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Apr
25
More Road Closures This Weekend and Next
April 25, 2008 | Tags: Community Calendar, Government and Politics | Comments Off
| April 26, 2008 | ||
| April 27, 2008 |
 Scenic Route 32 through Braulio Carrillo National Park. This route will be closed for part of the weekend |
The highway agency will again be closing the main road between San José and Limón for six hours both Saturday and Sunday for more work repainting lines on the road.
This week they will be working on a section between Río Sucio and the old toll station. There will be interruptions from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday, said the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes.
Work last weekend was called off due to bad weather. Motorists are being advised to use alternature routes from Turrialba to Siquirres and Vara Blanca to Sarapiquí. Officials plan on closing part of the highway again next weekend, too, they said.
Along the Caribbean coast workmen will be on the job at one of the pillars of a bridge over the Río Vizcaya some 25 kms. (16 miles) from Río Banano. Traffic will be halted from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, said the Consejo Nacional de Vialidad.
As reported in: A.M. Costa Rica: More road delays planned by highway painting crews
Apr
19
Marina and Environmental Concerns Draw National and International Media Attention
April 19, 2008 | Tags: Community News, Economic Development, Environment | 5 Comments
 Tourists watch for monkeys along the canals of Tortuguero National Park. Government reports released last fall revealed that 97 percent of Costa Rica’s sewage flows untreated into rivers, streams, or the ocean. Photo by David Sherwood, courtesy of the Christian Science Monitor |
The hot issues of development and the environment and the way they are being played against each other continue to draw a lot of media attention to the Puerto Viejo area.
The Tico Times again features the story this week as their Top Story. The article, entitled Puerto Viejo Marina Plan Eyed Warily by Natives, discusses the effect that the marina project would have on the local Bri Bri people. The article proposes that the project could not only damage the low-key ecotourism that the area has developed on but could also herald the disappearance of Talamanca’s other resource, the indigenous culture.
Timoteo Jackson, a native Bribrí leader, is quoted as saying, “for us indigenous, this is only a bad thing.
“Right now, we have tourists coming to see nature, conservation and the indigenous way, but this will stop if the marina comes.”
The influential Christian Science Monitor recently weighed in on the struggle to find a balance between sustaining nature and continuing economic development in Costa Rica. The article, entitled Costa Rica sees tourism’s environmental dark side, goes into the water quality problems that recently caused the shutdown of several large hotels on the Pacific and the loss of blue flag status for a number of Costa Rica’s beaches, including our own Playa Negra.
The article strikes an alarming tone: “In the past decade, construction of hotels, second homes, and condominiums has surged in coastal regions, taking advantage of a vacuum in planning and enforcement. The total land area that has been developed grew 600 percent in that time, according to a government report. As a result, the biodiversity that has long lured visitors is disappearing, say scientists. Monkey and turtle populations are plummeting, and infrastructure is strained to a near breaking point.”
But it does go on to acknowledge that, despite all the problems, ”Costa Rica remains decades ahead of its neighbors” in environmenal protection and that the goverment “seems increasingly willing to listen.”
Televison news has not shied away from coverage either as this TV news report shows:
If you can’t view the video on this page, click here to see it on YouTube.
Apr
15
ATEC Plans 70km Trans-Talamanca Fundraising Trek
April 15, 2008 | Tags: Community News, Helping Out | Comments Off
For more than ten years ATEC’s guide, Zenon from Alta Talamanca, has offered the “Trans-Talamanca Trek,” a 70 km mountainous challenge.
Along with being an experienced guide on the ancient trail though the Talamancas, Zenon is a community organizer in his small town of Coroma where construction on the “Casa de Esperanza” was started in 2004. The Casa is a dream to give the kids from his small community a head start. The frame of the Casa was built in 2004 with a grant from Glenn Scarborough but then the floods in January 2005 wiped out all the work he had done, along with wiping out any extra time or hope to keep it going.
“Many of our kids don’t speak Spanish,” Zenon explained, “many don’t have the basic concepts of mathematics or even counting. If we can give them a head-start before they leave home to attend school, they will have more confidence and more success.”
Now Glenn and Zenon are revitalized to re-initiate the project. “If we can raise $1,100,” Glenn said, “we can re-build the Casa, get school supplies and books to them, and the kids of Coroma will have a chance to be prepared when they are ready to head off to go to school in Amubri”.
As a way to help raise funds to complete the building and buy the supplies for our neighbors and the children of Coroma, ATEC is offering an opportunity to experience an amazing trek across the continental divide in the Talamanca Mountain range, through pristine original growth rainforest and cloudforest, with a Cabecar native and experienced guide from Coroma, Talamanca. Led by Zenon, this 70km journey would take you up the Caribbean slope through wonderful and dense forest landscapes, past rarely seen rainforest waterfalls, over windswept peaks as high as 2700 meters and to the indigenous community of Ujarrás on the Pacific slope of the Cordillera de Talamanca.
Proceeds from this trip will be dedicated to helping finish the building and purchase supplies for the Children’s Center, La Casa de Esparanza, in the community of Coroma.
Non-hikers are also welcome to donate. All donations will be completely transparent and posted through ATEC’s email list during the fund drive and on Greencoast.com after the deadline.
The trip is planned for early May, it takes between 5 and 15 days and it ain’t easy. Write to atecmail@gmail.com to sign up, with questions, or to donate.
If you’d like to donate with a credit card, Puerto Viejo Satellite is offering to process credit card donations and cover all bank fees so that 100% of your donation will go towards the project. You can do so on the Donate Page.
For more on this: Greencoast News: Fundraising Trek for “Head Start” Program in Alta-Talamanca.
Apr
15
Environmental Inspectors Shut Down Construction at Several Hotels
April 15, 2008 | Tags: Economic Development, Environment | 6 Comments
 Inspectors confirm logging is occuring in the Gandoca-Manzanillo Refuge. Photo courtesy La Nación. |
The inspectors from the environmental tribunal who arrived in a large group last week have shut down several construction projects.
The construction on a new hotel in Puerto Viejo was shut down with the inspectors saying that the construction was infringing upon the restricted maritime zone of Playa Negra. The property, owned by a lawyer whose name has not been reported, was apparently about to start operations.
Two other hotels, both located in the Gandoca-Manzanillo Refuge protected zone, had their expansion construction projects halted.
At the hotel Villas del Caribe at Playa Cocles, inspectors said that the expansion of the hotel was not respecting the maritime zone boundaries. The hotel was apparently also using coral to line paths and gardens.
The inspectors also shut down the construction of a concrete building by Hotel Almonds and Corals (located between Punta Uva and Manzanillo). Apparently 2,500 square meters of forest had been cleared to build the project which is located at the entrance to the hotel.
The hotel is denying that the construction project is theirs.
The chairman of the Tribunal, Jose Lino Perez, lamented the disorder found in the area. “The Wildlife Refuge is not being respected. There are houses inside, logging and construction in public areas occuring without permits,” he said.
Still, Perez said the situation is not as serious as in the Pacific, where the same court closed three hotels with 380 rooms.
“Here there is less investment and it shows. Yet our intervention is timely to ensure that the tourism development begins to take off in the area is sustainable. We must try to preserve this paradise.”
Reporting from: La Nación: Tribunal Ambiental frena obras en Limón.
Apr
10
A Jungle Bridge
April 10, 2008 | Tags: Helping Out | Comments Off
 Mama Chicken with 2 of her brood on the job at The Bridge |
Barry Stevens, who along with his wife Nancy, runs the local not-for-profit The Bridge centre, publishes a newsletter “A Jungle Bridge” once or twice a month.
It’s filled with stories from the work they do and from their daily lives and makes an interesting read.
The story of the mama chicken in today’s issue was particularly poignant for me.
You can read the latest issue here and also get sign-up info for the newsletter at that link.
You can get more information about The Bridge on the Puerto Viejo Satellite Helping Out page or on The Bridge website.
Apr
10
115 Places Now Listed on the Map
April 10, 2008 | Tags: Site news | Comments Off
With many local businesses adding their listings over the last few weeks, there are now 115 places listed on the Puerto Viejo Satellite Map! They represent an amazing diversity of places to eat, shop, stay or visit in our community. If your own favorite places are still not listed, you can add them here. The basic listing is completely free.
Visitors to the area and residents alike are also finding more and more on the site and we are optimistic this is contributing to a positive business environment for the area. Visits to the site continue to grow, with new records being set regularly. In March, almost 9,000 unique visitors came to the site! And on Tuesday, a new one day record was set with 482 different people coming to the website to research hotels, discuss topics on the forum, read the Talamanca News, get detailed directions and options on how to get here or get around or for many other reasons.
Some of the most recent additions to the map:
- Cabinas Guaranas (also a new Puerto Viejo Top Pick)
- Cabinas El Tesoro
- Cabins Mor Solutions
- Casa Viva Beach House Rentals
- Jordan’s Jacuzzi Suites
- Laundry
- Lotus Garden Japanese Restaurant
- Mighty Rivers Ice Cream
- Pan Pay
- Pulpería Manuel Leon
- Soda Miss Sam
Apr
10
Environmental Court Inspects Area
April 10, 2008 | Tags: Environment, Local Business News | 1 Comment
The Tribunal Ambiental Administrativo (Environmental Administrative Court) began on Apr 7 their program “Barrida Environmental Limon”, with 14 experts inspecting the developments and projects in Limon Province. According to La Nación, the inspections are to take place in the mountains, in farms, in the centre of the province and in the Gandoca-Manzanillo Refuge.
One local hotel owner reported “1 van load and 2 SUVs of MINAE inspectors” arriving unannounced at his hotel yesterday to ask questions.
This is the second of its kind. The first campaign was conducted on the Pacific coast.
The Talamanca News welcomes this effort to root out the few bad apples who are not treating our tropical paradise with the respect it deserves.
Apr
6
Marina Foes Launch Website
April 6, 2008 | Tags: Economic Development, Environment | 3 Comments
 Site of the proposed marina. Graphic courtesy of La Nacion |
Opponents of the Playa Negra marina have launched a website, www.salvemospuertoviejo.com, to act as an information source for those wanting to take action about the marina.
The website, in Spanish, links to several news stories on the marina as well as links to different government agencies where letters opposing the project can be sent.
Apr
4
Road Closures This Weekend Between San Jose and Limon
April 4, 2008 | Tags: Government and Politics | 1 Comment
Scenic Route 32 through Braulio Carrillo National Park. This route will be closed for part of the weekend |
The highway agency will be closing the main road between San José and Limón for six hours both Saturday and Sunday. The reason is that work crews are painting lines on the road.
The highway is Route 32 that runs from north San José to Limón. The route will be closed Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., said the Consejo Nacional de Vialidad. From 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. the traffic will be regulated by workers, according to the schedule.
As reported in: A.M. Costa Rica: Main highway to Limón to be closed to paint lines
Apr
4
CATCAS announces board executive for 2008-2010
April 4, 2008 | Tags: Community News, Local Business News | Comments Off
CATCAS, the South Caribbean Tourism and Business Board would like to present its new board that was elected in the assembly of members this past January 28th:
Presidente: Lic Rolando Soto Jiménez
Primer Vice Presidente: Sr. Edward Joseph Ryan ,
Segunda Vice Presidente: Sra. Leda Villa Porras,
Tesorero: Sr Frank León Chang,
Secretario: Sr. José Guido Bizet Delgado ,
Pro Secretario. Sr. Dennis Clark Bell,
Vocal Primero: Sra. Jacqueline Lewis Burker
Vocal Segundo: Sra. Marta Castro Bolaños,
Vocal Tercero: Sr. Junio Ortiz Navas,
Vocal Cuarto: Sr. Jason T. Ficociello.
Vocal Quinto: Sra. Silvia Rivera Guevara
Fiscal Primero: Sra. Gloria Gavioli
Fiscal Segundo: Sr. Mario Torres Madrigal.
CATCAS is involved in a huge variety of projects to promote and improve our area. They have done projects and continue to work in the areas of:
- Cultural and Educational Projects
- Security
- Promotion of the Area
- Health and Infrastructure
- Environment and Sustainability
The list of projects they have initiated or supported is huge! (See the document – in Spanish). If you’d like more information or to get involved with this organization contact turismocaribesur@yahoo.com.
And if anyone involved in those projects or in upcoming ones would like to write about them for the Talamanca News, we’d love to publish it!
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