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(506) 2223-1327                                     Published Wednesday, July 29, 2015, in Vol. 15, No. 148                         Email us
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Lawmaker says government threatens Depósito Libre
By the A.M. Costa  Rica staff

A legislator said Tuesday that the central government is seeking to change the rules for customers of the Depósito Libre Comercial de Golfito.

The Depósito is the place where Costa Ricans and residents can find tax-free items frequently at a 50 percent discount. The sales outlet is a mecca for those seeking household appliances, vehicle tires, cosmetics and alcohol.

Olivier Jiménez Rojas, the Partido Liberación Nacional lawmaker, told the legislature Tuesday that the government was trying to place more restrictions on the use of the Depósito. He said that the executive branch is trying to reduce the types of articles sold there and cut down on the quantity that shoppers may buy.

The Depósito was set up to bring money to
the area after a banana shipper shut down.

Those who shop there must arrive and obtain a ticket that is only good as of the following day. For that reason they must overnight in the area.

Each person is then entitled to make $1,000 in purchases, and family members can combine their limit to make $2,000 in purchases.

Jiménez called the area the poorest in Costa Rica. He said the government's action would mean the technical closure of the Depósito.

He said the government was trying to restrict purchases to one every six month even if the shopper has not used the full amount of the $1,000 entitlement.

The lawmaker did not really specify who in the government was doing this, but he made an indirect reference to the Ministerio de Hacienda, which includes the tax department.


Digital signature office is taking to the highways
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Digital signatures have been used for years but the concept has not really taken off. Lawyers are among the big users because the can file documents at the Registro Nacional and courts without making a trip.

Now  Coope Ande, the cooperative for teachers, has created a traveling office where citizens and residents can obtain a digital signature.

The signature itself is a plastic card that works in a special machine that is hooked to a  computer. The user inserts the plastic card and also a password to verify his or her identity. The document that is then emailed or printed bears a distinctive imprint identifying the user.

The  Coope Ande vehicle and its crew will be traveling the countryside for the benefit

digital
Coope Ande photo
Digital signature office on wheels

of those who need the digital signature.

The  Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología y Telecomunicaciones says that some 50 entities in the country now use digital signatures, but for many the signature is optional. For example, major banks use their own tokens or identity systems.



Sala IV says Talamanca hurt good name of expats
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

If there ever was a slam-dunk defamation case, it would be the one that two Caribbean coast expats could file against the Municipalidad de Talamanca, its mayor, its council president and dozens of locals who signed a statement against them.

Even the Sala IV constitutional court thinks so.

The court decided Friday that the municipality does not have the power to declare the two expats personas non gratas.
This was the anticipated verdict when the lawyer for the pair filed a constitutional court appeal.

A summary of the verdict was released Tuesday.

Earlier this month the Sala IV issued a preliminary ruling that froze an effort by the Municipalidad de Talamanca to hold a hearing and demand the presence of expat residents Carol Meeds and Philippe Vangoidsenhoven.

The municipality had been rebuffed once before. Last March 6 the council declared the pair to be unwelcome in the canton. The Sala
IV constitutional court quickly reversed that
municipal action and said in passing that the two had not been give the right of response.

The hearing was supposed to give the expats the right of response.


As the Sala IV noted, the two irritate the municipal establishment by filing environmental complaints.

The court said that the proposed declaration constitutes an intimidating way that directly menaces the exercise of fundamental rights of liberty of expression and to watch out for the environment.

The court also said that the law does not give the municipality any power to emit such a declaration, a sanction contrary to legal principles that also affects the good name of the the expats.

The council president is Carlos Cascante, and the mayor is Melvin Cordero.

Six high court magistrates agreed with the ruling.  Ernesto Jinesta Lobo did not.

The two expats were represented by  José María Villalta, the former presidential candidate.

 
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Mimosa

A.M. Costa Rica's
 
Second news page
Green season
San José, Costa Rica, Wednesday, July 29, 2015, Vol. 15, No. 148
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Professional Directory
A.M. Costa Rica's professional directory is where business people who wish to reach the English-speaking community may invite responses. If you are interested in being represented here, please contact the editor.


Hearing Services

Dinamarca
Clínica Dinamarca Hearing Center
Audiometry – Impedance
Hearing aids
Batteries & accessories
Electronic laboratory
Earplugs: Loud noise & swimming
Cochlear implants
Bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHA)
Free hearing tests for Senior Citizens on Wednesdays
We accept hearing aids prescriptions from C.C.S.S.
For the US veterans we can help with the procedures

Address: 250 meters south from KFC Paseo Colón, San José,
Costa Rica
Phone: (506) 2221-4545
(506) 2221-4646
Web: www.clinicadinamarca.com
Follow us on Facebook click here.
8691-8/19/15
Dinamarca logo

Psychotherapy

Dr. Gray

Dr. Lucinda Gray

California Licensed
Psychologist
International Practice

www.LucindaGray.com
New World Meditation

CR (506) 2228-2041
8610-8/23/15

Insurance professionals

The Garrett Insurance Group
Garrett
-Brokerage fully licensed by the
      government.
-Experience since 1980.
-Bilingual English/Spanish.
-Represent all the best insurance
       companies in Costa Rica,
       BMI, Blue Cross, Blue
       Shield, ASSA, INS, etc.
-Correspondents of WILLIS.
-Connections in all of Central
       America.
-Superb communications.
-Prize-winning Web site.
-English policy extracts.
-Helps you settle your claims.
Centro Comercial El Pueblo, Local #125, San José, Costa Rica.    Phone:  ( 506 ) 2233-9520
E-mail : info@garrettbrokers.com
More information HERE!
4/12/15

Residency experts

Residency in Costa Rica
A full service immigration agency
U.S. and San José offices
Getting and authenticating documents can be a chore. —

We know how to do it. Experienced with many nationalities. Up-to-date on
Costa Rica's evolving immigration law.

Pensionado and rentista. Your first stop for smooth, professional service and a positive experience. Javier Zavaleta javier@residencyincostarica.com
www.residencyincostarica.com
Tel: (323) 255-6116
8688-9/16/15

 Accountants

 
Ms. Summers
Marlene B. Summe
U.S. Income Tax Services
 
Marlene B. Summers
Tax Accountant
 
File your FBAR for current or past due years
 
File your past three years tax return under the
Streamlined  Procedure which mitigates penalties
 
File amended tax returns

Personalized service      Competitive rates
Phone (506) 2289-6590 or (506) 8750-2316
Email: marlene.summers@gmail.com
8724-9/19/15

U.S. Tax International
Plus Costa Rican taxes, accounting, and legal
 services. Over 15 years in Costa Rica

U.S. Tax
                                                  rollover
(English spoken). Tamarindo office hours now available.  If you or anyone you know would like an appointment in Tamarindo, please call our San José office at 2288-2201 to make an appointment.
Contact Us:
 U.S 786-206-9473         CR 506-2288-2001
FAX: 506 2231-3300
E-mail: ustax@lawyer.com
Web page: www.ustaxinternational.com
8635-9/12/15

James Brohl, C.P.A. & M.B.A.
US Income Tax,  U.S. GAAP Accounting
& Business Consulting
S
pecializing in all matters of concern to U.S. taxpayers residing abroad including:
Uncle Sam's
IRS filing requirements of foreign income tax exclusion (up to $100,800 for 2015).
Past-due tax returns: Taxpayers filing before an IRS notice do not face criminal sanctions.
Reporting foreign financial assets: FBAR and foreign corporations.
Up-to-date FACTA news.
All US Tax return preparation:
individual, business, estate and trust.
eFile returns: secure with faster refunds.
Business consulting to facilitate working in Costa Rica.

Telephone 8305-3149 or 2256-8620
E-mail jrtb_1999@yahoo.com
9654-4/6/16


Fine art restoration and conservation
Gilbert Carmichael
Master Art Restorer, A.I.C. Certified
European and U.S. standards. USPAP.
Carmichael
For more information please contact Weronika Nossowicz at 8388-5328  or email HERE!
 • Paintings
• Sculptures
• Murals
• Porcelain and ceramic
        restoration
• Works on paper restoration
• Conservation curatorial
        services

• Art expert services
• Other restoration services
* Analysis for condition
        authenticity
• Art related insurance and
        damage evaluations
• Art collection consultation
Experts in fine art restoration and conservation for the tropics. We clean mildew, mold, etc; repair, restore and offer art expert and curatorial services.
8734-7/29/15

Legal services

Real Estate Closing Services
Lic Matta

Lic. Pablo Mata Ferreto, MBA.

Legal – Financial Adviser

Real Estate and Business Transactions

Avoid Real Estate scams, get independent advice and have due diligence performed before signing or making a deposit.

Phone number: (506) 8853-0000
Email: jpmata2000@gmail.com
8587-3/8/15


Land surveying services

René Sánchez Quirós
30+ years of experience in:

Mr. Sanchez
Survey (cadastral) maps
Subdivisions
Contours
Boundary markers
Calculations of terrain

Call me:
CR phone number:   +506-2290-4573
CR Cell phone number: +506-8383-0083
Email:  ojoche01@gmail.com       
8764-10/28/15


Real estate agents and services

Ms. Gonzalez
Noemy González
Real Estate Adviser
Bienes Inmuebles CR.com

 
We are a real estate company specializing in prompt & effective attention for you. English, Spanish & Italian spoken. Professionals in the sale of properties such as commercial premises, homes & apartments through our advertising & marketing services.
Vision: Making realty dreams a reality.
Mission: Your #1 property adviser with real value in a changing world.
Logo
Address: Cariari, Heredia, Costa Rica.
Local phone (506) 2239-3883
Mobile (506) 8302-3883
E-mail : noe@bienesinmueblescr.com
Web: www.bienesinmueblescr.com
8680-8/6/15

CENTURY 21 JACÓ BEACH REALTY
Century
                                                          21

A Name You Trust, Professionalism You Deserve
Tom Ghormley and the dream team!
Owner/Broker
in CR since 1979

Buying? Selling? Renting?
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Beaches, Houses, Condos,
Hotels, Restaurants, Projects,
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 Century 21 Jacó Beach Realty
Playa Jacó, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
U. S. A. phone numbers:  (213) 283-5168 
or Toll Free: (877) 746-3868
Costa Rica phone number: (506) 2643-3356
Email: info@c21jaco.com
Web: www.c21jaco.com
8569-1/14/16

CR Beach
Jaco Beach Central Pacific Real Estate
WE URGE YOU TO CHECK OUT
THESE PRICES & DEALS
  in the CENTRAL PACIFIC-
JACÓ AREA SUPER DEALS & DISCOUNT  
"LOWEST PRICES EVER and this Inventory is  being sold now " says CR Beach Investment Real Estate Broker & certified Realtor Jeff Fisher.
Why Here?
#1: SJO Int'l Airport & S.J. suburbs are an hour +
away.
Fisher
Jeff  Fisher
#2: The Jacó area has all the important services you need & is growing!
#3: IT'S STILL A BUYERS' MARKET:     
   

Yes, after 21 years, we know Costa Rica and we still believe the Central Pacific is the best area to invest, enjoy, and retire to in Costa Rica.!
Member of the N.A.R. & the Costa Rican Real Estate Board CRGAR  
SIGN UP FOR OUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER:

www.CRbeach.com    info@crbeach.com
Toll Free: 1-888-782-1119 or  2643-4334, 2643-3672
Over 9 years in  our JACÓ Office:
IL Galeone Center by BAC, #14, Costa Rica
8666-7/6/15

Costa Rica's first Realtor specialized
in eco properties, eco consulting and green living.

Eco logo
                                                      two
   • Specialized in the Central and South Pacific.
   • Great network of realtors, to find your dream
          property
   • Homes, condominium & luxury homes
   • Eco lodges and Hotels
   • Green properties and waterfalls
   • Farms and developments
   • Sustainable and green living communities.
   • Property management in the Jacó area
www.ecorealtorscr.com    info@ecorealtorscr.com
Telephone: +506 2637-6285
cell: +506 8825-6556  

skype: ecorealtorscr  Facebook: ecorealtorscr
In front of Subway at Plaza Herradura, Jacó
Green NAR designee, member of the CCBR, CRGAR
8660-10/14/15

Jim Day, representing Colinas del Sol
del Pacifico, S.A.

colinadelsol022515c.gif
* Colinas del Sol is a fenced and gated project  in a quiet area.
* There are 88 clear titled lots.
* Mountain areas with great views.
* Gently sloping level areas ideal for hobby farms, gardening, fruit tree orchards.
* Quiet place to get away from the busy city and beach crowds.
* All lots have gravel roads to them, water and electricity at each.
* Lots are 5,000 sq. meters or larger, starting at only $39,000 USD , and many can be combined for those wanting a larger area for their chosen passion, be it a hobby horse farm or retirement haven.
* Located in Libertad, Guanacaste, Northwest Pacific area of Costa Rica.
* 20 minutes to the Liberia International Airport
* 15 minutes to the Pacific Beaches
* 10 minutes to Medical Facilities
* 25 minutes to the Liberia Hospital
* 5 minutes to Papagayo  Golf & Country Club
Contact Jim Day
Email:  JimDay50@aol.com 
or Phone:  001 517 484-3675.
Click Here: www.colinasdelsolcr.com
8596-8/27/15


reef fish
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute photo               
This is the yellow-spotted sand goby, Coryphopterus curasub

Another new tropical reef fish discovered

By the  Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute news staff

The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute says one of its teams has found a new reef fish off Curaçao.

The fish takes its name, published in the journal ZooKeys July 17, from Substation Curaçao’s Curasub, a submersible that caters to tourists, adventurers and researchers

Discoveries keep bubbling up from the Caribbean Sea as Carole Baldwin and Ross Robertson of the Smithsonian Institution’s Deep Reef Observation Project name a fourth new tropical fish, the yellow-spotted sand goby, Coryphopterus curasub.

Since their first expedition in 2011, Smithsonian marine scientists have collected more than 100 fishes, about a third of which are new to science. Their findings underscore how little is known about the incredible biological diversity of the Caribbean’s deep reefs.

“Every new place we go along the coast of Curaçao we find something we have not seen and collected before,” said Robertson, a staff scientist at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.

The new fish, found 70 to 80 meters, around 230 to 260 feet, below the surface, is the deepest-dwelling addition to its genus, which now includes 12 species in the western Atlantic and one in the eastern Pacific, The discovery of a goby at this depth raises questions about how it differs from its shallower brethren. In addition to differences in its mitochondrial DNA, its pattern of spots and some physical features of its fins also distinguish C. curasub from other gobies.

Robertson and Ms. Baldwin, a scientist at the National Museum of Natural History, have made dozens of trips to Curaçao’s reefs, reaching depths of 320 meters, around 1,000 feet. Their pioneering work establishes a baseline for the biodiversity of deep Caribbean reefs, which will help scientists determine how these ecosystems are being affected by human activity and global change.

“New advances in diving technology, including subs that go to much greater depths, provides access we rarely had before,” said Robertson, whose body of work includes exhaustive guides to the shallow reef fish of the Caribbean and tropical eastern Pacific. “What we have been finding shows the value of working for years in one place. We expect to see similar things if we go elsewhere in the Caribbean.”


Cruz Roja volunteers will play cleanup

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

This weekend's pilgrimage to Cartago is not without its trash, so the Cruz Roja for the second year is spearheading a project to collect and recycle the leavings.

The project is called  EcoRomería 2015 and includes public and private partnerships.

The Cruz Roja said it will have the help of hundreds of volunteers to classify and distribute the trash for recycling. The work will continue through Sunday.


Pair on motorcycle held in Aserrí stickup

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Fuerza Pública officers Monday detained two men on a motorcycle as suspects in the stickup of a supermarket in Aserrí. a short time earlier.

The men tried to evade a checkpoint in San Pedro, and that aroused the interest of police. The pair were stopped and police learned they matched the description of two men who used a firearm and a sharp object to steal money, telephone cards and cell telephones in Aserrí.


Report on Latin economies is due today

Special to A.M. Costa Rica

The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean will present next today its "Economic Survey of Latin American and Caribbean 2015," a publication updating growth estimates for the region’s countries in the current year.

The commission's executive secretary, Alicia Bárcena, will present the report during a press conference that will be held at the organization’s headquarters in Santiago, Chile, and will be broadcast live via Internet at the institution’s Web site.

"The Economic Survey of Latin American and Caribbean 2015" is one of the commission's most important annual reports. It analyzes Latin America and the Caribbean’s economic performance during the year’s first semester and delivers the perspectives for the following months.

Additionally, in this edition the thematic chapters of the Survey will be focused on examining the dynamics of investment in Latin American countries, their relationship with the economic cycle, the role of public investment, the lack of infrastructure and the financial challenges of private investment.


China's stock market dips rattle investors

By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services

Trading in China was volatile Tuesday but ended lower, a day after the country's stocks suffered their steepest plunge in eight years.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index closed down about 1.7 percent, after falling as much as 5 percent after opening. On Monday, the index lost 8.5 percent, the biggest single-day plunge since 2007.

Many Chinese investors have been rattled by rumors that Beijing plans to back off its support for the stock market, which had been recovering for the past two weeks following a month-long sell-off.

The state-run China Securities Finance Corp. on Tuesday stressed it will continue to buy stocks to stabilize the market. The People's Bank of China also said it would inject over $8 billion into money markets

The turmoil in China has also affected global investors. European markets on Monday dropped to two-week lows, and U.S. indices were down for the fifth straight session.

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In the Spanish-language press

Today, July 29

Atenas area to have a shopping center

La República: Escobal de Atenas is the location of this new attraction between Santa Ana and Orotina at Kilometer 42 just off the Caldera highway. Developers expect to have the first stage ready early in 2016.
 

Parque Eólico Valle Central called inefficient

La Prensa Libre: The Contraloría, the budget watchdog, said that the omission of basic and essential market studies is the issue of  this wind generation project build by the Compañía Nacional de Fuerza y Luz.


Bank reports problems with software

CR Hoy: Banco Popular continues to field complaints about its new $7 million Web page and information system.


Windows 10 is here

La República: The new software is free, if a computer user has an original license in DVD or pre-installed on a hard disk no older than Windows 7. Otherwise the software is $119.


70 more motorcycle officers graduate

La Prensa Libre: The training was led by the Panamanian police. This is the second course of its kind.

— Compiled by Sylvia Quesada Hidalgo

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San José, Costa Rica, Wednesday, July 29, 2015, Vol. 15, No. 148
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Four held as bandit gang members who targeted bank customers
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Judicial agents picked up three men and a woman Tuesday and said they were the gang that has been robbing bank customers all over the country.

The robberies were violent, and four victims were shot without any warning, said the Judicial Investigating Organization. The shootings took place in  Moravia, Heredia, Cartago and Curridabat, the agency said.

The woman is 53, and she with one of the three men was called the spotter. She and her associate would enter a bank as  customers and spot someone who had withdrawn a substantial sum of cash, agents alleged.

The spotters would follow the victim outside and relay the information about direction and type of clothing to two
confederates on a motorcycle. They would do the robberies, agents said

During the arrests Tuesday, agents said they found disguises, wigs and changes of clothing that were used in the crimes.

Agents said that at least 17 robberies in  Pérez Zeledón, Guápiles, Cartago, San José and Heredia are attributed to the gang. They took place from March to October last year.

A fifth member made the mistake of trying to rob a man outside the offices of the lottery agency, the Junta de Protection Social, last December. A bodyguard shot him dead, agents noted.

The arrests were made Tuesday in  Playa Ocotal in Guanacaste, Zapote, Hatillo and Higuito de Desamparados, according to the agency. Agents said they found a firearm and a large quantity of ammunition.


WOOD
Artist uses an ancient technique

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Electronic cameras are freely available and cheap. Even cell telephones have them.

Snap! and a photo is created.

But not for Mariano Arias, who creates his illustrations with woodcuts. That means he labors intensely over a block of wood to create a relief of the scene. And then he prints it.

The artist's work will be on display at the  Galería Dinorah Bolandi from Thursday to Oct. 4. The 22 works are of the markets of San José with an emphasis on the Mercado Central that was founded in 1880.

The exposition is in the Teatro Popular Melico Salazar.

The artist is a graduate of the  Universidad de Costa Rica and uses native woods in his work.

Mercado Bobbon
The former Mercado Borbon, which was on Avenida 7.


Foreign convict who did a long stretch for rape is expelled for 25 years
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The immigration agency said Tuesday it had expelled a Nicaraguan for 25 years after he had completed a prison term for raping a minor.

The man was turned over to Nicaraguan officials at the Peñas Blancas border post, said the  Dirección General de

Migración y Extranjería.

The man, who has the last names of Arzon Suazo, was a permanent resident, but the immigration agency cited laws that permitted the action.

The stipulation of 25 years in unusual. Typically foreigners are expelled for various reasons for from five to 10 years.

You need to see Costa Rican tourism information HERE!

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Researchers are trying to capture and save the whole spectrum of DNA
By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services

A major international effort is in progress to collect and preserve half the genomic diversity of life on Earth. 

And the time is running out. Earth is in the midst its sixth mass extinction. The last such event 66 million years ago killed off the dinosaurs and practically everything else. Among the estimated 11 million species alive today, only 2 million are described by science. Many may disappear before they even have a name. 

Scientists are taking advantage of new genomic technology, however, to speed up the classification process. They are hoping to collect samples from all major branches of the family tree. Every known species of plant and animal is grouped with related species into a larger genus level, and related genera is organized into still larger families.

On a warm summer day at the U.S. Botanic Garden, a small group of researchers is collecting samples for the Global Genome Initiative.

The ultimate goal, according to Vicki Funk, a senior research botanist with the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, is "trying to get one-half of the diversity of plant life on Earth at the genus level in two years.”

That’s a big task. Some 200,000 plant genera are grouped into about 500 scientific families. Ms. Funk expects to collect samples from half those families within two months from this one huge greenhouse.

“If you look around you, you see all kinds of plants from all over the world growing right next to one another. So instead of going to Madagascar to get a plant and Hawaii to get a plant, you can get it in rooms that are adjacent to one another,” she said.

This is a test-run for a process that will be used at 36 partner institutions in 17 countries. Ms. Funk is trailed by a small volunteer team that helps photograph a long-stemmed pink flower called Sabatia and takes snippets that are put into silica gel, dropped into liquid nitrogen and then frozen. Ms. Funk clipped a blossom and pressed it in a plant book for the museum’s herbarium. 

Next on their sampling agenda are the chocolate tree, native to South America, the snowflake aloe, a rare succulent native to Madagascar, and the Sida, one of the original flowers used for making garlands called leis so popular in Hawaii.  

All the samples are numbered and linked in a database. The frozen specimens are taken to the Smithsonian National

extinction
Smithsonian Institution/ Donald E. Hurlbert
Worker handles a cryo-preserved sample in the Smithsonian’s biorepository, a complex of sub-zero freezers.

Museum of Natural History Genomics Laboratory for DNA analysis.

Jonathan Coddington, who directs Global Genome Initiative at the museum, said the project is on target to gather samples from all 10,000 plant and animal families, and half the genera within five years. 

“Just into our biorepository in the pipeline I have over 2,000 families and close to 12,000 genera,” he said.

That biorepository is the largest such facility in the world.

“What we want to do is organize it and get a lot of information evenly spaced out across all of life from bacteria to human,” Coddington explained. “We are now focused on continuing to strategically grow new collaborations with botanic gardens worldwide that share our mission to preserve and unlock the genomic mysteries of plants."

That means a lot of science can get done across many disciplines. On one morning at the Botanic Garden, college student Kristen Van Neste is working alongside Ms. Funk.

“What we are doing is important because it is not just for our use, but for future use,” she said. 

Ms. Van Neste, who is studying to be a conservation ecologist, said she is excited to be a part of the initiative scientists will use to identify species, solve ecosystem problems, monitor effects of climate change and seek new cures for diseases.


Vacation, travel and hospitality


diligence
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The Relocation/Retirement tour with the
 *HIGHEST SUCCESS RATE
OF RELOCATION*

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Visit many rental options to actually experience the price/amenity options available in more of the areas chosen by Expats for security, comfort, and quality of life.

Meet many Expats who are willing to share their experiences and how the tour has value long after the “lust” wears off.
See how to choose a Retirement tour video by past guest!
http://www.vimeo.com/5656822

Ask the others what you get for your money, and then compare the quality of accommodations, quality, quantity and variety of food and drink to measure the best value for your money. 

Learn how others “talk the talk” and learn who really can “walk the walk”

Please visit my Web site  to contact my references.
George Lundquist, retirement, relocation columnist, Guide & Developer/Builder. lundquistgeorge@gmail.com

8729-12/30/15

Osas montage
Adventures in Costa Rica are awaiting you.
Each of the five individual Villas  boasts its own unique charm with pleasant, moderately priced accommodations and all gives you the opportunity of taking in the sights and sounds of the jungle from your own private balcony which has views of the river bed and the ocean. If you’re up for an adventure  we can help you arrange it and choose from the many tour options available in our region. Ojochal has some of the most secluded and pristine beaches in all of Costa Rica, as well as some outstanding surfing opportunities. Enjoy our local attractions such as white water rafting, whale and dolphins tour, Corcovado national park tours, Osa canopy tour, San Buenas golf course, horseback ride to the beach and waterfalls,
Osa field institute and much more.
Contact us Now for reservations at: hollee@villasdeoros.com or vikkigold0@gmail.com  Or phone 506-2786-5170
Visit our Web page for more info: http://villasdeoros.com
Like us on Facebook.
8669-7/29/15

Mar de
                        Luz
Hotel Mar de Luz
Designed for families to provide peaceful & ecologically balanced environment, where all can enjoy healthy & pollution free stay. Built in harmony with nature & were used to reflect a subtropical atmosphere. Main source of energy is sunlight, converted by solar panels on the roofs. High quality services at a reasonable cost allowing guests to enjoy dream holiday at an attractive rate. Come and enjoy a great vacation. Comfortable accommodation, personalized services and quality amenities. Cosy rooms, breakfast, pools, architectural design, surrounded by lush vegetation in beautiful tropical gardens with coconut, almond, etc. Address : Jacó  beach, next to Subway Restaurant, Avenida Pastor Díaz, Costa Rica. Local phone (506) 2643-3000. Email: info@mardeluz.com.  Web page: www.mardeluz.com.

Hotel
                        Playa Bejuco
Hotel Boutique Playa Bejuco
Cozy, opened in 2007 just 90 minutes from the capital, with good access. Go shopping or enjoy the evening entertainment. Hosting services, friendly, quality and comfortable, discreet under the concept of 100 percent family hotel, the reason we do not allow or endorse any activity related to prostitution or drugs. Natural beauty, recommended for tourists for a relaxing holiday. Nearby is Manuel Antonio National Park. Tours, canopy, fishing, rainforest, horseback riding, ATV, rafting, etc. 20 deluxe rooms equipped with 3 for disabled. All with air conditioning, cable TV, telephone, refrigerator, private bathroom, hot water, free wireless Internet, etc. Maximum 5 people. Main restaurant, pools (adults & children), jacuzzi, private parking, 24 hours security, pool bar, playground equipped. At front desk currency conversions, confirm your flight or coordinate tours. Address : Playa Bejuco, Esterillos, Costa Rica. Local phone (506) : 2779-2000. Email: info@hotelplayabejuco.com   Web page www.hotelplayabejuco.com.
8665-10/24/15

experience Costa Rica
Costa Rica Travel In Paradise Group Tours

Looking for easy booking process for a smooth Costa Rica trip?   We customize wonderful trips to Costa Rica.  We offer you our wealth of knowledge for a great experience . . . a trip of a lifetime!!!

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International Phone: 1-800-9010-114
CR Local Phone: 011-506 -2274-3231
Email: jose@mycostaricatravel.com
Web: www.mycostaricatravel.com

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8644-3/16/16

Howard book
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8577-2/15/15

Howard
                        rollover
Will Costa Rica Retirement Work For You?
Find out for yourself on Live In Costa Rica Tours

When you visit Costa Rica, you'll want to discover what you need to know to  make the right choice about moving to this tropical paradise.  Our familiarization tours have won hard-earned credentials that prove general excellence and the right focus.  These are the only retirement tours that are licensed and approved by the Costa Rican government and tourism institute  (ICT). In 2006 we were featured on the NBC Today Show and World News.  In 2010, we won the  prestigious Latin America-Asia Travel Excellence Award for the Best and Most Unique Tour in Latin America.

   * Discover how to make the right choices about moving here
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8479-9/11/14

Hidden
                        Garden
Largest art gallery in Guanacaste
Drop in to see some of Costa Rica's finest art
at the largest gallery in Guanacaste.

The Hidden Garden Art Gallery near the Liberia airport is a great place to find quality remembrances of Costa Rica to take home or to decorate your home or office in Costa Rica.  We also offer commissioned pieces so you can create your own unique masterpiece to cherish forever.  With more than 60 artists on exhibit and fine art in 15 rooms full of paintings, prints, sculptures, and diverse artistic expressions, we are easy to locate just 5 kms west of the Daniel Oduber International Airport. Visit our Web site at
or contact us by email:
HiddenGarden@TheVanStoneGroup.com.   
Gallery hours: Tuesdays-Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tel. 2667-0592 / 8386-6872; U.S. telephone 702-953-7073. International shipping available.
8623-6/16/15

Here's reasonable medical care
Costa Rica's world class medical specialists are at your command. Get the top care for much less than U.S. prices. It is really a great way to spend a vacation. See our list of recommended professionals HERE!amcr-prom



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A.M. Costa Rica
Real estate rentals
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Real estate rental services (paid category)

beach
                                              view
The vacation homes at Manuel Antonio Estates offers luxury, comfort and peace of mind. We have numerous homes from 2 bedrooms to 8 bedrooms ocean view with private pool,  all within walking distance of the town’s shops and restaurants and just a few minutes to the best beaches and the famous Manuel Antonio national park. While the homes are secluded and hidden among the rainforest, the surrounding area offers adventures like zip lines, whitewater rafting, mangrove kayaking and many more. All of the homes are available for short-term rentals, Fully equipped, Pool, concierge,  parking, cable TV, and Internet. We are happy to assist with all your need for the perfect Costa Rican vacation, Call us for your family vacation package.
TOLL FREE: 1800 346=9724 or (506) 2777-3339     
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8741-10/242/15

Real estate for rent (paid category)
Spectacular rentals are available for low weekly prices on SellMyTimeshareNow.com at resorts such as Bahia Turquesa Residences and Villas Sol Playa Hermosa in Guanacaste. We have 
Timeshare
1- to 3-bedroom ocean and garden view timeshares available and most offer air conditioning, cable TV, fully equipped kitchens, and relaxing hammocks on private balconies. Enjoy the unique combination of seclusion and convenience as all resorts listed on our site are close to popular Costa Rican attractions and downtown 
centers, but are surrounded in lush, tropical forest. Villas are also available for sale in our inventory, so you can enjoy yearly vacations to this mesmerizing rainforest paradise. Please visit our rental inventory HERE!  or call us toll free at 877-815-4227, International: 603-516-0200.  Email: info@sellmytimesharenow.com
8766-7/30/16

Plaay montage

Apartment with modern kitchen right on the beach in Playa Junquillal. $500 month + electric. see plumitapacifica.com to view a video or call 5004-3473. HERE's the YouTube video link.
8765-8/29/15

Playa del Coco
Hear the waves and walk to the beach
Villa with separate studio apartment in north Playas del Coco. Two bedrooms and two baths in the villa. Fully furnished.  Laundry facilities. Yard fenced in. Pets Ok. Large covered terrace with views. A/C, satellite TV. Surrounded by gardens, palms and other tropical trees frequented by monkeys. Rent villa for $1,300/month or both for $1,500. Contact owner Linda: 2670-0779 or 8347-4705. Linda@coldwellbankercr.com
8755-8/20/15

2-bedroom, 2-bathroom, fully furnished American-style apartments with elevator in a secure building in Barrio Amón. Cable, Internet, 
apartment view
water  included.  Shared laundry.  Convenient to Parque Morazán, hotels, restaurants, casinos, city government, National Registry.  $600 per month plus electric.  $300 security.  No lease. For photos and more information contact:   edificiomorazan@gmail.com. 
8745-8/13/15

montage of thre homes
Beautiful Cottages for rent
Cottages located in the mountains of Los Angeles, San Rafael, Heredia. Surrounded by trees and nature, beautiful gardens. 45 minutes from San José. Bus line service, security. Pets allowed.
    - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 balcony, 1 ranch. $900 monthly
          + utilities.
    - 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom. $450 monthly + utilities.
    - 1 bedroom, 1 and 1/2 bathroom, 1 balcony. $500 monthly
         + utilities.
Phone: (506) 8739-0638, (506) 7019-9457, (506) 8993-5801
Email: lizrutbeth@gmail.com, analisishumano@gmail.com
8749-8/20/15

Beautiful 2-bedroom 2-bathroom American-style apartments with an elevator to your front door in a secure building located in Gringo Gulch, the American section of downtown San José. Costa Rica.
apartment view
Located between the Hotel Del Rey, the Hotel Mona Lisa and the Sportsman's Lodge and The Zona Blue (AKA) Little Habana across the street from Harry's Poas Bar, and next to the Holiday Inn. There are 15 restaurants and American- style bars on this block and four supermarkets within a few
blocks. There are 5 casinos within 2 blocks and dozens of hotels around this apartment. Included in your rental price: fast Internet, the best they have in Costa Rica, cable TV with 80 stations, water, washer and dryer. All you pay extra for is electricity. You have your own meter and receive a bill from the electric company every month.  This apartment has a American-style hot water system, hot water in both bathrooms and the kitchen. There is a 25-foot balcony to sit on and watch the people in San José walk by. The neighborhood Barrio Amón is the safest in San José For photos and more information contact:   charlesronsted@yahoo.com.   Call us: 506-2221-7161. 
8745-8/13/15



Beautiful cottage in San Rafael, Heredia


 Surrounded by nature.
One or two bedrooms, 1 or 1.5 bathrooms. Bus line service, security. Pets allowed. $450 and $500 monthly. Phone: (506) 7019-9457,  8739-0638, 8993-5801. Or
email: lizrutbeth@gmail.com,
analisishumano@gmail.com

8722-7/17/15
Heredia cottage

house for rent
$800 plus electric
Two-bedrooms, two-bath house, fully furnished, INCLUDES internet, WiFi, cable TV, water bill. Inside private property, safe and secure. In the country but close to town. Santa Bárbara de Heredia. Email for more info and pictures. Long term. NO DOGS. laurelfanderson@gmail.com
8747-8/13/15

luxury
                                                apartment
Furnished apartment for rent  Available Now!
Impeccable newly remodeled villa in Villas de Cariari for rent day, week or month. Rates from US$85 per day. Utilities, washer and dryer, car parking,  24 hour security, Wi-Fi, close to airport and shopping. Long=term and corporate renters are accepted.
Contact: Chris English/Spanish U.S. phone: 1-804-699-8073
Costa Rica phone : (506) 6145-7003 Email: cnpfx@icloud.com
8683-8/11/15

San
                                                Ramon
Mountain home w/million dollar view near San Ramón
Beautiful home in the mountains near San Ramón with 180-degree view of the gulf of Nicoya. 7 miles from San Ramón, 1 mile from Interamericana highway. 3,200 foot elevation so temp is 65 to 75 year around. Electric gate, private drive. house built in 2010. 2 bedrooms, 1 baths, appliances included. High-speed internet installed, Direct TV via sling box on Internet.  Rent per month $750 plus utilities with free internet.  Price for Sale $179,000   Contact Mike: mmpeace@hotmail.com  Check out slide show HERE!
8670-6/30/15

Tropical Homes of Costa Rica is offering the best selection of vacation homes, condos and long-term rental homes in Playa Flamingo, Playa Potrero and Playa Brasilito on  the Pacific Gold Coast of Guanacaste. A wide selection of private residencies is providing an excellent choice for your stay in this beautiful part of Costa Rica.
tropical
We are offering homes for every budget and every need.
Please visit our Web page at www.tropicalhomesofcostarica.com or contact us at rentals@tropicalhomesofcostarica.com
or call at (506) 2654-5442.
8592-8/18/15




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A.M. Costa Rica's
  
Fifth news page
Manuel Antonio
San José, Costa Rica, Wednesday, July 29, 2015, Vol. 15, No. 148
Sports
Calendar
Opinion
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Lifestyle
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About us

living the dream

Coldwell Banker

Pollard's lawyer says parole
is likely just six months away


By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services

Lawyers for convicted Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard said Tuesday that U.S. officials have decided to free him in November after 30 years in federal prison.

A three-member panel of the Justice Department's Parole Commission granted Pollard his release after federal authorities raised no objections and said they do not believe he will commit more crimes.

Speaking through his attorneys from his North Carolina prison cell, Pollard said he is looking forward to being reunited with his wife, Esther.

He also thanked the "many thousands of well-wishers in the United States, in Israel and throughout the world who provided grassroots support by attending rallies, sending letters, making phone calls to elected officials, and saying prayers for my welfare."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed Pollard's upcoming release, saying he brought up the issue many times with U.S. leaders.

The Texas-born Pollard was a civilian analyst with the U.S. Navy.

Authorities arrested him in November 1985 when he tried to seek refuge in the Israeli embassy in Washington.

He was sentenced to life in prison two years later for turning over suitcases of military secrets to Israel, including details on U.S. intelligence, weapons and radar-jamming equipment in the Middle East.

His sentence, while called a life term, by law made parole mandatory after he served 30 years, unless the government showed he was likely to commit more crimes. His 30 years will be up in another four months. Under terms of his parole, Pollard must remain in the U.S. for five years, but his lawyers say they have asked President Barack Obama to release him early and allow him to emigrate to Israel.

Pollard's supporters say he was working for one of the United States' closest allies and that a life sentence for someone spying for a friendly country was excessive.

But U.S. military officials, including the late Caspar Weinberger, who was U.S. defense secretary when Pollard was arrested, argued that he is a traitor and did irrevocable damage to the country.

Some of the material Pollard stole wound up in the hands of the former Soviet Union.

Israel apologized to the U.S. in 1987 for its role in the Pollard case but did not admit to paying him until 1998. Israel granted him citizenship in 1995.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry denied Tuesday that Pollard's upcoming release was intended to placate Israel for the nuclear agreement with Iran, a deal Israel strongly opposes.


Minnesota dentist a pariah
after killing popular lion

By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services

Zimbabwean authorities say a U.S. dentist from the northern state of  Minnesota was responsible for slaying one of the country's most beloved lions.

The Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force said Walter Palmer of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, paid at least $50,000 to track and kill Cecil the lion in early July.

But Palmer told the Minneapolis Star Tribune Tuesday that he “had no idea the lion I took was a known, local favorite” and that he might have been misled by hunting guides.

“I hired several professional guides, and they secured all proper permits,” a statement provided by the dentist to the newspaper said. “To my knowledge, everything about this trip was legal and properly handled and conducted.”

Palmer's whereabouts were unknown Tuesday.

Zimbabwean police spokeswoman Charity Charamba told The Associated Press that Palmer faced poaching charges for the kill.  "We arrested two people, and now we are looking for Palmer in connection with the same case,'' said Ms. Charamba.

The two men in custody, a professional hunter and a farm owner, face poaching charges, local authorities said. Killing the lion was illegal because the farm owner did not have a hunting permit.

If convicted, the men face up to 15 years in prison.

Emmanuel Fundira, president of the conservation group Safari Operators Association of Zimbabwe, said Palmer worked with the guides to lure Cecil out of Hwange National Park to an unprotected area by strapping a dead animal to their vehicle.

Once the animal was off national park land, Palmer allegedly shot Cecil with a crossbow, but did not kill him. The group then tracked the wounded animal for 40 hours, ultimately shooting and killing him.

The Safari Operators Association said the hunting party then discovered that Cecil had been fitted with a GPS collar because he was being studied by Hwange Lion Research, funded by Oxford University. They tried to destroy the collar but failed. Cecil was skinned and ultimately beheaded.

This is not the first time Palmer has been in trouble for hunting.  According to U.S. court records, Palmer pleaded guilty of making false statements to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service about a black bear he fatally shot in western Wisconsin in 2006.

Palmer had a permit to hunt but shot the bear outside the authorized zone. He tried to pass the killing off as having been carried out elsewhere, according to court documents. Palmer was given one year of probation and fined nearly $3,000.

Cecil was a popular attraction at the Hwange National Park and had been featured in many photographic shoots.  Tourists regularly spotted his characteristic black mane in the park over the last 13 years, said Lion Aid, also a conservation group.

Hwange attracted 50,000 visitors last year, about half of them from abroad.

Angry commentators have inundated the Yelp and Google Review pages for Palmer's dental practice, and he has been vilified across social media, as #CecilTheLion became a top worldwide trending topic Tuesday afternoon on Twitter.


Florida man held in plot
to plant a bomb at beach


By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services

U.S. prosecutors on Tuesday charged a professed admirer of Islamic State with plotting to bury a bomb on a Florida beach and blow it up by remote control.

The Justice Department said Harlem Suarez, 23, of Key West, Florida, who is also known as Almlak Benitez, was charged with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction. It said Suarez drew the attention of authorities by posting extremist rhetoric and messages promoting Islamic State on the Facebook social media site.

In April, Suarez allegedly posted, "Be a warrior, learn how to cut your enemies head and then burn down the body learn how to be the new future of the world Caliphate'' — a reference the Islamic State goal of building a regional fundamentalist entity.

The FBI said he later added a request "from any brother. How to make a bomb send me a video or something, what do I need to make it.''

Suarez made his first court appearance Tuesday in Miami and was being held without bail. It wasn't clear whether he had a lawyer.

The criminal complaint against Suarez that was unsealed said he told an FBI informant that he wanted to make a timer bomb full of nails, hide it in a backpack and bury it on a public beach in Key West. He allegedly planned to set off the bomb with a cellphone.

The complaint said Suarez gave an FBI informant some bomb supplies. He was then arrested Monday after taking possession of an inert explosive device provided by the informant.

"I can go to the beach at the nighttime, put the thing in the sand, cover it up, so the next day I just call and the thing is gonna, is gonna make, a real hard noise from nowhere,'' Suarez told an FBI source in a recorded call, according to the complaint.

The FBI also said Suarez sought to make an Islamic State recruitment video using a script he wrote himself. It eventually was made under FBI surveillance at a motel in Homestead, Florida, according to the complaint, with Suarez dressed in a black tactical vest, black shirt, mask and yellow-and-black scarf.

"American soil is the past, we will destroy America and divide it in two, we will rais[e] our black flag on top of your white house and any president on duty [cut head],'' Suarez says in a script for the video.

Suarez was being monitored for months by U.S. authorities and never made an actual explosive, and there was no indication in the FBI complaint that he had contact with any Islamic State militants overseas. Still, Miami's FBI special agent in charge, George Piro, said the alleged threats had to be taken seriously.

"There is no room for failure when it comes to investigating the potential use of a weapon of mass destruction,'' Piro said.

"The FBI and our local state and federal partners work around the clock to prevent such catastrophic weapons from being used against our citizens," he added. "Even so, we ask the public to be vigilant and report suspicious activity to law enforcement."

Meanwhile, in the neighboring state of Georgia, a federal judge sentenced Leon Nathan Davis to 15 years in prison for attempting to fly overseas and fight with Islamic State.

Davis pleaded guilty in May, several months after the FBI arrested him at the Atlanta airport with a ticket to Turkey in his hand.


Republican contenders jockey
for spot at Aug. 6 debate

By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services

The first Republican presidential debate will take place Aug. 6 in Cleveland, and a mad scramble is under way among some of the contenders who fear they will be excluded from the event.

Under the debate rules, only 10 of the 16 Republican contenders will be allowed to take part in the first of nine Republican debates scheduled into next year.  Those candidates who fail to place in an average of five national public opinion polls will be excluded.

That has set off a furious push to qualify for the debate among several Republican contenders who are at the lower end of recent poll rankings.  Among those in danger of being excluded are New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and former Texas governor Rick Perry.

Real estate mogul Donald Trump has shot to the top of national polls in recent weeks, tapping into what he says is voter frustration with the political status quo.

“People are tired of incompetent politicians and that is, by the way, on both sides.  We don’t have victories anymore, and people are tired of it and that is what is happening to me,” Trump said recently in Iowa.

Trump’s surge has continued even after his comment that Sen. John McCain, a prisoner during the Vietnam War, was not a war hero, and after several sharp attacks on some of his Republican rivals that involved words like dummy and idiot.

Karlyn Bowman, who monitors opinion at the American Enterprise Institute, said she has noticed the voter frustration welling up for some time now.

“There is just enormous dissatisfaction with Washington," she said. "People are much more satisfied with their state governors and with their local authorities. But there is a lot of dissatisfaction with Washington.”

Some of the Republican contenders have ramped up their own rhetoric in hopes of cutting through the intense media coverage of Trump’s rise in the polls.

Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee has drawn lots of attention for slamming President Barack Obama over the Iran nuclear deal.

“He is so naïve that he would trust the Iranians and he would take the Israelis and basically march them to the door of the oven,” Huckabee said in a radio interview, invoking images of the Jewish Holocaust during World War II.

Huckabee’s comments drew condemnation from some of his rivals, including former Florida governor Jeb Bush.

The president also took the unusual step of weighing in on the Republican race during a news conference in Ethiopia. Obama said the Huckabee comments on the Iran deal and other criticisms from some of the Republican contenders would be ridiculous if they weren’t so sad.

He added, “Maybe this is just an effort to push Mr. Trump out of the headlines. We are creating a culture that is not conducive to good policy or good politics.  The American people deserve better.”

Trump and his recent comments attacking illegal immigrants and some of his Republican rivals could dominate next week’s debate. Some like Perry and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham are itching to take Trump on in the debate.

“I think he is appealing to the dark side of American politics. He is not offering solutions to hard, complicated problems,” Graham told ABC’s This Week program.

But Graham has a problem: He may not have enough support in the polls to make the cut for the debate.

The debates will be a key test for all the Republican contenders.

“I think the debates will be important. That, plus the ability to raise money and the ability to show that you have staying power and can win in the early states are really what you are trying to prove in the first year,” predicted John Fortier of the Bipartisan Policy Center.

The Republican race has overshadowed the Democratic primary battle where former secretary of state Hillary Clinton remains a strong favorite, even though Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders continues to draw large, enthusiastic crowds.


Russia's use of red notices
called political and abusive


By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services

Russia is abusing the global law enforcement agency Interpol by requesting the arrest and extradition of political opponents, according to a new report. Such requests can mean that the accused are unable to travel and are often unable to open bank accounts.

Interpol’s 190 member countries can apply for what’s called Red Notices, urgent requests for the arrest and extradition of criminal suspects on other members’ territory. Report author David Satter of the Henry Jackson Society, a British-based research group focused on foreign policy and human rights, said such notices "are very easy to get. And Interpol operates on trust.  So Interpol is ripe to be abused.”

“There are many people in Russia who are unfairly charged," Satter added. "They’re charged for political reasons.  Russia is habitually taking these false charges to Interpol and making it difficult if not impossible for these people to travel.”

Russia maintains the accused have charges to answer for and insists they would face a fair trial.

Among those who have been subjected to Red Notice requests by Russia is Bill Browder, chief executive of Hermitage Capital, an investment fund and asset management company specializing in Russian markets. Browder’s lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky, was killed in prison in 2009 after being jailed for his efforts to investigate state corruption. 

Moscow charged Browder with fraud and requested a Red Notice for his arrest, which was turned down.  Speaking last month, Browder said he feared for his life.

“They're trying to do things like have me extradited back to Russia, send Interpol after me and various other types of administrative actions," he said. "But if they saw an opening when they could do it and not get caught, they would kill me in a heartbeat.”

Last October, a Bulgarian court ruled against a Red Notice requesting the extradition to Russia of Kremlin political opponent Nikolay Koblyakov on fraud charges. Koblyakov said the decision was vital to uphold European principles of justice.


Thousands of migrants wait
to take Eurotunnel to Britain

By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services

Authorities in the northern French port city of Calais say police late Monday pushed back more than 2,000 migrants trying to enter the Eurotunnel in hopes of reaching Britain.

Eurotunnel officials described the migrant push as the largest of several such attempts by thousands of refugees to gain entry into Britain in the past six weeks.  Eight migrant deaths have been reported at the tunnel since mid-June.

Estimates of between 5,000 to 10,000 migrants from Africa, the Middle East and beyond are living in squalid encampments in and near Calais, a city of 70,000.  Observers say their push to enter the 50-kilometer undersea tunnel has intensified in recent weeks, after authorities stepped up port security to block migrants from stowing away on Britain-bound vessels.

The tunnel confrontation, the second such faceoff between police and migrants in the past two days, caused major delays in Eurotunnel service for much of Tuesday.  British vacationer traffic to the continent also was snarled. 

Eurotunnel train service and vehicle traffic also was suspended overnight Saturday into Sunday, in a similar confrontation between migrants and police.

French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, speaking Tuesday, told the French news agency that police made some arrests, but he did not offer details.  His counterpart, British Home Secretary Theresa May, said her government will put up an additional $10.8 million to help France secure the Eurotunnel site.

British Prime Minister David Cameron has rebuffed attempts by European leaders to force Britain to take quotas of refugees who have crossed the Mediterranean in search of better lives.


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Real estate brokers and agents (paid category)


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Photo montage of penthouse
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Phone/Fax.+506 2238-5029
Cel. +506 8399-7000
Email: mfiatt@mafirealestate.com 
Web Page: www.mafirealestate.com
8609-2/20/16








Costa Rica,

Central America
Houses, lots and farms in Grecia,
western Central Valley.
Great climate
and safe communities.



Visit our Web Site:
 www.greciarealestate.com


English calls: (Cristian Arce) Phone: 
(506) 2494-0016 
(506) 8309-0173
 
English calls :  (Luis David) Phone: 
(506) 6154-1940 

Español calls: (Luis G. Jiménez)  Phone:   
(506) 8707-4016
 
Grecia one
Big house for sale.
Great opportunity !!!

If you know about house for sale prices,  you will realize that this is a real deal.  Original price of  $400,000 now is $320,000.
Due to its characteristics and location, it can also be used for commercial purposes (boutique hotel, offices, medical center).  Large house, 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, one office, just 250 meters from Grecia downtown. High quality construction, built in 2009, high ceilings, balcony with beautiful views over central Grecia valley, elegant luxury furnitures included, network cabling 6 gigabits throughout the house, Giant TV flat projection system of 120 inches in the main room, sound system 7.1 channel. Air conditioning system, security system, and cameras, lighting system in open areas. 4-car parking space plus large garage, Recommended for large families.


Property Location: Central Grecia, Alajuela
Total area construction (two floors):
252 square meters
Total area: 250 square meters
Construction Type: Concrete
See more photos click HERE!

Grecias two
  Send us your request to our email: info@greciarealestate.com
8676-8/18/15

Swimming pool at night
A Buyer’s Broker offering the best
of Costa Rica Real Estate.
For those looking for quality properties and service at quality prices. Central Valley Rentals. Offering honesty, experience and knowledge. Your Villa Real Expert. Call us now  Toll Free (877) 845-4533. In Costa Rica 4030-5480 or 8339-2112. www.costaricarealtyone.com
8554-6/15/14

Remax logo
Re/Max Ocean Surf and Sun:

The experts in buying property in Costa Rica, with more than 20 years experience and the largest networked team of agents in the country.  We can help you learn if investing in Costa Rica is right for you with our low-key, educational approach to sales. Our professional agents can tell you more about Costa Rica properties, including condos, homes, lots and commercial real estate.  Call us: Ocean Surf and Sun Int. Realty Ldta at 011 (506) 2653-0073 or send us an email at: info@remax-oceansurf-cr.com
8583-1/27/16

Real estate for sale (paid category)


San Rafael
Charming land for sale
Located in  in the mountains of Los Angeles, San Rafael, Heredia. Surrounded by trees and nature, beautiful gardens, and a small river.
Bus line service, security, 45 minutes from San José. Land with 3 houses (cottage type). The lot measures around 6.000 M2.
Sale by the owners, Offered at $750,000 USD. 
Phone: (506) 8739-0638, (506) 7019-9457, (506) 8993-5801,
Email: lizrutbeth@gmail.com, analisishumano@gmail.com
8748-8/13/15

Ringle resort
on one big lot in Esterillos Oeste, (Central Pacific)
Located on a breezy hill just 4 minutes walk to the beach, surf and tide-pools, only 20 minutes drive north to Jacó nightlife and shopping or south to the rural town of Parrita.

First, a 2-storey, 2-bedroom (sleeps 4), 1½-bathroom house with big kitchen and living room.  Full-width verandah with eating and sitting areas, overlooking lawn, pool and gazebo. Sitting balcony at upper, bedroom level.  Carport. and laundry. 

Second, a completely private single-storey. 2-bedroom (sleeps 4), 1-bathroom home with big back yard at a lower level on the same, big fully titled 1,100M2 lot.. Full security bars at all doors and windows, plus locking vehicle access and pedestrian gates at the street. In a very safe neighborhood, with private and natural surroundings

Well maintained, fully and tastefully furnished and equipped, hot water, local phone, cable TV/DVD and high speed wireless internet   The houses have been rented for both long-term and vacation for $100/$80 per day and $1,500/$1,200 per month respectively. See this place, you will love it! Then make an offer. E-mail azucarb@racsa.co.cr or call (506) 8386-8825.  Rodney, asking $350,000.
8679-5/17/15

Coffee farm
Organic coffee farm for sale
34,000 meters square zoned ARC. 130 meters paved road frontage. City water and irrigation runes through property. Year round spring. Bananas and many fruit trees on property. Approx. 1.5K from Sarchí Center, 40K from airport. Plans and permits ready for 2-bedroom house. Proposed subdivision plans are also included. @$15US per meter for total $510,000. Email rnette8@yahoo.com or rguenette272@gmail.com.
8739-8/6/15

Highway Restaurant & Bar
Golfito, Costa Rica’s paradise. About 5 acre, choice property on the highway. Ideal to build a drive-in restaurant and home. Asking Only $65,000.00 Agents inquiries welcome. Call Jens: 2775-0225 or andreas_meyn@shaw.ca
8737-8/1/15 


San Ramon
Mountain home w/million dollar view near San Ramón
Beautiful home in the mountains near San Ramón with 180-degree view of the gulf of Nicoya. 7 miles from San Ramón, 1 mile from Interamericana highway. 3,200 foot elevation so temp is 65 to 75 year around. Electric gate, private drive. house built in 2010. 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, appliances included. High-speed internet installed, Price for sale $179,000    Contact Mike: mmpeace@hotmail.com   Check out slide show HERE!
8736-10/1/15

Goetl in Palo Seco

Charming small oceanfront hotel for sale in Playa Palo Seco
Ideal oceanfront location with back up to a mangrove estuary. The
charming small hotel has a fully equipped kitchen, bar and restaurant and is exceptionnally well maintained. Located on a very private beach of the central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica 35 minutes north of Quepos-Manuel Antonio and 45 minutes south of  Playa Jacó. The main building is a two-storey house with 12 bedrooms. The lot measures 3,054 M2. Beautiful gardens around the large pool and exceptional flora and fauna. Well mentioned in tourist guides like Lonely Planet and Guide Ulysse. Offered at $1,250,000. USD
e-mail:  marietta234@yahoo.es 
or call (506) 8707-1037  (506) 2778-8408
Web   http://mariettedaignault.point2agent.com

Lantz
A beautiful American style suburban home just reduced.

A beautiful American style suburban home, 2,700 sq ft of living space with 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, front and rear living rooms, laundry area, kitchen and small attached library nook, arched windows and doors and connected hallways, exotic wood interior ceilings and trim, tile floors thru-out.  The lot is 835 m2 with mature landscape and orchid nurseries surrounding the house. There is an enclosed workshop and BBQ area in the back yard with lots of storage under roof, plus a nursery for an herb/vegetable garden.  This is a very well-kept property with many upgrades, a private feel but yet only 5 minutes from the center of town.  Pérez Zeledón is the commercial hub of the southern zone and considered to be one of the best places to live in all of Costa Rica, the perfect size town, not too big and not too small.  The beach is 45 minutes to the west and a short drive to the cool mountains is to the east. In between, this large valley has a moderate climate.  Pérez has plenty of modern goods and services, an excellent farmers market, private schools, private doctors and clinics, all you need without having to go to the crazy madness of San José.    Just reduced to $239,000.  Call  Jeff: 8824-8113 or 8725-8176.  Email:  angelsdad@me.com
8726-8/22/15

Pavones
Aerial Ocean and Volcano Views with Boutique Coffee! 33 Acres $725,000. Click HERE!
8718-7/16/15

San Ramon rollover
Three-bedroom home with view near San Ramón
Beautiful house in magical setting in the hills above San Ramón in Costa Rica can be yours for $179,500! House was built 10 years ago with soaring 16-foot ceilings.  Enclosed area is 1,200 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms, large kitchen, and utility room.  It is located at 4,000 feet with typical temperatures ranging between 75 and the low 80s during the day and the low to mid-60s at night.  The house is offered fully furnished, including all appliances (nearly new energy-efficient Samsung refrigerator). The front of the house features a large covered veranda (another 500 square feet), with a barbecue and outdoor patio furniture to seat 8, and hooks for a hammock. There are many tropical plants, flowers, and trees are on the half-acre property.  Set on the far western edge of the Central Valley in a small, pastoral community, it's only 10 minutes to San Ramón and its many small stores, restaurants, museums, a branch campus of the University of Costa Rica, and a weekly farmers' market.
See additional pictures at www.picturetrail.com/gid24657328
Email: crcasa.las@gmail.com
Phone: (506) 7009-0364
8746-8/13/15

Cohen
For sale 5,200 m2 Escazú
Fantastic location for condo, hotel, restaurant.
Large lower lot, incredible views. Flexible zoning.
Easy to get liquor license. Low interest financing.
www.hotel4salecostarica.com
www.hotelsescazu.com
hotelescazu@aol.com
Toll free US phone 877-778-8515
410-975-6703
In Costa Rica 8307-0164
8743-7/15/15

private ranch home
Small private ranch for sale
This exceptional private ranch sits on a 9+ hectare lot and supports 15-20 horses. Only 2 hours south of San José, on the road to Puriscal. Roomy stalls all with drains, water hookup, lights and fans, grooming and shoeing área. Two-story house all furnished and cowboy house. Don't miss your chance on that turnkey operation.  Offered at $889,000.
E-mail:  marietta234@yahoo.es  or call (506) 8707-1037 
(506) 2778-8408 Web:   http://mariettedaignault.point2agent.com
8696-7/21/15

For sale: Titled beachfront lot 1/2 acre (1,750m2) near Jacó $89,000. Just one hour drive from San José.
Panoramic ocean view lot 1.25 acres (5,000m2) 25 minutes from Tamarindo  $25,000.
Panoramic ocean view lot  5,400 sq. ft. (500m2)  $6,500. Financing available.
For rent two-bedroom house  five minute walk to water $350 a month.
Call 6261-7932 Or email gsmboss@hotmail.com. See this Web site:
http://costaricarealestate.jimdo.com/
8651-5/7/15

Shangra la
Located in Jacó in the best and safest location possible, at Barrio Ricos y Famosos in Calle Europa, Casa Shangri La.

Main house: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 270 square meters, 2 condominiums 2 bedrooms, one bath, 110 square meters, plus one small apartment: One bedroom, one bath. Huge pool, carport for five cars. plus double garage, rancho with pool bathroom, gymnasium, laundry room, pool plumbing room, huge dog house in separate 500-square-meter garden with aviary for birds and other animals. 60 meters of river front of Río Copey with a 4-meter-high protective and retention stone wall. Eight surveillance camera CCTV system with Internet access from anywhere. Over 2-meter-high brick wall all around the property with two layers of razor wires on top, the safest place to be! Electronic entrance gate, door phone, Beautiful gardens with many fruit trees. Built in year 2005 to highest standard by German owner now 69 years old, who wants to downgrade. Room for two more apartments, plans approved. Only 6 minutes walk to the beach and or center of Jacó.  Price reduced for quick sale to $1,150.000 and still negotiable. All fittings and furniture included. Excellent quality and well maintained. Just upgraded and remodeled for $ 30,000. Owner financing available.  More photos on request HERE! Email: wolfganghilbich@yahoo.com  Cell 8838-2081 or home 2643-2979.
8648-7/29/14

ARenal property
Location: Near Arenal        Price: $2.7 million
Size: 113 acres
Web site: costaricalandsales.com
email: kim@costaricalandsales.com

The farm is at the highest point on a stunning ridge bordered by pristine Costa Rican primary forest on all sides of the property, with active wildlife all throughout the area. On each of its gently rolling terraced lomas you get a glimpse of Volcán Arenal from a distance. This property has four different lagunas, a working organic farm and nursery, mature fruit trees, sheep corral, ideal for grazing horses with stunning views from all the hillsides. The Northern Zone of Costa Rica is the country's best kept secret, providing a perfect home base location to travel the country's many destinations while still maintaining the best climate at 400 meters above sea level.
8406-8/2/14

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Business for sale or lease (paid category)
Live the dream!
Several profitable businesses, including a regional radio station, are for sale in Costa Rica. Certain purchases can provide the new owner with residency as well as a great lifestyle. So live your dream while making a profit. Contact: manager@crbusiness.biz.

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sixth news page


San José, Costa Rica, Wednesday, July 29, 2015, Vol. 15, No. 148
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Latin news from the BBC up to the minute
Missing breakfast called bad for diabetics

By the Friends of  Tel Aviv University news staff

More and more Americans on-the-go are skipping the most important meal of the day, not eating until lunch. This tendency to miss breakfast has already been linked to the growing epidemic of obesity and cardiovascular problems in the U.S., and it may put the health of diabetics at risk as well.

Very little was known regarding the effect of skipping breakfast on the health of diabetics until now. A new Tel Aviv University study reveals the substantial impact of skipping breakfast on type-2 diabetics. Fasting until noon triggers major blood sugar spikes and impairs the insulin responses of type-2 diabetics throughout the rest of the day, researchers say.

The study was conducted by Daniela Jakubowicz and Julio Wainstein of the Wolfson Medical Center's Diabetes Unit, Oren Froy of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Bo Ahrén of Lund University in Sweden. It was recently published in Diabetes Care and presented at the American Diabetes Association meeting in Boston.

"Despite the fact that many studies have previously demonstrated the benefits of a high-caloric breakfast for weight loss and to regulate the glucose metabolism, very little was known regarding the effect of skipping breakfast on glycemic spikes after meals throughout the entire day," said Professor Jakubowicz. "It is quite remarkable that, for type-2 diabetic individuals, the omission of breakfast is associated with a significant increase in all-day blood sugar spikes and of HbA1C, which represents average blood glucose levels over the preceding three months."

The clinical study was conducted on 22 type-2 diabetics who averaged 56.9 years old.  Over the course of two days, the participants consumed precisely the same number of calories and the same balanced meal, milk, tuna, bread, and a chocolate breakfast bar,  for lunch and dinner. The only difference was that one day they ate breakfast and the second day they fasted until lunch.

"We theorized that the omission of breakfast would not be healthy, but it was surprising to see such a high degree of deterioration of glucose metabolism only because the participants did not eat breakfast," said Professor Jakubowicz. The researchers found that participants experienced extraordinary glucose peaks after lunch and after dinner on days they skipped breakfast.

"This means that reducing the amount of starch and sugars in lunch and dinner will have no effect on reducing elevated glucose levels if diabetic individuals also skip breakfast," said Professor Jakubowicz.

According to the researchers, pancreatic beta cells which produce insulin lose their memory due to the prolonged period between one evening's dinner and the next day's lunch. In other words, they forget their vital role. Therefore it takes additional time after lunch for the beta cells to recover, causing small and delayed insulin responses and resulting in an exaggerated elevation of blood glucose levels throughout the day. Another factor is that fasting until lunch increases the fatty acids in the blood, which renders insulin ineffective in reducing blood glucose levels, the researchers said.

"In light of our study, we highly recommend that type-2 diabetics not skip breakfast, because it causes major damage to the beta cell function and leads to high sugar levels, even if they don’t overeat at lunch and dinner," said Professor Jakubowicz. The researchers are planning to conduct a similar study on type-1 diabetics, who require daily insulin treatment.


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From Page 7:


Some offices will be closed this Friday

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Sunday is the legal holiday of the patroness of the country, Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles. But for some government agencies, Friday is a holiday, too.

Among these is the U.S. Embassy which said it would be closed Friday. Other government offices are likely to be short on staff as their workers take the annual hike to Cartago and the basilica there.

Last Saturday was a national holiday, too, marking the 191st anniversary of the Partido de Nicoya's decision to join Costa Rica.

The embassy staff also had last Friday off for that reason. But downtown Saturday there was commerce as usual. A few mom-and-pop stores were closed, but nearly every major retail outlet was open.

That probably will be the case Sunday. After all, Sunday would be a great time to shop for the next big holiday, mother's day, which is Aug. 15. That's a Saturday, too, but the U.S. Embassy will again have the preceding Friday off.