benalmadena montHlY

nEWS AnD InFOrMATIOn FOr FOrEIGn rESIDEnTS
benalmadena
montHlY
october 2014
issue nº 30
Foreign residents’ department: 952 579 979
[email protected]
neWs
€1 MILLIOn PLAn TO ASPHALT rOADS
page 3
neWs
page 4
BrUSSELS COUnCIL SEnDS A BEAUTIFUL GIFT
WHat’s on
page 7
EVEnTS THIS MOnTH
Tribute concert to be held
in honour of Bebo Valdes
CHUCHO VALDES will
perform in Benalmadena to
pay tribute to his father.
The concert will take place
on October 17 in Tivoli World
and the artist will be
accompanied by his band and
friends, such as the singer
Javier Ojeda. The entire price
of the ticket, €14, will be
donated to the ‘Fundación
Cudeca’ and to the association
‘Una Luz para Ezequiel.’
Benalmadena has been
chosen as the venue in which
Bebo
Valdes
will
be
remembered as one of the
world’s
most
famous
Benalmadena artists. The
concert has been organised by
Benalmadena Council with the
collaboration of companies
such as El Corte Ingles, where
tickets can now be purchased,
and the Patronato de Turismo
de la Costa del Sol.
The mayor of Benalmadena,
Paloma Garcia Galvez, has
stated that: “it is for me a true
privilege to hold this event in
our town. There is no better
PAYING TRIBUTE: Mayor Paloma Garcia Galvez presents the not-to-be-missed concert.
place since this is where Bebo
Valdes spent his last days.”
Moreover, the councillor
for Tourism has encouraged
all citizens and visitors to
attend due to the solidarity
character of the event.
Salcero has confirmed that
the performance will go
through the artist’s career
with images and messages
from those who had the
opportunity to know him and
work with this magnificent
artist.
2
BENALMADENA MONTHLY
OCTOBER 2014
ENGLISH-LANGUAGE WORKSHOP: Local students practised their language skills with native speakers.
Local students take part in
English-language workshop
BEnALMADEnA Council organised
an English-language workshop for local
students.
These workshops were held during
the summer season in Parque Innova in
Arroyo de la Miel. A total of 20 English
volunteers and 23 students took part in
this initiative created by the
Department of Foreign residents
together with the Youth Deparment.
In its fourth year of existence, the
workshop took place weekly, with the
goal of giving the chance to the town’s
youth to practise English with native
speakers.
“At the Department of Foreign
residents, we are very satisfied with
the reception of the workshops, which
have counted with more students than
in previous years,” Fernandez said.
“These workshops are part of the
initiatives promoted by Foreign
residents
to
foster
linguistic
communication between the town’s
youth in a way that is fun, enjoyable
and free of cost. I want to thank the
Youth Department for the support they
have shown towards this workshop,
which is held in Parque Innova,” said
the councillor.
Municipal Sports Council's new
activity programme for 2014-15
tHe sports council’s new
programme consists of 53
schools or sport activities: 29
for children and 21 for adults
and senior citizens.
the municipal sports
council continues to promote
the practice of sport in
schools as an educational tool,
able to create healthy habits
for our children and youth.
one of the leading activities
offered
by
the
new
programme and which has a
very large following is
football, with five different
leagues and more than 1,500
inscriptions. these leagues
are a great opportunity for
non-professional
football
players who wish to enjoy
competitive sports in their
own town. benalmadena
council continues to support
such sports events which
amount to 50 events for this
period.
according to councillor
Juan olea, it would all be
impossible without the help
and effort made by the sports
council’s working team:
more than 80 sports
technicians, clubs, sport
businesses and sport centres
that allow the user to enjoy
their favourite activity. the
registration can be made
online at www.pdmbenal
madena.es or at the following
sports centres: polideportivo
municipal in arroyo de la
miel and polideportivo
municipal ramón rico in
benalmadena pueblo
sports schools start from
october 1, 2014 until June 22,
2015.
OCTOBER 2014
3
BENALMADENA MONTHLY
Council launches
a €1 million plan
to asphalt roads
BEnALMADEnA Mayor, Paloma García Galvez held a press
conference to introduce a new plan to asphalt and rehabilitate the town
roads. The plan is to cost €1,045,588 and will cover around 15km of REHABILITATION PLAN: It
the area. This plan comes as a result of the demands made by the town’s €1,045,588.
inhabitants and aims at
improving their quality
of life and road safety.
Works
Public
Concha
Councillor
Cifrian explained last
Friday that the works
will start next fall in
order not to disturb
citizens and visitors
during the summer
season.
to
works
Other
rehabilitate Torrequebrada’s promenade will
also be executed by the
end of the summer as
well as renovations to be
carried out in the
auditorium of Casa de la
Cultura.
“From the City
Government and with
III ‘Ciudad de Benalmadena’ tournament.
the help of Malaga’s
Productive Investments
Plan of 2014, we are
launching the biggest
investment in the field of
road rehabilitation in
an
years,
recent
investment of €2.5
three
for
million
important projects.”
THE Torrequebrada Golf Club pants. This event, organised and
Councillor Cifrian
will host the III ‘Ciudad de coordinated by Benalmadena
has also stated the
Council, is aiming to attract all
Benalmadena’ tournament.
project has meant no
The councillor for Tourism, amateur players irrespective of
cost to the municipal
Adolfo Fernandez, has stated their level, including those under
coffers and that her
that: “once again the council 18 years of age who are members
department will keep
collaborates with this event, of the real Federacion Española
working against the
execute
to
which has become a referent for de Golf as well as European
clock
players with a handicap certifithose who follow this sport.”
extensive investments
The tournament will start on cate issued by their former club.
to Benalmadena’s infraOctober 10 and it is estimated
The tournament will be played
structures to meet the
there will be about 150 partici- under the rules of the real
needs of local citizens.
is to cover 15km and cost
‘Ciudad de Benalmadena’
event for Torrequebrada
Federacion Española de Golf as
well as the club’s local rules, and
will be divided into three
categories. The first one, up to
handicap 11.4, will be played in
Medal Play mode, whilst the
other two will be in stableford
mode. Finally, the councillor has
said that trophies will be given to
the top players in each category
and the ‘scratch’ winner of the
tournament.
4
BENALMADENA MONTHLY
OCTOBER 2014
The Royal
British Legion
Costa del Sol
Benalmadena
Branch
FORGING A LINK: Mayor Paloma Garcia Galvez presented with Manneken-Pis replica.
Brussels Council
sends beautiful gift to
Benalmadena
BEnALMADEnA mayor
was presented with a
beautiful gift sent by
Brussels Council.
Mayor Paloma Garcia
Galvez was sent a replica
of the Manneken-Pis statue
by Brussels Mayor Yvan
Mayeur. Manneken-Pis is a
landmark small bronze
sculpture in the capital of
Belgium, which depicts a
naked little boy urinating
into a fountain’s basin.
It is famous around the
world and can no doubt be
considered to be one of the
symbols of the city.
The replica was kindly
brought all the way from
Belgium by Didier Van
Biesen
and
Anita
Quintiens,
two
Benalmadena
residents
from Brussels, and is to be
on display at Paseo
Maritimo, where there used
to be a similar statue which
mysteriously disappeared
years ago.
“We are delighted to
have this statue, which is
one of the most important
symbols of Brussels and
one of its major places of
interest,” said Mayor
Paloma Garcia Galvez. The
fact that Benalmadena has
a Manneken-Pis serves to
forge a link between the
two cities, she remarked
and added that on Plaza de
España in Brussels there is
a replica of the niña de
Benalmadena sculpture.
In a statement sent by
Brussels Council, Mayor
Yvan Mayeur said: “I am
honoured to send to
Benalmadena this new
Manneken-Pis
replica,
symbol of Brussels.
“May this little young
native
of
Brussels
accompany all Belgians
living in your city and give
everyone
else
the
opportunity to learn a little
bit more about our
culture.”
tHe branch would
like to inform all
members that your
membership
cards
for 2015 are now
ready for collection
from your branch
secretary.
the branch annual
general meeting will
be held on monday
october 6 2014 at
11.00am.
the branch is, as
are many others
throughout spain, in
danger of failing
through
low
membership. please
help to keep us alive,
if you are a resident
or
holidaymaker
please help us to
support this worthy
cause.
You need not have
served in the armed
Forces to become a
member, everyone is
welcome.
the branch meets
every monday at
10.30 for 11.00 in the
lounge bar, avenida
bonanza, benalmadena costa.
please keep in
mind the last line of
the royal british
legion exhortation
“We Will
remember
tHem”
OCTOBER 2014
BENALMADENA MONTHLY
5
Benalmadena welcomes
2014 Spanish cycling tour
CYCLInG enthusiasts enjoyed
the start of the 2014 Spanish
Cycling Tour’s sixth stage in
Benalmadena.
The mayor emphasised the
importance of “the promotional
and economical impact that this
national competition has meant
for our town.”
Thousands of inhabitants and
visitors gathered at La Paloma
Fairgrounds in Arroyo de la
Miel where promotional
activities started at around
11.00am. The highlight of the
day was without a doubt the
starting gun’s blast at around
1.00pm which prompted the
departure for about 300 cyclists
in 23 teams.
This important sports event
meant a huge economical
impact, especially for the hotel
sector as a result of the amount
of people who work for the
teams and also journalists from
178 different countries.
Benalmadena
Mayor,
Paloma Garcia Galvez, held the
traditional ribbon cutting,
together with the President of
the County Council, Elias
Bendodo; the General Director
MAYOR PALOMA GARCIA GALVEZ: At the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
of the competition, Javier
Guillen and other members of
the Municipal Government.
“Firstly, I want to thank
Malaga’s
Provincial
Government
for
its
unconditional support towards
Benalmadena
and
for
consolidating our town as a
referent in the sports field, both
national and internationally,”
said the mayor.
ALBERTO CONTADOR: A successful Spanish cyclist.
A new edition of the Ecological
Fair of Benalmadena is launched
a neW edition of the ecological Fair of
benalmadena was held last sunday in
plaza de pueblosol.
the event, launched by the trade
department and the ecological
guadalhorce association, aims to
stimulate the consumption of quality,
healthier products and support a
sustainable agricultural system that
contributes to the preservation of the
environment. councillor ana macias,
who attended the event, emphasised the
growth this market has experimented
since it began in april, 2013.
“at the trade department we have
worked to drive this event forward. the
fair is held every third sunday of each
month and has the main purpose of
encouraging the production and
consumption of ecological, seasonal,
products as a way to promote responsible
consumption, since ecological production
systems use less inputs and are
energetically more sustainable,” she said.
6
BENALMADENA MONTHLY
OCTOBER 2014
Donations wanted for
Animal Rescue Centre
THE shelter was founded in 1986 by a
German lady who had lived in the
Benalmadena area for many years and
was funded by a German charity called
Pro Animale.
In September 2012 the German
charity ceased funding the shelter and
it was taken over by Helen Williams,
an English foreign resident who has
lived in Benalmadena for many years.
Helen helped to run the shelter with a
small team of volunteers, a number of
whom are foreign residents.
The shelter is in Benalmadena
Pueblo next to the Bull ring and is
open to the public every day from
10am to 1pm. We currently care for
about 40 dogs and we have a proud
record of rehoming many dogs
overseas (such as in Germany,
Belgium, Holland, Finland and the
UK) as well as locally in Spain.
We are currently very short of funds
and would welcome donations of
money, dog food (bags of dog biscuits
and/or cans), cleaning materials
(bleach and fregasuelos).
We also need more volunteers
especially to help with dog walking but
also to help clean the kennels and feed
the dogs. We would also like to hear
from people who could arrange events
to raise funds.
For more information find us on
Facebook
Benalmadena
Animal
rescue Shelter or telephone Helen on
600 721 794. On the first Sunday of
every month we hold a special open
day between 12 and 3pm.
Spotlight on Helen Williams
I do like the
Spanish culture,
everything is
more relaxed
here, and I
especially like
the
Spanish
food.
What were you doing
before you came to spain?
I was a hairdresser in
Leeds in Yorkshire.
Why have you chosen
benalmadena?
I originally came to
Benalmadena on holiday
many years ago, while on
holiday I met my husband
who is Spanish and came
back to Benalmadena to
marry and live with him. My
two daughters Cristina and
Alicia were both born here.
My mother and father
moved out to live here 8
years after me.
How long have you been
living in benalmadena?
I have been here for 24
years.
do you feel at home
here?
I feel very much at home
here, I especially like the
What
do
you miss most
from
your
country?
I miss my
family (my 2
brothers and
their
children) and
I also miss
snow
at
Christmas.
good weather, living close to
the beach and the easier way
of life.
What do you like most
about our culture?
do
you
feel
integrated?
Yes I do feel integrated. I
speak Spanish fluently
which makes it easy to
integrate. I got very
interested in looking after
dogs over here, as there are
many abandoned dogs here.
I originally found an
abandoned dog in the streets
in Arroyo and brought it to
the Shelter when I realised
how many dogs there were
being cared for in the Shelter.
I became interested, started
walking dogs then helped out
in the shelter after which it
became full time. I worked in
the shelter for 13 years while
the German charity funded it.
When the German charity
pulled out I took it over and I
now run it helped by my
daughter Cristina and my
friend David and some other
volunteers.
How would you promote
integration among foreign
residents in benalmadena?
My advice would be to try
and mix with Spanish
people, use Spanish bars and
restaurants and learn to
speak Spanish.
OCTOBER 2014
WHAT’S ON
tHirteentH
Watercolour
competition ciudad de
benalmadena
Exhibition – From October 2 until
October 24 at Castillo Bil-Bil.
Exhibition open to Spanish and
foreign artists living in Spain. The
jury is to select two winning
paintings. Competition rules under
www.benalmadena.es.
peace Flag raising
Juntos por la paz
programme
Saturday 4 at 12pm at Parque de
la Paloma Juntos por la Paz was
launched in the municipality to
promote peaceful coexistence.
Everyone is welcome.
read on!
Coordinate by Elise Freedman
Tuesday 7 at 7pm at Biblioteca
Arroyo de la Miel. Book
discussion club in English. ‘The
Handmaid’s Tale’ by Margaret
Atwood. Limited Capacity.
legends and mYtHs oF
spain
Thursday 9 at 4.30pm at Centro
Innova. Coordinated by Carmina
Martinez and the cooperation of
Cristina Moran and Dorotea
Fulde. In Spanish, English, French
and German.
7
BENALMADENA MONTHLY
golF tournament
Third Ciudad de Benalmadena
Golf Tournament. October 10 at
Campo de Golf Torrequebrada
exHibition ‘en torno a
Juan ramon’
From October 10 until December
12 at Biblioteca, Arroyo de la
Miel. The library is hosting an
exhibition about poet Juan ramon
Jimenez to mark the one
hundredth anniversary of the
publication of Platero y yo.
HomenaJe a bebo
Valdes
Charity Tribute concert by
Chucho Valdes & friends. October
17 at 9pm at Teatro de Tivoli
World. Tickets are 14€. Available
at Corte Ingles. Proceeds are to be
donated to Fundacion CUDECA
and Asociacion UnA LUZ PArA
EZEQUIEL
benalmadena aYer Y
HoY
Exhibition. From October 17 until
December 21 at Centro de
Exposiciones. Photography
exhibition featuring the social,
demographic, social and
economical development of
Benalmadena in the last 60 years.
Free admission.
IN
OCTOBER
From Tuesday until Saturday from
10am until 2pm and from 5pm
until 7.30pm. Sundays and
holidays from 11am until 1.30pm.
Closed on Mondays. Inauguration.
Friday October 17 at 8pm.
autumn partY
Friday 17 at 5pm at Biblioteca,
Arroyo de la Miel. Storytellers.
Let’s celebrate the arrival of
autumn with a story afternoon
next to Monumento de los Poetas.
Organised with the cooperation of
Parks and Gardens Department.
Limited capacity.
campeonato nacional
de cocteleria
national Cocktail-Making
Championship. From October 20
until October 24 at Hotel THB
Torrequebrada
cercle de lecture
coordinated bY prisca
Vanier
Tuesday 21 at 7pm at Biblioteca,
Arroyo de la Miel. Book
discussion club in French.
‘Leyenda del ladron’ by Juan
Gomez Jurado presented by
Isabelle Betton. Free capacity.
piano concert
Friday 24 at 8.30pm at Casillo Bil
Bil. Piano concert featuring works
by Beethoven, Chopin, ravel and
others. Organised by Juventudes
Musicales de Malaga and the
Culture Department.
dia de la Familia
Family day of the national Large
Families Congress. On October
26 at Selwo Marina.
do you wish to receive cultural
information? benalmadena
town Hall periodically sends
out an e-mail with information
on activities to anyone who
requests it. to receive this
service, you can fill out a form
at the casa de la cultura, plaza
de austria, arroyo de la miel,
or send a request to
e-mail: residentes@
benalmadena.com
useful telephone numbers
emergency numbers
All emergencies 112
(This is a central call base for any emergency)
Ambulance service 061
Fire brigade 952 563 429
Guardia Civil 062
Local Police 092
national Police 091
902 102 112 - reports in case of theft or robbery (English spoken)
general telephone numbers
Endesa electricity company 900 248 248
Hospital Carlos Haya, Malaga 952 390 400
Hospital Clinico Unversitario, Malaga 952 649 400
Hospital Materno Infantil, Malaga 952 300 400
Hospital Costa del Sol, Marbella 951 976 669/951 976 670
GP appointments by phone to Salud responde 902 505 060 or by
internet www.juntadeandalucia.es/servicioandaluzdesalud
Appointments for nIE applications at Torremolinos police station 952
378 437
local telephone numbers
Foreigners’ Department, Town Hall 952 579 979
Health Centre (Arroyo) 952 440 404/952 443 545
Health Centre (Pueblo) 952 449 313
Health Centre (Torrequebrada) 951 308 121
Hospital Chare 951 976 070
Hospital Xanit 952 443 119
Local Police (Arroyo) 952 562 142
Local Police (Pueblo) 952 579 853
Sports Centre (Arroyo) 952 577 050
Sports Centre (Pueblo) 952 568 085
Taxis 952 441 545
Tourist Office 952 442 494