Kunena Site Syndication http://www.playacommunity.com/ Sat, 25 May 2013 18:36:31 -0400 Kunena 1.5.12 http://www.playacommunity.com/components/com_kunena/template/default_ex/images/english/emoticons/rss.gif http://www.playacommunity.com/ Kunena Site Syndication http://www.playacommunity.com/en/message-board-mainmenu-198/general-conversation/1527-yes-you-can-build-a-home-with-ease#1534 You can contact me at jctrueson@gmail.com or call 6762-3114. I will put you in contact with him. Thu, 23 May 2013 10:38:35 -0400 http://www.playacommunity.com/en/message-board-mainmenu-198/general-conversation/1527-yes-you-can-build-a-home-with-ease#1533 What pattern are you talking about? Are you looking for house plans? Thu, 23 May 2013 10:35:33 -0400 http://www.playacommunity.com/en/message-board-mainmenu-198/general-conversation/1531-items-for-sale#1532 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) Wed, 22 May 2013 11:10:32 -0400 http://www.playacommunity.com/en/message-board-mainmenu-198/general-conversation/1531-items-for-sale#1531 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 Tue, 21 May 2013 20:51:18 -0400 http://www.playacommunity.com/en/message-board-mainmenu-198/general-conversation/1527-yes-you-can-build-a-home-with-ease#1530 I adore this pattern. This is actually fine! I have to have to buy one for my residence. Where exactly can I get this? Mon, 20 May 2013 06:32:29 -0400 http://www.playacommunity.com/en/message-board-mainmenu-198/general-conversation/1529-small-sound-board--mixer-needed-for-5-minutes#1529 I have a problem with my sound system and trying to trouble shoot the problem would be much easier if I had a different sound board...don't matter what size...I just need to switch it with my board for just a moment to see if this is the problem. If you or someone you know has a sound/mixer board that I can borrow for 5 minutes please contact me. Ty@TysSportsGrillPanama.com 6780-7251 Cheers Ty Sun, 19 May 2013 15:22:29 -0400 http://www.playacommunity.com/en/message-board-mainmenu-198/general-conversation/1527-yes-you-can-build-a-home-with-ease#1528 2 questions please who is the architect ? Where is Humberto located Sun, 19 May 2013 15:05:23 -0400 http://www.playacommunity.com/en/message-board-mainmenu-198/general-conversation/1527-yes-you-can-build-a-home-with-ease#1527 Building your own home in Panama, is usually a stress-filled endeavor, as client and builder expectations tend to differ greatly. However, it doesn't have to be a difficult undertaking, per John Chase, who took the time to email me about the builder he is using and the way they are working together to build the house of his dreams. ------------------- Written by John Chase May 5, 2013 After living in a gated community in the beach area for a couple of years we decided that we want our own home on our own land. We searched for months but could not find the “right” home on the “right” land in the “right” location. We didn’t want to build because of all the stories that we have heard but that is what it came to. We found a nice property in a good location and started asking around for recommendations for a builder. After we got our plans from the architect we talked with two builders but they were both out of our price range. Then a friend introduced us to Humberto. He quoted a price for labor and said that we would not pay more but it may come in less. After we selected Humberto he gave us a materials list which we took to several ferreterias to compare prices. He started work on the septic system and the house on March 1st. May 4ththey put on the roof! Next week they start the finish work. Humberto doesn’t have a “company” but he hand selects his crew. He does not tolerate drinking on the job, arriving late, leaving early or sitting around, no skipping work, no goofing off. If any of that happens they are gone. He has only had to dismiss one man. The men that are building our house are hard working, honest and respectful. They use a level, plumb bob and a square. They clean the site as they go. You can stand at the beginning of the fence line and only see one pole because it is so straight. The corners of each room are square. Each day I visit the site and take blocks of ice for their drinking water. In the morning I get a list of materials that they need for that day and the next and take it to the ferreteria which then delivers to the site. At the end of the day I check on the progress. If they need anything during the day they call me. We are using the help of a bi-lingual friend for anything that my limited Spanish can’t handle. There have been a few minor issues that needed to be corrected and were taken care of immediately by Humberto. All in all this has been a pleasant and painless experience. Yes, it has been time consuming because I need to go to the site six days a week but it is all worth it. We are getting a great house. They have built it to above our expectations. So far we are on time and on budget. We would be happy to refer our builder for your project, as soon as ours is finished of course. If you can’t or don’t want to go to the site daily you can hire someone to do it for you. We can help find someone for you. (Not me. I’ll be in my hammock.) Fri, 17 May 2013 11:51:56 -0400 http://www.playacommunity.com/en/message-board-mainmenu-198/general-conversation/1524-playa-blanca-paradise-undone#1526 Hopefully, the residents get a good lawyer and consider filing a class action suit against the developer/builder. Perhaps Don Winner of Panama Guide would be interested in hearing about this... Thu, 16 May 2013 09:53:41 -0400 http://www.playacommunity.com/en/message-board-mainmenu-198/general-conversation/1524-playa-blanca-paradise-undone#1525 Maybe the new complaint number could be put to the test ... http://www.311.gob.pa/ Sat, 11 May 2013 17:07:42 -0400 http://www.playacommunity.com/en/message-board-mainmenu-198/general-conversation/1524-playa-blanca-paradise-undone#1524 I received this email from an owner of a condo at Playa Blanca. ---------------------------------------------------------- Paradise undone! Panama is one of the most beautiful countries in the world in which to make a new home. Many of the owners at Playa Blanca chose Panama for all its wonderful features, the climate, the lovely, warm people, the gorgeous tropical vegetation and of course the kilometers of glorious beach here at Playa Blanca. Sadly, many of the residents who purchased properties at Playa Blanca are so busy dealing with serious building repair issues and violation of their human rights that there is no time to notice let alone enjoy their new home. There are a minimum of 8 condo towers with a total of 300 apartments and numerous town houses and villas that were delivered with various construction defects and repair issues that range from serious to extremely dangerous. The 4 Founders condo towers for example were delivered with a base paint job and never properly sealed or finished with the proper paint that could withstand the rains during rainy season. As a result, there are giant cracks, filtration problems in more than half of the apartments and throughout the buildings, causing mold problems and damage to the walls and contents, ugly black and sometimes red mold running from top to bottom on the exterior walls. Improperly sloped terraces with either no drainage or inadequate drainage so the water runs back towards the building, often flooding the apartments during heavy rains. Improperly installed toilets which leak onto the ceilings of the apartments below. Inadequate water pumps that leave the upper floor apartments with no water or next to no water when the building is full of residents. Undrinkable water. Inadequate sewage treatment. Untreated, metal gas pipes that are in various states of deterioration inside the floors of the apartments which have potential for explosion. Approximately 5 years ago when the Founders towers were delivered, many, many owners contacted the developer to rectify their deficiencies. At best, half hearted efforts to solve some of the issues were made while the vast majority just went undone. There was a sinking feeling that the developer had what he wanted…our money, so there was no urgency or need to fix the mistakes. Promises were also made to potential buyers that there was going to be a new sports complex, 3 new tennis courts, and marina along with a lagoon that we were all going to be able to use. We were also going to be welcomed at the Playa Blanca Hotel because we were owners and even given sizeable discounts for meals. The reality? There is no new sports complex, no new tennis courts and no marina. We are only welcome at the hotel if we pay a $240.00 per year membership fee and we get a token meal discount. We are not allowed to use the lagoon or big pool unless we pay a yearly membership. The final assault has been the persistent demand of the developer to collect an additional $50.00 per apartment from every unit in the development as an ‘Urbanization’ fee. This fee is supposed to provide us with a list of services, most of which we do not receive and a financial statement of where and how the money is used has never been provided. As a result, a decision was made by four of the PH boards of directors to suspend paying this Urbanization fee. Consequently, the main gates to Playa Blanca have been blocked by the guards to all of our service providers including – gas trucks, garbage collection, elevator maintenance, generator, water and pool pumps, building repair people etc. Now they are harassing and trying to prevent our administrator from entering to do her job. This is a completely illegal action because the road entering the project has been designated long ago a public road by the MIVIOT (Ministry of Housing and Land Management) office in Panama City. This blockade by the developer began 5 weeks ago and over that time, we have spent days and weeks going to the Rio Hato Corregidora, the Mayor in Anton, Penonome Ombudsman, Public Prosecutor and Penonome police for help since blocking the road is illegal. And to date, the law has not been fulfilled, the doors remain closed to our service providers. Apart from preventing us from properly maintaining the critical operating systems of our buildings, we are worried this illegal action could end in some tragedy inside our building (The elevator technician was not allowed to go to rescue people who were stuck in the elevator a couple of weeks ago) No one will help us despite all the resolutions that MIVI has sent to the various public offices demanding that the law be upheld. There is no question both Human Rights and Civil laws are being violated and the developer is being allowed to continue to do so unimpeded! We are reaching the point of desperation and are now looking at options to bring more national and possibly international attention to our plight. We feel we have been terribly misled by all the promise the developer made and has not kept and we have also been let down by the government officials who are supposed to work to protect everyone, including us! We don’t seem to have any recourse against illegal acts perpetrated against us by an unscrupulous developer because the legal system is not defending our rights. Both have failed us miserably and we are obligated to make sure that others who are looking for their beautiful home in paradise know what they too could be up against if they at some point need to have their rights upheld and protected here in Panama. Fri, 10 May 2013 16:02:27 -0400 http://www.playacommunity.com/en/message-board-mainmenu-198/general-conversation/1523-emergency-energy-measures#1523 Truly amazing that this is occurring in a country with 10% growth lately. El Jefe, ever thought of going nuclear? France is doing very well with it. Don't tell me it's climate change or global warming. We have had the 2nd coldest spring on record this year; record rainfall in the South and snow in the upper Midwest and Western States. http://www.thepanamanews.com/pn/v_19/issue_03/frontpage.html Wed, 08 May 2013 10:55:04 -0400 http://www.playacommunity.com/en/message-board-mainmenu-198/general-conversation/1520-security-in-coronado-not-as-secure-as-it-seems#1522 Hello "neighbor"... Can you please email me (or call), as we are back in the U.S. and it would be easier to give you this information over the phone... (BTW, it sounds as if we are just a few doors down from you...) Thank you, Dan webmandan@gmail.com 503-476-7303 (U.S. cell phone) Sun, 05 May 2013 13:43:13 -0400 http://www.playacommunity.com/en/message-board-mainmenu-198/general-conversation/1520-security-in-coronado-not-as-secure-as-it-seems#1521 Yes- Please do enlighten your neighbors Dan. We need to know where these areas are. . We live in the same area and have been robbed several times in the past 4 weeks. We have property in the Beach Area -near Eisenmann Blvd, Arco Iris, Via Panoramica. Between the Coronado Golf Course and the Beach - A block off the Beach, Synagogue and Coronado Resort Beach Club. In the night, the Thieves are making a planned effort to get over our 8' high gate. They have stolen our solar lights, security lights and landscaping lights in the flower gardens and planters. The security lights were installed and wired 10 feet above the ground -high on a fence ! Thursday night they came again and removed 2 specialty solar lights from inside the tiled pool steps. So far over $ 400 in lights have disappeared from this property. These Thieves are NOT children. They are adults, organized, casing our properties and know what they are doing. We have not witnessed the increased Police patrols that were promised to be increased in Coronado and the beach areas specifically. Someone has the lights and knows where they are- they are either being used or they are being sold somewhere. There are 4 different models and we have pictures available. All brown metal except for pool lights which are silver LED Eg Westinghouse Double Solar LED Security Lights $ 46.95 each set @ Do It Centre. Westinghouse Individual Solar LED Lights $ 16.95 each @ Discovery Centre Neighbors we spoke to, are of the opinion it is the locals or caretakers. Someone trying to save on their electricity bills or resell stolen property for cash. It is happening during the week - not on the weekends. So it is safe to assume it is not Coronado visitors or weekenders but someone local who is in the neighborhood full-time watching and waiting. We would only hope the absentee property owners would provide security clearance for their staff and question them where any new lights came from. These lights are NOT available in Coronado area- They were all quality lights bought in Panama City at Price Smart, Discovery Centre and Do It and brought here from out of country- Not easy or available to buy at the local shops We would leave the dogs outside at night but are concerned they would be poisoned or injured. Neighbors........Please keep your eyes and ears open - Contact directly if you have any information of where our stolen property is located. Thank you. Sun, 05 May 2013 10:56:00 -0400 http://www.playacommunity.com/en/message-board-mainmenu-198/general-conversation/1520-security-in-coronado-not-as-secure-as-it-seems#1520 Hello all, I have a home in Coronado (purchased about 8 years ago) and I have been visiting Panama regularly for the last 11 years. We are now back in the states after just spending a month in Panama. In any event, I am not sure if anyone has mentioned this in any of the "forums" (or otherwise), however the "formal entrance" to Coronado (where the gate is under construction), is NOT the ONLY entrance into our "formal" (and supposedly) "guard gated" community... There are at least two other "back entrances" and in light of some of the home invasion issues, clearly these "other entrances" either need to be closed or otherwise secured, if we want to "feel" as if we have some real level of being in a gated community. If this is something that everyone is already aware of, then please disregard my comments. Beyond that, I can in fact provide clear and very easy directions for at least one of the "alternate entrances" spoken of. Take care - Dan www.PanamaDan.com Sat, 04 May 2013 13:44:26 -0400 http://www.playacommunity.com/en/message-board-mainmenu-198/general-conversation/1518-private-spanish-tutor-asap#1518 Hi there We are only in town for another 10 days but would like private Spanish lessons from a suitably qualified and experienced (preferably native) tutor. Can anyone refer please? And what should we expect to pay p/h? Thanks loads in advance Simon Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:05:52 -0400 http://www.playacommunity.com/en/message-board-mainmenu-198/share-rides-car-pooling-forum/1517-group-trips--excursions#1517 Checking to see if there are any group trips, tours, excursions planned in the next 2 months? We are quite interested. Thx, LB Sun, 28 Apr 2013 13:29:30 -0400 http://www.playacommunity.com/en/message-board-mainmenu-198/share-rides-car-pooling-forum/1516-new-mbr-ride-sharing#1516 Hi, my husband and I moved here about a month ago and we were wondering if anyone in the Gorgona/Coronado area goes to PriceSmart? If so, we would like to ride if possible. (We can assist with gas). Thanks, LB Sun, 28 Apr 2013 12:44:58 -0400 http://www.playacommunity.com/en/message-board-mainmenu-198/general-conversation/1514-sigma-sigma-sigma#1514 Are there any Sister in the Coronado Area? Sat, 27 Apr 2013 18:19:24 -0400