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ART Takes Escazú by Storm: Pierre Buclon and Walter Ramos hung works by French artist Eric Cremer yesterday for the IV Outdoor Art Expo in Plaza San Rafael, in Escazú, west of San José. The festival runs through Sunday and features the work of more than 500 national and international sculptors, painters and photographers. |
| Chelcey Adami | Tico Times |
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| Two Alleged Scammers Roped in Costa Rica |
Two U.S. citizens sought on fraud charges in the United States were arrested yesterday at Juan Santamaría International Airport, just northwest of San José, by the International Police (INTERPOL) and Costa Rica authorities.
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| Judicial Branch Inaugurates Conciliation Center |
The Judicial Branch yesterday inaugurated a new center meant to save citizens and the government money and remove some cases from the courts' too-full plates. |
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| Three Arrested and Two Dead in Robbery Of Ex-Legislator's House |
Two are dead and four are under arrest after an armed robbery of the home of ex-legislator and Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC) presidential candidate Ricardo Toledo Wednesday night in Pavas, a western suburb of San José, according to Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) spokeswoman Xinia Zamora.
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| Friday March 23 |
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Gala Dinner
In honor of the Francophone Festival, featuring food, wine and beer from French-speaking countries, music, raffle, 7:30 p.m., Hotel Real InterContinental, Escazú, west of San José. Reservations at 257-1138.
Festival of Harvest Folklore
Organized by Costa Rican Technological Institute (TEC), folklore groups, live music, oxcarts, carnival, today through Sunday, inauguration today 7 p.m., TEC gymnasium, Cartago, east of San José; Saturday's and Sunday's events start at 2 p.m., free entrance. Info: 550-2623. |
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| Saturday March 24 |
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Monteverde Hike
To raise funds for the local public school, registration at 8 a.m., leaving at 9 a.m. from the Monteverde Friends School to the Mirador in San Gerardo. Info: 645-5302, 645-5544.
Balloon Festival
Featuring a clown and balloon figures, 3 p.m.-5 p.m., Multiplaza Escazú, west of San José. Parade by kids with Down Syndrome to celebrate Diversity Day, Sunday, 2:30 p.m. Multiplaza del Este, Curridabat, east of San José.
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| Sunday March 25 |
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Sports Day Celebrations
With games, opening of the La Sabana park zipline, food, lectures, 8 a.m., La Sabana Park, western edge of San José.
Concert by the Camerata Bach
Performing works by G.F Handel, Sammartini, J.S. Bach, G.F. Handel, J. Neruda and Antonio Vivaldi, 6 p.m., InBioparque, Santo Domingo de Heredia, north of San José.
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Edited By Amanda Roberson
Tico Times Staff | aroberson@ticotimes.net
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Two Alleged Scammers Roped in Costa Rica |
By Leland Baxter-Neal
Tico Times Staff | lbaxter@ticotimes.net
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Two U.S. citizens sought on fraud charges in the United States were arrested yesterday at Juan Santamaría International Airport, just northwest of San José, by the International Police (INTERPOL) and Costa Rica authorities.
According to an INTERPOL statement, the men – identified as Michael Kearns, 30, and Joshua Grimes, 29, – are the last members of a group that allegedly defrauded U.S. citizens by calling them and telling them they won a large cash award, between $300,000-450,000.
To collect the cash award, the victims were told they had to pay a “security deposit” of thousands of dollars because of increased security measures as a result of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. Other members of the group were arrested in operations in Costa Rica last year.
Grimes and Kearns were arrested as they attempted to board a flight to San Andrés, Colombia. |
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Judicial Branch Inaugurates Conciliation Center |
By Amanda Roberson
Tico Times Staff | aroberson@ticotimes.net
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The Judicial Branch yesterday inaugurated a new center meant to save citizens and the government money and remove some cases from the courts' too-full plates.
The new Judicial Branch Conciliation center is located among other downtown San José court buildings, in Annex A, formerly the State University at a Distance (UNED).
People can go there to resolve conflicts without having to hire a lawyer (although they have the right to have one present if they choose) in a range of cases such as family or spousal disputes, property disputes or conflicts with neighbors, explained Judicial Branch lawyer Leonardo Loria.
Specially trained judges at the center “act as mediators between (parties) and guide them in the search of a peaceful solution that satisfies their interests,” according to a statement from the Judicial Branch.
The philosophy behind the center is to “break with the vertical scheme of conflict resolution and allow people to own their own solutions,” explained coordinator Alberto Solano. This “integral” approach also streamlines the judicial process by allowing many problems to be resolved in a single hearing with one judge, bypassing the multiple legal processes now required in many situations, he said.
In addition to the center in San José, two are open in the northwestern Guanacaste town of Santa Cruz and in San Ramón, northwest of San José. The Judicial Branch hopes to open centers in the north-central town of San Carlos, the Southern Zone city of Pérez Zeledón and the Caribbean-slope town of Turrialba next year and to continue expanding these centers to other areas of the country.
Those who'd like more information about the Conciliation Center can call 295-3413, 295-4929, 295-4735 or 295-4736. |
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Three Arrested and Two Dead in
Robbery Of Ex-Legislator's House |
By Amanda Roberson
Tico Times Staff | aroberson@ticotimes.net
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Two are dead and four are under arrest after an armed robbery of the home of ex-legislator and Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC) presidential candidate Ricardo Toledo Wednesday night in Pavas, a western suburb of San José, according to Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) spokeswoman Xinia Zamora.
Shortly after the incident Wednesday night, police arrested three of the alleged robbers in the San José neighborhood of Hatillo. Zamora identified them by the last names Arguedas, 16, Umaña, 25, and Rueda, 22. The fourth suspect, identified by the name Vargas, 22, was arrested yesterday morning, also in Hatillo.
The four allegedly fled the scene in a car in which they allegedly stashed a TV and inexpensive jewelry from the house, Zamora said.
A Nicaraguan woman working as the family's maid identified by the name Ligia Hernández, 42, was shot and killed in the incident, as was a neighbor identified as Werner Bohl, Peruvian, 48, when he called for help from the balcony of his apartment, according to a statement from the Judicial Branch.
Those at the scene of the crime said the alleged robbers arrested Wednesday are the same ones who broke into a nearby home March 16 and that Hernández had called the police when she witnessed that robbery.
However, the Judicial Branch statement said that the alleged robbers in the March 16 incident, two young men ages 17 and 18, were arrested the same day and are not connected with the incident at the Toledo home.
Toledo was not home at the time of the robbery. His wife, Marta Lora, and son, Ricardo Armando, were in the house; Lora was taken to the hospital for injuries, and Armando was unharmed.
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