Hurricane experts say season will be a busy one

This year's hurricane season will be slightly busier than average, according to the US National Hurricane Center.

The Miami centre is predicting six to eight hurricanes in the Atlantic in the coming season, slightly above average.

The NHC expects nine to 13 tropical storms and two to three major hurricanes during the hurricane season, which runs from June 1 through November 30. A major storm has winds of 111 mph or more.

The Associated Press said this year's prediction is less than the 15 named storms that formed in the Atlantic last year but more than the ten named storms In a usual hurricane season.

The Center said that warmer than usual Atlantic waters account for the increased hurricane activity in recent years. Warmer waters cause less wind sheer, which breaks up storms before they form.

The warming of the Atlantic is caused by slowly shifting ocean currents and is expected to last for at least ten more years, experts at the centre said. The centre's prediction mirrors that of hurricane expert William Gray of Colorado State University. In April, Gray said there would be 12 named storms in the Atlantic, seven of which will develop into hurricanes and three of them major.

On The Net: US NHC: http://hurricanes.noaa.gov/

Improvments on at Horseshoe, Elbow beaches

Visitors to two of the Island's most popular beaches should be cautious of septic tank repairs and construction of steps over the next few weeks.

Government yesterday issued a warning to those of the public who are planning to visit Horseshoe Bay or Elbow Beach. Works and Engineering is currently using the upper level of Horseshoe Bay's parking lot to hold topsoil.

This topsoil eventually will be used to finish a septic tank that they are currently working on. The tank is expected to be finished sometime within four to six weeks. And Works crews will also be fixing Elbow Beach's eroding entranceway and widening currently narrow steps that lead to the beach. The improvements will limit automobile access and parking on Tribe Road 4b.

Improvements to the beach are expected to be completed within six to eight weeks. The Ministry of Environment and Works and Engineering apologises for the inconvenience to the public.

Stereo equipment stolen

A thief got away with a cache of stereo equipment over the weekend after breaking into a car parked at Holmes, William and Purvey on St. John's Road.

The complainant reported to Police that between Friday and Monday someone entered the vehicle and stole two MTX audio subwoofers, three MTX amplifiers and two infrared power caps.

Central CID has launched an investigation.

Trust seeking apartment complex approval

Gringott's Trust has applied to the Development Applications Board to construct a six apartment housing complex in Pembroke.

It is planning to construct six, two bedroom units over two floors on a lot on Rockville Lane. The proposed plans also provide for seven parking spaces. Currently there is only a small tool shed on the property. The lot is 12,380 square feet in area and the total floor space of the apartments will be 8,115 square feet.

Gringott's Trust has previously been granted Planning approval, but did not start building within the two-year window.

The application for final approval was submitted May 10.

Counterfeiters still busy

Another counterfeit note has been found on the Island. Police reported that a fake US $100 bill was discovered on Monday and is warning the public to be on the lookout. The serial number on the counterfeit note is H-3-H-60-68-1996-B.

This most recent counterfeit note discovery comes on the heels of repeated Police warnings to money handlers in stores and bars in recent months.

Labour Day campaign launched

The workers' day is to get input from big business after the Joint Labour Day Committee was widened to get bosses on board.

A statement from the Bermuda Employers Council has announced that the committee which has run the day over the last two decades now has non-unionised sectors, Government, employer organisations and large businesses alongside the unions.

Today Labour Minister Terry Lister will make a speech on the steps of City Hall announcing a new mission statement that aims to speak to every one of the island's 37,000 employees.

The afternoon will be opened with prayer by Bishop Kurtz and there will also be some musical entertainment. All are invited.

Thief targets tourists at Coral Beach

Guests at the Coral Beach and Tennis Club reported to Police that someone broke into their room on Monday evening, getting away with cash and other valuables.

According to Police reports, the complainants left their room between 6 p.m. and 9.45 p.m. and on their return discovered that a sterling silver money clip, $400 cash and a man's black wallet containing credit cards and other personal documents were missing.

Harmony Club eyes suite option

The Harmony Club is planning to build 20 new executive suites which can be sold and leased back as part of an expansion of the Paget property.

Harmony Club, Bermuda's only all-inclusive resort, hopes money generated from sales of the suites will help revitalise the resort.

Lease-backs are becoming an increasingly popular way for hotels to fund expansion, with the Tucker's Point Club and owners of the new Belmont using this route. This allows sales of these units to generate cash for the hotels, and the properties can be leased back to the resort for tourists.

The expansion will see the number of rooms at Harmony Club increase to 88. The plans also include a new swimming pool, barbeque pit and bar. The new units will be housed in three buildings around the pool.

William (Billy) Griffith, the president of Bermuda Resort Hotels, which owns Harmony Club, Surfside Club and the new Wharf Hotel, said the lease-back would allow the club to continue the planned improvements with bedrooms and public areas.

“We remain very cautious about the softness of the summer business so far, but we are fully committed to be ready to offer an excellent product as Bermuda business rebounds,” he added.