Boquete Community Pulse

Tuesday, February 6 – Judy Tovar will speak about her work with Nutre Hogar of Chiriqui. Phil McGuigan, head of Amigos de Boquete will introduce the talk and speak about the relationship between Amigos de Boquete and Nutre Hogar. Nutre Hogar is a private organization created in 1988 by Monsignor Romulo Emiliani and a group of volunteers, in order to recover and prevent severe malnutrition of children of the most impoverished communities of our country. Nutre Hogar Chiriqui is a non-profit organization that treats 40 severely malnourished children who are transferred from Hospital Materno Infantil Jose Domingo De Obaldia. They attend to the children’s needs with medicine, dietary supplements, education, and MUCH LOVE. To give you an understanding of the scope of this Mission, they need $25,000.00 per month to maintain operations. The presentation will be filmed by TV Chiriqui. We will organize a bus trip to see this amazing facility. http://nutrehogar.org/

Tuesday, January 30 – Sandra and Lloyd Cripe on “Birding as a hobby.” The Cripes will talk about their interest in bird watching to include: Why we do it; How to do it; The various levels of involvement; The necessary equipment; and How to get started in your own backyard. The presentation includes photos and descriptions of the more common birds that you can find here in Boquete.

Tuesday, January 23 – Boquete resident Dr. Ted Harrison will talk about the research project which he and local volunteers did last spring. The study was about determining the day-to-day variation in people’s platelet counts. He’ll show the results; explain what they mean; and tell you why they’re significant to your personal health. He’ll discuss how this pertains particularly to people with arthritis and how this knowledge may help cure their disease.

Tuesday, January 16 – Panama, The Musical. Rob Brown and Yolanda Van Der Kolk-Brown, the writers of PANAMA: THE MUSICAL are presenting a sneak preview of the musical. This is the first musical written about Panama since Panama Hattie. Rob will present “How to make a musical in 6,340 easy steps”. o make a musical in 6,340 easy steps”. He will have two short videos and some rehearsal shots. Possibly one of the performers will attend to do a snippet from the show. The show will have its world premier on February 1 in the Ateneo Theater in Panama City before moving onto the international stage. The story takes place in the Canal Zone in 1927. Information on ticket sales and investment opportunities will be presented.

Tuesday, January 9 – Judi Smith is the owner of the International Clinic of Biological Regeneration (www.icbr.com). She practices Cell Therapy, an anti-aging treatment, developed by Dr. Paul Niehans. Judi has clinics in Nassau, Tiajuana, and Cancun. Cell therapy results in Increased energy, improved immune system, regained skin elasticity balanced hormones, improved memory, increased motivation, and reinvigorated metabolism. There is FREE ADMISSION to this talk.

Tuesday, January 2 -- Jason Boss on cryptocurrency. In a world that is changing ever so much, today’s buzz word is cryptocurrency. When it comes to alternative forms of currency, unless you have a very experienced advisor, you will be burned. This talk will focus on what cryptocurrency is, what it can do for you, what coins are right for you, where you can begin, and how you can safely store your currency. All of this information will be provided by someone who has been in the crypto game since its start in 2008. This is the expert advice you want in this new school digital age.

Tuesday, December 26 - 10:30 in the BCP Theater – Glenn Davis is an author, lecturer, historian, and Boquete resident. Glenn has been a professor at Rice U. (history), Blinn College (journalism) and Texas A&M (international studies). He is the author of 4 books available on Amazon.com, three other books published in Japanese by leading Japanese publishers and hundreds of articles on Japan and Japan-American relations. Glenn also appeared regularly on Japanese TV and radio. He will speak on “My personal struggle with biculturalism, 40 years in Japan”.

Tuesday, December 19 – Howard Green & Joyce Kinnear will explain to us about how to use Facebook and Twitter. Know how to get the most out of Facebook by learning how to pin a tab, like a page, and translate a page. Also learn about notifications and privacy settings. Joyce will brief us on Twitter and how she uses it to keep up on the news (and the POTUS). She feels that twitter is something like watching a news feed. She may also fill us in a bit on Instagram.

Tuesday, December 12 – Boquete Medical Associates and Keep It Simple Panama. The topic will explain the benefits derived from the merging of the two organizations.

Tuesday, December 5 – The Peace Corps in Chiriqui. Four volunteers working in our province will talk to us about how the Peace Corps works and what is their main goal here. They will also explain a little bit about their different projects, development work and everyday life in their communities. We will have Enid assigned to the Volcan area, Matt in Gualaca, Tony in Celmira, and Laura in Puerto Armuelles. Bring your questions for the Q&A at the end.

Tuesday, November 21 -- Dr. William Oates is a Boquete resident and an amateur sommelier (“a trained and knowledgeable wine enthusiast and connoisseur”). As a retired physician he is interested in the healthful benefits of moderate wine consumption. He will talk to us about what wines are available in Panama at a good value. The presentation may include a blind taste test by audience members.

Tuesday, November 14 – John Wolff, organizer, promoter, and all around jefe of the Boquete Jazz and Blues Festival and other team members will make a presentation of the 2018 lineup and new venue. They will present the festival schedule and answer questions about the 2018 festival and the future of the Boquete Jazz Festival.

Tuesday, November 7 – Attorneys Lourdes Miranda and Juan Contreras will explain the benefits of the new property tax law that is about to be approved. They will show the new tax rates, with samples of calculation of property taxes of the current law vs. the new tax law. Also, information about the property tax moratorium included in such law will be presented. There may also be a short presentation on the new customs law. You are welcome to ask any legal question you have.

Tuesday, October 31 – Keep It Simple Panama with Irma Castillo Smith and associates are presenting (in conjunction with the Boquete Medical and Associates) a sign up health program that will include a large list of benefits. The purpose of this integration is to start solving most of your medical issues here in Boquete, thus avoiding unnecessary trips to David. If you are older than 60, this is the opportunity for you to get health care without leaving Boquete. Rodny Direct members will also get new benefits. FREE ADMISSION

Tuesday, October 24 – Dr. Theo A Cope has recently relocated to Poterrillos area with his wife Shery, after almost 20 yrs. living in China. Theo holds a PhD in Psychology and is certified as a Psychotherapist who has taught at many universities in China and practiced counseling and therapy since 2000. The talk “Maintain your mental health by attaining balance” will be based on the models and principles of Positive and Transcultural Psychotherapy (out of Germany), the dominant approach which Theo utilizes clinically. He had worked the last 3 years in International SOS/Raffles Medical Group in Beijing as a therapist as well as provided training for international companies.

Tuesday, October 10 – Dr. Jennifer Daniels will speak on home remedies that work and potions you can mix at home to maintain your independence and why you should want to. Dr Daniels is a long-time resident of Panama and was trained in the US as a Board Certified Family Medicine Physician. During her 10 years of medical practice she quickly realized people would be better off staying home than submitting to medical intervention. Dr Daniels then applied herself to developing home remedies that are safer and more effective than the drugs she had been trained to recommend in medical school. Dr Daniels will share many of these healing potions during this presentation.

Boquete Video Festival organizers will talk about the festival, how you can enter, how to get help making a video, etc. FREE ADMISSION

Tuesday, September 12 – Dr. Maria Ruiz will speak on the history of coffee in Boquete in general and the history of the Ruiz family in particular. Cafe Ruiz is one of the largest producers of coffee in Panama. Maria will explain how coffee production started in Boquete, what's the picture for coffee right now and what she projects for the future. Dr. Maria Ruiz has more than 30 years of experience working in the Panamanian coffee industry, including growing, green processing, roasting, tasting, and product development. She has participated in many activities at a national level as a representative of the private sector. She has also represented Panama in international forums such as the Specialty Coffee Association of America, Specialty Coffee Association of Japan, and the Specialty Coffee Association of Europe. Currently she is the CEO of special projects with Casa Ruiz, S.A., in Boquete, Panama.

Tuesday, September 5 – Magda Crespo, local insurance expert will talk to us be about how to use our medical plans in Panama, and the differences of how insurance is handled in Panama. She will speak on deductibles, co- payments and so on. And she will address the fact that our doctors do give us the "gringo price" and how to avoid it. FREE ADMISSION

Tuesday, August 29 – Hospice presents “Being Prepared”. What do you want people to do with your stuff? Does anyone know how to reach your family back home? How would a friend or family access money to pay for you to be admitted to an emergency room, pay for an ambulance ride or worse yet, pay the morgue? Come to the Being Prepared presentation and start thinking about what you need to get your plans in order. It really does make life easier to have a plan.

Tuesday, August 22 – Open Forum and Newcomers Meeting. Come with your questions, complaints and discussion topics. This is an open meeting where you can discuss anything you want or ask any questions you want. We will have a few “old timers” on stage who can give you some advice about navigating all topics/problems about living in Panama. The panel includes Jere McCormick (newcomers socials), Bonnie Williams (U.S. warden for Boquete, and Penny Barrett (the Newslady). Want to know how to navigate a governmental bureaucracy maze or where to buy a certain item? Want to know how other folks overcame problems in getting their residency visa? This is the place to find the answers and suggestions. You’re still a newcomer until you’ve lived her 5 years or more.

Tuesday, August 15 -- Benefits the V.A. Doesn’t Tell Vets About. Shameful as it is, the V.A. does not tell veterans, or the widows of veterans, about benefits which are much needed, especially as we age! The V.A. website even misleads you about whether you can qualify! J.R. gave a wonderful talk in early June for those with service-connected disabilities. Betsy Barbeau will now provide all veterans and widows of veterans who served during any recognized war with information about a V.A. benefit that is awarded for ailments, infirmities, and/or disabilities that are or are not service-connected! If you are 65 or older, you could qualify. If you are under 65 and on Social Security Disability, you could qualify. For widows there is no age restriction. Come hear about what they are not telling you!

Tuesday, August 8 – Chef Juan Linares will speak on Market Cooking in Chiriqui. Learn to use local produce. What to do with plantains, chayotes, papayas, etc.? What are the beef cuts in Panama and how to cook them? Eat fresher, better, and cheaper. Chef Juan specializes in market cuisine using the local ingredients, (which are abundant) to produce very attractive dishes at competitive prices There will be tastings. You can read Chef Juan’s blog at http://latinamericancook.blogspot.com/