Census findings sent to households

The Statistics Department is releasing Census 2000 information to residents through a general mail-out in a user-friendly format.

"A Profile of Bermuda's Household Composition" is the first of the flyers that highlight data from the Census 2000 and to be broadly disseminated to the general public, said Social Statistician Melinda Williams.

"The large format Census book can be rather intimidating, so what we've done is released the information in a user-friendly format," she said.

The glossy fliers were sent out last week and include information about household size and how many young adults and seniors live on their own.

According to the Census 2000 the average household size dropped from 2.93 people in 1980 to 2.47 in 2000 and that one-person households were most common.

The second flyer is set to be sent out next month and will feature a profile of Bermuda's housing stock and from time to time the Statistics Department will release other information in this easy-to-read format.

"We're trying to highlight specific topics for people so everyone is aware and it has been done in a nice format that people can keep and display," Ms Williams said.

A complete Census 2000 report can be purchased from the Statistics Department, the Department of Communication and Information or the Phoenix Store in Hamilton for $25.

Businessman Stobie dies in US

George J. Stobie, died on September 17, 2003 at home on Kiawah Island, South Carolina.

He was 81 years old. Mr. Stobie was the president of Bermuda Properties from 1965 to 1973 and directed the business of Castle Harbour Hotel.

He leaves his widow Patricia.

New broadcast company formed

A new company is being formed to produce religious programming for broadcast. Called Kingdom Broadcasting Limited, the company is being formed by a trust called The Covenant Trust controlled by Terence Wentworth Stovell, Richard Llewellyn James, Winston Kelly and Daphne Easton, according to legal notices.

Mr. James was referred to as the spokesperson for the new company but he did not return calls to his office this week.

Asphalt plant to be sold

Government is selling off its asphalt plant at the quarry in Smith's after ordering a new one.

Works and Engineering Minister Terry Lister said the 15-year-old plant was ageing and would be replaced in the new year but he did not how much the new one would cost.

Bids to buy the old plant, upgraded in 1997, must be tendered by October 31.

New retail concrete shop

A concrete producer has applied for planning permission to build a construction retail outlet.

The Bierman's Concrete Products Limited applied to the Department of Planning for planning permission.

They also requested an enlargement of time for the technical officers to look at the planning files and it the request was approved.

Insurance dispute

An angry householder has withdrawn her insurance policy from BF&M after claiming a claims adjuster had told her son that her Fabian damaged property might not be insured.

However the company say it was a mix-up and have stressed that they will pay out to fix the 150 slates ripped off the porch during the hurricane but the adjuster was talking about non-storm related coverage.

Rose-Ellen Giraud Robinson said she had withdrawn the policy in protest over the handling of the claim.

But BF&M Vice President of Customer Relations and Sales Glen Gibbons said the claims adjuster had pointed out that premises unoccupied for more than 42 days were not covered for malicious damage or theft.

He said: "It was not related to the storm. There was a misunderstanding."

He said the company was settling the storm-related claim.

Former teacher dies inEngland

The many friends, former colleagues and ex-students of William (Bill) Mason - a long-serving, retired music and art teacher of Dellwood School - will be greatly saddened to learn of his death on 5th August in Southport, England.

Bill had been hospitalised for the past few months due to complications from diabetes, and succumbed just one week after his 85th birthday.

He leaves a world-wide circle of genuine friends, and numerous Godchildren. Although his body now rests in England, Bill's true home was Bermuda.

Condolences may be addressed to Bill's niece - Mrs. Hazel Hughes, 32 Thingwall Drive, Irby, Wirral CH 61 3XW, England. In lieu of flowers, Bill requested that donations be made to Gideons International c/o Flat 10 Argyle House, 13 Argyle Road, Southport, Merseyside.

Man released following RTA

A Paget man who was knocked down on Front Street in the early hours of Sunday morning has been released from hospital.

A Police spokesman said: "It appears a grey Mitsubishi car was travelling east along Front street when a 23-year-old Paget man stepped off the sidewalk outside the Beach into the path of the vehicle which struck him."

The victim was released Sunday after being treated at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

The 26-year-old driver from Warwick was uninjured but the impact broke his windshield.