Penny

Our good friend Olga Alexander suffered a heart attack Sunday night (May 8) and is in intensive care at Hospital Chiriqui.

After monitoring her for awhile in intensive care, they will make a decision on how to proceed.

I will keep all her friends posted.

Penny

I have lived here 13 years and have seen only 3 scorpions and have been bitten only once. I had a bottle of ultra-concentrated Grubers Jungle Oil nearby and I doused the spot with that and within seconds the swelling and pain were gone. So, I can attest that the super concentrated stuff is good for scorpion bites. I'm quite sure it doesn't cure cancer as claimed.

I bank with both MultiBank and Banco General and they both charge a service fee if the balance in your checking account goes below a certain limit (like $250 or $300). I'm not sure about savings accounts.

I agree with Judy. I solicited several knowledgeable opinions about upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 10 and was always told to not do it. My Windows 7 works just fine.

With Gloria you also get Pedro and that is a huge bonus.

I've never before been approached by panhandlers in Boquete until recently. I've been approached twice in the last week and some new residents have told me they've been approached three times. This is a new phenomenon in my book. Maybe the new warden can bring it up at the city council meeting. It's not good for tourism. Most of these incidents happen near the new public mercado which, of course, is across the street from some notorious bars.

14 hours ago, Bonnie said:

You can still access the other forum after being banned. You just can't participate. And there's lots more misinformation there than just about the jubilado discount.

Not true Bonnie. Here's what I get when I bring up NING:

I've been told that there's a long discussion about the discount complete with some misinformation on the other forum. Since I'm banned from that forum I can't verify it for myself. However, just to clear up some misunderstandings that folks seem to have. You are entitled to the discount if both of these apply:

A. You are a legal permanent resident of Panama (not a tourist who has to leave every six months)

                                 and

B. You either have attained the appropriate age (I believe 55 for women and 60 for men)

                                   or

You have a pensionado visa which you can obtain as young as 18 if you meet the requirements of a permanent income of $1000/month or more.

Just being old and in Panama doesn't cut it. Some places are lax about asking for proof but that still doesn't mean you're legally entitled to the discount.

Another misconception -- the government of Panama doesn't reimburse a business for the discount. Of course if you discount a $10 meal to $7.50 you only have to pay income tax on the $7.50 that was received.  Also, a business in Panama doesn't have to pay income tax or charge sales tax until their gross proceeds are $30,000/year or more.

I was reminded again the other day about how effective ACODECO is to assist consumers in their disputes against local business establishments. Probably many newcomers don't know about this government agency. Unlike all other government agencies in Panama, ACODECO actually seems to get the job done. A complaint to them about a purchase or service transaction gone bad most often gets resolved. A friend told me this story: they had gone round and round with Audio Photo about a defective washing machine they had purchased. Finally a tech from the store came out and certified the machine was bad. Then it was a struggle to get it removed and a new one installed. Time was running short for them as they were due to go back to the U.S. for 6 months leaving the house to house sitters. I told them about ACODECO. The next time they called Audio Photo and asked for the manager they got the same standard manage "El jefe no esta acqui." They said one word into the phone "ACODECO" and quite amazingly the manager picked up the phone within 3 seconds and the problem seems to be getting resolved.

Folks, this is the agency you report the businesses that aren't honoring the pensionado law. This is the agency you report all consumer problems to.

Something good to know while living in this foreign land where customer service seems to most often be a mysterious and strange concept.

Just one word === ACODECO

We have a new projector at BCP that we use for the Tuesday talks. Our problem is that the computer we've been using to attach to it doesn't have the necessary HDMI port (see picture below). Powerpoint software would be a plus.

If somebody has an old laptop with an HDMI port and would like to sell it cheap (or donate it to a worthy cause) please email BCP at boquetecommunityplayers@mail.com

This is a very unique set of china that was donated to the Handicap Foundation. There are 8 10" dinnerplates and 5 7.5" salad plates. They are deep dish with removable silicone base rings in multiple colors. These are the plates used at the new restaurant Casa Vieja.

All pieces are dishwasher and microwave safe, brand new with price stickers still attached. They were sold originally at multiple stores for $2.99 a piece for a $39 value. We'll sell them all for $15.

For more information or to view, email Penny at pjbarrett@aol.com

I think the $3 admission will still go to the Handicap Foundation and Buenos Vecinos. Animales never got part of that. They got the rent money and the bar proceeds.

However, you're right. The animales facaility is definitely a better place to have trivia. The problem is (was) that Nairn and Nancy got tired of cooking every two weeks and wanted to concentrate their energies on paid catering events. The skating rink is in the business to sell food and drinks directly to the trivia players.

About the mass and buriel of Jackie Gonzalez . . . a message from Loesje Sherwood:

There has been another change in the funeral plans for Jacqui:

The HP Photosmart 7760 photo printer offers high performance direct photo printing in up to 6-ink color or up to 4800-optimized dpi. With an image LCD preview screen, it is so fast, convenient and easy to edit, enhance, preview and print memories, no PC required! Just slip your camera's memory card into a compatible slot, then use the 1/8-inch image LCD or the HP Photo Proof Sheet and top panel buttons to preview, edit, select, save and print your photos. And you get two built-in paper trays, making it easy to print both 4x6-inch and standard size prints with or without borders. Your printing options are so versatile, everything from high-quality photos that resist fading for generations, twice as long as traditionally-processed photos to great everyday text

It is in "like new" condition. It comes with an extra ink cartridge ($13.99 value), a complete ink cartridge refill kit, and a box of HP glossy photo paper.

Prices range from $69 to $169 (plus shipping) on the internet. We'll sell this for $50 with a money back guarantee.

All proceeds go to the Handicap foundation. To see the printer or for more information email pjbarrett@aol.com

Here is the latest news from Susan Peterson:

I spoke with Migdalia for quite a long while. Carlos will go to the morgue tomorrow morning to see if he can get Jacqui’s body removed early (not having an autopsy) to transport to the Foundation. He plans on getting a casket from a local funeral home and use his pick up to transport the body. He is now planning to only remain at the Foundation for a few hours before moving the body to his home in Palma Real for the “velorio” (all night wake). Although he asked if members of FPI would accompany him, I, for one, will not drive that road at night and think that only those who would take a taxi and spend the night would attend. As you may recall, it is a one lane dirt road and very small house. What we still do not know is when the mass and funeral are planned. I suspect that the family is waiting until they have confirmation of release of the body, hoping for a Wednesday mass and funeral. Carlos has promised to advise Migdalia when he has authorization to remove Jacqui’s body and drive to the Foundation at which time Migdalia will begin to advise members of FPI.

Jonathan has been released from the hospital and has confirmed that both he and Jacqui had fallen asleep on the way home which was the cause of the accident. When Jonathan awakened with the serving of the car, immediately calling his Mom, she was unable to control the car. There were no other cars involved. Carlos’ mother has resigned from her job to take responsibility for the care of Jean Carlos. Carlos plans on continuing to bring Jean Carlos to the Foundation in the future. He is in need of 3 more pints of blood.

Any additional news that I receive I will pass on to you as soon as possible.

Designed for personal use in the home, the Fellowes W11C offers reliable performance and still fits your budget. This moderate duty shredder shreds up to 11 sheets per pass into 5/32" x 2" cross-cut particles as fast as 110 sheets per minute. Equipped with a 9" paper entry that easily accepts letter or legal size documents, the W11C also features durable steel cutters that accept credit cards and staples. Safety interlock switch instantly stops shredder when unit is lifted off of 5-gallon wastebasket. Auto start/stop feature ensures quick, easy shredder operation. Reverse function easily removes overfed paper.

Offered by the Handicap Foundation and all proceeds go to them. Email pjbarrett@aol.com for more information.

This is a like-new high end toilet. It was donated to the Handicap Foundation by a builder who told us it originally cost $600. It is a 1.6 gallon (7.6 liters) per flush toilet. The color is bone or off-white. All proceeds go to the Handicap Foundation. The first $150 takes it. You can see it at the Handicap Foundation during office hours or you can email pjbarrett@aol.com for more information.

This may or may not be an antique. It was donated to the Handicap Foundation for their sale and all proceeds will go to the Foundation. Nobody offered the ridiculously low price of $75 at the sale so we're offering it to the public. The first $75 takes it.

It measures 70" high, 27" wide at the mouldings, 24" wide at the body, and 14" deep.

You can stop in at the Handicap Foundation during their office hours to see it and purchase it. For more information you can email Penny at pjbarrett@aol.com

With the heaviest of heart I am passing on the tragic news I learned last night. Right after the gigantic sale at the Handicap foundation, Jackie and her two young sons, Juan Carlos (handicapped) and Jonathon (not handicapped) were involved in a horrible car accident and Jackie was killed. Juan Carlos is in the hospital and I don't have any news on Jonathon. Jackie was a wonderful person who knew how to make lemonade from lemons. Instead of bemoaning her fate as a mother of a special needs child, both she and her mother Maria volunteered every week at the Handicap Foundation. Maria was the main cook and Jackie was the all around helper. And then Jackie got inspired and managed to go the physical therapy school and she became the sole paid therapist for the handicapped folks who needed her. She was at the center at least three days a week and the physical therapy group became like a second family with each other. In some cases, the group was the only family. Her death not only leaves a huge hole in our hearts, but is devastating to the therapy program. It will put a major burden on our volunteer therapist Chuck High.

For those of you who knew Jackie, I will post funeral details as they become available.

Bonnie

The service will be at noon tomorrow (not Friday). People of the Jewish faith have to be buried immediately.

I didn't know Dr. Carrizo but I helped Hil with some contact info for the owner of the new crematorium in David which, apparently, is not yet operational. I heard via the rumor mill that the neighbors were delaying the opening of this facility by making complaints about air pollution, etc.

We will know more later in May as I have booked Jose Aria, the owner of this facility, to speak to us at the Tuesday meeting on May 24.

Super play !! Very funny. Lots of physical humor.

Barbara, cast and crew are to be complimented.