16th MAT 2011.

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS – 22 MAY 2011

Steps of where and how to vote:

1) If you are registered in the electoral list, you must have received a voting card with all your details on it and also indicating the polling station where to vote, in Hondón de las Nieves itself or in La Canalosa.

2) Go to the polling station indicated on the card on Sunday, 22nd May, between 9:00 am and 8:00 pm.

3) Take identification – that has your photograph on it, i.e. passport, driving license or NIE card (if you still have one).

4) In the polling stations, there will be two sets of voting envelopes: some white colour ones, which are for the municipal elections; those are the ones that European and other foreign residents can vote for. (There will also be other cream/yellow colour envelopes which are for the autonomous elections and foreign residents do not have a vote in those.)

5) From the white colour lists – of the different political parties – choose the one you want to vote for, insert it in the envelope (do not write on it or tick any names as the vote will become invalid) and take it to the voting table with your voting card and identification.

18th APRIL 2011.

PREVENTION OF FOREST FIRES – NO BONFIRES

As per LEGISLATION dated 2nd March, 2005 (DOGV No. 4959)

IT IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN TO BURN ANY AGRICULTURAL OR GARDEN PRUNING BETWEEN 21st APRIL AND 2ND MAY 2011 (both inclusive)

Reminder

All residents in Hondón de las Nieves have the obligation to clean their plots from overgrown weeds and rubbish – to prevent fires and unhygienic conditions developing.

Information Office – Closed Mondays 26th April (Easter Monday) and 2nd May 2011

The office will be closed on the above dates as there are both National Holidays.

1st APRIL 2011.

Issue No. 2 of El Fondoner is out now; on the webpage of the town hall very shortly and hard copies available from the town hall.

Programme of Cultural Events 2011- Last minute changes

Sat 2nd April 15:30 (not 18:00) Pelota Valenciana
Sun 17th April 20:00 (not 19:00) Theatre play

Programmes will be ready for collection at the town hall middle of the week.

Notice that the Information Office for European residents at the town hall

Will be closed next Monday, 4th April

CULTURAL EVENTS 2011
A fortnight of interesting activities in Hondón de las Nieves: astronomy, bird watching, painting, theatre, films, baking competition and much more: from 1st – 17th April.

Friday 1st April
21:00 Teleastronomy: live connection with the Astrophysics Institute of Canary Islands. Talk by Artemio Herrero Davó. Organized by CIDAM.
Venue: Aula de Cultura.

Saturday 2nd April
10:00 Bird watching and placing of rings at Paraje de la Cuesta. Organized by the Grupo Protector y Defensor de las Aves “Virgen de las Nieves”
12:00 Gachamiga competition, put your name down at the town hall
Venue: Paraje de la Cuesta
18:00 Pelota valenciana match. Venue: Polideportivo Municipal (Sports Centre)
19:30 Conference “El Prado outside the Prado” organized by the education dept of the National Prado Museum. Venue: Aula de Cultura
21:00 Local artistic exhibition (painting, photography…) Venue: Aula de Cultura

Sunday 3rd April
11 :00 Book Day
12 :00 Children’s animation Venue: Plaza de la Villa (main square)
19 :30 Talk & discussion by Fco. Pedro Sala Trigueros. “The segregation of Hondón de las Nieves from Aspe. A long process: 1746 – 1856” Venue: Aula de Cultura

Friday 8th April
20:00 Talk on anthropology. “Cooperation Projects” by M. José Pastor Alfonso, anthropology Ph.D., University Alicante professor. She works in cooperation projects. Venue: Aula de Cultura

Saturday 9th April
11:30 Batuka workshop, for all ages. Venue: Polideportivo (Sports Centre)
18:00 Film: “La Guerra de Papá” Miguel Delibes. Venue: Aula de Cultura.
22:30 Musical-comedy Group Regomello Teatro presents “Musas Gracias”. Venue: Aula de Cultura

Sunday 10th April
11:30 Dog training show by “Terra de gossos” association. Venue: Polideportivo (Sports Centre)
18:30 Baking competition organized by the “Amas de Casa” association. Venue: Aula de Cultura

Friday 15th April
22:00 Film: “El Resplandor” (not rec. for under 12 yr-olds) Venue: Aula de Cultura

Saturday 16th April
11:00–13:00 Bouncy castle for the little ones. Venue: Plaza de la Villa (main square)
18 :00 I Cross –Mirca Sport – Race. Enrolments in the town hall. 7 Euros. Start & Finish: Plaza de la Villa (main square). More information www.championchiplevante.com
20:30 Concert – Holy Week. Hondón de las Nieves Musical Band. Venue: Aula de Cultura.

Sunday 17th April
19:00 Theatre play. “Dulcinea me ha escrito una carta” (Dulcinea has written a letter to me) by Alfar Teatro. Venue: Aula de Cultura

07.03.2011
FESTIVOS - HOLIDAYS 2011

(includes local and national holidays)

January 1st & 6th

March 3rd (local) & 19th

April 21st 22nd & 25th

May 2nd

August 5th (local) & 15th

October 9th & 12th

November 1st

December 6th 8th 24th & 31st

20.02.2011
News Bulletin from the town hall, El Fondoner, issue no. 1
During the last few years the town hall has significantly increased the access and resources to cultural and sporting activities as well as services, such as education and others. Click on to the home page of the Ayuntamiento website and read the recently created Municipal Bulletin News, called El Fondoner. It consists of eight pages of news and information from the town hall and it includes an English version on pages 6 and 7. Well worth reading to be up to date and informed with what is going on in the village.
(Note.- We have copied the text of pages 6 and 7 here below for easy reading.)

The Training Centre is part of the Training programme for Future Employment requestedfrom the Conselleria Economia of the Generalitat Valenciana and partly financed (98.250 €) by the Fondo Social Europeo with the object of promoting training and giving better possibilitiesof employment for the youngsters of Hondón de las Nieves.

Recently the Town Hall has signed a new agreement through which they have obtained funds from the private sector as well as from the Instituto Valenciano de Conservación y Restauración de Bienes Culturales (Regional Heritage) to possibly finish the restoration of the paintings found by accident in the restoration of the parish church in the year 2007. This will be a major contribution to the local baroque architecture of the XVIII century.

The Aula de Cultura was opened in September 2009. Since then there have been many events in this important building financed almost completely with funds from the Diputación de Alicante. The result has been very positive in the first year as it has allowed many more cultural activities to take place in an ideal place designed for that.

The old cuartel (police station) of the Guardia Civil of Hondón has been refurbished with the budget of 348.000 €, from the funds of Plan Confianza of the Generalitat Valenciana. The new premises will house the Local Police as well as act as storage and offices for the maintenance team and the municipal archives.

Access to Internet in Hondón de las Nieves is available to everybody with the facility of wifi connection available to all in the Plaza de la Villa (main square) and the computers in the Youth Centre. Also, inside the Town Hall one can access the internet by means of two computers which are installed in the Town Hall which can be used by every resident in the municipality.

On a regular basis the Mayor, Victoriano Sánchez, meets with several residents who act as representatives for two of the main foreign communities living in La Montañosa. The main topics in the meeting are those concerning environmental issues, which are of great interest to all, such as recycling, the correct use of the waste bins and the energy efficiency of the street lights.
“They also bring up specific problems affecting the urbanization such as the residual water treatment plant construction. We are still waiting for this to be built by the Entidad Püblica de Saneamiento of the Generalitat Valenciana. Building this will finally solve the sewage problemsof the area.” The Mayor stated.

The Multipurpose Centre of La Canalosa and the changing rooms for the sports facilities were inaugurated in December 2010 by the Mayor of Hondón de las Nieves, Victoriano Sánchez. These new facilities have resulted in a great benefit for La Canalosa where these improvements were needed.

The new dining room of the local school, colegio Nuestra Señora de las Nieves was inaugurated in December by the subdelegada del Gobierno, Encarna Llinares, and the Mayor, Victoriano Sánchez. This is a very important development and with this service it will stop the exodus of children of school age to other nearby villages which has been happening in the last few years. This is an important service; its cost close to 123.000 € financed by the segundo Plan E del Gobierno de España.

The Casa de Cultura, where several associations have their activities and meetings and is primarily used by the senior citizens, lacked up to now air conditioning and heating. From now on, it will be more comfortable for them. Also the different rooms of this old building are being reconverted into a big open plan area which will allow not only the daily activities to take place but also to hold meetings, exhibitions and talks thus improving the number of activities which can take place.

The association of “Amigos de Hondón” have recently donated close to 2.000€ to the Town Hall mainly for the purchase of a first response kit. In addition, with the funds given by this association which is formed mainly by foreign residents living in the municipality, the Local Police will complete their training in first aid with a course to carry out practical work with the first response kit (DESA) and the pulsimeter. Janet and Ron Williams, representing the association, presented the donation to the Town Hall. The Mayor, Victoriano Sánchez, expressed his gratitude to the association for this generosity: “All the population of Hondón de las Nieves will benefit as the Local Police will be better trained and will have better means to cope with any incidents.”

The sports of Pelota Valenciana, Football, Football 7-a-side, Gym and Paddle are the main sporting activities which are carried out on a regular basis in our village. Sports and the municipal sports facilities have been improved and increased considerably in the last few years in order to offer activities beneficial to health to children and adults.

24.01.2011
Red Weevil Update

Following the notification from the town hall on the urgency of treating the red weevil, Neighbourhood Watch supported the town hall and coordinated communication to the residents of La Montañosa on this subject. There has been an excellent response and a total of 310 palm trees have been treated this past week!

If you live in the campo (such as La Solana, Simola, Bayón, Almistech, Pilares, etc) please be aware that there is urgency for all residents to treat their palm trees. Several ‘viveros’ (garden centres) around the area are familiar with the treatment required by the trees. Good idea to ask for one or two quotes. Palm trees under 2 meters tall (measuring the trunk only) need spraying (‘fumigar’ o ‘sulfatar’) three treatments minimum at 4 - 5 weeks intervals. If the tree is taller it will probably need a dual treatment, which is spraying and the cartridges. The treatment is both preventive and curative.

You only have to drive down towards Torrevieja to see the devastating effect this beetle is having on the palm trees of Almoradí and Torrevieja.

Whilst the town hall has no power to force residents to have palm trees treated, it was stressed that ‘no action’ would be seen as being irresponsible.

Please feel free to come and ask for more information from the environment town councillor or from the information office for European residents, Mondays and Fridays, at the town hall.

17.12.2010
Urgent Notice – Red Palm Weevil

The Town Hall would like to advise all residents of Hondón de las Nieves that the beetle, red palm weevil –‘el picudo rojo’ (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus ) has found its way into Hondón de las Nieves. It is a serious problem and urgent action needs to be taken.

• It is the responsibility of the owner of every property to treat the palm trees in their garden.
• It is recommended that you use an authorized, reliable palm tree specialist.
• The treatment needs to be given to the trees once a month for 5-6 months.

Information on what the beetle is, its life cycle, the speed of its reproduction, etc., can easily be found in the internet. If you would like to read about it,
some sites are: www.simplynetworking.es/calida where it gives information about the beetle in Murcia; www.gibraltargardens.gi/RedPalmWeevil
www.palms/org/palmsjournal/2002/redweevil, www.wikipedia.org and others.

A quote from one of these sites:
“One of the strongest messages to come out was the urgent need for immediate action as one infested tree could lead to the loss of every other tree within the immediate area.”

For more information and advice, please call on the Town Hall or make an appointment to see the agriculture town councilor or the Information Office for European Residents.

08.12.2010
The Christmas Carols have been changed to Saturday 18th Dec., same time, same venue, 12:00 (midday), Main Square.

15.11.2010
Christmas Programme
The full Christmas Programme will be out in December. Please collect your copy from the Town Hall. Advance notice of popular events as follows. (Please double check times and venues on the programme.)

Dates for your diary

Sat, 18th Dec – 12:00 (midday) Christmas Carols in the Village Square by residents of different nationalities. UPDATED.

Sun, 20th Dec – 12:00 (midday) Religious play of the Nativity of Jesus Christ, La Canalosa.

Sat, 25th Dec – 7:00 pm  Music concert by the Unión Musical de Hondón de las Nieves, Aula de Cultura.

Fri, 31st Dec – Midnight Welcome the New Year 2011, the Village Square (with the traditional 12 grapes and cider) and then Dance in the Aula de Cultura.

08.11.2010
Municipal Elections – May 2011

Citizens from the European Union have the right to vote in the coming elections. To exercise the right to vote, you must be registered on the electoral roll.
For nationals from EU countries, residing in Spain, to register on the electoral roll, they must make a formal declaration of the desire to exercise the right to vote. The declaration must be handed in at the town hall (of the place where the citizen lives) before 31 December 2010.
This year – unlike previous years – the Electoral Roll Office will send a personal notice only to citizens who have not made the formal declaration and who registered on the census after May 2007, rather than to all the residents on the census as it had done before.
For more information, click on to www.residenteseuropeos.com

08.11.2010
Concert by the Unión Musical of Hondón de las Nieves on Sunday, 14th Nov 2010 in the Aula de Cultura at 18:30 hrs. Everyone welcome.

08.11.2010
The annual Rememberance Day Service is on Thursday, 11th Nov.  It will place in the Aula de Cultura in Hondón de las Nieves, at 10:30 am. Everyone who would like to attend is welcome.

18.10.2010
Monday – Information Office for Foreign Residents closed. (M.E. Jones away.)

17.10.2010
La Canalosa. Opening of village hall (Centro Polivalente) –which will enable different activities to take place in La Canalosa , such as talks, craft sessions, table tennis, films, etc; in addition there will be a small library.
At 18:00 hrs the local art group will recite comedy sketches.

08.10.2010 - 24.10.2010
Local painters/sculptors/photographer exhibition, Aula de Cultura. Also you can see their work at their homes on Saturday mornings, 10:00 – 14:00, all year round For more information, pick up a leaflet at the Town Hall and/or local shops or look up their website www.circuitocultural.webs.com

27.09.2010
Here are some important holiday dates for your diary: expect reduced services on red days.

9th October - Comunidad Valencia day (Red day)
12th October - Dia de la Hispanidad / Columbus day (Red day)
Nov 1st - Todos los Santos (All Saints Day)
6th December - Dia de la Constitucíon (Red day)
8th December - Imaculada Conceptíon. (Red day)
25th December - Navidad (Red day)

27.09.2010
FREE SPANISH LESSONS: There are a few places left on the intermediate Spanish course to be held between 5th October and 16th December on Tuesday and Thursday evenings between 5pm & 7pm. Closing date for applications is 30th September. Please see Lucia in the Ayuntamiento for details.

27.09.2010
The full fixture list for the season for Hondon CF has been released. Please check the Hondon CF page on this site for full details. A season ticket is only 50€ and includes all travel to away matches (subject to space) and you can pay on the gate for 4€ per person and only 1€ for ladies and pensioners. All home matches are played at the deportivo and kick off is at 6pm during the Autumn and 4pm in the winter. Please check the fixture posters in the shop windowns for actual times.

24.09.2010
The Policia Local station is undergoing refurbishment at the moment. This has been made possible due to a regional grant for Hondon de las Nieves. half of the station will be for the use of the Police and the other half will be used by the village maintainance staff.

22.09.2010
On the 29th September the main unions in Spain have called for a General Strike (Huelga General 29-S). Expect disruption and delays in all public transport -airports, trains, buses-, medical centres & hospitals as well as other public services. (There will be what is called 'minimum' services but not full services.)

08.08.2010
This Friday the 13th August is the famous Nit de L'Alba (Night of the dawn) fireworks extravaganza in Elche. Where you will be treated to the most extravagant and long lasting firework display this side of the millenium celebrations. In 2008 a massive 17 tonnes of fireworks were used.

At 23:15 the display starts and the sky is constantly filled explosions which is reminiscent of anti aircraft guns from the 2nd world war. At 23:55 the lights for the city are cut to creat the DARK, the church bells begin to ring and the orchestral music from the famous Misteri d'Elx is played.

At 00:00 launched from the Basilica of Santa Maria a palm of rockets (several thousands of them), totaling about 300 meters and deployed within a radius of 800 meters, illuminating much of the city as if it were daylight. De ahí viene el nombre: La Noche del Amanecer . Hence the name: The Night of the Dawn. The brightness is maintained for about a minute and then from the tower of the basilica is a statue of the Virgin of the Assumption made with flares. While playing the Havana Aromas Elche (Elche unofficial anthem) by high-powered speakers.

This is one of the most impressive sights you will ever see in Spain. I have a video I took of the evening several years ago and it can be viewed on you tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FE4nV1PxGKo  The palm of rockets can be seen at 2:45 into the video.

30.07.2010
The Town Hall will be open over the August holiday period, however it will have only a skeleton staff.

29.07.2010
Dates for your diary over the August period.

  Monday 2nd August: 23:00 Serenade to Our Lady, by Cam Bank Choir, Coral CAM, in the Church square, Plaza de la Iglesia.

  Tuesday 3rd August: 17.00 hrs. Descent from Hondón to Aspe of our Patron Lady.

  Wednesday 4th August: 24:00 Verbena (open air dance) in the village square, Plaza de la Villa. “La Creme” musical group.

  Thursday 5th August: 12:00 Solemn Mass in honour of Our Patron Lady, la Virgen de las Nieves.

  Friday, 6th August: 18:00 Descent from Hondón to Aspe (walking and running)

  Thursday 12th August: Talk “The Sun, the great unknown” by Dr. Manuel Collados Vera. Observation of summer sky.
  Venue: Paraje de la Cuesta

  Saturday 14th August: 18:00 “VIII Cross Country Race Hondón de las Nieves”. Registrations and race start at Calle Nueva.

28.07.2010
Residents are reminded that Friday is the last day for the Office for information for foreign residents before the summer shutdown in August. Carlo will return on Friday 3rd September (Bicycle race day) and Marie Elena will return on Monday 6th September.

16.10.2010
Date for the diary.....
For those who are following the Tour de France will be pleased to know that the Spanish tour called "La Vuelta" will have a stage going through our beautiful valley on Friday 3rd September. The riders will start in Murcia and cycle to Albatera and then up and over the mountain road to Hondon de los Frailes, down the valley through Nieves to Aspe, Crevillente and finally Orihuela, some 170km's in total. For those of you who interested in the cycling expect some delays/parking restrictions as the roads will be closed as the tour passes through. The La Vuelta website has a page dedicated to the "Hondon" day of the tour. Please click on the link http://www.lavuelta.com/10/ingles/recorrido/etapa7.html

06.07.2010
The featured? section of the website has an innformative article on the Union Musical de Hondon de las Nieves. You will often hear the band practicing in the building next to the Town Hall, and you will have encountered them during the many fiestas, competitions and ceremonies they perform.

01.07.2010
VAT (IVA) Changed in Spain today from currently 16% to 18%. The higher reduced rate of currently 7% will rise to 8%.
Both rate changes will come into effect on 1 July 2010.

28.06.2010
Please note that the information office for foreign residents(Monday & Friday with Marie Elena and Carlo) will be closed for the month of August. the technical department technicians take their summer leave between July & September.

24.06.2010
The dates for the fiesta and "Jornadas Culturales" have now been released. Hold the cursor over village news and click on the drop down menu for fiesta dates.

21.06.2010
The town hall request that all persons living in the juristicion of Hondon de las Nieves sign onto the padron. There is no cost for doing this and no fiscal liability, but will be a benifit for all residents. Depending on the number of residents on the padron determines the number of doctors, nurses and police we get, the more padrons the better the facilities/services supplied.

18.06.2010
To avoid confusion when the Fiesta dates are revealed please note that the Aula de Cultura is the brand new very impressive cultural centre in the village which will hold concerts, recitals, dances and large events. The Casa de Cultura is located in the building next to the Town Hall above the pensionistas room. This more intimate setting is used for talks and smaller event.

14.06.2010
The staff at the Correos office in Nieves have asked residents of La Montanosa Urb. not to include the Urb. part in their address. This is because it confuses the computer !!!!!!!

13.06.2010
On the 1st June 2010 the new Hospital de Vinalopo opened its doors in Elche (beside El Corte Ingles). There is a bus service from Nieves to the hospital, with some services requiring a change in Aspe. You can view the timetable by holding the cursor over the village news on the menu and clicking on Hospital Bus Timetable option.