Demolition work is now almost complete and the new hotel and home project will soon start to take shape. A spa and restaurant are also to be built at the Flatt's location.

Owner Jeff Amaral said: "We anticipate completion on schedule in 2001. Now that the site is cleared we are ready to build. Contractors Somers Construction are set to begin pouring cement in September.'' The homes are being built in four groups of five units, each with a penthouse on top.

According to real estate agents Coldwell Banker, many of the units have already been sold, with one penthouse and a number of single level two bedroom homes still available.

HELPING NEEDY FAMILIES CLB FNR Helping needy families The Allgod Children's ministry is again organising its annual back to school drive to help needy families.

Gift certificates are available at several local stores, which are then used by the organisation to help families in need to buy school clothes for their children.

The certificates are on sale at W. J. Boyle, Gibbons Company, Boystown and the English Sports Shop. The vouchers can then be given to organiser Beverley Taylor on 295 0077.

STUDENTS GIVEN A BOOST CLB AWD Students given a boost The Garden Club of Bermuda has high hopes for Bermuda's agricultural future after giving out financial bursaries totalling $13,000 to five students studying horticulturally-related subjects in universities in England, the United States and Canada.

Aaron Lutkin, Vanese Flood, Jameka Kelly, Kimberley Burch and Sheldon Robinson are the recipients, going abroad this fall to study in subjects ranging from marine ecology to horticulture and plant sciences.

Funds to support this programme come partially from the club's Open House and Garden'' programme. Scholarship chairman, Elizabeth Parker, said: "The club is happy to invest in these young people, as in the long run, it is an investment in Bermuda.'' JONES WINS ANOTHER TITLE AWD Jones wins another title St. George's Town Crier E. Michael Jones has added European champion to his list of titles -- and is set to take on all comers next year at the World Championships.

Mr. Jones, who was eligible for the championships because Bermuda is a British Overseas Territory, claimed the title at a recent competition in Tavistock, England.

The St. George's Town Crier has already won the Commonwealth Championships, Aramada Cup and was fifth in the last World Championships.

"Oddly enough it's not about how loud you are. Judges mark you on elocution, diction, consistency of volume, poise and dignity,'' said Mr. Jones.

"The rules on the competition are very strict, your speech can only be between 75 and 100 words, and they count it before you start, also they have many rounds to the competition, consistency is key, and that's why I'm so successful.'' Mr. Jones also has the distinction of being Town Crier of Whitchurch Carnicoroum in Dorset, home of Bermuda founder Sir George Somers.

The move also enabled the Bermudian to compete in Europe.

And Mr. Jones also has a new red top hat to go with his blue coat and gold buckles -- awarded to him by the Town Crier of London.

STOP USING `GUEST HOUSE' TOU Stop using `guest house' Government MP and guest house owner Delaey Robinson is once again calling for the term guest house to be done away with in Bermuda.

Mr. Robinson told The Royal Gazette : "We need to stop using a silly term like guest house.

"Research suggests that in North America no one has a clue about what you mean by guest house.'' Mr. Robinson, said that its success can be attributed to doing their homework.

"The success of Aunt Nea's Inn is tied up with us doing our market research.

"We've made leaps and bounds each year because we've paid attention to market research,'' he said.

He noted: "To do well small businesses in the industry must pay attention to what the market research reveals.'' He reckoned that the what he perceives to be Bermuda's problem could be easily solved if people did their market research.

"We should be using different language in the market such as bed and breakfast.'' "It was fine to say what we wanted when we were the Bees Knees -- we are clearly not the Bees Knees. We are grovelling on our knees.''