NEWS
HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Property developers losing out after Interior Ministry ownership directive

Deckchair operators wary of sand-fill plans

City hall plans to sink two disused navy ships to encourage marine life

Tourist police crack down on gambling during World Cup

Deputy interior minister confident Chonburi safe from water shortages

Three youths caught stealing from bathers go berserk with knife and kill volunteer policeman

Unknown woman in drowning suicide mystery

German on the lam is tracked down and deported following embassy request

Dutch criminal ‘acted like mafia’ in Pattaya Klang protection racket

Pattaya donates supplies and money to flood victims in North

Pattaya residents donate blood for HM the King’s anniversary

Educators told to clamp down on junk food and football gambling

Students educated on hemorrhagic fever prevention

TAT Mountains to the Sea road show stimulates domestic tourism

599 monks to take part in restaurateurs’ homage to HM the King

Medical team conducts diabetes checks for the over-40s

Photographic exhibition of HM the King opens at Sattahip

9,000 rockets light the Sriracha sky in anniversary celebrations


Property developers losing out after Interior Ministry ownership directive

Suchada Tupchai
Sanga Kitsamrej, president of the property developers association in Pattaya along with association members met with Mayor Niran Watthanasartsathorn on June 6 to ask for assistance in coordinating efforts with the government to resolve the recent changes and enforcement of land ownership laws.
The changes came about after Sura-at Thongniramol, Interior Ministry deputy permanent secretary sent a letter to provincial governors and land department offices throughout the country concerning the enforcement of land ownership by companies with foreign shareholders. Land ownership by foreigners – with highly regulated exceptions – is illegal under Thai law.
The changes have already begun to affect local property developers, most of who have housing estates under progress in Pattaya and surrounding districts. The previously enjoyed high sales level has now dropped significantly since the announcement.
“In reality I do see and agree to the point of the law not allowing foreigners to own land in Thailand,” said Sanga, “especially when it comes to those who buy, break up and sell and those who employ Thai people to form a company to do just that.
“In the past this was quite regulated but after the announcement was made public many projects are feeling the effects with low sales. This is especially so in the housing development sector.
“The rules have made land transfers more difficult with the increased procedure and checks. This has created problems for developers and there must be further consideration. Hence we are asking city officials to help us address the issue.”
The mayor accepted the information and complaints and offered to work with the provincial departments to find a solution.
The Interior Ministry directive was sent out to enable provincial governments to check shareholders in companies and partnerships with foreign shareholders and/or directors with specific interests in property ownership. The letter states that financial data of the Thai shareholders will be checked along with the company registration to see if they are financially able to purchase the property. If they are found to be unable to do so then the case will be subjected to further investigation, as it appears that the company is for the sole benefit of the foreign shareholder.
The Ministry of Interior is scheduled to meet with land department officials to further lay out regulations and laws pertaining to clause 72 of the law governing land ownership and its use.
The clause does, however, exclude property companies that are publicly listed or that have the relevant licenses to own land under the Board of Investment or joint property development ventures with commercial Thai banks – for which there is a specific law – including investment capital companies, Stock Exchange listed or life insurance and general insurance companies.

 


Deckchair operators wary of sand-fill plans

Piyavadee Suvannahong
Deckchair concessionaires have been asked to cooperate over some loss of business while city hall undertakes a project to beautify Pattaya Beach, but the vendors have voiced their doubts about the scheme.

Amnuay Naaek says the city will extend Pattaya Beach from Dusit Resort Cove to the old pier in Pattaya.
Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh on June 6 called a meeting of the deckchair operators. Amnuay Naaek of the Pattaya Public Works Department said that the city had been given a 49 million baht budget to extend Pattaya Beach from Dusit Resort Cove to the old pier in Pattaya by laying natural sand from the seafront to bring the beach up to the same level along its whole length. The job will take about 15-30 days to complete, which would affect the deckchair vendors as they will be unable to operate when work is being carried out in their areas.
The operators said they were happy to see the city beautify the beach but laying and filling with natural sand would have to be calculated properly in order that the sea doesn’t drag the sand back into the water. Further, the sand level should not be too high, as it would affect the drainage system during floods and cause the sand to become clogged.
Ronakit said that the city would only carry out the sand-fill on a 100-meter stretch at the beginning to check for any adverse effects and would inconvenience the public as little as possible while completing the work.


City hall plans to sink two disused navy ships to encourage marine life

Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Pattaya City is holding talks with the Royal Thai Navy about sinking two disused ships to create a habitat for marine life.

Mayor Niran Watthanasartsathorn repeated that officials must carry out an accurate survey of the location to sink these ships.

Mayor Niran Watthanasartsathorn held a meeting at city hall on June 6 to discuss the Underwater Park project, which would be in commemoration of His Majesty the King’s 60th anniversary.
Niran said that city hall had been in discussions with the Royal Navy for the derelict ships to be sunk in Pattaya Bay. The two vessels currently being considered are the Kood and the Pho Samton, both of which have a long history with the Royal Navy. This project would be similar to that of the Royal Ship Kram, which was sunk off Koh Pai at the beginning of 2003.
The preferred sites are Koh Krok and Koh Pai. However, the Royal Navy has objected to this idea, saying the sunken ships could actually destroy the ecology of underwater sea life as visitors could cause a build-up of underwater garbage.
A survey on sea levels will next be carried out, and discussions will continue.


Tourist police crack down on gambling during World Cup

Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Extra tourist police will be out on the streets during the World Cup series to ensure that gambling and its related crimes are curtailed.
Pol Lt Col Wutthichat Luaensucant, Pattaya tourist police inspector told reporters that many people would be watching the World Cup series in Pattaya, both domestic and foreign visitors.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Wutthichat Luaensucant is ready to fight gambling.

Pattaya tourist police are therefore laying down measures to prevent all kinds of crime and the division will be sending more officers out onto the streets. They will be looking especially for instances of gambling, especially on the outskirts of the city where gamblers gather to escape the eyes of officers.
Furthermore, officers are being sent out to check entertainment centers such as pubs, discos and bars as tourists may gamble among themselves. Police are also searching out bookmakers, who will be immediately arrested and dealt with severely.
Wutthichat added that the problem of gambling directly affects tourism through thievery and bag snatching to pay for gambling debts during the tournament. The tourist police will be on duty in risk areas or where teenagers likely to congregate, because if the young become addicted to gambling they have no future.
Guesthouse and hotel owners have been asked to cooperate with police on World Cup gambling and are encouraged to report all incidents to Pattaya tourist police or call 1155, 24 hours per day.


Deputy interior minister confident Chonburi safe from water shortages

Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Deputy Interior Minister Somchai Sunthornwat has visited the Eastern Seaboard to inspect progress on the projects being undertaken by the provincial and central governments to alleviate the water shortages that have plagued the region.
Somchai’s first stop was Chonburi, before venturing on to Rayong. He was joined by Chonburi Governor Pisit Ketphasook, senior officials from the regional water authority, and representatives from the Eastwater Company.
A meeting was held at the Chonburi Water Authority offices, where Somchai said he wanted to receive updates from the departments responsible for the projects.
“I want to know what the progress is, especially in Chonburi which is an industrial and tourism center for the region, and more specifically in Pattaya,” said Somchai.
The project directly affecting the city concerns the Mabprachan reservoir, where 400-500 million baht is being spent on water processing facilities.
“This still appears to be not enough but we will continue to monitor the progress over the next two to three months,” Somchai said. “I am satisfied with the progress here after listening to the governor’s report. This year Chonburi will not face water shortages as it did last year. The policies issued to stop this from re-occurring are in place and we have set up an outsource program around the country.”
The outsourcing program allows private enterprise to produce potable water for sale to the public.
“This should make things easier,” the deputy minister said.
The Chonburi projects are the responsibility of the provincial water authority and involve a number of construction points to prevent water shortages. These include a water filtration plant able to produce 48,000 cubic meters of water per day in the Sriracha area with further room for expansion. This is currently at 64 percent completed and scheduled to open in August this year.
Laying of water pipes and better distribution is underway in Pattaya, and is 49 percent complete. A mains supply project for Chonburi and Phanat Nikom areas is still underway.


Three youths caught stealing from bathers go berserk with knife and kill volunteer policeman

Boonlua Chatree
A volunteer policeman was knifed to death and three other people injured by thieves who were cornered after stealing from bathers on Jomtien Beach.
Cable TV reporter Phanupong Thongprem alerted police at the Dongtan Curve sub-station by radio on June 5 that tourists on the beach in front of Soi 9 had had their valuables stolen. The reporter was riding his motorcycle on Thappraya Road, heading for Pattaya police station to await developments, when three youths on motorcycles, accompanied by girls, appeared riding in the same direction.
Phanupong was with a colleague. The youths rode their motorcycles alongside and kicked at the reporters’ bikes. Phanupong stopped to radio the police and ask for roadblocks to be set up, but the thieves also stopped. One of the youths then approached with a long knife and attacked him, cutting his neck and left arm.
His assailant called to the other youths to hold the reporter down so he could stab him, but the second reporter intervened and the attackers fled back in the direction of Jomtien. Phanupong was taken on his friend’s motorcycle to Pattaya Memorial Hospital, where he was placed in intensive care.
Roadblocks were set up and volunteer police officers picked up on the chase, pursuing the thieves as far as the Jomtien Pacific Hotel, where the youths fled into a thicket next to the building. There was, however, no way out for them, and when the volunteers went in they were attacked.
Den Kachadpai, a 33-year-old volunteer from Nakhon Ratchasima was slashed in the neck and head and stabbed in the back, the knife penetrating his lung. He died while being transferred to Pattaya Memorial Hospital. Another volunteer, 35-year-old Akalak Meeso, received severe cuts to his left arm. A security guard from the hotel, Ampol Chaikla, was cut to his head and body.
In the melee the thieves managed to get away, escaping on their motorcycles in the direction of Soi Wat Boonkanchanaram. A police task force has been set up to hunt down the three youths.
Den has been posthumously awarded a certificate for bravery, and Chonburi Provincial Constabulary is meeting his funeral costs. He was an electrician at View Talay Villa, and has been commended as being a good employee and popular with his colleagues.


Unknown woman in drowning suicide mystery

Boonlua Chatree
An unknown woman has drowned herself off Bali Hai Pier, the second suicide at this locality within a week.
Police led by Pol Col Nopadol Wongnom, acting commander of Pattaya Municipal Police, together with officers of Sawang Boriboon Foundation went to the scene at 12.15 hrs on June 6 after receiving a report from sea rescue workers that a Thai woman had drowned off the pier.
The body of a woman aged approximately 30 years, with long hair and wearing a pink blouse and gray pants was seen floating face down in the sea around the middle of the pier. Sea rescue workers pulled the body out of the water. Police searched her, but no identification was found. All that was found were birth control pills and an amount of cash in her pants pocket. The body was taken to Banglamung Hospital for autopsy.
Police questioned Mrs Lamyong Sriruong, 42, a tour boat owner who witnessed the event. She told officers that she saw the woman walk to the pier with a man and a woman and the deceased had climbed onto the edge of the pier and jumped off into the water, which is about 15 meters deep at this point.
The man and woman who had been with the deceased have disappeared, and police are looking for them.
This is the second suicide at Bali Hai Pier within a week. On June 1 a 33-year-old Khon Kaen woman jumped from the pier for reasons that are unknown (Pattaya Mail, June 9, 2006).


German on the lam is tracked down and deported following embassy request

Boonlua Chatree
Pattaya Immigration Police arrested a German man who was wanted on charges of fraud in his own country and was living at an address in Naklua.
The German Embassy had issued a formal request to apprehend Franz Josef Schulze Dieckmann, 55, who was wanted under an arrest warrant issued by a Munster court in connection with a 10 million baht fraud case. The two countries have a treaty for the extradition of nationals facing criminal charges.

Franz Josef Schulze Dieckmann
Investigations by Pattaya Immigration Police revealed that Dieckmann lived at house in Soi Phothisarn, Naklua. Officers confronted the fugitive and requested his passport, but he couldn’t provide it. He was charged with illegally staying in the Kingdom without a passport, before being escorted to Pattaya police station and from there to Pattaya District Court.
Dieckmann was added to the immigration black list as a socially harmful person before being deported from the Kingdom.


Dutch criminal ‘acted like mafia’ in Pattaya Klang protection racket

Boonlua Chatree
A Dutchman who ran a protection racket amongst the local bars was arrested for threatening behavior and discovered to be a wanted man in his own country.
Pattaya immigration police had received a complaint on June 8 from an employee of a beer bar in Pattaya Klang that the man often came to the bar and threatened and assaulted foreign customers. Pol Col Ittipol Ittisarnronnachai, commander of the immigration police in Pattaya, sent a team of officers into the bars around the area and waited for the man to show up.

Wilhelmus Johannes van Kempen

When he did so, the officers moved in to make an arrest. The man put up a fight and tried to pull a gun, but was restrained. He was identified as Wilhelmus Johannes van Kempen, 35, a national of the Netherlands. During the arrest, the immigration police allegedly received a telephone call from a local police officer to let van Kempen go for a payment of 100,000 baht, but the request was refused.
Police found that van Kempen’s passport had expired two years previously and on carrying out a record check with the Netherlands Embassy found out that the man was wanted by the authorities in his own country for a number of crimes that included burglary, possession of weapons, and bank robbery. He had arrived in Thailand in 2004 and opened a bar with associates in Pattaya Klang.
Pol Col Ittipol said that van Kempen was no ordinary criminal. After committing crimes in his own country he had arrived in Thailand and with fellow nationals had acted like mafia, collecting protection from bar owners, and was afraid of no one. He has now been handed over to the Dutch embassy to be transported back to his home country.


Pattaya donates supplies and money to flood victims in North

The Jomtien Beach Umbrellas and Chairs Association donated supplies and money.

The Pratamnak-Pattaya Lions Club donated supplies to the Royal Thai Navy to help the disaster victims.

Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Pattaya City has worked together with government departments, private organizations, charitable institutions and the local public to gather clothes, food and donation money to support flood disaster victims in the North.
Floodwaters and mudslides in Uttaradit last month caused 68 known deaths and many are still missing. Rescue workers have been searching for dead and injured, particularly in Tapla district, which has been especially hard hit. They believe that many victims will be found at the mouth of the River Lee, 30 kilometers from the disaster area, but rocks, uprooted trees and deep mud have been hampering search efforts.
Donations of food, drinking water, clothes, rubber boots and other supplies were collected and sorted at the Sawang Boriboon Foundation offices. These were then sent to Tapla district in cooperation with the Royal Thai Navy, which also organized a rescue center for the disaster victims.
Mayor Niran Watthanasartsathorn said that Pattaya’s response has been commendable, with residents and visitors contributing vital supplies and with the total donated funds standing at around 230,000 baht. Representatives of the Isaan Club and Jomtien Beach Bed Club also presented 196,470 baht.
On June 4 between noon and midnight at Mike Shopping Mall on Beach Road, 10 bands played a charity concert organized by Mike Shopping Mall, the Banglamung Cultural Assembly, Pattaya Police Station, FM 101.25 radio station, and the Freelance Musicians in Pattaya City Club. The public brought rice, dry food and cash donations throughout the 12-hour concert.
Burapha Motorcycle Club led by Prasan Nikaji, chairman, rode their bikes around Pattaya City to collect donations, the amount reaching almost 100,000 baht by midnight on June 4.

Mayor Niran Watthanasartsathorn visits the donation center at the Sawang Boriboon Foundation.


Pattaya residents donate blood for HM the King’s anniversary

Large crowds turned up at Mit Yon to donate blood in honor of HM the King.

Suchada Tupchai
Blood donations were arranged on June 5 at the head office of Mit Yon Center in cooperation with A P Honda Co Ltd and at Queen Savang Vadhana Memorial Hospital in Sriracha, as part of the events surrounding His Majesty the King’s 60th anniversary. Many people from around Pattaya donated blood and donors had to wait a long time for their turn.
Nipa Shanrakkaankhaa, managing director of Mit Yon Pattaya Co Ltd said that people had started turning up in the early hours of the morning. All donors received a yellow shirt with the words “We Love the King”.
One of the donors said that he felt lucky to have been born during the reign of His Majesty the King and to witness the 60th anniversary celebrations. He said he had donated blood many times, but this was his proudest moment.


Educators told to clamp down on junk food and football gambling

Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Pattaya city education management and school directors from the city’s 10 schools were called in recently for a meeting with city administrators. Deputy Mayor Wutisak Rermkitkarn chaired the meeting.
Wutisak told educators that he did not want to see flavored sweet drinks of any color, popular among children, in any of the schools.

Tawatchai Rattanyu (left), Pattaya Education director, Deputy Mayor Wutisak Rermkitkarn (center) and Chonatphong Juabmee (right), deputy municipal clerk met with city education officials.
“Some schools have previously allowed the sale of this type of sweet drink in the schools, but the drink has been found to be potentially dangerous to children consuming it. This is now banned from all schools,” stated Wutisak.
The issue of the World Cup was also addressed at the meeting. Whilst watching and participating in the sport of football is beneficial, there is a tendency for some to gamble, even at such a young age. The deputy mayor urged educators to understand the importance of the issue and launched a campaign that has been named “Pattaya students: Watch the World Cup as a sport not an opportunity to gamble.”
“Gambling is illegal, as you all know. If this activity extends to schools then we are in real danger. It is up to you as educators to closely monitor any potential activity,” said Wutisak.


Students educated on hemorrhagic fever prevention

Narisa Nitikarn
Over 250 students from twenty schools in the region attended an educational seminar at Pattaya Public Health Department, the aim being to provide the students with knowledge on recognizing and preventing the hazards associated with the mosquito-borne disease of hemorrhagic fever.

Kanrapar Sa-ardrueng (yellow shirt from right), narcotic prevention and treatment sector, and Na-anya Jantrakart, communicable disease prevention section head explain to students how to use abate sand. The chemical sand is used to kill mosquito larvae.

Pisai Panomwan na Ayuthya, Pattaya city councilor officially opened the seminar on May 30. The chief speaker of the day was Rachanee Tharasantisuk, Chonburi health officer and an expert on the topic.
Also speaking on the day was Na-anya Jantrakart, communicable disease prevention section head, who gave the students some facts and figures to think about.
“In Pattaya there are still many people contracting this disease. Over the past three or four years the number of cases that have led to death has decreased, and in the past year there have been no deaths. But 17 new cases were reported.”
Na-anya attributed the reduction in hemorrhagic fever to the ongoing program conducted by the Pattaya Health Department through education and active treatments of breeding areas.
“We also see the need to spread the word among local schools so that you as students can relay this knowledge to your families and communities,” added Na-anya.
The disease has been most prominent following the annual rains and most vulnerable are those in the 5-14 age groups. Treatment in the early stages can take as little as three to four days but if left untreated the disease can lead to death. Symptoms are constant bowel movements with the presence of blood, nausea and prominent bleeding from the body.
“We urge everyone to be aware of this problem and help eliminate mosquito breeding areas. This will benefit everyone in the community and ultimately your own health,” said Na-anya.
She also expressed concern over small businesses and those occupying shophouses who leave pools of dirty water where mosquitoes can lay their eggs.
The Public Health Department readily makes abate sand available to the public to aid killing mosquito larvae and officers will fumigate where needed. Further information can be obtained from the Pattaya Public Health Department by calling 038 420 823 and asking for the disease control section.


TAT Mountains to the Sea road show stimulates domestic tourism

Apichart Phoechphan (right), deputy chief district officer of Pattaya receives a gift from Junnapong Saranak (center), Tourism Authority of Thailand Northern Office Region 1 director.

Narisa Nitikarn
A Tourism Authority of Thailand road show designed to promote Pattaya and Rayong to the residents of Northern Thailand and vice versa, and consequently stimulate domestic tourism got underway on May 31 at the Town in Town Hotel.
Deputy chief district officer of Pattaya, Apichart Phoechphan presided over the start of the road show, entitled “Connecting the Mountains to the Thai Sea”, with tour operators, hotels, resorts and restaurants participating in the project in large numbers.
TAT offices in four regions, namely Region 1 Chiang Mai, Region 2 Chiang Rai, Region 3 Pitsanuloke and Region 4 Tak, staged the road show. More than 100 tourism business operators participated.
“Inter-regional tourism will lead to distribution of income to all regions of the country, and the government is promoting policies to encourage Thais to travel domestically,” said Junnapong Saranak, director of TAT North Office Region 1.


599 monks to take part in restaurateurs’ homage to HM the King

Vimolrat Singnikorn
Five hundred and ninety-nine monks will take part in ceremonies organized by the Pattaya Restaurateurs’ Society to mark the occasion of His Majesty the King’s 60th anniversary.

Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay chaired the meeting on June 8 to prepare for the event, which is scheduled to take place on June 19 at the old pier area in South Pattaya. City councilors and society members attended.
Verawat, who is also chairman of the Restaurateurs’ Society said that this is a charitable event and that donations would be made to the 599 monks, who will be from several temples around Pattaya. The ceremony begins at 9 a.m. at the old South Pattaya pier area, and is open to everyone.
“I urge all Pattaya residents - Thai or foreign - to join in this auspicious occasion and pay homage to His Majesty,” said Verawat.


Medical team conducts diabetes checks for the over-40s

Narisa Nitikarn
Officials of the Non Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Center at the Public Health Center in Soi Bua Khao conducted diabetes checks on the over-40s at Roi Lang Community on May 31.

Police Captain Dr Pornpana Chokthai, MD, and a team of nurses from the Center gave diabetes checks to over 40-year-olds in Roi Lang Community.
Led by Police Captain Doctor Ms Pornpana Chokthai, the team of nurses was supported by the Quality Creation Association of Thailand, Eastern Region branch, which provided the premises for the examinations.
Pol Capt Pornpana said that she and her team had been conducting diabetes checks in various communities since October last year and will continue until all 26 communities have been covered.
Examinations were given from 8 a.m. to noon and locals were given information about the dangers of diabetes and ways to treat it and take care of themselves. If anyone was found to be at risk they were advised to go and see a specialist at the hospital. Anyone already suffering from the disease is also at risk of heart disease and hypertension. It is expressly advised that the aged have preliminary checks. People don’t usually realize that they have diabetes until the symptoms are quite severe. The disease can be controlled through diet and exercise and in severe cases medication.
The nursing team was kept busy with many people turning up for their examinations. The examinations are also held to reduce the number of people with heart disease or hypertension through teaching about the diseases.


Photographic exhibition of HM the King opens at Sattahip

Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Official and private organizations in Sattahip District have combined to hold an exhibition of photographs of His Majesty the King as part of the celebrations surrounding the 60th anniversary.

Sattahip District Chief Chana Lamsaeng (left) and Norm Pongkanchanarukul (right), chief personal photographer of HM the King visit the photographers’ exhibition.
On June 1, Sattahip District Chief Channa Lamsaeng, Norm Pongkanchanarukul, chief personal photographer to His Majesty the King, and Kwanwan Khantisuk, general manager of Nong Nooch Garden opened the exhibition at one of the traditional buildings in Nong Nooch Garden.
Amongst the organizations participating are the Tourism Authority of Thailand Region 3 Chonburi, Sattahip Municipality, Banglamung Cultural Department, and the Cultural Department in Sattahip District. The exhibition will continue until June 30.
Along with the exhibition is a book for members of the public to sign their names expressing their respects to His Majesty the King on this auspicious occasion.


9,000 rockets light the Sriracha sky in anniversary celebrations

The music show and Thai blessing dance from schools in Sriracha District were performed brilliantly.

Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Nine thousand rockets soared into the sky over a period of three hours each night from June 2 - 4 as Sriracha honored the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King’s accession to the throne.

It was a fireworks display fit for a King.
The municipality cooperated with the Tourism Authority of Thailand to organize a special program of events over the period June 2 to 4, culminating in the fireworks competition that took place at Koh Loi Bridge.
During the time leading up to the competition candles were lit and services held. The fireworks competition began at 7 p.m. with nine teams competing for the Princess Theprattanaratchasuda Trophy. A grand total of 9,000 rockets burst in the skies over Sriracha and were judged on various criteria that included size, color and form.
The winner was Wanjai Mue Mai Fireworks, receiving a 100,000 baht prize and the trophy. Runner-up was the Pacific Pyro Team, receiving 50,000 baht, and in third place was the Nanthawat Niyomkarn Team, receiving 30,000 baht.
Apart from the launching of fireworks there was also a display of lamps from Sriracha municipality teachers, performances by music bands, and an exhibition on His Majesty’s visit to Sriracha.
Every household in the Sriracha municipality celebrated by decorating their houses, and householders will keep these decorations for the remainder of the year.