Bonnie

1 hour ago, BD said:

Is this a joke post? Can’t find anything relevant on that website. Nothing about any channel, much less the liaison channel mentioned.

The CLV link doesn’t appear on my iPhone or iPad, but it does on my desktop.   Instead, the third link is Videos en Vivo. ????

By the way, in case it isn’t clear, this is a video of the presentation that the CLVs gave at the Tuesday morning meeting at BCP a couple of weeks ago.

You are correct about the proof of life form. Although the s.s. Instructions say that you may not use a forwarding address and that doing so will result in your benefits being suspended, it’s not so. In fact, it seems to protect you from receiving the form. If you have your check deposited in a Panamanian bank, however, it triggers the mailing of a proof of life form to the local post office, as does registering your Panama whereabouts on s.s. online. I, for one, am happy not to be on the proof of life mailing list and therefore plan to change nothing.

1 hour ago, Jim Bondoux said:

I believe that there is no postal delivery to MBE in Boquete, and so I'm guessing that your MBE address is Florida.

If that is the case, then your MBE address is not "outside of the US". That will be worth clearing up.

Jim, the MBE address is in Florida, but mail is then forwarded to MBE in Boquete. I'm not sure what you mean by "[t]hat will be worth clearing up." I have always gotten mail from Medicare at MBE. It's a much better alternative than depending on the slow, slow, slow Panamanian mail system.

Gloria's employee's name is Enson, not Enron. I doubt that he reads Chiriqui Life, not being fluent in English, but see Martine's post above about how to reach him.

My haircutter told me yesterday that a branch of this restaurant is scheduled to open in the new shopping mall across from the Todo a Dollar.

There are excellent doctors in Panama City. And he can be driven there.

Los Naranjos?

Seeking vendors for community yard sale on Saturday, April 13, 2019, 8:00 to 2:00, to be held at the Amigos de Animales facility in Alto Boquete. To reserve space to sell your goods, contact Pat Mains at iloveboquete@yahoo.com or WhatsApp 6738-9933.

I am so very sorry to hear this. Gloria was a lovely person, a good friend, and a trustworthy businesswoman. She helped me, made my life easier, in so many ways. My condolences to all Gloria's family and friends.

I have been told that there will be a mass for Gloria today at 1:00 with the funeral following at 2:00.

If you are a US citizen, do you know....

What years you are required to send in your proof of life form?

What to do if your Social Security check is suspended?

What days and times you can call the US Embassy in Panama?

Under what circumstances you would be required to contact the SSA in Costa Rica?

How long must you stay out of Panama if required to leave on a tourist visa?

If you have to allow police into your home?

Whether, as a US citizen, you have the same rights as a Panamanian?

Come to the BCP 10:30 presentation on Tuesday, March 5^th, where Bonnie Williams and Hank Landis will address these questions and more.

The correct day is Tuesday, not Wednesday Sorry. Too many things going on today. This is the Tuesday morning BCP meeting that begins  10:30 and runs until about noon.

22 hours ago, Moderator_02 said:

The words we posted in your referenced reply mean exactly what they say.

It is CL policy for community members wanting to post content to post their own information. That follows from the stated responsibility* of CL users: "The management team normally doesn’t post content for others (either members or guests); if you have something to post, then do so, and without cost, and if you need help, just ask."

The fact that CL staff posts news articles from selected media websites is content that CL staff itself wants to post on CL. Those postings follow from the stated purpose* for CL: " Think of CL as your [digital] homegrown, daily, self-published, neighborhood newspaper and community discussion forum targeting Chiriquí and its highlands region, principally Boquete." We intended from the very beginning of CL years ago to post news articles that we think are of interest to CL users, and so that is content that CL adds.

With one exception, CL staff does not use social media such as Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, LinkedIn, etc., and so content from those social media would, by policy, be posted by a CL member who wants to share content from other media. The one exception is that CL staff does use Twitter, but normally not to find content to post on CL rather for personal reasons unrelated to life in Boquete.

The sequence of events in CL staff having posted content in this thread from Facebook was that we were approached by a CL member who is well known in our community with a request to post the content. We declined. That member then countered with some "reasons" why she couldn't post right then and that it was critical information related to other content on CL. We relented. We ended up regretting our exception. QED.

We hope our CL users understand our normal operating procedure.

 

*For those wishing to read our published website overview and guidance, Click Here.

Thanks, Bud. I was hoping that was what you meant. 🙂

42 minutes ago, Moderator_02 said:

The words we posted in your referenced reply mean exactly what they say.

It is CL policy for community members wanting to post content to post their own information. That follows from the stated responsibility* of CL users: "The management team normally doesn’t post content for others (either members or guests); if you have something to post, then do so, and without cost, and if you need help, just ask."

The fact that CL staff posts news articles from selected media websites is content that CL staff itself wants to post on CL. Those postings follow from the stated purpose* for CL: " Think of CL as your [digital] homegrown, daily, self-published, neighborhood newspaper and community discussion forum targeting Chiriquí and its highlands region, principally Boquete." We intended from the very beginning of CL years ago to post news articles that we think are of interest to CL users, and so that is content that CL adds.

With one exception, CL staff does not use social media such as Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, LinkedIn, etc., and so content from those social media would, by policy, be posted by a CL member who wants to share content from other media. The one exception is that CL staff does use Twitter, but normally not to find content to post on CL rather for personal reasons unrelated to life in Boquete.

The sequence of events in CL staff having posted content in this thread from Facebook was that we were approached by a CL member who is well known in our community with a request to post the content. We declined. That member then countered with some "reasons" why she couldn't post right then and that it was critical information related to other content on CL. We relented. We ended up regretting our exception. QED.

We hope our CL users understand our normal operating procedure.

 

*For those wishing to read our published website overview and guidance, Click Here.

Thank you for the explanation, Bud. The origin of the post is now clear.

Can you explain why you ended up regretting having made an exception in this case?

9 hours ago, Moderator_02 said:

CL administrators have a policy of not posting content for others. We have had some exceptions. This posting was against our better judgement but we got talked into doing it. Now regret it, but will leave it posted.

It seems there may have been an agenda going on in the background.

Live and learn.

I don't know what you mean by posting content "for" others. How is this different from posting stories from Newsroom Panama, La Prensa, etc.? But, in any event, the topic certainly is Panama related, and it served the important function of debunking false information. I'm of the view that it also generated some genuinely interesting and informative discussion, which is often the case when there is disagreement. Controversy and disagreement is not necessarily bad.

I wish I hadn't read the part about Transmission.

When did the CDC start using the word "poop"?

Health Alert - U. S. Embassy Panama City, Panama (February 6, 2019)

Location: Loma Yuca, Santa Catalina District, Comarca Ngäbe Buglé  (Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Veraguas), Panama 

Event:  On February 1, 2019 the Panamanian Ministry of Health announced that Panama is experiencing an outbreak of whooping cough (Pertussis).  As of January 31, 2019, the Ministry reports a total of 81 cases, with nine confirmed deaths.  All of the cases occurred in the northwest mountainous area of Panama, within the Comarca Ngäbe Buglé.  The Ministry reports the municipality of Loma Yuca in the Santa Catalina District represents the most affected area.

U.S. government personnel are advised to verify their Pertussis vaccination is up to date.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a booster every 10 years.

Actions to Take: 

Monitor local media for updates and the Panamanian Ministry of Health website at http://minsa.gob.pa

Consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for country health advisories or call CDC at 800-232-4636 or 404-639-3534.

Assistance: 

U.S. Embassy Panama City, Panama

507-317-5000

Panama-ACS@state.gov

https://pa.usembassy.gov/

State Department - Consular Affairs

888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444

Panama Country Information

Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security updates

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To unsubscribe from future messages please go to the following link: https://step.state.gov/STEP/Pages/common/Subscribe.aspx

This is scary:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/30/world/americas/venezuela-maduro-protests-faes.html?emc=edit_th_190131&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=528124880131

5 hours ago, JohnF13 said:

So, to get back on topic, is this vet available and if so, where is she working out of?

Dr. Valdez is practicing in David now, I believe. But there's a new vet in Boquete, listed in Maggie's List, who responds to emergencies ad makes house calls. Dr. Janzel Gonzalez saved my life the weekend of the 12th when he came to my house within 25 minutes of calling him to examine my dog in distress. He discovered a mass in the area of the spleen, we went to his office for an ultrasound, saw an inoperable tumor, and put him down. It was, of course, a sad occasion, but I was so grateful to have found a vet who is responsive on the weekend. It would have been awful to have had to watch my dog suffer Saturday through Sunday night. Dr. Janzel prefers contact by WhatsApp Chat and responds right away, I have found. The number is 507-6593-1867.

That was swift justice!

3 hours ago, Dottie Atwater said:

Bonnie and all...I've found an excellent spray for fungal infections is a mixture of equal portions of raw apple cider vinegar, water, and witch hazel, plus a few drops of tea tree oil. If the infection is mostly in one place, I usually shave the area and use the spray often. If it's all over the body,  sulfur shampoo (and/or a borax-hydrogen peroxide wash) plus ketoconazol tablets.

Let me know if anyone wants the borax-hydrogen peroxide "recipe."

Thanks, Dottie. My dog with intractable fungus was put down with a tumor on the spleen a couple of weeks ago. But I know other folks who could benefit from your "recipe," so, yes, please publish it here.

I used most of what you name, to only intermittent avail. The problem with Ketoconazol is that it is very hard on the liver and really can't be taken long enough to work, I found. Plus, it requires a hepatic cleansing afterward because of this side effect.

4 hours ago, Dottie Atwater said:

.... "to disavow those who sow division and exclude those who "are not like us". The pope speaks from both sides of his mouth. He is actually sowing division with that statement.

It's possible that he means to disavow those who both sow division and exclude others who "are not like us."

49 minutes ago, Brundageba said:

What astounds me is the liberty he apparently was allowed to develop this relationship.  Puzzling.  He's a changed man ( as he professes) and this gal must see something in that.  

 

Not necessarily. Lots has been written about the psychopathology of women who marry inmates.

Dra. Fatima is no longer associated with Charlie’s Pets.

i can’t think of anything in my 12 years here that has delighted me more than the appearance of Dr. Janzel Gonzalez. Everyone knows that pets are inclined to become sick or injured at night and on the weekend, so the emergence of an emergency vet is a godsend.

As many of you already know, I have sold my house and will be leaving Panama on June 30 or possibly earlier. This means, of course, that I will also be leaving the responsibility of being one of two Citizen Volunteer Liaisons (formerly called Wardens) with the U.S. Embassy in Panama. The head of U.S. Citizen Services has sought my assistance in locating a replacement. I urge anyone interested in assuming this role to contact me at ridgelandres@yahoo.com with a brief biographical summary and perhaps an expression of why you wish to serve and what you would bring to the position.

The CVLs’ responsibilities have lessened since I came on in the Spring of 2016. Originally, Hank (Hank Landis, the other Boquete CVL) and I were encouraged to become actively involved in many personal situations. Now, however, the new directions are that we respond to general questions to which we know the answer; disseminate messages from the Embassy; promote locally what the Embassy has to offer U.S. expats; and be available to help in case of national emergency or natural disaster. We are asked to refer personal issues directly to the Embassy without serving as go-between. The latter has lessened the workload considerably, so serving in the position is not a major imposition on one’s time. You can make of the job what you will, but the actual requirements are minimum.

I hope to hear from some friends and neighbors that they are interested in filling this important role. I encourage you to give it some thought.

I’ll be happy to answer any questions either here or by private email (address above).

4 hours ago, JohnF13 said:

I don’t think lack of customer service is an issue.  From my understanding it has always been bad but the influx of expats exacerbated the perception because most of us come from places with much better customer service.  I think Panama is trying to catch up, but it is not easy to retrain.  As for rising costs, that is a many pronged issue.  Do expats drive up costs?  I think they do, especially in the areas of housing and vehicles.  Food and clothing?  Again, quite likely - we demand a North American diet then complain when the costs go up.  Look around in Super 99, Rey’s or Baru - do you see the indigenous shopping there?  If not, where do they shop?  That’s where you will find the cheaper foodstuffs.  I am still of the opinion one can live cheaply here, but the average expat is too wedded to first world luxeries to even try.

I don’t disagree that gringos likely have helped push prices up in Boquete. But how can you say that customer service is not an issue because it’s always been bad??? Does that render it a non-issue? Does that somehow justify its getting no better? And how is it possible to believe that Panama is trying to catch up when the banks (and, I would venture to say, most businesses) have not improved one whit in the past 12 years I’ve been here?