Kiss a Canadian!
Canadians today celebrate the 141st Canada Day. Happy birthday, Canada!

Fernando Toledo
Country music show, today and Thurs., 6-10 p.m., JR House of Ribs, entrance to Simón Bolívar Zoo, San José.

Jazz jam
10 p.m., Jazz Café, San Pedro, http://jazzcafecostarica.com.

World electronic music
Ensamble Etnico, 10 p.m., Jazz Café, Escazú (same site as above).

The Costa Rican Soccer Federation confirmed yesterday that former assistant coach Rodrigo Kenton will take the reins of the national team after the federation sacked increasingly unpopular head coach Hernán Medford late last week.

Kenton, 53, who led Costa Rica at two recent World Cup appearances, stepped down Saturday as coach of Guatemala's under-20s team to take over from the leader of a Tico side that has fallen out with many of its own fans and national press.

Medford saw the Ticos through a long winless streak that finally ended with a June 21 victory over Grenada.

“My wish is to do a good job and have a work group that knows how to interpret the coach's philosophy on the field and that has personality in the game,” Kenton told reporters.

The latest scam reveals criminals are becoming more sophisticated in Costa Rica.

Three men arrested June 22 in Ciudad Neily in Puntarenas near the Panama border had an assortment of police gear and illegal firearms – camouflage clothing with the National Police logo, a bulletproof jacket, sirens, security cones, four communication radios, three pistols and a 12-gauge shotgun.

Local officials say they were planning to set up an illegal checkpoint to assault and rob people.

However, prosecutors already released two of the men – Núñez and Ulloa – and aren't pursuing charges against them, Ciudad Neily Police Capt. Gonzalo Godoy said. A third – Castro – is still in custody after officials realized he is wanted for aggravated robbery.

“For me, it's a crime what they did, having the uniforms and the illegal firearms,” Godoy said. “The problem is this country is such a guarantor of rights and the laws are so obsolete.”

As of yesterday, the prosecutor's office gave no explanation for not pursuing charges against two of the men. Godoy said part of the problem is the men were arrested before they committed assaults or robberies. But he said he thought the crimes of illegal firearms possession warrant prosecution.

The three men were caught at a real police checkpoint at Kilometer 53 of the road from Ciudad Neily to Paso Canoas.

The captain said it was the first time he'd seen or heard of criminals using police equipment as part of their schemes.

“You can get anything you want in San José, and they sell (that equipment) all over the place,” he said.

Renowned world music label Putumayo celebrates its 15th birthday this year with a series of events around the world.

“We are very happy about our achievements and so we are throwing a series of events in many countries,” said Michelle Fridman, marketing and media relations director for Putumayo. “We are also launching new albums, including ‘Café Cubano' and a 15-year commemorative disk that we will be giving out at promotions and music stores.”

The events, including a July 27 concert in New York City as well as one in Veracruz, Mexico, will touch down in Costa Rica in July and August with a series of concerts, Fridman said, with ethnic electronica duo Santos y Zurdo set to perform in various Central Valley locations between July 13 and Aug. 15.

Putumayo certainly has reason to celebrate. As an independent label in an era of music piracy and dwindling purchases, its success is remarkable.

“During these 15 years of existence, Putumayo has been a pioneer in the world music industry and has without a doubt opened the doors to many other independent labels and their artists,” Fridman said.

Recent Putumayo releases include the compilation discs “Eurogroove,” “Latin Reggae” and “African Party.” For more information, visit www.putumayo.com.