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Time-out: This chunk of Costa Rica's former National Stadium in western San José's La Sabana Park is all that remains after the arena was demolished in May to make way for a new stadium to be built by China. Amid protest that the stadium would ruin one of the city's few green parks, a court has temporarily halted construction set for next month. |
Ronald Reyes | Tico Times |
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| Water out today in eastern San José |
| Costa Rica water authorities announced water outages set for today from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in neighborhoods in and around San José, in the cantons of Montes de Oca, Curridabat and La Unión. |
| See More... |
| Intel leader says company will still invest |
| Microchip giant Intel has never gone along with conventional wisdom when faced with a recession and doesn't plan to change in the current global economic crisis, according to Craig Barrett, Intel's chairman of the board. |
| See More... |
| Big companies on prowl for bilingual workers in Costa Rica |
| About 15 high-powered companies say they're looking to hire 2,000 English-speaking employees at a bilingual job fair that begins today and ends Saturday in San José. |
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| Costa Rica court puts new National Stadium on hold |
| The Supreme Court has temporarily frozen construction on a $73 million soccer stadium in response to charges that the stadium will threaten the environment and quality of life in La Sabana Park, on San José's western edge. |
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| Costa Rica VP leaves cabinet ahead of 2010 presidential race |
Vice President and Justice Minister Laura Chinchilla has resigned to begin a likely campaign for the 2010 presidential elections. |
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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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| Water out today in eastern San José |
Costa Rica water authorities announced water outages set for today from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in neighborhoods in and around San José, in the cantons of Montes de Oca, Curridabat and La Unión.
Drinking water will be cut off in order to carry out construction on pipes needed to improve water distribution through the Concepción Storage Tank Zone, the Costa Rican Water and Sewer Institute (AyA) said in a press release issued yesterday.
Here is a list of the neighborhoods included in the outage:
In the canton of Montes de Oca: San Pedro, Lourdes, Calles Siles, Santa Marta, Barrio Pinto La Granja Roosevelt, Fuentes, Vargas Araya, Monterrey, Cedros, Sabanilla, Betania, Dent and Los Yoses.
Curridabat: Part of Baja de Granadilla Norte, Urbanización Altamonte, Barrio María Auxiliadora, Urbanización Pinar de Montes de Oca, Taller Wabe, Condominio Puruses, Guayabos V Etapa, Abedules, San Angel, Calle La Unica, Calle El Tacaco and the southern stretch of Calle Montañas Rusas (Condominio Barlovento).
La Unión: Urbanización Omega. |
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| Intel leader says company will still invest |
By John McPhaul
Special to The Tico Times | editorial@ticotimes.net |
Microchip giant Intel has never gone along with conventional wisdom when faced with a recession and doesn't plan to change in the current global economic crisis, according to Craig Barrett, Intel's chairman of the board.
“The conventional wisdom says you save your way out of a recession, but we will continue to invest (in new products) to try to control our own destiny,” said Barrett during a visit to Costa Rica on Wednesday.
He said Intel's investment strategy, which the company has followed during several recessions since he joined in 1974, has never altered.
“We'll continue to invest and then one day when the economy turns around, we'll come out in a stronger position,” he said.
He announced the company, which has a plant in Belén, west of San José, would donate another 450 computers to local schools as part of its cooperation with the Public Education Ministry in an effort to increase computer literacy. The company will have donated a total of 900 computers to local schools by next year.
Intel has also trained more than 20,000 Costa Rican teachers, with its program Intel Educar, in the use of computers in the classroom.
“The alliance between the public and private sector around the common concerns are crucial to reduce digital exclusion,” said Barrett. “We are looking to work hand in hand with the government to strengthen the commitment of Intel with education.”
In 2007, Intel Costa Rica exported more than 100 million microchips worth $2 billion, representing 26 percent of the country's total exports. |
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Big companies on prowl for
bilingual workers in Costa Rica |
By Elizabeth Goodwin
Tico Times Staff | editorial@ticotimes.net |
About 15 high-powered companies say they're looking to hire 2,000 English-speaking employees at a bilingual job fair that begins today and ends Saturday in San José.
The Costa Rican-North American Cultural Center is organizing the fair for the third year in a row and expects 3,000 job seekers to flood the three-day event, up about 1,000 from last year's turnout.
Hewlett-Packard, Intel and Procter & Gamble are a few of the companies looking to hire fluent English speakers in customer service, administration, technological support and other areas.
Luanna Gonzáles, a marketing assistant helping organize the event, said that six more companies signed on this year than last.
The fair will also feature interview modules and promotional talks by the companies. Interested candidates should fill out a form online at http://www.cccncr.com/bolsadeempleo or bring their résumé on a USB card or flash drive to the fair.
“This event seeks to put big companies in contact with professionals or advanced university students who possess an absolute command of English,” said Karl Schmack, cultural center director.
The cultural center is located in Barrio Dent, 50 meters west and 150 meters north from the Automercado Los Yoses. The fair runs today and tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. |
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| Costa Rica court puts new National Stadium on hold |
By Gillian Gillers
Tico Times Staff | ggillers@ticotimes.net |
The Supreme Court has temporarily frozen construction on a $73 million soccer stadium in response to charges that the stadium will threaten the environment and quality of life in La Sabana Park, on San José's western edge.
Guido Sáenz, who designed La Sabana as minister of culture, youth and sports in the late 1970s, requested the injunction because, he said, the stadium would convert the park, the “lung of the city,” into a noisy, dirty and crime-ridden place.
It could take months for the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court (Sala IV) to decide whether to allow the project to go forward.
“I'm fed up. I'm bored of the obstacles that spring up around everything,” President Oscar Arias said in a statement.
The freeze is the latest wrinkle in relations between Costa Rica and China, which is paying for the stadium and was expected to send workers and machinery here to begin construction next month.
Last month, the Sala IV ordered the government to make public details on China's intended purchase of $300 million in Costa Rican bonds, despite China's request that the information be kept secret. |
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Costa Rica VP leaves cabinet
ahead of 2010 presidential race |
By Gillian Gillers
Tico Times Staff | ggillers@ticotimes.net |
Vice President and Justice Minister Laura Chinchilla has resigned to begin a likely campaign for the 2010 presidential elections.
Chinchilla's aspirations were clear at a farewell press conference yesterday at Casa Presidencial, although electoral laws prevent her from formally announcing a run while still in office.
“I have been witness to the birth of some leaders. I have seen leadership in you,” President Oscar Arias wrote in a letter to Chinchilla. "Sooner or later, every bird has to leave the nest.”
Other National Liberation Party (PLN) aspirants include San José Mayor Johnny Araya, former Public Security Minister Fernando Berrocal and businessman Antonio Alvarez.
The electoral code requires Chinchilla to leave her cabinet post at least a year before the elections, set for February 2010. Viviana Martín, vice minister of transport, will be the new justice minister. With no vice president in office, Assembly President Francisco Pacheco, of the PLN party, is second in line for the presidency and will take Arias' place during trips. |
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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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