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        <title>Panama Beach Expat Community News and Events - Forum</title>
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        <link>http://www.playacommunity.com/</link>
        <lastBuildDate>Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:18:01 -0400</lastBuildDate>
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        <item>
            <title>Subject: Re: visiting Coronado Jul 20 to Aug 17 - by: angelfish</title>
            <link>http://www.playacommunity.com/es/forum/general-conversation/1539-visiting-coronado-jul-20-to-aug-17#1540</link>
            <description>Hi,

Check out the calendar on this site and it will give you what is going on in the beaches.  CASA (Coronado Area Social Association) is unfortunately having their mid year picnic on the 20th, so I am guessing you will be missing that.  Many restaurants have special / meet and great type of activities, see Playacommunity on a weekly basis doing something at La Teca, Picasso usually has something going on and really just by walking into Reys you will hear English.

Hope you enjoy your time here!</description>
            <pubDate>Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:55:28 -0400</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Subject: visiting Coronado Jul 20 to Aug 17 - by: Susan W</title>
            <link>http://www.playacommunity.com/es/forum/general-conversation/1539-visiting-coronado-jul-20-to-aug-17#1539</link>
            <description>Want to connect with area expats...... :)</description>
            <pubDate>Sat, 15 Jun 2013 09:52:43 -0400</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Subject: Property Management, Concierge &amp; Shopping Services - by: simplify_panama</title>
            <link>http://www.playacommunity.com/es/forum/general-conversation/1538-property-management-concierge-a-shopping-services#1538</link>
            <description>I'm pleased to introduce our business, Simplify Panama.

We provide property management, concierge &amp; shopping services. The company is
located in Panama City, and offers service throughout the country to individuals
and small businesses.

Our high-quality service standards are on par with North America. The company
owners have over 40 years collective experience in professional maintenance,
hotel/property management and customer service in the United States and Panama.

Our web site is simplifypanama.com.

Make life easier. Please contact us for details.

Regards,

Julie</description>
            <pubDate>Sun, 09 Jun 2013 10:39:26 -0400</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Subject: VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTS - by: islandguy</title>
            <link>http://www.playacommunity.com/es/forum/general-conversation/1537-vitamin-supplements#1537</link>
            <description>Anyone know of where you can get a large selection of vitamins in panama or what website will ship them here.  :S</description>
            <pubDate>Wed, 05 Jun 2013 13:06:51 -0400</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Subject: Re: ITEMS FOR SALE - by: TSG</title>
            <link>http://www.playacommunity.com/es/forum/general-conversation/1531-items-for-sale#1536</link>
            <description>Good idea...didn't even look at that...

Thanks
Ty</description>
            <pubDate>Fri, 31 May 2013 14:33:13 -0400</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Subject: ANOTHER ROBERY/ATTACK IN SAN CARLOS - by: TSG</title>
            <link>http://www.playacommunity.com/es/forum/general-conversation/1535-another-roberyattack-in-san-carlos#1535</link>
            <description>This was just sent to me...

On Tuesday May 28th, at approximately 9:30 PM, five masked gunmen attacked the owner and four guests at Rancho des Toro in San Carlos, Panama Province, Panama. This attack was even more violent than the last one.

This is the second violent robbery at Rancho des Toro in recent months. In that attack, fourteen guests were robbed. The restaurant/hotel was just beginning to bounce back from that attack when the gang - the same gang, the owner thinks - struck again. His was not the only business in the area to be attacked that night. This however, was the most violent. 

Joe Wilmoth, the owner of Rancho des Toro was brutalized during the attack. His swollen face and bruises are testamant to the rising violence in the interior. &quot;We increased our security tremendouly after the first attack&quot; said Joe. However, the thugs bold actions, and police inaction defeated the new security measures.

Joe managed to hit the newly-installed silent alarm hooked up directly to the San Carlos Police - they took 50 minutes to make the 5 minute drive. 

The only foreshadowing of the attack was that Joe noticed that some of the extra lights he had recently installed at the gates had burned out already, and he made a mental note to change the bulbs tomorrow - he had no idea the bulbs had been unscrewed by the well organised thieves.

They arrived silently, on foot, in the darkness. They waited until Ross, for the ranch manager went to sleep. (Ross would have meant they were out-numbered). They attacked all at once - dressed like nija's. They attacked the men first - splitting open one man's scalp with a pistol, and punching another in the face, then brandishing guns, they forced them all to the ground and tied them up. When a thug is holding a gun to your wife's head - there is little you can do but comply.

They all carried guns, some had knives, some had machetes, and at least one had a bull-whip. 

They used blue internet wire found on-site, while the electricians installing internet at the ranch slept in near-by cabins.

They ordered them to shut up, lay down and to be quiet in English with heavy Spanish accents.

They had communications, and escaped in a car. 

They did not sneak in during the night. They came while the the restaurant was open - they came prepared to beat and rob these &quot;gringos&quot;.  

As their victims lay hog-tied, terrified and helpless, they forced them to sit up so they could photograph their bruised and bloody faces. 

The victims were smart. They did not try to fight the attackers - only a fool brings a fist to a gun fight.

Even one or two guns against five would be foolish. Heroics are for the movies.

Instead they have some bruises and may need some stitches, but they are alive. They let them take what they wanted: a safe and some personal effects. Once they bust it open, they will find that the safe is empty. These idiots even left behind the one purse where they had placed most of the money, cell phones and wallets they had gathered. These punks are clearly not very bright. So why aren't they in jail?

No arrests have been made from the last attacks - despite the police knowing who two of the attackers are, according to Joe.  

According to Gorgona Vecinos Vigilantes (Neighbourhood Watch), the same night as the Rancho des Toro attack, the offices of Rio Mar were robbed.

A nearby resident of Ranchos des Toro said that her dogs went crazy around 12 midnight the same night (her back gate is very close to the Rancho front gate) - she was home alone, and turned on the security lights and let her two very large dogs out. They took off barking after something, but the person(s) or animals managed to escape.

In the last year or so, there has been a murder, a couple of kidnappings, multiple break-ins and armed robberies targeted against foreigners in the interior.

The violence is clearly escalating. It has to be stopped.

It is time to fight back.

For the first time, all three community safety organisations in Panama are working together to fight these criminals: Neighbours Helping Neighbours (NHN), Alto Al Crimen (AAC) in Boquete and Gorgona Vecinos Vigilantes are working on this case together.

Alto Al Crimen dispatched their private detective to the crime scene within 30 minutes of receiving the call from one of the victims (all four guests at Rancho des Toro were visiting from Boquete). He has been on-site for two days now, interviewing victims, gathering evidence, asking questions of the locals - he is on the trail of the attackers.

A show of support meeting is being held Thursday June 6th at 6 PM at Ranch des Toro - our armed detective, our armed police liazon and our security will ensure that nothing interferes with our fun.

We hope to raise money for a reward for information leading to the arrest of these criminals, and for legal fees to support the prosecution of these thugs.

There will be no weapons discussions or sales pitches - We will be presenting our plan on how we intend on identifying these punks, having them arrested, and having them convicted - Please come show your support. 

To lighten the mood, we are selling &quot;Ham - Burglars&quot; with a cash bar. 

Don't think this is a Joe/Rancho des Toro problem. It is all of our problem.

If you have ever driven to Momma Mia's, Carlitos, or El Palmar - remember - it is just as easy for these thugs to drive the other way - to your house.

You do not have to be a member of any of these organisations to attend. You just have to care.

Bring your neighbours - this is not an &quot;anti-Panama group&quot;, or a &quot;gringo group&quot;.

This is a &quot;safety for the residents of the interior&quot; group.

Look for the signs/balloons off the highway,  just west of Carlitos restaurant.

Rancho des Toro is 3 km north off the highway from Carlitos. 

This Thursday June 6th at 6 PM.

Be there or be square.</description>
            <pubDate>Fri, 31 May 2013 14:25:07 -0400</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Subject: Re: Yes you CAN build a home with Ease! - by: nchase</title>
            <link>http://www.playacommunity.com/es/forum/general-conversation/1527-yes-you-can-build-a-home-with-ease#1534</link>
            <description>You can contact me at jctrueson@gmail.com or call 6762-3114.  I will put you in contact with him.</description>
            <pubDate>Thu, 23 May 2013 10:38:35 -0400</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Subject: Re: Yes you CAN build a home with Ease! - by: nchase</title>
            <link>http://www.playacommunity.com/es/forum/general-conversation/1527-yes-you-can-build-a-home-with-ease#1533</link>
            <description>What pattern are you talking about?  Are you looking for house plans?</description>
            <pubDate>Thu, 23 May 2013 10:35:33 -0400</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Subject: Re: ITEMS FOR SALE - by: Peace/Unity</title>
            <link>http://www.playacommunity.com/es/forum/general-conversation/1531-items-for-sale#1532</link>
            <description>Ty, you might have better luck putting the items (AND pictures)
in the CLASSIFIEDS section of this newspaper.  Just click on
CLASSIFIEDS at top of this page and the form will appear for
your ad.
Wait 24 hours and it will be posted. B)</description>
            <pubDate>Wed, 22 May 2013 11:10:32 -0400</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Subject: ITEMS FOR SALE - by: TSG</title>
            <link>http://www.playacommunity.com/es/forum/general-conversation/1531-items-for-sale#1531</link>
            <description>Garret AT Pro metal detector

Top of the line only used 8 hours...waterproof to 30 feet. Too many features to list. Comes with Garret Backpack and tools for digging. More info and specs at the Garret website...http://www.garrett.com/hobbysite/hbby_at_pro_main.aspx

Paid $700...sell for $500.


Commercial meat slicer...used only 2 weeks because we changed our menu shortly after buying it. Paid $450 sell for $300.

6780-7251
Ty</description>
            <pubDate>Tue, 21 May 2013 20:51:18 -0400</pubDate>
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