Farmers’ Market.
Later, just before the 13 hours, another raid was made on four individuals in an alleged criminal act at a bar in Largo do Pelourinho. All were handcuffed and searched, and taken in police escort to Funchal.
New PDM will the meeting end of September
The Master Plan for the City of Santa Cruz will be released from various constraints to investment, and its initial draft should be ready by the end of September ready for a regular meeting of the municipality.
The president José Alberto Gonçalves ensured that the law would not put into question the future of the county. The document will be encouraging investment and development, and stressed that the MDP was in the process of collecting opinions from various outside entities involved. The next step following the meeting at the end of September will is the instigation of a Board meeting to drawn up the pre-planning stage. The mayor said it was necessary to adapt the Municipal Master Plan to the current situation, correcting procedures, particularly in terms of plots and green areas, the criteria must be better defined. However, at the next public meeting on September 2, the level of urbanization of Santa Cruz will be taken to debate and vote that would complete the phase of public discussion and the final report would be sent to the appropriate authorities.
According to information the next ‘Flash Mob ‘ in Funchal will be held on September 3
It is scheduled for September 3 at 13.30 , but the location of the second ‘Flash Mob Funchal ‘is the big surprise’ of the event organized by ACIF through the project ‘+ Trade ‘.
Rehearsals begin on Saturday (August 14) at 11am in the Square of ACIF. The remaining trials are scheduled for 21 and August 28 at the same time.
Stinkbug attacks the beaches of Porto Santo
Millions of small insects yesterday took up residence with thousands of people on the beach and other public spaces making it unbearable, either by the odor that insects expel, or its sting that resulted in some cases.
Nationals and residents on the island were not surprised by the return of the bedbug – smelling, best known as green -bug or ‘ monk ‘ but were surprised by their presence in hot and humid days as this was unusual, especially when there was no wind.
Although most of the bugs to be phytophagous, or feed on juice obtained from plants, like sap, some are nevertheless hematófafos, depending on their food they get from the blood when they bite an animal or even humans.
The presence of millions of these bugs leads to the inevitable contact with the humans as thousands were on terrace tables, umbrellas and of course do not you any peace and when it is crushed, the odor is more intense, because the ‘ monk ‘ expels odor very aggressive and very troublesome. When the wind returns the plague will tend to disappear with the same ease with which it appeared.
Could not believe this we had them in the South of France they are harmless but disgusting and you automatically want to ‘swat’ them – don’t – the smell is horrible – reminders for those little boys at school who had ‘stink bombs’.
Cars vandalized at a business park
Seven cars with broken windows, unlocked and dented
During the night from Monday to Tuesday at least seven cars were vandalized in the parking lots located outdoors within the Calheta Business Park, something that gives entrepreneurs to increase their speculation that the security inside this space is insufficient. Only one camera unit is placed on a metal pole at the entrance of the park, with the aggravated circumstance of the gate being open 24 hours. The estimated loss in accordance with the son of the owner of the company will be around 5-6 thousand. Bruno Fernandes, driver for Rally Trophy Yaris, fears that the insurance will not pay damages within the workshop, since the cars were not in the company space, and excluded, for now, any act of reprisal or settling of accounts that may be behind these acts.
The Public Security Police sent an officer to take account of the occurrence, but some of the affected owners have come to question authority, as it was not helpful to have the presence of PJ as they cannot gather more accurate data, especially at the level of fingerprints. The Journal also tried to learn from Ricardo Moran, president of the Madeira Business Park, whether the means of surveillance available at the Calheta were sufficient, but their efforts were fruitless. Information from the EPC stated that "the president is on vacation.
Well Uncle Albert did say he had no intention of answering the telephone and the others in charge should take action – it seems they didn’t want to and he has only be gone a couple of days.
The return of the British
There was an increased number of passengers in July compared to the same month last year. According to data made available by Madeira airport, there was an additional 1.2 percent, which translates into more than 2601 passengers, who pass from 214,932 in July 2009 to 217,533 in the same period this year.
The paper continues to give various statistics the worst one concerning Porto Santo whose results on balance reflect a loss of 21.1% representing a decrease in passengers by 7857.
Anyone interested to the detailed statistics they can be found in the Journal da Madeira.
The districts of Ribeira Brava and Câmara de Lobos confirmed yesterday the outbreak of three fires starting during the night and morning. One of the fires was small and was limited to burning weeds on the site of Mercy in Canhas this began shortly after two in the morning and was extinguished by 3:23 a.m. The Fire Department of Ribeira Brava (BVRB) sent three men and a heavy car to extinguish this fire.
A little later, in the same county, the corporation was again called to attend to a fire that destroyed the forest area, the site of Ribeira Funda. It was 7:52 a.m. when a team of BVRB came out for this incident and 8:49 a.m. when the fire was listed as extinct. The third incident started at 8:51 a.m., the corporation has sent three men and a heavy car to fight a forest fire at the site of Terreiros (Campanário).
A fourth incendiary started in the municipality of Câmara de Lobos at three in the morning and it was fought by 12 men and three vehicles of volunteer firefighters from Câmara de Lobos. The fire was extinguished at about 19 hours.
Lido closes doors as of today
Starting to-day , the lido swimming complex has been closed to the public, due to non-payment of rent and the cancellation of the last two catering concessions who had worked on the terrace above thus there is no justification that the complex remain open .
The Vice-Chairman of the Board ensured that the decision had not been taken lightly and regretted the loss of jobs incurred. The Lido would not open its doors after restoration due to the lack of funding that the Board needs and in addition the funds from the Media Law had also not been paid to the municipality.
Fire Ladders not High Enough
The Regional Office of Civil Protection is preparing to purchase two fire ladders essential in fighting a fire or other emergency situations in high rise buildings. Currently the region does not have this equipment and its acquisition is considered a priority by the Madeira.
One of 50 meters will be purchased and installed in Funchal by the end of this year or early next, the other one of 30 meters will be installed in the Santa Cruz/Machico region and should be available in September or October (they didn’t say what year!).
There is also an aim to increase the operational capability of the protection and defense against forest fires based on fire brigades in the region, with the purchase of nine vehicles to be used in a heavy type of terrain. These will form an emergency room which have already been delivered to Sao Vicente and Porto Moniz and Santana where they are now equipped with a tank capacity of approximately three thousand gallons of water and 100 liters of foam. The cost of the project amounted to 1.44 million. All corporations were covered in Madeira; Porto Santo is the only one remaining outside.
Two earthquakes off the coast of Madeira
The Institute of Meteorology recorded last Saturday, two earthquakes off the coast of Madeira. The first occurred in the sea north of Machico and had an intensity of 2.3 and the second happened east of Porto Santo and with a magnitude of 2.4. Neither one nor the other was felt on land. Last month six small earthquakes were recorded in the area of the Atlantic, all of small magnitude.
Ultraviolet radiation level with ‘Extreme ’til Wednesday
Up until Wednesday Funchal will register the highest level of ultraviolet radiation. According to the Meteorology Institute this Monday, Funchal has a level of 12 today (Tuesday) decreasing to 11 on Wednesday. These levels are considered ‘Extreme ‘. There for the Institute recommends that between the hours of 1200-1700 sun exposure should be avoided and people are advised to spend the day at home.
To the best of my knowledge the scale goes up to 16 – so it is high! So be careful.
Victory for Freddy Loix. Freddy Loix together with his team celebrated the Belgian in the 51st edition of the Madeira Wine Rally . Freddy Loix finished the race in 03:08:14, 3, 37.8 seconds faster than second-placed Jan Kopecký. Skoda took the first three places on the podium when Juho Hänninen was ranked third.
Miguel Nunes, ended up in fourth place with 1:48, 0 more than third place. Thus the driver increased his regional rally championship lead. Miguel Nunes who competed with a Peugeot engine leased to Portugal because his had engine problems before the race, he wants to solve the problem of the engine in order to be 100 % for the National Rally. The rented engine was returned on Sunday.
Executives of Government to take Decisions
On the eve of President Jardim’s vacation in Porto Santo he admitted that he was extremely tired. In a year that was marked by the storm on 20 February and the following work that ensued he was taking his holiday and would not be answering the telephone whilst on holiday. Those in charge should make the decisions. Good old Uncle Albert you tell them!
Son of Madeiran kidnapped in Venezuela
A young 20 year old son of immigrants from Campanário was abducted on Saturday morning in Caracas, is surrounded by mystery and intrigue. The victim, Alberto da Silva was released after contact with the Police at dawn yesterday near a shopping mall in the state of Miranda. According to Venezuelan media, however, the family has until today to pay the ransom demanded by kidnappers.
The Venezuelan media report that in the first contact with the family, the kidnappers have demanded a ransom of half a million Bolivars (approximately 87,500 Euros). Subsequently, the amount was reduced to one fifth of the value (100 000 (close to 17 500 Euros). The couple has been threatened with death if no payment of the sum demanded.
Yesterday, police in Caracas gathered information on the identity of the kidnappers and any places where the young Luso -descendants have been taken. According to the Venezuelan press the family is in contact with the police, but there were fears of further developments in the case. The authorities have assured continuation of investigations to identify the authors of the kidnapping but declined to give details of the case.
Louis Smith wins Cocktail Contest
Louis Soares, from the Quinta do Lago, was the winner of cocktail festival, whose challenge in the competition was the use of sugar- cane from Madeira. Second place went to Sonia Rodriguez, from the Quinta das Vistas and the third place went to Cristina Pimenta from the School of Hospitality and Tourism Madeira.
This contest closed the fifteenth edition of Machico Gastronomy Week yesterday but I am sure the drinking and dancing continued late into the night.
35 Children Participated in Sand Building at Praia Formosa.
(I found this quite amazing when you think of the seaside sand castles that are built in the UK! – they did call it sand building – but !!!)
Pedro Augusto Silva, 12, student at the Salesian School , was the winner of ‘ Building on Sand 2010 ‘ , organized by Diário de Notícias in Lisbon and Funchal by the company Ocean Front . In took place in the late morning of Saturday , at Formosa Beach, 35 competitors took part aged between 6 and 14 years , separated into two categories according to age and an allotted time of 45 minutes.
Ricardo Nunes, director of Ocean Front, Funchal is already thinking about next year but intends to make a schedule change to encourage more participants in the late afternoon rather than the late morning.
From Anneke, by email :
Last month I went to The Hague, my native town. I had to be there for a concert and farewell party of the conductor of The Hofstads Jeugdorkest. It is a Youth Orchestra. I have played in. It is the biggest (250 members) and oldest Youth Orchestra (1923) of the world.
Before the concert I went to the exposition Wild Wonders of Europe. I had only 1 hour time. That was much to short to see everything. I took some pictures and have put them on Flickr.
The pictures are really stunning. Many you can see on LINK. The country map of Portugal you see on LINK
Two pictures are taken on the Desertas and the Azores, the last two in the gallerie on Flickr.
There were 100 pictures to see, but I couldn’t take pictures of all. Also the quality of the pictures are not optimal because I have no digital camera. I had to scan them.
This exposition was first mentioned on the blog on June 14.
I advice you if you can go to this exposition it is it really worth going to.
Groetjes, Anneke.
Many thanks to Sue, Martin, Pete and Anneke for sending in a contribution(s) for this blog.
—————————————————————————————————————————————–
If you can, please contribute something Madeira related. A funny story or good or bad experience, a news item, or a story from a Madeira newspaper, a teaser, news of a bargain flight or item in a supermarket. Please help keep this blog going … without user contributions it won’t survive. Please only send in ‘exceptional’ or very topical photos by email attachment, as they take quite some time to process. Links to photos that are already online take much less time. Anything submitted for inclusion will be ‘cut and pasted’ to the blog very likely unchecked and unaltered, so please check anything through before sending it in, especially ‘automatic translations’, to avoid any ‘afterthoughts’. Blogs will be published when there is sufficient material to make one worthwhile. I can’t always respond to emails, so please accept my thanks in advance, and the attribution on the blog itself. Der.
You can email dermadeira-blog@yahoo.co.uk with any articles etc., but to save time and delays, please use the comments for minor contributions and to ask any questions. Please don’t send in copyrighted / restricted material.
Madeira News Blog / madeira4u © 2007 – 2010 All Rights Reserved
It seems that nothing can prevent the first win for Freddy Loix in Madeira. The Belgian part of the Skoda Fabia ended the last stage 21.1 seconds ahead of Kris Meeke and, under normal circumstances; successful is in his pocket, when followed through 7.1. Loix seconds, opened the door wide for a victory for the men of Skoda. The second (third in the standings) is that Jan Kopecky has English Kris Meeke in only 1.1 seconds away, so the Polish mark may well dream of a "doubling up" on the roads of Madeira. All in with a fight that will be a major source of entertainment for today.
Heliport will be installed at the landfill. Government House and responsible for the company operating the helicopter this afternoon visited the landfill shipping
The 2010 edition of the Madeira Wine Rally began yesterday with a league – show on Avenida do Mar, before thousands of people. Kris Meeke (Peugeot 207 S2000) is the first leader of the race, to be the fastest on the track of 2.18 miles in downtown Funchal which opened a successful passage through the Sá Carneiro roundabout. The only three -hundredths behind was the Portuguese Bruno Magalhaes ( Peugeot 207 S 2000) that left Jan Kopecky ( Skoda Fabia S 2000 ) in the last podium position . Amongst the Madeirans Bernardo Sousa (seventh) was the best while Miguel Nunes (10th overall) won the lead among the riders who compete for regional championship. 
529 stray dogs in two months
