 |
|
|
|
Proudly Presenting
The Voice of Guanacaste |
Below from left to right: Editor in Chief Emiliana Garcia, Advertising Director Bianca Moya, Citizen Journalist Marta Bower, Web Editor Wilberth Villalobos, Administrator Ethel Araya, Translator Maria Jose Zamora, Reporter Oliver Perez Picado.
Top from left to right: Citizen Journalist Marvin Castillo, Print Editor Arianna McKinney, Health Section Francisco Corrales. Not present: Publisher John S. Johnson, Art Director Michele Colomer, Nosara Corresponsal Fritz Elmendorf, Healthy Living Mary Serphos.
In life, change is inevitable. Change can be good or bad, and which it is depends much on how it is embraced. For ten years, The Voice of Nosara has been the local newspaper serving the Nosara area, but in the past few years it has also become the local newspaper of other communities such as Garza, Ostional, Samara and Nicoya. We believe other communities in Guanacaste also need a medium that truly recognizes their voices and informs about what they care about. On that note, we are proud to introduce with this issue The Voice of Guanacaste, or simply The Voice—your Voice.
With this change, we want to assure our loyal readers in Nosara that this is still your newspaper. That has not and will not change. We will continue to provide strong coverage of what is happening in Nosara, and we will continue to invite you to be a part of that. For the other communities that are now also reading The Voice, we invite you to do the same.
Embrace The Voice as your community newspaper by volunteering to write as a citizen journalist or by sending us your tips and ideas for articles. Another important way to participate in The Voice is through online social networks. With the transformation to The Voice of Guanacaste, we are also introducing a new Facebook page (La Voz de Guanacaste), and we will be giving more emphasis to our presence on Twitter as La Voz de Guanacaste. Your questions, comments and opinions on articles posted online generate a social interchange and debate on key issues that local politicians follow as well. It is a vital way to make your voice heard.
Other changes with the introduction of the Voice of Guanacaste include: a new website, color pages and some new content, including the introduction of an editorial. This format will appear once a month in the print edition and represents not the opinion of one person but rather a collaborative effort of the editorial board, currently composed of four people. Depending on the subject being addressed, each editorial will be prepared by at least two of our editors on a rotating basis and therefore will not indicate the name of a specific writer. We hope you will enjoy reading our editorials but also invite you to submit your own opinion on local issues as a letter or essay of up to 450 words and thus let your voice be heard.
We encourage you to embrace these changes as we transform into the Voice of Guanacaste and continue to incorporate the voices of even more communities in the years to come.
|
|
|
| CAIS Assures that Arsenic in Water Is Not the Main Cause of Death in Patients |
by Wilberth Villalobos Castrillo
05/31/13 |
|
|
|
Dehydration, prolonged exposure to sunlight, low income and hereditary diseases are all factors contributing to why the number of deaths from kidney failure has risen to eight people in the last 15 days in Cañas. |
| |
| Benefit Concert for Firefighters in Nosara |
By Wilberth Villalobos Castrillo
05/31/13 |
|
Mumble Riot at the Black Sheep in 2011. Photo by Pinar Istek.
|
|
In order to help volunteer firefighters from Nosara, Black Sheep Pub will host an alternative rock concert this Saturday, June 1 to raise funds. |
| |
|
|
| Nosara Offered Its Best Waves in the 2013 Kingston Cup |
ARTICLE AND PHOTOS By Ariana Crespo
cargocollective.com/arianacrespophoto
05/28/13 |
|
Noe Mar McGonagle with his board during the first day of the competition
|
|
The sixth date of the 2013 Olympus National Surf Circuit ran the waves of Guiones beach last weekend, May 25 and 26. Nosara welcomed the Kingston Cup with a lot of greenery, a bit of rain and waves worth talking about. |
| |
| Eight dead in fifteen days in Cañas – could arsenic-contaminated water be to blame? |
By insidecostarica.com
05/28/13 |
|
Lactic acidosis is a condition marked by low pH in tissues and blood, occurs when arsenic elevates the lactate levels. Photo by insidecostarica.com
|
|
A 20-year-old woman who lost her two-year battle to live on Friday is the most recent victim of kidney failure in Cañas. |
| |
| VoN Astro From May 25 to May 31 |
| Full Moon Eclipse |
By Ashley Laux
Living Light Intuitive Consulting
05/24/13 |
|
| A culminating full moon eclipse arrives on the 25th in Sagittarius, potent enough to become a turning point that ripples throughout consciousness. |
|
| Sports, Fun and Teamwork Coming to the Crear Combate Competition |
By Arianna McKinney
05/24/13 |
|
Photo by Adam Dietrich.
|
|
In the spirit of fun and friendly competition, CREAR is organizing the second edition of CREAR Combate to be held on Samara Beach on June 1. Blind surfing, leap-frog and human wheelbarrow are part of the new challenges the participants must compete in. |
| |
| ADIN and Muni Repaired Communal Roads in Nosara |
| Raasa will be responsible for continuing route maintenance. |
By Wilberth Villalobos Castrillo
05/22/13 |
|
Photo by ADIN
|
|
The Nosara Development Association (ADIN) and the Municipality of Nicoya managed road maintenance in the San Ramon community and the Los Angeles neighborhood, both located in Nosara. |
| |
| Burdock Root Nourishes Brain and Body Organs |
By Simeon Darwick
Nutritional Health Coach
05/22/13 |
|
 |
|
| Burdock is used in traditional medicine to treat more than a dozen illnesses. Historically, the seeds of the burdock plants were compressed to make a mixture that was effective in cleansing the bloodstream, soothing aching joints and easing pain from arthritis, treating gout, rheumatism, ulcers, acne, eczema, and psoriasis. |
|
| Construction Noise Could be Bad for Business |
By Arianna McKinney
05/20/13 |
|
Photo for illustrative purposes by Pinar Istek
|
|
In Costa Rica, the work day begins earlier than in many countries. Instead of 8 or 9 a.m., workers often get going as early as 6 a.m. And while most people simply accept this as part of life here, it can be a problem for those who runs hotels or yoga studios next to constructions sites who receive complaints from their clients and worry that it could affect their business. |
| |
| 2013 Olympus National Surf Circuit: Sixth Date |
| Nosara Is Ready to Welcome the Kingston Cup |
By Cynthia González
05/20/13 |
|
Photo by Adam Dietrich
|
|
The characteristic waves of Guiones Beach in Nosara will be in charge of accompanying the country’s best surfers the weekend of May 25 and 26 for the sixth date of the 2013 Olympus National Surf Circuit’s Kingston Cup, organized by the Costa Rican Surf Federation. |
| |
| 67 Ticas Die Each Year From a Silent Cancer |
article by Qcostarica.com
05/17/13 |
|
Photo courtesy of Qcostarica.com
|
|
Ovarian cancer, often been referred to as a ‘silent killer’, is a cancerous growth that is responsible for 67 deaths each year in Costa Rica. |
| |
| Construction of Multipurpose Hall Approved in Nosara |
| • Construction of Hall in Chinampas of Samara Could Be Approved in June |
|
By Wilberth Villalobos Castrillo
05/17/13 |
|
The Nosarans dream of having a multipurpose room for organizing various community activities is becoming a reality as they finally received approval from the National Directorate of Community Development (DINADECO). |
| |
| Allegria Music School Aims to Train Real Musicians |
by Fritz Elmendorf
photos by Pinar Istek
05/15/13 |
|
Gerardo Monge Deras instructs Tiffany Aviles on where to place her fingers during a guitar class at Allegria Music School. Photos by Pinar Istek
|
|
Samara has made its mark as an athletic destination and is gearing up to receive hundreds of competitors for the second edition of the Samara Sport Festival on May 18th and June 1st and 2nd, which includes an extreme triathlon with mountain biking, open water swimming and a trail run. |
| |
| VoN Astro from May 15 to May 24 |
| Time Speed Up |
|
By Ashley Laux
Living Light Intuitive Consulting
05/03/13 |
|
Mercury moves into its home sign of Gemini on the 15th, and time speeds up, again. We are bombarded by an influx of correspondence. |
| |
| Six of the Country’s 19 Blue Flag Homes are in Nosara |
ARTICLE AND PHOTOS By pinar istek
05/13/13 |
|
The Lopez family use compost in their garden made out of leftover from the kitchen |
|
Normally, ecological blue flags have been awarded to beaches, schools and institutions in recognition of their efforts to promoted environmental awareness. However, this is the first year that individual homes have participated in the program. |
| |
| Survey Indicates that More Tourists Seek Luxury |
| Majority of Hotel Reps Say Earthquake Did Not Affect Occupancy |
By Wilberth Villalobos Castrillo
05/10/13 |
|
L'Acqua Viva Hotel. Photo by Pinar Istek. |
|
In a recent survey conducted by VON including19 local hotels, results show that tourists arriving are willing to pay more money for nicer hotel rooms. A study conducted by the Costa Rican Chamber of Hotels (CCH- Cámara Costarricense de Hoteles) confirms VON’s survey by indicating that 4 and 5 stars hotels reported the highest levels of occupancy. |
| |
| Gourmet Empanadas At Your Doorstep |
By arianna mcKinney
05/13/13 |
|
Photo by Pinar Istek |
|
Since March, Argentina native Alejandro Daniel Fernandez has been walking the streets of Guiones bringing his homemade gourmet empanadas, tarts and quiche. |
| |
| Nosara River Dredging Against the Clock |
By Arianna McKinney
05/06/13 |
|
Photo by Giordano Ciampini |
|
With lots to do and little time to do it before the heavy rains arrive to make the work difficult… this is the state of the Nosara River dike and dredging project, which received the order to begin the first phase last Monday, April 24th. |
| |
| Municipality of Nicoya Looks Into Creating Better Access for Terciopelo School |
| · Principal Worried About How to Evacuate Students in Emergencies |
By Arianna McKinney
05/06/13 |
|
 |
|
| When the school in Terciopelo in the district of Samara was built in 1962 on a donated lot located behind the town’s plaza, no plans were made for a driveway to the school. At the time it was no problem, according to the school’s director, Mayra Mora Bonilla, because back then there were no fences and people passed freely across the plaza. Later, however, fences were put up, thus creating difficulties. |
| |
License Holders Pay Muni Up to Three Times More Than Before |
• Council Members Think Liquor Law Should Be Modified
• Internal Regulations Will Be Defined After Sala IV Resolution |
By Wilberth Villalobos Castrillo
05/08/13 |
|
 |
|
Discord and controversy… This is what the new Liquor Law that is still being implemented has brought for the majority of local governments in the country, including the Municipality of Nicoya. |
| |
| 15 Horses Rounded Up in Samara and Sent to Slaughter |
| • Samara Residents Looking for Options to Protect the Animals |
By Arianna McKinney
05/06/13 |
|
 |
|
| At midnight on Wednesday, April 17, the National Service of Animal Health (SENASA- Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal) entered Samara with four vehicles, one truck, and two Public Force patrol units from Liberia to roundup animals wandering lose in the streets, and by 4:30 a.m. on April 18 they had loaded up 15 horses into the truck and shipped them off to a slaughterhouse in Alajuela, where they were sacrificed the following Monday, April 29. |
| |
| OPINION - A Brigade of Love |
By Sandra Ribas S.
Mother of Alvaro Duran Ribas, surfer who disappeared in Guiones Beach on April 22, 2011
05/06/13 |
|
Photo by Adam Dietrich |
|
Dear Friends of Nosara:
You are very special people to us, since we searched for my son in Guiones and the entire area. I have thought of honoring the life of my son and also transforming a little of the pain inside, converting it into a project to form a professionalized first response rescue brigade to attend to accidents in the ocean, to help avoid such painful and irreparable losses like what happened to our family is what I want to do. |
| |
| Municipal Council Approves Concession in Maritime Zone for Intercultura |
by Marvin Castillo
citizen journalist Nosara
photos by Pinar Istek
05/03/13 |
|
 |
|
With an impressive display of community support, almost 100 people from Samara turned up at the Municipal Council meeting on Monday, April 22 to show support for the Intercultura Language School and cheered and applauded when the council voted to approve a concession that will allow the school to expand. |
| |
| Motorcycle, Quad and 4x4 Races In Nosara |
| • Funds Will Be Used to Build Second Phase of New Senior Citizen Center |
by Marvin Castillo
citizen journalist Nosara
photos by Pinar Istek
05/03/13 |
|
 |
|
This Sunday, May 5, the action returns to the Nosara arena, and the Development Association along with the Pro-Construction of the Senior Citizen Home of Nosara Association expect a large turnout. |
| |
| Five Keys to Making Time Alone Count |
By Mary Serphos
Certified Health Coach and Licensed Psychotherapist
05/01/13 |
|
 |
|
When you find a moment of downtime, what are you likely to do?
- Write an email, text or make a phone call
- Relax and relish the moment
- Take care of a chore, errand or look for something to do
|
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
| |
| Can Tourism Really Benefit Coastal Development? |
| The Voice interviewed Martha Honey, Co-Director for the Center for Responsible Travel |
By Arianna mckinney
05/31/13 |
|
 |
|
| Old-timers tell of when the coast from Samara to Nosara were quiet communities of fishermen and farmers, practically cut off from the rest of the world. But slowly foreigners and other ticos began moving in, buying up land and shaping the future of these towns. |
|
|
|
| |
| “Go Dog” Show Barking Again in Nosara |
By FRITZ ELMENDORF
05/24/13 |
|
Dog Show 2011. Photo by Pinar Istek. |
|
| Nosara’s third annual dog party, that is, ‘Dog Show,’ is scheduled for June 2 and will again feature many of Nosara’s undisciplined mutts along with their four-legged trainers. |
|
| Traditional Chicharron on the Streets of Nicoya |
By Arianna mckinney
05/24/13 |
|
 |
|
| One of Guanacaste's favorite typical treats is readily available on the streets in Nicoya: Chicharron. Alonso Alexis Simpson Wright, originally from Limon, has been serving up his homemade chicharron in Nicoya for 23 years, always attracting a line at fiestas. |
|
| Amazing Video of Costa Rican Beauty is Being Seen by Thousands in North Americans Theaters |
By Wilberth Villalobos Castrillo
05/24/13 |
|
|
|
Short but substantial. This describes the video made by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) to promote the country’s tourism activity in U.S. and Canadian markets. |
| |
| Nosara Through the Eyes of a NY Artist |
By Pinar Istek
05/22/13 |
|
"A Gathering" |
|
| “It is a magical place,” Michael Gaillard said about Nosara. A NY artist who was the Artist-In-Residence at Harmony Hotel for three weeks, Gaillard photographed the town during his stay, showing striking details that might be missed my many of us in our daily lives. |
|
| Costa Rica is Out to Conquer the Chinese Tourist |
By elpais.cr
05/22/13 |
|
 |
|
| As a source of tourists that has grown exponentially during the past few years, the Chinese market has become an enticing option for Costa Rica, whose government is aiming for a fivefold increase in the number of visitors from the Asian giant in the next three years. |
|
| Soup To Beat The Rainy Season Blues |
By Qcostarica.com
05/20/13 |
|
Photo qcostarica.com |
|
| Costa Ricans have long had a tradition with soup, particularly during the rainy season which runs from May to December when it helps to mitigate the effects of the cold weather (a few degrees below dry season weather) and even the usual cold symptoms. |
|
| Emilce Steller Ramirez: The Art of Helping a Town Progress |
By Arianna McKinney
05/15/13 |
|
Photo by Pinar Istek
|
|
Imagine Samara without running water, without electricity, with gravel roads and no bus service, with no community hall and no clinic and a doctor visiting town only once a month. That is what town was like when Emilce Steller Ramirez arrived in 1973, but in part through her efforts that’s not how it is now. |
| |
| BiblioMoto Rides To Santa Marta |
By Beverly Kitson
Phots by pinar Istek
05/17/13 |
|
 |
|
| A few months ago, librarian Consuelo Juárez and Beverly Kitson, director of the David Kitson Library, met with Santa Marta School Director Marbeth Díaz Noguera to discuss the possibility of having an extension of the library in the Santa Marta School. |
|
| Good Ceviche at Samara's Gas Station |
By Arianna mckinney
Phots by pinar Istek
05/17/13 |
|
|
|
Alcira Mendezo Ruiz, of Nicoya, has been driving back and forth between Nicoya and Samara for five years to run her business, Ceviches Machos, out of her car at the Samara gas station every day between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. |
| |
| Demolition of Pavilion in Front of Colonial Church Makes Way for Cultural Museum |
| New Pavilion and Museum Will Be Ready By July 25th |
by Wilberth Villalobos Castrillo
05/15/13 |
|
Photos by Alcadia de Nicoya / Nicoya Municipalidad |
|
| With a bit of nostalgia and emotion, Nicoyans and people passing through Recaredo Briceño Park on May 10 observed as machinery of the company Deco demolished the pavilion in the park. |
|
| Guiones Tourist Police Receive New Motorcycles and English-Speaking Officers |
| Police detained two men found with stolen items |
By Arianna McKinney
05/15/13 |
|
|
|
On Friday, May 10 the Tourist Police in Guiones received two new motorcycles to patrol the area better, as well as the introduction of four English-speaking officers. |
| |
| Athletes Gear Up to Tackle Samara’s Waters and Hills |
By Arianna McKinney
05/03/13 |
|
Samara Sport Festival 2012. Photo by Giordano Ciampini.
|
|
Samara has made its mark as an athletic destination and is gearing up to receive hundreds of competitors for the second edition of the Samara Sport Festival on May 18th and June 1st and 2nd, which includes an extreme triathlon with mountain biking, open water swimming and a trail run. |
| |
| Confronting School Bullies |
By Wilberth Villalobos Castrillo
05/10/13 |
|
Students sit on a bench at Bocas de Nosara high school. Photo by Pinar Istek.
|
|
"I hate school," recalls Carla with pain (not her real name), who was willing to tell us her story but requested that we protect her identity. "I was 13 years old, in seventh grade in high school and all of my classmates made fun of me because of my nationality," she related. |
| |
| Two Local Organization Join Forces to Empower Rural Education |
By Catherine Czerwinski
05/10/13 |
|
Photo by CREAR
|
|
Seeking new inspiration, Andrea Keith and Johannah Waite, who lead the Samara non-profit organization CREAR, have hit the road last Monday April 15 to visit the organization Abriendo Mentes (Opening Minds) searching for new ideas on how to continue helping schools. |
| |
| VoN Astro from May 9 to May 14 |
| Solar New Moon Eclipse Brings New Beginnings of All Kind |
By Ashley Laux
Living Light Intuitive Consulting
05/03/13 |
|
When Venus moves into Gemini on the 9th we can expect lingering discomfort to move towards finding resolution.
A continuation of last years' potent Venus transit, this period can awaken us to new spiritual sight and open-hearted communication with others. Talk things through. Laugh. Engage. Play with words of passion. |
| |
| Saddle Up to Benefit Santa Teresita School |
By Arianna McKinney
05/08/13 |
|
|
|
In an effort to fix up the humble school of Santa Teresita of Nosara, the parent school board is organizing a horse ride and a traditional ribbon race on Saturday, May 11, promising an abundance of food, drinks, music and fun. |
| |
| Pictures and News of the Month |
|
|
|
The Voice of Nosara brings you a brief recap of April stories you might have missed |
| |
| Eight Area Beaches Win Ecological Blue Flag |
• Local Institutions Also Awarded |
By Cesar Blanco
05/06/13 |
|
During the month of May 2012, over 70 community members turned out to help plant 310 trees along the southern part of Playa Guiones. This initiative was part of a reforestation plan that helped Guiones Beach to win the Blue Flag among other efforts. Photo by Adam Dietrich.
|
|
In April, a total of eight beaches in the area, as well as the community of Nosara, the National University of Nicoya (UNA) and other organizations obtained the Ecological Blue Flag distinction for their development work in 2012. |
| |
| VoN Astro from May 1 to May 8 |
Because it is Eclipse Season |
By Ashley Laux
Living Light Intuitive Consulting
05/03/13 |
|
|
|
As May begins we are adrift in an uncertain sea. Caught between two eclipses, the tides are pulling us in numerous directions. Our movements are fated, and our plates are full. |
| |
Legislators Approve Coastal Territories Law |
By elpais.cr
photos by emiliana garcia
04/30/13 |
|
Demonstration from coastal communities during the La Anexion celebration in Nicoya in July of 2011. Representatives of coastal
communities, including the town of Ostional, have demonstrated for two years to request approval of the Tecocos Law.
|
|
By a majority of 45 against one vote, the Legislative Assembly approved the Coastal Territories Law Project 18.148, known as Tecocos, during the first debate on Tuesday, April 30. The law is designed to regulate land tenure, including in the Ostional National Wildlife Refuge. |
| |
Free Physical Therapy Service Relaxes Nosarans |
article and photos By Pinar Istek
05/01/13 |
|
|
|
Betty Noguera Matarrita, 62, got sleepy after receiving a massage from the physical therapists of PTOT Mission service group. Referring to her arm and back pains, she said, “For 15 years I have been feeling really bad.” After one session, she was able to move her arm now and was hoping to do the exercises at home to maintain the relaxation she got. |
| |
| Wastewater Seeps Onto Sidewalk and Street in Samara |
By Arianna McKinney
05/01/13 |
|
 |
|
| On Sunday night, April 28, waste waters started leaking from the building where Banco Nacional is located, running down the sidewalk in front of the hardware store, down the curb and onto the edge of the street. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
About Us
The Voice of Nosara is a journalistic endeavor designed to bring together the communities of Nosara, Samara and Nicoya by providing the latest local news. The Voice of Nosara's mission is to report on the communities' issues and concerns and give voice to its residents. We are not just a newspaper, we are a partner with the community.
Staff
Publisher and Director
John S. Johnson III
Editor in Chief
Emiliana Garcia
web@voiceofnosara.com
Print Editor
Arianna McKinney
editorial@voiceofnosara.com
Online Editor
Emiliana Garcia
web@voiceofnosara.com
Photo Editor
Pinar Istek
nosara@voiceofnosara.com
Director of Publicity
Bianca Moya Laurito
ads@voiceofnosara.com
Administrator
Ethel Araya
administracion@voiceofnosara.com
Design Director
Michele Colomer
Correspondent Nicoya
Oliver Perez Picado
Willberth Villalobos
Correspondent Nosara
Pinar Istek
Correspondent Samara
Arianna McKinney
Collaborators
Marvin Castillo
Fritz Elmendorf
Maria J. Zamora
Francisco Renick Corrales
Mary Serphos
Translators
Maria Jose Zamora
Emiliana Garcia
Arianna McKinney
Diana Solano Murillo
Wilberth Villalobos Castrillo
Jean Cooper
Billing
Teodoro zuniga alvarado |
| |
Share What You Know
If you are aware of a news story or upcoming event and believe it is important that the community knows about it, you can “assign a journalist”. We invite you to let us know what deserves to be covered by our newspaper.
Additionally, if you want to volunteer to do the reporting and writing or photographing yourself, so much the better.
Put our editor to work!
Write to Ariana McKinney
editorial@voiceofnosara.com
or call our office 2682-5393
Advertise
For information on advertising online or in print please contact Bianca Moya Laurito, Director of Publicity and Advertising
ads@voiceofnosara.com
Download a pdf of our web ratecard
Download a pdf of our print ratecard |
| |
|
|
|
