Chiriquí Chatter

I received the following to post.

The monthly Cerro Punta/Volcan Town Meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 8th, 2010 at our venue, Restaurante Polineth ( Paul’s) in Volcan on the road to Cerra Punta approximately 1/2 mile from the police station. The meeting will begin at 10:00 AM with discussion following the presentation. For your calendar, Town Meetings are always held on the second Wednesday of the month.

Last month, we featured entrepreneur Price Peterson and Attorney Yotzi Hovenkamp. Mr. Peterson told us how he made money in two agricultural businesses here in Panama- dairy farming and coffee growing. Ms. Hovenkamp discussed the legal and cultural aspects of marriage and marital relationships here in Panama. These were both interesting topics and received ample interest in their presentations from our audience.

This month, we have three speakers for our September meeting. We have featured the Store Manager at the Franklin Jurado Store and the Store Manager at Conway. They will discuss products and items of special interest for upcoming Christmas shopping. The Conway Store Manager will also discuss product lines, in particular, clothing and furniture, and will also talk about the business climate here in Panama and what the parent company of Conway, Target Stores, project about the future economic growth of Panama.

Tags: Events

Yes, I have finally returned. Actually, I returned to David on August 31. The 31st was spent unpacking and getting tasks organized and picking up Koki, who was enjoying her time visiting and playing with her doggie playmate. Thanks to my good friend Carol for dog sitting.

For me, the time away was a technology holiday. I will probably have a few posts related to technology when I get around to it.

The short time back has given me an example of what I was missing while I was in the US. The first surprise that greeted me was more water outage. I was hoping that would be over by the time I got back. Didn’t happen. We have had only a few hours of water each day If any at all. Obviously, the water system repairs have not been completed and there most likely will continue to be outages. Water problems was one problem I did not have in the US.

I did return to a cooler climate. Yes, David is cooler than it was in Dallas, Austin, and Odessa. My grand kids wanted to go to Six Flags and it was 105 F.

I took a few photos and need to organize my thoughts to decide what I think is worth talking about and posting.

At any rate, I am back and just wanted to check in.

It will still take a few days before I get caught up. Several “to do” items are in front of me and I am not quite sure what to tackle first.

All for now, but September has it’s first post.

Prepárate de más, y después sigue la corriente.

I will be away for the rest of the month, I will try to respond to emails and blog comments, but it may be on a sporadic basis.

I hope to complete the sale of the Paul Nunes pickup when I return. To see the pickup and to make an offer while I am out, contact Jorge Cedeño 6461-2970 jlca.mana@gmail.com or send me an email with your offer to donraycc@gmail.com.

Take care and enjoy yourself. I can assure you that I will do the same.

Hi Don Ray,

My name is Jay Hochstein and I’m starting a film making club at BCP. I would appreciate it if you would add my announcement for the first meeting to your blog.

Thank you,

Jay

*Did you ever think it might be interesting or fun to work on a film project?* Do you have an idea that you think would make a great screenplay? Do you want to help make films with the goal of having a BCP film festival? *Join the club.* If you have experience in, or want to learn how to be a *Producer, Director, Screenwriter, Editor, or Film Actor, *or work with* camera, lighting, and sound or just want to learn more about film making,* you are invited to attend the first meeting of *Boquete Film Arts* to be held at *BCP on Friday, August 20, from 10:30-12:30.* Come to learn, Come to share, come to make films.

Tags: Events

The monthly Cerro Punta/Volcan Town Meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at our venue, Restaurante Polineth ( Paul’s) in Volcan on the road to Cerra Punta approximately 1/2 mile up from the police station. In our meetings at this venue, Paul serves up many unique dishes for our palates. The meeting will begin at 10:00 AM with discussion following the presentation. For your calendar, Town Meetings are always held on the second Wednesday of the month.

Last month, we featured three different speakers on different topics. Mr. Bill Fullerton updated us on the hospital to be built here in Volcan starting soon. Mr. Hunter Schultz spoke to us about his air ambulance service available for medical emergencies from David to Panama City. And, Chris McCall addressed us about what to do about electrical outages and provided information about alternative energy sources as a back-up to existing electrical services.

This month, we have two speakers for our August meeting. Continue Reading »

Tags: Events

Yesterday I received the final paperwork that will allow the sale of the Paul Nunes Pickup. It is now registered and has insurance paid for one year.

I have had Carlos Saldana at Auto Servicios provide me an estimate of its value in Panama and he said it should bring at least $15,000, so that is the target price I am hoping to get. Submit your bid. When the bids are in I will confer with the heirs to see if the offer is acceptable. I want to thank Carlos who serviced the pickup and assisted me in cleaning it inside and outside.

The original sticker price was $32,000. It is a V-8 gasoline engine and has 126,000 miles on it. I have driven the pickup and it runs and drives very good. It has all the bells and whistles. It is a 4X4.

It is used by a building contractor and has a special metal frame, as seen in the photos, for carrying lumber. It also has a custom lockable metal storage that should have a value in the US of around $350.

The tires, including the spare, are all in good condition. The is very clean and appears to have been well taken maintained. I had hoped to have this sold before I left on vacation, but I don’t think that is going to be possible. This post will remain on top until the pickup is sold.

It will be available to be seen by appointment now and while I am out of the country. You can submit a bid by writing donraycc@gmail.com or by leaving a sealed bid with Jorge Cedeño at Restaurante Mana.
This is the last of the items from the Paul Nunes estate. If you need a truck, make a bid. There are several tools that will be included with the pickup. I see no need for a special auction. A reasonable offer on the pickup will receive the tools as well. There is a small ACE table saw, a heavy duty drill, lots of wrenches, levels and other items.

UPDATE Aug 4: This post is strictly for answering questions about this vehicle. If you have a question, leave the question as a comment and I will do my best to answer it. If you want to discuss buying and selling things in Panama,  the value of your car, the price of eggs in China or anything else then go to some discussion group and discuss it. If you want to bid on this car use the email address above of contact Jorge and he will email me.

UPDATE August 17: I have removed the current bid at the bidders request. If you are interested in the truck pass on your level of interest to Jorge as mentioned above.

Photos follow:

Continue Reading »

Tags: For Sale

Enciende las velitas, utiliza las sábanas bonitas, ponte la lencería cara. No la guardes para una ocasión especial. Hoy es especial.

Tags: Asides

William (Bill) Banyez is in the Chiriqui Hospital with a tricky bleeding ulcer.

He needs blood and Panamanians do not generally have B positive. He is back and forth between Intensive care and room 1. Please if you can find it in your heart go and donate some. If you encounter any confusion there go up to Medic Service and get instructions from Melissa or Emma. God Bless!

UPDATE:

I’m now told, per Bill Banyez wife Mayka, that Bill no longer has need of blood donations. This afternoon, he was transferred from Hospital Chiriqui to Hospital Regional in David, where there is a B+ blood supply in stock. Bill is now in stable condition.

I’m pleased to note that three of the six B+ persons listed in Bocas Blood Registry immediately responded to the call for donors. Remarkable generosity, especially since all would have travel costs to David. If you wish to add your name to our Registry, just email to me your name, phone # and blood type. When there’s an emergency need, you’ll be notified privately. Soon, I hope to expand this kind of medical/emergency support into broader uses – a free community service called InfoBank.

Thanks much,

Larry Shane
757 9717 / 6621 1897 lary@earthlink.net

UPDATE July 29 – on David Yahoo Group

Bill Banyez has been moved to the Hospital Regional in a critical state. They have a small amt. of blood there. He is scheduled for surgery so everyone stand by to donate if you can. Women over 54 and men over 60 cannot donate. It is the policy of the medical community. Sorry to all of you that showed such a huge heart to go donate and were rejected. Let’s don’t forget Bill if he needs us again. He has taken 8 units and is likely to need at least that much more in the event of emergency surgery.

UPDATE 7/31

Weelllll………..Bill Banyez passed on last night. We just found out this a.m.. I’m on my way to David to see what’s what and be with his widow. They moved him to Regional Chiriqui where there is a blood bank and he continued to get about 2 units a day. He was never with out blood. Thanks to the entire community that offered to donate and especially to those who did not qualify due to quirky policies. Just to clear the record, he had a heart attack and did not bleed to death. They might have been able to operate on the bleeding ulcer but judged his heart would not tolerate the surgery. Makes you think…..should we all be thinking about starting a blood bank; not just for us but for the good of our adopted country? Know I’ll be getting my affairs in order; Bill was my age, only 56 or so. May our friend rest in peace with our maker.

Once again the gardener is burning trash.

Today, I walked over and asked him if he knew that it was against the law to burn trash in the city. He said yes and that he had been told to do it. Continue Reading »