[dailyarchive/2005_02/exchange_rates.htm]
Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, February 09, 2005
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Ticos Face Mexico in
World Cup Showdown Tonight
Backed by 40 years of holding its own against Mexico on Tico soil, Costa Rica's national soccer team, La Selección , expects to enter the final eliminatory round for the 2006 World Cup with a bang.
(Click for more)
INBioparque Celebrates
Five-Year Anniversary
INBioparque, the nature park and educational center of the National Biodiversity Institute (INBio) in Santo Domingo de Heredia, north of San José, will celebrate its five-year anniversary on Sunday with the inauguration of a children's trail and playground dubbed “Escondite Verde” (Green Hideout).
(Click for more)
Pre-Trial Hearing Begins
In Journalist's Murder Case
A Costa Rican judge yesterday began a preliminary hearing to determine if the case surrounding the 2001 murder of radio journalist Parmenio Medina will go to trial.
(Click for more)
February 09
Ash Wednesday
Catholics start their preparation today for Holy Week in March with masses and by marking their foreheads with ashes as a symbol for repenting their sins.
Women's Club Barrio Teas
The Women's Club hosts traditional neighborhood teas for members and friends. Teas begin at 2:30 p.m. and are held: Feb. 9, Rohrmoser, Pavas, Sabana, La Uruca; Feb. 16, Escazú, Bello Horizonte; Feb. 23, Santa Ana, Ciudad Colón. Info: Anne, 267-7042.
Art Studio Tours
Visit private studios and galleries of Costa Rican artists every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Info: 359-5571, mkeeler@rcn.com.
Marian Baker School's 21st Anniversary
Formal opening ceremony, today, 1:45 p.m., MBS gym; dance, Feb. 11, 7 p.m., MBS gym; fun fair, sports, games, food and other activities, Feb. 12, 11a.m.-3 p.m., MBS campus, San Ramón de Tres Ríos.
Edited By Rebecca Kimitch
Tico Times Staff
rkimitch@ticotimes.net
Ticos Face Mexico in
World Cup Showdown Tonight
By Robert Goodier and AFP reports
Tico Times Staff
rgoodier@ticotimes.net
Backed by 40 years of holding its own against Mexico on Tico soil, Costa Rica's national soccer team, La Selección , expects to enter the final eliminatory round for the 2006 World Cup with a bang.
The clock is ticking to game time tonight at 8 p.m. at the Saprissa Stadium in Tibás, just north of San José. Flag and jersey stands have sprouted along the capital's roads, and the upcoming match has elbowed its way onto the front pages of Costa Rican dailies and into the broadcast media in a steady crescendo of support since last week.
Though Mexico is ranked better worldwide, “ La Sele ,” as the Tico team is called, hasn't lost a home game to Mexico in 40 years.
The Ticos' Colombian head coach Jorge Luis Pinto said talent and concentration are his team's secret weapons; to which the Mexicans' Argentinean head coach Ricardo Lavolpe responded: character, delivery and a winner's mentality will be the keys to Mexico's success.
Tico star forward Paulo Wanchope returned from Spain Monday where he plays for Malaga and will take the field tonight hungry for a goal, he said.
The 20,000 available tickets sold out in the middle of last week, many to scalpers expected to make their sales in the final hours before the game. Approximately 1,500 tickets have been sold to Mexican fans who followed their team here.
In the final World Cup qualifying round that begins with tonight's game, Costa Rica will also face the United States, Trinidad and Tobago, Guatemala and Panama in two games each, one at home and one away, and will play Mexico once more away.
Today, the city will fill with fans in red T- shirts and the streets will become noisy with car horns. As the game hour approaches, work will cease, the streets will empty, and sports bars will contain standing room only, if the past is any indication of the future.
INBioparque Celebrates
Five-Year Anniversary
By María Gabriela Díaz
Tico Times Staff
mgdiaz@ticotimes.net
INBioparque, the nature park and educational center of the National Biodiversity Institute (INBio) in Santo Domingo de Heredia, north of San José, will celebrate its five-year anniversary on Sunday with the inauguration of a children's trail and playground dubbed “Escondite Verde” (Green Hideout).
The opening will include theatrical presentations, clown shows, storytelling and interactive workshops on Costa Rican wildlife and ecosystems. The event is part of a month-long celebration that kicks off Saturday with a dinner under the open skies near the park's amphitheater.
“Escondite Verde is an interactive trail, and it's not exclusively for children, but meant for family fun. It has an animal theme so that children can associate various activities – climbing, crawling, playing hopscotch – with the movements of animals in the forest,” INBioparque marketing director Marianella Chaves told The Tico Times yesterday.
The children's hideout also contains picnic tables next to the playground displaying an environmental motif.
Sixth-graders from the Universidad Nacional's Educational Center for Children and Adolescents (CEUNA), also in Heredia, were the first to enjoy the trail and playground during a school field trip yesterday.
“Our school does a lot of field trips; it's very environmental. They even get us to visit other schools so we can talk to students about the importance of tree planting. It's great,” said Maximiliano Santamaría, catching his breath after running from the slide to the hanging tires.
INBioparque's anniversary celebrations will also include a concert by the popular Costa Rican band Malpaís, Feb. 19 at 8:30 p.m., and a night of star-gazing Feb. 26, beginning at 6 p.m.
INBioparque, inaugurated Feb. 10, 2000, began as a project of the National Biodiversity Institute to spread knowledge of Costa Rica's rich biodiversity. Last year, more than 140,000 visitors came to the park, mainly families, tourists and students, according to Chaves.
Pre-Trial Hearing Begins
In Journalist's Murder Case
A Costa Rican judge yesterday began a preliminary hearing to determine if the case surrounding the 2001 murder of radio journalist Parmenio Medina will go to trial.
A judicial spokesman told EFE yesterday that the hearing, which is closed to the public and being held in Heredia, north of San José, will likely take place all week, “or until it is necessary.”
Afterward, the judge in charge of the case, David Hernández, will decide whether the case will go to trial.
The hearing was originally scheduled for Jan. 24, but was suspended because of an appeal from the defense.
Nine suspects are implicated in the case, including Catholic priest Minor Calvo and businessman Omar Chaves, both Costa Ricans who allegedly planned the crime against the journalist.
Medina, killed July 7, 2001, was the producer of the radio program “ La Patada ,” which was dedicated to denouncing acts of corruption.
The last report of the program was related to an alleged diversion of funds from the Catholic station “Radio María,” which was directed by Calvo and started with the help of Chaves.
In addition to Calvo and Chaves, other people implicated in the case include Nicaraguan Jaime Aguirre, Colombians John Gilberto Gutiérrez, Jorge Castillo, Danny Smith Mata and Juan Fernando Pereira, and Costa Ricans González García and Juan Carvajal Angulo.
–EFE
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