The Guadalajara Reporter

Laguna Chapalac - November 23, 2013

End Polio Now!

The Rotary Club of Ajijic thanks everyone who contributed to the November 8 fundraising dinner and wants them to know that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has not only doubled the final 22,000 pesos raised, but tripled it.  A total of 66,000 pesos has been sent to Rotary International’s End Polio Now! program, club officers report.

To learn more about the Rotary Club of Ajijic visit www.rotaryajijic.org.

Genealogy Forum

This month’s meeting of the Genealogy Forum will take place Tuesday, November 26, 2 p.m. in the Sala at Lake Chapala Society (LCS).  This month’s forum will include bits and pieces of current genealogy news and a discussion of source materials. We will discuss how to qualify source material and how to evaluate it for accuracy. Just a hint - great aunt Cora’s statement that you are a direct descendant of Benjamin Franklin is not a primary source and needs to be verified. For further information, please contact Fran Murphy at 766-0067.

You do not need to be an LCS member to join the Forum.  Everyone is welcome.

LPGA Volunteers

Dozens of volunteers from the Chapala Country Club and the Chula Vista Golf Club, ably led by John Brown (far right) served as marshals in last week’s LPGA Lorena Ochoa Invitational held at the Guadalajara Country Club. Sadly, this is last year the popular ladies professional  tournament will be held in the city. 

Democrats Abroad

Democrats Abroad will meet Tuesday, November 26, 4 p.m. at La Nueva Posada in Ajijic to elect interim board members to fill the vacancies for chair, vice chair and secretary. Fran Reidelberger, Brooke Reidelberger and Lorene Fields have been proposed by the nominating committee.  Nominations may also be made from the floor.

Tarahumara

Libby Townsend of the Tarahumara Project has set the date for her yard sale to raise funds for the free Tarahumara children’s hospital in Creel, Chihuahua.

The sale will be held Saturday, November 30, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the project’s new headquarters: Calle Pescadores 2, Riberas del Pilar. (Pescadores is the last street on the lake side of the highway before you get to the curves on the way to Chapala.)

Each year, Townsend collects unwanted items and sells them at a yard sale. The funds raised from the sale and other fundraisers throughout the year are delivered to the hospital, along with much needed blankets, warm clothing, medicines and school supplies.

The free hospital serves as a life-saver for many indigenous people who might otherwise die of tuberculosis, gastrointestinal infections and pneumonia. It treats around 5,000 people a year, approximately half of them children under the age of five.

There is still time to help by donating items to the yard sale. Call Townsend for pick up at 333-495-7263 (cell), or drop items off at the Guadalajara Reporter office, Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Feria Maestros

Two days of inclement weather did little to deter eager shoppers from scooping up top quality Mexican folk art during the three-day run of the 12th annual Feria Maestros del Arte.  Among the great goods up for grabs were the fine examples of Wixárika yarn paintings and beadwork exhibited by (L to R) Imelda de la Cruz with Angelica, Susana and Rosy Valadez, the dedicated women behind the Huichol Center for Cultural Survival based in Sayulita, Nayarit.

Open Gaming

Want to learn and play new card/table/board games? Looking to share your favorite games with new players? You can do this at the Lake Chapala Gazebo on Sunday, December 1  and 15, from 12:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. (after Open Circle). Please use the “back” gate on Corona toward the lake.

No games are provided — participants will play only what is brought along (players without games are welcome). Nearly anything goes – e.g., Uno, Monopoly, Mah Jongg, Fluxx, Scrabble, Cribbage, Clue, Pandemic, etc. Don’t bring “loud” or “party” games that are likely to distract or disrupt nearby games and gamers. All are welcome.

Community barbecue

Here’s chance to help Operation Feed and Operation Compassion serve the neediest local families this holiday season.

Attend a community barbecue on Saturday, December 7 in the lovely Casita Montana Happiness Garden, on the second floor of Plaza Montana, at the corner of the Carretera and Colon in Ajijic.

There will be two seatings: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. A cash bar will be available.

Live entertainment will feature Dana “Neil Diamond” Jack Fallon, Don Beaudreault and more.

And in the spirit of Christmas, everyone is urged to bring a toy for the toy drive.

For more information call Anne Dyer at 766-5513. Buy tickets at Dyer’s Casita Montana, Diane Pearl’s or from the charities themselves. 

Augustin Vasquez, owner of Viva Mexico Restaurant, is the “angel” of Operation Feed in San Juan Cosala, an all-volunteer program that provides weekly food packages for those who would go hungry without their aid.  Meanwhile, Tom Music, an original founder of Operation Compassion Ministries in San Antonio Tlayacapan, works tirelessly to provide hot meals to up to 100 people a day.

Gingerbread cookie fest

Following up on the hugely successful October 26 pumpkin carving contest, Ajijic gallery operator Diane Pearl has retooled her original plans for the Christmas toy hand-out, opting instead put proceeds towards a free gingerbread cookie decorating fest for local kids. The event will take place at the village plaza Saturday, December 7, 11 a.m. until the 400 pre-baked cookies run out. Each child will be supplied with two gingerbread figures, icing and decorations.

Holiday cheer

Elderly residents of Nestipac, one of Jocotepec’s poorest barrios, will get a dose of holiday cheer at the fifth annual Christmas Posada party to be held Wednesday, December 11, 2 p.m., at the neighborhood church. The old folks will be treated to tamales, atole (corn gruel) and live entertainment and each will receive a gift to help keep them warm during the winter season.

Event volunteers are calling on the community for donations of double bed/matrimonial size blankets, sweaters and rebozos, or cash to purchase gifts for the anticipated 100 elder guests.  For information on drop-off points or pick-up service, call Kathi (387) 763-2630 in Joctepec, or Shelley (376) 766-0794 in Ajijic.

Oops!

Organizers of the December 15 Christmas party for boys at the Hope House shelter inadvertently gave out a wrong phone number in the notice about the event published in last week’s Reporter. The correct number for Christine and Barry is (376) 762-1628, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Contact them or call Judy Baehr in Ajijic at 766-3244 for details about chipping in Christmas gift contributions in cash or kind.

The Hope House support group has already lined up sponsors for three of the youngsters, but still needs help in collecting shirts, pants, underwear, shoes and socks for one three-year-old and 13 other boys ages 9 to 16. All donors are invited to attend the holiday party.

Learn more about the boy’s shelter at www.hopehousemx.org.

Sponsors needed

Five children and a physically challenged young lady are in need of financial assistance for their living expenses and education.

The six are being taken care for in a private rental home in Chapala by a responsible lady without the sufficient financial means for such a task.

These children used to live in the Love in Action shelter but due to government requirements were unable to continue there.

Help is also needed to transport two of them to the Blue School in Chapala, between 2 and 6 p.m. from Monday to Friday.

For more information contact Dr. Martha Nussgen Anaya at (376) 766-2549.

Jewish Congregation

The Lake Chapala Jewish Congregation (LCJC) will mark Chanukah, the Jewish festival of rededication, also known as the Festival of Lights, at the synagogue (Sta. Margarita 113, Riberas del Pilar) on Sunday, December 1, 2 p.m. with a community-wide celebration.

The LCJC is also putting together a display if dreidels  that is the center of a tradition Chanukah game.  Celebrants are urged to bring their own unique dreidels to add to the display.

A highlight of this year’s celebration should be the communal chanukiah (menorah) lighting.  All guests are urged to bring their personal menorahs to the celebration, at which they will be lit in unison, with the prayers of season. 

The congregation will be serving traditional potato pancakes (latkes) that are consumed in great number during the holiday.  In addition to latkes, there will be some other finger foods and desserts and traditional songs and music. 

Reservations are suggested at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by calling co-chair Barbara Appel at 766-3540 as soon as possible.  A small contribution will be solicited (50 pesos per person) at the door. 

Buddhist Community

Heart of Awareness Buddhist Community meets for meditation and dharma teachings every Wednesday, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the Center for Creative Being (16 de Septiembre 53, Ajijic). 

The community is a Vipassana focused group with members from several Buddhist traditions. Activities include dharma movie nights, socials, and day-long retreats.

For more information, call Karin Miles at 766-0020.

Presbyterians

This week’s message at Lakeside Presbyterian Church is called “Oaks of Righteousness” from Isaiah 61:1-6. Pastor Ross Arnold will explore the future of the church and the vision for what we can and should be as a body of Christians in this community.

Sunday worship begins at 10 a.m. Lakeside Presbyterian Church is in Riberas del Pilar, on the mountain side of the Carretera, just west of S&S Auto and Bubba’s Restaurant.   

Center for Spiritual Living

Join Reverend Tim Schubert as he celebrates “Abundance” on Friday, November 29, from 5-6 p.m. at the Center for Spiritual Living ( Nicolas Bravo 17, Ajijic).   A social hour will follow. 

On Wednesdays, Schubert leads a class on “Conscious Living” from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  The Thursday discussion group, “The Unfettered Soul,” begins with an optional meditation from 10 a.m. to 10:20 p.m., followed by the group from 10:30 a.m. to noon. 

The Sacred Cinema presents “Regarding Henry” on Sunday, November 24, 4 p.m. 

For more information contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , call 766-0920 or check the website at www.cslchapala.com.

St. Andrew’s Anglican

It’s a month before Christmas, so why are we suddenly back on Calvary’s Hill, witnessing the crucifixion of Jesus?  Well, it’s because on this last Sunday of the Church’s year, we always return to this place of suffering and paradox. Before we once again approach the birth of Jesus, we remind ourselves of His death.  We call it “Christ the King” or “The Reign of Christ” Sunday, to remind us that God’s dominion was most powerfully demonstrated in the face of sacrifice and suffering.  This year we hear the familiar story of the penitent thief, whom tradition has named Dismas, and Jesus’s promise that death would end in triumphant life. 

Fr. Leo’s sermon, “The Agony Before the Ecstasy,” reflects on this eternal paradox, and seeks to set a true course toward the manger in Bethlehem.  At St. Andrew’s, worship begins for children at 9:45, followed by worship for the rest at 10 a.m., and a post-worship time of fellowship and welcome in the garden. 

On December 1, St. Andrew’s returns to its “high season” schedule of two worship services, at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., Sunday School at 10:45 a.m., and fellowship time at 10 a.m., between the two services. 

St. Andrew’s is located at Calle San Lucas 19, just a block south of the Carretera in Riberas del Pilar.

Christ Church Anglican

Christ Church Anglican Fellowship will celebrate the Last Sunday after Pentecost. the Feast of Christ the King, with Holy Communion Rite Two at 9:30 a.m.  at the Little Chapel by the Lake (Carretera 10, Chula Vista).  Warden Jim Power’s sermon topic is “King of the Crosses” based on Luke 23:33-43. Power is approved by Bishop Lino Gonzalez of the Diocese of Western Mexico to preside at Holy Communion from the presanctified elements. Christ Church and the Little Chapel by the Lake enjoy a joint coffee fellowship between their two services, from about 10:30 a.m. until 11 a.m.

Deacon Rob Wells is leading a Bible study on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall of the Little Chapel by the Lake. Each session lasts one hour. The current subject is the Gospel of Matthew. Wells is using the Jerusalem Bible as his principal study text and commentary. It is not necessary to have attended any previous sessions to join in.

Little Chapel

The interdenominational congregation of the Little Chapel will maintain its regular schedule of worship on Sunday, November 24.  They will begin by sharing a refreshment period with the members of Christ Church Anglican Fellowship at 10:45 a.m.  At 11:15 a.m. their regular service will begin.  That service will include a message by Rev. Gene Raymer on “The Dangers of Thanksgiving.”  Following the service, they will meet for a traditional Thanksgiving meal at the home of one of their members.