The Sweetest Project! Can You Help?

Our friend Brad Butler from San Carlos has given us some information about a great project for a group of girls in an orphanage there...the director, Alexandra Mora, is, of course, twarted by underfunding just like our local orphanage here, in Santiago.

That being said, Directora Mora has a wonderful vision for the girls who range in age from 10-17, most of whom come from abusive family backgrounds. She is starting a bakery so that the girls will learn an important trade that will serve them well as they become adults. The bakery is being built now, at the front of the orphanage, thanks to some really nice folks. We can help too! Brad and his mom Donna and her friend Jo Lyn have visited with us at our Thursday Coffee at Cafe D, and they all say that San Ramon Gringos are the best! So if you are in spring cleaning mode, The Sweetest Project really needs:

Baking pans, tins and sheets, mixing bowls, storage containers, utensils of any kind, hand or electric mixers, dishes of any size or number (matching items not necessary!), cups, glasses, anything remotely having to do with cooking or baking or serving very much appreciated

Towels, cleaning rags, buckets, brooms, mops or anything for cleaning

Cash register or money box, calculators, pencils, pens, paper, notebooks or anything for keeping records

House paint, brushes, trays, rollers or ART SUPPLIES as some of the girls have made a mural for their house and would like to do the same for the bakery; curtains, material, decorative items, or anything you think the girls could use for the bakery or for their life at the orphanage.

Date: Thursday, May 5, 2011

Meet Up Time: 10:00 am to Noon

Place: Cafe Delicious, San Ramon

Bring: Any donations you would like to give to The Sweetest Project!

Brad will be there to load any donations into his car. Time for Spring Cleaning! We all have too much stuff! Let's put it to good use! Email Brad at butler_quiros@racsa.co.cr for more info. And thanks!

RSVP Event: Community Action Alliance Mixer!

Come on out to the Community Action Alliance monthly mixer to hear about what's going on in the San Ramon community! Maybe you'd like to participate in the planning of the CAA's Christmas Extravaganza which will raise money to be awarded to schools in the form of grants...or maybe you'd just like to meet and greet some old friends and new!

Date: Friday, April 29, 2011

Time: 11 am to 12:15 pm

Place: Cruz Roja/Red Cross, Main Office, 150 meters east of Perimercado

Agenda: Committee Reports, Red Cross Update, Intros and Networking

RSVP: Mike Styles at 8333-8750 or mike@styles.com

Cost: Free to members, opportunity to join! Lots of benefits! Go to http://www.actionalliancecr.com/ for all the details!

RSVP Event: An Even More Beautiful You!

Yes! Back by popular demand, another opportunity to learn about the New Derma Medical Spa in San Ramon! Ladies, if you missed this the first time around, now's your chance! Date: Saturday, April 16, 2011 Time: 1 pm to 3 pm Place: New Derma -- Dr. Mariana Gomez Directions: From the Mall, take Main Street In to the traffic light at Chury Gas; Make a left and pass Mario's Restaurant on your left. Bear left at the split in the road and New Derma will be on the left about 300 meters past Jorcel Ferreteria. There is a very big sign in the front window. If you get to the autopista, turn around, you've passed it! RSVP/Questions: Cyndy Schaub 8393-0940 or CyndyGail@yahoo.com . THIS IS A SPACE LIMITED EVENT! PLEASE DO NOT RSVP UNLESS YOU ARE SURE YOU CAN ATTEND. Bonus: Dr. Gomez will be asking for volunteers for demonstrations and also she will have a raffle for free services worth approximately $50 each! Don't you just love it?!

Meet Up Event: Jazz and Dinner!

There's nothing better than Jazz played by the Greats...we have our own Jazz Great, Joe Anello, who will be playing for us during an early dinner! Come on along! Celebrate US Tax Day! Or celebrate living in Costa Rica! Or just celebrate!

Date: Friday, April 15, 2011

Meet Up Time: 3:00 pm at Cafe Delicious for Carpool/Caravan

Place: Mi Rancho Restaurant, Los Angeles Sur, 3:30-5:30 pm

Expect: New Owners at Mi Rancho with tipico menu, usually under 5,000 c; bar; entertainment by Joe Anello and his group! NO RSVP NECESSARY! Just meet up or meet us there!

Questions? Email Joe Anello at jophoster@gmail.com

Meet Up Event: Potluck at Cyndy's Farm!

Oh, my! We are all invited to our friend Cyndy Schaub's farm in Bolivar, near the Bilingual School on the outskirts of San Ramon, for an April Fools' Day potluck lunch and book exchange!

Date: Friday, April 1, 2011 11:30 am to 1:30 pm

Meet Up Time: 11:00 am at Cafe Delicious in San Ramon for carpool and caravan. NO NEED TO RSVP, just Meet Up at 11 SHARP!

Bring: A dish to share, plate and utensils for yourself, something to drink, up to five books you want to exchange and don't need back. This will be a lovely informal time to meet and greet old friends and new. All are welcome!

Questions? Email Cyndy at CyndyGail@yahoo.com or call her at 8393-0940.

RSVP Event: Birding Cruise at Lake Arenal!

We will have a wonderful day on The Rain Goddess! This is an advance deposit RSVP event, so act now!

Date: Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Meet Up Time: 9:30 am at Cafe Delicious in San Ramon for the comfortable bus trip to Arenal

The Day: Arrive in Arenal and board The Rain Goddess, a double-decker floating resort, for birding cruise with a fantastic lunch! For more info go to http://arenalhouseboattours.com/

and you will see just how special this day will be! Return to San Ramon about 5:30 pm.

The Cost: All inclusive, transportation, cruise, lunch.... 46,000 c per person ... a great discount arranged for us by our friend Parker Henry! To reserve, you will need to get 12,000 c to Parker ... first paid, first served! Balance due on the day of the trip. Deposits are not refundable. Only 25 spaces available.

Questions? Call Parker at 2447-7658. This is a great opportunity to see Lake Arenal without the hassle of driving yourself! Come along!

Meet Up Event: Orchids, Orchids, Everywhere!

Our friends Mary Ellen and Fernando Montenegro are taking us on an Orchid Adventure! It's really close by, and we'll be making a couple of interesting stops along the way too!

Date: Friday, March 25, 2011

Meet Up Time: 9:00 am at Cafe Delicious in San Ramon for Carpooling/Caravaning. Passengers, please give driver 1,000 c for gas.

Stops:

• First, an Orchid Farm in Palmares...everything is in bloom right now so it amazing! You will be able to purchase an orchid or two if you are interested in starting or adding to your collection. Admission to the farm is 1,000 c. You might want to bring your camera!
• Second, we will be stopping at a Mexican Shop in Palmares where you can see or buy painted glass, pottery or other items.
• And third, we'll be having the ever-important LUNCH at Foray Fay Restaurant, also in Palmares, where we've been told you can dine on the best lightly breaded shrimp around...or lots of other dishes on the typico menu less than 5,000 c.

We should return to San San Ramon between 1 and 2. THIS IS A MEET UP EVENT, NO NEED FOR RSVP, COME IF YOU LIKE...JUST MEET UP AT 9 AM SHARP AT CAFE D.

Questions? Call Mary Ellen at 2456-4170.