Marco Villegas from the Nosara Civic Association tackles some tough issues directly in this candid conversation about many of the current issues under harsh scrutiny in & around Nosara. We cover the Covirena program & enforcement of no dogs, motos or bonfires on the beach any longer, the situation in Pelada with longtime residents potentially facing eviction (or not?) as another hot topic happening around here, the new park by the ASADA building, streets, sidewalks, the updated maritime enforcement, & more.
Tag: Nosara Civic Association
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NCA Covirena Mini Episodio en Español: Playa Guiones y Pelada están dentro de una reserva natural y hay reglas (English version coming soon)
La Asociación Cívica de Nosara anuncia un nuevo programa Covirena para hacer cumplir las reglas de que estamos en una reserva natural. No más perros, motocicletas, fogatas u otras cosas en la playa que puedan dañar el medio ambiente o las áreas de anidación de las tortugas.
Nosara Civic Association is announcing new Covirena program to enforce the rules we are in a nature reserve. No more dogs, motorcycles, fires, or other things on beach which may hurt the environment & or nesting areas for the turtles.
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This Week In Nosara #40 Late September 2024: Surf, Water Moratorium Updates, Old Honolei, Happy Birthday Brian!!!
This Week In Nosara #40 is late September 2024…Here’s basic outline of this episode:
- Some quality surf photos & a couple videos from Kaiya at Surfing Nosara.
- Take a look from the air Playa Guiones overlooking Las Huacas, Pelada, North Guiones, Main Street Calle Modelo, J & K sections, South Guiones, Punta Garza, Esperanza & South Las Huacas
- Updates from the Playas de Nosara ASADA available to everyone on their Facebook page. They are providing updates about water outages, updates to the system, which areas are to be affected, community updates & answering questions.
- The biggest update is water moratorium in place for new water approval letters. The ASADA can not say when this will change because we need to provide 20 year in advance coverage so need new wells & legal processing all to take place
- Rich predicts existing construction & properties with water meters like K45 & ones with approved water letters like R6 will become highly sought after. However, there are not many properties with water letters in place
- K45 is going on the market for sale (3000m2 with ocean view in K section & a water meter). It is the old Honolei Restaurant & house Brian & Kyle Bombard used to live in. Rich had birthday party there 15 years ago photo with a young Brian in the background & ironically today is Brian’s birthday! Didn’t know about that till after this was done.
- Surf footage from Guiones thanks to Kaiya
- Nosara Civic Association reminds us to celebrate 203 years of Independence!
- NOCA leader Michel came on the Nosara Podcast; he’s an awesome guy check it out when you want to feel good
- WCA water updates & need volunteers
- MoviemientoGuardianes is doing awesome things!!
- Stop by La Roca next time driving into or out of Nosara… Terrific views & great experience
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Michel Viau from NOCA is committed to bridging Nosara’s social & cultural gaps using multidisciplinary arts with an environmental emphasis
Nosara is definitely a magnet for all types of interesting and unique characters.
As we learn in this Nosara Podcast episode, Michel Viau is most certainly is one of these dynamic & unique individuals.
Michel, alongside wife & partner Chantal, are gaining momentum in shaping the landscape of the ever-evolving Nosara, seemingly in most all of the right ways.
They are committed to bridging the social and cultural gap in Nosara, so much so in 2018 they founded Nosara Community for the Arts (NOCA). Michel explains NOCA & how he’s using his background in design to achieve their success.
Thankfully, Michel’s pattern of success in life both in business & philanthropic endeavors continues today, towards a greater Nosara. Michel is in a unique position as to not be competing for funding in quite the same manner as standard NGO’s. He’s combining an environmental focus inside discipline based art projects always involving the local Tico populace & pulling in the many different types of people moving into, or becoming involved in Nosara. He’s a positive thinker and forecasting a bright 5 year outlook for Nosara as a whole.
We hope you enjoy hearing from Michel & support NOCA’s efforts!
Check out NOCA’s website &/or socials to learn more: http://www.nocanosara.com
Here’s Michel’s site to learn more: hmichelviau.com
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The John & Susan (Short) Johnson Nosara Podcast Episode: A candid conversation
In this Nosara Podcast episode, John and Susan (Short) Johnson openly discuss a myriad of subjects plus share their purposes & intentions behind their actions for themselves & the Nosara community as a whole.
It’s a wide ranging episode, which bounces around in all kinds of directions towards addressing the heavy hitting subjects surrounding our town (John also gets in a couple of good jokes along the way, which I’m grateful for) as well as just simple topics & personal opinions and memories of Nosara’s yesterday & perhaps what tomorrow will prove to be.
Rather than spend much time reciting the same things as the litany of articles and such that are readily available on the internet about the Johnson family, I decided to take a different approach, which hopefully proves significantly more beneficial to the community as well as the entertainment level of this episode & achieve it’s purpose of getting to know the ‘real’ version of them.
We begin with a curveball of a question & discussion with me asking their opinion about wave pools. What started as conversation starter turned into solid points from the obvious about water issues and the ocean being preferential, then into pros/cons and my wild idea about prior to any money being sent for wars… Make everyone put their guns down and have a surf (I was more serious than kidding). From there the conversation goes on a loooong ride down many lanes and avenues and I hope you enjoy it.
My goal with this episode is to provide an opportunity for people to get to know the ‘real’ version of this famous, but not so famous, duo. Reason being, this fiercely private family is constantly brought up in conversations with all kinds of things being suggested ranging from being multi billionaires with unlimited resources plotting to take over majestic Nosara all the way to extreme other end of the spectrum as kind hearted people who truly are trying to protect this town through their acquisitions and projects focused on keeping Nosara away from being engulfed by chain hotels and mega developments.
For anyone unaware: John & Susan (Short) Johnson are the owners of Nosara’s Harmony Hotel & Healing Center, Sunset Shack, El Campo (formerly Harbor Reef Hotel), new development project El Bosque, and behind many community initiatives via Harmony Projects & quietly behind the scenes of many other ones.
This is NOT a standard ‘fluff’ piece like so many others out there. Both John & Susan willingly address some of the most challenging parts of the community while providing an interesting take on things from their vantage points.
My relationship with both John & Susan started as surfing friends in the water at Playa Guiones. In recent years, I’ve spent time in water surfing with Susan & playing music with John. Turns out both John & I enjoy playing same styles of music together and I count myself fortunate to have a music friend who enjoys folk, gospel, bluegrass & from time to time we hope to play at our ‘gospel Sundays’ which is basically he & I squeezing a couple moments into our already incredibly busy schedules. He’s the only friend who has ever given me a Banjuitar (banjo strung like a guitar) & in the same conversation went over our longboard rail preferences, then bounced to meditation techniques and affirmations followed up with a recap of Nosara stuff.
Although this episode is focusing on Nosara… The Johnson’s have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Conde Nast, and so many other publications due to their exposure to the public from the Johnson & Johnson name itself in addition to their many personal accolades.
For example, John is well known for Eyebeam, being cofounder of Buzzfeed, Harmony labs, but started out as a successful filmmaker who has written, produced and directed multiple films. Susan is deeply committed and concerned about the environment… So much so she started Deep Green Living and through this & her Nosara efforts and projects wants people to live in line with their environmental values (as you will hear in this episode).
I hope this episode & this synopsis help you have more insight directly to John & Susan!
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NP #175: Meet Marco Villegas; The Nosara Civic Association’s Executive Director
Marco Villegas moved to Nosara to serve as the new Executive Director for the Nosara Civic Association. He earned an MBA in Business Administration and Sustainability and has over 10 years experience helping NGO’s and is ready to put his skill set to work for Nosara. We hope you enjoy this conversation and getting to know Marco better!
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NP #166: The Nosara Skatepark Episode
This Nosara Podcast episode is a great one! We’re thrilled about the new skate park, plus we learn quality community information. Thanks Thierry & Mike!!!
Nosara Skatepark Episode Notes:
Thierry owns Cafe Paris, since 1995, 28 years here with wife Martín, their son Mael
Mike Lopez, from LA. Pro skateboarder, actor, stuntman
Skatepark started with Mael’s visit to Tamarindo with his friend Jack & only feeling safe at skatepark. He wanted to donate some land he owned in N Guiones to a skatepark which Thierry has wanted for the community anyways. Thierry, Martín & partner decided to donate land & others are contributing monies for construction.
Mike emailed Thierry about skatepark idea. He wanted a skatepark here to use and be a part of. Later in episode he explains opening a skate shop in N Guiones. Mike connected with New Line to build the park.
GoFundMe setup everything flowed well getting project together.
Thierry & Mael do not skateboard.
Volunteers are approaching wanting to teach.
Rich presses Mike to learn what his main reason for moving here and what his concerns and fears about moving to a different country are.
Mike explains surfing caught his full attention.
Rich remembers talking with Thierry about skatepark ideas years ago but a different park emerged for a while… Thierry agrees new park way better than the ideas of years past.
Nicoya Mayor agreed with projec
Marco from ADIN says 1800 in Nosara village 3 years to 16 or 17 years old have no place to go. There’s basketball court but soccer field closed and kids need something to do.
Marco & Martín said don’t put in Guiones… Freddy from Terratour is doing free shuttles for local Tico kids in each village to go to park on the weekend.
The park is free. No entrance & everyone can hang out. Skateboarding, basketball, and climbing wall will be for free.
No food, no drinks, no competition for vendors, just a free good place
Road paved with permits and support from Nicoya & NCA.
Rich says Nosara likes to complain & asks if anyone complaining about things or worried about noise?
Events would just be for community or the 5 villages.
Erik Kurzbard’s skate videos
Rich says open Dr office by skatepark. Thierry says X-ray machine just arrived & Mandala was moved yo new location.
Dr. Alejandro going to support skatepark
26 minutes: Thierry asks ‘Do you get hurt skateboarding?’
Skatepark made with flowing, surfing type of feel fir beginners and intermediates but advanced skaters can have fun, too. Can be fun & safe.
Kona stories from Rich about benefits of pads (knee pads, wrist guards, elbow pads)
Thierry points out Nosara only had 1 Tico surfers a couple decades ago… But now Jimena is champion & others are too so why not nosara champion skater in 10 years?
Sophia & George donated to help 5 neighborhoods small skatepark plus free rides on weekends to Guiones skatepark.
Still need donations. Goal is from $1 to $1,000,000 so everyone can feel like owner. Unite the community through participation.
Nosara dislikes
Mike says roads.Rich talks about the Nosara Gossip Machine and how Nosara isn’t perfect… Thierry was scary man.
Thierry says dust being gone and more pavement in N Guiones & Main Street Guiones and the Calle Modelo project with Harmony Projects.Thierry says mainly private people and not too expensive. Rich asks if L section can fix their road & Thierry says yes.
Rich makes joke about Nosara & Nicoya getting along
Thierry complains about truck noise especially when they downshift using motor for brakes.
Rich says need speed bumps in front of orgánico, El Locale, and at the old 5 points where Pelada entrances and L section are.
Thierry says 10 or 12 speed bumps on way
3 favorite restaurants
Mike’s
Almendros wings
La Luna bbq chicken pizza
Olivia’s
El Chivo Thai foodThierry
Harmony Patte?
Luv Burger pizza
Pulpo
Blue ZoneLast words:
Nosara Skatepark GoFundMe & new skate shop about to openRich says thanks for speed bumps and Nicoya being nice. Thierry says new mayor very positive and wants to help.
Thierry says everything bad from past is getting solved (internet, roads, phones, restaurants, etc)
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Nosara Social Science Study Report to the Community: Four Perspectives on a Sustainable Future in Nosara, Costa Rica
Dr. Alvaro Salas Castro is a frequent quest on the Nosara Podcast. You may remember him as the leader of the community round table event at El Local last July 29th. This event was hosted to share & gather information for the Nosara Social Science Study.
A team of high level social scientists including Dr. Alvaro Salas, Tina Nabatchi, Christian Freitag, and Greg Munno are conducting the study focusing on Nosara’s ability to become a model community for the world, or just another standard beach town.
There are many different levels to the study which evolves around the sustainable future of Nosara. After the event they have been working hard on processing the data further with the first results now coming out.
We just received the publication of the research which we’ll include here below as a downloadable PDF as well as the Abstract from the publication:
The town of Nosara on Costa Rica’s Nicoya peninsula is home to a vibrant community of diverse residents and is adjacent to an important turtle nesting site. However, tensions between lifelong residents, more recent transplants, visitors, and developers have increased as more of the
world discovers this once-isolated haven. Climate change, income inequality, and alienation from a
distant government apparatus have further complicated effective land-use planning and fractured
social cohesion. Using a mixed-method approach of in-depth interviews (n = 67), Q methodology
(n = 79), and public deliberation (n = 88), we explored residents’ priorities for the future of their
town. The results indicate four different perspectives on Nosara’s future. Despite the tensions among
those four perspectives, they show consensus on one overarching community issue: the need for
a sustainable development plan. The case also shows how Q-methodology can assist scholars and
practitioners who embrace participatory approaches to policy development and conflict resolution in
the environmental arena.For more background on this also include below is one of the earlier Dr. Salas episodes if you haven’t heard about this research before. More news and updates about the next steps and process will follow soon, so keep an eye out for any new updates!
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NP #116: Dr’s & Scientists from the Nosara Research Project are inviting ALL area residents to participate in a survey to prepare for July 29th round table event (8 minute short version)
In this Nosara Podcast, Dr. Alvaro Salas-Castro, Dr. Tina Nabatchi, & Dr. Christian Freitag invite ALL Nosara residents to participate in an important survey.
They explain there are 3 phases to this project. Phase 1 is now complete, Phase 2 is this survey (see below links to participate & instructions), and Phase 3 is the July 29th round table event, when all of Nosara’s collected information will be shared.
They are requesting as much participation as possible from all demographics and want people to know their opinions and concerns are included and important. Their goal is to share collective information in a manner promoting unification and dialogue thus providing an opportunity to progress.
Queremos participación con todos en la comunidad!!! Inglés o español todo bien.
This was carefully written understanding there are multiple steps and it might be confusing for some.
Its in English and/or Spanish.
*SURVEY ESPANOL*
http://tinyurl.com/nosara-estudio
*SURVEY ENGLISH*
https://tinyurl.com/nosara-study
What’s happening is truly unique and an opportunity for our community to unite for a greater cause no matter our background or financial status. Participation will make a difference.
*Two important tools to help fill out the survey* 😉
VIDEO TUTORIAL (Español y Ingles)
FAQ (Ingles)
