New fruit available in Belize

Many fruits that are strange to a lot of us in Belize are truly a delicacy in other parts of the world; one such fruit is called lychee. Lychees are extensively grown in the native region of China but are also found in many countries in Asia. It was recently introduced to Belize from Honduras and is now grown in the Cayo District for local consumption. The lychee is a fleshy fruit. The outside is covered by a pink-red, roughly-textured rind that is inedible but easily removed. They are eaten in many different dessert dishes. The inside consists of a layer of sweet, translucent white flesh, rich in vitamin C, with a texture somewhat similar to that of a grape only much less moist. The center contains a single glossy brown nut-like seed which is not poisonous but should not be eaten. The fruit matures from early April to late June, about 100 days after flowering.

The seasonal fruit is grown in the village of Santa Cruz in the Cayo District. We caught up with a vendor of this delicious fruit in downtown San Pedro as he was promoting the fruit. If you want to know more about the fruit or even include it as part of your dessert dishes, you can contact Jeffery Ellis at 667-7289.

SACNW now equipped with Automated External Defribrillator (AED)

The South Ambergris Caye Neighborhood Watch (SACNW) would like to inform all residents, visitors, doctors and tour guides who frequent south Ambergris Caye, including the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, that the police substation is now equipped with an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), oxygen and many first aid supplies.

All patrol officers and many neighborhood residents are trained in first aid first response and are on call if a medical emergency situation presents itself. Please remember that first responders are in no way a substitute for a licensed medical doctor.

Should a medical emergency arise, the substation can be reached by calling 610-4911 or VHF channel 74, 24 hours a day, seven (7) days a week and is located on the south side of Miramar Villas. The patrol officers cover an area from Victoria House to the southern end of the island.

The SACNW would like to take this opportunity to thank Kent Vanderkamp for the donation of the AED and Dr. Tommy Blackledge for donating the AED battery and various first aid supplies. Thank you for your generosity!

Lime's Chili Cook-off

As a fundraiser for SAGA Humane Society, Lime held a delectable Chili Cook off on Friday with loads of participation. Pot after pot of chili was brought in and tasters eagerly had their nibbles. More information will be provided on Thursday's San Pedro Sun.

Great Kiskadee Takes a Sunday Afternoon Bath

The Great Kiskadee is a large, striking bird whose name is derived from its call which sounds very much like French for “What are you saying” ...”Quest-ceque dit,” or kis-ka-dee. The Great Kiskadee is found from Texas, USA to Argentina and lives in open woodlands, streamside thickets, groves, orchards and parks. In the tropics it occurs widely in many semi-open habitats, usually avoiding dense unbroken forest. It is a permanent resident throughout its range and does not migrate. Chances are you will hear this bird before you see it. During the heat of the day, while most birds are silent, the kiskadee will draw your attention by calling its name constantly while perched from a telephone wire or on a roof. This robin-sized bird is about ten inches in length. It has black and white stripes on the crown and sides of its head. It has a white line above its eyes. Its chest and undersides are a bright yellow and its throat is white. Its back and wings are brown and its bill and legs are black. Its bright pattern is unique in North America, but in the tropics several other flycatchers look almost identical.

BEL Explains Power Outage