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17 Jul 2006 |
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Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, July 17, 2006
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| ROCKET Science: At Saturday's inauguration of the Ad Astra Rocket Lab in the northwestern Guanacaste city of Liberia, well-known Costa Rican scientist Franklin Chang showed President Oscar Arias the lab's equipment. Costa Rican scientists plan to develop a plasma rocket at Ad Astra, the first of its kind in Central America. |
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Costa Rican Wins Central
American Surf Championship
More than 100 surfers from Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Panama and Costa Rica took to the waves this weekend at the first Central American Surf Championship at Playa Esterillos, on the central Pacific coast, and the home team captured the winning medal Saturday.
(Click for more)
U.S. Citizen Accused
of Fraud Arrested
Costa Rican police Friday arrested a U.S. citizen identified by the name MacArthur Russell Graham, 41, who is accused of being involved in a $20-million real estate fraud operation in the state of Florida.
(Click for more)
Project Promotes
Organic Food In Schools
Kids and their parents in three Costa Rican schools are learning about healthy eating and organic foods thanks to the Sustainable Schools Project launched by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in conjunction with the National Organic Agriculture Program (PNAO) and the National Consumer Council (CNC), according to a statement from FAO.
(Click for more)
Fuel Prices Increase
for 6th Time This Year
Costa Rican gas consumers began paying an average 3% more for gas Saturday, the 6 th hike in gas prices so far this year, according to the Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP).
(Click for more)
July 17
French Film Festival
Featuring “Papa Noel es un Desastre,” (in French, with Spanish subtitles), 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Also July 24, same times, American Mall, San Pedro, east of San José. Info: 224-4105.
“When Books Grow” Presentation
By Evelyn Ugalde, director of Club de Libros, 7 p.m., El Observatorio, Barrio California, San José.
Edited By Amanda Roberson
Tico Times Staff
aroberson@ticotimes.net
Costa Rican Wins Central American Surf Championship
By Amanda Roberson
Tico Times Staff
aroberson@ticotimes.net
More than 100 surfers from Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Panama and Costa Rica took to the waves this weekend at the first Central American Surf Championship at Playa Esterillos, on the central Pacific coast, and the home team captured the winning medal Saturday.
In the Open division, Costa Rica's Federico Pilurzu used his consistently solid technique to win first place, while fellow Costa Rican Lisbeth Vindas captured the medal in the Women's division and Costa Rican Jason Torres, 18, won the Junior division, according to a statement from the Costa Rican Surf Federation.
On a national level, Costa Rica racked up the most points from its surfers' wins, followed by Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala and Panama.
Torres, who also placed second in the Open division, told The Tico Times mid-competition that he felt he was “giving it my best” out in Esterillos' characteristically strong waves.
Torres, who won the Pan-American Surf Games in Peru in January, said he began surfing with friends in the central Pacific beach town of Jacó, where he is from.
“I started surfing at first as a hobby, but then I realized it is also a lifestyle,” Torres said. In October, he will travel to Huntington Beach, California to compete in the Junior division of the World Surf Championship.
About 100 spectators stood on the beach's sunny shore to cheer on the surfers, and Max Energy drink offered promotions throughout the event. This first-ever regional surf championship was held in front of Hotel Monterrey del Mar.
U.S. Citizen Accused of Fraud Arrested
Costa Rican police Friday arrested a U.S. citizen identified by the name MacArthur Russell Graham, 41, who is accused of being involved in a $20-million real estate fraud operation in the state of Florida.
Graham was arrested at a hotel in Playa Herradura, on the central Pacific coast, after police raided his room and seized $2 million in $20 bills, a nine-caliber pistol and marijuana.
U.S. police had been searching for Graham all over the world since September 2005, the same month he arrived to Costa Rica, according to the daily La Nación. Here, he used several fake identities and traveled around the country, the daily reported.
Graham is suspected of working with his two brothers, who were arrested by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) a few weeks ago, to carry out fraudulent real estate sales in Florida.
Graham was taken to San José, where he remains under police custody and faces extradition to the United States.
Tico Times and ACAN-EFE
Project Promotes Organic Food In Schools
Kids and their parents in three Costa Rican schools are learning about healthy eating and organic foods thanks to the Sustainable Schools Project launched by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in conjunction with the National Organic Agriculture Program (PNAO) and the National Consumer Council (CNC), according to a statement from FAO.
The project is under way at Ildefonso Camacho School, in Aserrí, a mountain town south of San José; República de Haití, in San José, and Instituto Educativo Moderno, in Tres Rios, east of San José. These schools were chosen for their varied urban and rural locations, the statement said.
Children and their parents at these schools will be able to attend organic farmers' markets, video forums and exhibitions and work in organic gardens.
The one-year project's goals are to educate communities about organic agriculture while supporting farmers, opening up new markets and introducing organic foods to school cafeterias, the statement said.
“Although the Education Ministry has declared it will place importance on nutrition, schools have a low food budget, which means nutrition is lacking,” the statement said.
After the project's first year, it will likely be expanded to more schools, and other public and private institutions may also be invited to participate.
-Tico Times
Fuel Prices Increase for 6th Time This Year
Costa Rican gas consumers began paying an average 3% more for gas Saturday, the 6 th hike in gas prices so far this year, according to the Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP).
This increase brings the price of one liter of super gasoline from $1.08 to $1.12, while regular gas will increase from $1.04 to $1.07. Diesel will maintain its price of $0.74 per liter.
This increase comes just 11 days after the previous one and marks an average 35% increase in gas prices this year.
The National Oil Refinery (RECOPE) attributes gas price increases to escalating crude oil prices on the international market.
-ACAN-EFE
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