General Meeting
The next meeting day is Thursday, 22 January, at 6 PM in the Towne Hall, we will provide updates on ongoing projects, as well as introduce new programs and initiatives that may be undertaken. The standard agenda is as follows:
1. Welcome
2. Observances/Celebrations
3. Town Manager / Secretary Report
4. Committee Reports and Recommendations
5. Government Board Member's Reports
6. Other Board Member Reports
7. Public Q&A Period
From the Town Manager’s Desk
Dear Town Members,
We are happy to keep you informed about the work our team has undertaken to support and enhance the town. To stay updated, you are invited to attend the monthly General Council Meetings held on the fourth Thursday of every month. Our report is presented to the Council during these meetings, and you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and share feedback during the public session.
CSG Projects
Onion Story
While New Year’s Eve festivities seemed to go off without a hitch, behind the scenes there is a normally well-oiled machine. The industrial staff of the Corporation of St. George’s have it all planned out, beginning as early as October with the erection of Christmas lights around the town.
The events that follow include the Lighting of the Town, the Bermuda National Trust Walkabout, and Santa Comes to Town. Following these events, it is "all hands on deck" for NYE. This year, the rats set us back; we pulled the famous onion out of storage only to discover they had eaten the electrical wiring. So yes, the onion looked a little different this year. It donned a gold center adorned with multi-colored lights, and the final product was nothing short of spectacular. Corporation staff succeeded again—congratulations and thank you.
Drone Light Show
The Town of St. George and its related fortifications hit a milestone of 25 years as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The UNESCO World Heritage Site logo shone brightly in the night sky—a symbol of international pride.
Somers Garden Wall
In previous newsletters, we provided updates that the wall which collapsed from torrential rainfall in October 2024 was being repaired. However, this has not been a simple repair, beginning with delays in receiving the necessary building permits and further set-backs from inclement weather. As a historic site where the original wall was a dry-stacked construction, the repair had to match the existing aesthetic. Modern building regulations meant the solution required rebar and concrete block, which is not exactly fitting for a historic landmark.
The solution was to build the concrete wall and face it with the Bermuda stone saved from the original collapsed wall. Although the schedule has been delayed slightly due to inclement weather and numerous events throughout the town, repairs are nearing completion. The public will be able to observe the skill and workmanship exhibited by our talented staff on a regular basis.
Looking Ahead
January has traditionally been the month to recuperate following the busy festive season, but the work continues. We must now remove the Christmas lights and place them in safe keeping for the upcoming season. We look ahead to our next events: UNESCO World Poetry Day on March 21, 2026, and the Annual Peppercorn Ceremony on April 22, 2026.
Mural
The highly anticipated mural at Penno’s Cruise Ship Terminal is nearing completion. An official unveiling is forthcoming.
Special Message From The Town Manager
Sign Rules
Stop! Permission must be sought from the Corporation of St. George’s prior to the erection of any sign in the Town of St. George. Please contact the Corporation of St. George’s (CSG) offices if you wish to install any signage within the Town.
Town Map: https://corpstgeorge.bm/images/townplan/images/Screen_Shot_2022-05-26_at_95403_AM.jpg
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The 400-Year Glitch
In a town with 400 years of history, you’d expect memory to be treated carefully.
Instead, we outsource it.
Everyone has a phone. That’s the reassurance. Photos are taken—lots of them. The kids smiling. The crowd gathered. A video or two, shaky and vertical. The moment is captured, which feels like the same thing as remembered. Close enough, anyway.
Except something strange happens afterward: no one really cares. The event faded almost immediately, not because it wasn’t meaningful, but because it was never fully experienced. It was documented.
We’ve embraced the march of technology as if it were preservation itself. Cameras no longer use film. No one writes about events anymore. Why would they? The whole thing was streamed live, saved to a cloud, archived somewhere safe—assuming someone remembers the password.
Our devices promise to be the Great Libraries of our lives. Everything captured. Everything is stored. But what we’ve created instead is a massive, uncurated pile of data: thousands of unlabeled photos, near-identical images, forgotten videos. Who hasn’t taken ten shots of the same moment just to find the one worthy of posting? Scroll through your phone long enough and you’ll see it—repetition without reflection.
This has subtly changed how we show up. People don’t really attend concerts or community events anymore; they accompany their phones. They hold them up, steady and obedient, recording moments they will likely never sit down to watch.
The device is present. The person, only partially.
And yet, history doesn’t work this way.
History requires more than storage. It requires attention. Selection. Memory. A story someone bothered to tell, not just a file someone meant to organize later.
If a town wants to be “historical,” it has to be in the moment. It has to value presence over proof. Otherwise, we’re not preserving the past—we’re misplacing it. Not lost to time, but buried under data, notifications, and software updates.
Every so often, the phone buzzes. A message arrives. Focus shifts. The moment slips.
What was happening again?
Right—you were there.
At least, your phone was.
Quiet Town
Early in the morning. Got to get to the gym.
Early in the morning. Got to get to school.
After the big holiday, the town does not actually go to sleep. It just carries on with its traditions, preparing for the spring and getting ready for the summer. As many business owners will tell you, in the shoulder months of tourism, this is the time to evaluate the successes of the year gone by and plan for the new adventures ahead.
America's economic changes saw the most disruptive impact on global economic activity, which even saw our post office suspend delivery to the US—a shocking outcome. Trade relationships have now been reshaped, with Bermuda seeing an incredible upswing in Canadian tourists and the island building new trade routes for goods, as Gibbons company highlighted.
Ever resilient, the town showed that holding to our traditions allows us to face adverse occasions and rethink what success means in the face of Category 5 hurricanes in the Atlantic, as we take a step closer to joining trade relations to become a fully formed member of the Caribbean nations. With one of its major conference center hotels, Southampton Princess, coming online to bring greater uplift in tourists, the town should see increased benefit as guests arrive on the brand-new fast ferry seating 550 people, who transact through the digital transit app for fares and monitoring arrival times.
And then, we do have to think of where to put all the income from the new corporate income tax… a small town that is so sleepy.
Santa Comes To Town Recap
To our wonderful performers who brought joy and energy to King's Square – thank you to the St. George's Original Dancerettes, The Ex-Artillery Elite, Sui Generis Dance Team, and PHC Majorettes & Drum Corps for your dazzling performances. A special acknowledgment to Place's New Generation Gombeys, for keeping our cultural heritage alive on our 25th Anniversary of the town’s UNESCO World Heritage Site designation.
We are grateful to our fantastic vendors who added to the festive atmosphere: Spot Restaurant, Bermuda Cup Cake Company, Duch Pops, Ashley's Lemonade, and Food Hub for keeping everyone well-fed, and Toy Express and Paintz by Z for creating special memories and fun for the children.
PowerGirl, what energy! We are thankful to you and DJ Donnie for keeping up the energy during the evening and engaging the parade characters, Santa, and the kids to make it an enjoyable experience.
Our sincere appreciation goes to our generous sponsors – Conyers Imports, BGA, and Robertson's – for your invaluable support in making this community celebration possible.
To our dedicated staff at the Corporation of St. George's – your tireless efforts behind the scenes ensured everything ran smoothly and that our town was ready to welcome families for this special day.
And to Bernews, we are truly appreciative of your efforts to always take the time and effort to showcase the town no matter if the event is big or small. You have been a longstanding community partner that lets our kids, residents, businesses, and programs shine for all to see.
Together, we created another treasured holiday memory for St. George's!
With warm appreciation,
Corporation of St. George's
View photos and videos from the event: Bernews Photo Gallery
NYE 2026 Recap!
We have left 2025 behind and are embarking on a new year of hope, promise, and prosperity. To all who came out to ring in the New Year with the Town of St. George, we say thank you. It was a momentous occasion that saw us pivot with the introduction of a drone light show while maintaining the heritage of our lighted Onion Drop from the Towne Hall on King’s Square. As the bell struck midnight at St. Peter’s Church—in a 400-year-old town 700 miles out in the Atlantic Ocean—it was a truly unique and special event.
Congratulations and thank you to the Corporation of St. George’s staff for all your hard work and dedication. Well done! Thank you to 21 Mile Film and Positive Audio for contributing to a successful event.
Photos & Video:
Bernews: https://bernews.com/2026/01/photos-2026-new-years-eve-in-st-georges/
Royal Gazette: https://www.royalgazette.com/event/news/article/20260101/new-years-eve-celebration/
Scoop The Poop
Dogs seek owners help in poop clean up.
Dogs are adorable, but their poop is not. In our Town, maintaining a pristine appearance is crucial, and people remember cleanliness. Regrettably, we must address instances of carelessness.
While we love strolling with our canine companions, we do not enjoy having our staff clean up after them or guests being subjected to the smoosh of the odour-carrying clumps that leave a dreadful impression. We kindly request all dog owners to keep their pets on their leash and to be responsible and pick up after their pets when walking along Water Street, Ordnance Island, and King’s Square.
We had to implement a ban on dogs in our gardens, and we hope to avoid extending that ban to other public walking areas in the town.
Bulletin
The Chubb Bermuda Triangle Challenge
Friday, January 16th – Sunday, January 18th, 2026
Restuarant Week
Friday, January 16th to Monday, Feb 16th
https://www.gotobermuda.com/restaurant-weeks
Spotlight: Restaurant Weeks
Now in its 16th year, Restaurant Week 2026 welcomes exciting new restaurants, cocktail menus, and signature experiences in a month-long culinary adventure. Try two-course lunches and three-course dinners inspired by Bermuda’s flavors, traditions, and creative chefs. No matter your craving, you’ll find something to satisfy your soul and your budget, with meals ranging from $35–$69.
Some of our participating restaurants:
- Lina at The St. Regis Bermuda
- The Three King's Restaurant
- White Horse Pub & Restaurant
Dates: January 16th - February 16th, 2026
Website with menus: https://www.gotobermuda.com/restaurant-weeks
For Your Special Occasion …
Planning your next event? We've got you covered! Book one of our historic venues including Town Hall, Somers Gardens, Penno's Wharf Hall, Town Square, or Ordnance Island. Need street closures for something special? We handle that too. Plus, we provide tables, chairs, and audio-visual equipment to make your corporate function seamless.
For more information, contact our office at
The Daily Grind
Right in the heart of King's Square, you'll find Nala Carlington serving up something special at The Daily Grind—her charming open-air coffee spot that's become a beloved fixture in the Town of St. George.
What started as a dream inspired by Nala's love of café culture has blossomed into a year-old business that's quickly becoming a community staple. "I always wanted to have a version of a café," Nala shares. After working at a coffee truck in St. George's and falling in love with the experience, she knew exactly what she wanted to create. "The pop-up table is the starting point," she says with a smile.
But don't let the cozy setup fool you—The Daily Grind is serving up serious quality! Nala specializes in high-quality specialty drinks, both iced and hot, featuring coffee, tea, and her signature homemade syrups that are gluten and allergen-free. "Everyone can enjoy a specialty drink," she emphasizes, making sure no one misses out on that perfect cup.
For Nala, consistency is key. "I've learned that consistency helps make our community, and I have strived to always be open and available," she explains. While The Daily Grind has been operating for a year, Nala's connection to St. George's runs deeper—she's been working in the community on and off for about five years.
What keeps her motivated? The people! "Definitely the community," Nala beams. "I've gotten to know the people who work in St. George's for both the town and for personal shops. It's always nice to get to know the people you live close to, and it is great to have regulars who I am friends with as well."
Find The Daily Grind: Right in the middle of King's Square—you can't miss it!
Stop by and say hello to Nala. Whether you're a local looking for your daily fix or a visitor exploring our historic town, The Daily Grind is ready to perk up your day!
Social: instagram.com/thedailygrindbda/
Out & About
