Tsunami donations tops $800,000 ? Bank & staff contribute $38,000

Staff and volunteers at the Bermuda Red Cross are practising their Million Dollar smiles in anticipation of Asian tsunami donations topping this mark within the next two weeks.

By 4 p.m. yesterday, $821,275.83 had already been donated. This figure does not include the $50,000 pledge from Government which has not yet been made.

Director, Ann Spencer-Arscott said donations continued to pour in with the latest coming from Butterfield Bank who yesterday donated $38,665.88 towards Tsunami Relief Efforts.

Anna Lowry from the Banks? Communications? department said a special account had been set up at the bank for employees to donate funds. Some $19,000 was deposited and the Bank matched the amount.

Butterfield Bank President and Chief Executive Officer, Alan Thompson said the response had been amazing and he was extremely proud of everyone working at the bank.

Meanwhile artist Joan Aspinall will be offering 15 of her original paintings for sale in an effort to raise money for the tsunami relief effort. Ms Aspinall said a special website will be set up by the weekend which will showcase the works, some valued at more than $3,500.

For more information you can visit www.yessy.com and do a search for Joan Aspinall, to view the works of art or you can e-mail her at pinaibl.bm, or call her at 293-2529. Ms Aspinall is a regularly seen on Front Street during Harbour Nights.

Wellington Oval juror in hospital

The Wellington Oval trial could be delayed for the rest of the week after a juror had to go to hospital suffering with a diabetes complication.

The trial had been delayed on Monday after a juror had to help fix a roof which was taken off in the twister which hit Smith?s.

Ki-Roy Butterfield, of Paget, Jahcai Morris, of Paget, and Tahir Nesta Bascome, Warwick, deny trying to kill Tariq Foster on April 5.

Xmas tree pick-up today, next Wednesday

If you?re ready to throw out your old Christmas tree, you?ll have the chance to do so today but only in the Eastern part of the Island. Collection in the Western Part will take place next week Wednesday.

However, the Department of Works and Engineering are appealing to the public to please remove the Christmas decorations, including tinsel and nails before throwing the tree out for collection.

Trees must be left in the same place as regular garbage before 7.30 a.m. and must not be placed inside bags.

Also a reminder to the public that horticultural waste can be dropped off at Marsh Folly between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. daily. All other rubbish, including old appliances, must be taken to the public drop-off at Tynes Bay between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Thieves hit homes in Pembroke, East End

Police have reported a trio of break-ins on Monday in Pembroke and East End of the Island. Police attended a Clarke?s Hill, St. George?s residence on Monday on reports that an unknown culprit had broken into the home.

The culprit forced his way into their home between 7.45 a.m. and 4.15 that day and made off with several pieces of jewellery.

Yard work seemed to be on the mind of another thief at a breaking and entering on Harrington Sound Road in Smith?s: he stole a lawn mower and a machete.

The resident reported the incident to police on Monday, saying the unknown man broke into the home sometime between 4 p.m. on Saturday and 6 p.m. on Sunday. The lawn mower is described as a black and green Yardman brand.

A third break-in resulted in the theft of jewellery and cash from a St. Augustine Lane, residence in Pembroke, sometime between 8.45 a.m. and 4.15 p.m Sunday, the unknown culprit gained entry into the house and stole several items of jewellery and $250 in cash.

Inquiries into all of these incidents are underway.

Fined for spitting in ex-lover?s face

Spitting in the face of a former lover has cost a Warwick man $500 after he was fined in Magistrates? Court for assault yesterday.

Standing before Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner, 24-year-old Simator Tyrone Fubler admitted telling Stephanie Hollis to ?keep my name out of your f***ing mouth or else I?m going to split your head open?.

Crown counsel Anthony Blackman said that Ms Hollis was walking in Middle Road, Sandys in November when Fubler rode up behind her and began shouting at her.

Frightened, Ms Hollis walked away from Fubler but he followed and repeated the threat before spitting at her, hitting her in the face, Mr. Blackman added.

Fubler told Mr. Warner: ? ?I didn?t deliberately spit in her face. We were having a heated argument and spit came out of my mouth.?

?Whether or not there were difficulties between the two of you can?t treat her ? or for that matter, anyone ? that way,? Mr. Warner said. ?Take some advice, stay away from that woman.?

Under the Criminal Code, spitting on someone constitutes assault. For the assault Mr. Warner fined Fubler $300, to which he added $200 for the threatening words.

Bloomberg?s popularity slips over Bermuda

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is in trouble again, but this time with his constituents. Seems they?re not happy with him spending so much time in Bermuda.

His approval rating citywide now stands at 48 percent and pundits blame the dive on resentment over the mayor?s wealth, his weekends here at his vacation home and a cigarette smoking ban.

It?s not the first time Mayor Bloomberg?s love of the Island has got him in trouble, as his weekend trips here have been criticised in the New York media.

In 2001 ran an article headlined ?Bermuda Bloomy: Mind your business?, and stated Bloomberg insisted that it was nobody?s business that he jetted off to Bermuda for a weekend getaway. And the billionaire has been doing so ever since.

Mammogram expert conducting seminars

The Bermuda TB Cancer & Health Associating is hosting an overseas consultant this week in an effort to enhance skills of local mammography technicians.

Canadian mammography consultant and educator, Shirley Long, RTR, CBI will be involved in a four-day on-site training programme for technologists in the areas of mammography positioning and image quality. Chief Technologist at TB Cancer, Shari Sabourin said with technology continuing to expand, the focus on continuing education had become stronger than ever.

?Our accreditation renewal, granted in July 2004 to TB Cancer for an additional three years by the Canadian Association of Radiologists, made certain recommendations to further improve our already high standards of excellence provided by our mammography department,? she said.

Ms Sabourin added: ?New information gathered through this weeks? workshop would help ensure patients received the highest quality of service and screening.?