Newsletter - Nosara Civic Association

The annual general assembly meeting was held January 23, 2007 with no major excitement. Elections took place and we wish to thank those who ran. The new Board of Directors of the NCA is to take office on April 1, 2007:

      President:            Marcel Schaerer

      Vice-President:    Randy Bombard

      Secretary:            Bobbi Johnson

      Treasurer:            Greg Smith

      Fiscal:                  Peter Burke

      Vocals:                Bonnie Murry

                                   Rick Chalmers

                                   Blain McClary

Congratulations to all and “thank you” to those members who attended this meeting. It is our community. It was good to see new members.

There was a resolution voted upon by the members whom passed unanimously:

"Easements will not be granted within or through the NCA Parklands, which are dedicated Green Areas. The only exception would be made for an improvement which would benefit the entire community and it would not have an adverse environmental impact".

As a result of petitions from Samara and Nosara to the Municipality of Nicoya against construction over two or three stories, and a “denuncia” from Samara, the municipal counsel has now ordered that all building permits be approved by the environmental commission of Nicoya. This will include “visual” pollution.

It appears that some unscrupulous local people are involved in the stealing of properties. An owner recently had an agent pay his property taxes in Nicoya and has his stamped receipt in his name in his hand. It was discovered, when the agent checked the National Registry, that the property is no longer in this individual’s name. It had been “sold” to a corporation, represented by locals, last year and is now being sold to a third party to "hide the paper trail". The Costa Rican National Registry website is http://196.40.22.13/. You can check either by your “finca” # or your ID # (Corporate Cédula # or your passport #) under “Bienes Inmuebles”.

For those of you who have owned your properties for many years please be wary of any deal that “seems to be too good to be true”, it probably is. It appears that long-time owners are selling their lots without knowing the value of them. PLEASE check the internet for Nosara real estate companies to get an idea of the value of your property.

Please contact the NCA, either via mail, FAX (506-682-0023) or email if you need help with either of these situations. We will do whatever we can to help you.

With various committees that are being created or already exist, the NCA will continue to:

Work with the municipality of Nicoya local town associations and the national planning department on a Regulatory Plan for Nosara.
Work with the National Road Commission to get the main road (Route 160) paved for health reason.
Work on having all the NCA Parklands surveyed, identified and resolving Parkland encroachments.
Work with the parks department (MINAE) to establish a management plan for the Refuge and the maritime zone.
Work with the local schools, Coca Cola and MINAE to set up educational programs for recycling and protection of the environment.
Work with the Recycling Committee to set up a recycling center in Nosara.
Work with the water company (ASADA) to provide better water service for the community by participating in a thorough study of the aquifer and permitting wells put on NCA properties.
Work with the national electric company (ICE) to promote the use of insulated power lines to prevent monkey electrocutions.
Work with Civil Aviation to maintain the airport.
Work with local businesses, to standardize road signage with “park” type signs and clean up the “sign pollution” that now exists, especially on NCA parkland properties.
Work with owners to protect their property.

There seems to be some confusion about the NCA membership dues and community assessments. Many people have the impression that this payment will take care of the Municipality of Nicoya property taxes. NOT TRUE. Your property taxes must be paid in Nicoya every year. Bills are not mailed out, but this does not mean that taxes are not due. If you would like help with paying your property taxes, please us know.

The Board wishes to thank the more than 275 owners who have paid their annual NCA membership dues and community assessments. Second billing is enclosed, so please contribute to your community. You can pay your membership with a transfer to our Banco Nacional account #200-02-013-000835-1. Be sure to put your lot # in “concepto”.

The NCA website will soon to available in Spanish thank you to María José Castro from Harmony Hotel and has a community calendar. If you have a community event coming up, please contact us.

The NCA is publishing a brochure map that will be using only business members as reference points. Thanks goes to Paula White for her great creation.

Please confirm your email address so we can start using the Yahoo account for regular emails.

Dry season is upon us and again the demand is overpowering the supply. Please conserve!! Maids, gardeners and construction workers, arriving early in the morning and opening every water connection, put a huge demand on the system. Just a few hints:

Consider doing your own wash at night and let the maid fold in the morning.
Watering the roads is a total waste of this precious commodity.
Washing your car is pointless as it will last all of ten minutes.
Native plantings will all return once the rains start again. If you insist on watering your plants, doing so for more than 15 minutes at a time is also a waste, especially in the heat of the day. The roots can not absorb the water.
When washing dishes, brushing your teeth or shaving, do not leave the water running.
Put a brick or a glass container in the toilet tank to use less water.

The ASADA has put in a new well on the NCA EE lot where the tanks are is working on the permits for a new well on the D lot.

The ASADA's Annual General Meeting will be held 28 February 2007 at 9:00. All are welcome to attend.

It is back, but still not available on line. If you have any news to report, please send to info@voiceofnosara.net.

The Refugio de Animales de Nosara has finally received 36 transformer covers, at a cost of $220 each, and ICE is currently installing these on the most dangerous transformers where the monkeys are getting electrocuted. Even with this fine effort, along with the insulating of the power lines, monkey electrocutions continue and the vast majority of these monkeys do not survive. For more information on how you can help contact brenda@harborreef.com.

As we all know, garbage is a major problem throughout the world and Nosara is no exception. With more and more “developments” being constructed, we have to seriously start thinking about where all the trash is going to go. At present, the local collectors are doing a very good job of collecting our “basura”, but they have neither the expertise nor the money to properly dispose of or manage the dump.

We all need to take responsibility for our trash. One of the best ways of doing this is to use returnable containers for beers or sodas. Avoid purchasing Coke products that are no longer available in returnable bottles. The switching to cans and plastic by Coca Cola is an environmental disaster. Reuse what you can when you can. The grocery bags work in waste baskets, but all trash that is put into your containers, should be put in strong bags. Why not share an animal proof trash receptacle with your neighbor?

Please make sure that you are current with your monthly trash bill, currently $10/month, for twice a week pick-up for a private home. Bills are now filed by lot # and are payable at Super Nosara. You are responsible, even if no one is in your home.

The NCA is working with Coca Cola for regular pick ups of plastics to benefit the schools and setting up educational recycling programs in the schools.

Please separate your recyclables when putting your garbage out. There are people at the dump who go through our trash and separate for recyclables. Their job will be much easier if we separate first. Crushing cans and plastics will lessen the volume. Removing the caps from the glass products will also make separation easier. Bagging “wet” garbage will also help.

Civil Aviation has built a new “terminal” in Nosara. A hired guard is now patrolling the Nosara airport to keep people and animals off the runway. This is being funded solely by donations from individuals and businesses. If you are interested in keeping the Nosara airport from being shutdown (as it was a few years ago for almost two years), please contact Eduardo Céspedes at newsfund@racsa.co.cr or 506-682-0181 or Don Haskin at karen@racsa.co.cr or 506-682-0185. Plans are underway to organize and manage the terminal for Civil Aviation.

BOSQUE VERDE
CASA ROMÁNTICA
CASA TORTUGA
CENTURY 21
COCONUT HARRY'S SURF SHOP
CONCH TICO REALTY
CONSTRUCTORA DE NOSARA
CORKY'S SURF SCHOOL
DEL MAR REALTY
ECOLEGAL CONSULTORES
EL PUNTO SURF SHOP
FROG PAD
GIARDINO TROPICALE
GILDED IGUANA
HARBOR REEF LODGE
HARMONY HOTEL
JADE AZUL
LAGARTA LODGE
LODGE VISTA DEL MAR
NOSARA B&B
NOSARA BEACH RENTALS
NOSARA BEACH VILLAS
NOSARA HOME RENTALS
NOSARA PROPERTY
NOSARA SURF SHOP
NOSARA TRAVEL
NOSARA YOGA INSTITUTE
NOSARA WEB
RANCHO SUIZO
REEF PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
REEF REALTY
REFUGIO DE ANIMALES DE NOSARA
ROBIN'S ICE CREAM
SOUL ARCH PHOTOGRAPHY
TIERRA MAGNIFICA
VILLA LAS TECAS
VILLA MANGO B&B