My wife and I have spent countless early evenings at Calmos Café in Grand Case (French side), gazing at the spectacular sunsets, dipping our toes in the sand, watching the water softly roll up the shore, enjoying an ice cold Carib, and more, all while watching the kids splash in the shallow, calm water. It’s our go-to beach bar.
We have so many memories from there it’s hard to imagine that it’s no longer standing. When our oldest son — now five — was a baby, we went to Calmos after an afternoon at Orient Beach, laid him down on a lounge chair, covered him with an umbrella and watched him sleep for over an hour. It was a beautiful moment.
Since Hurricane Irma hit my wife and I have been wearing our iconic ‘c’est la vie’ t-shirts nearly everyday — we have several, I promise. The good news is our SXM Strong t-shirts arrived last week (you can get yours here – all proceeds go directly back to the local community), so we’ve been alternating between the two.
To say Calmos Cafe has been a big part of our lives would be an understatement. Those times we’ve spent there have created countless memories for us, and I’m willing to bet there are many of you who have similar stories.
The bad news is that Calmos was completely destroyed by Hurricane Irma, the good news is you can help them rebuild. They’ve started a GoFundMe to raise money to assist them. Please consider giving to help them get back on their feet.
#Irma damage along Boulevard de #GrandCase via #CalmosCafe Facebook #SXM #StMartin #StMaarten pic.twitter.com/FfpklvOEK9
— SXM Strong (@SXMStrong) September 7, 2017
Reverse osmosis system
The Dutch military, working with GEBE employees, constructed a reverse osmosis water production facility yesterday at Festival Village. The facility will produce fresh drinking water and is expected to be operational starting today.
The facility will pull water from a nearby fire hydrant. The water goes through the reverse osmosis system and then will get distributed to storage tanks in different locations on the island.
The current plan calls for another reverse osmosis system to be set up soon in Belvedere.
Mobile Health Bus/Baby Clinic
The mobile health bus will be in the Philipsburg District across from the GEBE Main Building on Pondfill on Wednesday September 27. The bus will open from 9 AM to 11 AM and again from 12 PM to 2 PM.
The Medical services will be geared specifically for persons who cannot reach to their general practitioners. You can bring boxes of your prescribed medications for refill. A Psychologist will be available from 12 pm to 2 PM to speak to persons who may have suffered post-traumatic stress from Hurricane Irma.
Routine vaccination services for children ages 0 through 17 will also be administered. Parents are requested to bring vaccination cards and, if the cards have been lost, bring identification with the child’s name. In addition, baby food will be distributed to people who have infants and are in need of infant food.
The baby clinic is open for routine vaccination services on Tuesdays and Thursdays behind the Guardian Group from 9 AM to 11 AM and from 12 PM to 2 PM.
