NEWS SNIPPETS FROM VALENCIA - POPULATION = 4.8 MILLION

Rita Barbera, Mayoress of Valencia, accompanied by M. Angeles Ramon-Llin, Town Hall Counsellor of the Environment, by Lourdes Bernal, Counsellor of Beaches, by Vicente Aleixandre, Counsellor of the Suburbs, and other officials from the Town Hall, visited El Saler in the 21,120 hectares Albufera Nature Park to the south of Valencia city, to inspect the end of the "Life-Juniper" (Life-Enebro) project and to plant the last of 1,000 Marine Juniper trees (Juniperus Macrocarpa) being planted in the park since October 2004, thanks to an investment of 3,278,216 euro (50% paid by the European Union and 50% by the Valencia Town Hall).

This is the last of the "Life" projects implanted in Valencia for a total of 11,119,322 euro, the others being Biocompost, Dunes, Ecolight, and Ecorice, and Mayoress Barbera expressed her conviction that this Nature Park will be an enticing environmental attraction for tourists seeking leisure in nature.

Maria J. Alcon (left), Town Hall Counsellor of Culture, presented a book "The Jewish Quarter in Medieval Valencia" by Doctor Jose Hinojosa, Professor in Medieval History at the University of Alicante. The book, that is published by the Valencia Town Hall, includes a CD with additional documents, and targets the incidences that took place on the 9th July 1391 when the assault on the Jewish Quarter in Valencia marked the rapid decline of Valencian Judaism. The author was introduced by Doctor M. Angeles Gonzalez-Gudino, doctor in medicine and writer, and a magnificent orator, who ably outlined the contents of the book and the merits of the author.

Francisco Camps, President of the Valencian Government, accompanied Mayoress Rita Barbera, when she hosted the solemn activities in the Town Hall of Valencia, to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the birth of James I the Conqueror.

Rita Barbera, Mayoress of Valencia, presented the drawings for the new Central Park to be constructed in Valencia.

Vicente Reig, a former teacher at the Farm Management School of Catarroja, depending on the Valencia County Council, (extreme right in the photo) presented his book "50 Years of Valencian Agricultural Training at the Farm Management School of Catarroja".

The event was presided by Vicente Borras (second from left), director of the School at present, and the author was introduced by a former pupil, Florencio Villaroyo, Managing Director of the fruit and vegetable company FRUDESA (second from the right).

Francisco Chirivella, Mayor of the neighbouring town of Catarroja, was also present (centre photo).

We advise our readers that a fault in the electronic system of the gear shift of Fiat automatic drive cars, causes sudden stoppages that can produce whiplash to the driver. This has been the experience of our editor while driving an automatic Fiat Stilo Abarth. The stoppages are also highly dangerous if they take place when passing out another vehicle, or in heavy traffic.