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Education Update Abaco Science Fair We had a very successful Science Fair this past month. The theme was "Investigating and Implementing Ways to Eliminate Single-use Plastics", and our guest speaker was the Hon. Romauld Ferreira, Minister of the Environment & Housing. Minister Ferreira started the Science Fair by giving a powerful address to the students, encouraging them to be stewards of our environment and refuse single-use plastics. Some project titles included "Promote the Tote", "Uncap the Truth about Single Use", and "Package Eggsplosion". Congratulations to our first place winners this year: Hope Town Primary (Lower Primary), Man-O-War Primary (Upper Primary), Long Bay School (Lower High) and Patrick J. Bethel High (Upper High). A special thank you to all our judges - Joy Chaplin, Kaderin Mills, Huel Moss, Nancy Albury, Charles de La Baume, James Richard, Sabine Probst, Paula Lamm, Lauren Riviere, Stephanie Russell, Mardi Moss, Meredith Albury and Olivia Patterson Maura - and our sponsors - The Bahamas Environmental Protection (BEP) Foundation, Ministry of Environment & Housing, Kleen Kanteen and New Vision Ministries.  |
Kenyon Centre Update Blue holes help piece together the past This month, researchers from Texas A&M University and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution have been partnering with the Antiquities Monuments and Museums Corporation to study blue holes in North Abaco thanks to a grant from National Geographic. This is part of ongoing research to better understand climate change and past weather patterns. The group took a number of large core samples from the sediment at the bottom of several blue holes. The different layers of sediment and fossils found in the sediment give us clues to the water chemistry and environmental conditions of the time. The cores also tell the story of drought periods and the frequency of storm events (like hurricanes). The cores samples went deep enough that they were able to collect sediment from the Pleistocene era (AKA Ice Age) which extended from about 2.5 million years ago to 10,000 years ago. The blue holes still have a lot more stories to tell and we are looking forward to sharing more as the research progresses!
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Events Reggae Night at Snappa's with Sailor Jane / Going Green! We celebrated Snappa's 15 year Anniversary, FRIENDS' 30 year Anniversary and the announcement of Snappa's "Going Green" with reggae sounds by Sailor Jane at Snappa's this month. It was a great night full of great music, dancing and raffle prizes! Congratulations to Snappa's for officially "Going Green" at their establishment. They have adopted compostable cups to replace plastic ones at the bar, and straws are only available upon request. They are also banning styrofoam, replacing styrofoam to-go containers with compostable ones. Thank you, Snappa's for taking the steps toward a greener future! Thank you to Sailor Jane & her band, Snappa's, Bahamas Compostables for helping Snappa's "Go Green", and all of our raffle sponsors for making this event possible. Follow Sailor Jane Music on Facebook here!  |
Hope Town Turtle Trot
Locals and visitors of Hope Town worked up their Thanksgiving Dinner appetite at our annual Turtle Trot. Runners completed the 5k starting at Hope Town Harbour Lodge, going through North End and back, and afterwards the 1 mile fun run/walk was led by Hope Town Primary students. Some of our participants even dressed in costume! Congratulations to our winners, and thank you to all who participated! We look forward to seeing you next year.
Special thanks to our sponsors: Hope Town Harbour Lodge, HG Christie Realty, The Thompson Group, Abaco Family Medicine, Hope Town Inn and Marina, Elbow Cay Properties, Firefly Resort, and Abaco Inn.
Upcoming Events: This weekend!! December 7th-9th Combustion Music Hope Town Music Festival A memorable three day long celebration of music and giving back to Abaco. Beneficiaries: FRIENDS, Hope Town Volunteer Fire Rescue, and Every Child Counts. Venues include: Hope Town Harbour Lodge, Harbour's Edge, Abaco Inn, and Hope Town Inn and Marina We are still looking for partners, supporters, and volunteers for these community events. If you are interested in being involved in some way, please contact us!  |
Community News: Board Member Recognized Congratulations to Mrs. Michelle Bailey, our newest Board member, on being awarded the prestigious Paul Harris Fellow Humanitarian Award by the Rotary Club of Abaco! Reusable Bags for a Cause Skylar Ogden, a Hope Town Primary student, has created handmade reusable grocery bags to support The Bahamas' initiative to ban single-use plastics by the year 2020. She painted watercolors of animals and plants to celebrate the beautiful local ecosystem. The reverse side of the bag has a list of best practices and environmental regulations. This bag is perfect for your groceries or everyday use, (18" wide & 14" tall). By purchasing and using this bag, you will contribute to positive change and support environmental education programs for the youth of Abaco (All proceeds go towards Friends of the Environment). These bags will be on sale at the Combustion Music Hope Town Music Festival from December 7-9th for $15.00. Please contact us for more details. We are thrilled to share Skylar's artistic talent while raising awareness about local ecosystems. Thank you Skylar!  |
Magnets Need a quick reference to rules and regulations for Abaco's Marine Environment? Purchase one of our magnets for $10 to have a reminder on your fridge of responsible practices. Perfect for vacation rentals or for your own home! Magnets sold at our office in Marsh Harbour, or contact us.  |
Did You Know? Corals are sensitive animals that have to produce a layer of mucous to protect themselves from disease and other threats. Touching them removes that protective layer and can cause physical damage as well.  |
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This one, observed in Hope Town, is a member of the stinkhorn family. As the name suggests, it can be a bit smelly. This smell attracts flies who eat their spores and also help them by spreading the spores. Stinkhorn fungi serve a role in helping to break down organic matter and can be found growing around mulch or decomposing wood.
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