The Online newspaper for Portbou, Colera, Llançà, Port de la Selva, Cadaqués, Roses, Sta. Margarida, Empuriabrava, L'Escala, Figueres and the local area

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News from the Baix Empordà

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The snowfall of last Monday in the comarcas of Girona provoked chaos without precedent in Alt Empordà as well as in Baix Empordà. In a few hours, from the middle of the day on Monday until nightfall, between 20 and 50 centimeters of snow fell in practically all the towns, even those on the coast. It was sufficient that the most important highways, N-II and AP7, were blocked for hours. Hundreds of vehicles were trapped and their passengers had to spend a horrible night enclosed with the heat on maximum in the hope of being rescued, something that did not happen until Tuesday morning.
Three towers of the High Voltage line that came down on AP7 made enormously difficult the deployment of the services prepared by the plan of the Catalan government, to now sadly known as NeuCat, which did not function at all.
As a consequence of the fall of the towers and of numerous electric poles, the large majority of the towns of Empordà lost their electric supply—specifically around 3pm on Monday.
Without power, without heat, without hot water and in some cases without water, we have lived these last days. The majority recovered, in a stepwise manner, the supply yesterday, Wednesday, around 7pm. More than 2 days in darkness that many took advantage of to flee to the house of relatives or friends, leaving towns empty with stores closed and with a ghostly aspect.
Today, still there are important towns such as Lloret, Sant Feliu de Guixols or Platja d’Aro that hope the supply to be restored, something that seems only possible if electric generators are put in place, since in the Costa Brave south the electric infrastructure is very damaged and it could take even weeks for it to be repaired. According to the electric company, today still 30,000 people continue in darkness.
As far as mobility, today important retentions still exist to cross the border at La Jonquera although traffic has been opened and it is possible to circulate.
RENFE still accumulates important delays in its lines that circulate from Girona toward the north. Today, Thursday we have to lament the first death, which deals with a resident of Ultramort (Baix Empordà, near Verges) who has died because of inhaling smoke from a home generator.

This weekend more than 400 persons met in the Rancho del Carnaval in Garriguella (Alt Empordà), where the typical breakfast was made to say goodbye to the carnival and to give way to the days of Lent. Also Peralada, Fortià, Garrigàs, Darnius, Maçanet de Cabrenys and Tortellà have celebrated the carnival this weekend.

Tourism raises its head lightly and who knows if it will again descend, but for the moment the data corresponding to hotel occupation for the month of January permit a certain optimism. While nightly stays have increased in Spain an insignificant 0.3% and in Catalunya a notable 15.6%, for the hotels of Girona province the increase has been a more than hopeful 33%, even though January is the least touristic month.

This morning has taken place in the Ayuntamiento of Roses the signing of the agreement of collaboration between Dipsalut, the Ayuntamiento of Roses and the Roses Foundation Against Cancer for the study about the use of alternative complementary therapies with cancer patients. The project, which foresees that it will last until March 2011, will be carried out with patients of the Catalan Institute of Oncology submitted to treatments of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgical interventions.

The Ministry of Fomento (Promotion) considers as priority the construction of the European gauge railway between Figueres and Portbou in “a very short time”, according to words of the secretary for Mobility of the Government, Manel Nadal, who has pronounced this Friday a conference titled “The Intermodal Platform of l’Empordà”.

More than 2,000 Gironans wait for operations. The waiting list of patients to be operated in the Health Region of Girona maintains itself in relation to 2008.

The organization of the Fair of Leisure Boats Port Empuriabrava now has good part of the preparations ready to celebrate this reknowned competition of the sector of leisure boating. However the characteristic poster that will announce the fair now has been designed and very soon will be distributed in all Catalunya. This year there is no lack of boats, the sea and unequivocal elements of Empuriabrava, as well as the silhouette of the tower of the nautical club. It is planned that in the edition of 2010 will participate 34 professional businesses of the zone which will offer more than 500 second hand boats at very interesting prices for negotiating the times of crisis.

The police have accused 6 people in Empuriabrava of having simulated robberies. In the first case, it had to do with five tourists that pretended a robbery with force in the dwelling where they stayed in order to collect insurance and, in the second case, it dealt with a seller of lottery tickets that claimed that he had been victim of a robbery with violence and intimidation in the street.

The users of the CAP of Empuriabrava should direct themselves to Castelló d’Empúries while the works of remodeling are finished.

The new office of tourism of L´Escala situated in the zone of Riells will be 10 times larger than the current one and will be inaugurated this Semana Santa.

Cadaqués adds itself this year to the Picasso Network and recalls the stays of the painter in this area. In the next days will be celebrated a commemorative exposition and the signing of an agreement with the Picasso Foundation.

Port de la Selva organizes a voluntary donation of blood today, Tuesday, March 2, starting at 6 pm in the Sala Ball del Moll.

Next Friday, March 5, in Figueres is to be inaugurated the exposition “Lyric Constructions. Man Ray/ Leandre Cristófol. The object and the spirit dada” in the Municipal Theater El Jardi.

The wine cellars Espelt de Vilajuïga present a collective exposition of paintings and photographs about Sant Pere de Rodes until the 14th of March.

The Watercolor Museum of Llançà plans an exposition of the artist Rosa Grau until the 28th of March.

The Ayuntamiento of Roses will appeal to the Spanish National Audience the decision of the Ministry of Environment approving the demarcation of the canals of Santa Margarida. The ministry has rejected the allegations that the ayuntamiento had presented against the proceding. Facing this situation, the ayuntamiento has opted for the judicial path because the administrative one now has been exhausted. The resolution of the ministry has approved the demarcation of a total of 13,791 meters of length of the marina of Santa Margarida, awarding the condition of goods of public domain maritime-terrestrial.

The magazine that the airline company Ryanair distributes monthly to its passengers of all its flights will include in its pages of the publication of the next month of March a report about the population of Roses. The promotion is carried out jointly with the towns of l’Escala and Castelló d´Empúries, and shows the readers the cultural, natural, and leisure opportunities that are offered in the Bay of Roses.

The Ayuntamiento of L’Escala has sent 3,820 euros to the Catalan Fund of Cooperation for Development for making tasks of aid to ones disadvantaged by the earthquakes of Haiti. The municipal groups renounced their allotment of the month of January to participate in this cause.

A man died of drowning when his car fell in the principal canal of Empuriabrava, Castelló d´Empúries. The vehicle, with French plates, has been extracted with a tow-truck at the middle of this day.

Portbou and La Jonquera want the State police to patrol the streets and they affirm that the current Mossos d’Esquadra are not sufficient.

The Ayuntamiento of Figueres approved yesterday the recognition of the invoices not admitted from 2009 for a total of 337,855.95 euros, of which 224,616 are entered in the area of Culture. The rest, with value of 113,239 euros, correspond to other councilors. The secretariat has issued a report in which it says that the contracts of Culture do not comply with the standards and the PSC defends its management.

The unions of professors have convoked today a strike for next March 17 against the policies of the Councilor of Education of the Generalitat, which Ernest Maragall directs.

The informative session about the 28 flats of official protection that were constructed in L’Escala now has a date. It will be held Tuesday, March 2, at 7 pm in the event hall of the Ayuntamiento.

More control to avoid the use of mobile phones at the wheel. The Mossos d’Esquadra have iniciated this Monday a campaign of control of the use of mobile phones at the wheel. This infraction is sanctioned with a fine of 150 euros and the loss of 3 points in the license.

The arrival of foreign tourists grew 0.9% in Catalunya during January, according to the Survey of Tourist Movements in the Border (FRONTUR). As far as the countries of origin, the French market has continued its recovery and has returned to show an increase in the number of arrivals with an increase of 5.5%, although the United Kingdom and Germany—despite having negative percentages—continue being the origins most relevant.

Almost a thousand and a half persons have enjoyed this year of the Carnival of Castellón. A good time accompanied the four pasadas that were organized in Empuriabrava and Castellón, making the Carnival a true fiesta of music, light and color.

Foreigners affiliated with Social Security fall 5.88%. In all of the State there are 1,806,873 foreign contributors, 3.7% less than in January of the past year.

Professors of the University of Rome and the International Organization of Museums have visited the Ciudadela of Roses this week.

The closing of the restaurant “El Bulli” will not be temporary, but definitive. Thus explained the chef Ferran Adrià in the newspaper “The New York Times”. The chef has decided to close the restaurant forever because he and his associate, Juli Soler, lose on the order of half a million euros each year. The decision not to open the establishment again in Roses, which is the best in the world according to some critics, has been taken this week, according to the explanation of the north American paper. Adrià and Soler have decided to replace the restaurant with a center of studies of high cuisine. Adriá announced the past month of January the closing of the famous restaurant of Roses from 2012 until 2014, with objective of opening a period of reflection.

El Espacio de Arte Espelt, in Vilajuïga, will hold next Friday, February 19, starting at 8 pm, a double cultural encounter. On one hand, the presentation will take place of the novel “Tras los Muros (Behind the Walls)”, by Núria Esponellà. In parallel a collective exposition will be inaugurated of different artists which, with the title of “Visiones de Sant Pere de Rodes”, offer us their particular vision of the monastery in painting, sculpture, and photography. The participating artists in this collective show are Sebastián Agell-Sastre, David Ansón, Ricard Ansón, Carles Bros, Carme Esmerats, M ª Pilar Farrés, Yvonne Heinert, Elena Kudry, Daniel Lleixà, Francisco Moreno-Jiménez, Joaquim Pedret i Rovira, Monse Plan, Begoña Ramos, Lluis Roura and Jaume Simón. The exposition can be visited in the Espacio de Arte Espelt until Sunday, March 14.

This Thursday, February 18, the new installations of Emergency Service of the Hospital of Figueres enter into operation. Starting at 7 am the persons that need this help should be directed to the new unit, located in the East Building and which has its own access from the Ronda Rector Arolas.

A project for a cross-border ring of cyclo-tourism. The proposal, called “Enlace (Connection, Link)”, consists in creating a cyclo-tourism route between Catalunya and France of 400 km that would take advantage of networks of green routes and cyclo-tourism and that would unite the Catalan speaking territories on both sides of the Pyrenees.

A project driven by the Diputación of Girona and “La Caixa” has permitted environmentally recovering grounds of the natural park of Cap de Creus affected by fires. In all, 6,500 cork oak trees have been planted in the area of the trails of Santiago and of the Dólmenes, in Vilajuïga, with the objective of recovering the forests of this species that had been in the zone.

All the artists that have participated in the 29th Mini Print International of Cadaqués will begin to receive this month the catalog of this edition. This shows the six winning engravings at real size and the reproduction to scale 40% and color of all the engravings that have been exhibited in this edition. The catalogs also are sent to relevant institutions, museums, coworkers and MEDIA especialized in all.

The Ayuntamiento of Llançà has projected to locate solar panels in two of the municipal buildings, the multi-sport pavilion and the football field, for supplying hot water.

The Comarca Council of Alt Empordà values positively the implantation of wind energy in the comarca in fulfillment of the principles of sustainability and the fight against climate change. However, it asks that the model of implantation would minimize the territorial, environmental and socioeconomic impact. For this reason, the travel corridor of the autopista AP-7 has been chosen as the priority sector to delimit the installation of future wind parks in the comarca.

In the hope that the ministry of Environment would initiate the project of the second phase of the maritime walkway, the Ayuntamiento of L´Escala will invest some 150,000 euros to complete and improve the emergency works that were made last year.

The new daycare nursery of Castelló d´Empúries has begun to be constructed, therefore the Ayuntamiento of Castelló d´Empúries has initiated a campaign to find the best name for this future education facility.

Alt Empordà Tourism has attended, this past weekend, with its own booth and under its own logo in the Salón de Tourism Mahana of Toulouse, with the participation of the offices of tourism of Llançà, L´Escala, Empuriabrava and Figueres.

A decision of the Superior Court of Justice obliges the Ayuntamiento of La Jonquera to give, in the period of 15 days, permission to continue the works of the macroprostibulos (brothels) stopped in 2006. The Ayuntamiento denied the license basing it on a report of the Mossos d’Esquadra that affirmed that the local could bring problems of traffic and crime.

The period for enrolling to participate in the Carnival of Castellón and Empuriabrava now has begun and will end next Tuesday, February 16. Until then those clubs, groups and floats that want to participate can enroll in the department of fiestas of the Ayuntamiento of Castelló d´Empúries, by means of telephone 972-250-429 or by electronic mail festes@castello.cat.

The mayor of Figueres, Santi Vila, has decided to suspend the councilor of Culture, Ciro Llueca, of his functions. The decision has been motivated by the relation of invoices from the year 2009 without budgetary appropriations originating from the area of Culture.

A vehicle cleaning company of Llançà, Ecowash, has launched a new product to wash cars without water, biodegradable, harmless to the environment, which generates no waste, and which does not require energy consumption, permiting saving between 100 and 250 liters of water.

The mayor of La Jonquera, Jordi Cabezas, is blunt when he says that his town has many more possibilities than the city of Girona so that IKEA would decide to install itself in his town. Jordi Cabezas affirms that La Jonquera gives many more urban facilities to the Swedish chain and one of the giant steps that has been taken to appear more attractive in the eyes of the managers of IKEA has been to rezone some rural lands without development that are industrial so that they can be converted to commercial uses.

The temporary move of the Thursday clothing market in Figueres will be a reality next February 18. During recent weeks all the applications that remain pending to start the works of construction of the underground parking of the Paseo Nuevo have been released, which will oblige moving the booths to the neighborhood of Poble Nou.

Starting tonight, and progressively along the whole week, the Ayuntamiento of Roses is beginning to retire the trash containers in the area of the Paseo Maritimo, from the Ronda Miquel Oliva i Prat, from the street Bernat Metge and from the streets La Lonja—Cap Norfeu, for putting in operation the new underground containers installed in the town during recent months.

Sant Pere Pescador has held the event of inauguration of the new mulituse sports pavilion presided by the vice-president of the Government, Josep Lluis Carod-Rovira.

The reservoir of Boadella is 20 percent below the average of the last 10 years.

The famous meteorologist of TV3, Tomàs Molina, offered last Saturday in the hall Pere de Noves of Garriguella a discussion about meteorology before 200 people.

Figueres has been designated by the European Commission (CE) as leader of the Project Imagine, a task that it will develop together with the French city of Rennes, and which will fall upon the councilor of the Environment, Richard Elelman. “Our work as leaders of Imagine will be to promote the interchange of environmental experiences and initiatives among the public and private sectors”, explains Elelman.

The mayoress of Roses, Magda Casamitjana, received the Certification of Family Tourism Destination for the town of Roses, in the framework of the celebration of the Fair FITUR that took place in Madrid and which ended the past January 25. Roses thus becomes part of the destinations of the province of Girona accredited with this distinction, which until now only Blanes and L’Estartit boasted, with which is certified their specialization in family tourist housing.

Perpignan and Figueres will be connected by AVE before the end of the year. Thus assured the president of the company SNCF (French railway operator), Gillaume Pepy. In an interview, Pepy has assured that in 2012 the high velocity train will be a reality between Barcelona and Perpignan and will have 18 trains daily, 9 each way, between the two cities. Two years later, in 2014, the new stretch between Montpelier and Nimes will be finished. This said, the stretch from Montpelier to Perpignan will not be finished until 2020. It will not be until then that you will be able to go from Barcelona to Paris in only five hours. Until that moment arrives, the president of SCNF asks ¨patience.¨

A workshop of the Educational Plan of Environment of Roses plans the creation of a musical group with recycled material. The workshop will take place starting next February 5, every Friday, in the Activities Center of Roses (CAR). To be able to participate, it is necessary to enroll on February 1 (from 10 am to 2 pm and from 4 to 6 pm) in the Department of Education of the Ayuntamiento on the street Tarragona, 83.

Roses now is a member of the Spanish Association of Nautical Stations. In a meeting held the past Tuesday in Madrid was accepted its entry and the obtaining of the certificate that accredits it as Nautical Station, a tourist travel mode that in Europe moves some 18 million people.

The military zone of Sant Climent puts at risk a possible tourist future for the Alberes. A military base at the foot of a natural park creates a certain ideological opposition, added to the list of small incidents that have accumulated in the memory of the residents of Sant Climente over the years, makes some residents of the small nucleus of Vilartoli, a neighborhood next to the field for military exercises, question whether this activity is compatible with the future development tied to ecological agriculture and perhaps rural tourism.

Roses is preparing to receive the first tourists that will arrive by sea on a cruise ship. At the moment, there are three that have confirmed their stopover this summer. The first to arrive will be “The World”, one of the most exclusive and luxurious in the world, June 22. The city will debut itself as a destination for small luxury cruise ships, of up to 300 passengers, without even having the new dock.

Almost one of each three people that have died on the roads of Girona have been victims of traffic accidents on National II. During 2009, there have been a total of 62 fatal victims on the interurban roads of the province, of which 18 have lost their life on this highway.

The castle of Sant Ferran of Figueres is holding starting this Friday a photographic exposition about the daily life of six homoparental families.

The Department of Environment has pushed forward new projects and work for the prevention of forest fires in the Natural Park of Cap de Creus, which will affect an area of more than 32 hectares.

Thousands of people (15,000 approximately) attended this Sunday in the area of Espolla in Alt Empordà the Fair of Olive Oil and Olives. Most of the visitors came from Catalunya and also the south of France to see and, in some cases, to buy in the most important fair of olive oil in Catalunya.

The full assembly of the Ayuntamiento of L´Escala has approved this Friday, unanimously, the project of constructing the new municipal daycare nursery, a proposal that is desired to be an example of sustainability and of the use of renewable energy, an objective especially important for the installations destined to the early training of the smallest residents of the town.

The citizens of Castelló d´Empúries will be able to request a protected housing unit from the ayuntamineto. Once the petition is formalized, the person receives a temporary code for access to their application. At the moment that there is a movement in the process of award, the Administration puts together a list according to the type of housing (for youth, for older people, for example), the type of award (rent, buy, or rent’to’buy) and the location, and finally holds a drawing.

After the work of closing the Municipal Multisport Track (Pista Polideportiva) of Roses located on the road Mas Oliva, a project that was just finished, the Ayuntamiento of Roses is preparing now its adequacy as Municipal Multiuse Space. The objective is that the building could be used during all the year, for sports activities as well as other social events, parties, etc, that are held in the town..

Portbou is holding an exposition of photographs about the withdrawal of the republicans and the exiles after the Civil War.

The campaign of Navidad closes with fewer sales. Figueres Comerce Association situates the fall between 5 and 10% and forecasts the season of rebates to be similar to that of the past year.

The La Molina ski area has registered an influx of 6,000 skiers daily on average during the holidays. Visitors have responded massively to the variety of activities offered that the area has presented for these dates.

The Ayuntamiento of Castelló d´Empúries sees a positive balance in the flow of people that have taken advantage these past Christmas holidays to visit the town. As always, the tourist offices are a good indicator, taking note of the consultations that they receive during this period. Of the statistics prepared, it should be highlighted the 894 consultations made between the two offices, increases in the number of visits received in the historic center and maintaining those of Empuriabrava with respect to 2008. 53% of the consultations made represent the French public, and the rest are Catalans, Germans, and the rest Spanish.

The Technical Specialists in Deactivation of Explosive Artifacts (TEDAX) of the Mossos recovered and destroyed in a month, before the recent holidays of Navidad, a total of 945 explosive artifacts from the Civil War in a forest of the town of Capmany.

The second phase in the shutting down of analog television in the comarcas of Girona will begin this Wednesday, January 13. Although TDT is practically guaranteed in all areas, there are up to 28 inhabited nuclei of 17 towns that do not have sufficient coverage in the province and they must wait for TDT to come to them by satellite. In Alt Empordà, we find 3 whole towns situated in a dark zone without TDT coverage, which are Biure d´Empordà, La Selva de Mar, and Terrades.

The French film producer, Eric Rohmer, has died today at age of 89 years, according to information from the radio “France Info”. Born in the city of Nancy in 1920, Jean-Marie Maurice Scherer, this was his real name, was one of the principal producers of the genre called “Nouvelle Vague”.

The total prohibition of smoking in entertainment venues in Spain will penalize around 70,000 establishments that carry out reforms for a value of some 1,500 million euros to adapt to the regulations that came into effect in 2006, as has criticized the Spanish Federation of Hosteleria and Restauración. However, during the first days of 2010, the prohibition seems to have little repercussion in the venues of Empordà. In the majority of the establishments where it is permitted to smoke, smoking continues, above all in bars and nighttime venues.

The Ayuntamiento of Portbou plans to start the last works on the Sala Teatro (Theater Hall) La Congesta which should permit definitely opening it.

The town of La Jonquera has seen how since the month of July—when it began to apply the new civic ordinance that prohibits prostitution—the number of women that work in the urban nucleus has been reduced by 80%, going from some 30 prostitutes to 5. The Municipal Police have sanctioned some 20 clients that have been trapped “en fraganti”. (in the act).

Motor fuels have risen 3% the first week of the year. Once more the counter of euros goes faster than the one for liters of gasoil (Diesel fuel). And again, to the disgust of consumers, gasoil increases. A liter of this fuel surpasses again the euro in some gas stations.

The Camino de Sant Jaume will reach the urban section of El Port de la Selva after the works finished by the town council with the objective of avoiding that its beginning and end would be at the monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes. The avenue JV Foix of the center will be the physical point of arrival and departure of the emblematic Sant Jaume, which will be marked with a monolith of identification. Moreover, the Generalitat has edited a guide of this space of the section between the coastal town and Montserrat.

Peralada will hold on Sunday, January 17, the traditional Fiesta of San Antonio Abad during which there will be a gathering of the herds in the Paseo de la Principal of Peralada and afterwards the horse ride through the streets with the accompaniment of a band to the church of Sant Marti, where the animals will be blessed. The fiesta will be accompanied by other sardana bands and a popular dance in the afternoon.

L’Escala is organizing a day of blood donation next Friday the 15th in the Multipurpose Room of the Casal of retirees, starting at 4 pm.

Llançà is organizing an act of finalization of the year Amades next Sunday, January 17, in the Plaza Mayor at 12 noon.

There will be a pilot test to introduce “el bicing” (rental bicycles) in Figueres. The Ayuntamiento will put at the disposition of government employees 20 bicycles so that they can move between the municipal buildings and evaluate the possibilities of the service.

The Ayuntamiento of Figueres has made known this Monday the numbers of the budget for 2010, a year still marked by the economic crisis and therefore with measures of contention. The total number reaches 55.9 million euros, numbers fairly similar to those of the year 2009, which were 54.7 million euros.

The Reyes Magos (Magi) arrive in Cadaqués this Tuesday January 5 at 6:30 pm at the entrance of the town. In Llançà they do it half an hour earlier, at 6 pm, and in this case they do it by the sea, in the port of the town. Two hours later they arrive in Roses, at 8 pm in the Plaza Federic Rahola.

The Generalitat has proposed that an important center be made in L´Escala for the interpretation of natural and socio-econmic means that connect the natural park of los Aiguamolls de l´Empordà and the future natural park of the Montgri, las Medes and the Baix Ter. The department of Environment highlights the strategic importance of L´Escala as a municipal boundary that ties the two parks together and solidifies the interest for making this center of interpretation in Mas Vilanera.

Again this year the three Kings (Magi) from the East will arrive in Castelló d´Empúries by sea. They will disembark from their boat in the sport port of Empuriabrava and will attend to the boys and girls in the Plaza de las Palmeras. At 7 pm their majesties will arrive at the historic center by the street Santa Clara with all the royal court, offering a short journey by the streets until their arrival at the Plaza de la Catedral. In case of rain, the receptions will be held in the civic center and in the municipal salon.

To confront the urban growth that Roses experiences, the Ayuntamiento has initiated the process of renumbering the streets of the town with the objective of solving the lack of signage and numbering that some streets present and thus avoid the problems of that this fact implies to the residents. The Ayuntamiento brings this project to a close to facilitate the locating of properties of Mas Boscà, Mas Matas, and El Cardo.

The Cultural Association Project Desat´Art of Figueres inaugurated this past Saturday the first of the expositions that form part of the new season 2010, in the café Paris of the central rambla of Figueres.

The famous Hotel Terraza of Roses is 75 years old. The commemoration has begun Saturday January 2, 2010, with the presentation of a book and a DVD.

Prices rose almost a point in España in December. The harmonized IPC is situated at 0.9% in the month of December, 2009, after rising a half a point with respect to November.

A study ordered by the Generalitat of Catalunya reveals that Alt Empordà is the comarca with the most sport anchorages of all Catalunya while that Baix Empordà is the one that offers the most places of tourist lodging.

A young man of 23 years was evacuated yesterday morning from the Cave of the Infierno, in Cadaqués, after suffering an accident and needing the assistance of fire fighters to remove him.

The Urban Guard of Figueres will increase the use of mobile radars during 2010. The presence of this type of radar will be situated principally in the main roads of access to the city according to a report from the Ayuntamiento.

This Tuesday a new parking area with 416 spaces will open behind the Hospital of Figueres. The new parking area can be seen on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd1tfrB9jgY.

The Generalitat has invested more than 6 million euros to fix direct damages that the storm from the east of the past year caused in all of the Costa Brava. Puertos of the Generalitat foresees putting in action two large works to update the ports of Blanes and Llançà. At root, the storm the has accelerated the process. In Llançà, an exterior dike will be constructed to reinforce the current port, which will have a cost of 4.7 million euros. However, Portbou, Llançà and Cadaquéz continue with damages still to be repaired. In this last case, the force of the waves destroyed the fish auction house, leaving it unserviceable and making necessary the construction of a temporary auction house and the dike of the port of Llançà also remains gravely damaged.

The municipal budget of the Ayuntamineto of Castelló d´Empúries forecast for the year 2010 is placed at 20,303,000 euros, 6.2% more than the previous year.

The comarcas of Girona will have a network of cooperatives throughout 2010 so that groups most disadvantaged by the crisis will be able to acquire food at a better price.

The citizens of L´Escala have given a warm welcome, this day of Sant Esteban, to the Roca del Fraile. A storm from the east knocked over this emblematic rock 27 years ago. The rock had to be put on a pedestal of concrete and the point has been marked in the ground from which one has to look to see the figure of the fraile, since it is visible from only one specific angle.

Cadaqués is organizing its New Year´s Dance in the municipal pavilion on the 31st at 12:15 in the night.

Roses is celebrating the end of the year with a fiesta in the plaza Federic Rahola at 12:30 with the presence of the popular discomobile Gres-K. Admission is free.

Next January 2, 2010, Llançà plans the traditional concert of Navidad in the Casa de Cultura at 12 noon and with the performance of the group Musijoves.

The first day of the year is received in Perelada with the performance with live actors of a living nativity in the gardens of the Castillo at 7 pm.

The administration of the lottery L´Anxova Milionària of L´Escala dealt out more than a million euros in the last drawing of Navidad. Among the prizes awarded, the most important was for the number 09994 which matched the termination of the first prize of 78294.

El Port de la Selva will save 700,000 liters of water when the new tank of reclaimed water enters in operation. Situated in the zone of el Mirador II, the water from the tank will be used mainly for the irrigation of gardens, industrial use and cleaning. The cost of the installation has had a cost of 452,000 euros.

Sant Pedro Pescador approves a new plan of housing of immigrants. In the town, 3 of each 10 inhabitants are immigrants.

The Fair of Aceite (Olive Oil) will be held in Espolla next January 17. Among the parallel activities of the fair, horseback rides through the historic nucleus of the town have been organized.

Hunters in Capmany complain that numerous motorcycles are destroying forest trails and paths without any control.

Until January 30 the new exposition which the Gallery Marges-U of Cadaqués is presenting can be visited. Once more the gallery shows works of numerous artists that have been invited during 2009.

A record cold. This is the title that the last days of autumn have left in the comarcas of Girona, and it is that the low temperatures of the last weekend do not have recent precedents in the region. The temperatures of the weekend have been the lowest of the last 29 years.

L´Escala is awarding anticrisis subsidies to 235 people. A good part of the aid corresponds to dealing with urgent situations, especially in problems of being able to pay expenses connected with housing or evictions.

Endesa has expanded the electric substation of Figueres to reinforce service to 15,228 clients of the populations it serves, which are part of the capital of Alt Empordà--including the center of Vilatenim--and Llers.

Two entities of Castellò d´Empúries that represent more than 500 residents have presented arguments at the inicial approval of the POUM (Urban Plan), asking that it would be stopped to avoid irreversible damages. It has to do with the Asociación de Empresarios Turisticos (Association of Tourist Businesses) of Castellò d´Empúries and Empuriabrava – “Tot Comerç” – and the Agrupacion de Defense del Nucleo (Association of Defence of the Nucleus). This last one has collected 440 signatures in a month.

Some 16% of the reservoir of the Muga is affected by the invasive species of the American cane. Also it can be found in a good part of the marshes and lakes of the Catalan coast, including the marshes of Empordà and the wet zones of the delta of the Llobregat and the Ebro.

This Saturday, January 19, the city of Figueres held the official act of closing as the Capital of Catalan Culture 2009, sixth capital of Catalan culture in the history after Banyoles in 2004. Although formally Figueres will be Capital of Catalan Culture until December 31, the mayor of the city, Santi Vila, today passed the baton with reference to all the region of Catalan language, in the presence of Xavier Tudela, president of the organization Capital of Catalan Culture, the mayor of Badalona, Jordi Serra, the city that next January 1 will begin formally as the cultural capital for 2010.

Llançà opens its children´s Christmas park this Wednesday, December 23, in the Municipal Pavilion. The park will be open in the morning as well as the afternoon.

The traditional Misa del Gallo (Mass of the Rooster) takes place in Figueres at 11 pm next Thursday, December 24, in the chapel of the school La Salle in the city.

Darnius offers a Christmas concert next Saturday, December 26, in the church of the town. The music will be under the direction of the Polifónica of Figueres at 7 pm.

Llançà also has a pesebre viviente (living nativity pageant) that can be visited starting next Saturday, the 26th, in the center of the town, starting at 6 pm and 7 pm.

Sant Llornç de la Muga presents the traditional Catalan Christmas theater work “Els Pastorets” (The Shepherds) next Sunday, December 27, in the Societat Fraternal starting at 8 pm.

The Meteorological Service of Catalunya issues an alert of an important decrease in the temperatures for the next few days. Even in populations on the coast the minimum temperatures could be below 0 degrees.

A resident of Castelló d´Empúries has created in 3D the cathedral of the town in Google. The American multinational of software products has delayed almost 3 months in accepting the plan but finally has included it in the tools of Google Earth. Thanks to Jaume Mach of Castelló, the cathedral of Empordà has from today an important presence in three dimensions in the visualization information product of the territories of Google. The cathedral was recreated “thanks to the hobby of drawing and to the personal interest for the promotion of the town”, explains its author.

Only about 3,000 citizens of Alt Empordà, 14.5% of the those with the right to vote, have participated this Sunday in the sovereignty referendums organized in seven municipalities.

The Association in Defense of Animal Rights (ADDA) and the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) have delivered this Monday to the Parliament a total of 127,500 signatures against bull fighting events.

The average price of renting in Catalunya has dropped to 852 euros monthly in the third trimester of this year, which puts the prices at the same level as those of the middle of 2007.

The Ayuntamiento of L'Escala will equip the municipal police with a new mobile radar for speed control on the principal roads of the area.

Mollet de Peralada is preserving its history in a book. The volume, edited in the collection Notebooks of the “Magazine of Girona”, was under the direction of Érika Serna and Rosa M. Moret. The book, as all those in the collection, includes 40 chapters in double pages with old images given by the residents and the mayor Claudio Puig.

Cabin crews of the airline British Airways (BA), which has agreed to a merger with the Spanish airline Iberia, voted today in favor of a strike of 12 days in December and January, according to the union Unite. The stoppages will begin on December 22 and will last until January 2, a measure that will affect thousands of passengers and could leave hundreds of flights on the ground in one of the times of greatest traffic in the airports.

The work of improving the urban stretches of C-260, N-260, and the South Ronda of Figueres is provoking long backups to enter and leave the city. The accesses east of Figueres, the roads C-260 and N-260 and the South Ronda suffer notable traffic retentions because of the works that are being finished in the three roads of entrance and exit of the capital of Alt Empordà.

The Mossos d´Esquadra, in coordination with the Catalan Traffic Service (SCT), will put into effect, starting tomorrow until December 24, a traffic campaign to reinforce alcohol and drug controls, taking aim at the lunches and dinners that businesses organize for Christmas.

Figueres stops an increase of the IBI of 18% at the last moment. The government team of CiU, PSC and IC-V slows down, under pressure of the ERC, its own proposal that pushed for a record increase in the municipal environment to counter the lack of income.

Next Friday, December 11, starting at 8 pm, the inauguration of a macro-exposition with the title “Ansón & Ansón” will take place in the Espacio de Arte of the Celler Espelt, reuniting works of two artists of Figueres. The exposition has to do with the paintings of Ricardo Ansón who will present us with his latest works, some of them in large format, and of his son, the sculptor David Ansón, who in this case will present us a complete range of his recent sculpture works. The two artists have conceived an exposition of their works, thinking especially of the salon where the show takes place.

Work has finished on the road GIV-6211, which unites Figueres and El Far d’Empordà, a route that in the last few years has experienced an important increase in traffic which, added to the deterioration of the road, showed a clear need of improving it.

The state police have arrested in the station of Portbou an attacker looked for by Swiss police and who carried 70,000 euros on himself.

The reform of the meeting hall of the Society of Friendship of Cadaqués now finds itself in the final stretch. After 12 years being closed for the supposed bad state of the building, the new council of the society has decided to open again. To make it possible, important works of improvement have been finished, such as the change of the electrical installation, and the adaptation of the space for handicapped persons or those with problems of mobility, with the incorporation of an elevator and ramps at the entrance.

At the beginning of next year, the works of reform on the Casino Menestral of Figueres will be renewed, after having been stopped since 2 years ago for lack of finances. As has assured the mayor of Figueres, Santi Vila, all the problems of the contributions of the administrations and with the company awarded the work have been resolved.

The EcoMuseum-Farinera of Castelló and the center of services of Empuriabrava will be rehabilitated through the Feder fund with 809,023 euros of the 1,618,043 which are budgeted for the projects.

Cadaqués inaugurates this Saturday an exposition of painting by the artist Carles Rahola in the salon l´Amistat at 12 noon.

Next Saturday, December 12, in Roses a Christmas benefit concert takes place with the Chamber Orchestra of Empordà in the Theater of the city at 9 pm.

For those that want to learn new traditional dishes of Navidad, L’Escala is organizing Monday, December 14, in the CEIP Empúries at 7 pm the “15th Show of Cuisine of Navidad”.

Castelló d´Empúries plans a guided visit to the Torre del Vent (Tower of Wind) and the lakes of Palau next Sunday, December 13. The excursion is at 9 am and more information can be solicited in the telephone 972-454-222

The councilor of Environment of the Ayuntamiento of Figueres, Richard Elelman, announced this Monday that he will serve out the mandate as councilor until the last day, but that he will not again present himself as a candidate of the IC-V in the next municipal elections in 2011.

The Catalan Water Agency has begun recently work that will improve the sanitation in Empordà. More than 875,000 euros will be invested in diverse projects that will consist of the construction of 5,600 meters of the network of collectors. The works will permit improving the sanitation of the localities in Empordà such as Torrent (Alt Empordà) or Sant Sadurní de l´Heura (Baix Empordà).

This Navidad, the Association of Merchants of Roses, ACOR, proposes the use of the VISA Commercial Card which will permit collecting funds for diverse social entities, such as Cáritas and the Foundation against cancer, among others.

The works for the installation of the new islands for underground containers in the Paseo Maritime of Roses have arrived this week near the beach of la Punta. The work of placing one of these islands has made necessary removing two of the existing palm trees, which will be transplanted in the green zone situated in the same Paseo Maritime, facing the Avenida de la Playa de Santa Margarita.

The Hospital of Figueres has been distinguished with the Top 20 in its category within the best Hospitals of the Spanish State.

Point of information about the TDT in Castelló d´Empúries. All those persons that still do not receive TDT, tomorrow Wednesday December 2, will be able to ask their questions and raise their doubts to representatives of the TDT. The Ministry has chosen 3 dates for the town of Castelló d´Empúries, December 1, 13, and 24 of 2009. The first day the microbus will be located in the historic center, while the 2 remaining dates will be in Empuriabrava.

Consultations carried out by the news agency Efe among the deputies of the Catalan Parliament reveal that there are more parliamentarians against bull-fighting than defenders of it, so that, saving a surprise at the last hour, the antitaurina law, which probably will be voted on in the middle of December, has serious options of prospering.

The new route of the MAT makes the project cost more. The Generalitat proposes now an alternative which implies modifying more than 50% of the current project and which would move the high voltage line (MAT) away from urban centers a minimum of 500 meters and 100 meters with respect to isolated houses. It discounts, therefore, a possible alternative of undergrounding, such as had been asked by the affected ayuntamientos.

Members of the Platform of Users of RENFE of the Comarcas of Girona stopped yesterday, November 30, for the second time, a train in the station of Sant Celoni to protest the frequent delays of the line (basically, due to the work on the High Velocity Train, AVE) and the recent increments in the price of tickets that the company imposed and which they will increase on the face in 2010.

The director of the Natural Park of Aiguamolls of l´Empordà, Sergi Romero, reproaches the affected ayuntamientos and the sector of the rural workers for the criticisms of the special Plan which they have made before it has been drawn up.

3-D technology arrives at the cinemas of Roses. Room number 5 of the cinemas of Roses will introduce this new technology next December 4. The cost of a ticket will be increased about 2 euros.

The chef from Lançà, Paco Pérez has obtained the second Michelin star for his work in the restaurant of the Hotel Arts of Barcelona.

The art critic Eduard Camps will present number 2 of the magazine “Outer Horizon”, a publication driven by the Galería Horizon of Colera. This number is dedicated to the concept of space.

The first Sunday of every month, Castellò d´Empúries is organizing a market of ecological products in the portico situated next to the cathedral.

La Selva de Mar will represent for the sixth consecutive year the living nativity, with more scenes and a longer course. The town of about 150 residents, will display in the streets of the town more than 15 scenes of representations on which they are now working.

The controversial Ryanair Cabin Crew Charity Calendar 2010 is now available. As is the custom, the company again proposes photographs of the 12 beautiful women, that indeed for a good cause since the profits are destined to finance the beneficial association Kids which helps disabled children. The new calendar with images taken in the Costa Blanca of Almeria and of which can be seen the “making of” in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80b5Pm6sf34, can be acquired for 10 euros at http://www.ryanaircalendar.com/.

Fèlix Millet, accused currently in the case of the worst corruption in the last years in Catalunya, could have carried out real estate operations in Port de la Selva during the years 2007 and 2008 if the documentation brought by an anonymous person to the judges of Barcelona is confirmed. In the document presented it is explained that Millet used a third person to participate in the operations, for those that would have come to pay commissions in some ayuntamientos.

The ski area Courchevel in the French Alps, has installed 2 large surrealist sculptures by Dalí in its slopes to commemorate the death of the artist.

In L´Escala, trucks of more than 3.5 tons, buses and campers may only travel by the Ronda del Pedro in the direction of the schools toward Empúries since Monday, November 23. With this measure, it is intended to calm the traffic in this avenue and encourage the presence of pedestrians after the works of remodeling.

The Friends of the Castle of Quermanço and the Condado (county) of Empúries are organizing with the collaboration of the Ayuntamiento of Castelló d´Empúries the 980 years of the archives of the condado of Empúries.

The Ayuntamiento of Castelló d´Empúries has invested 15,017.98 euros in works and improvements in the building of the CEIP Ruiz Amado.

The Sanctuary of the Mare de Deu del Mon will make reforms to be able to again exhibit the gothic polychrome image from the 14th century that currently is found in the Museum of Art of Girona.

The area of Culture of Vilafant is organizing a course of traditional Catalan cooking. Inscriptions can be made in the Ayuntamiento of the locality starting November 26 and until December 7.

An arsenal of the Spanish Civil War has been found in a forest zone of Darnius with 332 explosive devices. The Catalan police now have taken charge of the matter and have stated that most of the ammunition, composed of anti-aircraft and anti-tank artillery was found in good condition which would make it a great danger.

An association of Castelló d´Empúries is collecting signatures to ask the Catalan Agency of Water that it would clean the Muga river and its tributaries.

The Association of Palau-Saverdera “Union for Palau” denounced the total disinformation about the actions that are being carried out to avoid the destruction of the development Sun Village.

The border post at La Jonquera continues being one of the most important points for entry of drugs in Spain. In only 2 days, the Spanish police have seized 7 kilos of heroin, 1.5 of cocaine, and 48 of hashish.

The Ayuntamiento of Roses has proposed saving energy these holidays of Navidad and has substituted a great part of the conventional nativity lighting with others that use LED technology. The installation of the new decorations now has begun.

This weekend, November 27 and 28, is taking place in the Municipal Theater of Roses the Festival of Children’s Movies with productions from all the world. There will be 3 sessions that will be free for children.

The municipal library of Llançà projects the second part of the International Festival of Children´s Dance of Shanghai this Sunday the 29th at 12 noon.

The vaccine against the H1N1 (Gripe A) Flu is now in the Centers of Primary Assistance (CAP). It seems clear that the virus of the new flu has in general a light affect on the population without basic infirmities, even lighter than the seasonal flu, but with the latest data in hand it is also evident that it infects many more people. Thus in the comarcas of Girona, the rate of incidence of infection by the virus is currently at 500 cases per each 100,000 residents, where the seasonal flu has registered in its peak incidences of between 150 and 200 cases per 100,000 residents in the last few years. The vaccine is indicated for people that form part of the groups of risk and that don’t know for sure that they have had the virus: patients with chronic infirmities (respiratory, cardiac, or those with lowered defenses) and personnel of health, emergency and security services. All these represent 20% of the population of province of Girona.

Starting on the next January 12, 2010, a total of 177 towns of the province of Girona and more than 641,000 people will cease to watch analog TV to move to receiving solely the signal of Terrestrial Digital Television. These towns form part of the second phase of the implementation of the TDT program that is being carried out by the Ministry of Industry, Tourism, and Commerce.

Yesterday, Sunday, November 15, the mayoress Magda Casamitjana and the sculptor from Roses Narcis Costa, inaugurated the sculpture Far-Ziggurat, installed in the overlook where the Rambla Ginjolers and the Maritime Paseo come together. Constructed of iron and with a height of 12 meters, the sculpture offers the city a new beacon full of symbology, as a guide in the road toward tolerance, dialog, and living together.

The Ayuntamiento of Figueres plans, according to informed municipal sources, to close today, Tuesday, November 17, the market of Los Encants for noncompliance with regulations relating to measures of security.

L´Escala will become in 2010 the world capital of the sardana. To mark this occasion and that the town is the 50th Cuidad Pubilla (Capital City) of the Sardana, it has been planned to install a commemorative sculpture. A unique feature of this project is that the residents can leave their opinion about where would be the best place for the sculpture. Your opinion can be left by clicking on: http://noticies.lescala-empuries.com/index.php?mode=ubicacio_ciutat_pubilla.

The Museum of Empordà of Figueres pays homage to the Catalan inventor Narcis Monturiol, inventor of the submarine. The exposition permits seeing handwritten letters and unpublished material of this important figure. The show can be visited in Figueres until February 21, and later until May 2010 in the Maritime Museum of Barcelona.

The multisport pavilion of Sant Pere Pescador, whose works are at the point of being finished, will house during November 20 and 21 the fourth Jornadas Ponte on the day of physical sports activities of school age in Alt Empordà, organized by the Sport Council of Alt Empordà.

The Ayuntamiento of Castelló d´Empúries has made up situational maps that are located at different points within the municipal boundary.

Fifteen towns of the province of Girona of less than 20,000 residents will have in the coming year an integral plan to improve the accessibility for people with difficulties of mobility to their buildings and public spaces. The initiative plans to destine 230,000 euros to the drawing up of these plans and to the training of municipal technicians.

The pre-alert for strong Tramontana winds, which have reached up to 170 km per hour these last few days, was deactivated this Tuesday as reported by the Civil Protection of Catalunya.

The mayor of Port de la Selva believes that the council of the Environment does not capitalize (take advantage of) enough on the Natural Park of Cap de Creus and that this is to the detriment of the towns around it.

The Ayuntamiento of Figueres has presented this Monday the different allegations that have been presented in the pre-project of the partial territorial plan of the comarcas of Girona.

The Primary Attention Center (CAP) of Empuriabrava not only will not be closed, but the Ayuntamiento has projected to expand it to give more health services to the residents of Empuriabrava.

The Department of Social Action and Citizenship has promoted a pilot project of literacy in Catalan for people of foreign origin that do not know how to read or write. The courses have 40 hours duration and are given in groups of 10 to 20 people. In the comarcas of Girona, the pilot project is being carried out in Olot, Figueres, La Jonquera, El Port de la Selva, Ullà, Verges, Inglés, Breda, Hostalric, Calonge, Santa Cristina d'Aro, Llagostera, Quart , Serinyà and Vidreres.

Some twenty tourist boards of Catalunya, as well as 17 businesses of the country are participating starting this Monday in the World Travel Market (WTM), the most important fair of the sector in the world, held in London. During the year 2008 Catalunya received more than 2 million British tourists, which represent 13.5% of the total of tourists that came to Catalunya. The average stay of these tourists in Catalunya was 6 days, and generated more than 13 million nightly stays.

The hanging of private announcements on walls and urban buildings is ended in L’Escala. This is the objective of the campaign put in place by the Ayuntamiento in the last few days. The police will issue summons to all who do not comply with the regulations.

Since this Tuesday, November 10, starting at 8 pm, the Art Space of the Celler Espelt in Vilajuïga, will become the stage that will house the “Citas con … (Dates with …)”, which during various days will bring to the Ampordan cellar different personages of the world of wine and gastronomy.

The Ayuntamiento of Roses takes another step in the process for the implanting of the electronic administration offering a new service of transaction by internet that, thanks to the digital signature, permits, starting now, the presentation of applications and petitions on-line without the citizen having to travel to the municipal offices.

The Ayuntamiento of Roses just awarded the works for replacing the false ceiling of the municipal multisport pavilion.

Figueres is negotiating the purchase of the quarters of the Guardia Civil. The mayor of Figueres, Santi Vila, is meeting this Wednesday with representatives of the Association of Orphans of the Guardia Civil to negotiate the purchase of the quarters situated in calle Nou of the capital of Alt Empordà.

The Department of Environment has conditioned 24.5 km of trails and forest paths within the Natural Park of Cap de Creus to serve for slowing fires.

Undergrounding the MAT (Very High Voltage Transmission) costs 14.2 million euros. The study carried out by the company CLIMA supports that the undergrounding is viable if the costs of overhead lines are taken into consideration, quantifies at 14.2 million euros the price of this option and draws a new route that takes advantage of future corridors of planned infrastructures.

The Multisport Pavilion of Roses will hold next November 14 and 15 two competitions of ballroom dancing that will bring together more than 600 participants.

The Trio Concordiae offers a concert of classical music next Thursday the 12th in the Cercle Sport Figuerenc.

Friday the 13th, the exposition of the painter Antoni Cano is being inaugurated in the Center in the Sala of Expositions of the Casa de Cultura of Llançà at 8 pm.

L´Escala awards the prizes of short and comic narrative Victor Mora in the Sala de Actos of the Ayuntamiento next Sunday the 15th at 12 noon.

Those affected by the documents of boundaries of the canals of Empuriabrava do not want to abandon the protests and, according to one of the spokespersons of the Association of Property Owners of Empuriabrava (APE), Tim Pelters, they are thinking of making European petitions to put their problem in the open. “Private property is sacred,” said Pelters, this past Wednesday during the demonstration that the APE called in Girona, before the subdelegation of the state government.

The Ayuntamiento of Figueres is asking the Ministry of Development that the widening of the A2 autopista to the north of the city would imply the construction of a tunnel where it borders the Castle of San Ferran to disminish the environmental impact.

The electric company Endesa has invested 23,000 euros to improve the electric network of medium voltage for five towns of the comarca of Alt Empordà. The objective has been to reinforce the service to 1,102 clients shared between Boadella i les Escaules, Darnius, Agullana, La Vajol and Maçanet de Cabrenys.

Technicians of the Fauna division of the General Direction of the Natural Environment of the Department of Environment and Living observed this Thursday, October 29, in the framework of routine inspections of protected marine spaces of Alt Empordà a group of some 20 listed dolfins (Stenalla coeruleoalba) along the coast of the Natural Park of Cap de Creus. It deals with one of the groups most numerous and with several young ones, which have been observed after the epidemic (morbilivirus) two years ago and supposes good news for the population dynamics of the species.

The campaign of municipal help for the acquisition of schoolbooks has benefited a total of 675 boys and girls of Figueres.

The Generalitat of Catalunya awarded the Ayuntamiento of Castelló d´Empúries a subsidy of 200,000 euros that will be destined for the urgent rehabilitation of the medieval wall, especially for the section at the Palace of the Condes (Counts) which is the most deteriorated part.

After suffering an important robbery in September 2007, the cathedral of Perpignan just suffered another attack the night between Wednesday and Thursday, when the central safe of the edifice, which weighs some 80 kilos, was pulled out and transported by one or two thieves, who failed when they tried to open it and left it in the street.

The sanction of the promotions of alcoholic beverages of “happy hour”, “open bar”, and “2 for 1” has entered in force at midnight this Friday, with fines of up to 600,000 euros.

The platform (committee) of La Jonquera that is organizing the referendum about the independence of Catalunya next December 13 has been constituted officially and has designated the leaders of the different subcommissions in which it is structured.

The Ayuntamiento of Figueres delivered a notice to the business in charge of the market of los Encants, situated on the road del Faro and in the commercial space of the premises, alerting that if it does not comply with the regulations relating to security measures, it will be closed on November 16.

Ryanair celebrates today November 3 the beginning of operations that connect Girona with the airports of Oslo (Rygge) and of Edinburgh. These two new connections, which certainly will be a success for Ryanair in the airport, will transport some 80,000 passengers more each year in the airport of the Costa Brava.

The Gala-Salvador Dalí Foundation has presented this Monday in Figueres the last work acquired of the Ampurdan artist, an oil painted on both sides. It is titled “Figura de espalda” (Figure of the back) on the front and “Ninfas y señoritas en la fuente de un Jardin” (Nymphs and women in the fountain of a garden) on the back. The work formed part of a private collection and can be seen in the Dalí Museum of Figueres starting the middle of November.

The penal judge number 1 of Figueres has condemned to 20 months in prison and to pay a fine of 5,400 euros the ex-mayor of Garriguella, José Antonio López de Pablo, accused of passing himself as a dentist despite not having the appropriate training.

The Ayuntamiento of Roses and the cultural entity Sociedad Unión Fraternal of Roses (SUF) have reached an agreement for the construction of a new civic center at the current municipal emplacement of this entity, situated in the Rambla Ginjolers.

The price of housing units has fallen up to 20% since the first of the year. As far as the rate of sales, it has been reactivated by 5% since the beginning of the year. According to the experts, “it deals with the accumulated demand that takes advantage of the opportunities because it is a good time for the turnkey buy”, and “in some cases it is not difficult to find good opportunities to buy”, in great part, due to “the pressure on the prices exercised by the banks and savings institutions to bring out for sale their own collections of properties.”

The survey about public security the counselor of Interior, Joan Saura, will present today to the Government will award the demarcation of Girona the worst score in citizen perception. Thus, and as has made public Radio Catalunya, the citizens of Girona are those that have the least sensation of security in all Catalunya, followed by the residents of the city of Barcelona.

Environment (agency) has initiated negotiations to acquire three properties situated in the Natural Park of Aiguamolls of l’Empordà. The three properties, 2 of them private and the third owned by Incasol, occupy a total area of some 150 hectares, and encompass the lakes Tec, Vilaút and Mornau, one of the most important wet habitats in Catalunya.

The Guide of Coexistence ‘convivimos!” has been published in Castelló d’Empúries in visual and iconographic format and in four languages. Its object is to avoid determined actions and behaviors that are bothersome to the rest of the population and to promote the values of coexistence and civic habits.

The Department of Health has begun an informative campaign in its web page with recommendations for avoiding that an excursion to the forest to collect mushrooms does not end in an emergency because of poisoning. http://www.gencat.cat/salut/depsalut/html/ca/dir1923/doc26375.html

The new guide Itinerànnia offers 2,500 kilometers of trails perfectly signed through 108 towns of la Garrotxa, el Ripollès and Alt Empordà. Hotels and pensions, rural houses, camping areas, albergues, restaurants, nature guides and complementary activities. Some thirty establishments (among tourist offices, specialized libraries and others) have available the map which is of scale 1:50,000 and pulls together 1,000 kilómeters of trails of Itinerànnia for Alt Empordà. The publishing house Alpina has made a run of 5,000 copies in Catalan, Spanish, English and French and has put them for sale at a price of 12 euros.

With the aim of slowing the expansion of Pampas grass (Cortaderia Selloana) in the area of la Rubina, the Ayuntamiento of Castelló d´Empúries asked the Ministry of Environment for the removal of this invasive specie, given the circumstance that the famous Argentinian grass expands rapidly and easily and reduces the possibilities of the rest of the native species.

Ports of the Generalitat has awarded the works that will permit constructing the new free (standing) exterior dike in the port of Llançà. The objective of this project is to give better shelter and to increase the conditions of general protection for the port, and thus to be able to offer better service to users. The project will have an investment of 4 million euros and will have an execution time of 5 months.

Figueres will have available starting in 2012 a university faculty centered in renewable energies

The Project of Comprehensive Planning of the Antique Center of Roses includes the area delimited by the streets Francesc Macià, Gravina, Riera Ginjolers and San Sebastián and signifies an investment of 8.63 million euros. It deals with revitalizing the urban center with measures that go from paving of streets to the construction of a cultural center and other spaces that favor social interrelation and cohesion.

The Natural Park of Cap de Creus, with the support of the Ayuntamiento of Cadaqués, has removed more than a hundred of the residues in the bay of Portlligat, in Cadaqués, to protect the fields of the marine algae existing in this area.

The Gastronomic Days of Suquet de Pescado (fish stew) has demonstrated that it is fully consolidated in the holding of the 15th edition. More than 1,5000 persons have tasted some of the menus proposed by some fifteen restaurants of L´Escala. This represents an increase of approximately 85% with respect to the past year.

The accident of an tourist bus that occurred this Monday in Bàscara, in which a Dutch student, 16 years old, died, is the second accident of this type of collective transport with Dutch tourists that has taken place on the highways of the Catalan coast in less than 3 months.

The Ayuntamiento of Figueres plans to transform the façade on the side of the Municipal Theatre El Jardí that faces the gardens Puig Pujades. The previous study of reform and expansion of the spaces joined to the edifice also include opening to the public and improving the access to the third floor of the building where is located the practice room. The objective is to be able to hold in this space spectacles of small format.

“Momentos Musicales” will begin this Sunday with an exceptional performance of guitar and piano given by the Andaluz duo “Hermanos Cuenca”, Francisco Cuenca on the guitar and José Manuel Cuenca at the piano. In addition to works by Albéniz y Tárraga, they will play the famous Concierto de Aranjuez by Joaquin Rodrigo. The concert will take place at 7 pm in the Municipal Theatre of Roses.

With more than 225,000 visitors the past year, the Archeological Museum of Catalunya—Empúries, is counted among the destinations most appreciated in all Spain as far as archeological tourism.

The association Progat (Pro Cat) repeats the campaign of sterilization of cats with the aim to keep the population of these animals under control in the streets of Castelló d´Empúries.

This past Wednesday the most important works in the history of Cadaqués were begun. It deals with reforming the face of the seafront known as Ses Ribes. Traffic will be cut. The works will be carried out in two phases and in both the access for pedestrians will be closed also. Only residents with no other means to reach their homes will be allowed to pass.The reform consists of reconstructing the road, improving the sanitary network, and dividing the roadway into 2 parts, differentiating a zone for vehicles and one for pedestrians. Merchants are uneasy about the accessibility to their businesses. Some will have to close in spite of the fact that the Ayuntamiento is studying creating some small passageways in the zones where the roadbed is safe enough to pass on foot, but the company in charge of the works has the final word. This supervision is written in the protocol of collaboration between the departments of Culture and Means of Communication, and of Territorial Policy and Public Works of the Generalitat of Catalunya, which has as objective to slow the progressive deterioration of ancient centers and the historic (monumental) environment of different towns of Catalunya. The execution of the works is scheduled for 7 months with an investment of 431,034.48 euros.

Hotel occupation in the Costa Brava has been 70% during this long weekend. Although the tourist sector has made a good evaluation, “In this season, people now begin to turn a little more toward the mountain,” the director of the Federation of Hosteleria of the Comarcas of Girona has said.

The electric line of the paseo of Empúries is buried. The works of developing the last stretch of the paseo of Empúries, between the beach of Portitxol and the bridge, are under way again, once the summer tourist season has passed. One of the important improvements which will be included is to take advantage to put the electric line underground where it passes the paseo and over the dunes of the seashore.

The mayor of Figueres, Santi Vila, defends installing wind turbines in the area of the autopista and N-II. Vila recalls that Figueres opposed the project of the company Gamesa to install 64 wind generators in 32 towns of Alt Empordà, with a height of 184 meters and, in exchange, considers the best option would be to install the wind mills in the area of the transportation infrastructure of the comarca. The mayor made these statements during the inauguration of the International Days about the Environment which is being held in Figueres, until Saturday.

The historical municipal archive of L´Escala has received the photographic collection of Miguel Bataller i Fàbregas which gathers the history of the last 40 years of the town in more than 12,000 photos.

The attack of a dog on a 5 year old girl while she played this past Sunday in the patio of a restaurant in Sant Quirze de Colera has touched public opinion in the Girona province. The animal, a mix of different shepherd breeds, was tied up, had its shots and the census papers in order and was not included in the list of the breeds considered dangerous.

Plaza Catalunya of Figueres housed yesterday all day the 23rd Feria del Pilar de Coleccionismo (Collectionism) and the 4th Feria del Disco. Some 40 stands offered the possibility of buying, selling, and exchanging these materials and objects.

The 2nd Route of Art, Castelló d´Empúries from October 9 to 12, 2009. Through diverse works of art you are invited to take a walk through the network of medieval streets and discover the architectural beauty of the buildings in perfect balance between art and architecture. Rock and art will be fused in this cultural event which has been created with the idea of bringing out the beauty of the historical patrimony of the town.

The publishing house ExperienciasyMas, dedicated to the diffusion of hotels of luxury and enchantment, has given its Hotel Awards of Wine 2009 to the 10 best lodging and hotels of the south of Europe, among which there are 4 establishments in Spain. The Hotel Peralada Wine Spa & Golf is one of the award recipients.

The works of the edifice that will house the new seat of the School of Hosteleria of Alt Empordá in Figueres will begin today, Tuesday, October 6, according to the report of the Chamber of Commerce of Girona.

Llançà teaches to navigate with light sail. The Nautical Club and the Ayuntamiento of the coastal town have begun the free course of learning with all the places covered.

In Roses, the balance of general occupation, according to data provided by the Office of Tourism, allows seeing that August of this year has had a hotel occupation (90.8%) a little better than in the seasons of 2007 (89.89%) and 2008 (89.02%). The camping facilities, on the other hand, have suffered a decline of more than 10 points in 2 years, in August, while the occupation of apartments has been higher than in previous seasons.

The works of expanding and reinforcing the bridge over the Fluvià de Sant Pere Pescador, which joins the main center with the rest of the towns of the comarca will begin early in December with the anticipation that they will finish before summer.

Coinciding with the declaration of the United Nations of 2009 as the International Year of Astronomy, the Cultural Space of the Ciutadella of Roses presents, starting Wednesday, October 7 and until October 24, the exposition “A Universe to Discover”. The show brings together a series of magnificent and surprising astronomical photos resulting from the study of the universe in which we live

Next December 19, Figueres will pass the baton in Badalona as Capital of Catalan Culture 2010.

The Association of Residents of Rosa dels Vents of Empuriabrava, which brings together some 500 members in its first year of life, has called all the residents of the residential marina Castellonina to an assemby of free attendence and participation which will be held next Friday, October 9, in the hotel Xon’s of Empuriabrava to propose the necessity of creating a political party that would defend Empuriabrava.

The Espelt Art Space, in Vilajuïga held this past Saturday, October 3, the inauguration of the exposition of sculptures of José Luis Pascual and the paintings of Victor Pérez-Porro, who assembled a good public participation, especially friends and many other resident artists of the comarca. The show of paintings and sculptures can be seen in Vilajuïga until October 25.

The mayors of La Tallada d´Empordà, Albons, Viladamat, Vilamacolum and Torroella de Fluvià have firmly defended this Friday the works of expanding the road C-31 between La Tallada and Torroella de Fluvià.

The 1st Open L’Escala Accessible –1st Catalunya Cup of Adapted Sail, held this weekend in the Empordan town, has been a rousing success, considering the level of participation as well as the organization. In total, a score of sailors took part, although the majority were Catalans, also there were sailors from different parts of Spain and Europe. As far as the results, Miguel Ángel Gómez has finished second in the class 2.4 mR and third overall.

On October 3 the inauguration took place of the biographical exposition by Joan Rimbau y Trull (1783-1854), “Simonet, Terror of Francés Empordà 1804-1814”, which the journalist Josep Playà presented before a room full of the public, in the Rectoria of Garriguella. At the end of the presentation, the “Making of” was projected of different clips of the documentary, which currently is in the post-production phase.

The citizens of Girona since some time ago have been able to ask for appointments for obtaining the Document of National Identity (DNI) and passports in the police offices of Girona, Figueres, Sant Feliu de Guixols and Lloret de Mar. To use this system, one will have to go to the web: www.citapreviadnie.es or to the telephone 902-247-364 where you will be given the day and hour to go to submit the application and pick up the corresponding document.

Eighty-seven percent of the recreational boats that the Maritime Service of the Guardia Civil has inspected in the Costa Brava have committed some infraction. The majority of the citations are because the skipper did not have a nautical license, because he did not have the certificate of navigation, or because he did not have insurance. This year, the agents of the Maritime Service in Girona have made 102 inspections of recreational boats, nautical motos, and scuba divers, and, of these, 89 have ended with a citation for not complying with the regulations.

L’Escala wants to finish the new library in 7 months. The library until now occupied one the floors of this construction from the 70’s, in which historically also had been La Caixa Girona, which was the owner of the property. Once done with the works, all of the building will be destined to the library.

Figueres suffers a wave of vehicle robberies. The Mossos d’Esquadra have arrested 2 people who had assaulted dozens of cars in the Empordan capital during recent weeks.

The best artists in Castelló d’Empúries, from the 9th to the 12th of October. The city will house during 4 days the best expositions of the artists of the most renown and reputation in the world of painting and sculpture. The historic center of the town will put at the disposal of 72 artists a total of 20 spaces, among private and public, for showing hundreds of works of great professionals such as: Alfonso Alzamora, José Luís Pascual, Lluís Roura, S. Koyama, Jordi Gispert, Emili Armengol, Reina Saura, Pujolboira, Guerrero Medina, G. Carbó Berthold, David Ansón, Ricard Ansón, among many others.

With the desire of bringing more than ever to the Figueres public of all ages, the organizers of the fifth edition of the Festicurts of Figueres, dedicated to present new short films and which will be held from the 30th of September to the 4th of October, have created a very diverse and popular program which will shake all the corners of the city.

Cadaqués has given a rock from the Cap de Creus to the Dali Museum of St Petersburg, Florida (USA). The authorities of the city and the directors of the museum organized on the 25th of September a great ceremony, with the presence of 250 persons, among them the mayor of Cadqués, Joan Borrell, to celebrate the giving of the symbolic rock, which will form part of the new headquarters of the museum, now under construction.

The political group Ciudadanos (Citizens or C´s) consider “a joke” the complaint of the Board of Tourism about the error of Spanair which promotes the Costa Brava with an image of the castle of Tamarit of Tarragona. C’s recalls that the Board of Tourism was the first in using photographs that were not from the Costa Brava, specifically from the Bahamas and from Australia.

Gloria’s Swing offers a concert next Wednesday September 30 in the Soul Café of Figueres.

Next Saturday, October 3, will be held in Figueres for the first time the 1st Congress of Wikipedia in Catalan. At 12 noon in the school IES Ramón Muntaner.

The best yachtsmen of adapted sails of Catalunya have a meet in the Club Nautico L´Escala between October 2 and 4.

The Irish company of low-cost flights, Ryanair, has announced that starting February 7, 2010, it will unite the city of Girona with Brindisi, in the south of Italy. The flight will have 2 departures weekly and the company takes on the market with the forecast of having 30,000 passengers annually. Tickets for this destination can be purchased since the past Wednesday, September 16. Ryanair foresees to carry 67 million passengers in Europe in 2009.

The business Anchoas de L´Escala, S.A., has invested 3 million euros to remodel and expand the factory located in the business park of the town. The work has permitted doubling the area of the business, which will have 3,000 sq meters, and they are at the starting point of a project of internationalization.

The lack of teachers brings about problems in Vilafant and Peralada. The situation during the first week of the school year has caused some students to be left in the patio during the afternoon because there were no teachers to give classes.

Roses paves 30,000 sq meters. The carrying out of these projects of improving the asphalt and sidewalks entails a total investment of 1.35 million euros. The local municipal police will place signs and create bypasses to avoid the worst of the bother for users.

In the month of August, Spain has received 6.7 million tourists, which implies a decline of 8.1% with respect to the same month last year. The Ministry of Tourism has said that the cut in the number of visitors “continues moderating” with respect to previous months and has highlighted that in the overall period the decline is situated below 10%.

The prison of Figueres will use the sexual inhibition treatment within 2 years. The pharmacological treatment to inhibit sexual impulses of offenders with high risk of recividism could be applied to some four prisoners each year. The treatment always will be voluntary, since it is essential to have the cooperation of the prisoner, who will also follow a psychological treatment so that the drugs will have the desired effect and so that the prisoner also does not consume drugs with contrary properties.

Llançà organizes next October 4 the third march (demonstration) by bicycle against climate change and for sustainable transit. This activity is planned in the framework of the Week of Sustainable and Safe Mobility, which with the theme “Free Space, Free Air”, seeks to sensitize citizens about the environmental impacts of transport and inform them about different modalities.

One part of the residues removed from the demolition of the 443 bungalows of the old vacation town of Club Med of Cadaqués will be reutilized and the rest will be loaded on trucks to the dump. The reutilized part will serve for the construction of a dry marina in Roses promoted by a private party and which is anticipated to be constructed in the entrance of Santa Margarita.

The Department of Social Action and Citizenship will send this year 2,615,159.91 euros to the Council of Alt Empordà to finance its programs of social services for towns of less than 20,000 inhabitants.

The project of works and the museum director, which should convert the old city hall of Portbou into the center in memory of Walter Benjamin, will be ready next year.

The Festival of Contemporary Culture of L´Emporà begins this year a new phase with the name of “Ingràvid”, inaugurating a new location in Figueres. The objective of these changes is to enhance and to give outlet to the growth registered in the last few years by this offering of the latest artistic and cultural trends, with the addition of interactivity with the public. The event will take place from the 24th to the 27th of September in Figueres.

The wines of the DO (Denomination de Origin) Empordà are only in 43% of the restaurants. According to a study about the habits of buying and attitudes of the owners of restaurants and hotels of the Catalan coast toward the wine made in Catalunya.

The stench of the pump station in Empuriabrava generates neighborhood complaints. The company Aqualia recognizes that the works are not finished but that they have been put in service this summer to avoid worse problems in case of rains.

The president of the Generalitat, Pepe Montilla, has participated in the Centennial of the Costa Brava with a visit by boat from l’Estartit to L’Escala, passing by the Islas Medes and terminating at the Ruins of Empúies. In this place and before a full representation of mayors and tourist businessmen of the zone, Montilla has praised the Costa Brava as one of the “immense treasures” that Catalunya has, and has asked that it continue to be protected. “One must remember that the richness is not infinite and that the balance, at times, is fragile. Therefore, we cannot confuse improvement with exploitation, and even less with destruction,” the president said.

The 25th Wine Tasting of Empordà has served, in three and a half days, more than 60,000 samples, cups of wine, cava and tapas on the part of the 20 cellars of the DO Empordà and 10 restaurant businesses.

The Cellar Espelt organizes another Vendimia antigua (Grape Harvest). Starting at 10 am next Saturday, 19th of September, the cellar, the vineyards and Mas Espelt of Vilajuiga, will again be the stage that will house the second edition of the Vendimia Antigua. For a few hours, we will be able to return to years ago and recall one of the most important agricultural traditions of the comarca: the grape harvest.

Castelló d´Empúries begins a new school course (or year). Of the new course it is fitting to highlight the entrance in service of the new secondary teaching center that houses in Empuriabrava the first course of ESO (Obligatory Systematic Education) with two classes and a total of 53 students.

In the comarcas of Girona, it is forecast that there is a total of 118,652 students, among primary and secondary, some 2.6% more that the past year, and 7,839 teachers, 0.7% more, according to data of the Education Department. From the unions have been complaints that 64% of the education centers of Girona have unfilled staff positions.

Alt Empordà prepares referendums about independence. Following the example of Arenys de Munt (Mareseme), in various municipalities of Alt Empordà there are entities and associations that have begun to work to hold referendums about the independence of Catalunya.

The definitive moving of the bus station from the center of Figueres to Vilafant, to the area where the temporary AVE (High Speed Train) station is being constructed, will be done gradually and will depend on the schedule of trains of medium and long distance that stop in Vilafant.

Eleven years after its proposal and after intense debate, the new hospital San Juan of Perpignan will function from the 20th of October, but already it is open this weekend to the public for some days of open doors.

The rains recorded in the last weekend have diminished lightly the sanitary quality of the water at the beaches, according to a report from the Department of Environment and Living.

Jean Pierre Zingre exhibits a retrospective of his work in the exposition hall of the Ayuntamiento of L´Escala until the end of September. The hall remains open in the afternoon and the entrance is free.

The Association of Alzheimer Patients and Families of Figueres has organized a day of celebration and information about the disease that will begin on the 21st of September, coinciding with the World Day, and will end on the 26th.

Sunday the 20th of September, the 14th edition of the Artisan Cheese Fair of Catalunya will be held in Lladó. The event is one of the most important that is held in the State. An important quantity of people (between 15,000 and 20,000) visit the Fair. This is located in the ancient center of the village, around the church of Santa Maria and its structures that date from 1089.

Vilabertran holds for another year its days dedicated to the garden and this year also to stuffed apples. Next Sunday, 20th of September, and during all the day, the village will be converted into a great market where one will be able to buy and try out all types of products cultivated in the gardens of the area.

Roses holds a curious conference next Friday the 18th from 7 pm in the Ciudadela. Dr Joan Antón Ginestà will speak about “Surgery in the classical age”.

You will able to visit Sant Quirze de Colera starting this month. The historical buildings of Sant Quirze de Colera will be open starting next Friday, the 11th of September, through a service of guided visits that the ayuntamiento of Rabós d´Empordà and the foundation of Sant Quirze have put in place. Visits to the monastery will be offered each weekend, at 12 noon and at 1 pm.

Almost a hundred people among the friends, members and supporters of the Association of Friends of the Castle of Sant Ferran have participated for the third year in the cleaning of the road that leads to the castle.

Next Saturday, 12th of September 2009, the XII edition of the Fiesta de la Sal will be held in L´Escala. This year, on the occasion of the National Lottery, a demonstration of dances of L´Escala, Catalunya and Greece will be offered. The performances, which in the majority will be held on the beach of the town, recall the ancient trades of fishing for anchovies and their following preservation in salt.

Nine young Catalan photographers exhibit their work in the festival “Visa Pour l´Image” which is held in Perpignan. The Exhibition of Young PhotoJournalism Clic ´09 can be seen until the 28th of September in Perpignan.

On the occasion of the presentation in the gallery Cadaqués Dos of the monographic issue of the magazine Bonart dedicated to the artist and architect Lanfranco Bombelli (Milan, 1921 – Cadaqués, 2008), the director of the magazine, Ricard Planas, asked for the start of a foundation with the name of the architect to popularize the work of a distinguished character who established himself in Cadaqués and developed an artistic labor recognized worldwide.

The Gala-Salvador Dalí Foundation has presented the latest acquisition of work of the artist: a drawing in pencil and pastel titled “The Surrealistic Piano”, which can be seen in Púbol until the 30th of September. The presentation was made by Montse Aguer, director of the Centro de Estudios Dalinianos.

The days 11, 12 and 13 of September, Castelló d´Empúries celebrates the annual fiesta “Terra de Trobadors” (Land of Troubadors). A festival dedicated to the medieval culture in which are represented markets, tournaments, and foods inspired by the medieval history of the comarca.

The Association of merchants of the comarcas of Girona has qualified as “nefasta” (sadly lacking) the management that the city council of Castelló d´Empúries applies to the Saturday market in Empuriabrava.

The line between Portbou and Barcelona will debut trains in October. The first four trains of the new fleet of Catalunya Express for the route between Portbou, Figueres, Girona, and Barcelona will arrive at the end of next month. These trains form part of the twelve that will replace the current trainsets, which since 20 years ago have been running this route.

The Democratic Memorial of the Generalitat, with the collaboration of the Comarcal Council of Alt Empordà and various city councils of the comarca, have placed signs at 28 points in 17 municipalities on the routes of the exile used during the Spanish Civil War.

The ecological organization Salvem l´Empordà has started a collection of signatures against the project of the company Gamesa to install 64 wind turbines 184 meters in height in 32 municipalities of Alt Empordà.

Until the 10th of January, you can visit in Cadaqués the exposition “Salvador Dalí – Enrique Sabater. Reciprocidades 1968 – 1980” in the Cadaqués Museum.

The Gallery of Arte Horizon of Colera plans until the end of September a collective exposition about the interpretation of space.

The distribution of 5,000 ashtrays in Roses this summer has managed to eradicate uncivil behavior of smokers that still throw their cigarette butts in the sand of the beaches.

A sailor from Figueres in the Llançà Nautical Club, Gerard Marin, is at the point of returning to cross the Atlantic solo, aboard his new boat of the class Mini 6.50, the 727, in the framework of the regatta TRANSAT 6.50 – 2009. The start from the French Atlantic coast of the Transat 6.50 2009 is set for next 13 of September and the race will terminate in Salvador de Bahía (Brasil) after a single stop in Madeira. Those of the Nautical Club of Llançà want to support the regatista and have provided a means to follow his participation in the regatta by the web site www.cnllanca.cat, where they have made direct access to this information in the page http://www.cnllanca.cat/mini/2009_transat_650.htm.

The Festival Acústica of Figueres has closed its eighth edition with an increase of some 5,000 spectators with respect to last year.

The library service on the beach that the city of Llançà put at the disposition of the tourists during this summer has received more than 7,000 people. Under the original concept of the space, the city council made its objective to facilitate for both visitors and residents access to the daily press, children´s stories, novels, and all types of books that make reference to the city.

According to the first forecasts, the quantity of grapes to be harvested will diminish 15% in all Catalunya since the grape vines have had a lower production. The past year 300 million hectoliters of grapes were collected, while this year´s harvest is forecast to yield some 250 million hectoliters.

L’Escala will invest more than 4 million euros in the Parking garage and the Library. The work of construction of the underground parking in the plaza Catalunya, with a cost of about 4 million euros and the new municipal library, with an investment of 600,000 euros, will commence this month in September.

The bay of Cadaqués held this past Saturday the meeting of latin rig sailing boats, which this year celebrates the 22nd edition. Most of the boats that were brought to the encounter came from diverse points of the Costa Brava as well as the south of France. The organization offered a dinner to all the participants.

Disagreement among the merchants about the location of the Thursday market. The city council of Figueres proposes to move the municipal market that is held on Thursday in the plaza dels Països Catalans.

The placing in service of the new digital radar for observing the airspace of the military base of Pení will cause the loss of 20% of the work positions that are currently there. This new system will permit substituting for the analog technology and will be located in a new sphere of glass that will permit eliminating the 2 round domes characteristic of the military base.

The Finnish videoartist Seppo Renvall, who in the next Bienal of Venice will present the largest sauna in the world, will construct in the Festvial Surpas of Portbou a prototype of the sauna made with recycled material. In this sauna will take place a surprise performance, according to the organizers of the festival of free and popular culture which will be celebrated between the 3rd and the 5th of September in the city on the border with France.

In Figueres until the 1st of October one can visit in the Café Hotel París in the Rambla, the exposition of paintings under the name of “Vivencias” of Francesca Escobar.

An operation against the street vendors in Roses has finished with the decommission of 500 kilos of falsified materials.

They are hanging posters for some works in the commercial center of Portbou. The neighbors complain that they want them to pay special contributions for some work that they have not ordered and that these amounts are excessively high.

The excursion center of Llançà organizes for the 27th of September an outing from Llançà to Roses, passing by the castle of Santa Helena de Saverdera. The price of the excursion is 5 euros and places are limited.

Roses proposes guided visits to the Museum of the Ciudadela every day. At 11 am and at 6 pm in French and English, and at 12 noon and at 7 pm in Catalan and Spanish.

The eighth edition of the music festival Acústica de Figueres begins this Wednesday. In times of crisis this event which last year brought together 30,000 spectators has all the attractions to reach similar numbers this year. Only 3 of the 35 programmed shows are for pay, the rest are free. The planning of the urban festival permits moving from stage to stage by foot and with distances never more than 5 minutes. This past Sunday, at the first hour of the morning, have been placed in the plaza of the Ayuntamiento of Figueres the main installations of the Acústica. On Friday will be featured the group of the Cataluña Norte Blues de Picolat (7 pm), the actor, imitator and musician Bruno Oro who will present his disc “Nápoles” (11 pm) and the singer of Els Pets Lluis Gavaldá who will make his first performance in solo (1 am).

Palau-Saveredra celebrates its Fiesta Mayor of Sant Joan starting next Saturday. The municipal pool will be the main stage of the activities directed mainly to children.

This past Saturday was celebrated in the church of la Selva de Mar a concert by the violinist Ala Voronkova, who interpreted the Capriccios of Paganini before a public that filled the church. Following the concert was inaugurated the exposition of the 24 Capriccios of Paganini, on the part of the artists Carles Bros and Abel Florido in the recently renovated Trull del Aceite.

According to the Fundación Mar, the lack of control in anchoring boats on the Costa Brava is putting the seafloor at risk. The lack of buoys makes boats throw their anchors and they destroy the fields of maritime vegetation. During the summer, the problem is aggravated by the tourist pressure.

Cataluña registered in the month of July a level of hotel occupation highest in the Spanish state, at 67.3%. Only the Balearic Islands are ahead in this ranking with an index of 81.5%. The data of the first half of August show a decline of only 3% with respect to August of last year.

L’Escala celebrates its Fiesta Major from the 2nd to the 5th of September. This year, in addition to the traditional acts of the fiesta (sardanas, water fiesta, fireworks, etc…) are proposed different activities, for example observing the moon thanks to the Agrupación de Aficionados a la Astronomia de Girona who will show the craters of the satellite to the curious.

The city council of Roses has approved the project to change the false ceiling of the municipal sports pavilion, which shows signs of deterioration due to the use of the installations, impacts of balls, etc. The renovation will have a budget of 115,000 euros.

The EcoMuseum, Farinera de Castelló d´Empúries , holds until the 30th of September the traveling exposition, Habita et Labora, organized by the National Museum of Science and Technology of Cataluña. For more information or consultation, go to the following address: http://www.mnactec.cat/expo/fes_turisme_industrial.html.

Figueres will hold the festival of contemporaneous culture of Empordá, la Ingrávid, from the 24th to the 27th of September, as a part of the acts of Figueres Capital of Catalan Culture. During 4 days will be placed in different points of the city, such as the Rambla, the plaza Josep Pla and the houses of Fages de Climent and Narcís Monturiol, interactive installations, performances, round tables, workshops, projections, video, children’s films, music and poetry, all with the objective “let the people interact”, as has explained the co-director, Esther Pujol.

With 10 seconds of difference with respect to the second place, the Xon’s Rem Empuriabrava won in Roses their second title this year, the Championship of Catalan rowing.

The parking area that is on the way to the cemetery of Sant Llorenç de la Muga should be transformed very soon to a small center of trash collection. Everything is ready for the awarded company to begin the works for the installation in this area of collection of special residues.

The distribution group Bon Preu has signed an agreement with the French supermarket multinational Intermarché for buying their Spanish network.

The city council of Castelló de Empúries offers the possibility of presenting a claim for the inconveniences and losses caused by the constant cuts in the electric supply. For more information you can call the Department of Citizen Participation and Relations with Citizens, 972 25 04 26 or go to participaciociutadana@castello.cat.

The city council of Port de la Selva has removed 3 tons of trash from 3 of the most important Calas (coves) of the town.

The Meteorological Service of Catalunya communicated by its website that the majority of the comarcas of Girona (Alt and Baix Empordà, Pla de l'Estany, Gironès and La Selva) are found at alert Level 2 for the “very high” risk of high temperatures. In these areas it is forecast with much confidence that the maximum temperatures can exceed 35 degrees, mainly between 2 pm and 8 pm.

This next Wednesday, the 19th of August, begins the Schubertiada 2009 in Vilabertran. The inaugural concert offers the pianist Elisabeth Leonskaja who will interpret works of Schubert, Monpou and Chopin. With a total of 11 concerts held in the romanic buildings of Santa Maria de Vilabertran, this year’s edition ends on the 5th of September with the concert given by the Chamber Orchestra of the Schubertiada, directed by the prestigious Catalan Antoni Ros Marbà, and which will offer works of Schubert, Toldrà, and Schönberg. Tickets can be acquired through the site http://www.schubertiadavilabertran.cat/eng/index.html and do not cost more than 35 euros.

The numbers of visitors from the United States has doubled with respect to 2008. Although American tourists only represent 3.17% of the total, diverse tourist sectors are satisfied and surprised by the increase.

The works of the first phase of the Parque de los Olivars in Figueres have been started. The park, with an extension of some 17,000 square meters, will unite the triangle that the neighborhoods of Olivar Grande and Poble Nou form together with Avenida Salvador Dalí. Also the quality of the adjoining neighborhoods will be improved, giving a new image to Figueres.

The Museo de la Acuarela (Watercolor) of Llançà celebrates its 20 years and celebrates it with a collective exposition of local artists. Now until the 15th of September, the museum opens its doors daily except for Monday.

An elephant, property of the American Circus, escaped from its cage this past Sunday in L´Escala and during some 10 minutes roamed through the areas near a road until the local police and the animal tamer managed to return the animal to its home.

The French are the principle users of the tourist offices of Castelló d´Empúries. Tourism in the city has diminished some 8% and coincides with general data in Catalunya, although this circumstance has not kept the inquiries in the tourist office from increasing, probably due to the bad weather. By nationality, the most inquiries have been made by the French, followed by Catalan-Spanish, and Germans. The nationalities that have decreased most are the British and German, which makes clear the economic recession and the strength of tourism from nearby countries.

L’Escala will hold the National Drawing of the Lottery next September 12. The famous administration of the lottery L’Anxova Millionaria will be in charge of organizing the national drawing which will be celebrated in the area La Punta. The drawing will distribute 42,000,000 euros in premiums, which will go for a single décimo.

Police arrested in La Jonquera a band which had stolen 72 boat motors in the Catalan coast.

The operations of selling living units in the comarcas of Girona fell this June 34.25% in relation to the same month of 2008, according to publication of the National Institute of Statistics.

The Fiesta Mayor of Garriguella begins today the 18th of August. A series of activities has been programmed in the town, among others, a foot and bicycle race suitable for all the public—for the children less than 6 years old, a “lighter course” of 200 meters has been designed—as well as a zone of children’s games with inflatables and a course for quads and sardanas.

The second edition of the festival SURPAS (free and popular culture) arrives in Portbou the 3rd, 4th and 5th of September 2009, an interdiscipinary festival, with artists of different backgrounds and training and under the umbrella of copyleft (the free creation, distribution and promotion of artistic works) and of inter-culturality.

The Denominación de Origen of Empordà, with 41 cellars, forecasts for this campaign of grape harvest to collect some 70,000 hectolitros, a number similar to that of last year.

The city council of Roses will fix up the trail that runs between the calas Montjoi and la Pelosa with the objective to improve and regulate the accessibility to these spaces included within the natural park of Cap de Creus

Ryanair will eliminate the flights between Girona and Manchester. The airline cuts 600 jobs and suspends 9 of 10 routes that operate from the British city.

“La Acustica” will be celebrated from 26 to 30 of August with some 35 performances of which only 3 are not free, Jorge Drexler, Pedro Guerra y Josep Punti in the Cloister of the Instituto Ramon Muntaner. The rest will be distributed among different stages in the center of Figures with names such as Lluís Gavaldà, Bruno Oro, Sidonie, Labuat, Beth, The Pepper Pots o Giulia y los Tellarini. The festival pays tribute to Sau with a half dozen voices of catalan pop and will be inaugurated with the debut of the spectacle “50NC, Letra y Musica” by Marc Parrot to commemorate the half century of new songs. The past year “La Acustica” reached 30,000 spectators. In parallel, “La Feria de Comidas del Mundo” will be held and will offer Hindu, Mexican, Ecuadorian, Venezuelan, Colombian, Tibetan, Argentinian and Sephardic foods, among others, also there will be a creperia of Breton and a French one.

The International Festival of Music of Cadaques closed its 38th edition yesterday with its continuity guaranteed, according to the mayor of the town, Joan Borrell.

This summer some of the seating on the beach of Port de la Selva has been renewed. The city council has replaced the 3 showers and has placed 10 new trash receptacles. Finally the central piece of the children’s play area has been renewed.

Castelló d’Empúries will say goodbye to the fiesta mayor of Sant Llorenç Friday, August 7. The fiesta highlights much live music directed to all ages and interests.

The city council of Sant Pere Pescador has asked the residents of the city to bring images of the period from 1930 to 1945 to make a book about the history of the town.

Endesa has invested recently a total of 200,000 euros to reinforce the quality and continuity of electric service in Alt Emporda. The most emblematic work is the construction of the infrastructure which supplies electricity to the group of historical buildings at Sant Quirze de Colera.

The Museum of Toys in Figures now has available audio guides which inform the visitors in Spanish, Catalan, French and English.

The zone of night leisure activity “Els Arcs de Empuriabrava” will not have cameras of video security, as was asked by the city council of Castelló d´Empuries and the Federation of Associations of Recreational Musical Activities (Fecasarm) to combat the lack of security in the zone, location of various fights and acts of vandalism. The Commission of Seguimiento of Video Security in Catalunya has denied permission to install them because it considers the right of privacy should take precedence over that of security.

A band of robbers was found in Figueres that disguised themselves as police. After numerous complaints, the police arrested yesterday a pair of individuals that, passing as police, robbed purses and wallets of tourists.

According to the Catalan Agency of Water, the Bay of Rosas is found to be free of jellyfish this year. At this time of the summer the encounters with these animals have been very punctual with respect to past years, so it is expected to be a very calm season in this sense.

In Port de la Selva, a boat of medium size fell from the trailer in which it was being transported in the street Lloia this past Thursday. Since then it remains impeding the normal traffic and causing great surprise to pedestrians.

The success of “KiteSurf” in Sant Pere Pescador is causing numerous inconveniences between the bathers and the sports people. The city council has announced that for the next season it will regulate the practice of this sport more strictly.

The Nautic Club of Darnius recalls the history of the reservoir of Darnius-Boadella with a monographic exhibition in the Municipal Museum from the 6th to 20th of September. The exhibition let´s visitors discover a part of the region of the Arnera forty years after construction of the dam.

A free provisional parking lot is now in service behind the Park Sol in Figueres. This parking area will serve visitors to the regional hospital and the municipal sports center.

Empuribrava is a destination of sports tourism thanks to sky-diving and football. Now the city hall of Castello d´Empuries will try to promote sailing, with the inauguration of the Municipal School of Sailing, situated in the ¨petita¨ beach of Empuriabrava.

The repairs of the Maritime Paseo of L'Escala will be partially finished this week. From then the new Paseo will be open to the public, at reduced level.

The association of fishermen of L´Escala has created the first center of interpretation of the fish (Maram). It is located in the fishing port and it is hoped will atract school groups and adults who are interested in learning more about the world of fishermen

The neighbors of Bon Relax in San Pere Pescador demonstrated Saturday demanding the awaited connection to the waste treatment center of Albons. They also demand a higher level of cleaning service in general, and an effective system of limiting speed in the urbanization.

The French Ministry has decided to greatly reduce the number of Honorary Consulates in the world. Closure of the Honorary Consulate of the Alt Emporda will be effective at the end of the year and will affect the offices of Figueres and Roses.

The City Hall of Roses has installed machines that dispense plastic bags to assist the responsible civic behavior of people with dogs.

During the month of August the Espai Cultural Center of the Ciutadella of Roses offers guided visits to the megalithic and visigothic centers. All activites are free. Prior registration is required for attendance, and can be made by calling 972 15 14 66.

The Exile Museum of La Jonquera will show until the 27th of September Ëls diaris de Josep Franch-Clapers¨. The idea is to show this pictorial work, completed in great part in the internment camps, as if it were a personal diary and showing the dignity and strength that resulted from the suffering.

Next Saturday the exhibition of Alex Nogue, ¨Registres I posicions, will open at the Galeria Horizon in Colera. It consists of a showing of drawings related to the theme of the tree.

John Malkovitch opens the Peralada Festival. The actor was accompanied in the performance by two sopranos, Bernarda Bobro and Aleksandra Zamojski, and by the Orchestra Wiener Akademie, interpreting music of Vivaldi, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Gluck, Boccherini and Webber, under the musical direction of Marin Haselböck.

The Gala-Salvador Dali Foundation has presented the latest acquisition of work of the artist, an oil titled ¨Banyistes des Llaner, that has previously been displayed publicly on few occasions. The presentation was organized by Montse Aguer, Director of the Center For Dalian Studies.

The Catalan coast has experienced a very difficult month of July, after the economic crisis and decline of foreign tourists has resulted in falling occupancy rates that have reached 15% in some zones. Nonetheless, they are hoping for a much better August, including occupancy rates that reach nearly the same numbers as the previous year, as many Spanish tourists will opt for remaining in closer locations instead of travelling to beaches further away.

There have been no surprises. The new council of Perpignan chose Jean Paul Alduy, 67, mayor of the city for the fifth time in 16 years. Alduy had collected 43 votes to 9 votes for the Socialist candidate Jacqueline Amiel Dado and three blank votes, corresponding to the three directors from the list of Jean Codogno, who has decided not to be present at the installation.

Members of the platform for users of the Renfe line Barcelona-Portbou have met with the railroad company for the fourth time without having reached any meaningful agreement, beyond the company's commitment to advance ten minutes the first train.

The Sicilian town of San Vito Lo Capo, in the coastal province of Trapani, has hosted a weekend show devoted to cooking tuna. The IV show “Bonton” had this year an international focus, for which was desired to support the initiative for the commemoration of the centennial of the Costa Brava with the presence of a special guest to represent the destination: Oriol Blanes, gastromonic coordinator of the “Aula Gastronomica de l'Empordà”.

The II RAPID MARATHON IN PAINTING in Figueres and Vilajuïga: organized by the Friends of the Castle of Sant Ferran and the Friends of the Castle Quermançó takes place on 13 and 14 of this month.

The Catalan Government has given the green light to the establishment of a commercial center of factory outlet stores in La Jonquera (Alt Empordà) with an area of 10,000 square meters. The new center is located at the Oliveres industrial area with parking for 700 vehicles.

THE HOTEL EMPORDÀ GET THE "Q" for tourist quality. These certifications, governed by the UNE 182001:2008 and UNE EN ISO 9001:2008, ensure compliance with legal requirements that apply to the catering sector. It implies that the establishment maintains good environmental practice, a system of customer satisfaction, identifies and properly manages its processes and requires a continuous improvement in all services of the establishment.

On Wednesday July 1 began in the residential area "Les Palmiers" at 21:30 the nights of Flamenco with the group "Canela Pura". You can attend these aminated night parties at Crta. Llançà of Port de la Selva Km.5, 5 C / Roses, sector Fane de Baix. Tel: 972 12 14 04.

L'Escala has finally moved the Cobla of Bronze, monument to the copla (folksongs), work of Francesc Anglès, from the beach to the end of the street Lluís Albert. The sculpture was relocated after the Ministry of Environment along the coast required its removal from the beach for having been installed without permission.

Investigation of rental fraud of apartments already occupied. The alleged fraud affects foreign nationals with the intention of renting a villa for holidays in the Costa Brava. The tourists pay in advance for apartments that, on paper should be available, but on arrival find that the property is already occupied by other tenants.

On Friday, Llança will launch the summer bus routes until August 23 to link the beaches, harbor and town. The main novelty of this year is the stop at Cap Ras and Cau del Llop to access the major developments in the municipality.

The demolition of the City Club Med vacation village is an issue that has been dragging coinciding with the political changes both in Catalonia and in the Spanish government. Gradually, the site of Tudela Cadaqués, within the beautiful Natural Park of Cap de Creus, is recovering its original wild appearance, free of buildings. A few days ago, the Directorate General of Coasts, Ministry of Environment ordered the entry of the machinery to demolish the 443 bungalows of Club Mediterranee left standing.

Monday July 6, Llança has begun an extensive program of free guided tours, which go under the name of the Descubreix Nostre Territori. You can travel from Valletta to St Sylvester in a carriage drawn by horses, visit Cap Ras, the medieval center and the port and go by boat to Cap de Creus, among other options.

Since last Friday the blue flag waves on the beach of Empuriabrava, a signal that certifies the quality of water and services around the beach. The City of Castelló d'Empuries decided to advance the act “to be able display the flag almost a month longer since up until now it was done for the festival of Carmen and the flag remained hidden in the drawer until then" says the Mayor, Salvi Güell.

Figueres in 2010 will offer 45 Internet access points for free. To comply with current regulations, it will limit the timing and speed of transmission. The projected budget amounts to 360,000 euros.

Castelló d'Empuries reopens the public pool in El Cau. To enter the facility, which has lifeguards, it costs 1.5 euros for children between 5 and 12 years and 3 euros for adults over 12. Retired, disabled and children under 3 years are free.

The XVII Schubertiada Vilabertran of this year is celebrated between August 19 and September 5. The pianist Elisabeth Leonskaja was chosen to inaugurate the Festival which takes place in the church of Santa Maria. More information in Catalan: http://www.schubertiadavilabertran.cat

In L'Escala will be held the 3rd edition of Gastromusical, a unique proposal in the summer program in Costa Brava that unites music and cuisine. In this edition, to be held on July 31 and August 5, 12, 19 and 26, will participate artists such as Roger Mas, Libert Fortuny, Pascal Comelade or Enric Casasses.

Fishermen in the region take advantage of the good condition of the reservoir of Boadella and the river Muga to enjoy a great season. The association of fishermen looks for income to continue releasing small fish and thus to contribute to the regeneration of freshwater species.

El Castillo de Peralada music Festival devotes attention to great voice recitals, symphonic choral concerts, operas, interdisciplinary performances of music and theater, dance, jazz, pop music concerts, chamber concerts and family shows. The program this year, to be held in July and August, has a total of 31 performances among which are highlighted the Catalan singer Joan Manuel Serrat and the duet Luis Eduardo Aute / Joan Isaac. Moreover, on this occasion has been organized a series of quartets in the church of Peralada. John Malkovich will open the Festival with an lyrical performance in which the actor is the narrator of the story of an English serial murderer, with music by Vivaldi, Mozart and Beethoven, and the voices of two sopranos.

The Environment Ministry will invest 2.3 million euros in the project management of the maritime area of Cadaqués. It will build a beach walk 2 meters wide for pedestrians and a one-way street 3 meters wide.

The problem of anchoring boats in coves and beaches continues to create uneasiness among the private owners of boats. At present it is almost impossible to anchor without paying the appropriate fee. This is the case with all the beaches and coves in Roses, where the City has increased the number of pay buoys, forcing boats wishing to anchor safely to pay for the service.

The Memorial Museum of the Exile in La Jonquera in collaboration with the National Archives of Catalonia, holds an exhibition of the artist Josep Franch-Clapers (Castellterçol 1915 - Baux de Provence, 2005).
This exhibition, led by art historian Pere Rubio Parramon, aims to show artwork that sheds light on the difficult circumstances of the internment camps in France during World War II.

In Garriguella are being shot the first scenes of the new documentary "Simonet, terror of the French." The research work carried out by Pep Puig and Jaume Simon in the Municipal Archives of Gerona has discovered the story of Joan Rimbau i Trull, victorious soldier from Garriguella who participated in 58 actions of war against the invading army of Napoleon. For more information see: www.simonet.cat or www.emporda.info.

The City Council of Figueres is developing an updated inventory of Francoist symbols that are still in their streets. In this manner is expected to begin proceedings to remove the symbols from plazas and public roads.

By the summer of 2010 the Bay of Roses could be considered a new nautical station, because it meets most requirements called for by the Federation of Spanish coastal municipalities that opt for this category. To be a nautical station will involve receiving a number of people in this sector throughout the year and a financial and promotional budget. The regent of Economic Development and Tourism of the City of Roses, Gaspar Gallego, said the nomination of Roses was accepted by the Spanish Federation of Nautical Stations on last May 29 and is now working on the certification process.

The Owners Association Ampuriabrava (APE) has recently filed a legal complaint that the concessionaire of the canals, Cegra International SL "intimidates the residents and threatens to withdraw moorings, demanding exorbitant fees without any legal basis." The APE will transfer these protests to the Government.

The Municipality of San Pere Pescador has prepared a study on strategies for land revitalization and tourism, and recommends making better use of the Tourist Office which was opened three years ago and also publicizing the town as a second entrance to the natural park Aiguamolls de l'Empordà, something that could be achieved, according to the study, by creating a network of bike paths and trails.

The night de San Juan, the night between June 23 and 24, is the shortest night of the year ... each town offers different proposals for people to enjoy the night. Figueres will experience the arrival of the flame of Canigó. Later the party will continue with the castellers of Figueres, the Polifónica, the Giants ... New this year is that the flame will arrive for the first time at the Sanctuary of La Mare de Déu del Mont.

The promenade of L'Escala is expected to open to the public in early July, after some unfinished renovations.

The Pilans Civic Center of the L'Escala city council has been opened. It is managed by the association of residents of Camp dels Pilans—Les Corts which will organize activities and events to encourage the exchange of knowledge and experience among residents and the municipality.

Around the town of Maçanet Cabrenys there are some 60 gardens cultivated by families of the village. Thanks to Plan Zapatero the water supply from the stream of Fraus has been financed, and an improvement of the irrigation system. In this way, reserves of water are insured in the driest months.

The Civic Platform, People for Ventalló, opens contact with the Catalan Government for Urban Management Planning (POUM). The residents find unjustified putting an industrial park in an area of high risk because of the danger of flooding, have doubts about how the infrastructure will be financed by the POUM and wonder how the town will be socially if all public services are moved to one place.

Bomb disposal experts from the Navy and the civil guard exploded a mine last week, which a diver found on the beach of Almadrava de Roses, about 6 meters deep. The experts took the bomb of 150 kg out to sea and did a controlled detonation to avoid causing damage. This is the second submarine mine found on the Costa Brava.

The town hall of Castelló d'Empuries investigates the cultivation of new products in organic farming. Currently it has half a hectare sown in chickpeas in a plot owned by Aiguamolls de l'Empordà and is expected in the coming years to create stable agricultural systems that generate workplaces and enable people to settle in the territory.

On Saturday 29 will be inaugurated Mini Print International of Cadaqués. This is an international exhibition of engraving in small format. The exhibition is organized by the Taller Galeria Fort, with the participation of 662 artists from 54 countries on all continents.

This Saturday at nine p.m. The Polyphonic Choir of Figueres organizes its 22nd "Trobada of Corals of San Pere.” On this occasion five choirs will meet in the church of San Pere de Figueres to offer an evening of choral singing for all those who want to enjoy it.

The recreation area in Figueres Firal offers tonight for San Juan a live concert of the New Oldies band, playing versions of hits of the 70's, 80's and 90's and a spectacle of acrobatics and pyrotechnics.

The festival of San Pere Pescador this year will include performances by three local groups, a choir singing and shows where water is the protagonist. During these four days of celebration, all events are free.

The municipal law is very clear regarding the occupation of public streets during the summer. In Roses, the council only authorized occupation of the streets of the Riera Ginjolers and the church square for artistic activities, specifically painting, portraits, caricatures and the like. According to municipal sources have denied requests to install stands and to make braids, tattoos or massages ...

On the beach of Rubina, in Castelló d'Empuries, parking areas soon will be improved. This is to preserve this natural area, especially the dunes and flora so characteristic of this place and prevent the complete extinction of some endangered plants. Signage of services will be enhanced, and panels will indicate different areas and access such as areas of dogs allowed, prohibited and permitted areas, the area of kite-surfing and information signs of the Natural Park. In total, between inputs from the Ministry of Costas, the Diputación de Girona and the city of Castelló, Rubina will have 200,000 euros invested.

On Thursday, June 18 is scheduled the opening of the Lidl supermarket at the northern entrance to L'Escala.

The Municipality of Palau-Saverdera has already approved the project to convert the basic environment of Can Lluent into a plaza with a play area for children and a parking area.

Camallera this summer will have a new hall. The old movie theater Sonora has been restored and will seat 250 people.

In Cadaqués the public agency Adigsa drew lots on Friday for five flats of government protected rental units for young people.

The hotel Figueres Parc opens its doors this June to the restaurant DADA. Located in the hotel along NII in Hostalets de Llers, it offers us a new concept of cuisine. DADA cuisine ... fun, fast and fresh.

Last week the new roundabout on the road GI-623 went into service, which improves access to Vilademat.

The municipal group ICV in Llançà, in opposition, calls for a calculation of water demands and requests to undertake specific action to reduce water consumption since with the new Plan it is suspected that the increase of water used under the current rate will be 29.10%.

The mountain of Rhodes has always been rich in pastures and orchards, but during the twentieth century those fertile lands were being lost by the abandonment of agricultural activity. Now, the City Council of Vilajuíga intends to recover this agricultural use. In addition to working the land, the City Council intends to promote products that are generated, such as oil, wine and honey.

The Environment Department will use satellites to detect banks of jellyfish that approach the beaches.

The Special Nature Reserve Plan of Aiguamolls Empordà attracts more opponents. The Farmer´s union also rejects expanding the park. The Brotherhood of Fishermen in Roses said that the new plan does not respect the traditional fishing grounds.

In the Citadel of Roses is the exposition "Common Lives, Different Cultures." Maria Velasco uses photography to banish intercultural prejudices. This exhibit can be seen until mid-July among the acts of the Fiesta Popular of Roses.

Sunday June 21 the Fiesta of the Tree will be held in Vilabertran for the first time in 100 years. The event will attempt to recreate the fiesta of that time. At 10h30 will be a popular breakfast and afterwards dance performances, poetry readings and finally the castellers of Figueres.

The Fair of Honey in Colera, is also this Sunday. For those interested in the life of the bees there will be talks and !Yes! the sale of real honey from Colera of excellent quality.

The Working Group La Kamada will conduct a Sport Dog Trial on Saturday 20 and Sunday June 21. On Saturday we will work Obedience from 18.00 h. On Sunday, Tracking exercises will be conducted in the vicinity of the complex from 08.00 am and after a break, on the premises, Protection will be the work, starting at 10.15 h. All activities will be conducted in the facilities that La Kamada has at Crta Figueres to La Bisbal 26.7 km, 17474 Torroella de Fluvià.

The choir Palandriu of Llançà has just celebrated its first ten years of existence and calls for incorporating youth voices.

The tourism industry receives a good dose of morale these days with a notable increase in visitors. The beaches are filled as if it were summer, thanks to the fact that Monday was holiday in many parts of the country and abroad. One of the beaches where this fact has been noted is Platja de les Barques of Escala.

They come to rob jewelry by sledgehammer blows in L' Escala, taking the most expensive. In the past year there have been two more cases in Lloret and Salt.

The City of Roses does not begin to apply the ordinance to regulate the occupation of the road by the shopping center until the autumn once the tourist season is ended. As intended, this allows more time for merchants and residents to submit claims to the proposed municipal project

Employers in the tourism sector across the region gather in Rosas with the objective to learn how technology can help improve and save costs.

Figueres. The replacement of analogue television by digital terrestrial television (DTT) will take place on December 31 this year in Alt Empordà. At the state level, the final blackout will be April 3, 2010.

A total of 35 beaches and Girona ports have been honored by the Association for Environmental Education and Consumer with the blue flag for their good quality and sustainability. In Alt Empordà it has been awarded to the main beach of Portbou, and those of Grifeu, Llanca port, the beach of Port de la Selva, Empuriabrava and the one in Castelló d'Empuries. It was also awarded to Llanca port, Port de la Selva, Rosas, Navy and the port of Empuriabrava Escala.

The Government together with the Catalan Sailing Federation are working to develop specific rules for the practice of kitesurfing. It is intended to authorize other beaches to avoid all the pressure of this practice resting solely on the beaches of San Pedro Pescador.

Market Portbou Sea will be held between 12 and 14 June in the Rambla de Catalunya Portbou.

Llançà. VI Jornades Peix Palangre. Llançà´s ten restaurants that offer their best dishes with longline fishing as the main basis are: Can Narra, Miramar, can Quim, The Vaixell, La Vela, La Brasa, Gri-Mar, Club Nautic restaurant, Els Pescadors and Hotel Grifeu .

Port de la Selva. Rescue teams worked tirelessly in the search for Noema German girl, aged 6, who disappeared on Wednesday last week when she was with her family at the Hermitage of Sant Baldiri within the nature reserve of Cap de Creus in Port de la Selva. The body was found Thursday in an area of difficult access.

Capmany. L'Associació Cultural d'Esbarjo Capmanyenca organizes this Sunday June 7 the second mountain bike tour, one of the most interesting sports done in the area of Albera. This tour will pass through the municipalities Capmany, Cantallops, La Jonquera, Agullana, Darnius, Biure d'Empordà, Masarac-Vilarnadal and Sant Climent Sescebes. The march will start at 9:30 in the morning from sports Capmany. In this second edition are expected more than 250 participants.

A group of eight prominent American wine importers visited eight wineries in the region, accompanied by the Chamber of Commerce of Gerona.

The terms for the Urban Management Plan Municipal (POUM) from Ventalló have just been submitted.

34th Aplec of Sardana a L'Escala. Days 6 and June 7. This weekend fans of sardana have an engagement at Escala. Escala has already prepared for Ciutat Pubilla in 2010 and has set up an organizing committee with a program based mainly on the world of sardana, although there will also be all sorts of cultural activities planned throughout the year.

Terradas. 13th Cherry Fair, on Sunday, will have more than 3000 kilos of cherries to sell. Also, various products by artisans will be sold. The sardana Cobla Principal Porqueres will be heard as well.

The reconstruction of the round Pedro de L'Escala has finally ended. It previously had 86 parking spaces and now has 89. In addition to these three parking places, a tree-lined sidewalk that allows pedestrians to walk safely has been built.

The walk from Port de la Selva to Llanca will be ready in 2010. When finished, it will be 4'23 km. long.

Ernst Witzel (right) with its great friend and husband of our collaborator Anick Delchambre.

ERNST WITZEL loved Llançà and the Costa Brava. He first came to Llançà as a young child when his family took their holidays here. He was always interested in promoting his adopted home and first published Mañana a magazine on paper. But, he became aware of the power of the internet and began Cap de Creus on-Line around 1998 to reach more people. Ernst was the heart and soul of Cap de Creus on-Line . . . he encouraged a team of translators to make his information available to everyone interested in the Costa Brava, in Catalan, Spanish/Castellà, French and English as well as his native German. I had the honour to assist Ernst with the English edition. Ernst was a very happy and generous man. He had met and encouraged his old school friend Christel Arnold to join him in Llançà and they were married shortly thereafter. This week they were in Germany for an exhibition of Christel’s artwork. On Wednesday, May 27, 2009 Ernst Witzel suffered a fatal heart attack. Ernst will be missed by his friends who knew him and by thousands of readers of Cap de Creus on-Line who became aware of Ernst’s zest for life and for his love for his fellow man. Paul A. Hoffstein Llançà, Catalonia Annapolis, Maryland, USA

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L´Escala. The Department of Coasts of the State thinks to finish to the second phase of the coastal path of Empúries in a time record, since the works have just started and have to finish before the arrival of the tourists. The work that is being carried out consists of illuminating the section along the beach of Rec and installing a new wooden walkway that goes from this beach to the Ampurias hostal. With these works, the project that was designed for the Olympic Games of 1992 will be finished.

The city council of La Jonquera will sanction with fines of up to 3000 euros for prostitutes, their clients and ambulatory salespeople. This new decree expects to prohibit sex in the street with even higher fines if the transaction takes place in public where there are minors. Also it tries to prohibit illegal sales by vendors on foot in the streets.

An economic restructuring will allow restarting the works of the casino Menestral de Figueres this summer.

The Environment area of the city council of Castelló d´Empúries initiates a campaign of compost with great success. Ninety compost receptacles have been distributed and has been a great attendance in the two informative sessions.

CapCreus online http://cbrava.com  

Impressum: Ernst Witzel, Paul A. Hoffstein, Manuel Fernández Vila, Christel Arnold, Geraldine Steffler, . Article contributions, even when being seriously serious please to cconline@cbrava.com.    CapCreus online, every day a little more
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Cips Diving centre, Costa Brava / Port de la Selva