Cover Page Legal HistorySports SearchOrocovis evens up COLICEBA final series with comeback winThe San Juan Daily StarJan 201 min readJuncos led 9-1 in the fifth inning but Orocovis rallied to take a 10-9 lead in the seventh.By The Star Staff The Orocovis Chiefs defeated the Juncos Mules 11-10 in the early hours of Sunday to tie the final series of the COLICEBA Kerby Camacho hit the decisive single in the bottom of the 11th inning off reliever Bryan Quiles The Mules (Mulos) led 9-1 in the fifth inning but Orocovis rallied to take a 10-9 lead in the seventh which went to extra innings after a scoreless ninth José Figueroa pitched three and two-thirds scoreless innings to take the win in relief Ronaldo Camacho hit two home runs with four RBIs and Nelson Molina went deep and had three RBIs for the Chiefs (Caciques) © 2025 The San Juan Daily Star - Puerto Rico SearchGovernor urges Orocovis mayor to comply with law before hiring own electricity brigadesThe San Juan Daily StarAug 20 20242 min readOrocovis Mayor Jesús Colón Berlingeri (Facebook via Entérate)By The Star Staff With more than 51,000 electric power customers on the island still without service on Monday Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia urged Orocovis Mayor Jesús “Gardy” Colón Berlingeri to comply with the law before the municipality intervenes in the repair of the electrical system following the blackouts caused by the passage of Tropical Storm Ernesto last week Pierluisi emphasized the importance of following legal procedures to ensure safety “There is a law that establishes the requirements for municipalities to be able to intervene in the electrical system so what happens here is that the law must be complied with,” the governor said in response to questions from the press There must be a signed contract between LUMA and the municipality and a notification.” “We must all remember that the safety of the personnel working on the lines comes before everything else,” Pierluisi added “We cannot put the safety of our people at risk.” Colón Berlingeri had described as a “hoax” and “an injustice” the statement by LUMA Energy the private operator of the island’s electrical grid that the municipality is not authorized to appoint private brigades to repair power lines In statements to the newspaper Metro Puerto Rico Colón Berlingeri insisted that the municipality has complied with all legal requirements including notifying LUMA and the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) The mayor also pointed out that 61.25% of the population of Orocovis was still without electricity The mayor said he will withdraw the brigades hired by the municipality “as long as they [LUMA] guarantee me that they will have brigades in our town and they will be serving our people in a responsible manner.” Colón Berlingeri said communication with LUMA has been “ambiguous light and with little substance,” despite the efforts of the municipality to coordinate the necessary repairs Hoping to aid in the promotion of art and culture artists and volunteers from Orocovis have created “Pinceladas en Oro” family-friendly event at which artisans and artists gather to show off their work with exhibitions and workshops is the brainchild of Jesús Adrián Colón “Pinceladas en Oro” has become one of the most popular events in Orocovis Having launched in June 2018 under a tent and with the participation of only a handful of artists the event will be celebrating its 13th edition on Nov Artists will be spread out through the town’s urban center starting at Degetau street all the way down to the town square “We realized that there was the potential to turn this into something bigger so we turned it into a monthly event We have been knocking on lots of doors in order to get the word out We believe that this is a great project through which we can assist in the growth of the art scene and all its disciplines,” said Jorge Torres Torres went on to say that they have been slowly adding vendors improv workshops and even a presentation by the National Circus this is also a great way to increase traffic to the town and aid in its development “The group’s motto has been ‘si entras al centro entras al pueblo’ (to get to the town’s center We have developed an array of initiatives to get people to learn more about the center and heart of Puerto Rico to support its local economy and to get them to enjoy Orocovis,” he stated Some of these initiatives have been tied to the Puerto Rican urban art scene due to the fact that many tourists enjoy taking pictures of themselves next to the murals and installations Torres said that there are a dozen murals running down Degetau street and the stairs that lead to Cerro La Guaira the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña (ICP) has requested to affiliate with Orocovis’ Cultural Center in an effort to continue developing cultural events once they are officially registered as a nonprofit entity “This means a lot to us because even though education is essential the workshops help us keep our traditions alive and prepare children for the future,” said Torres Email notifications are only sent once a day Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: this school went five months without a full day of school due to a lack of electricity thanks to a 15 kW solar photovoltaic array and a 34 kilowatt-hour (kWh) lithium-ion battery system this school can ensure that its 234 students have a more resilient school to depend on Four groups collaborated on the project—NetHope provided internet services powered by a solar and battery system Save the Children focused on building resilience through educational and after-school programing with the schools and communities and RMI managed the technical aspects of the microgrid project The funding partners for this project include Kinesis Foundation and other generous donors “Hurricane Maria had a devastating impact on the lives of children across Puerto Rico Save the Children is incredibly proud to help bring light back to the children of Puerto Rico,” said Luis Soto Puerto Rico Director for Save the Children “Knowing that hundreds of children in 12 of the most affected municipalities will benefit from microgrids at their schools resulting in reliable power and therefore learning When we grow the resiliency of communities and schools “This new system is vital to keeping Papo―and the other schools that will come online―operating consistently and sustainably Not only does it provide an important lesson to the students about how they directly benefit from renewable energy but it also illustrates the power of a collaborative approach to completing these projects Partnerships likes those between NetHope members and partners like Save the Children and RMI demonstrate the collective impact of groups working in cooperation,” said Rami Shakra “RMI values our strong working relationship with Save the Children as we strive to ensure Puerto Rico’s future leaders have access to an uninterrupted education We are pleased to showcase how microgrids can provide resilient energy service at the Papo school today It will provide not only a dependable source of power for the students but also illustrate to pupils and the surrounding communities how renewable generation works in Puerto Rico and can keep the lights on in years to come,“ said Roy Torbert “As a public nonprofit education organization we are grateful for our donors who have believed in the Kinesis Foundation as the ideal organization to contribute to the education and economic development of Puerto Rico Their help has represented as an act of resilience and relief both for the needs of schools and citizens of Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico” Marketing Communications and Corporate Advancement “We are more than grateful for the Rocky Mountain Institute and Save the Children’s generous gift to this school The students of Ángel Rafael “Papo” Díaz Colón will from now on have a school that will always be open for them and for the community of Saltos We know that this project will have a lasting impact on our students and our school’s community Thank you,” said school principal Rosa Soto Santiago.” the system serves as a teaching model for the school and can help demonstrate new ways of partnering with the utility The school principal has marked this important moment by hosting a “Solar Celebration.” The celebration showcases student work related to renewable energy and hosts different learning opportunities where students parents and community members can learn about renewable energy energy efficiency and the microgrid installed at the school This project marks the start of a larger initiative to install systems in schools in 12 of the municipalities that were most impacted by Hurricane Maria Similar systems are appearing throughout Puerto Rico illustrating that positive transformation is possible in the aftermath of disaster Contact: Nick Steele, media@rmi.org and Sara Neumann, sneumann@savechildren.org or (203) 209-6545 for Save the Children Save the Children gives children in the United States and around the world a healthy start, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We invest in childhood — every day, in times of crisis and for our future. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter NetHope enables committed organizations to change the world through the power of technology Bringing together global leaders in the nonprofit and technology sectors we embrace big challenges through innovation and collaboration in a unique model that has proven to have powerful results for more than a decade Our mission is to contribute to the social and economic transformation of Puerto Rico by providing students with the necessary resources to overcome social boundaries and economic limitations in order to achieve excellence We seek to transform Puerto Rico by helping talented students with financial need in Puerto Rico overcome socioeconomic barriers and achieve excellence at the highest academic levels to ensure they get the best jobs in the future Your donation to RMI helps us continue our vital work we will keep you informed with the latest RMI news and insights through periodic email communication Getting into the community of Cacao is a challenge The 157 route is being cleared after major landslides caused by Hurricane Fiona blocked access In the town of Orocovis, a mudslide blocked a major roadway, making it difficult for residents to get food, water and other necessities A local construction company quickly got to work vegetation and boulders that were blocking the road a single lane had been cleared allowing some trucks containing food Other roads in the area collapsed when the ground under them washed away a small community of scattered homes in the mountains hundreds of people were stranded when the road connecting them with Orocovis collapsed But residents soon convinced them to open a temporary road so they could at least get into Orocovis Residents of Orocovis line up at the community sports coliseum People like Jesus "Tito" Colón are using any kind of container — gallon jugs a civil engineer was part of crew working Thursday to stabilize the road we are putting barriers on both sides to make it safe," he said But he has concerns that more rain could bring additional flooding and lead to a total road collapse "We are going to monitor it every day," he said Orocovis is one of many communities in Puerto Rico still waiting for power and water to be restored barrels and cisterns with clean water pumped from tank trucks some were without water service for six months The Department of Family of Puerto Rico and the National Guard distribute food at an intersection of the community of Orocovis Puerto Rico's National Guard has been to isolated communities distributing food and other supplies to residents having trouble getting into town "We're just trying to spread a little bit of happiness among all this mess." Puerto Rico's water authority says service has been restored to more than two-thirds of its customers The island's power company says about 40% of its customers now have electricity residents are skeptical about reassurances from the governor and other leaders that power and water service will be restored soon As he waited for water at the sports stadium Marcelino Cassiano repeated an oft-heard refrain Four days after Hurricane Fiona struck Puerto Rico it's still slow going through many parts of the island First responders drive carefully through state route 155 that runs from Coamo to Vega Baja through Orocovis and Morovis that is currently being cleared after landslides blocked access Puerto Rico — Children in this mountain hamlet have seen roofs blown off their homes endured weeks of cold dinners and hot nights and witnessed loved ones die in their living rooms Six weeks after Hurricane Maria roared through Orocovis on its deadly path through Puerto Rico local leaders here fear the psychological effects of the storm on children will be long-lasting and hard to erase “Many of them don’t yet understand the impact,” Orocovis Mayor Jesús Colón Berlingeri said “They don’t understand why their house doesn’t have water Mental health is becoming a growing concern for disaster and Puerto Rican officials was the most devastating storm to hit the island in 70 years displacing thousands and upending the lives of Puerto Rico’s 3.4 million inhabitants Children who experience destructive storms are often the most vulnerable to long-term mental health effects head of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health and president of the Children’s Health Fund A study Redlener led after Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf found that one-third of children in that disaster reported to have at least one mental health problem but fewer than half of their parents were able to access professional services Children post-Katrina were also 4-1/2 times more likely to have serious emotional disturbances than those not affected by the disaster since the storm affected virtually the entire island and many family members have been so busy securing basic needs such as food and water, that children’s needs may be overlooked Most schools have been closed since the hurricane hit six weeks ago though more are expected to reopen this week returning some normalcy to youngsters’ lives Department of Health and Human Services and local groups such as the Ponce Health Sciences University have deployed some mental health services to impacted areas “There’s going to be a mismatch of resources and need,” he said “It’s really important that people go in and help families manage and deal with this massive trauma that has occurred.” with federal aid slow to reach the remote mountain town local educators accepted an offer from Connecticut-based Save the Children to launch a temporary child care facility in a shuttered Catholic school About 154 children ages 4 to 15 signed up and spent each morning to noon, the past two weeks surrounded by teachers The students at first were withdrawn and kept to themselves “It’s like they had something inside and they didn’t want anyone to know about it,” Soto said through programs designed to verbalize thoughts the students began sharing their experiences: How their house lost a roof or their family was displaced One student was upset that school supplies had blown away in the storm “They could see that we were all going through the same thing but it hasn’t been the end of the world,” Soto said More: Puerto Rico's water woes raise fears of health crisis six weeks after Hurricane Maria More: Puerto Rico power restoration: Why it is taking so long More: San Juan mayor blasts President Trump over recovery efforts in Puerto Rico said she misses school and enjoys playing with her friends in the temporary school’s big concrete patio Valeria and her family gathered at her grandmother’s house to ride out the storm the family rushed to her aunt’s house in the middle of the hurricane “We had to go fast because the hurricane was blowing hard and raining,” she said we turned on the generator and they made us hot chocolate.” The next day the family peeked outside to see devastation everywhere including a relative’s home that was completely destroyed except for the bathroom “Everyone was shocked,” Valeria said About 20 minutes farther up the mountain from the school who was recovering from a stroke and bedridden.  The storm mauled through the home's second story tearing off most of the roof and splintering walls as the family huddled in the ground floor and it took three days for local authorities to reach the home and remove the body She didn’t expect this,” he said “I didn’t know how to explain the situation to her making sure no more water got in the house Marta’s blood pressure has shot up and Vazquez said he’s worried how his daughter is handling everything to see how we’re doing emotionally,” Vazquez said “Because we’re not well.” Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors The Y No Había Luz theater group invites the audience to participate in its surreal performances The healing power of art is what motivates San Juan-based theater troupe Y No Había Luz four members of the ensemble visited Chicago The Y No Había Luz members that came to Chicago Clockwise from top left: Carlos Jose Torres ensemble member Yari Helfeld called Omar Torres-Kortright the director of Chicago’s Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center whom she’d met on two previous visits to the city "There are a lot of Puerto Ricans in the U.S who care about the island and are interested in how they can help," Helfeld said That’s the great thing about a collective," Bonilla said the group performed the play "El Centinela de Mangó," which the troupe wrote after Hurricane Maria It tells the story of a tree in the village where Helfeld grew up residents fly a Puerto Rican flag atop the mango tree — a symbol for those who want the island to be independent from the United States The tree in Helfeld's village of Orocovis Y No Había Luz turned the story of the tree’s destruction during Hurricane Maria into a fable about how Puerto Ricans have spread across the globe Members of Y No Había Luz said their art is inspired by "the theater of the oppressed," an art movement that aims to empower people to communicate with their oppressors and sometimes we incorporate these into the plays," Helfeld said At the Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center they performed a play called "Menos." "Menos," which translates to "less," features two large hands made of papier-mâché "Menos" is also a pun for "manos," the Spanish word for hands will be on display at the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture at 3015 W The museum is free and is open Tuesdays through Saturdays The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has offered options for alternate or improved projects to better align with the changing realities of municipalities This approach is vividly demonstrated in Orocovis and Yabucoa where two projects have been initiated with a total funding of nearly $5.2 million Under the Public Assistance program by FEMA an alternate project allows applicants to forego restoring a facility’s pre-disaster function in favor of a different project that benefits the same community an improved project enhances or modifies the pre-disaster design while maintaining the original function FEMA’s Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator emphasized the agency’s dedication to practical solutions tailored to the unique circumstances of each municipality: “These projects show that our agency is focused and committed to achieving the most practical solutions for the particular situations of the municipalities and their communities we emphasize the importance that these works comply with established requirements and standards to withstand future disasters.” an alternate project involves the transformation of a former Head Start center into a batting cage within the Arnaldo Hernández Sports Complex aims to benefit around 150 families by promoting sports among youth shared: “The complex has several areas an alternative to improve the batting skills of our children and youths.” The project is currently in the design and auction planning stages and the installation of a multi-lane batting cage netting system an improved project has allocated over $4.2 million to the Diagnostic and Treatment Center (CDT) focusing on updates that ensure compliance with current building codes for patient highlighted the importance of an efficient productive work environment and the facility’s role in emergencies FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) has played a crucial role in updating building codes in Puerto Rico with substantial funds obligated for this purpose stated: “As part of our commitment at COR3 we continuously guide the subrecipients on the process involved in the development of alternate or improved projects with the purpose of maximizing the use of funds allocated by FEMA according to the need of the communities.” FEMA has obligated nearly $31.9 billion for over 10,900 recovery projects in Puerto Rico demonstrating a significant investment in the island’s recovery and resilience The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s innovative approach to disaster recovery in Puerto Rico underscores a flexible and adaptive strategy in the face of evolving community needs By offering alternate and improved project options, FEMA facilitates tailored solutions that reflect the unique circumstances of each municipality and ensure these initiatives are resilient against future disasters illustrates a commitment to rebuilding efforts that go beyond mere restoration aiming instead for enhancement and improvement of community facilities As Puerto Rico continues to rebuild from the devastation of Hurricane María and local municipalities serves as a model for disaster recovery and mitigation efforts worldwide Fire & Safety Journal Americas is a publication of Centurian Media Limited Registered office: 71-75 Shelton Street London Greater London WC2H 9JQ UNITED KINGDOMOperating office: The Maidstone Studios Centurian Media Limited (CML) is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer along with all qualified applicants that we receive for employment fixed contract or freelance projects receive consideration without regard to race CML is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status Website hosted and maintained by Grass Media Web Design ICO registration number: CSN0536342 All content copyright Centurian Media Ltd 2019-2025 This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page SearchFEMA assigns nearly $37 million for disaster repairsThe San Juan Daily StarApr 41 min readOrocovis will receive some $13 million in three installments for permanent work on roads and bridges damaged by Hurricane Maria.By The Star Staff Jenniffer González Colón announced on Thursday the allocation of $36,942,735.11 in federal funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to repair roads bridges and buildings affected by natural disasters on the island “We continue to secure the necessary resources to strengthen our infrastructure and guarantee the safety of our communities,” González Colón said in a written statement will be distributed among several municipalities Orocovis will receive $13,010,815.34 in three installments for permanent work on roads and bridges affected by Hurricane Maria Yauco will receive $7,168,940.26 to rebuild its emergency management office and municipal police headquarters Lares will receive $5,450,112.75 to repair roads damaged by Hurricane Fiona Naranjito will receive $7,750,068.28 for rural roads and its community recreation complex and Adjuntas will receive $1,293,709.86 for roadworks in areas affected by atmospheric events the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company will receive $2,147,645 for reconstruction work The governor added that her administration will continue to prioritize securing and implementing federal funds to improve infrastructure and strengthen preparedness for future natural disasters trees lost all of their leaves - even their bark The people there are now working to rebuild not only their cities As field producer and contributor Daniella Cheslow reports some agronomists hope a donation of half a million dollars in seeds will cultivate local gardening and farming If you'd like to follow the efforts of Seed Relief Puerto Rico, see their Facebook page. If you'd like to help or contribute to their cause, email Viviana Media or Sarah Dohle All photos were taken by Daniella Cheslow while visiting Puerto Rico to produce this story in December 2017 When Hurricane Maria swept across Puerto Rico in September 2017 the storm caused massive landslides and severe destruction to the country's power and water systems It also destroyed the island's crops and many homes Debris piles up on roadsides and in parking lots evidence of the long cleanup process after Hurricane Maria crews still work around the clock to get power back online across the island evidence of an ongoing electrical crisis on the island Agronomist Viviana Medina and agriculture extension agent David Matos give two paper bags of seeds to seniors in the municipality of Orocovis Viviana Medina delivers vegetable seeds to Dalma Cartagena Cartagena teaches children to grow their own food in Orocovis Dalma Cartageña says the hurricane lifted a whole section of earth like a slice of sheet cake That's where she started replanting vegetables Puerto Rico pose with Matos and Medina after receiving a donation of vegetable seeds orchestrated by Medina and fellow graduates of the University of California Medina hopes the seeds will help grow a local vegetable economy after decades of dependence on imported produce first and second from right in the gardening club photo above replanted this garden outside their home in Orocovis for decades before retiring in Puerto Rico and joining a gardening club as a hobby they say growing vegetables is a necessity The Splendid Table brings you stories that expand your world view you can have a lasting impact on The Splendid Table you’ll join a community of like-minded individuals who love good food Show your love for The Splendid Table with a gift today Donate today for as little as $5.00 a month Your gift only takes a few minutes and has a lasting impact on The Splendid Table and you'll be welcomed into The Splendid Table Co-op The Nayara Toro Verde will generate an estimated $6 million for the island’s economy the prestigious Nayara hotel chain and Toro Verde Adventure Park came together for a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the construction of the new luxury Nayara Toro Verde Hotel in Orocovis The Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC) is excited to welcome the Nayara flag to Puerto Rico specifically to Toro Verde Adventure Park in the central mountain range region which is no longer exclusive to Costa Rica with its expansion to Puerto Rico has ample brand recognition and holds a high reputation in the international tourism industry community “In addition to the prestige that the construction of a Nayara hotel brings to our destination’s tourism industry the project also represents an important initiative for the economic development of the mountain region and Puerto Rico,” stated Ingrid I “The first phase of the construction process represents a $2.5 million investment which will create between 50 and 60 jobs the hotel will employ between 50 and 60 additional individuals.” the hotel will also supplement Puerto Rico’s tourism industry as plans for expansion are already underway The first phase of construction will include 20 luxury cabins The hotel is expected to comply with all the PRTC’s requirements to be certified as an eco-touristic development plans for the completed construction project include a total of 50 cabins for an estimated comprehensive investment of $6 million in the island’s economy “Toro Verde is a dream come true,” said Jorge Jorge “Thanks to your support and our desire to always be innovators and stay on the cutting edge of the eco-tourism trends we have joined forces with the Nayara flag a world renowned five-star hotel chain with plenty of experience in providing unforgettable experiences to their guests These facilities in the Toro Verde Mountains will bring a new perspective to the luxury and ecotourism niche markets in Puerto Rico I am positive that this is the beginning of another successful undertaking one that will showcase the potential of our beautiful Island to the world.” “Today is a very important day for us,” said Mr “It marks the first time Nayara Hotel expands its horizons beyond Costa Rica We are very excited that this growth is happening in this beautiful island and within such a successful project as Toro Verde is I am sure that this partnership be very beneficial to Puerto Rico and will attract a new market to the destination.” The groundbreaking ceremony for the hotel in the renowned nature adventure park also included the inauguration of the Labyrinth Rope Course $200,000 structure measures 60 feet by 60 feet and boasts 36 different adventure courses The Labyrinth Rope Course will be the largest in America and have a capacity to host 50 people per hour It will be used mainly for team building dynamics and birthday celebrations “We are grateful to the Nayara Hotel Company for its trust in Puerto Rico as a travel destination and the developers of the Toro Verde for their vision and commitment to creating a unique adventure park,” said Rivera Rocafort “This park will continue to attract travelers to our Island in search of adventures such as the challenging ‘The Beast’ zip line the newly inaugurated Labyrinth Rope Course and the upcoming Nayara Toro Verde Hotel At the Puerto Rico Tourism Company we are very fortunate to have Toro Verde as an ally of the tourism industry and the promotion of Puerto Rico as a five-star destination” Toroverde Adventure Park is home to Puerto Rico’s highest peak which beckons hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts including those who enjoy the adrenalin rush of zip-lining It’s claimed that this is the longest zip line in the world The answer becomes less important as you’re swooping across the canopy enjoying the thrill of speed and the bird’s-eye view of the forest A great way to experience adventure and a great view at the same time The staff were knowledgeable and made it a fun day This was by far the most fun we had on our trip but we did the zip lining (8 of them) and La Bestia (superman-style ziplining) and they were amazing Buy your tickets online and hope for an early morning reservation so you don’t have to wait in any lines When you are done make sure you stop upstairs at the restaurant for some very good food We loved the pasteles and appetizer sampler Bring a sweatshirt and/or a rain jacket as it can be chilly in the morning My husband wore only a t-shirt and regretted it Information on this page, including website, location, and opening hours, is subject to have changed since this page was last published. If you would like to report anything that’s inaccurate, let us know at notification@afar.com. AFAR participates in affiliate marketing programs which means we may earn a commission if you purchase an item featured on our site.© 2025 AFAR LLC Dalma Cartagena teaches a class on agricultural science to elementary-school students in Orocovis "I'm preparing them to make good decisions when it comes to the environment and healthy foods," she says Puerto Rico produces very little of its own food territory imports more than 80 percent of what's consumed on the island a small town in Puerto Rico's mountainous interior Dalma Cartagena has for 15 years tended the seeds of an agricultural movement It's a special curriculum she developed that teaches children beans and other crops that grow quickly and can be harvested during the school year her fourth-grade class was getting ready to transplant small lettuce plants into the garden "Manure," her students answer in a matter-of-fact way Cartagena's students grab shovels and hoes and go to work in the school's garden There are banana trees along with rows of lettuce Cartagena shows them how to add a little compost with each plant they put in the ground She's teaching her students a community-based It's part of a new way of thinking about agriculture in Puerto Rico as urbanization and factories transformed the economy says Puerto Ricans pushed their children away from the farms Comas tells us that parents would tell their children: "If you want to be a prosperous man you will need to study medicine or engineering Agriculture is for people that don't have anything to do." Comas has made it her mission to improve Puerto Rico's food security She wants to increase agricultural production so the island can sustain itself after a natural disaster or other events that could make imported food expensive or unavailable Puerto Rico's government provided farmers some $13 million in subsidies in the past two years paying for everything from equipment to hourly wages Comas says it's creating jobs and bringing new income to the island's economy But there's also a grass-roots effort underway in Puerto Rico. El Departamento de la Comida sounds like a government agency — the Department of Food But it's a restaurant and market in San Juan that features produce from a growing network of small farmers on the island El Departamento is owned and run by Tara Rodriguez Besosa she says she first waded into the food business several years ago She began by selling her mom's organic produce at a San Juan farmers market "setting up a little table area and selling every Tuesday afternoon," she recalls Many of those getting into farming and food production in Puerto Rico are young entrepreneurs like Rodriguez who are making their own opportunities in a troubled economy But Rodriguez says there's still a stigma attached to farming as a poor man's occupation She says in Puerto Rico: "Jibaro has been a term a lot of people use in a condescending way So it's like when you call someone a jibaro it's like in some sense of the word ignorant Roberto Diaz and Manuel Vasquez prepare croquettes made from green bananas and quinoa in the kitchen of El Departamento de la Comida a farmers market and restaurant in San Juan Organic farmer Ricky Cruz Ortiz doesn't worry about being called a jibaro He studied engineering and later went back to college for a degree in horticulture and he supplies some of San Juan's top restaurants "I'm seeing more and more young people interested in agriculture and even more in organic agriculture," he says "I think that people are yearning for contact with the land." Agriculture Secretary Myrna Comas believes Puerto Rico may double its food production within a decade Dalma Cartagena and the children in her classes in Orocovis deserve some of the credit I hope they work in agriculture eventually I asked myself if I was just training laborers I'm preparing them to make good decisions when it comes to the environment and healthy foods." Cartagena says other schools have adopted her curriculum and are now teaching kids about the land and growing their own food She's part of a movement to make the island self-sufficient and rebuild Puerto Rico's agricultural industry Become an NPR sponsor (Edgar Freytes/Centro de Periodismo Investigativo) SAN JUAN — Photographer Edgar Freytes arrived at the Mirador Villalba-Orocovis which zigzags through the mountains of Puerto Rico from end to end But a sign attached to the gate brought him down: “Closed until further notice The place enjoys a privileged view of the Central Mountain Range “Sometimes you make long trips just to find out that these places are closed They leave us with nothing and force us to go to other places where we must pay This is outdoors and you don’t have to pay,” he said It says it is a “strategically located park overlooking the south-central mountain range perfect for a picnic or visiting one of the local businesses along the route.” A minute’s walk away the Villa Oro Restaurant put up a “For Sale” sign over the business entrance says that the closure of the vantage point has caused a drop in visitors one of the factors that has forced her business to throw in the towel The Mirador Villalba-Orocovis has been closed since hurricane María hit the Island in September 2017 The Center for Investigative Journalism (CPI in Spanish) found that the route is lifeless In addition to the closure of the Mirador Villalba-Orocovis These are the three most important viewpoints of the Panoramic Route The fresh air taken in by those who visit by car or on foot the dips in the bodies of water that run near the highways the silence accompanied by the song of the birds are all coupled with the serious deterioration of the public infrastructure along the route The main parties responsible for maintaining the spaces are the Highways and Transportation Authority (ACT the Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTOP) the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DRNA) and municipalities such as Aibonito and Villalba To carry out the public policy of preserving and developing the Panoramic Route, the ACT commissioned a new Management Plan in 2016 which has been ready since 2021 but has not yet been implemented the ACT’s Executive Director Edwin González admitted includes seven interpretive regions and the development of new observation points It is not a text on road infrastructure but on the strategic development of the Panoramic Route surroundings It’s about the entire offer that extends up to a mile on each side of the Route There are no funds,” González confirmed to the CPI The agency has just begun the planning and design process for this new stage of the Panoramic Route and is hiring experts and managers to implement the plan These contracts will be paid with the agency’s own funds but there are still additional allocations for repairs or construction of projects in addition to the natural disasters and earthquakes that have affected the agency’s projects his office is understaffed: it has only three out of 18 people This is a consequence of the ACT’s incentivized retirement windows during the administrations of former governors Luis Fortuño Alejandro García Padilla and Ricardo Rosselló who sought to reduce the government workforce The observation point at Cerro Maravilla is abandoned and covered in graffiti there is the slow reconstruction process post-Hurricane María There is at least $3.6 million for seven projects to be funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for permanent work recreational centers and forests located along the Panoramic Route which the DRNA and the municipalities of Aibonito and Villalba administer In disrepair,” said Teresita Cintrón organizer of the Caminata Panorámica Arquitecto Gabriel Ferrer It was founded by the defunct Fondo de Mejoramiento a nonprofit entity that promoted human development Cintrón speaks with the knowledge of someone who has been walking this route for 37 years This year was the first time when walking parts of the route were canceled due to the poor condition of the road infrastructure The deep craters in the pavement symbolize an abandoned geography In different sections there are no guardrails some cement fences completely block the way According to a survey carried out to prepare the new Management Plan 88 percent of those interviewed said the Routes’ biggest deficiency is the poor conditions of the road A company called CSA carried out the survey randomly interviewing 35 people who were in town squares chinchorros (rustic bars and restaurants) and museums during field visits to the Panoramic Route and its surroundings If the main tourist offer in Puerto Rico is the beaches It’s the island’s longest green infrastructure corridor Brushed with agricultural sceneries and the everyday life of inland towns It runs through the areas of the highest peaks such as Cerro Punta (4,390 feet above sea level) Monte Jayuya (4,301 feet) and Cerro Maravilla (3,973 feet) “One can appreciate all of Puerto Rico’s beauty,” said Vivian Estrella who was participating in the Panoramic Walk for the first time as a warm-up to do the Camino de Santiago later in Spain visitors may stop at restaurants and small eateries was delighted with the “cordiality of the people” who waved to her as she walked “We ate limbers (local popsicles) and bread pudding and had lemonade from a lady who made a lot in a bowl,” Bernier said but to bring economic activity that results in a source of income for mountain residents have higher levels of poverty than the rest of Puerto Rico The 165 miles of the Panoramic Route can be completed in three or four days by car with enough time to stop at the main points of interest Whoever wants to walk it in a single shot can take about 14 days as the Fondo de Mejoramiento did in its beginnings to travel with the sun behind you instead of facing it the coastal part of the route begins at Playa Lucía The island of Vieques is visible in the distance and Punta Tuna Beach appears with its lighthouse In Maunabo there’s a road circuit that reconnects with Yabucoa The agricultural plains that were once dedicated to sugarcane can be appreciated from above the serious problem of the lack of signs is revealed it’s hard to tell where the Route continues The driver is easily disoriented along some 40 roads in the 21 municipalities that it spans which has not yet been made public and which the CPI obtained through a request for information confirms these observations: “the inconsistency in the traffic signs identifying the Route confuses rather than informs travelers.” And you cannot trust the mobile phone’s GPS because there are mountainous areas where the signal is lost It is a good idea to carry a printed road map the attentive driver or walker will orient themselves thanks to white dots painted on the asphalt at some intersections a signaling service implemented by the Fondo de Mejoramiento PR-15 offers in summer the spectacle of hundreds of blooming oaks in a 254-acre farm that belongs to the Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico and leading to the beginning of the panoramic segment from Aibonito to Maricao Discover Puerto Rico also promotes the Mirador de la Piedra Degetau But visitors come to find that a wooden pallet blocks access to the observation tower stairs were transferred to the municipality in 2010 through a lease agreement The administration subleased it in 2015 to La Piedra Degetau LLC and then Hurricane María caused damage to the tower The municipality told the CPI that it was not up to the private company to repair it Aibonito subleased the recreational area to a new company This is how the Mirador de la Piedra Degetau’s bathroom entrance looks The allocation of $354,287 in FEMA funds to rebuild the facility came in February 2020 The town decided to close access to the tower because the structure was affected and estimated damage to the entire area at $500,000 “Only access to the Tower was closed at the end of 2021 The rest of the Mirador facilities continue to be open and functional,” according to statements sent by the Municipality of Aibonito except for the area where the pizzeria is located the recreation center gives the impression of neglect and the entrance was used as a storeroom for the restaurant Three years after the FEMA funds allocation the reconstruction of the Mirador de la Piedra Degetau is still in the design phase It alleges that it is putting together a “master plan” to improve it and turn it into a “larger scale” tourism project Some cars drive into one of the parking spaces of the closed Mirador Villalba-Orocovis because the dilapidated gate is off its rail The facility was built with funds from the federal and local governments and inaugurated in 2002 Now it is operated by the Municipality of Villalba which closed it after María because the hurricane caused damage to the structure Although FEMA obligated $121,375 three years ago The Villalba administration told the CPI that it is waiting for other funds from the Puerto Rico Tourism Company to do the work with municipal brigades which has made construction materials more expensive you come to the Bosque de Toro Negro recreational area where the water murmurs as it hits the rocks Those who follow this path can dip their feet or plunge into the cold water travelers come across a chain and a padlock on the gates of what used to be a natural water pool which has been out of service for more than 20 years In the parking lot, kiosks and restrooms are closed. Although the forest should open every day, according to the schedule published by Discover Puerto Rico it is normal to find the main gate and the tourist information office closed from Monday to Friday the natural water pool has been out of service for more than 20 years The DRNA has a co-management agreement with nonprofit organization Amigos del Bosque Toro Negro said she does not have volunteers to keep the facilities open during the week The DRNA is the agency in charge of protecting and making Puerto Rican forests available to the public The local tourist finds it difficult to know the schedule The Natural Resources (DRNA) page is unreliable You call and it goes to an answering machine and no one answers the phone,” said José “Pepe” Collazo who coordinates a group called the Alegres Caminantes made up mainly of retirees who enjoy “first-hand the beauties of Puerto Rico.” He considers himself a “son of the Panorámica” since he has been walking it since the 80s the DRNA received FEMA funding obligations amounting to $1,823,167 to restore areas in Toro Negro Monte Guilarte and the Monte del Estado Vacation Center It was not until April 2023 that the Capital Improvements Program Management (CIPM) was hired for $6.1 million to coordinate the agency’s reconstruction projects with FEMA funds Pesquera said he is qualifying 27 firms to create designs and job instructions The swimming pools in the Monte del Estado Vacation Center are closed The agency did not respond to the question of when it expects to complete the reconstruction work nor why it went almost two years without taking any steps for that Only partial work has been done in the Monte Guilarte State Forest in which wooden walls and a galvanized roof were replaced in the cabins and the campfire site according to the Central Office of Recovery In addition to these natural parks and recreational spaces there are DRNA facilities in the vicinity of the Panoramic Route which are also on the reconstruction schedule FEMA allocated $6 million in February to rehabilitate the Vivero de Peces de Maricao on the border that divides Ponce and Jayuya it is the place where the Police ambushed and killed young pro-independence activists Carlos Soto Arriví and Arnaldo Darío Rosado in 1978 the DTOP built the namesake vantage point to the South of PR-143 as one of the founding projects of the Panoramic Route the island of Caja de Muertos and even the windmills that generate electricity on the agricultural plains on the coast of Santa Isabel installed a wooden bench to enjoy the view He then began to meet people there who felt depressed after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and decided to start a mental health movement in connection with nature and created a public art project on the walls of the abandoned bathroom One day they found that someone had covered his artwork with paint and that the wood and toilets he had brought to install there were missing González said the DRNA’s legal division explained to him that an agency employee was responsible and asked the volunteers to start again with a clean slate They became discouraged and abandoned community work the traveler finds that the grass has taken over the land The management plan indicates that the facilities are in a “dilapidated condition.” The ACT said the local Department of Agriculture owns the facility Some of the most popular attractions are along the border of San Germán and Maricao such as the famous Monte del Estado Vacation Center There are 22 cabins each with the capacity to accommodate up to six people At least that’s how it was in better times Today the paint on the gazebos is peeling; the swimming pools are closed and empty the sink in one of the bathrooms did not work and in another It’s a massive test of patience for the tourist who tries to visit since no one answers the telephone numbers the DRNA publishes to make reservations one of the best camping areas in Puerto Rico visitors climb 44 steps to the Torre de Piedra observatory and are rewarded by the 360-degree view that the Puerto Rican hawk the Caribbean waters in the south and the contours of the southwest coast The Torre de Piedra is within the Maricao Forest a protected area of almost 11,000 acres of land We must give it its value,” said Teresita Cintrón the organizer of the group Caminata Panorámica Arquitecto Gabriel Ferrer her group had to call the DRNA and put pressure on the government to address the crisis of the forest fires since fires had occurred in the area while they were visiting She has been meeting European and American scholars for years who come to study the flora and fauna which she considers a recognition of the value of the area created the public policy to develop the Panoramic Route to offer an ecological and social balance in the face of industrial development on the coasts “This route will also be an excellent opportunity for our youth to learn about and study the flora history and orography of our Island…,” according to the Act’s introductory statement “It will serve to promote tourism for regular people who wish to enjoy the typical Puerto Rican atmosphere at a moderate price; to this end and all the necessary enjoyment and recreation facilities will be built.” Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. memories and business are best built with family she officially opened La Central Bakery & Café on Main Street The inspiration to do so came from memories she shared with her grandmother Tomasa during the years Ortiz spent growing up in Orocovis “My grandmother used to take me every day at (6 p.m.) to get some pastries and some fresh bread at bakeries which in Orocovis are at every spot,” said Ortiz there were barely any places where I could get Puerto Rican bread “The idea for a bakery was since then in the back of my mind.” the menu that Ortiz and Rohena serve to their customers greets with the aromas of fresh coffee all of which originate from many Spanish-speaking countries like Puerto Rico make up the bulk of the menu such as pan de agua and pan sobao would be “best for breakfast,” lunchtime sandwiches such as the Tripleta sandwiches (with chicken pork and ham) and the Pernil (the pork sub) also stand out in the menu they added piña coladas and loaded fries (with pork But the magic really happens in the back kitchen at La Central where every morning Ortiz’s mother and sister make the dough fresh Ortiz said she hopes the staff will expand as the work has proved to be too much for her mother and her sister “Even if I start bringing in people from the outside the family this will remain a family business,” she said and it will always have the family foundation in it.” Ortiz said she made the decision to open the store last summer when she left her job as an accountant after about 10 years to then take up the storefront at 422 Main St they spent two months renovating with the help of Ortiz’s father including painting over the green and yellow that the walls had inherited from Subway which years ago had been the previous occupants of the location where he shows up in the morning and forgets about when he goes home at night It’s a work ethic that he has forged while working since his teenage years in pizzerias around Worcester where he moved with his family at 12 from his native Puebla and I’d tag along with him doing the same work,” said Rohena “That’s how I learned the food business — I grew up in the kitchen.” Rohena said he used and expanded his knowledge of the food industry by establishing and previously owning Kokoriko’s Pizza & Fried Chicken as well as Roasted Peppers Pizza for a few years he jokingly said he just shows up to do the work as it was his wife’s ambition to have the bakery takes the bus every morning to stop by La Central Ortiz greeted MacWade by his first name as he walks through the front door Wednesday morning to grab a sugar doughnut and a Snapple — his usual “Jessica is very friendly and I always feel welcomed here,” said MacWade Ortiz said that the bakery has had a great draw among the Spanish-speaking community in the area which has given them a lift during the first month and a half of a soft opening she said that the food is for people of all backgrounds to appreciate said the bakery brings a sense of the traditional bites that the city otherwise doesn’t have It’s not uncommon to see her walk through the door in the mornings beside her father to get a breakfast sandwich — specifically the bacon egg and cheese in a pan de agua “The service and how friendly they are makes people very comfortable,” said Reyes “and the food of course — a lot of the food that you get here you don’t find at other bakeries.” Coffee producer and coffee shop owner Erica Reyes (Gabriel Lopez Albarran / The Weekly Journal) The future looks bright for coffee in Puerto Rico This is the verdict of coffee producer Erica Reyes who owns the coffee farm Hacienda Morayka in Orocovis who owns the coffee farm Hacienda Morayka in Orocovis and Café Cola’o coffee shop in Old San Juan Hurricane Maria brought destruction on the island’s coffee growers on September 2017 as about 20 million coffee trees were destroyed and the industry suffered almost $20 million in losses Unlike other agricultural crops that can recover relatively quickly—bananas and plantains can be resupplied in about 10 months—coffee takes much longer about three years from planting to harvesting the beans “We have replanted and the plants are growing nicely but it will be two more years before we can harvest,” Reyes said to THE WEEKLY JOURNAL Hacienda Morayka’s 7.2 acres produced 50 quintals (equivalent to about 5,000 pounds) of coffee every year The farm also produces bananas and citrus fruits her coffee shop gets its coffee from roasters in Yauco and there have been no problems with supply “We will be cultivating high-quality coffee again Europe and Japan who are waiting for my coffee They want Puerto Rican coffee,” she pointed out climate change is a challenge for the coffee industry as higher temperatures and erratic rainfall patterns are making it more difficult to grow high-quality Coffea arabica the dominant variety that is cultivated worldwide coffee growers like Reyes are looking at the silver lining from Maria’s destruction “The hurricane gave us an opportunity to restart and reorganize our farms in a more sustainable and efficient manner This will increase productivity and improve quality,” Reyes said she analyzed areas where coffee and other agricultural products could best grow on her farm she also planted more shade trees and cover crops to lower soil temperatures Thanks to a gift of two million high-quality resistant seeds from Starbucks to help the industry by growing more resilient coffee plants with an eye towards the future Reyes said the educational process is well under way “The seeds are very important and we need to ensure they are taken care of so they grow and flourish,” she said which means planting in an appropriate area shading the plants and using the right fertilizer Reyes also dedicates her time to the Baristas and Coffee School in Río Piedras which offers barista certification courses “Many businesses are asking for this certification and it also helps with business loans,” she said noting that the effort helps boost the industry further she and other coffee producers are resilient 2017 at 8:18 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}CAMBRIDGE MA - Cambridge City Councilors on Monday unanimously voted to pass a new policy order which would establish a Sister City partnership with the cities of Coamo written by Former Vice Mayor Dennis Benzan and resident Melissa Colon will allow Cambridge to "strategically increase opportunities and pathways for collaboration and aid to these municipalities that have such deep ties to the city." Spokesperson for Cambridge Mayor Denise Simmons and several City staffers will soon meet to discuss who will be responsible for reaching out to the cities that Cambridge is looking to work with (Subscribe to Cambridge Patch for more local news and real-time alerts.) Cambridge officials on Monday raised the Puerto Rican flag at City Hall / Courtesy Photo by Neal Alpert for the Mayor's Office "They will also be looking at options about how to determine what form our assistance will look like," he said prior to the Cambridge City Council meeting a few dozens of residents gathered at City Hall as Simmons addressed the need to help Puerto Rico Katherine Kelly and City Councilors Tim Toomey and Jan Devereux "This is the first step of towards a sustained relief effort," she said "I want to thank Dennis and all of you who have aided in this tremendous effort." a co-sponsor of the policy order alongside Mayor Simmons said the order underlined the inefficiency and lack of planning by the federal administration in regards to Puerto Rico here we are as a local government having to take action because of the ineffectiveness of the President," he said "It's not the first time and I'm sure it won't be the last." McGovern said the order would allow for Cambridge to support the selected cities and establish a relationship with them "There's a process to this and it doesn't happen overnight but this will bring attention to the issue and hopefully streamline support to Puerto Rico," he said "Some of that maybe trying to raise funds but certainly looking at how we can offer supplies as well." Elizabeth Rosa-Cologne is Puerto Rican and grew up in Cambridge and heard about the gathering on Facebook but we have cousin we haven't heard from and an uncle that died," she said Rosa said she was proud to hear that the policy order was under consideration "I'm from Cambridge so it means a lot," she said "Puerto Rico is in a state of crisis and it's important to see the city doing something." A small crowd gathered in front of Cambridge City Hall on Monday / Photo by Dana Forsythe Nicole dePaz is a pediatric resident physician at MGH and a Cambridge resident stopped by the rally to voice her support which has been selected by this sister city policy," she said "It's a mountain town and it's one of the towns that's been hit pretty hard." dePaz said she hopes the policy order will help speed up the delivery of aid to the inner parts of Puerto Rico Courtesy Photo by Neal Alpert for Mayor Denise Simmons Office Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.   US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm visits the home of Javier Santiago Puerto Rico--For United States (US) Energy Secretary Jennifer Graholm the transformation of Puerto Rico’s power grid to solar and other renewable power after hurricanes wiped it out in 2017 and 2022 is an imperative that goes beyond addressing climate change When the lights go out in the US territory rooftop solar panels backed up with battery storage can provide power to keep medicines like insulin refrigerated potentially saving lives during hurricanes “This a question of life and death in real terms President Joe Biden’s point person on fixing the island’s grid a remote town nestled in the central mountain range “This isn’t just a question of nicety or climate.” The week-long trip was her fourth visit since October to the island of about 3.2 million US citizens Puerto Rico has not typically been a large focus of US energy chiefs Between 3,000 and 4,600 people died after 2017’s Hurricane Maria Among the worst hit communities were ones with elderly and low-income people a weaker Hurricane Fiona again wiped out the grid heightening concerns about the fragility of a decades-old system dominated by fossil fuel plants Granholm had a message: the Energy Department has $1 billion Congress approved in December to supply rooftop solar panels The first batch of funding will go to the most vulnerable While the sunny Caribbean island is well suited for solar lessons learned there could have broader implications for the rest of the country “It’s important for people to realise every pocket of the nation can benefit from moving to clean energy,” she said Orocovis Mayor Jesus Colon Berlingeri said more than 100 people died in town after Hurricane Maria from health conditions exacerbated by power outages By the time Hurricane Fiona took out power years later Orocovis had acquired petroleum-fuelled generators and fuel is pricey on an island that imports all of its petroleum Colon covets the solar power Granholm offered Granholm said some 400,000 homes need rooftop solar but the $1 billion is only enough for up to 50,000 homes It is hard for projects in Puerto Rico to get solar tax credits that were expanded in last year’s Inflation Reduction Act as residents are not required to pay some federal taxes said non-profits could reap some IRA benefits because it allows for cash rebates for solar “Then all we would need is to get a bridge loan to allow us to construct projects.” Puerto Rico installed a record 163 megawatts of capacity pushing its ranking up to 25 from 34 in two years in a list of the 50 states and the island according to the Solar Energy Industry Association Puerto Rico set goals of 40% renewable energy by 2025 to address the threat of storms fuelled by climate change The 2019 law preceded Biden’s wider targets to decarbonise the entire US economy by mid-century Puerto Rico only generates about 3% of its electricity from renewables and the rest from fossil fuels Much of the effort in recent years has been switching from burning oil to natural gas rooftop solar panels paired with battery storage mostly supplied by philanthropists and government grants can provide energy security for more than a week if the grid fails Granholm and other officials discussed PR100 with initial results showing the island has potential to generate more power from renewables than needed She also heard from people questioning the solar-centric push and concerned about the slow distribution of billions of dollars promised by the federal government after Hurricane Maria to fix the existing grid “There is a lot of red tape under brush,” Granholm said “We are working on trying to clear out that regulatory stoppage.” a lawyer at the Resiliency Law Center non-profit said emphasis on solar could come at the expense of other alternatives like geothermal and producing fuel from decomposing waste like manure and vegetation She worried that demand for batteries that back up solar could raise prices for lithium and the proof will be in the pudding,” Granholm said Copyright © 2020 All copyrights on articles and/or content of The Caribbean Herald N.V. dba The Daily Herald are reserved Without permission of The Daily Herald no copyrighted content may be used by anyone Puerto Rico - May 2023 - The adolescents and young people of the parish of "St John the Baptist" of Orocovis the Councillor for the Inter-America Region Orozco welcomed them with the greetings of the Rector Major encouraging and motivating them to be good Christians and honest citizens The meeting was part of the final phase of the Extraordinary Visitation that Fr Orozco conducted on behalf of the Rector Major to the Salesian Province of the Antilles (ANT) He also conveyed the Rector Major's greetings to the other two Salesian communities in Puerto Rico ANS - “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana” is a on-line almost daily publication the communication agency of the Salesian Congregation enrolled in the Press Register of the Tibunal of Rome as n 153/2007 This site also uses third-party cookies to improve user experience and for statistical purposes By scrolling through this page or by clicking on any of its elements Towleroad Gay News Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men Said May in a video posted to social media: “So this place is very homophobic Just got kicked out for dancing with someone who wasn't even my boyfriend So if you're ever in this area in Puerto Rico CBS This Morning reporter David Begnaud posted about the incident on Twitter after talking to the couple and the restaurant Wrote Begnaud: “I reached out to Gyros they were only asked to go outside since they had also lit an electronic cigarette those who quickly……get frustrated are you and quickly defame what is not I just ask you not to continue commenting on something that is not real "…get frustrated are you and quickly defame what is not Begnaud added: “Luis Santiago-Rivera confirms that someone in their group was using an e-cigarette but says they had been at the bar for more than an hour and that no one ever told them to go outside or leave for using an e-cigarette Luis Santiago-Rivera alleges homophobic slurs were directed at them by the employee who told them to stop dancing the gay couple tells me they were embarrassed in front of their family They left feeling discriminated against and humiliated.” The restaurant published an apology on its Facebook page LGBT community and customers affectedOur intention has never been the offending of any person All customers who have had the opportunity to visit us know first hand how is the deal we give day by day We apologize greatly to the customers affected today and we express that we are open to dialogue with them in specific Our intention is to give a good service to all alike we had never had misunderstandings with any member The doors are open to receive and treat them as we all deserve If they give us the opportunity we will prove it If you communicate with us we can give them personally.” Copyright © 2025 · Log in View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Universe Puerto Rico (@muniversepr)