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were sued to recover the value of the lost business, crashed computers and wasted employees?

ON THE HORIZON:
u The Tropical Inn, a new, affordably priced resort across from The Plaza Resort entrance is set to open officially this week.
u Military exercises by Dutch special troops are planned for early next year.  The last time a major exercise was held in Bonaire the island's emergency services were mobilized to help the island following a mock tidal wave.
u Look for video coverage of local events on Bonaire's own event channel 24 -Telecourant.  Since Flamingo Television moved to Curaçao there has been little timely coverage of Bonaire events except on the nightly news. Right now Telecourant just transmits text, still pictures and music. But plans are in the works for expansion very soon.
uArtebon, the art gallery located in the historic waterfront slave hospital, has received from the island Government an extension of its right to use the building for another five years, reports President Alfred Ronde. Money from a UNESCO grant is also on the way.
uThe new Divers' Hotel at Harbour Village has targeted November 1^st for opening.   However, sadly, negotiations to reopen the adjacent Compadres Restaurant, as reported last week, may have fallen through. It appears that the Resort, run by former Habitat manager Nick Davies, is being divided to accommodate condos, time shares and hotel guests. A Jersey, Channel Islands, investment company is in charge of some of the operations.

uCelebrate Halloween in a big way - at the Buddy Dive Resort's new restaurant, Bella Vista. Great plans are being made and it should be terrific. Following the usual Manager's Happy Hour with Moogie on percussion and singing the party will begin at 8. The entire Bella Vista bar and restaurant staff will be in costume; the pool bar decorated. Taste the love potion from the caldron, but don't take too much because this stuff works fast. A deejay will keep the party swinging and the best three costumes will receive prizes. Don't miss it!

u There's still time to participate in the SGB (high school) hotel school's Fundraising Dinners at Chez Nous. This year's students are preparing to compete in the ABC Islands Culinary Competition in Curaçao on November 15. To finance their trip to the Competition they're presenting three more evenings of three-course dinners at 6 pm: Tuesday, November 4; Thursday, November 6; and Tuesday, November 11.
Help support Bonaire's team and have a fabulous meal at the same time! The menu: Chicken stuffed with shrimp, served with a tomato-ginger sauce with avocado garnish; Rolled fish filet with basil in a crust with pineapple, papaya coulis; followed by a Yucca and vanilla ice cream served with a sweet sauce.
The donation for the meal is NAƒ35, which includes the meal plus a special cocktail. Make reservations by calling the school the day before at 717-8120 and ask for "Chez Nous."
uTrafassi, the popular Surinamese band from Holland, will play Friday, October 31, at the Tera Kora Ranch. Back up band is the Happy Band. Tickets are NAƒ30 and NAƒ35 at the door. Call 785-9191 for more information. G./L.D.

ChiChi

u To its captive dolphins the Curaçao Sea Aquarium added six more mammals:  sea lions. Perhaps to counter negative reaction from environmentalists the sea lion program has a new twist: the sea lions will be trained to assist in sea rescue operations.
After recovering from the flight from Paraguay, the sea lions will be named by the trainer, Christopher Porter, aided by his 7-year old daughter Megan.  The Seaquarium's sea lion, ChiChi, (photo right) who's been alone for years, will be observed for his reaction to the newcomers.
Porter will remain on the island for only a week. "In January I'll come back for three months. Together with ChiChi's trainer I will then begin the SOS program, an abbreviation for Sea lions in Open Sea. It's a unique project in which the sea lions are trained to assist in rescue operations. They have to get used to all types of situations, such as transfer by car on land or by boat. Several scenarios will be played out to see how they react to people in an emergency situation."
If the Seaquarium owners succeed in their goal of sea lion assisted rescues, it will bring Curaçao international attention, foresees Porter. "I've traveled the world and handled training in various countries, but I've never set up a program such as this one, which is why I'm extremely proud of this one."
And if it doesn't, it will enslave the mammals in a restricted environment where their lives will be sacrificed for the entertainment of tourists and the wallets of the Seaquarium owners.  G.D.

u Croccantino's Evening of Tuscan Dinner and Live Jazz
Jazz is alive and well at Croccantino Restaurant. Every Friday night between 7 and 10 you can hear good jazz while you dine or have a drink. But there's even more. Owner Elizabeth Wigny says, "We want to create a tradition, so every first Friday of the month we'll have a special theme dinner and great jazz!" As those diners who've been to a Croccantino "special evening" will attest, you'll be in for a wonderfully romantic and relaxing experience.
The theme for Friday, November 7, will be "Tuscany." A four-course sumptuous Tuscan-style dinner, prepared by the restaurant's two resident Tuscan chefs, will be served in the private garden from 7 to 10 pm. You'll be serenaded by popular Curaçao musicians, Ronchi Matthews on keyboard and Herschel Rosario on bass, guitar, percussion and vocals. They'll be joined by Bonaire residents, saxophonist Guus Gerritsen; bass, guitar-percussion player Lando Tjin-a-Tsjoe; and vocalist Linda Anthony. They'll play a variety of music, ranging from Latin, Caribbean jazz to mainstream sounds from Europe and the Americas. Other guest musicians from the island and abroad will join in for a jam session during the evening.
The price for the four-course meal and live jazz entertainment is $40 per person. Reservations can be made on November 5, 6 or 7 by calling the restaurant during open hours, 5 to 11 pm. Tel. 717-5025.L

u Baseball super-star Andruw Jones wants to build a new 23,000 m² stadium on his home island, Curaçao. "I want a stadium with a lot of activities and facilities," said Jones, 26.  He knows what he wants. "It's going to be a professional stadium, without formalities like seat numbers, etc.  Just buy a ticket and sit down."  All the same, he remains modest, "It is just an idea; if somebody else wants the property, that's also okay with me."  But he's also straight to business: "It's either yes or no, nothing in between.  If yes, then I do not want to have to wait for years."   
The government has yet to approve the plans and both parties have to sign a memorandum of understanding, which should happen soon.  The Andruw Jones group wants to start construction next year and complete it in December 2005 at the latest.  The project would cost between NAƒ10 and NAƒ15 million. It would be a baseball/soccer stadium with a removable pitcher's mound and hold 6,000 spectators plus a museum, a conference center and restaurant. 

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