Members of Rotary Club Estoi Palace International had the great privilege of visiting the Portuguese Parliament in Lisbon on 4 June as guests of our local Member of Parliament for Faro, Cristóvão Norte. The Palácio de São Bento, Saint Benedict's Palace, is the home of the Assembly of the Republic.

The club members travelled by coach to Lisbon and on arrival were met on the steps of the Parliament complex by Cristóvão.

In the past 4 months the Open Coffee Alentejo movement connected with numerous startups, businesses people, enablers and experts from all over Alentejo and from a very wide range of markets and disciplines. We are working to build and stimulate the Alentejo startup / entrepreneurial community. So far we have met in Sines (twice), Évora, V.N. Santo Andre and Santiago do Cacém. On the 18th of June we will be in V.N. Milfontes for the first time.

The group met near Sao Marcos de Serra and took the scenic route via Saboia, with a break to take in the coastal scenery at Milfontes beach north of Zambujeira. The 24 riders who made the trip to the west coast enjoyed lunch by the sea in the sunshine in the lovely Restaurant Rita. 

Multi-national Barbershop Chorus Bella A Cappella travelled to Malaga, Spain last week to compete in the "En Armomia" Convention organised by the Spanish Association of Barbershop Singers.

And guess what ? They came home with a Silver Medal! The groups quartet Cleftomania also competed and successfully achieved a Silver Medal too!!

On the 27th March, at the Recanto dos Mouros Restaurant in Silves, The Silver Mask Theatre Group treated us to the opening performance of their 2015 season. The stage management, the scenery and costume changes, together with the general logistics of the evening, ran like a well-oiled machine leaving the audience to relax and enjoy a performance of the highest quality. The entertainment consisted of a mix of eight short plays and monologues.

On Saturday the 14th of March the Algarve Senior Bikers made the most of the warm sunshine, and after meeting at São Brás de Alportel headed east to Castro Marim. Here, as it was Market Day and with roads closed, it was a case of park and walk for a coffee break near the castle. Time for a chat and to get to know the new members attending for the first time.

Below is a list of some of the Animal Associations and Groups incolved in the rescue and homing of Animals in the Algarve.

Please feel free to contact us if you would like to inform us of any errors to any listing below, or add an association of group that is not already listed.

E: sue@algarvedailynews.com

On Thursday 19th February the members of the ASB were invited to the Faro Moto Clube for lunch.

Their superb facility caters for all the needs of motorcyclists which could be just a coffee and snack to a full lunch or even an overnight stay. During the morning organiser Mike Sanders took the group on a lovely ride through the hills from Boliqueime to Dogueno for a coffee break before returning south on the twisty road to Sao Bras de Alportel and on down to Faro arriving at the Faro club just in time for lunch.