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I will survive: María Elena Zolano, front, celebrates being cancer-free for the past five years, in a march Saturday morning down Avenida 2 in San José to mark International Breast Cancer Awareness Month. |
Lindy Drew | Tico Times |
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| Former public defender Burgos commits suicide in cell |
Luis Fernando Burgos, a former public defender, committed suicide yesterday in his cell at Costa Rica's La Reforma prison in Alajuela, northeast of San José, where he was serving 35 years for the 2006 murder of his wife. |
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| Ukrainian murdered in Heredia hotel |
| A Ukrainian living in New York City was killed early Sunday at the upscale Villa Zurqui Hotel in a remote mountainous area in San Isidro de Heredia, north of San José. |
| See More... |
| Taxis about to get more expensive |
Costa Rica taxi fares are going up this week by 12 percent. |
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| Car crashes claim 263 lives so far |
The number of people killed in motor-vehicle accidents from January to September reached 263 lives, eight more than the same period in 2007, according to the latest count by transport authorities. |
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Powder Puffs Add Showy
Touch to Patios, Fence Lines |
The powder puffs of the Mimosaceae family are a group of exotic flowering shrubs and small trees found in Costa Rica. They are often confused with the bottlebrush trees recently featured in this column (TT, July 18). |
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Former public defender
Burgos commits suicide in cell |
Luis Fernando Burgos, a former public defender, committed suicide yesterday in his cell at Costa Rica's La Reforma prison in Alajuela, northeast of San José, where he was serving 35 years for the 2006 murder of his wife.
Burgos was convicted in late September 2007 in the strangulation of his wife, Maureen Hidalgo, a judicial assistant, in what was arguably the trial of the year.
The period for appeal of Burgos' sentence expired three weeks ago.
Although no physical evidence was ever found to connect Burgos to the murder, various witnesses came forward with stories that Burgos had told them he had committed the murder in the days following his wife's disappearance, and two men testified that Burgos asked them to help him remove Hidalgo's body from the apartment. Also, Chief Prosecutor Francisco Dall'Anese received an anonymous tip, later revealed to be from Judge Elizabeth Tossi, that Burgos had committed the murder.
Most damning, one of the prosecution's chief witnesses, Zulay Rojas, a former state prosecutor and ex-girlfriend of Burgos, said Burgos killed Hidalgo at their Zapote apartment in southeastern San José on the morning of July 11, 2006, and then came to Rojas' house and discussed the murder.
Rojas waited nine days to come forward with information about Burgos' visit and was charged with withholding information in a homicide, for which she received two years in prison.
Burgos had accused Hidalgo of infidelity. The murder came within a week before the couple's one-year wedding anniversary.
In addition to his sentence, Burgos was ordered to pay $350,000 in damages to his wife's family.
The ruling was widely regarded as a significant legal decision in favor of women's rights in a country where the vast majority of domestic violence cases are never prosecuted. |
– Tico Times |
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| Ukrainian murdered in Heredia hotel |
By Holly K. Sonneland
Tico Times Staff | hsonneland@ticotimes.net |
A Ukrainian living in New York City was killed early Sunday at the upscale Villa Zurqui Hotel in a remote mountainous area in San Isidro de Heredia, north of San José.
No suspects have been arrested in the death of Mycola Krytsak, 49, said Gustavo Mata, chief of investigations for the Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ).
OIJ spokeswoman Xinia Zamora confirmed Krytsak was with several friends, including his girlfriend, when he was killed with three gunshots by masked robbers.
The bandits entered the hotel just after midnight on Sunday, tied up the guards with electrical cord, before robbing hotel reception workers of their personal effects and an estimated ¢ 200,000 (about $365) from the cash register, according to the daily Al Día.
At that moment, two guests walked into the reception area to get firewood for their room. The robbers tied them up as well, took their room key and forced one of the receptionists to take them to the room.
When they arrived at the room, they found Krytsak and two women and began attacking all three. Krytsak was shot apparently as he tried to fight back. He died at the scene from wounds to the stomach, pelvis and sternum, according to the newspaper.
Representatives of the Villa Zurqui Hotel declined to comment. |
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| Taxis about to get more expensive |
Costa Rica taxi fares are going up this week by 12 percent.
The Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP) last week approved a 50 colones ($.09) raise requested by the National Federation of Taxi Cooperatives, bringing the cost of entering a red taxi to ¢470 ($.85), up from ¢420. Each additional kilometer will now cost ¢430 ($.78). The new fares go into effect Friday.
Every six months taxi fares can be reevaluated to adjust for inflation, according to ARESEP. The last adjustment to taxi fares was in April, when prices rose 3 percent.
Last week ago, ARESEP rejected a 10 percent fare hike request by Taxis Unidos Aeropuerto Juan Santamaría, the orange taxis that serve the international airport in Alajuela, northwest of San José. Taxis Unidos has an exclusive contract to park at the airport's exit, but ARESEP would not approve a fare hike because the taxis lack meters and charge customers arbitrary fees determined in advance, the regulatory authority said in a press release. |
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| Car crashes claim 263 lives so far |
The number of people killed in motor-vehicle accidents from January to September reached 263 lives, eight more than the same period in 2007, according to the latest count by transport authorities.
The total is equal to about one person a day who dies on Costa Rica's roads.
A considerable number are hit while running across highways.
While speeding is the most frequent cause of fatal crashes, killing 70 people so far this year, 47 crash victims were pedestrians, followed by 40 deaths caused by drunken driving, said a report released Monday by the Public Works and Transport Ministry (MOPT).
MOPT describes the fallen foot-travelers as “reckless pedestrians” who refuse to cross where they're supposed to.
“What are passersby thinking when they decide to cross a highway without using the pedestrian bridge they have only a few meters away?” the ministry said in a press release.
Last month, seven pedestrians were killed after being hit by a car because of their own “recklessness,” according to MOPT.
The ministry only cites “reckless driving” as the cause in just one road death. |
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Powder Puffs Add Showy
Touch to Patios, Fence Lines |
The powder puffs of the Mimosaceae family are a group of exotic flowering shrubs and small trees found in Costa Rica. They are often confused with the bottlebrush trees recently featured in this column (TT, July 18). The flowers have a certain similarity, but, upon closer observation, you'll note that the powder puffs are actually flowering heads of brightly colored stamens, compared to the flowering spikes of stamens found on bottlebrushes.
So much for technicalities – both are exquisite ornamentals that can bring charm and beauty to the landscaping around your home. They are also hardy plants that require little care and no watering in the dry season, which makes them a perfect choice for an “eco” home garden.
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| Powder Puffs: Pink and white Calliandra surinamensis, top, and bright red C. haematocephala, bottom, are among the varieties found in Costa Rica. |
Ed Bernhardt | Tico Times |
The powder puffs belong to the genus Calliandra, which has some 200 species. About a half dozen popular species can be found in Costa Rica and are readily available at leading nurseries. Most frequently they are referred to as caliandras in Spanish. These shrubs usually have lush, pinnate foliage with sprawling branches that often require trimming to keep them compact. Their flowers may be red, pink, white or scarlet. They are frequently used as a privacy barrier along fence lines, though it's also common to see them as freestanding specimens.
Some of the popular species here are: C. haematocephala, originally from Bolivia, with bright red flowers; C. emarginata, a native of Mexico, with scarlet flowers; C. surinamensis, native to Suriname and northern Brazil, with pink and white flowers; and C. tweedii, another native of Brazil, with scarlet flowers.
Propagation is commonly done with woody stem cuttings taken from mature specimens. Cuttings require careful attention and regular misting or watering to root successfully. Once they are well rooted, they can be transplanted to larger pots or planted directly in their permanent sites.
As a privacy barrier, they are planted 1.5 meters apart. For freestanding specimens, give each plant at least four meters of space between other plants or buildings. Sunny sites are preferred for better flowering, though they will tolerate broken sunlight.
Powder puffs grow in most regions of the country, but don't tolerate the salty sea breezes near the beach. Applications of organic soluble fertilizers, such as compost tea, helps keep them growing and flowering well. Pruning once or twice a year helps maintain neater, more compact shrubs. The flowers and leafy stems make a nice addition to floral arrangements.
Without a doubt, these hardy plants can add a showy presence to your patio or fence lines.
For more on tropical gardening in Costa Rica, visit www.thenewdawncenter.info or e-mail thenewdawncenter@yahoo.com.
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