The Formentera Council's social welfare office has announced forthcoming signups, October 17-31, for the administration's seventh course on social and cultural integration. The course is held twice annually; once in November and again in March. This round of classes will begin November 3 and run until November 29.

Space is available for 15, and anyone interested in participating should visit the Office of Social Welfare. A form of ID (foreign resident's card or passport) is needed for enrolment. The course, which includes a total of 20 hours of instruction, is given over two weekly sessions: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4.30 to 7.00pm. Classes are held at the centre for adult learning, l'Escola d'Adults, and taught by Dolores Tamargo.

The course, which will turn on Spain's constitutional values, human rights and civil liberties, the so-named “statute of autonomy” guiding the Balearic region, the European Union, gender equality and other subjects, aims to educate students on the course content and furnish a certificate of completion. In particular, the course is geared toward immigrants and serves for renewals, to prepare students for the CCSE citizenship test and as integration accreditation in initial residency requests.

Benestar Social, the social welfare arm of the Formentera Council (CiF), hosted a coordination meeting today between the island's emergency service agencies and Minaya Benavente, the coordinator for the 112 emergency telephone number psychological counselling service. Vanessa Parellada gave details via press conference after the fact.

The councillor said the meeting served to “recount details of the deal struck this month between our emergency response agencies and the institute of psychologists”. Under the deal's terms, the number of psychologists on the service rises from 2 to 3. The coordinator called the service “essential to preventing a second process of victimisation” and underscored the assistance it affords at-risk groups.

The gathering was attended by representatives of the fire brigade, lifesaving and rescue services, local police, Guardia Civil, health workers and some of the psychological institute's member therapists, all of whom can use the service as necessary.

This morning the Formentera Council's Office of Agriculture has issued a reminder that preventive treatment of Formentera palm trees, with authorised phytosanitary products, is recommended in October and November.

During these two months a spike takes place in the flight of the red palm weevil, a pest which affects local palm trees. “Adults of the species leave already hard-hit trees in search of new food sources” explained staff specialist Laura Pérez, “which is to say, healthy palm trees yet to be colonised”.

Furthermore, the administration reminds island residents of the current ban on the pruning of palm trees. Pruning is only authorised during the coldest months of the year and the exact dates of this year's open period have yet to be determined. For more information, contact the Office of Agriculture of the Formentera Council.

CiF vice president Susana Labrador and councillor of sport Jordi Vidal met today with Jacobo Domínguez Tur, the first Formentera native to win the Copa Balear, a trap shooting contest in the Balearic Islands. The competition, celebrated since 1999, was held last weekend on Menorca.

Councillor Vidal seized the opportunity to congratulate the young skeet shooter, who was only too happy to receive the honour of being the island's first Copa Balear title-holder. “It's a big responsibility”, said Domínguez, “and a great satisfaction to have lifted up Formentera even just that little bit”.

The Balearic champion began practising skeet, or trap shooting, at 14 years old. Today he is 22. Alongside Domínguez was another member of Formentera's local shooting assocation, Joan Ferrer, who also participated and came in fourth.