Support the SLC

May 14, 2005

Dear Sir,

I read with great interest “The Clay's The Thing” by Rene Hill in the Thursday, May 12, edition. I was very disappointed the reporter did not mention the Seniors Learning Centre (SLC). The Centre sponsored the Clay Course under the direction of the talented Carlos Dowling, as well as 33 other courses this past winter/spring term. Mr. Dowling is repeating the course in the fall. While the Bermuda College generously provides the SLC with office and classroom space, SLC is independent when it comes to administration and curriculum development. The Centre is a registered charity, charges minimum membership and course fees and, thus, our finances are a constant balancing act. We need all the publicity and support we can get.

The SLC is 15 years old and has 800 members. One has to be 55 years of age to become a member. Past and future courses have included: 3 foreign languages, daily exercise classes, bridge, book reviews, genealogy, public speaking, creative writing, salsa dancing, line dancing, current affairs seminars, public forums on local events and issues, history of Bermuda, care and propagation of old Bermuda roses, Ikebana, health, digital photography, computer usage, art history, music appreciation, water colours and the list goes on.

We also plan activities such as tours of Dockyard, Flatts, St. Georges, the Bermuda Telephone Company, the Aquarium, Lukes Farm, etc. and outings such mini golf and the October Gilbert and Sullivan production.

So, dear reader when you celebrate your 55th birthday, you can give yourself a membership in the SLC. You won't regret it. Registration for fall classes will take place on Thursday, September 8 at 1:30 p.m. in the Bermuda College Cafeteria. Call 239-4029 for more information.

Saddened by death

May 17, 2005

Dear Sir,

It was with great sadness that my wife and I read about Elsbeth Gibson's passing in today's on-line .

For years we have enjoyed her hosting the Skurling Ceremony at Fort Hamilton as well as the fashion show, years ago at the Hamilton Princess and later at Number One Dock. We were last in Bermuda in January, 2004 and missed her presence at the Skurling Ceremony.

We were fortunate enough to see her leaving Miles Market but were too slow in trying to catch her to talk to her before she drove off. One year while visiting BUEI she was the docent and we had a wonderful conversation with her. She typified Bermuda and why we have revisited the islands as often as we can since 1974. Our condolences to her immediate family and her extended Bermuda family. We personally will miss her when we next visit.

Stop speed merchants

Dear Sir,

I am a Canadian who has visited Bermuda about ten times or so over the last 15 years, usually to play in the annual Bermuda Chess Open. In each visit I have come with 2-3 friends, and invariably we have rented the mopeds. In fact touring around Bermuda on the mopeds is usually the most enjoying part of our visit. In most visits, usually at least one of the accompanying friends is a newcomer to Bermuda and has never previously been on a moped.

Thankfully, we have never been involved in any accidents although there have been some close calls at times. In fact during our visit in February this year, our “newby” reported of several close calls.

In my opinion, there are some very easily implemented methods to reduce the carnage on the roads. It is very clear that the problem is one of excessive speed, and in combination with the twisting, turning roads with many blind corners and intersections it is not surprising that the accident rate is high. Thus it is imperative that the speed be kept down. To do this I propose the following regulations:

1) All motorcycles be fitted with speed limiters that allow a maximum speed of 50 km/hr (enough margin for climbing hills at the 30 km/hr speed limit). I believe that this is easy to implement on automatic transmission bikes. Manual transmission bikes that cannot be fitted with such devices should be banned from the island.

2) Increase the existing speeding fines/penalties and confiscate any bikes that do not comply with the speed limiter requirement.

3) Implement speed limiters on all cars.

In other words, keep the speed down by limiting the maximum speed of all vehicles (cars/bikes) on the road.

After the uproar

May 23, 2005

Dear Sir,

Two comments come to mind arising out of the understandable fracas which arose in the House of Assembly on Friday, May 20, namely:

1. The cartoon by Peter Woolcock which appeared in your May 23 edition was one more example of his brilliant command of the English language and artistic skills and above all his sense of humour which brought pleasure to the great majority of Bermudians; and

2. Years ago barrister Sir Edward Carson was defending a client and expressing disagreement with a ruling made by the judge who said “Mr. Carson, are you showing contempt for this court?” to which he replied “My Lord I am doing my best to conceal it.” If the Leader of the Opposition were to make a similar comment about the current Premier and Speaker the great majority of Bermudians would support him.

‘Count My Blessings'

i did something recently

something that is very exciting to me

my movements were done confidently

my smile wide for all to see

it was on a windy, rainy saturday

we could only wear black and pink

to me it really mattered what they say

believing in myself was important, i think

there was a judge writing on a pad

he was looking directly at me

for some reason i was starting to feel glad

and most certainly always ... free

i wore a big 3 on my chest

hiding was my fear

my hope was to be one of the best

if not i would certainly shed a tear

less than one week later

i must now share confessions

they chose me,

the American Ballet Theatre

from now on, i will count my blessings

today i look forward

what in the world will be expected of me

patience and waiting are so, so hard

pli? one, pli? two, pli? three

Olivia Dunkley

Olivia's heartfelt sentiments touch us all deeply and on behalf of the board of directors of the National Dance Foundation of Bermuda, we would like to express our sincere appreciation for the outpouring of support and encouragement that we have received from the Ministry of Community Affairs & Sport, local and international businesses, private individuals, and the owners and directors of Bermuda's five dance schools - in short, the Bermuda community as a whole.

We are currently putting the finishing touches on plans for the Island's first-ever international summer dance institute which will run from August 15 to September 2 at the dance facilities of Bermuda High School.

We will have 68 students participating in this exciting programme: 43 Bermuda dancers and 25 from the US and Canada. The experiences these young people will have, and the friendships they will establish this summer, are sure to last them a lifetime. On behalf of all of them and the Foundation, I want to say thank you.

Selfish and mean

May 9, 2005

Dear Sir,

Why is there something wrong with the fishing boats to sell their fish from the flag pole on Front Street?

I am 88 years old and as far as back as I can remember the fishermen have been selling fish from their boats at the flag pole. Whose stupid ideas was that? It's quaint and in Bermuda it is needed. Besides it's fresh and it's someone's living.

Someone better change that ruling because it's not fair to Bermuda and to Bermuda's public. It's selfish and mean.