Communities Survive Together or Fall Apart

Welcome to our new column based on the Foundations and Charitable Organizations of Playa Tamarindo. Our idea is to offer exposure to groups who are trying to make a positive impact in the community. Any input or information is always appreciated.

Tamarindo Recycles: Tamarindo Recycles has added five new recycling bins, so now there are ten in the vicinity. The new bins are: 1) in the cul-de-sac near Hotel Luna Llena; 2) on the road to Langosta near the bus stop; 3) at the beach access to Langosta; 4) at the Langosta parking lot, near RPM Realty; and 5) at the Surf Club Sports Bar in Langosta. They join the five original bins which are located: 1) at the Minae building at the mouth of the Estuary; 2) at Parque Independencia, near Hotel Milagro; 3) across the street from Aqua Disco; 4) in the Rotunda; and 5) between the Pescador restaurant and the Alfaro bus office.

Tamarindo Recycles sells cool reusable shopping bags for a donation of 5.000 colones, which is used to keep Tamarindo clean and green. Check out their site at www.tamarindorecycles.blogspot.com.

Quick eco-quiz: what’s a tetrapack? It’s a cardboard beverage carton with a foil lining and YES, they are recyclable, so please include them in your recycling stuff.

CEPIA: CEPIA is not having any public events this month, but they are looking for volunteers to head-up their after-school extracurricular classes and activities program. This is a real opportunity to give back to the community and to the future of Tamarindo. The new schedule and afternoon one-hour classes begin in March, 2010. Already, CEPIA will be offering classes in English, French, computer training, swimming, yoga, art and painting, self-defense, and music. Any and all interest is welcome, by contacting Sandrine at: www.cepiacostarica.org. Just one hour a week can make a big difference.

Surfrider Foundation: Mike Clifford has an incredible job heading up this very conscientious organization. This month, there will be a beach clean-up day on January 9^th. So, anyone who uses the beach, likes the beach, the sunsets there, the surf, the water, the sand, etc., should consider helping out by meeting in front of Capitan Suizo at 9:00 a.m. on the 9^th. There will also be a Tamarindo chapter meeting of the Surfrider Foundation on January 28^th at 7:00 p.m. at the Surf Club Sports Bar in Playa Langosta. It is an open meeting and everyone is welcome. You can contact Mike at his email address: mwcl4d@hotmail.com .

Lifeguards: In March, 2008, Cheryl McKillican re-initiated this program from its hibernation. Initially, local hotels and restaurants made contributions to have lifeguards on the beach, but since the economic collapse, all participants have withdrawn, with the exception of Capitan Suizo’s monetary contributions and Vista Villas and Zullymar providing lunches every Wednesday through Saturday. Local resident Drew Smith has literally been a lifesaver with his economic contributions. The aforementioned organizations CEPIA, Tamarindo Recycles, and Surfrider Foundation have also been contributing what they can but, in truth, this project is inexplicably suffering. The single official lifeguard, Jorge, has recently begun training high school students from Villa Real in exchange for lunches and surfboard repair. The goal is to get these students certified with the National Lifeguard Program. But, the sad reality is that there currently are no funds for this or for maintenance on existing lifeguard stands and equipment. It is all a sad statement about community pride and participation in this area. Any and all interested parties can contact Cheryl at: cherylmckillican@hotmail.com.

Association Pro Tamarindo:  Jogi at ABC Realty has done a tremendous job heading up this new organization, as can be seen on his website by checking out the news blogs, mission and vision statements, updates, and especially the testimonials.  He told me he is looking for any and all participation. Interested parties can check the website at: www.ProTamarindo.com

Costa Rica Church: Lyle Watson has been busy lately, between his Sunday services, his community work here and in Nicaragua with the homeless, and his Christian Surfers Association. Interested people should check his site: www.costaricachurch.com

Pro Mejores: Gabriela Valenzuela is the last soldier standing. An original founder and secretary for Pro Mejores, she is now the last active member. She told me she understands the difficult times and the inability to see non-tangible progress while, in reality, Pro Mejores works toward keeping Tamarindo the ideal we moved here for. She dearly would like to see official bus stops, more preserves and parks, and a safer, cleaner place to live as a new generation of Tamarindans grow up. There will be a Pro Mejores meeting in January, time and place unknown at press time. Gaby feels that all interested parties need to attend to officially and legally make a decision about this foundation’s future.