Judith Fox-Hogg : Announcements

CLINI-CLOWNS TO BRIGHTEN BEDRIDDEN KIDS' HOSPITAL STAY

Judith Fox-Hogg — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:22:00 GMT

November 2009 will see the launch of of the Dominican Republic

Every child is unique.

Every child needs tenderness and happiness, especially when they become sick.

Clini-Clowns want to be there for sick, bedridden or disabled children in our local hospitals and hospices. We see that one of the best forms of medicine could be the Clown visiting the children’s ward.

This is not a new idea, but a great idea for those children who really need us.

Through the involvement and support of the North Coast Players Theatre Company we hope that this concept will gain momentum very quickly and attract volunteers happy to play a role as one of our band of Clowns who will make these hospital visits.

Clini-Clowns will be found in hospitals on a weekly basis, to help these children fight isolation and boredom – to provide a temporary distraction from their worries and to spread a little sunshine into that child’s day.

During the course of the years, we will step up our efforts to provide a wider facility for children over a much wider area.

To start Clini-Clowns in the Dominican Republic, we need all the help we can get. The North Coast Players Theatre Company has committed itself to bringing the idea to the front of everyone’s mind and profits from their first play in November will be spread around local charities and will include Clini-Clowns to help them get started with their outfits and start up costs.
Whilst not being an expensive enterprise, we need support from everyone and are happy with every contribution! Everything helps!!

Whether that is by offering a donation to buy Clown costumes or pay for Clowns’ transportation to hospital or offering background skills to help grow the organization.

Does the idea of wearing a bright red nose appeal to you?

We appreciate any and all your support. We hope that you will find a way to support us on 21st, 22nd and 23rd November at the beginning of Clini-Clowns

Judith Fox-Hogg
On behalf of

809 856 2962

Tickets go on sale for the 3 Charity Performances of WAIT UNTIL DARK in Sosua

Judith Fox-Hogg — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:05:00 GMT

Tickets are now on sale for the first 3 performances of the Thriller WAIT UNTIL DARK

Priced at RD350 pesos or $10 US these tickets can be purchased through the website email contact@northcoastplayers.com

Showing

Saturday 21st November, Sunday 22nd November and Monday 23rd November

7.30pm

Profits go to local charities.

The cast is multi-cultural and welcomes all those who wish to ensure this becomes a longstanding tradition in the Sosua Cabarete area.

To get something like a new theater company off the ground takes a great deal of money in the first year. The North Coast players hopes that altruistic companies and individuals may wish to take one of their sponsorship packages, with their benefits - shown on the website www.northcoastplayers.com

For most people - for the chance of enjoying some professional theater on the north coast of the Dominican Republic, please do contact North Coast Players early to request tickets as the interest is very high and tickets are expected to sell out well before the dates.

New State of the Art Medical facility in Sosua/Cabarete

Judith Fox-Hogg — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:24:00 GMT

On July 1st 2009 the latest medical Clinic CENTRO MÉDICO CABARETE, opened on the outskirts of Cabarete in the town of Sosúa.

This state of the art 269,000 square feet medical facility is the brain child of Dr. Roberto Spitale.

This is a family project, where you can find Roberto's father, mother, and wife assisting to make things run smoothly in the clinic.

Their idea was to give an provide medical facility in close proximity to the residents of the Sosúa and Cabarete region, and give a more personal services to entire North Coast.

Even so, the process of building the Clinic took a great deal of time and effort for it to come to fruition.

Dr. Spitale, a neurosurgeon started a Foundation to provide neurological services for people in need. Unfortunately, due to the complexity of these types of procedures, clinical services were a necessity. This meant that the same patients struggled to find the

costs to pay for the hospital accommodation even though his services were for free. The idea of starting his own Clinic would allow him to offer his services to the needy without cost to them.

His Foundation, FINC, is supported by many generous donations from all over the world to ensure he can offer these services

Now with his new clinic open for business and already creating a stir amongst the local community, he can offer a full service to all, with the latest equipment and highly trained staff on site 24 hours.

Although the doctors are local, it is possible to find medical staff which can facilitate a number of languages including German, French, English, and even Czech, which is a great benefit in an area which is one of the main tourist areas of the Caribbean.

The background staff in the clinic amount to around 30 people plus the doctors.

Some specialists are booked by appointment but the Clinic is fully operational Monday to Friday 8am – 6pm, Saturday 8am till midday with General medicine, pediatrics, gynecology, surgeons, and orthopedics. The 24 hour emergency rooms are fully manned at all times, and where needed, the hospital can send out its’ own ambulance.

The hospital which is still refining its facilities currently offers:

24 hour lab work, X-ray facilities, Mammogram, Sonagraph, CT scan, Cardiology

There are 2 surgery operating theaters, and a neo-natal unit, where the incubators lie already filling up with premature babies. There are 22 patient care overnight beds, including private and semi-private 4 rooms, 3 Post –op/ICU for intensive care, and emergency observation units.

Some local insurance are covered by this hospital and the ones that aren’t, are being approached at the moment. Of course, if you were to have an emergency, and carry national insurance, you should be reimbursed if services are needed. International insurance is naturally covered.

The modern and dramatic frontage to the hospital situated on the main highway between Sosúa and Cabarete opens onto a well designed and functional reception where visitors and medical staff come together before entering their individual consulting rooms. A small cafeteria and children’s play area offers a much more casual feeling to this area which has none of the older frightening aspects of those who worry at the thought of entering a hospital.

All in all, this impressive landmark is now a very welcome addition to the residents and visitors to the area, where they can feel confident that they will be dealt with by a highly experienced medical team surrounded by the latest technology.

CMC Centro Médico Cabarete

Carretera Sosúa-Cabarete Km1, Sosúa, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

Tel: 809 471 4696 Email: cmc.sosua@gmail.com

Director Dr. Roberto Spitale

Finally a North Coast Theater Company in the Dominican Republic

Judith Fox-Hogg — Wed, 27 May 2009 19:27:00 GMT

The North Coast Players, an Amateur Dramatic Company founded by Judith Fox-Hogg have started strongly with their initial auditions for their first Play "Wait Until Dark"

Judith once played the lead role of the blind girl 'Suzy' in the play performed in Zambia, Africa.

The Company will be based in the Casa Marina Reef Amphitheater, Sosua, which holds 300 people and from their the Company will probably tour the country with their plays in the south and in the tourist development of Playa Dorada.

The cast and crew come from all over the World and to the delight of the Producer and Director, there turned out to be a wealth of experienced stage film and TV people living in the D.R. delighted to become part of this new venture.

The first Play is a Thriller and set in London in the 1960's. The Director for the first play will be Linda Love, who herself has over 15 years in both antional and international theater. Stage Manager will be Elaine Johnson Brown.

Auditions were held on 17th May and were actually inundated with volunteers willing to either act or help in some way.

The Play will be performed in December 2009 at the Amphitheater.

"We have already had requests for tickets for goups coming into the island over the Christmas period. We are hoping to offer a package will will include Pre-Theater Dinner, Performance and for those from the Puerto Plata area, the possibiltiy of transport as well! " says Judith

Our idea is to raise money for various local charities. None of the volunteers are paid, but we are hoping that this will be a great chance to make a lot of money for these Charities and have fun at the same time.

The intention is to provide a highly professional cast and crew with the Play being performed to very high standards.

Marketing Dominican Republic Real Estate Across the Globe

Judith Fox-Hogg — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 15:16:00 GMT

West Indies Real Estate recently exhibited at the A Place in the Sun property show in London, England, with other exhibitors from all parts of the world. A Place in the Sun is a most popular TV show, magazine and website which has built on the insatiable desire of the British to own first or second properties abroad. Judith Fox-Hogg and Paul Hogg, two of the owners of West Indies Real Estate, are British and are keen to continue with their strong links in this market. We work with a number of reputable Real Estate companies there, as well as in other countries.

This is part of our ongoing investment in marketing and is just one of many strategies to attract buyers from all countries, thereby offering a level of service to sellers and buyers alike which is, we believe, unequalled in the Dominican Republic.

In the past, West Indies Real Estate has exhibited in Britain, Canada and Russia and we intend to continue this tradition and to begin exhibiting in the United States. We believe that the Dominican Republic represents one of the best buys in the Caribbean and aim to make it more widely known in all markets.

Money Laundering

Judith Fox-Hogg — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 15:06:00 GMT

CANADIAN GOVERNMENT CRACKS DOWN ON MONEY LAUNDERING

New federal laws covering money laundering and anti-terrorist financing came into effect across Canada on Monday, which require real estate agents and brokers to collect and verify detailed personal information from buyers and sellers.

The new regulations are part of federal legislation passed in 2007 that requires a number of industries, including the real estate sector, to do more to help stop money laundering and terrorist financing. The regulations are enforced by the federal agency known as the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC).

“Real estate agents have had legal obligations under the federal government's push to prevent criminal activity and terrorism since 2001, when Canada's first comprehensive laws to combat money laundering and terrorist financing were introduced," said the president of The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), Calvin Lindberg.

“In the first phase of compliance, real estate agents were required to report only suspicious transactions, or transactions involving more than $10,000 in cash. Now, verified personal information must be kept of the buyer and seller for each and every real estate transaction in Canada. That personal information includes details such as occupation."

Real estate agents are now required to ask for proof of the identity of all buyers or sellers involved in a Canadian real estate transaction. If the client is a corporation, that information must include corporate
documentation, and the names of the corporation’s directors. They must also ascertain if a third party is involved in the transaction.

Also under the new FINTRAC regulations, real estate agents dealing with clients they never meet must also verify personal information. The agency office involved can do this with a service agreement with an agent or mandatary in the area where the client is located. That agent or mandatary must then meet the client, verify the identification of the client, and provide the information to the office actually handling the real estate transaction.

"There are buyers, sellers or investors from other countries who rely on expertise here rather than visiting the property themselves," explained the CREA president. "They must now meet with an official agent of the Canadian broker, and provide proof of identity. This agreement will add to the business costs of the Canadian broker."

In order to comply with these new federal regulations, real estate agents are required to keep this identification and receipt of funds information on file for five years and provide it to FINTRAC if requested. It is the individual agency office that will be responsible for the safe keeping of the information, and the agency that will have to respond to any FINTRAC information request.

Jody Cracknell
Business Development Manager

HiFX Inc.

New Santo Domingo to Samana Highway finally opens

Judith Fox-Hogg — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 14:59:00 GMT

The Carretera De Samana (Spanish for: Santo Domingo-Samana Highway) is the newest addition to the Dominican Republic national highway system. The actual construction of the Highway started in the 2005 and final paving started in 2007. As the landscape is difficult and the financing has been a major issue, the project stalled on several occasions, but it is now finally open.

The highway will reduce a trip from Santo Domingo to Samana from 4 hours and 30 Minutes to less than 2 hours and is expected to reduce the traffic along the DR1, which is the present highway used to drive to Samana.

The Highway starts on the National highway DR3 (30 KM from Santo Domingo) and ends on Cruse Rinco de Monillos, Samana Province. The highway’s three toll plazas are on the Las Americas interchange and in the villages El Naranjal and Guaraguao, where for each section the toll is 650 pesos for buses, 350 pesos for light vehicles and 860 pesos for trucks. Users are expected to make considerable fuel savings despite these tolls.

US CITIZEN ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS for Dominican Republic

Judith Fox-Hogg — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 14:57:00 GMT

ALL PERSONS traveling by air outside of the United States are required to present a passport or other valid travel document to enter or re-enter the United States.
LAND AND SEA TRAVEL
The following summarizes information available on the Department of Homeland Security’s website.

CURRENTLY:
U.S. citizens need to present either (a) a passport, passport card (available from spring 2008), or WHTI-compliant document; or (b) a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, along with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate.
LATER:
On June 1, 2009, the U.S. government will implement the full requirements of the land and sea phase of WHTI. The proposed rules require most U.S. citizens entering the United States at sea or land ports of entry to have a passport, passport card, or WHTI-compliant document.
Note: The passport requirement does NOT apply to U.S. citizens traveling to or returning directly from a U.S. territory

Rare Leatherback Turtle in Cabarete

Judith Fox-Hogg — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 14:53:00 GMT

Rare Leatherback Turtle in Cabarete

A rare, Leatherback Turtle appeared on Cabarete Beach just over two months ago and promptly laid her eggs in front of one of the main restaurants. Since then, residents and tourists alike have maintained a strong interest in the creature, which is an endangered species. A guard has been mounted over the eggs, which are due to hatch any day now.

The last time such a turtle ventured into the tourist zone of Cabarete was over 10 years ago, when 101 turtles hatched. Unfortunately, few of these would have survived the precarious journey that followed to the ocean and adulthood.

We will keep you posted on progress.