The office of the environment of the Formentera Council has begun the task of removing accumulated sediment and clay matter from the la Savina canal that links l'Estany des Peix and l'Estany Pudent. The work is expected to be completed within five days.

The operations will effect an increased water flow and a drop in the populations of mosquitoes and midges, a perennial nuisance for neighbourhood residents and area restaurants.

Such insects take advantage of pockets of stagnant water—which causes an increase in troublesome sediments—to lay their eggs and larvae. In addition to removing the sediment, Council cleaning crews will take the opportunity to clear out rubbish and other plant matter from the canal as well as trim some of the trees and bushes that border the waterway.

The Formentera Council's office of sport has announced open enrolment for a second year of summer synchronised swim activities, a programme organised jointly by the administration and the Sincro Formentera swim club. Enrolment, which can be effectuated in person at the Citizen Information Office (OAC), closes 5 May.

The summer camp-style programme, called 'el Campus de Natació Sincronitzada', takes place 1 July through 11 September. Participation is open to boys and girls who know how to swim and are already five at the time of enrolment. The camp programme will comprise an array of different activities both in the water and out, touching on psychomotricity, dance, corporal expression, makeup, hairstyling and costumes and group trips to the beach.

El Campus starts at nine in the morning and continues until two in the afternoon, with an eight o' clock, early start option available. The programme has a monthly cost of €100, with a 50% discount for large families and a reduction of 20% for multiple siblings.

This Friday, a process of certification made official the end of restoration work at the tower known as la torre des Pi des Català. The monument, which shares its name with the neighbourhood that surrounds it, is located a stone's throw from the Migjorn beach. Work at the site ran a total cost of €170,603, which was met in part by funding from the regional programme Leader.

With restoration complete, the tower becomes the first of its kind on Formentera whose inner chambers can be visited. Supporters of the project hailed the decision to leave intact the original structure—which dates back to the second half of the eighteenth century—along with the architectural features employed at the time of building.

Plans for the reform were authored by the architect Marià Castelló, while archaeological monitoring of the project was overseen by Maria José Escandell. Refoart Ltd, a company specialising in historical patrimony, was at the helm of on-site operations.

La torre des Pi des Català is a monument declared bé d'interès cultural (BIC)—cultural heritage site—and included in Formentera's catalogue of cultural patrimony as a site with level A protection. In May 2012 and at no cost, the state ceded the land upon which the tower sits to the Formentera Council, in compliance with the law on patrimony and municipalities ('ley del patrimonio de las administraciones públicas').

This afternoon the management, staff and players of the Formentera football club ('la Sociedad Deportiva' or 'SD Formentera') paid a visit to the Formentera Council, where they were welcomed by an entourage comprising Jaume Ferrer, members of the coalition government, Juan Manuel Costa of the Partido Popular and Cristina Costa of the GUIF.

CiF president Ferrer congratulated the champions on behalf of the entire island while insisting that their success was not just a boost for local youth—“who, having seen that hard work pays off, will want to follow in your footsteps”—but also for the island as a whole, telling the team: “You are the proof that Formentera is ready to go toe to toe with the other islands”.

Ferrer presented the team with a commemorative plaque with the date of the homage and the inscription, “in recognition of SD Formentera's grand achievement—champions of the third division” which was accepted by SD Formentera president Felip Portas.

Portas thanked the Council for their support and recalled his own youth, “when I was little people always talked about that one year that Formentera made it to third division. It was this huge deal. Now it's like some kind of dream world, because we're not just in there playing, we're the champions”.

The club president attributed the victory to the players and staff, the club's management—“who volunteer countless hours of work”—, sponsors and fans, “who have always kept the stands packed and even accompanied the team on their away matches”.

Shouts of “champions!” fill the plenary hall

In the Council's plenary hall, amidst countless bouts of applause and chants of the team's name, Luis Elcacho, member of the SD Formentera staff, expressed his gratitude for the hospitality received, “both from the club and the island. They've made us feel like this has always been our home”. Elcacho acknowledged the efforts of the players, the management, fans and supporting organisations and pointed out, “when you play for this club, you feel the support of the whole island behind you”.

The last voice to fill the hall was that of club captain Winde, an extremely important figure who has been with the team since their regional league matches. Winde presented Jaume Ferrer with a SD Formentera jersey signed by the entire team.