Coldwell Banker Islands Blog

Athletes went through their final warm up as they prepared for the trip to Anguilla to compete in the Leeward Islands Track and Field Event. The proceedings were supervised by the coach and former Olympian, Kurvin wallace and Team manager, Kimbell Ward.

Coach Wallace said this was the best team Nevis had ever sent to the event, and that he expected them to return with championship honors. Assistant coach, Eddy Caines continued his coaching of the athletes involved in the high jump at the nearby Villa-CSS Grounds. Coach Caines was an outstanding high jumper in his high school days, and he expects his young proteges to do themselves proud.

Team Manager Ward pointed out that the decision to transport the athletes to the competition by boat, was purely a financial one. The costs of transporting everybody by air would have been astronomical, meaning that some athletes would have been left behind. Some fears had been expressed that the turbulence of the trip would affect the athletes ability to perform to their best, but the decision in the end was unavoidable. A number of supporters and parents will also be making the trip, leaving from Charlestown pier on Friday morning and Manager Ward pointed out there still a small number of places available.

Collectively, Manager and Coach believe they have an excellent chance of returning home with the championship winners trophy, and the whole party are setting off full of confidence.

Source:www.sknvibes.com

Consider home remodeling!Home remodeling can not only make your home a more comfortable place to live in, but also make your home an investment that would increase the selling or market value of your home. Whether the project involves making simple home improvements, updating or upgrading several equipments, home remodeling can actually offer many benefits.

When starting on a project in your British Virgin Islands home, safety is an important consideration when taking on renovation projects. If you use traditional hand tools, power tools or construction equipment for major remodeling, your own personal safety should always be of paramount concern.

Power Tool Safety Tips

Power tools are used in a lot of home improvement projects. They facilitate the work and do the job faster than most conventional tools. Although they are more expensive than hand tools, power tools are worth the price as you will save a lot of time on your project, especially if you plan to use them on a wide range of building projects.

Power tools are dangerous if they are not used in the correct manner and can lead to property damage and, above all, serious physical injury. When using electric tools, keep these simple safety tips in mind:

Wear safety goggles. Safety glasses protect your eyes from debris. The lenses are designed to be resistant to shocks, but the dust and dirt can easily get around the sides and in the eyes.

Read the manufacturer’s instructions before using power tools and equipment. Observe the safety instructions.

Use the correct tool for the job. For example, a single construction project may require the use of various types of saw blades, drill bits, and and nails.

Protect your ears. Many tools can create a lot of noise, which can be harmful to the ears. Chances are if you want to scream over the noise, your ears are in danger.

Dress Correctly, Avoid loose clothing and for more protection, wear clothing that covers the entire body. Wear heavy gloves to protect hands and a mask to reduce dust and particles being inhaled Use for power tools. If you need to use both hands to hold an object in place, usethe pliers.

Safety with Hand Tools

Even when using conventional tools, because safety is important. Knowing where you are placing your hands is vital to ensure that you don’t accidentally hammer them instead of nails. Wood chips or particles in the air can get easily into the eyes, so goggles are best. Hand tools can be as dangerous as power tools, so be just as careful when using them as you would with power tools.

Ladder Safety Tips

The ladders are a piece of construction equipment are often misused, causing many injuries. In fact, the United States alone, there are more than 164,000 emergency room visits each year due to injuries on the ladders!

Although there are many types of ladders, the general advice applies to everyone:

Do not stand any higher than the third step from the top.

Place the ladder on firm ground.

Lean the ladder and keep your hips between the rails.

Always face the ladder to climb up or down with both hands on the steps.

Never leave tools loose on top of the ladder. If you need several tools, while on the ladder use a tool belt.

Here are some things to remember when working alone.

Do not rush job. Rushing leads to carelessness and neglect and usually results in injury.

Never work alone on a building project. Having a partner working with you helps to reduce the risk of injury and will ensure that someone is ready to help in case an emergency occurs.

Keep a first aid kit in place in case of minor cuts and bruises

Keep Hydrated when Working in the Heat
With all the fabulous weather we have here in British Virgin Islands, heat can be an important safety factor that needs to be considered.
When working in the heat it is vital that you ensure that you are fully hydrated. Your body contains about 60% water. If you allow your body to sweat too much while working, you will run into problems and heat illness can cause serious damage.

Here, are some simple tips to help you stay fully hydrated while working on that all important project:

Be sure to get enough to drink when you first get up in the morning before you start on your project.

Always have a plastic water bottle with you wherever you are working in the house, this will help you to remember to keep drinking even when you are concentrating on your work.

Try to limit drinks containing caffeine and sweetener. Caffeine acts like a diuretic and can cause rapid fluid loss. In addition to more calories, fructose or natural sugars in fruit juice can decrease the body’s ability to absorb liquids.

Most of what we eat contains water so another way to keep hydrated is to ensure that you stop working and have snacks, the best foods to help you keep hydrated are fruits and vegetables.

Learn the signs and symptoms of dehydration.

So having read these few handy hints, you can now go and begin in that project for home improvement you have been planning. Just remember to keep safe at all times.

First Team All-New England Intercollegiate Sailing Association (NEISA) honours, were the prize awaiting BVI Olympic hopeful Alec Anderson as he continued his impressive run on the intercollegiate circuit. For the first time in history, the Roger Williams University Sailing Team was ranked number one in the United States in the rankings as determined by Sailing World.

April saw the team win the New England Coed Dinghy Championship, in addition to the Central Series Four and the Friis Trophy. The Hawks also placed second in the Kreuger Cup, the Central Four and the Gibb Trophy.

In addition the Roger Williams University Sailing team gained a berth to the ICSA Coed Dinghy National Championship after a third-place finish at the ICSA Coed Dinghy Western Semifinals in Long Beach, California.

In the NEISA Coed championships, the Hawks had an easy victory with a total of 72 points, while their nearest challengers, Brown University, finished on 30 points.
Division A saw Skipper with the assistance of three different crew members,Seifert, Bellaosa and Wilson, attaining first position, gaining four first place finishes and nine others in the top four.
Division B saw Skipper Anderson assisted by crew members Pimental and Salt-marsh taking first place, gaining six victories on the way.

Source:preview.bviplatinum.com

Consider home remodeling!Home remodeling can not only make your home a more comfortable place to live in, but also make your home an investment that would increase the selling or market value of your home. Whether the project involves making simple home improvements, updating or upgrading several equipments, home remodeling can actually offer many benefits.

When starting on a project in your Aruba home, safety is an important consideration when taking on renovation projects. If you use traditional hand tools, power tools or construction equipment for major remodeling, your own personal safety should always be of paramount concern.

Power Tool Safety Tips

Power tools are used in a lot of home improvement projects. They facilitate the work and do the job faster than most conventional tools. Although they are more expensive than hand tools, power tools are worth the price as you will save a lot of time on your project, especially if you plan to use them on a wide range of building projects.

Power tools are dangerous if they are not used in the correct manner and can lead to property damage and, above all, serious physical injury. When using electric tools, keep these simple safety tips in mind:

Wear safety goggles. Safety glasses protect your eyes from debris. The lenses are designed to be resistant to shocks, but the dust and dirt can easily get around the sides and in the eyes.

Read the manufacturer’s instructions before using power tools and equipment. Observe the safety instructions.

Use the correct tool for the job. For example, a single construction project may require the use of various types of saw blades, drill bits, and and nails.

Protect your ears. Many tools can create a lot of noise, which can be harmful to the ears. Chances are if you want to scream over the noise, your ears are in danger.

Dress Correctly, Avoid loose clothing and for more protection, wear clothing that covers the entire body. Wear heavy gloves to protect hands and a mask to reduce dust and particles being inhaled Use for power tools. If you need to use both hands to hold an object in place, usethe pliers.

Safety with Hand Tools

Even when using conventional tools, because safety is important. Knowing where you are placing your hands is vital to ensure that you don’t accidentally hammer them instead of nails. Wood chips or particles in the air can get easily into the eyes, so goggles are best. Hand tools can be as dangerous as power tools, so be just as careful when using them as you would with power tools.

Ladder Safety Tips

The ladders are a piece of construction equipment are often misused, causing many injuries. In fact, the United States alone, there are more than 164,000 emergency room visits each year due to injuries on the ladders!

Although there are many types of ladders, the general advice applies to everyone:

Do not stand any higher than the third step from the top.

Place the ladder on firm ground.

Lean the ladder and keep your hips between the rails.

Always face the ladder to climb up or down with both hands on the steps.

Never leave tools loose on top of the ladder. If you need several tools, while on the ladder use a tool belt.

Here are some things to remember when working alone.

Do not rush job. Rushing leads to carelessness and neglect and usually results in injury.

Never work alone on a building project. Having a partner working with you helps to reduce the risk of injury and will ensure that someone is ready to help in case an emergency occurs.

Keep a first aid kit in place in case of minor cuts and bruises

Keep Hydrated when Working in the Heat
With all the fabulous weather we have here in Aruba, heat can be an important safety factor that needs to be considered.
When working in the heat it is vital that you ensure that you are fully hydrated. Your body contains about 60% water. If you allow your body to sweat too much while working, you will run into problems and heat illness can cause serious damage.

Here, are some simple tips to help you stay fully hydrated while working on that all important project:

Be sure to get enough to drink when you first get up in the morning before you start on your project.

Always have a plastic water bottle with you wherever you are working in the house, this will help you to remember to keep drinking even when you are concentrating on your work.

Try to limit drinks containing caffeine and sweetener. Caffeine acts like a diuretic and can cause rapid fluid loss. In addition to more calories, fructose or natural sugars in fruit juice can decrease the body’s ability to absorb liquids.

Most of what we eat contains water so another way to keep hydrated is to ensure that you stop working and have snacks, the best foods to help you keep hydrated are fruits and vegetables.

Learn the signs and symptoms of dehydration.

So having read these few handy hints, you can now go and begin in that project for home improvement you have been planning. Just remember to keep safe at all times.

When visiting Aruba you will find on land an abundance of activities for you to experience,
here are just a few to choose from on our beautiful island.

Windsurfing.
If you enjoy extreme sports this is the perfect place with it’s flat sea’s and trade winds make this the ideal conditions for surfing.

Sailing.
There are several sailing tours available from you to choose from on the island. One of the most amazing ways of seeing the leeward side of the island from the water, is to take our most popular cruise to nowhere, where you can relax with a cocktail onboard one of our catamaran’s or a yacht.

Scuba-diving & snorkelling.
Aruba’s amazing waters. One of the most-talked about aspects of Aruba’s waters is that visibility ranges from 60 feet to 100 feet, giving snorkellers and divers plenty to look at below the waves. We also have major dive sites which give you the opportunity to explore the numerous shipwrecks.

Jeep Tours.
An unforgettable way to see more of the island. For the more adventurous we offer a Jeep tour, these tours take you to some of Aruba’s most popular spots: California Lighthouse, Alto Vista Chapel, Seroe Crystal, Bushiribana gold mill ruins, Natural Bridge, and Guadirikiri Caves.

Horseback Riding.
Another great way to explore the island is horseback riding, this has always been one of our most popular activities. Or why not see the spectacular sunrise with one of our early morning rides that one of several stables group rides offer.

Source:http://www.arubatravelinfo.com/todo.html

The 2011 hurricane season officially starts June 1 and we island people are taking stock!
With four of the projected 15 named storms and eight hurricanes expected to strengthen to major ‘canes of Category 3 or higher, it’s time to pull out the old “To Do” list to avoid a last minute scramble, should it become necessary.
On a positive note, Bahamas homes are typically well built ^ and that’s no exaggeration. Our building code is strict and most homes were built by tried and true conventional methods. In fact, after Hurricane Andrew pounded a couple of islands in the Bahamas and devastated Homestead, Florida, in 1992, it was noted that Bahamas homes stood up to the force of nature much better. The South Florida Building Code was amended to adopt the best features of Bahamas code.
When we added a master bedroom to our solidly constructed old Bahamian home, for instance, we made sure the contractor installed hurricane straps at every wall-to-rafter connection to reinforce the roof in accordance with the old practice of making Bahamas homes hurricane safe.
Now, while we may have a good measure of comfort, hurricanes need to be taken seriously. Those homes most at risk obviously are low lying and coastal. Coastal residents should have a plan to evacuate and boat owners need to know how they’re going to deal with their boats in advance.
The larger boats need to be secured in safe anchorage and run-abouts that can’t be put in a hurricane safe shelter need to be hauled. Make plans well in advance because dry dock space is limited and you don’t ^ I repeat, you don’t ^ want to leave your boat tied to an open dock.
If you don’t have one, a generator is a fantastic investment. And please, let a professional install and take care of repairs. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you can have a serious, even fatal, accident.
Hurricanes are a lot of work. You need to provision up and secure any object (patio furniture, potted plants and so on) that can turn into missiles. Trim coconuts from the trees (flying cannon balls) and so on.
It’s especially important to have enough drinking water on hand, as well as water for flushing toilets and cleaning up. The water supply may be cut off. That’s why we’re told to fill bathtubs and containers.
After all the hard work, we island people like to throw a little hurricane party. We get the food going ^ conch fritters, curries and all manner of comfort food ^ and get ready for the blow, careful to be safe in our homes before the winds hit gale force.

Cancion de Amor is a gorgeous Bahamas home that blends Spanish architectural with the flavour and colours of the islands. It delights the senses. It has barrel clay roof tiles, an entrance porch with open beam timbered ceiling and Spanish clay floor tiles.
Antique beams grace the 12-ft ceilings in the living and dining rooms. A fireplace with beautiful brick inlay, copper tiled facia and wood mantle in the living room are some of the special touches that make this a truly delightful home. The owner used the finest materials including Andersen colonial style windows with certain windows having hurricane impact glass and others having shutters.
The stairs to this Bahamas home are a marvel.
You know, sometimes words just can’t convey the true pisture.

You need to see the pictures

So, what do you guys do for fun in the Bahamas besides going to the beach, boating, fishing, playing golf or tennis, our Bahamas real estate clients from abroad will ask.
Well, there’s always something going on.
Happy Weekend!

Bahamas Calendar

Friday, May 20
All Ceramics Exhibition: Call For Entries Deadline
Entry deadline: May 20, 2011. Judging will end on June 16, 2011. All Bahamian ceramic artists are invited.

Bel Canto Singers Spring Concerts
Friday, May 20 at 8:00pm and Sunday, May 22 at 6:30pm at St. Andrews Presbyterian Kirk, Shirley & Market Sts.

BTVI Professional Development Courses - Enrolment Day
Friday, May 20, 2011 at the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute. Start something new by enrolling and learning about a profession.

Sugar Loaf Homecoming
Friday, May 20 to Monday, May 23, 2011 in San Salvador, The Bahamas. This event comprises cultural entertainment, family fun and games, local food and drinks.

Andrew Jones and Friends In Concert
Friday, May 20, 2011 at 9:00pm at The Hub.

Art on the Hill
Friday, May 20, 2011 at 7:00pm - 9:30pm at Government House. Rotary Club Nassau presents “Art on the Hill” - the best of Bahamian Art and Jazz Music - a Rotary Fundraiser.

Nostrum Fabula - “Our Story”
Friday, May 20, 2011 at 7:00pm at Jacaranda House. A night of art, celebrating the Heritage and stories of the Bahamian and Haitian cultures. Featuring literary expressions by Frederick Johnson III; images by Bernard Petit, Jackson Petit and Matthew Wildgoose; special performance by The Region Bells, The Rupp a pum pum Drummer, Kompa/Goombay Fusion with Michael Dupin and more.

Saturday, May 21
1st Youth Benefit Fishing Tournament
Saturday, May 21, 2011 at the Xanadu Resort. Launch time: 7:00am, weigh-in from 3:00pm to 5:00pm. Awards Ceremony at 7:00pm.

LIS Fishing Fling Tournament
Saturday, May 21, 2011 at the Grand Bahama Sailing Club. Presented by the Lucaya International School PTA. The 1st ever LIS Fishing Fling Tournament.

The Cancer Society of the Bahamas “Adding Years To Our Lives”
Saturday, May 21, 2011. Junkanoo Rush Out at 7:00am at Commonwealth Bank Bay Street. Souse Out at 8:00am to 12:00pm at CSOB grounds.

Essential Laws of Teamwork: TEAM Building
Saturday, May 21, 2011 from 9:00am - 3:00pm at the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce.

NACB Health Screenings
Saturday, May 21, 2011 from 9:00am to 4:00pm at the Robin Hood Outlet on Tonique Williams-Darling Highway. Blood pressure and blood glucose screenings.

African Liberation Day Celebration
Saturday, May 21, 2011 at 11:00am - 7:00pm at the Southern Recreational Grounds (Basketball Area).

St. Cecilia’s PTA Annual Steak-out & Family Fun Day
Saturday, May 21, 2011 from 11:00am - 6:00m on the St. Cecilia’s Catholic Primary School grounds.

Burns House’s Wine, Art & Jazz Festival
Saturday, May 21, 2011 from 3:00pm - 7:00pm at The Poop Deck, Sandyport.

Bahamas Primary Student of the Year Awards
Saturday, May 21, 2011 at 6:00pm at Golden Gate World Outreach Ministries.

Beer Bash
Saturday, May 21, 2011 from 6:00pm - 12:00midnight at Butler and Sands Grounds, JFK Drive.

“One Voice” Musical Gala
Saturday, May 21, 2011 at 7:00pm at Christ Cathedral Church, George Street, Nassau, Bahamas.

Hands for Hunger - Paradise Plates
Saturday, May 21, 2011 from 7:00pm to 11:00pm at Atlantis Crown Ballroom. Over 20 of the island’s top chefs, vintners and beverage providers in one room.

International Kingdom Worship Pageantry
Saturday, May 21, 2011 at 7:00pm at the BFM Diplomat Centre.

The Hawksbill High School “Mighty Hawks” Reunion
Saturday, May 21 to Monday, May 23, 2011 at 7:00pm at Our Lucaya Hotel, Grand Ball Room.

Armed Forces Day

School Project Saturdays
Every Saturday from 9am-11:30am it’s School Project Sundays at The Place For Art.

Sunday, May 22
Miss Junior Grand Bahama Crowning
Sunday, May 22, 2011 at 8:00pm at the Regency Theatre, Freeport, Grand Bahama.

Camperdown Riding Club Annual Jumper Show
Sunday, May 22, 2011from 9:00am - 3:00pm at Camperdown Riding Club, Wild Tamarind Drive.

Yodephy Modelling Show
Sunday, May 22, 2011 at 3:00pm at Wyndham Nassau Resort’s Rain Forest Theatre, Cable Beach.

Jazz on Da Beach
Every Sunday on the beach at Toni Macaroni’s at Taino Beach in Lucaya, Grand Bahama.

BAARK Sunday Dog Walking
At 4:00pm at the Bahamas Humane Society.

Monday, May 23

Wondering what kind of state the Harbour Island real estate market’s in?
It’s great, according to ace Coldwell Banker Lightbourn Realty sales associate Robert Arthur .
With eight properties under contract and three that have actually closed on that tiny island since February, Robert says the market’s ticking.
And the nicer lots on the beautiful Narrows waterfront are maintaining their $2 million per acre prices.
But they’re still some great buys on Harbour Island ^the most celebrated of the Bahamas islands. Whether you’re into the ocean or harbor front, the famous Pink Sand Beach is at your fingertips. These lovely homes are just a stroll to the postcard pretty historic village of Dunmore Town with its fun little shops, restaurants and pubs.
Grab a beach towel and a pair of flip flops; this is a fun, laid-back island of amazing beauty and charm.

Located in the prestigious area of Pelican Beach, Leeward, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos this lot features 114 feet of linear beachfront. A short drive to Provo Golf Club, the hotels and resort area of Grace Bay, restaurants, bars and the Casablanca casino, as well as the new IGA Gourmet supermarket.
Price:

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