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Last updateFri, 17 Oct 2014 1pm

Laguna Chapalac - October 10, 2014

Voter Registration

While the Lake Chapala Society will be closed on Monday, October 13 for the observance of Canadian Thanksgiving, Democrats Abroad volunteers will be on hand from 10 a.m. until noon in the front patio so that U.S. citizens can register to vote.

Next the Lake Chapala Chapter of Democrats Abroad Mexico will conduct a registration and assistance session from 10 a.m. until noon on Wednesday, October 15 at Salvador’s Restaurant in Ajijic.

For more information, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or phone 763-5271.

Shrine Club

After completing the tally for the Labor Day celebration held last month at American Legion Post 7, John Pence (left) was delighted to turn over a check for 16,000 pesos to Chapala Shrine Club rep Graham Paull, as a contribution to the fund that allows local children to travel to Mexico City’s Shrine Hospital for specialized medical treatment.

Bilingual Toastmasters

Toastmasters clubs, including the local Lago de Chapala group, participated in the Area 11 Contest on October 3 in Ajijic. Local members Arch Crane, Beth McDonald, Rosa Aguilar, Jesus Jimenez, Hirim Moreles and Marissa Urrutia all received a certificate of participation.

Francisco Lopez took first place in the Spanish Evaluation contest, with Aguilar in second and Jimenez third. Lopez will represent Area 11 in the next level of competition.

The Lago de Chapala group will meet on Monday, October 13, 7 to 8:30 p.m. in a Spanish session in the LCS Sala. The side gate on Ramon Corona will be open. For more information in English, call Guy Jobidon at (376) 766-5181.

Coffee and Chat

There is still time to join the informal coffee gathering on Tuesday, October 14, 10:30 a.m. in an historic Ajijic home. Sponsored by the School for Special Children, the morning confab has a special admission price – the donation of one quality outfit, either gently worn, vintage or new.

These items of clothing will find a new home and purpose when they are modeled by Lakeside women and then auctioned during the December 4 fashion show to help fund the school. For reservations contact Lesley Martin at 766-2274 or Pat Doran at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

The fashion show, Everything Old is New Again, is always an entertaining afternoon as guests become very competitive while trying to outbid one another to purchase the clothing. The admission price for this December fundraiser is 250 pesos for lunch, fashion show, auction, door prizes and a complimentary glass of wine. All proceeds provide continued support for the School for Special Children.

Lakeside Progressives

Curly Lieberman will share insights on her trip to the West Bank (east of Israel) with Interfaith Peace Builders during the Tuesday, October 14, 4 p.m. meeting of The Lakeside Progressives in the Peacock Garden Restaurant on Colón in Ajijic. Most of those attending these gatherings of like-minded people looking for progressive solutions to problems not being addressed by the major U.S. political parties remain after the meeting to continue their discussion over an early dinner.

Learn more about the group by visiting their Facebook page: Lakeside Progressives. Those with questions or who wish to attend can email Chad Olsen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Day of Dead Tour Tickets

Plans are being finalized for Day of the Dead tours at the Ajijic cemetery on Sunday, November 2. Tour guide Vivian Michel will lead participants on a 90-minute journey into the heart of this fascinating Mexican tradition. Michel will leave the gates of the Panteon Municipal de Ajijic with three different groups of tour-goers at 1, 3:30 and 6 p.m.  According to event planners Ajijic Delegado Hector España and Community Liaison Harry Bublin, proceeds from the 100-peso tour tickets will be used for community development projects, including mural restoration, plantings, trash barrels, the International Garden, a park fountain and more.  

“We know that area residents will enjoy these tours and learn a lot about our tradition,” said España. “Tickets will be available at the Casa de Cultura on the Ajijic plaza on Wednesday, October 15.”

Lakeside Freethinkers

The next regular monthly meeting of the Lakeside Freethinkers will be held on Wednesday, October 15, 4 p.m. The group defines freethinkers as those who identify themselves as an atheist, agnostic, secular humanist or skeptic. They reject belief in the supernatural and rely on science and reason to guide their lives.

Featured during the October meeting will be “out of the closet” stories by members who wish to share their experiences and join in the expected lively discussion. Attendees continue their conversations about these and other matters over dinner. For additional information, and for the meeting’s location, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Tarahumara Bazaar

The eighth annual Tarahumara Project Mega Bazaar is set for Sunday, October, 26, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in a new location: the back parking lot of El Torito Supermarket in Plaza Bugambilias. This venue is roofed so it doesn’t matter if it’s raining or the sun is beating down.

There will be tables and chairs to sit down while enjoying a corndog, hot dog, “salchipulpos,” french fries, libations and more. Proceeds from the food and bazaar go to the Complejo Asistencial Clinica Santa Teresita, which runs a free children’s hospital, indigenous school, feeding program and clean water projec to benefit the Tarahumara people of the Copper Canyon in Northern Mexico. Funds will also help defray the cost of transporting warm clothing and blankets from Lakeside to the hospital in the winter.

“We have gotten some interesting donations this year,” says Tarahumara Project founder Libby Townsend. “Apart from the usual clothing, books, and knick knacks, there are cameras and lenses, a portable swimming pool with a filter pump, a couple of bikes, costume jewelry and wall art.”

She continues: “There is still plenty of time to donate your junk. We can take left-overs from remodels or construction projects: paint, bricks, roof tiles, even kitchen sinks.”

To arrange pick up call Townsend at (376) 766-1167 or 766-3338, or drop donations off at the Guadalajara Reporter office in Plaza Bugambilias in Ajijic, Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Pet Food Drive

Volunteers from Anita’s Animals will be on hand for the monthly food drive from 10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 16 at the Lakeside Friends of the Animals (LFA) shelter pet food store. Those who wish to make a donation to any of the local animal rescue and adoption organizations can purchase food on the day of the event and  designate which group is to receive the donation. With each purchase at the store, LFA supports several lakeside charitable organizations.  

Those who are unable to attend on October 16 can purchase food at any time during the month at the LFA pet food store and then tell the clerk the food is a donation to the selected group. Customers then must notify the group so a volunteer can pick up the donation at the store.

With each purchase at the store, customers are helping LFA support several lakeside charitable organizations.

A String Thing

The group that meets on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for knitting, crocheting and conversation is taking a “stitch-cation” (holiday) on October 16 and 23. They will resume their weekly sessions on October 30. The group meets at Javier Mina 60-8 in Ajijic. For more information, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Buddhist Community

The Heart of Awareness Buddhist Community meets at 4:30 p.m. at Encarcion Rosas 9 in Ajijic on Wednesday, October 15 for meditation and dharma teachings. The film selected for the meeting is from Shambhala Acharyaa Fleet Maul: “Fear and Fearless: Transforming Fear-Based Culture Through Bravery and Compassion.”

The inaugural meeting of the Mindful Recovery Group has been scheduled from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, October 14. Weekly meetings will continue at the same time and day so that attendees can support one another in establishing and/or enhancing a recovery program based on Buddhist teachings and practice.

Heart of Awareness is a non-sectarian Buddhist practice community grounded in the original teachings of the Buddha as preserved in the Theravada/Vipassana tradition. For information, call Karin Miles at (376) 766-0020.

Lakeside Presbyterian

During the past five weeks, Pastor Ross Arnold has based the 10 a.m. Sunday worship service sermons on C.S. Lewis’ delightful series of books, The Chronicles of Narnia. The books are more than simply children’s fantasy, they provide a fresh interpretation of Christian life.

Arnold’s Sunday, October 12 sermon is inspired by The Silver Chair, which addresses the battle against the spiritual powers of darkness. The magnificent lion, Asian, who represents Jesus, returns in this book and says, “You would not have called to me unless I had been calling to you.”

On the second Sunday of each month the Lakeside Presbyterian Church serves a complimentary lunch in the garden for all who wish to attend. The church is on the mountain side on the Carretera just west of S&S Auto.

Little Chapel by the Lake

Sunday, October 12 activities at the Little Chapel by the Lake begin with refreshments shared at 10:45 a.m. with the congregation of Christ Church Lakeside. The 11:15 a.m. worship service will feature Rev. Gene Raymer’s message, “Good Meal,” which he illustrates by noting that while participants enjoyed the church’s Cajun lunch last Sunday, none of them waited until this Sunday to eat again. He adds that spirits also need to be fed daily.  
Following the service, those attending will adjourn to Tony’s Restaurant for fellowship and food together.  

The mid-week inspirational movie at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 15 will be “Bertie and Bogey.” The movie is free as are the provided refreshments.

The Little Chapel by the Lake is an interdenominational congregation on the mountain side of the Carretera just east of the Chula Vista golf course.

St. Andrew’s Anglican

“Remember the Future,” Father Winston Welty’s sermon for the Sunday, October 12, 10 a.m. worship service at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church recalls the promise of triumph and God’s invitation to live today as shared by the prophet Isaiah.

The children’s bilingual Sunday School program begins each week at 9:45 a.m. A time of welcome, fellowship and refreshment is held in the garden after the worship service.

The food program for the needy is always grateful for non-perishable items which can be placed in the baskets at the church doors on Sundays.

The annual Harvest Comida will be held at St. Andrew’s on October 24 to commemorate both the Canadian and U.S. Thanksgiving holidays. The menu will include all of the traditional favorite fall foods: turkey, stuffing, mashed and sweet potatoes, green beans and a variety of pies with ice cream. Tickets at 200 pesos can be purchased in the garden after the Sunday worship service.

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

San Andrés English

“The Lord’s Wedding Feast” is the title of the homily planned by Rev. Basil G. Royston, D.Min. for the 9 a.m. English Mass on Sunday, October 12 at San Andrés Church in Ajijic.

“In Christ Jesus, God fulfills all of our needs, as lavishly as only God can,” says Royston. “All of us, no matter how unworthy we may be, are invited to the wedding feast of His Son.  We have only to enter.”

On the second Sunday of each month the English congregation presents their white envelope offering which funds the outreach projects chosen by the group. These monies go to support Cruz Roja, the elderly, students and orphans, as well as those served by Operation Feed and other local groups.

Unitarian Universalist

Dr. Sam Thelin from the Cruz Roja in Chapala will be the featured speaker at the Sunday, October 12, 10:30 a.m. meeting of the Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at Plaza de la Ribera, Rio Bravo 10A in Ajijic. Thelin’s talk is entitled “Dying in Mexico: Everything You Need to Know.” A coffee hour will follow the service.

Unitarian Universalist members search for truth along many paths and gather around common moral values that include the inherent worth and dignity of each person. For more information call (376) 766-1458 or visit uuflc.org.

Christ Church

Father Danny Borkowski’s message for the 9:30 a.m. service of Christ Church Lakeside on Sunday, October 12 is “My Catholic Sermon,” based on Matthew 22:1-14. The congregation joins the Little Chapel for coffee/fellowship from about 10:35 until 11:10 a.m.

Deacon Rob Wells leads a weekly Bible study on Tuesday, from 10 to 11 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall of the Little Chapel. The group is currently delving into the Gospel of Luke as presented in the Jerusalem Bible. All opinions are respected and all questions answered by the leaders and those in attendance.

Members of Christ Church Lakeside meet in the Little Chapel by the Lake.