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Posted on 16 July 2022 by admin

Get ready for yacht racing and events at Ramsgate Week 2022

kabluzo — Kabluzo, sponsored by St Lawrence College, will be one of the vessels competing

Ramsgate Week kicks off tomorrow (July 17) and is widely recognised as a ‘family-friendly regatta’ that is an alternative to Cowes.

It first started back in 1898. During the 1950s, the regatta was known as ‘Kent Yachting Week’, which changed to ‘Thanet Week’ in the 1970s, and at that time included dinghy sailing.

Dinghy racing declined over time, but with an expanded local IOR-rated fleet, Ramsgate Week as we know it today was re-launched and has grown strength to strength.

Royal Temple Yacht Club racing season Photo Malcolm Kirkaldie

As well as yacht racing throughout the week, there is live music and events throughout the town and around the harbour.

St Lawrence College is one of the key sponsors for the event and the school is also sponsoring a local crew and boat Kabluzo which is competing as part of the IRC Class 1 fleet. Kabluzo was hand-built by Rob Smith and first launched in 2020.

Simon Northrop, who runs Northrop Sails at Ramsgate Harbour, will be part of the eight-man crew aboard Kabluzo.

Simon was born in the area and has been running Northrop Sails since the age of 21. He has also competed in Ramsgate Week for the past 25 years.

Sailing is in his blood as his grandfather and father also competed. Simon created his first sail when he was just 17 years old and this was then used by his father in the 1988 World Championships.

Northrop Sails have made the sails for the Kabluzo and the St Lawrence College crest has also been incorporated.

One challenging race is the ‘Round the Goodwins.’ This involves sailing from Ramsgate Harbour, around the Goodwin Sands and then back to the Harbour. The Goodwin Sands is a 10-mile sandbank where more than 2,000 ships are believed to have been wrecked.

Simon has won the ‘Round the Goodwins’ race before and currently holds the record time of 2hrs 45mins. The race takes place on Sunday at 9:55am.

Another key race of Ramsgate Week is the Gold Cup. This race closes out the regatta on Friday, July 22.

Simon has won this twice previously with different teams. He’ll be looking to make it a hattrick with Rob Smith and the crew aboard the Kabluzo.

A college spokesperson said: “St Lawrence College will be supporting and cheering from ashore. We wish all competitors involved the best of luck next week and know it’ll be an event to remember.”

Euromarine Insurance Services is the main sponsor for Ramsgate Week. A number of other businesses and organisations also support the event.

Find out more about Ramsgate Week at https://www.ramsgateweek.com/

Posted on 7 July 2022 by admin

Police say they’re ready to keep huge events such as San Diego Pride and Comic-Con safe

When it comes to reasons to be worried over the coming weeks, local law enforcement can take its pick. The deadly attack on Fourth of July paradegoers in Highland Park, Illinois, is still fresh in people’s minds. And, in June, during Pride Month, there were a number of disturbing incidents, including what police say appeared to be a plan for a sizable attack on a Pride event in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho. Police arrested 31 members of a white nationalist group.

On Thursday, San Diego police sought to reassure the public about security at events happening here this month.

“Safety is our No. 1 for the San Diego Police Department,” Lt. Jonathan Lowe said.

SAFETY PKG.00_00_32_10.Still003.jpg — The Pride Flag is shown in Hillcrest on July 7, 2022.

In the shadow of Hillcrest’s massive Pride flag on Thursday, Lowe provided a note of reassurance, talking about security preparations for San Diego Pride next week and Comic-Con a week later.

“We’re going to have uniformed officers and nonuniformed officers in the crowd, always watching over the parade route, the festival and the associated parties around Hillcrest. Same goes for Comic-Con as well,” Lowe said.

In the case of Pride, police are getting some extra help from the Hillcrest Business Association. Ryan Bedrosian, the owner of Rich’s nightclub, sits on the association board.

SAFETY PKG.00_01_27_00.Still002.jpg — Artwork is shown on the patio of Rich’s in Hillcrest on July 7, 2022.

He said he and his fellow Hillcrest business owners had been talking recently about how to make sure security this year is tighter than ever.

“Our exits are clear, properly well-lit. Our security staff is on point. We have extra security guards — they’re trained. So those are things that we always take into consideration, but obviously more so on Pride weekend,” said Bedrosian.

The security of big events came up this week when San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria appeared on KPBS Midday Edition.

“It is frustrating to have this threat of violence across the nation impacting this event,” Gloria said.

But the mayor also said he was confident in law enforcement’s ability to keep people safe.

SAFETY PKG.00_02_04_20.Still001.jpg — One of many fire hydrants painted in pride colors around Hillcrest is shown on July 7, 2022.

“I have full faith in our San Diego Police Department, as well as our regional law enforcement partners,” Gloria said.

But, even with all the reassuring words, there is still that nagging reality that a person with a gun determined to cause mayhem and violence — can. That’s why the words that came into our lexicon after 9/11 still ring true today: If you see something that doesn’t look right, say something.

Posted on 31 May 2022 by admin

Ready for a Fun Night Out? These Science Events Have You Covered

The Science Near Me blog is a partnership between Discover magazine and ScienceNearMe.org.

Move over, trivia. Here’s a new idea for your next night out: A science café. So grab your friends and call the sitter, because somewhere near you there’s an opportunity to nerd out and be entertained — adult beverages optional.

Fun with science and opportunities to engage your brain shouldn’t be just for kids. Luckily, there are plenty of ways for us adults to stretch our brains and enjoy a good time. On ScienceNearMe.org, your one-stop shop for science activities, events and programs, you can now use the “21+” filter to find events made just for adults.

One of the most prominent types of events you might find is the Science Café. At these events, members of the public gather at a local bar or other venue and listen to presentations from scientists. But these are no dull classroom lectures — they’re casual, fun and expertly crafted to be understandable for whoever might happen to walk through the door. Many events are free, while others may require a cover charge or ticket purchase. A token or ticket for a free drink at the bar is a definite possibility.

Here are just a few examples of organizations across the country currently hosting science cafés and other science-themed events for adults!

Nerd Nite Near Me

A great way to make your night out a little more interesting is to attend a Nerd Nite. We asked the Big Boss of Nerd Nite, Matt Wasowski, what it was all about. We’ll let you hear it from him:

“For the uninitiated, in its simplest terms, Nerd Nite is a monthly event held in a non-academic venue (think music venues, art spaces, breweries, warehouses, etc.) during which three usually-emerging experts each give an 18-to-21-minute long fun-yet-informative presentation while the audience drinks along. And the drinking-along part is just as important as the presentations since we’ve always believed that creating an informal atmosphere for nerdery is key.

Nerd Nite started in 2003 as a lark at a rockabilly bar in Boston as a way for [founder] Chris Balakrishnan to talk about his travels to Cameroon to study a bird during grad school, and somehow became a worldwide event series that, pre-pandemic, held monthly events in more than 100 cities on six continents.

While one could probably find a way to more formally learn about the Science of the Simpsons, the first vaccine or gonorrhea, it’s much more fun to learn when out with a few friends, around like-minded peers, while having a drink. Tone and spirit are everything. We don’t take ourselves too seriously, don’t dissuade swearing or toilet humor and love to toast our audience.

A typical presenter’s vantage at a Science Café. (Credit: Nerd Nite)

Each Nite around the world is run by volunteers. We’ve even rejected outside investment because we don’t want to be beholden to anyone. It’s just us; a merry band of curious people who enjoy each other’s company, a few beers and learning about new subjects presented to us in a quirky manner.

As we head into our third decade, our mission remains to simply be about teaching people random things in an informal, hopefully enjoyable, manner. That impossibly-simple formula has worked so far, so if it ain’t broke, let’s not break it. Cheers!”

There are a number of Nerd Nite events already scheduled across the country for June — June 9 in Miami, June 15 in San Francisco, June 22 in Los Angeles and June 30 in Louisville — with more to come. Many meet monthly on the same day of the month at a local bar or pub. Nerd Nite perhaps puts it best on their website: “Be there and be square.”

Astronomy on Tap

Another great opportunity to add a little learning to your next night at the bar is Astronomy on Tap. Like Nerd Nite, you’ll find local experts at the event, but this time they’ll be astronomers talking about black holes, what it would really take to live on Mars or some recently revealed secret of the solar system. Here’s how co-founder Emily Rice describes it:

“Astronomy on Tap is a loosely coordinated, worldwide organization of public outreach events featuring presentations about astronomy from professional scientists, educators and more, at bars and other social venues. We started in NYC in April 2013, after Dr. Meg Schwamb (then a postdoc at Yale) organized two “Astronomy Uncorked” events at a wine bar in New Haven, before I helped her bring a similar event to Brooklyn and rebrand as Astronomy on Tap.

Last May the fourth, Astronomy on Tap San Antonio hosted a science of Star Wars event. Here, Dr. Angela Speck, astrophysicist at the University of Texas at San Antonio, shares what’s actually required to obliterate a planet and what the movies did and didn’t get right, while sporting an awesome R2D2 dress. (Credit: Dr. Christine Ray on Twitter @ItsChristineRay)

Last May the fourth, AoT San Antonio hosted a science of Star Wars event. Here, Dr. Angela Speck, astrophysicist at the University of Texas at San Antonio, shares what’s actually required to obliterate a planet and what the movies did and didn’t get right, while sporting an awesome R2D2 dress. Photo and caption from planetary scientist Dr. Christine Ray.

Typical events include two or more short-ish presentations (15-20 minutes) with lots of time for questions, plus trivia, games, prizes, news, music and other fun things. AoT provides a relatively informal venue for scientists to share their expertise and experiences with the general public, while being honest and getting creative. Several satellite AoT organizations have even adapted to their communities by having events in different languages (Spanish, Mandarin, French, German, etc.) and with different types of professionals (scientists, educators, astronauts, amateur astronomers, actors, musicians, artists, etc.).”

The next Astronomy on Tap is June 9 in Chicago, but be sure to check back soon for more dates and locations! And don’t forget other science café organizations that might have events near you, like Pint of Science, Science on Tap, Biology on Tap and yes, even science-themed trivia nights.

More Science Activities for Adults

Not every opportunity for adults to enjoy science is at a bar. Science centers, museums, planetariums and more will often host events for adults! For example, on June 9, the Emerald Coast Science Center in Fort Walton Beach, FL, is hosting The Sordid Secrets of the Stars. Book your seat in the science center’s planetarium for an adventure through Mesoamerican legends and myths of the constellations. As the science center puts it: “Much like all our Sordid Secrets, this is an adult event, as those Mayan, Incan and Aztec gods definitely didn’t keep things rated PG!” (And yes, there’s beer and wine available, too.)

Whatever your interests and ideal venue, more and more events are cropping up every day. So next time you’re looking for fun things to do, look to see if there’s a science event for adults near you, and be sure to check back often!

If your organization has a science opportunity to share, be sure to add it to Science Near Me! We’d love to share your event, opportunity, activity or camp with our community.

Posted on 31 May 2022 by admin

Cassadaga ready for summer events

CASSADAGA — The Cassadaga Lakes Summer Concert Series makes its return for the 2022 season, and it kicks off in a few weeks with the Strawberry Social event on June 19, where the Cassadaga Community Concert Band from 3 to 5 p.m. on that Sunday afternoon. This performance is sponsored by Citizens for a Better Cassadaga.

The week after, on June 26, the Ozone Rangers will take the stage, doing their usual brand of southern rock and ZZ Top tributes, sponsored by United Arts Appeal Projects Pool Program.

On July 10, Osborn Nash will be there to satiate the need for country, folk, and pop music, sponsored by Restart NY Grand administered by Arts Services, Inc.

July 24 will have Acoustic Ear Candy, who specialize in rock, country and pop, while August 7 has Ion Sky, giving folks who like that genre of music back to back opportunities to experience it. Acoustic Ear Candy is sponsored by Jeanne and Chris MacKrell and Sarah and Brad Meyers, while Ion Sky is sponsored by DFT Communications and the Village of Cassadaga.

August 21 will have the Dave Golando Big Band, sponsored by Restart NY Grand administered by Arts Services, Inc., while the last show of the summer will be 2nd Street Sunset on Sept. 4, which is sponsored by the Cassadaga Lakes Association.

All of these shows will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on their listed day. In case of inclement weather, concerts will be held at the American Legion Post 1280 or the Community Building at 22 Mill Street. Super Duper Catering will be at all concerts, other than the first one on June 19, and North Shore Arts Alliance artists will be at each concert, giving concert goers shopping opportunities for unique gifts.

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Posted on 24 May 2022 by admin

Phuket ‘ready’ to host major events

Two major tourism fairs next month

A press conference is organised to announce tourism events next month, at the Andamanda Phuket theme park in Phuket on Tuesday. (Photo: Achadthaya Chuenniran)

Phuket is signalling its readiness to host major international events, with two tourism events slated to take place next month as part of its bid to promote investments and revive the island’s economy.

Deputy governor of Phuket Pichet Panapong on Tuesday said Phuket will host the Thailand Tourism Congress 2022 (TTC 2022) and Thailand Travel Mart Plus 2022 (TTM+ 2022) next month.

The TTC will be held at Beyond Resort Kata from June 6-8, while the TTM+ will run from June 8-10 at Angsana Laguna Phuket.

Over 400 guests, which include representatives from government agencies, tourism-related business and academics, have been invited to attend the TTC, while over 700 people are expected to attend the TTM+, including travel agents and journalists, Mr Pichet said.

Bhummikitti Raktaengam, president of Phuket Tourist Association, said the TTC will play a key role in promoting improvements and sustainability within the tourism industry.

Mr Bhummikitti also invited business operators and executives of tourism associations nationwide to attend the forum to discuss ways to attract more visitors while minimising the impact of mass tourism — especially on the environment.

The TTM+ has been jointly organised by Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), provincial authorities and the private sector since 2001. The event was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to Rawat Areerob, president of Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO), TTM+ offers the chance for local businesses to expand by nurturing relationships with international partners.

The government is planning to fully reopen the country to foreign tourists this year, in order to stimulate the sluggish economy and decrease the unemployment rate, particularly in the tourism and hospitality sectors.

To ensure the reopening is a success, TAT will promote Thailand in foreign markets under the concept “Visit Thailand 2022: Amazing New Chapters”, said Thanet Phetsuwan, TAT deputy governor of marketing for Asia and the South Pacific.

The theme will inspire local and international travellers to explore more of Thailand, he said, adding that the TTM+ 2022 will feature business-matching sessions, a networking dinner, and media exhibitions.

Posted on 24 May 2022 by admin

Thatcher Farms almost ready to show off new event venue

Dana Thatcher said this was a natural extension to an increasing market for agri-tourism experiences

GUELPH/ERAMOSA – It has taken a lot of paperwork, labour, money and a few headaches for the owners of Thatcher Farm but years of hard work will soon pay off as their on-farm venue is set to host its first events.

A part of Thatcher Farms, on Fifth Line in Guelph/Eramosa township, now hosts a new structure and event area called Barn Swallow Fields which Dana Thatcher said in an interview was named after a bird commonly seen at the property.

Thatcher and her husband Adam are first-generation farmers who have slowly been adding to the property since they first bought it.

She noticed over the years people have increasingly been coming to farms like hers for more than just to buy products.

“We found that people would show up and start wandering around,” Thatcher said. This led to adding experience-based things such as strawberry and pumpkin picking, sunflower fields and events.

She said people, especially those who live in a city, are longing to come out to enjoy nature and fall in love with farming are fuelling the rise in agri-tourism.

“The countryside, it just draws people, it’s a quiet space and there’s good food and there’s just kind of beauty all around,” Thatcher said.

This new event venue is an extension of this. Thatcher said they had a large tent used for events but wasn’t suitable in case of rain.

“We thought a permanent structure would be helpful and if it rained or it was bad weather, it wouldn’t matter,” Thatcher said.

Building wasn’t an easy task and required a lot of work with the township including zoning and site plan approvals. Overall, Thatcher figured the process took more than three years to see through to completion.

Guelph/Eramosa council approved the zoning change in June 2021 and at the meeting it was noted this may be precedence-setting as the venture may be the first of its kind in the township.

Nearly a year later, Thatcher said the venue is almost ready to host seasonal events like concerts, farm dinners and weddings, among other things.

The Thatchers have built the barn to fit in with the existing feel of the farm. Thatcher said she considers it to be rustic, clean and elegant.

“I think we’re pretty unique in our county as well, like there’s not a lot of this available so to be able to invite the community out to enjoy the farm or have a wedding it’s pretty unique,” Thatcher said.

She was unsure what the first event will be, there is a tentative plan to host something for father’s day but that is still to be determined. However, a Canada Day live music event is set to go and weddings are booked for August and September.

Next year is still open but Thatcher is confident that will fill relatively quickly after they have examples of what can be held.

“I think once we get a few events under our belt, I think that we’ll see a big snowball effect,” Thatcher said.

Posted on 18 May 2022 by admin

Ottawa’s transit services ready to roll for Canada Day events: City

This will be the first Canada Day hosting in-person events with the LRT in operation.

Canada Day festivities at Lebreton Flats will bring some new changes to OC Transpo, but they’re not likely to raise any concerns.

That’s what Pat Scrimgeour, director of transit customer systems and planning, said at the City’s transit commission on Wednesday, May 18.

This is the first Canada day boasting in-person events with the LRT in operation, Scrimgeour explained, since the system launched in the fall of 2019.

“So, it’s new for us in a number of ways and we’ve also have a number of new staff who haven’t worked it before — so it’s new, it’s different, but we’re not seeing any major obstacles,” Scrimgeour said.

The main pressure point for Canada Day is directly after the fireworks show, since a large number of people are trying to access transit all at once, he added.

Scrimgeour said the transit company is confident that train and bus capacity will be able to accommodate those coming or leaving Canada Day events.

The director is also encouraging Ottawa residents to use transit to access Canada Day festivities, reminding ridders that fares will be free on that day.

The transit agency is also confident that it has the train and bus capacity necessary to accommodate the expected crowds on July 1.

Posted on 16 May 2022 by admin

Ready and Resilient: peek behind the scenes of a Significant Weather Event

Today marks the start of National Public Works Week, a time for the City to recognize the hard work being done to manage and maintain our traffic and transportation infrastructure, parks and natural assets, waste, water and so much more. This year’s theme is Ready and Resilient.

Over the past few years, our Public Works employees have shown resilience in the face of numerous challenges, never failing to provide the services that Ottawa residents rely on. You might remember Significant Weather Events being introduced earlier this year. The City announced it would begin declaring extreme weather for the first time this past winter; Mother Nature got the message and sent not one, but two Significant Weather Events our way – the first bringing 48 centimetres of snow and 50 kilometres/hour winds to Ottawa over two days in January.

So, what happens when Ottawa gets hit by a Significant Weather Event? While you might see the snowplows out clearing sidewalks, roads, and the winter cycling network, a lot of work is happening quickly behind the scenes and across multiple operational groups in Public Works to get life in the city back to normal as quickly as possible.

Peek behind the scenes

Preparation for a Significant Weather Event starts well before extreme weather hits. Public Works employees monitor multiple weather service providers on a constant basis so that teams can be adjusted and readied year-round. This January, employees rallied quickly to call a Significant Weather Event in advance of the blizzard, giving residents a heads-up of the incoming snow, anticipated travel challenges and a necessary parking ban.

These situations are dynamic and no two are the same, so it’s “all hands on deck” for Public Works employees.

In the lead-up to the snowfall, communications between all Public Works teams and their many internal partners were established quickly. Everyone understood their role before the first snowflake appeared, and employees coordinated to send news of the Significant Weather Event and parking ban through multiple channels, including the 3-1-1 call centre, social media, City Council and the winter parking e-alert.

Meanwhile, some Public Works employees were busy working out the operational details, like:

Determining how many additional equipment operators might be needed to handle all the snow
Scheduling shifts that would run for the duration of the storm and ensure a continuous effort
Double-checking that equipment was in working order
Putting mechanics on standby – just in case
Coordinating quickly to delay curb-side waste pick-up by one day, knowing that removing waste collection vehicles and bins from the road would be a huge help

Some Public Works employees who were trained to use specialized equipment were pulled from their usual work in other areas to help clear snow from the sidewalks, while others worked to plow hundreds of parking spaces at City facilities, offering residents longer-term off-street parking options and improving roadway snow-clearing.

Throughout the Significant Weather Event, there were Public Works employees monitoring the transportation network via the Traffic Control Centre, adjusting traffic signals and dispatching snowplows to high-volume intersections or problem areas as needed. And, of course, there were employees dedicated to updating the public and the media, no matter the hour.

It takes a lot of coordination, effort and dedication to make sure things go as smoothly and safely as possible during a Significant Weather Event. Thankfully, Public Works employees are ready and resilient.

Related articles:

What you can expect during a Significant Weather Event

For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca, call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) or 613-580-2400 to contact the City using Canada Video Relay Service. You can also connect with us through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Posted on 30 March 2022 by admin

‘Epicentre of energy’: Ice District plaza ready to host major events, playoff parties

Ice District is finally ready to host its first major event, six years after promotional videos bragged about a public plaza featuring people, patios and playoffs.

Big screens, a stage and a mini-rink were all being erected in the plaza Wednesday, as Rogers Hometown Hockey heads to Edmonton this weekend.

“We talked about it for a long time, that this is the epicentre of energy, and so now it’s our job to bring it to life,” said Tim Shipton of Oilers Entertainment Group.

With the Oilers holding down a playoff spot Wednesday, excitement is also building for what could happen if they make it.

“We’re going to program this thing to the hilt. We want this to be the place that people come before games, tailgating. There will be family activities, really bring it to life,” he said.

The plaza is ready to start hosting, but construction in Ice District is far from over.

New restaurants, patios and stores still need to be added and another 16 storey office tower is planned, all with a completion target of 2025.

Even an early version of the plaza being complete is music to the ears of nearby entrepreneurs, the president of the Downtown Business Association said.

“The economic benefit of having that arena in our downtown, especially in the scenario where we’re heading into maybe a playoff run, it is massive,” said Puneeta McBryan.

Two years of pandemic shutdowns, declining traffic and a rise in public disorder have been tough on businesses in the core, she said.

“I think a lot of that negativity that people might be feeling about downtown really does fall away once, all of a sudden, your streets and your businesses are full of people again,” McBryan predicted

Ice District plaza on March 30, 2022. (Jeremy Thompson/CTV News Edmonton)

Making downtown a more lively and fun place to be was central to the district’s vision all along, and a key element of the sales job that saw millions of public dollars spent to build Rogers Place.

The Oilers also spent hundreds of millions rebuilding the area, so team officials and local business owners are hoping those investments soon pay off for everyone.

“Downtown needs to get its mojo back, it needs to get its energy back and Ice District’s going to be a big part of that,” Shipton said.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Jeremy Thompson

Posted on 28 March 2022 by admin

Stakeholders ready for parties and events

Rishard Khan

rishard.khan@guardian.co.tt

Since the start of the pandemic, public parties of any nature have been strictly prohibited barring those around elections. That ban will be lifted come Monday and the industry which suffered some of the worst economic fallout of the outbreak will be given some breathing room.

However, while many are eager to make up for lost time, the lessons of the pandemic will not be forgotten and will be incorporated into these events.

According to Residence Lounge operations manager Keegan Knights, the lifting of the ban, abolition of safe zones and return to 100 per cent capacity gives the establishment the necessary tools to recover lost income, especially through parties and special events which it has become popular for. Yesterday, he said parties and events will resume at the lounge “from the get-go on April 4.”

“We’re going to be going full force with that,” he told Guardian Media in a telephone interview.

But while the country’s epidemiology is more favourable than just six months ago, the pandemic is still very much in swing. This is why Knights said patrons of the nightclub will be subject to additional protocols. This includes the usual procedures the world has now gotten accustomed to — frequent sanitisation, social distancing between groups and mandatory mask-wearing while not consuming food or beverages. However, he said patrons will now be required to make reservations to attend.

“Everybody that’s entering the club is going to be asked to make reservations. So we ask every group in every section, the person that reserves the area, we’re going to have their name and their guests as well. (It’s) going to be used as a form of contact tracing,” he said.

Party boats will also be implementing safety precautions, as they too will be allowed to resume operations.

A spokesperson for the T&T Pleasure Craft Association (TTPCA), Stephan McConnie, referred to the restrictions’ lifting as “the first piece of good news we’ve gotten in two-plus years.”

He said around a dozen large operators were forced to shut down since the pandemic began and between 200 and 300 employees had been put on the breadline as a result. He said the ripple effect on downstream businesses— such as boat maintenance companies and caterers et cetera—is also wide-reaching.

Despite the “party boats’” and tour boats’ elation with the news, he noted that they’re cognisant of the risk the pandemic still poses.

“At the same time, we are being very cautious with it because like anybody else, we don’t want to see another wave, so we have spoken among the association and we are going to take the necessary steps to continue safeguarding our crew, our business and the patrons as well,” McConnie said.

“We plan to continue sanitisation before boarding. We plan to continue sanitisation of vessels between trips and also we will obey the ordinance…in terms of mask-wearing and all these different things.”

McConnie, the owner of Don’t Drink Indoors Down d Island boat tours, was forced to close his operations during the pandemic. Restarting, he said, will take him some time.

“We’re hoping to resume operations no later than mid to end of May, which gives us enough to put things in place protocol wise, safety-wise. Remember our vessels have been down for a while, so we have a lot of work to do to ensure the stability of the vessels and safety protocols within the maritime sector,” he said.

He lamented, however, that the recovery from debt incurred over the period will take him “a couple of years.”