A Simple Thank -You, My Friend

By: Warmhrt   July ~ August, 2006

Into the dim lit, bare walls of my world,
You entered, bringing light and life to me,
The vivid colors, painted with a swirl
Of wit and charm, of personality,
With tender care, you added comfort, warmth,
And images that line the now bright walls.
I look upon them fondly, bringing forth
A thankfulness that you walk in these halls
With me; our friendship has become a part
Of my world now; it has its special place,
Within my being, life, and in my heart,
Your name hangs right beside your smiling face.
Rememb'ring just how drab these walls had been,
I have to thank you for the light, my friend.
In loving memory of Floriana Cordelli,
founding member and co-chairperson of the
Placencia Peninsula Arts Association.
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Friends of Nature Educational Outreach

July ~ August 2006

On July 4th, 2006 eighteen students from St. John’s Memorial Primary School traveled to Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary (CBWS) to attend an educational overnight summer camp trip. Adrian Vernon part time school teacher at St. John’s Memorial headed the students along with community member Magda Morales and Friends of Nature’s Education Outreach Coordinator Justino Mendez and Peace Corps Volunteers Annie Hall and Ken Prola.
This summer camp is one of a series of many other summer camps prepared for Std IV students from six primary schools total in the five communities that Friends of Nature works in. These summer camps, is sponsored by Friends of Nature and the Protected Areas Conservation Trust [PACT], with the support of the Belize Audubon Society and the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary management.
Placencia students who were the first to participate got the chance to enjoy the beauty of CBWS while learning about the terrestrial environment and conservation issues in Belize, and most of all to have fun. The children were able to take a nature hike led by the park’s manager, Mr. Nicasio Coc which ended at a breathtaking waterfall where everyone cooled off with a swim. After a night of camping everyone woke up bright and early to go bird watching. One of the highlights of the trip was when everyone headed to the river to go tubing. For many of the kids it was the first time they had enjoyed that experience. Quote directly from student- Tyler Blease “Mr. Mendez, thanks for bringing me and other students to Cockscomb, its my best vacation trip ever, the walk was long but the water fall swim was well worth it and the tubing too”.
Some other activities that took place were playing environmental games and watching a video about jaguars and how Cockscomb became a Wildlife Sanctuary.
We arrived back in Placencia in the evening of July 5th, tired, but with a lot of good memories. Although nobody spotted any jaguars, many of the kids said they will always remember the trip.
Friends of Nature would like to thank all participants for their participation and continued support in environmental education and awareness for our young minds.
If anyone wishes to assist the Education and Outreach Team, please feel free to contact Mr. Mendez or Annie at Friends of Nature office at 523-3377 or 624-5446.

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The Beauty of Biking

By: Mariuccia Levoni  July - August, 2006

I have just returned from a visit to a beautiful city in Europe. Half the population of the town moves about by bike. The town has provided its citizens with bicycle paths alongside the major traffic streets and its lake. It is about 4 feet wide and it is separated by the main venue by a thick painted line.
I thoroughly enjoyed moving around by bike. I thought how much faster I was moving than the cars. How good going by bike is for the environment and its people (no air pollution). How healthy it is to move your body and how safe it is to move around knowing that that particular space is reserved for riders and pedestrians alike. How much cheaper than driving a car. I also thought: this would be great for Placencia Peninsula once they pave the road!
So many hotels and condominiums are being built. So many workers will be moving from home to the workplace. Let us make it safe for them. The tourists will also benefit from it, after all most hotels in Placencia have always advertised bicycling and made bicycles available for their clients.
To make it really safe there should be a partition, a proper one, between the road and the bike path. We all know how reckless some of the drivers are!
Can you imagine how beautiful it could be to be able to ride between Placencia and Riversdale or at least Maya Beach! Such a project would not add much to the cost of the paving but the benefits will be much greater than the added expense.
Think about this idea and perhaps our representative, the Village Council, could send a petition from us all to the proper Ministry. Hope this inspires you!.

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Two Kittens and Me

By: James Cleve Westby  July ~ August 2006

The title above sounds something out of a children fairy tale, but it’s no fairytale. It is a true story about my two kittens and me. As a person that lives alone I found the need to find something to fill my wide open space and heart with some kind of joy and happiness. I pondered what I could do to fill this space. I decided I should get a pet, but what kind of pet? That was my next question. Then it just so happened that the Placencia Humane Society came along and was letting everyone know they had kittens for adoption. Thinking back on my childhood my grand mother always had cats and kittens around her and I loved playing with them and the watching the silly things they did. I did not need much convincing to decide to adopt two kittens.
I contacted Mrs. Pamela Keck who is the “kitten lady” and told her what I hoped to do… Mrs. Keck very excited about the idea and told me she had a few kittens, but they were not quite ready to be adopted as they’re were still young. It would be a matter of weeks before they are ready, so I reserved two… they had to go through their first set of shots and also they were to be neutered. So all I had to do was just sit and wait, hours became days, days became weeks and weeks finally became a month. Then cam the day that I was introduced to my new babies. It was a very emotional moment for everyone - I was excited to be receiving my kittens, Mrs. Keck has happy and sad about letting go of her two babes go and it was clear that these kittens where very well loved.
Within moments of being in their new home, they had explored the house from top to bottom and then decided to get to know me next. It took me a week to finally decide on a name for both, I studied them both, asked others for suggestions but in the end their character and personality helped me with that problem. Shadow got his name by always hiding in dark corners and being in the back of my open closet and Frisky got her name by always fighting with Shadow, pouncing on things, being brave and very curious of anyone who stopped by the house.
Having both Frisky and Shadow in my life has given me great joy and happy moments. The moments I spend with them are fun and priceless, it’s like having two children. I adore them, I can’t wait to get home to them to play and sit with them and see what new trick they have learned or what new mischief they are getting themselves into. In the evening in my spare time they lie next to me as I read a book and wake me in the morning with purrs at my ear. It not always fun and play - as I said they are like children, there are many responsibilities in having them including grooming and cleaning up after them. And every now and then they will knock something down, but all the joys in having cats you over look the chore at hand.
Thanks to the Placencia Humane Society I now have to very good companion who occupy my time, and make my very happy and warm at heart. And if you too are interested in adopting a pet give the Placencia Humane Society a call and see what they have for adoption. Give a cat or dog a home, that they too will be loved.

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Today I was loved as I Love: James Cleeve Westby

July ~ August  2006

I stood and watch a flower slowly unfold it petals into a beautiful flower
I think of how beautiful you made me feel, with you every being beside me
My face glows with smiles I never seen in years.
I always played on the safe side not to get hurt, but because of you
Something about you, I am alive. Your hugs your kisses have given me warmth
Not the coldness I usually feel around me.

Will this moment last for ever? I don’t know, but I will take that chance
If my heart crumbles I know I held on till the last drop.
You’ve wiped my tears; you held my fears on your finger tips
I am sure it will last for a while, and if the goddess of love sees it fit
Then we will need each other like the flower needs the rain.
There’s a freedom in your arms, strength and courage bonds me to you

And here I am in the middle of night no longer screaming for some one
To break this unforgotten spell, of broken hearts and sadness
No longer wishing on that shooting star.
I am lost in your eyes that shine and tell me I am yours
I don’t need water from the moon, nor a flower that grows in the desert
I just need you and your arms to hold me in that loving embrace

Today I yell in the name of love and all things good that I love you
Let my heart and its flame of passion burns bright
See its flames no matter how far you are, if you should leave me for a moment
I am here for you. You will find that freedom in me too
These emotions are taking me over, whisper you words of love and let them flow
Your love rescues me, from the vicious hurricanes of sadness.

I am beyond happiness and words. Today I know I loved yesterday
And I will love today and tomorrow, with that love flowing back at me
Kindness had found my way and blessed me with your love today.

Dedicated to the my guardian angel the one who stole my heart.

© James Cleeve Westby

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Teresa Godfrey 2006 Scavenger Hunt Winner

By: Tracy Eiley  July ~ August 2006

What started as a game just for fun has turned into quite the rivalry with the young people of Placencia. Each year ten to twenty children pair up to see which team will be the first to complete the hunt for such things as calabash, thread, ribbon, fish scales, and plastic cups. Originally the game started with lists of only twenty-five or so items. Because the children were so good at completing the lists the game had to get tougher. So this year the list was comprised of 102 separate requests. One of the requests was for the children to draw Belize and name the districts also to write two words for each letter of the alphabet. The children also are requested to find certain people and get their signature. This year they were also told to get the prices for certain food items at Wallen’s and Barefoot Beach Bar. Which added a nice twist and gave the opportunity for some adults to get in on the fun.
This was also the first time that some tourist children joined in the fun. And when the winners were announced Mikayla from Atlanta Georgia, USA was paired with Teresa Godfrey and they won the blue ribbons and the coveted Pizza Party compliments of the Pickled Parrot, by completing 66 of the requests. Coming in a not so close second was Darryn Eiley and his tourist partner Luka being awarded the second place ribbons and prizes. In third place were Sebastian and Dominic. Followed by Earl Godfrey and Cirlo coming in forth. All the children were rewarded with gifts for participating. (Picture taken by : Tracy Eiley)

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