| A CNN website, PrincipalVoices.com,
highlights an article by Tejona resident Roberta Ward Smiley about
how she and husband Dan have turned their 100-acre former dairy farm
into a different sort of farm, an "oxygen farm." It's at
www.principalvoices.com/2006/environment.
The link's on the right side of the page under the heading Section
Highlights.
A bunch of skulker friends,
led by Helen Hollenbeck, surprised Roberta and Dan on Oct 25 by
autographing and hanging a large sign at their entrance congratulating
them on their 25th anniversary. In 2008 the couple also will mark
their 25th year in Costa Rica. Roberta recently finished her beautifully
self-illustrated book describing nearly 200 sorts of birds that
visit their "oxygen farm." She is researching publishers.
Meanwhile, SETENA returned
for a training session with the area environmental commission, the
Comision de Fiscalizacion Ambiental, and found representatives of
various agencies intent on persuading the Tilaran municipality to
halt unregulated development. SETENA, the Secretaria Tecnica de
Ambiente, created in 1997, is the agency charged with evaluating
environmental impact studies. Such studies
|
were mandated by
law in 1995.The SETENA representative acknowledged that all construction
permits granted by the municipality absent impact studies since 1995
are illegal. Given the large number of unstudied developments currently
underway around the lake, this "development" is potentially
very significant. Much depends on the municipality backtracking on
its permitting. The commission has scheduled for Nov. 10 a tour of
one of the biggest developments currently underway.
Actual housebuilding or remodeling
is a very slow process in the lake area now due to a shortage of
contractors and workmen. One local contractor has at least five
projects underway. Clients trying to communicate with him are dismayed
at the lack of response or work progress. Some contractors left
the area last year to feast on the work available at the coastal
resorts.
The spay clinic held at Parcelas
on Oct. 21 reportedly was quite a success. Many locals showed up
with dogs, cats, and money. 33 animals were sterilized and more
could have been done with an additional veterinarian. We don't yet
know the facts for the next such clinic.
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