Cayman Islands swimming coach and special education teacher loses battle with cancer

It is with much sadness to have to report that Penny McDowall, former special education teacher and founder of the Special Olympics swimming programme in the Cayman Islands, has died.

Mrs. McDowall has been fighting cancer for over six years but sadly passed away last Monday.

She was 59.

Cayman Drama Society presents “Educating Rita”

In addition: Sea ‘n’ B are back to entertain this January with the annual Zak Quappe Scholarship fundraiser. This year we have an evening filled with fun from the Woodstock and Disco era! If you are interested in attending this, tickets can be purchased here: https://ticket.cds.ky/the-best-of-woodstock-and-disco

Update on Garbage Collection in Grand Cayman

The Department of Environmental Health (DEH) advises residents of Grand Cayman to anticipate delays in garbage pick-up, in some areas of Bodden Town, East End and West Bay today (Monday, 31 Dec 2018).

Affected districts include some Bodden Town and East End neighbourhoods and all of West Bay.

The DEH is aware of the delay and working to resume garbage collection in these areas in the shortest possible time.

The remainder of Bodden Town and East End will receive garbage collection tomorrow (Tuesday, 1st Jan 2019). West Bay collection will also begin tomorrow (Tuesday, 1 Jan 2019) with plans to return to the regular schedule by the end of this week.

The Department of Environmental Health apologizes to residents in the affected areas. Any persons with garbage collection issues outside of those stated above should make contact with the DEH office by calling 949-6696, or emailing[email protected].

Stolen 2015 Orange Hyundai Accent Car

From RCIPS Dec 28 2018

Just before 3:45PM on Saturday 22 December, police received a report of a vehicle being stolen from the from the Dolphin Centre parking lot off Eastern Avenue, George Town, between Friday 21 December and Saturday 22 December.

The vehicle was described as being an orange 2015 Hyundai Accent GL, registration number 162-723. The vehicle was left in the parking lot overnight when the owner of the vehicle returned to collect the vehicle it was missing. A photograph of a similar vehicle is attached.

Year:                     2015

Make:                   Hyundai

Model:                                 Accent

Colour:                 Orange

The police have been making efforts to locate the vehicle and are now seeking the assistance of the public in locating this vehicle. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of this vehicle is asked to contact the George Town Police Station at 949-4222.

Anonymous tips can also be provided directly to the RCIPS via our Confidential Tip Line at 949-7777, or via our website. Tips can also be submitted anonymously via the Miami-based call centre of Crime Stoppers at 800-8477(TIPS), or online.

Cayman Islands CARE Quiz Night is on Wednesday, 2nd January

Come join in the fun and test the gray matter!   Not able to make it on Wednesday, then please help us raise much needed funds by spreading the word about our quiz night. You can download the quiz poster by clicking on the following link and spread the word in your office and on community boards.  

‘Cayman Islands Old Time New Year Family Fun Day 2019’

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THE HONOURABLE TARA RIVERS
ELECTED MEMBER FOR WEST BAY SOUTH
INVITES YOU TO AN

“OLD TIME NEW YEAR FAMILY FUN DAY”

AT THE ED BUSH STADIUM

IN WEST BAY

ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2019

FROM 12 NOON TO 4PM

FREE ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE BOUNCING CASTLES, SPORTS COMPETITIONS AND OLD TIME CAYMANIAN GAMES.

THERE WILL ALSO BE CAYMANIAN ART AND CRAFTS FOR SALE.

FREE REFRESHMENTS AND ENTERTAINMENT WILL BE PROVIDED.

COME OUT WITH YOUR FAMILY AND HAVE AN ENJOYABLE TIME!

Cayman Islands DVDL Christmas Closure

22 December 2018 Breakers and West Bay Offices will be closed to the public.

24 December 2018 Crewe Road Office will open from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. The Breakers and West Bay office will be closed.

25 – 26 December 2018 All locations will be closed.

27 December 2018, Crewe Road Office will resume their normal operational hours.

27 December 2018, Breakers and West Bay Offices will be closed to the public.

31ST December 2018 Crewe Road Office will open from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. The Breakers and West Bay office will be closed.

1st January 2019 All locations will be closed.

2nd January 2018 All location will be closed for staff training.

3rd January 2019, All locations will resume their normal hours of operation.

The public is reminded that the Crewe Road Office normal hours of operations are Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:00pm, and the Breakers and West Bay Office is Tuesday to Friday 10:00am to 6:00pm and on Saturdays 9:00am to 4:00pm.

To access the DVDL’s online vehicle renewal service please visit http://www.eservices.gov.ky

Cayman Islands Needs Assessment Unit: Holiday Office Closures

The Needs   Assessment Unit (NAU) advises the public that its offices, on Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac, will be closed from noon on the following days:

 ● Monday, 24 December for Christmas Eve, and

● Monday, 31 December for New Year’s Eve.

Both offices will be closed on Tuesday, 1 January 2019 for New Year’s Day resuming normal hours from Wednesday, 2 January 2019.

Cayman Islands: NWDA Holiday Hours 2018

The National Workforce Development Agency (NWDA) would like to notify the public of its holiday working hours and closures for the remainder of 2018.
The NWDA office will close at noon on Friday, 14 December 2018, and will resume normal business hours on Monday, 17 December 2018.
The office will also close to the public at noon on Monday, 24 December and Monday, 31 December 2018.
NWDA staff apologise for any inconvenience the closures may cause.

Cayman Islands: Immigration Holiday Hours 2018

The Department of Immigration has announced its holiday working hours, as well as dates for the remaining board meetings for this year.

The Immigration headquarters, including public counters and the Passport and Visa offices, will close to thepublic at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, 24 December 2018 and will reopen at8:30 a.m. on Thursday, 27 December 2018.

 These offices will close again to the public at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, 31 December 2018 and resume at 8:30a.m. on Wednesday, 2 January 2019.

The meeting dates for the Immigration Boards are as follows:

The Business Staffing Plan Board’s final meeting date will be Wednesday, 19 December and will resume meetings on Wednesday, 16 January 2019.

 The Cayman Status and Permanent Residents Board’s final meeting will be Tuesday, 11 December 2018,and will resume meetings on Thursday, 10 January 2019.

 The Administration, Border Control and Enforcement sections of Immigration will continue functioning as usual while the boards are on leave.

Cayman Islands JGMC’s Special Services and Events

SATURDAY, DEC 29

Community Christmas Meal: John Gray Memorial Church would like their friends in West Bay to whom they normally deliver meals at Christmas time, to know that this year they will be delivering on Saturday, December 29th by noon.

MONDAY, DEC 31

Watch Night Service: John Gray Memorial Church, West Bay, 11:00 p.m.

The Cantata will also be presented on Sunday, January 6 at 7pm.

Cayman Keswick 2019

Cayman Drama Society: Xmas Play In A Day, and Upcoming Shows!

IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR! And we want to share it with you. Our Play In A Day Christmas Edition is back for the third year running, and this time the performance will be open to all. If you want more information on enrolling your child, you can read more and  BOOK NOW BY CLICKING HERE.

This January we have lots for you to be excited about…see our upcoming productions below. Tickets are not on sale yet, but keep your eye on your inboxes and you will be the first to know when they are!

The Best of Woodstock and Disco! Start: 11 Jan, 2019 |  Prospect Playhouse

Educating Rita Start: 24 Jan, 2019 |  Prospect Playhouse

Cayman Cookout

SAVE THE DATE:

JANUARY 16 – 20, 2019

TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE:www.caymancookout.com

The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman will once again become the culinary epicenter of the Caribbean when it hosts the Eleventh Annual Cayman Cookout from January 16-21, 2019. Created and hosted by esteemed Chef Eric Ripert – seafood master and co-owner of Le Bernardin in New York City and Blue by Eric Ripert at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman – Cayman Cookout 2019 will see Chef Ripert joined by an impressive roster of globally recognised culinary stars including José Andrés, Andrew Zimmern, Emeril Lagasse, Yannick Alleno, Dominique Crenn, Amanda Cohen, Emma Bengtsson and Nancy Silverton.

Cayman Cookout brings together talented chefs, wine and spirit experts, and culinary influencers in one of the most prestigious celebrations of food and wine in the world. Guests at this exclusive, interactive festival will enjoy dynamic cooking demonstrations, exclusive tastings and dining events, exciting local tours and unique epicurean experiences — all presented with a sense of barefoot elegance. The schedule of intimate events and celebrations allows for unprecedented access and interaction with some of the world’s most famous and beloved chefs as well as unforgettable meals all set in one of the Caribbean’s most exclusive destinations. Set along Seven Mile Beach at the luxurious Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, Cayman Cookout is hosted in partnership with Cayman Islands Department of Tourism.

Tickets and room packages for Cayman Cookout 2019 are now available at www.caymancookout.com.

Bookings can be made at http://www.ritzcarlton.com/grandcayman, by phone at 800-241-3333 or by contacting one’s preferred travel professional.

Cayman Islands Public Holidays for 2019 Listed

 All public holidays for 2019, with the exception of the Queen’s Birthday holiday in June, are now confirmed.

· The Queen’s Birthday holiday is anticipated to be on Monday, 10 June but remains subject to confirmation.

· Christmas holidays are midweek next year.

Grand Cayman (GIS) – Public Holidays in the Cayman Islands for 2019, except the Queen’s Birthday holiday, are officially confirmed by the Deputy Governor’s Office.

The Governor’s Office informs the Trooping of the Colour, annual ceremony held to commemorate the Queen’s Official Birthday, is likely to be on Saturday, 8 June 2019. Consequently, the official Queen’s Birthday public holiday in the Cayman Islands is likely to be Monday, 10 June 2019. Official confirmation is expected in early 2019.

The 2019 public holidays are:

New Year’s Day: Tuesday, 1 January;

National Heroes Day: Monday, 28 January;

Ash Wednesday: Wednesday, 6 March;

Good Friday: Friday, 19 April;

Easter Monday: Monday, 22 April;

Discovery Day: Monday, 20 May;

Queen’s Birthday: Monday, 10 June (UNCONFIRMED);

Constitution Day: Monday, 1 July;

Remembrance Day: Monday, 11 November;

Christmas: Wednesday, 25 December; and

Boxing Day: Thursday, 26 December.

For the official Cayman Islands Government web portal, www.gov.ky:

Web title: 2019 Public Holidays Listed

Web blurb: The Deputy Governor’s Office has released the official list of 2019 public holidays, except the Queen’s Birthday holiday.

KAABOO Cayman Feb. 15-16, 2019

The KAABOO Cayman festival has announced plans to donate some of its proceeds to local nonprofit agencies on the island.

In a news release, festival organizers said $1 of every ticket sold would be set aside to support three local and one international charitable groups. Two-day passes for the festival are expected to start at more than $200 when the lineup of entertainers is announced at 7:30 a.m. on May 15. Officials said they hope to sell 11,000 tickets.

The festival is scheduled for Feb. 15-16, 2019.

KAABOO Cayman will be supporting the National Gallery,

Feed Our Future and the Cayman National Cultural Foundation, along with MusicCares, a Recording Academy program that has been a partner in the KAABOO Del Mar festival in California.

For more information about KAABOO Cayman, visit  www.kaaboocayman.com

COMMUNITY EVENTS (Date Order)

TUE JAN 2

One Dog Job 5K Charity Fun Run/Walk

The One Dog Job 5K Charity Fun Run/Walk is Sunday (6 Jan) at 7am at Safehaven. You can register online at caymanactive.com.

SAT JAN 12

CUC 800 meter Sea Swim

The CUC 800 meter Sea Swim is Saturday (12 Jan) starting at 4pm at Governor’s Beach. Register online at caymanactive.com.

WED JAN 16

Grand Court Juror Notice

A new Grand Court jury session starts on Wednesday (16 Jan) at 9am.

WED JAN 23

Business of Art Series: Intellectual Property Laws2

The National Gallery presents Business of Art Series: Intellectual Property Laws with Sophie Davies from 1 to 230pm on January 23^rd.

SUN JAN 27

Stride Against Cancer

Nationwide Stride Against Cancer is Sunday (27 Jan) starting at 6am at Seven Mile Public Beach.

FRI FEB 1

Heart Month Wear Red Day

February is Heart Month and you’re encouraged to Wear Red on Friday (1 Feb) to help raise awareness about cardiovascular disease.