LIBRARY OPENS ITS DOORS

More than 200 people gathered to celebrate the inauguration of the Curt Thomas Sheck Community Library on Saturday, April 30, 2011, in La Colonia de Guayabo in Costa Rica. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, the mountains bore witness and the atmosphere was jubilant.

Students from the primary school conducted the flag ceremony and singing of the anthems. Following the welcome and recognition of special guests by master of ceremonies Maggie Mesegeur, Virginia Arias, president of the local development association, welcomed those in attendance and presented a statement of appreciation to the Curt Thomas Sheck Foundation, signed by 185 persons.

Luis Hurtado Mendoza, archaeologist and founding member of the Foundation for Education and Progress in Guayabo (FeProGuayabo), which will administer the library, shared a Cabecar Indian parable, and guitarists Kenet Sandoval and Pablo Mejia of the University of Costa Rica music program provided a musical interlude.

Ree Strange Sheck gave a brief history of the Sheck family connection to the Guayabo community that began in 1984 with the donation of books to the school in memory of Curt Sheck and of the birth of the foundation and its continued support of the children in Guayabo and initiation of the library project. She presented the library to the community — children, young people and adults — on behalf of the Curt Thomas Sheck Foundation.

Vianey Alfaro and Dignora Rojas spoke on behalf of FeProGuayabo and the community, followed by words from Maria Elena Montoya Piedra, mayor of Turrialba region. Two folklore dance groups from the Guayabo primary school delighted the attendees with a number of typical dances.

The ribbon was cut by members of the Sheck Foundation, FeProGuayabo, the mayor and community members. After the flag was retired, those present were invited to tour the library, where they had a chance to view a slide show of the construction of the library and the many community and noncommunity members who worked on it.

FeProGuayabo arranged for a luncheon for invitees in the Community Building near the library, with food donated and prepared by people from the community.

>> Check the photo gallery for more scenes from the opening!