Bingo for kids
To benefit Asociación Unidos por la Niñez, for at-risk children, 7 p.m., Hotel Crowne Plaza Corobicí, northeast Sabana Park, next to Nissan Car Agency, 2287-9000 ext. 2189, www.unidosporlaninez.co.cr.

Dance show ‘Amores Dificiles'
By Danza UCR, Oct. 16-18, 8 p.m., Teatro Montes de Oca, Saprissa Building, opposite of Carlos Monge Alfaro Library.

Colombian Film Festival
Oct. 16-17, 6 p.m., Sala Gómez Miralles del Centro de Cine, behind INS Building.

Limón Carnival Parade
Noon, starting at Gimnasio Eddy Bermúdez, Limón, 2758-1208.

Sarapiquí cultural event
Including souvenirs, folklore groups, theater, mascarades, cimarronas, Oct. 16, 7 p.m.; Oct. 17, 3 p.m. and Oct. 18, starting in the morning, Gymnasium, La Virgen, Sarapiquí.

Annual Hike Against Breast Cancer
9 a.m., from Plaza Atlantis to Centro Corporativo Plaza Roble, Escazú, opposite to Multiplaza. Donations at Automercados.

Blind Pig Blues Band anniversary concert
Celebrating its 18th anniversary and release of new CD “Independence,” special guests pianist Manuel Obregon and guitarist Carlos Domínguez, Oct. 17, 8 p.m.-midnight, Mac's American Bar, Sabana Sur next to The Tennis Club, see article: http://www.ticotimes.net/culture.htm.

Son de Tikizia, Pato Barraza and Bernal Villegas in concert
Salsa, rock, 10 p.m., Jazz Café, San Pedro, www.jazzcafecostarica.com.

National Symphony Orchestra
Performing the following works Dvorak, Serenade for wind instruments in d minor, Op 44; Glass, Fantasy Concert for two timpani & orchestra, Op. 44 National Premiere, Beethoven, Symphony Nº 3 in e flat Major “Eroica,” Op. 55, Oct. 16, 8 p.m., and Oct. 18, 10:30 a.m., National Theater.

Central American Racing Car Championship
Oct. 18, La Guácima, Alajuela. Tickets at www.specialtickets.com.

See the latest Tico Times for a full calendar of events.

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

United States President Barack Obama announced Thursday his intent to nominate an environmental consultant to head the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica.

The embassy has been without an ambassador since June, when Peter Cianchette, a Maine businessman and former Republican gubernatorial candidate, left the post to return to his home state.

Obama's chosen replacement, Anne Slaughter Andrew, currently serves as a principal to the Washington, D.C.-based company New Energy Nexus, where she advises companies and entrepreneurs on energy-related investments.

According to a White House statement issued Thursday, Andrew has been actively engaged with conservation and environmental organizations, including The Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy and the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation, and she is experienced in creating and managing public policy initiatives in the environmental and clean-energy arena.

Previously, she served as co-chair of the Environment/Energy Team at Baker & Daniels, and as a partner at the Washington, D.C.-based law firm of Patton & Boggs. In addition, Andrew co-founded a medical bio-tech consulting company, Anson Group LLC, where she served as an owner and director from 2004 to 2007.

She is a graduate of Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and she received a law degree from the Indiana School of Law in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The left-leaning opposition Citizen Action Party (PAC) came out Wednesday with a scathing statement against the current administration and the ruling party, in a move that forcefully returned the PAC to its role as government watchdog.

The PAC cited a series of incidents in which President Oscar Arias' National Liberation Party (PLN) used public resources for personal benefit, including those involving a former housing minister, environment minister and National Emergency Commission chief, each of whom stepped down amid harsh allegations.

“The abuse of public resources has become a trend for the PLN and (the PLN-run) government,” the statement read.

The week began with the news that Maureen Ballestero (PLN), vice president of the Legislative Assembly, used a government-owned plane to fly from San José to a PLN campaign event in Liberia, in the northwest Guanacaste province. The trip occurred four days after the Supreme Elections Tribunal reminded political parties not to use public resources for campaigns. Ballestero apologized and said the urgent trip was necessary to pick up a passport for travel to Mexico.

On Tuesday, public prosecutors formally accused Costa Rican Electricity Institute Executive President Pedro Pablo Quirós of embezzlement and misuse of funds by making two helicopter trips in January and March during which he attended a wedding and visited friends' homes as well as a PLN event.

“It's a fact that Pedro Pablo Quirós lied and took advantage of Costa Ricans' resources,” legislator Alberto Salom, a PAC party leader, said in a statement.

“Quirós said he diverted for a moment to go to a wedding,” he said. “It is very common these days to hear this kind of excuse from those who are being investigated by public prosecutors.”

The PAC estimates that two trips taken by Quirós in January and March cost Costa Ricans $6,900.

In Ballestero's case, presidential frontrunner Laura Chinchilla (PLN) asked for a thorough “investigation regarding the events involving Ballestero” and “whether it's a violation of our laws.”

Costa Rican President Oscar Arias signed into law a tax exemption for the Administrative Associations of Rural Aqueducts (ASADAS) on Wednesday in hopes of freeing up infrastructure money for rural aqueducts.

Representatives of the ASADAS said the exoneration will free up ¢78 million (over $133,000) per month.

The money accounts for about 13 percent of the funds the ASADAS have historically spent on purchases and repairs. Operators will use the extra income to buy tubes, meters, pumps, concrete and other accessories.

There are approximately 1,850 ASADAS that supply water to about 1.2 million people in Cost Rica. Most of the nation's rural areas are supplied by these small associations.

At a press conference Wednesday, rural aqueduct operators said they have been squeezed lately with maintaining tubes that span from one house to the next. In some rural areas, supply lines can stretch up to two kilometers between houses over steep terrain.