Andalucia Life - Manilva Foreign Residents Department, Sabinillas and Duquesa News, June2008

The Foreign Residents Office is in the Villa Matilda, next to SuperSol on the Sabinillas to Manilva road. Opening times 8am to 9am and 10am to 1.30pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Wednesdays by appointment only. Tel: 952 890 845 or 663 969 636. Chris is also at the Sunday market on the feria ground at Manilva.

Footbridges

Manilva Town Hall have made an application for three footbridges across the A7 (N340). One is to be situated at Lidls at Sabinillas, the second at Los Hidalgos and the third at La Paloma.

Road Noise

Urbanisations affected by road noise off the A7 (N340) will be pleased to hear that an application has been made for acoustic screens to be erected.

Services offered by the Foreign Residents Department

When we asked Chris Olsen for a list of the services offered by the Foreign Residents Department even he was surprised by the diversity. The core activities of the department are organising excursions, such as the recent trip to Baelo Claudia, events such as the tapas days, International festivals, and Spanish classes. He also translates the news for broadcasting at the weekend on local TV and radio. In addition to that, foreign residents can call on the Department for assistance that ranges from accompanying you to the doctor to acting as a translator, to help in translating official letters, social welfare problems, supplying information to residents, helping to place children in school, advice regarding social security, assistance with bureaucratic problems, liaison with the Police and Guardia Civil to help non Spanish speakers make denunciations and a huge range of personal problems. Chris says, ‘Every day I learn something new’.

Open University Courses

Have you ever thought of taking a diploma or degree with the Open University? Do you want to study for a qualification for personal gratification or to enhance your C.V? Many people here in Spain have and then been put off by the fact that they are remote from their tutor and support groups and the postal service is not exactly following day delivery. Now Chris Olsen, an experienced adult education consultant with a Masters in adult education and many years experience of working with the Open University is offering educational courses with the O.U. or a similar establishment depending on subject chosen and circumstances. Contact Chris at the Foreign Residents Office at Sabinillas. Courses are open to all on the Costa.

Suggestion Box

A suggestion box is to be located on the rear door of Villa Matilda opposite Super Sol in Sabinillas. The Foreign Residents Department are looking to you for ideas of how to integrate ex pats of all nationalities into the Spanish community. The best suggestion will be credited to its author.

The following events have been arranged by the Manilva Ayuntamiento Cultural Department.

Carnival Night

16th August “Los Ninos” Starting at 10pm at Sabinillas School.

Noches de Luna y Playa

23rd August, Soul music by the group ‘Dry Martini’ on the beach at Sabinillas, starting at 10pm.

San Luis

25th August, A religious procession in Sabinillas to honour the town’s patron saint.

Musical Concert

29th August, Municipal bands play tunes from our province. Starting at 10pm on Calle Mar in Manilva.

Street Art

Every Sunday until the 21st September local artists will show off their pavement art on the Paseo Maritimo at Sabinillas.

Art Exhibitions

Villa Matilde 9am to 2pm and 5pm to 9pm. A series of exhibitions right through the summer.

Exhibition of Paintings by local artists until the 3rd August.

Exhibition of Paintings by Jose Maria Hernandez Santacruz from 8th to 29th August.

Estepona Foreign Residents Department

Residents in Estepona should call at the Tourist Office on Avenida San Lorenzo, that is the road inland from the paseo at the large roundabout near the centre of town or telephone Francine on 952 809 031 for similar services.