Benefit gala dinner
To benefit Hospisonrisas Hospital, 8 p.m., Fogo Brasil, northeast Sabana Park, 50 m. east of Nissan Car Agency, further information with Dr. Angie Cervantes, 8827-4518, 2208-1253, angiecervantes@gmail.com.

National Dance Company 30th Anniversary
With the National Symphony Orchestra, Friday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 5 p.m., National Theater.

2009 International Sax Fest
With guest musicians Kenneth Tse (Hong Kong), Juan Alzate (Mexico), Alejandro Chiabrando (Argentina), Arturo Arango (Colombia), Aldo Salvent (C.R.), Javier Valerio (C.R.), Sonsax (C.R.), Sept. 30-Oct. 3, UCR Music School, San Pedro, and National Music Institute, San José, gala concerts at National Auditorium, Children's Museum, and National Theater, www.saxfestcostarica.com.

Pet Adoption Day
10 a.m.-1 p.m., PETCO, Santa Ana, 175 m. east of the Red Cross, Centro Comercial Avalon, 2282-6058, 8924-4164.

Tango show
8 p.m.,Club de Leones, Boulevard Rohrmoser, 300 m west of Plaza Mayor, 2296-3389.

III Annual Green Season Chili Cook-off
There will be cash prizes, trophies and people's choice awards, from 2 p.m. until the chili runs out, La Hacienda. Sign up at 2777-3473 or e-mail lahaciendacr@yahoo.com.

Amarcord Ensemble in concert
German a cappella sextet, to commemorate German Unity Day, foyer, National Theater.

UCR Symphony Orchestra
With conductor Alejandro Gutiérrez, soloist Javier Valerio, Oct. 3, 7:30 p.m., National Auditorium, Children's Museum.

Enrique Bunbury in concert
Oct. 3, 8 p.m., Palacio de los Deportes, Heredia, www.costaricaticket.com.

Gabriel Wiernik in Concert
Jazz, 10 p.m., Jazz Café, San Pedro.

World Animal Day
Including movies, and characters of different industries, during the day, Children's Museum.

Hike Puente Negro de Orosi to Palo Verde del Guarco
Guide Luis Boza, leaving at 6:30 a.m., from Cartago bus stop, 100 m. south of Balmoral Hotel, 2223-3186, 8306-6354, caminarshkuk@gmail.com.

‘Petrushka'
Interdisciplinary performance of Stravinsky's ballet, presented by UNA's CIDEA, through Oct. 4, Thurs.-Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m., Centro par las Artes, UNA, Heredia, 2277-3402. Tour, Oct. 15, gymnasium, Abangares, Guanacaste; Oct. 16, Municipal Gymnasium Liberia, Guanacaste, both at 7:30 p.m.

See the print or digital edition of The Tico Times for a complete calendar of events.

By Chrissie Long
Tico Times Staff | clong@ticotimes.net

When Costa Rica's immigration reforms were approved in August, there was one change that seemed to escape the headlines of local newspapers and media reports.

Nevertheless, it could be the most significant reform for foreigners.

Under the new law, non-residents who own more than $200,000 in property can apply for temporary residency as an investor, allowing them to take advantage of the country's public health care system along with other services not available to them as tourists. The clause is expected to take effect March 1, 2010.

For Michael Newhouse, an agen t with GoDutch Realty, this could be a key to jumpstarting the country's flagging real estate market.

“The market has been so down,” said Newhouse, who has worked as a realtor here for four years. “But maybe this will be an incentive for people to buy.”

According to Newhouse, property owners in Costa Rica have not reduced their sale prices, despite the worldwide recession. Neither have many people defaulted on mortgages, which is a major factor in driving down home prices in the United States.

Unlike the United States and some European countries, where the governments have introduced homebuyer programs to stimulate the market, Costa Rica has seen no such programs.

“Instead of people coming to Costa Rica to buy a home, many are finding better deals in places like Phoenix, Arizona,” Newhouse said, expressing optimism that this reform could turn things around.

“We hope this will be an incentive for people to spend over $200,000,” he added.

The opportunity to become a temporary resident through owning a home doesn't just apply to new buyers, according to the communications office of the Immigration Administration. Current homeowners can also take advantage of the change.

Temporary residency lasts one year and is renewable. After five years, residency can be renewed every two years.

Other reforms to the immigration law include higher fines for undocumented foreigners, the ability to apply for residency entirely within Costa Rica and the opportunity to renew a tourist visa without leaving the country.

Police in the Caribbean province of Limón confiscated approximately 16,000 turtle eggs from a private plot of land near the port of Moín Wednesday morning, officials from the local Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) confirmed.

OIJ officials entered the property and found 11 sacks full of green sea turtle eggs which they believe were poached from an estimated 140 spawning turtles.

Police detained the suspect and charged him with violating the Law for the Protection, Conservation and Recuperation of the Marine Turtle Population.

The law was established in 2002 to help protect a declining marine turtle population worldwide, and prohibits the removal of turtle eggs from nests along Limón's beaches.

But Caribbean coast dwellers have traditionally used turtles as an aspect of their culture.

Turtle meat is often used as an ingredient in soup, and turtle shells are a favorite jewelry making material.

Since the law passed, a black market for turtle eggs has sprouted.

Poachers take the eggs from the beach and sell them whole or wait until the turtle hatches and sell the reptiles as pets. Turtle meat can be sold for up to ₡ 5,000 ($8.54) per pound.

In Caribbean folklore, turtle eggs are considered an aphrodisiac and some even eat the eggs raw.

Officials are not sure what the intent was for the almost 16,000 eggs they found on Wednesday, nor if any turtles are still salvageable. Juan Carlos Vargas, a biologist for the National Coast Guard, told the daily La Nación that some of the eggs were growing mold and fungus, an indicator that they had been in the bags for at least 10 days.

He said the Coast Guard is building artificial nests, similar to natural ones, to see if any turtles hatch. They will have to wait 55 days to see if any baby turtles are born.

Costa Rica's gas prices will decrease next week after going up a month ago. Beginning next Thursday, Oct. 8, prices will fall ₡ 26 for super, ₡ 24 regular and ₡ 22 for diesel.

Despite the up and down, this will be the fifth time this year gas prices are reduced.

Prices of gasoline are adjusted once a month and vary according to the price of petroleum products in international markets. According to the Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP), the period of Aug. 27 to Sept. 10 saw a decrease in the international costs to produce hydrocarbons, which prompted the discounted rates.

The approved price reductions are: