On Sunday around 10pm near PH Las Olas, a condominium building in the Vista Mar development, a security guard warded off 4 individuals with criminal intent. Night Watchman, Jaime Cortez responded to a call for aid from a female security guard, who heard a noise in the bushes. When Jaime arrived, he was faced with four men who were clearly there to do harm. How the criminals gained access to the development grounds and what their intentions were are still unclear. What we do know is that Jaime exchanged gun fire with the individuals and was shot in the leg 3 times. His bold actions to defend the area, chased the criminals off and deterred them from carrying out their plans. Police are still investigating.

This incident comes on the heels of several violent home invasions at the beaches, that have left residents concerned about security and bringing criminals to justice.

Are you afraid of going to the dentist? Do you suffer of a condition that prevents you from using anesthesia? The Clínica VIAL Centro Médico Dental offers dental procedures using hipnosis to alleviate fear and pain.

 Doctor Beatriz Testa, dental surgeon and hypnotherapist, explains that hypnosis is a special state of consciousness in which ideas are accepted by suggestion rather than logical evaluation. There are areas in which hypnosis can be used in varying degrees on most patients: diminishing fears and apprehensions, persuading the patient to accept the treatment as well as obtain impressions and bite registrations. Hypnosis can also be helpful in giving suggestions (posthypnotic) which ensure correct follow-up by the patient in the management of dentures, orthodontic appliances, and oral hygiene. Doctor Beatriz talks about the common misconception that being in a hypnotic trance like being asleep. The Doctor explains that the patient stays conscious and is aware everything that happens around them.

In this age of technology, businesses are generally seeking to expand thier reach via a social media and mobile presence. For www.playacommunity.com, a popular English language web portal serving Panama’s Pacific coast, since 2007, an expansion includes printed media. The portal has just launched a print publication, called LA PLAYA Community News.

The web portal, www.playacommunity.com is most popular among expats for its content providing information about getting around in Panama, beach social events, business profiles, classifieds, tide tables and other useful beach-community oriented features. The site also has it's own iPhone and Android app, called PANAMA TIDES, which provides Tide Chart information for locations across Panama.

As a young person living in the beach area, I often get asked the question, “what is there to do around here”? In past years I’ve found myself wondering the same thing. This year I have some answers!

 If you are new to the area a great place to meet new people is Picasso’s Wednesday happy hour, starting at 5 p.m. Happy hour at Picasso often turns into an evening of good conversation with new friends. Claire (owner) has been hard at work creating Coronado nightlife for the young and young at heart. Expect music every Saturday night. Picasso is open Wednesday – Sunday from 4:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Open later on event nights.

Summer has come to Panama, vines are flowering and seed pods are emerging. One particular vine with purplish flowers and brown seed pods that you may find on the border of your property is Mucuna prurita, aka cowhage, cow-itch, horse-eye, nipay, oyo de venado, velvet bean, Hell Fire Bean, and (in Panama and much of Central America) pica pica. The fine hairs on the seed pods dislodge with touch or a faint breeze causing intense itching if they land on your skin. Consider judicious use of broadleaf herbicides such as Roundup™ and Scythe™ as well as gloves, long shirt, and long pants when working with pica pica.

If you shopped for a new computer over the past Holiday season, you undoubtedly noticed there is a new version of the Microsoft Windows Operating System appropriately titled “Windows 8.”  In case you haven’t heard, this newest rendition of the industry-standard operating system has undergone a dramatic change.  So, depending on how comfortable you are with Windows 7, you may feel totally overwhelmed when you first sit down with the new Graphical User Interface (GUI) of Windows 8.

Since the Windows platform is now available on cell phones and tablets, the intent of Microsoft was to create an operating system that could seamlessly transition between cell phones, tablets, laptops or desktops (think Apple’s iOS on the iPhone and iPad, or Google’s Android phones and tablets).  The problem with Microsoft’s new operating system though, is that Windows 8 suffers from an identity crisis.  Unfortunately, Microsoft’s attempt to use the same GUI on all devices has resulted in an operating system which is awkward, counter-intuitive and very difficult to use for even seasoned computer technicians.  For instance, within Windows 8, on non-touch-sensitive devices such as regular laptops/netbooks or desktops, you have the option of switching between the new interface (called “Metro”) and the old desktop interface.  While this may sound easy enough, if you don’t know the exact locations to click, you can quickly find yourself lost in a digital maze trying to get back to a standard, Windows-7-esque desktop environment.  Fortunately, as long as you’re using Windows 8 on touch-sensitive devices such as cell-phones or tablets, although the GUI is very different, the interface is quite easy to use.

The UPM Race Series is a series of Moto-cross/Quad events, set to take place at Nitro City, Punta Chame. The race series will begin this Sunday, January 27^th. The second event of the series is scheduled for February 24^th and the third, March 24^th. These events are open to the public and free for spectators. The race is also open to the public, new riders are encouraged to get involved. Race registration for both MX and Quads is $60.00 per race.   

Panama Safety Boxes opened it doors for business last year. Located on the top floor of Coronado Mall in Coronado, Panama. The comany offers safety boxes in a variety of sizes. Fully equipped secure offices are ready for new owners to move in. Set up hassles are taken care of. Phones, internet, bank accounts and lisences are in hand. The shareholders are selling due to a change in company focus. Click 'read more' for details of the sale.

One of the goals my family set out when we moved to Panama in August was to explore as much of the country as we could.  So far I think we’ve done pretty good, having been to Gamboa, Boquette, Pedasi, San Blas and seemingly every little nook and cranny between Chame and Santa Clara.

With my 11-year-old son on Christmas break from school, my wife and I decided we should take a road trip to visit Bocas Del Toro and venture over to Costa Rica to extend our tourist visa.

One of the good things about Panama is that it is relatively easy to get around, especially if you have a reliable vehicle.  When we planned our drive to Bocas we didn’t want to drive there in one day.  So, we looked for a place about halfway; somewhere we could relax for a couple of days and enjoy another part of Panama.  After some research, we decided on Las Lajas Beach.

The increase in home invasions in Panama's Beach areas has many expat residents in the area worried about their safety. In the past 2 months there have been several incidents that involved violence - victims being tied up, held down or beaten. The question in everyone's mind is, 'will I be next' . People also wonder what is being done to eradicate the criminal element that is driving foreigners back to their home countries.

The most recent incident happened in San Carlos at 7am on Friday, January 11th. It changed the lives of a Canadian couple who had just bought their dream house on the beach. The couple (whose names are withheld for safety), are a polite, soft spoken, man and woman in their late 50s. In speaking with them, I am amazed at the respect they have for Panama and its people, even considering the nightmare they have just gone through. The Canadians researched Panama for three years before making the move. They even factored in the possibility of being robbed in a third world country, but never, ever thought the robbery would come in the form of a home invasion with violent intruders. They had only called Panama home for 6 weeks, before they were victimized in an invasion that left them so traumatized that they are not able to return to their Panama home.

Kiteboarding, also called Kitesurfing, is an extreme board sport that uses a large kite to harness the power of the wind. The terms kiteboarding and kitesurfing are interchangeable, however some use kitesurfing when the sport is done in waves, and kiteboarding for the sport done on flat water.

 Kiteboarding has become a popular sport in Panama, especially in the Punta Chame area. Last year Playacommunity met with Youri Zoon, world champion kiteboarder, to talk a bit about what the area had to offer the sport of kiteboarding.

For the past 5 years The Coronado Area Social Association (CASA) has fundraised throughout the year to provide food baskets for poor families with handicapped children. This year was no exception. On January 6th 2013 CASA distributed food baskets to families in the San Carlos area.

Fundraising for the baskets takes a lot of time, planning and organization. Long hours were dedicated to the cause by CASA board members and volunteers. This year fundraising efforts included a spaghetti dinner and an auction of prizes donated by local businesses at the CASA Craft Sale. Funds were also donated privately by several individuals, including a local poker group. HIM hardware donated non-perishable food items, Mailboxes Etc. donated reusable bags, and gift certificates to purchase food items were donated by J2L Seguros and PTY Lawyers.

On Saturday December 15 2012, Travis Pastrana was at Nitro City, Panama’s action sports resort, to celebrate their one-year anniversary. 

Travis Pastrana, known for his presence in motosports, is an 11-time X-Games gold medalist and a four-time rally champion. Despite his decorated status, Travis is humble and always happy to talk to his fans. Playacommunity was at Nitro to ask Travis (Co-creator of Nitro City) why he chose Punta Chame as the ultimate extreme sports getaway.