On the Rise: A construction crane goes to work on Torres del Parque, one of at least eight high-rise projects going up around La Sabana Park on the west side of San José. The mixed-use condos will have apartments and offices selling for anywhere from the hundreds of thousands to the millions of dollars, and developers and real estate agents say it's a sign of the rejuvenation of the city. See this Friday's print or electronic editions of The Tico Times for the full story.

International companies looking to hire bilingual employees will take over the Costa Rican-North American Cultural Center (CCCN) in the eastern suburb of Barrio Dent tomorrow and Friday for the job fair CCCN JOBS.

Halloween Celebrations
Activities for kids with costume contest, toys, books and more, Multiplaza Escazú, west of San José, and Multiplaza del Este, in Zapote, east of San José, beginning at 5 p.m. 

“Witch Hunt” Halloween Concert
With the group Los Acetatos, 8 p.m., Voltio Pizza Bar, San Francisco de Dos Ríos. 

Mascarada
Parade through the town of Aserrí with masks, cimarronas and folk dancing, 6:30 p.m.

Workshop for Women with Breast Cancer and Breast Cancer Survivers
In Spanish, translation available if needed, 6-8:30 p.m., Casa Ames, Los Yoses, San José, 300 m south, 100 m west, 75 m north of Auto Mercado. Info: 224-7113, 224-3678.

By Blake Schmidt
Tico Times Staff | bschmidt@ticotimes.net

Tourism Minister Carlos Benavides says he hopes the National Water and Sewer Institute (AyA) is “heavy-handed” once it discovers the sources of contamination that's washed up recently in the waters of Tamarindo, one of the country's most popular tourist beaches in the northwestern Guanacaste province.

“It's very good that AyA has been able to recognize the problem and that health authorities are reacting quickly,” he told The Tico Times.

An AyA study released last week found high levels of fecal contamination in Tamarindo runoff waters. The  Santa Cruz office of the Public Health Ministry then ordered the municipality to install signs on the beach warning swimmers against possible health effects from the contaminated water.

Benavides said if a solution to clean the waters isn't reached in the coming months, Tamarindo's Blue Flag certification could be revoked. The Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) is one of several authorities involved in awarding the Blue Flag certification to ecofriendly beaches and schools.

“It wouldn't be the first or last” beach to lose its certification, Benavides said.

The minister added he doubts the feces-infested water will result in a large drop in tourists to Tamarindo.

“All the cities in the world have their problems,” he said.

But Jorge Gutiérrez, manager of the Beach House Hostel in Tamarindo, said when the contamination report was made public, clients started asking if it was dangerous to swim in the ocean and drink Tamarindo's water.

“People are talking about it. The whole world knew there was a problem, but didn't know how serious it was,” he said. “Nobody is surfing; nobody is on the beach. A lot of places are closed for now.”

He said foul smells emanate from areas where high contamination levels were discovered, especially when it rains

Several big trees off the highway leading to Juan Santamaría International Airport, just northwest of San José, are about to be cut down to improve safety conditions at the airport, according to a statement from the Public Works and Transport Ministry (MOPT).

From now through the end of November, the ministry will be cutting down trees located along General Cañas Highway, from the toll booth to the airport. It will also be moving several light posts with assistance from the National Power and Light Company (CNFL).

Drivers should watch out when traversing this stretch, as many of the trees to come down are very large.

Vice-Minister of Public Works and Transport Viviana Martín said the trees are being cut to “eliminate obstacles in points close to the runway at Juan Santamaría to comply with operational security requisites that should be respected at all airports in the country,” the statement said.

The Production Ministry authorized the cutting.

The Tico Times tried to contact Martín's office for more information, but the office did not return phone calls by press time.

-Tico Times

International companies looking to hire bilingual employees will take over the Costa Rican-North American Cultural Center (CCCN) in the eastern suburb of Barrio Dent tomorrow and Friday for the job fair CCCN JOBS.

Companies including Intel, Philip Morris, Sykes, Credomatic, Procter & Gamble, Hewlett Packard, HSBC, Manpower and People Support have a range of positions open for English speakers, according to a statement from the center.

Customer service, accounting, business administration, systems engineering and industrial engineering are among fields in which these companies are looking to hire.

Those interested can get more information and submit their resumes at www.cccncr.com/bolsadeempleo.html.

The fair will be inaugurated tomorrow at 9 a.m. in the center's Mark Twain Library with a talk by Sykes General Manager Flora Solera and Sykes Corporate Relations Manager Dennis Arciniegas entitled “The Bilingual Labor Market.” The event runs tomorrow and Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

During the first CCCN JOBS fair last year, 2,000 job seekers attended, and the center hopes for better attendance this year.

The Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency (CINDE) estimates about 12,000 more jobs will open for bilingual workers next year.