By Jim Parisi

When it comes to parties, no one does it better than people of the Latin culture. Spirits are high and conversations are animated, but best of all, the food is always delectable and the music upbeat and very danceable. None of these factors has was lost on Putumayo Music when they released their new album, appropriately titled “Latin Party”, a compilation of twelve modern, up-tempo songs from a varied reach of Latin regions and influences. Latin people are very proud of their heritage and I think this CD demonstrates how new musicians pay homage to their musical Latino roots, while putting their own spin on it.

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Filed under: Jim Parisi, Music Review on July 27th, 2010
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Through Angel Villareal Bogarin’s hard work, initiative and leadership, the community of Matapalo has been strengthened in social infrastructure as he has inspired change and others to action. His participation as a community leader and his involvement with the Bandera Azul program, ASANA, as well as a liason for the Matapalo Beach Lifeguards has served as a grand example to other local Costaricans on the importance of being active community participants. His example has also shown the important role the private sector can indeed play to acheive stronger more united multi cultural communitities.

For first time readers to Making a Difference, here are the 4 principal and governing factors which allow our multi cultural community to become engaged.

1. Inspire Change.

2. Build Community.

3. Facilitate action.

4. Strengthen Engagement.

Here below ANGEL shares with us his current participation in community affairs.

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Filed under: Charlie Berghammer, Making a Difference on July 27th, 2010
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By Jack Ewing

The origins of the names of places are sometimes obvious and sometimes obscure. The stories of how the places in the south central coastal region got their names are often interesting and tell us something about the area where we live.

Many places in Costa Rica were named by the church and our region is no exception. Examples of these are San Isidro, San Juan de Dios and San Josecito. A few villages already had local names when the church decided to give them the name of a saint. In these cases the inhabitants didn’t always embrace the new name.
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Filed under: Jack Ewing, Nature and Local History Stories on July 21st, 2010
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One of my first, and best, jobs was at Daiter’s Creamery & Deli in Kensington Market in Toronto. Daiter’s was a family-owned Jewish dairy that made the top quality cottage cheese, sour cream, farmer’s cheese, cream cheese, & yogurt. The deli was a busy, raucous place that sold dozens of types of cheese, cured meats, lox, herring salads, bagels, fresh-baked breads, new pickles, matzo crackers, gefilte fish; an unending feast for all the senses, especially for a budding foodie like me. The place was staffed mostly by high-school and college students and overseen by the family matriarch, Rene Daiter, who, when she wasn’t managing the store, spent endless hours cooking for her family…and for us kids. Read More…

Filed under: Cooking Corner on July 21st, 2010
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(in English)
Por Carol Vlassoff
Traducido por Rosa Arechederra

Desde el momento en que puso  el pie en el barco de pesca deportiva de su amigo, Jeannette Pérez se enamoró.  Estamos en su oficina en  el segundo piso de un edificio modesto de Quepos y señala con el brazo hacia la ventana principal con vista al malecón del Pacifico que esta exactamente al otro lado de la calle. ”Eso es lo que más me gustó Pérez”, sonríe. “Nunca olvidaré mi primer pez vela. Fue la cosa más hermosa! ”

Jeannette Peréz de cincuenta años de edad también recuerda su primera impresión  de Quepos en 1989. Había estado viviendo en los Estados Unidos y volvió para  visitar a su madre en San José con sus dos hijos gemelos de diez años de edad, Manuel y Carlos.  Cuando  le ofrecieron el trabajo como gerente de “Sports Fishing Costa Rica “decidió echar un vistazo.

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Filed under: Carol Vlassoff, Personalidades en Medio Nuestro on July 17th, 2010
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(en Español)
by Carol Vlassoff

From the moment she set foot in her friend’s sports fishing boat, Jeannette Pérez fell in love. She sweeps an arm toward her front window, with a view of the Pacific waterfront, directly across the street from her second floor office in a modest Quepos building.  “That’s what I loved,” she smiles. “I will never forget my first sailfish. It was the most beautiful thing!”

Fifty year old Pérez also remembers her first taste of Quepos in1989. She had been living in the United States and returned to visit her mother in San José with her ten year old twin sons, Manuel and Carlos. When she was offered a job as manager of Sports Fishing Costa Rica she decided to take a look.

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Filed under: Carol Vlassoff, Personalities in Our Midst on July 17th, 2010
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Filed under: Luciano, Potty Time on July 12th, 2010
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