Trail of the Butterfly: Performances called “The Trail of the Butterfly” and “Between My Waist and My Dress” are part of the National Dance Company's show that runs this weekend and next at the National Culture Center in San José. Call 221-2154 for more information.

The international shipping company DHL this week announced plans to expand its operation in Costa Rica, creating an additional 500 jobs by February 2008.

Tamarindo Improvement Association Monthly Meeting
Topics to be discussed include private security, lifeguards and dengue prevention, Hotel Pasatiempo, 4 p.m.

“Historias Camotes ”
Comedy, today and tomorrow, 7 p.m.; Sunday, 5 p.m., Atahualpa del Cioppo Theater, National University (UNA), Heredia. Info: 277-3386.

Free Hike to Barva Volcano
Organized by Mundo Expeditions, bring food and warm clothing, meeting areas at Auto Mercado in Los Yoses, and National University in Heredia. For info and to reserve transportation, call 280-0112.

Atardecer en Costa Rica III
Food, drink and live music by salsa musician Luis Enrique, proceeds go to the Palliative Care Foundation, Real Inter-Continental Hotel, Escazú, Info: 223-9615, 356-5583, www.sunsetcr.com.

30 Hours of Humor
With Costa Rican comedians, to raise money for abandoned kids, 6 a.m.-Sunday, 1 p.m., Megasuper parking lot, Parque de la Paz, road to Desamparados.

Horse Parade
To benefit Moravia High School, noon, Moravia. Info: 390-1072.

International Children's Day Celebration:
Pérez Zeledón's Farmers Market features clowns, contests, magicians, 11 a.m.

National Children's Museum, San José, end of Calle 4, has games, activities, Saturday and Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., San José, end of Calle 4.

La Fábrica Mall, Grecia, games, contests, clowns, 10 a.m., info: 495-6000.

El Mago de Oz: Play, 11 a.m., Fine Arts Theater, University of Costa Rica, San Pedro.

By Amanda Roberson
Tico Times Staff | aroberson@ticotimes.net

Workers at one Guanacaste construction site made a morbid discovery Wednesday when they dug up a body while preparing the ground for a new commercial center.

The body of 18-year-old Leida Grace Castillo, from Costa Rica, was discovered at 1:30 p.m. in this northwestern province's beach town of Samara, according to Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) spokesman Alexander Arrieta.

Castillo was last seen leaving a local bar at 2 a.m. Wednesday morning with a man from the area, according to an OIJ statement. Arrieta did not have any more details about the case, which is under investigation.

Her body was found in a hole dug for the commercial center's foundation. She appeared to have been hit hard on her right temple.

MANAGUA -- An airplane named Hercules of the Venezuelan Air Force landed yesterday in Managua with 12 tons of supplies for the estimated 50,000 people affected this week by Hurricane Felix as it tore through the country.

President Daniel Ortega welcomed the C-130 plane at 2:30 p.m. In addition to bags containing drinking water, food, medicine, tools, blankets, tents and hammocks, Venezuela sent Cuban doctors and experts in damage evaluation.

Ortega said his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chávez offered to station this aircraft in Nicaragua to serve as a base for humanitarian services.

Venezuela is also expected to send two MI-17 helicopters to the northern Caribbean region, the hardest hit by the hurricane.

A group of 28 Red Cross workers are also scheduled to arrive to Nicaragua today to help with rescue work and search for missing people, according to a statement. They plan to stay in the country for 15 days and focus on the northeastern corner of the country.

Hurricane Felix destroyed some 9,000 houses and left 38 people dead, 17,000 homeless and 200 missing in Nicaragua, according to the latest counts.

-ACAN-EFE

The international shipping company DHL this week announced plans to expand its operation in Costa Rica, creating an additional 500 jobs by February 2008.

DHL Costa Rica general manager Rodrigo Quirós told the daily La República the company has been pleased with the results of the call centers it runs here and has decided to move some of its operations from the United States to Costa Rica.

The company plans to set up another call center and a department to carry out internal administrative work. DHL will be hiring about 500 people to fill these jobs, which require English and customer service skills, Quirós said.

DHL's decision was influenced by cost factors and Costa Rica's proven solid labor market, he added.

The company hopes to have this new department and center up and running by February of next year at its offices in La Aurora de Heredia, north of San José.

About 2,200 people work this office, which serves as DHL's Central American headquarters. The company grew more than 35% last year, from 800 employees to almost 1,100.