| Roberta Ward Smiley
and husband Daniel Spreen have set a wonderful example of reforestation
on their 100-acre former cattle farm, La Reserva, as we've mentioned
before. Taking advantage of the huge selection of trees Roberta and
Dan are raising in their new vivero, others are following their example.
Richard and Mary Kelley recently bought 250 of the two to three-foot
trees to shelter their new home high above El Roble. Sandy Shaw and
Roger Eichholtz bought 200 trees to add to the many trees they already
have at their place. Each batch contained 30 different native species.
Roberta and Dan charge $1 per tree. Roberta's number is 383-2596.
They've still got 4000 trees.
Long-time resident Manfred
Kischka is supplementing his campground enterprise with a mobile
store at the viewpoint just after Cinco Esquinas, the first chance
to see the volcano when coming from Tilaran. Manfred, a 14-year
resident at Lake Arenal, also sells smoked meat and sausages. His
number is 695-8601. Manfred recently deposited on the viewpoint
site a portapotty he constructed himself, a service undoubtedly
appreciated by some of the many
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who stop to photograph the
volcano. Neighboring property owners may not be so glad. Or maybe
they are.
The Estudio Casadelagua has
opened its coffee shop and added a pleasant deck dining area for
its coffee and art lovers. Juan Carlos Ruiz Soto is the artist/entrepreneur
who wants to give tourists an opportunity to see national artists.
The Casa del Agua is located exactly halfway between Tilaran and
Nuevo Arenal. It is nicely situated right across the road from the
west end of the lake. Juan Carlos is an enthusiastic host.
Members of the non-profit ecological
association Fuentes Verdes recently visited the new MINAE office
in Nuevo Arenal, exchanging ideas, fears, and revelations about
which we'll write more fully another time. Currently there are many
violations of regulations, which are not being enforced because
of personnel shortages. For example, most of the docks around the
lake have been built illegally. Also illegal are most of the road
signs that are growing in size and number. They are all supposed
to be three meters from the edge of the road. Whoops
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