NCA Newsletter - April 2010
NCA NEWSLETTER
April 2010
NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS-NCA
The elected board of directors of the NCA at the January 20 annual meeting took over on April 1.
President: Rick Chalmers
Vice-President: Marcel Schaerer
Secretary: Spacialle Novak
Treasurer: Bobbi Johnson
Vocales: Tiffany Atkinson
Remo Britschgi
Gerardo Bolaños
Fiscal: Peter Burke
EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF THE NCA
On March 19, there was an extraordinary meeting of the NCA to address some changes in the by-laws of the NCA and to decide on the position of the members of the NCA in regards to a proposed “Plan de Manejo” (Regulatory Plan) for the Ostional Refuge.
The Ostional Refuge is declared state land and the SALA IV (CR Supreme Court) ordered that all occupants within the refuge be removed. Owners with legal title should be expropriated and those without title, be removed. This decision affects 670 inhabitants within the Refuge, some members of the NCA are included in this number. This let to the changing of Article 6 of the by-laws to read as follows:
The purposes of the Association are to promote the material and intellectual growth of all the inhabitants of the area known as “Playas de Nosara” without distinction: To promote the regions progress without interference with the local culture of its prior inhabitants or the area’s scenic beauties. It shall furthermore watch over the protection and conservation of the regions flora and fauna, striving to maintain the natural ecological balance with due consideration to the rights of its associates and conflict resolution. (this last part was added)
Since the Costa Rican government does not have the funds to expropriate legal owners nor is it able to deal with the social consequences of removing those without title, the environmental ministry has presented a bill before the nation legislature to change to law governing the refuge. The refuge would no longer be state property but would be a “mixed” refuge, which permits human use.
Assuming that this law is passed (which it has not) a regulatory plan has been drafted and the NCA was asked for its input.
The stress of the NCA’s recommendations to the draft of the Plan de Manejo is to maintain the natural state of the refuge as it currently exists and to prohibit human use in all those areas, except as specifically recommended. Consistent with the recommendations, the occupants of Pelada would be carefully evaluated to determine eligibility to remain, and those eligible would be carefully monitored in their use of the area.
The other changes to the by-laws were “house-keeping” issues.
Anyone wishing to see the un-approved minutes of this, or any other meeting, or the draft of the draft of the Plan de Manejo, please contact nosararcivicassociation@yahoo.com
TOURISM BUREAU
With the guidance and support of ICR (Costa Rican Tourism Institute) Nosara has a “Chamber of Commerce” working to put Nosara “on the map”. It is developing a web-site and brochures, promoting Nosara’s draws for tourism and working with government agencies to address the following:
Paving of Route 160
Security
Proper signage
Trash
New and improved. The new brochure/map with NCA business members as reference points has been printed and distributed. There are 63 Nosara businesses supporting the NCA. Thank you paula@nosaraweb.com.
CONTAINERS ON PROPERTIES
For those of you who are not able to enjoy Nosara, there was been an “invasion” of containers placed on private properties which have also been fenced, including two of the NCA’s Parklands, in sections G and H. Richmond Phipps is saying that she is “protecting her land”. She feels that this warrants having armed guards living in the containers, which have been given electricity and have out-houses. In 2004, Phipps filed criminal charges against 10 people and put liens on over 40 properties, including at least five with existing homes. She lost the case and the court ordered the liens removed.
Many of the properties that she is claiming in her most recent aggressive move are owned by known individuals, some of whom are NCA members and their land appears under their names in the national registry. The NCA will be taking action to protect these properties from a hostile takeover.
So now another legal battle begins with the attorneys being the winners.
AIRPORT
President Oscar Arias arrived in Nosara on April 22 to inaugurate Nosara’s airport. He was greeted and applauded by numerous students and residents.
ROAD
The paving of national route 160, from Samara through Nosara and up the coast is still on the books. Vamos a ver.
WATER
The postponed annual meeting of the members of the water company to elect a new board of directors is now set for Wednesday May 26 at 9:00 am. Proxies for this meeting are available, but must be notarized by a Costa Rican consulate if a member is outside of Costa Rica. New applications for membership must be presented before May 19. Contact acueductodeplayanosara@ice.co.cr for more information or with questions.
Rainy season has started in earnest and just in time. Rationing of the water had started. Almost 7” for April, average is about 2”.
ICE INSULATING POWER LINES
The national electric company (ICE) is nearing completion of the installation of a total of 28 kilometers for insulated power lines within the Beaches of Nosara community. Protective boots on the transformers are the final stop to help stop the horrific electrocution of animals, mainly the howler monkeys.
VOICE OF NOSARA IS NOW ON LINE
www.voiceofnosara.com has more information about the work being done by ICE and other Nosara news.
FRIENDS OF NOSARA
Friends of Nosara is a not-for-profit corporation recognized as a public charity under Section 501-(c)3 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to Friends of Nosara are deductible as charitable contributions by U.S. taxpayers. Its purpose is to support charitable, educational, cultural, environmental, civic and social activities and projects of benefit to the residents of Nosara, in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Its purposes are achieved through their own activities and by joining other organizations and institutions whose purposes are consistent with its own. The “doggy fund” has now been taken over by ww.nosaraanimalcare.com and it is the newest beneficiary of FON donations. Please see how you can help Nosara. www.FriendsofNosara.org
TREE DAY-JUNE 5
Volunteers will be planting hundreds of trees on Playas Guiones and Pelada, donated by various government institutions on June 5. Trees will also be planted along the “cuenca”, the primary water source for all of Nosara, donated by Earth University. More to come. You can “sponsor” a tree through www.earthplansthefuture.org
BANDERA AZUL ECOLOGICA
On March 26, Nosara received five “Blue Flags”- basically awards given for the protection of the environment from the Costa Rican water managers, AyA. Recipients were:
Playa Guiones
Playa Pelada
Hotel Giardino Tropicale (3 stars)
NCA Parklands/Reserves
American Indian Trading Reserve
The criteria for receiving the “Blue Flag” is based upon conservation and use of water, control and protection of the environment, environmental education and practices, sustainability, quality of water, both sea and for consumption, maintenance, etc.
TRASH BILLS-can now be paid at Mini Super Delicias del Mundo, in the back office. Monday-Friday, 9:00 am-4:00 pm.
PASSINGS
April was a sad move for the long time resident family of the Hendersons. Both Earl Sr. (“daddy Earl”), age 86, and Danny, age 58, passed away this past month. They are survived by wife of Earl, Marilyn and Danny’s sisters, Ginger and Amba Stapleton. The Hendersons arrived in Nosara over 30 years ago and the family transformed their home into the Nosara Yoga Institute. Both men will be missed by their friends in Nosara, who have fond memories of them.
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Bocas de Nosara, Peninsula de Nicoya, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
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