A Very Sad Day

 Well that’s it over. After 16 years of involvement in the Town Hall my time has come to an end.

We were thoroughly beaten by PP in the election and although I do not know how many councillors we have, we certainly do not have more than a couple.

We fought a fair, honest and truthful campaign. I do not want to dwell on some of the negativity but there are certain aspects I was very disappointed in.

I will no longer have any role within the Town Hall. I am sure the new administration will arrange some additional help for non Spanish speakers. I am confident that Jose Manuel will keep the job we gave him, so you will always have him in the office. I think the English speakers on Domingos list will be contacts for you all to use relative to Town Hall issues. They are Michael Foulkes, Gary Bowen and his son Simon and Ann Richardson. 

I wish the new administration good luck for the next four years. We leave the Town Hall in Zurgena in a vastly improved situation financially and with all the ground work done for the industrial estate, the mill interpretation centre, the railway, the camera security system and many other projects. It should be easy for them to finish those off.

It just leaves me one thing to say and that is to thank all of you who have supported me over these past 16 years it has been interesting, challenging, rewarding and at times fun. I have met and made many wonderful friends during my time. Many memories of our trips and Town Hall activities stay in my head. Zurgena will always be in my heart.

The blog will remain online and is always searchable in the box above.

Thanks and goodbye

Jim

Thanks

 I just want to record my sincere thanks to the below named people. They have all helped me and this week to try and speak with every non Spanish voter but I am afraid we didn't manage to see everyone. The weather and time restricted our ability to see everyone and I apologise to all those we did not manage to see.

Tom Taylor, Palaces, Shelagh Murdoch, Cucador, Chrissy Maywood, Los Carasoles, Volker Bendell, Alfoquia and Chris Hart Zurgena. 

Thanks all.

Final Days

 Well folks today is a day of reflection so no canvassing or electioneering allowed. 

I do hope all of you who are able to cast your votes for PSOE tomorrow. I will be outside the Alfoquia polling station during most of the day. 

I have to apologise for not getting to everyone’s house to canvas as it has been very hectic. I am really sorry to have missed some folks 😢

The results are usually known by the end of Sunday and we will know who has won and probably what my role, if anything, is going to be after 1st June.

And remember it is Palaces fiesta today with the free paella at 1400 hours. Everyone is welcome.

Voting Process for Sunday

 For information of anyone not sure of voting procedure thought I would explain.

Firstly all residents who are entitled to vote in Alfoquia, Los Carasoles, Cucador, Llanos del Peral will vote in the school on the opposite side of the big square area to Coviran. The other areas, ZURGENA, Los Menchones, Palaces etc will vote in the Town Hall. Those polling stations will be open from 0800 until 2000. THIS SUNDAY.

A point to note - I have been told that if you have not received your voting papers in time but are entitled to vote you can take your TIE card as it shows both your NIE number and your address. Although I would also recommend taking your passport as well, as they may ask for additional ID.

When you attend at the polling station you will see which table (mesa) to go to based on your name. Present yourself with your card or TIE. They will check you are entitled to vote and you can then select, from piles of ballot papers, each pile will be for one of the parties. DO NOT MARK THE BALLOT PAPER. I am obviously hoping you decide to vote PSOE, place the slip inside the envelope seal and place in ballot box. Really simple and easy. 

I will be outside the Alfoquia School polling station during most of Sunday in case anyone needs help. Also if anyone needs a lift please message me or call me on 0044 07368 990809 I also have this number on WhatsApp. 

Palaces Fiesta Programme

 Programme for Palaces Fiesta

Wednesday 24th May

1900h Salute of Fireworks to open the Fiesta

1945h Floral presentation to the patron saint.

2000h Salute and prayer of the holy rosary in the school house

Friday 26th 

1900h Salute of fireworks and traditional procession with the virgin saint to the houses of Palaces.

2100h Return of the procession to the chapel and the counting of donations.

2300h  Popular concert by the duo Amanecer

Saturday 27th May

1015h Chocolate and churros at the school

1045 Inauguration of commemorative plaques on the wall of the school.

1100h  Presentation of the book entitled”El Eden de la Memoria” by Francisco Martínez Garcia at the school

1230h Shoe tossing tournament.

1400h  Day of Fiesta with Free Giant Paella provided by the Town Hall.

1730h Traditional Games for the children

2000h Mass presided over by Silvera Sanchez Franco  Parish priest of San Ramon Nonnato accompanied by Jesus Torrecilla Priest of Zurgens. Followed by solemn procession accompanied by music.

2230h Popular concert by the orchestra of  night.

2300h Gala of the fiesta. With recognition of Dona Elodia Palomino and Ana Josefa Sanchez Garcia for the ‘AVVV La Torrecilla’ and the last national shows in Palaces and of  her husband Francisco López Ramon. Then the coronation of the Fiestas Queen and  Mister.

0100h Fireworks and lights to end the fiesta.

Election Fun

 We are now well into the electioneering time.

It can get a little fraught with the competition but my party, PSOE, will try and remain focused on the positives.

Our PSOE candidate for Mayor, NOELIA has proven herself over the years to be hard working, honest, enthusiastic and committed to the good of our community. She is not in it for the power but for the good she can and will do. 

You may have noticed that some of our English signs keep disappearing after being put up. We do wonder who could be doing this but I am sure we will ensure everyone knows our plans. 

These are the dates/times for our meetings to inform the non Spanish speaking residents of our plans and to meet our candidates. I am flying over to lend my support as I think it really important that we vote the PSOE team back into power to complete the work they have started.

If you can please try and make it to one of these meetings. It will be to everyone’s benefit to have an informed citizenry.

Next Walk

The next walk in the keep fit series sets off from the entrance to Juan Andres de Toledo school in Zurgena (up Avenida 19th de Octubre by side of chemists)  at 0930 Tuesday 16th May. 

If you fancy a gentle walk just turn up and join the walk

The Craziness Begins

Today is the first day when campaigning can start for the local elections on Sunday 28th May.

As many of you may know this is the only election in which non Spanish residents can vote and impact the people who, for the next four years, will manage our municipality. It is therefore really important that if you qualify to vote eg lived here and on Padron for more than 2 years, that you exercise your right to vote. If you are unsure just call into the Town Hall and ask.

I have had the honour to serve on our local council in various roles over the past 16 years. I have worked with many different colleagues and developed an in depth understanding of the complexities of managing a small Town Hall such as ours.

It is because I know most of the candidates standing for this election that I will be endorsing the PSOE party led by an eminently knowledgeable , hard working effective person who I have known and worked with for many years - Noelia Garcia Jimenez (Noe to friends). She has been indispensable in our recent work to put our finances in a healthy position, to develope good ideas and plans for the future as well as manage our team.

We will shortly announce our plans for the future and how we will communicate that to all non Spanish speaking residents. Watch this space for updates. 

Dearth of Posts

 Sorry about the lack of posts lately but everyone has been manically organising stuff for the upcoming elections!!

No one is allowed (by law) to start electioneering prior to the 12th May.

So unless anything urgent occurs, between now and then, the next posts will be about the election. There is quite a lot to explain but will do so when allowed. 

Presentation Meeting

The meeting at which all candidates on the list for the upcoming election for the PSOE party will be presented to the public as below.

This is your opportunity to meet and hear from the party which I recommend you support. It is an excellent group of candidates under the new leadership of Noelia Garcia (Noe) who has for years served in different roles in the previous administration. 

At the Renfe building, Alfoquia at 7.0pm on Thursday 4th May. CHANGE OF VENUE NOW TO BE HELD IN THE THEATRE IN ZURGENA

Below is Noelia’s statement.

Neighbours!

After twelve years working for our town as councillor of the Government Team, for the next municipal elections I decided to face the challenge of presenting myself as a candidate for mayor. I face this challenge with great enthusiasm and with enormous responsibility, managing a municipality like ours is not an easy task, but I feel prepared to do it, together with the team of brave and hard-working people, who on the 4th I will present to you all at the Cocherón of the Renfe at 7:00 p.m. Needless to say, you are invited to meet first hand the candidacy presented by our party!

Healthy Gentle Organised Walks

 "For a million steps" is an initiative of the Ministry of Health and Consumption of the Junta de Andalucía, whose purpose is to promote the practice of physical activity in the population as a whole, through the organisation of group walks .

Why not join in and make or take a few friends for a bit of healthy exercise!

The project is intended for associations and groups of people, and its implementation is at the local level. Our City Council is going to collaborate with Magdalena and Concha, the nurses from our office, whom we thank for their involvement, and who will help to achieve this challenge!

We will try to take at least one million steps in a month. By adding the steps of all the neighbours who are participating in this initiative?

This challenge is intended to encourage people who are sedentary to start a more active life and those who are already sedentary to maintain healthy lifestyle habits.

In a first phase, it means assuming the challenge of taking at least one million steps in a month, by adding the steps of the members of the association who participate in this initiative.

We will carry out this activity every Tuesday during the month of May at 9:30 a.m.:

Day 2nd May Departure from the Town Hall

Day 9th May Departure from the School of Alfoquía.

Day 16th May Departure from the School Juan Andrés de Toledo in Zurgena

Day 23rd May Departure from the Medical Office of La Alfoquía.

We will wait for you!

Doctors Surgery Reopens

We are able to announce the reopening of the renovated doctors surgery.

As from tomorrow, the Zurgena Medical Office will reactivate their services.

 This morning we received a visit from the territorial delegate for Health and Families, Juan de la Cruz, and those responsible for the Northern Health Area of ​​La Inmaculada Hospital, who, accompanied by our mayor, councillors and our nurse, Magdalena, have been able to see firsthand how good our office is after the full renevation work that has been carried out with the Town Council's own funds, and that it is now ready to return to service form the municipality.

 We appreciate the collaboration of the North Health Area, which has provided the medical center with new furniture and has collaborated with the installation works.

 We appreciate the collaboration of the La Alfoquía office to carry out the care for the users who of Zurgena town during this period of adaptation of this office and of course to all the neighbours for their patience.  The wait was worth it!

A Great Get Together

 Many of you will remember our food get together, of years gone by, when local ladies demonstrated and let us enjoy their traditional dishes. Due to Covid these were stopped but we have organised another similar event.

It is to be held in the Renfe Building at 1200 hours on Saturday 29th April.

You will have the opportunity to taste local dishes prepared by chef Cesar Perez but there is a price to pay! We are asking that all attendees bring along an example of a dessert dish from their home land. This will ensure you get to taste a variety of flavours from different parts of Europe. 

I must admit I thoroughly enjoyed these events in the past as, not only does it teach us about our area and it’s culinary history but it is a wonderful way to share food. I must also admit that I did take an occasional bottle of wine along and not yet sure whether any drink will be provided! 

So if you fancy going please give Paco a call on 610 194 264. He doesn’t speak much English so if you can manage a bit of basic Spanish and say,” Quiero asistir a la reunion en la Renfe el veintinueve de April. Mi nombre es …. y habra … (number) de nosotros.” He should manage but any problems or if you don’t fancy trying your Spanish then drop me an email message to jimszurgena@gmail.com and I will inform him. 

Have fun

Neighbourhood Watch Update

I have been asked to send out the following message on behalf of Zurgena Neighbourhood Watch:- Zurgena 

Neighbourhood Watch has a new Facebook page to raise awareness about this scheme 

 If you live within the areas of Zurgena and its surrounding villages, click on the link below for more information about your local Neighbourhood Watch. 

 Please like the page and click on the email link if you would like to join.

Zurgena NHW Facebook page

Anyone Want an Au Pair

I have been contacted by my good friend Andy Mortimer (our contact with the Spanish Legion) who in turn was contacted by a General who has a niece who has recently been orphaned. She is in her 20s and is loooking for a summer job for July and August. She wants to continue to improve her english language skill although she is basically competent. Really any sort of domestic support job and preferably living in would suit best. I will also put her CV on english summer job websites but if anyone is looking for some help during these 2 summer months let me know and I will send her CV and details.

Easter Programme

Please find below the programme for this easters processional celebrations in our villages.

Green Way Meeting

As many of you know the green way project (which when finished will run from Baza to Huercal Overa and incorporates walking and cycling routes and additional features) will run through our village. It will also feature our railway. The next meeting of the overseeing body is to be held at the Renfe Building in Alfoquia on Thursday 20th April at 0900. I have attached a copy of the agenda for the meeting which is in Spanish but gives you an idea of the points. This is a major project of huge significance to the area and if you are in the least interested in it will be well worth attending. 9:00 RECEPCIÓN DE ASISTENTES 9:15 APERTURA Francisco Martínez Ramos, alcalde de Zurgena 9:30 SESIÓN I: DINAMIZACIÓN TERRITORIAL A TRAVÉS DE CAMINOS NATURALES Y VÍAS VERDES Juan Manuel Alameda Villamayor, jefe de servicio, subdirección general de Regadíos, Caminos Naturales e Infraestructuras Rurales. Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación. Programa Caminos Naturales Carmen Aycart Luengo, consultora COLOQUIO Discussion 10:00 SESIÓN II: PRESERVACIÓN DEL PATRIMONIO FERROVIARIO EN LAS VÍAS VERDES Juan Soria Martínez, gerente del Consorcio de las Vías Verdes de la Región de Murcia Domingo Fernández Zurano, alcalde de Huércal-Overa Caridad López Martínez, teniente de alcalde de Serón Rafael García de la Mata Escudero, Presidente Asociación Cultural de Amigos del Ferrocarril de Zurgena José Luis Pinilla Trujillo, Mare Ingeniería Ferroviaria Alternativa COLOQUIO Discussion 11:00 PAUSA CAFÉ 11:30 VISITA TÉCNICA AL RECINTO FERROVIARIO DE LA ESTACION DE ZURGENA 12:00 SESIÓN III: EXPERIENCIAS EMPRESARIALES EN EL ENTORNO DEL CAMINO NATURAL VÍA VERDE GUADIX-ALMENDRICOS Juan Yeste Martínez, Alojamiento Cuevas Balcones de Piedad (Baza, Guadix) www.cuevasbalconesdepiedad.es Luis Aurelio Pérez Tapia, presidente de la Asociación de empresarios turísticos del Valle del Almanzora www.turismoalmanzora.com Maribel y José Antonio Águila Sánchez, CEO y gerentes de Embutidos de Zurgena, www.aguilacarnicas.com José María Pérez, gerente de Eventos deportivos y de turismo activo Azimut Sur (Guadix) www.azsur.com Felipe Bonillo García, gerente de Catering Bonillo-Esencias de Levante (Arboleas) www.cateringbonillo.com COLOQUIO 13:00 CLAUSURA

A Different Saturday

Fancy a different Saturday? This Saturday 1st April from 5.30pm in the Park Gines Parra we are having the Fiesta of Colours. There will be a DJ animator who will provide a new way to enjoy your time. Pop along and have a fun time. The event should be enjoyed by over 12 years and adults.

Good News for Railway Attraction & End of burning

Firstly excellent news this week regarding a grant we have been succesful in obtaining and which will allow us to recruit train and employ 10 people in tourism commerce to progress the creation of the Raiway Museum and attendant attractions for the future. This is another major step forwa4d in making our area attractive to visitors an£ tourists. Secondly the authorities have decreed the end of the agricultural burning season from 1st April no burning will be permitted. This decree is constantly under review and takes into account meteorological conditions to minimise the risk of fire.

Railway Museum and Girl Friday

The AGM for the Railway Museum is to be held this Saturday 25th March at 1200 noon in the old railway station. It should be interesting to hear how things are progressing given that Rafa has acquired 2 items of rolling stock. If you are interested please pop along and show your support for the guys who are doing all the work on this amazing project for our area and maybe learn more about the plans. It will make our area an even more attractive place to visit. We have a young girl, who is the niece of our local priest, who is looking for some part time work. She is particularly interested in working to care for, or assist, the elderly. She has good refences, I am assured. So if you have, or know of anyone who may have, a requirement for such help please let me or Jose know and we can arrange.