Four-legged friends
Lakeside Spay and Neuter Center A.C. (The Ranch) is sponsoring a dog adoption day, Saturday, January 9, from 10:30 to 2 p.m. in front of Zeta Gas, across the street from El Torito market. To see the photos of dogs on offer go to lakesidespayandneutercenter.com/ranchdogs.
Two weekends later, Lakeside Friends of Cats A.C. will sponsor an adopt-a-cat day at their Cat Shelter and Pet Store at Hidalgo 212 in Riberas del Pilar. To view their cats and kittens looking for a good home go to Facebook/Lakeside-Friends-of-the-Animals.
Open Circle
Open Circle switches venues this week, with a Power Point lecture, “Ocular Diseases: What you Need to Know About Your Eyes,” by Dr. Gabriel Dery to be held at Club Exotica inside El Jardin Restaurant on the Ajijic Plaza, Sunday, January 10, 10:30 a.m.
Dr. Dery will explain symptoms of eye diseases older adults may have but not recognize.
Dr. Dery was professionally credentialed in France, Canada and the United States, specializing in corneal disease. He practiced in Beverly Hills and South Orange County, California for 45 years, and at the invitation of China in 2006, served two years at Tianjin Medical University, teaching, lecturing and treating patients. For several years he was a World Health Volunteer, flying monthly to Guaymas, Mexico to treat villagers. He and his wife Marina made Ajijic their home in 2011.
Democrats
Democrats Abroad welcomes Sue Tucker, a former Massachusetts state representative and senator, who will address the Monday, January 11, 4 p.m. meeting of the Lake Chapala Chapter of Democrats Abroad Mexico at Restaurante La Bodega, 16 de Septiembre 114. Botanas will be served at 3:30 p.m.
Tucker will address “What Does It Mean To Be A Democrat In Today’s World?”, drawing on her personal experiences in the Massachusetts Senate dealing with domestic violence, homelessness, human services, casino gambling and same-sex marriage.
She will discuss current issues on the U.S. national stage, such as money in politics, immigration and income inequality, and address some of the fundamental ways that Democrats and Republicans view such issues.
Tucker’s political career began in 1982 when she won a seat in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, where (as a former English teacher) she focused on education issues. Tucker also authored ground-breaking legislation to fight domestic violence.
In 1994, she authored the book “Benchmarking: A Guide for Educators,” which applied the principles of Total Quality Management to school settings.
In 1999, Tucker won her district’s Senate seat and began a 12-year career focusing on ending homelessness, improving services for those with mental and physical disabilities, writing legislation to help keep senior citizens in their homes instead of nursing homes and taking on the auto insurance scams that were driving up costs for her constituents.
Her biggest fight in the Senate was to keep casinos out of Massachusetts. The year after she retired, the Senate passed a bill to allow four casinos in the state.
Now retired, Tucker enjoys reading, gardening, and travelling with her husband Mike. She will be in Ajijic for a month, thanks to her friend Barbara Hildt, a former Massachusetts state representative and currently on the board of the Lake Chapala Society and Viva La Musica.
Circus
Circo Unión is back for business at the Tobolandia parking lot, with circus acts under the big top scheduled daily through Tuesday, January 12. Show times are 6:15 and 8:30 p.m. daily, except for Sunday runs at 4, 6 and 8. The live camels grazing in the foreground are there for solely promotional purposes, not for working in performances.
LCS Seminar
Lake Chapala Society (LCS) members are invited to attend the Tuesday, January 12, noon-1:15 p.m. learning seminar featuring former prime minister of Australia Kevin Rudd’s TED Talk titled “Are China and the U.S. doomed to conflict?” Fred Harland is the moderator.
Rudd is also a longtime student of China, with a unique vantage point to watch its power rise in the past few decades. He asks whether the growing ambition of China will inevitably lead to conflict with other major powers — and suggests another narrative.
Neill James lecture
John Milton presents “Are We Rational?” on Tuesday, January 12, 2 p.m. in the LCS sala. He will briefly examine whether people, governments and corporations behave rationally, and whether it is reasonable to expect people to be persuaded by rational discourse. This is a revised version of a talk given last year in this series.
Dr. Milton has taught in Canada, the Middle East, South East Asia, the DRC (Africa) and India, and develops natural language processing systems and online educational platforms.
Progressives
Larry Pihl, executive director of the local Democrats Abroad chapter, will talk about the Global Primary taking place the first week of March at the Tuesday, January 12, 4 p.m. meeting of the Lakeside Progressives.
Participation in the Global Primary is a way for all Democrats to vote in a primary election, regardless of which U.S. state they may be from. Local progressives John DeWaal and Chad Olsen will talk about the gains made by progressives worldwide in 2015. They will also pass a hat to help fund their advertising campaign for Senator Bernie Sanders.
The Lakeside Progressives meet at 4 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at the Peacock Garden Restaurant on Colon in Ajijic. This is a group of like-minded people looking for progressive solutions to problems not being addressed by the major political parties.
Most attendees have an early dinner at the restaurant following the meeting. The group’s Facebook page is Lakeside Progressives. Email Chad Olsen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have questions. Bring a progressive friend.
Conservatives
The Lakeside Conservatives Group meets Tuesday, January 12, 2 p.m. for a social hour at the Sunrise Restaurant at Carretera 119 in Chula Vista. At 3 p.m., Tina Hite will give a presentation entitled “In the Eye of the Storm: A Christian’s Experience in a Unique Muslim Country – Morocco.”
Hite was employed at the Pentagon with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and as a civilian assigned to Clark Air Base, Philippines (witnessing the return of Vietnam POWs), an administrator at Arizona State University, the University of Tulsa, and retired from Oral Roberts University. She taught English at a Bible school in Oaxaca, Mexico and will return as director of the International School of Ministry in Casablanca, Morocco.
As a Lakeside resident before going to Morocco three years ago, Hite was an elder at the Little Chapel, secretary of the Lakeside Tea Party (many will remember her performance in a pre-election musical skit here), and instrumental in organizing Lakeside Day of Prayer for America in 2011.
For more information on the Conservatives and the upcoming meeting call 376-766-2601 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Trivia Quiz Afternoon
Niños Incapacitados still has tickets available for the Trivia Quiz fundraiser Tuesday, January 12, 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the Hotel Real de Chapala. Contestants can form teams of eight or come and wing it on their own. Those attending should bring their own munchies, but there will be a no-host bar. Tickets for the afternoon event are 250 pesos. The 6:30 p.m. contest tickets are 300 pesos. For tickets email Lorna McIntyre at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Canadians
Ross Arnold will speak on “Secrets of Successful Living in Mexico” at the Wednesday, January 13 meeting of the Canadian Club of Lake Chapala at the Nueva Posada.
Social hour begins 3 p.m. and the program is at 4 p.m. Yearly membership is 200 pesos and includes four 25-peso drink tickets. A 50-peso fee is levied on non-members. You do not have to be Canadian to attend.
Polar Bears Wanted
Cruz Roja Chapala is looking for a pack of adventuresome, outdoorsy folks who dare to join others in taking the plunge to become members of the 2016 Cruz Roja Polar Bears.
This year the bears will swim, dive and frolic in a spectacular swimming pool, surrounded by palm trees, at the Hotel Montecarlo on Wednesday, January 13, from 1-3 p.m.
This year’s plunge comes complete with locker rooms, showers, lounge chairs, cheering crowds and the music of DJ Howard to get everyone dancing, combined with food and beverages available nearby. This event has all of the amenities suitable for “High class bears.”
Cruz Roja needs brave folks to take the new, amenity-filled Polar Bear plunge. The bears need folks to solicit sponsorships to support Cruz Roja. There will be fun for all and funds to help all when help is needed most. Entrance to the event is free. For information or to sign up to take the plunge, or to sponsor a bear, contact Margy at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (376) 766-4337.
Shriners Dine Out
Alma and Cesar of Los Telares Restaurant will host the next Dine with the Shrine fundraiser at their restaurant at Morelos 6, Wednesday, January 20, lunch or dinner from noon to 8 p.m. Entrees include a choice of sea bass in lemon sauce served with mixed vegetables or chicken Parmesan served with fettuccini. The cost of 140 pesos per meal is donated to the Lake Chapala Shrine Club to benefit their activities helping with transportation to Shrine burn centers in Mexico City and the United States to area children. The cost does not include tips, salads, desserts or drinks. For reservations call 766-0428.
Robbie Burns
Don’t miss the Niños Incapacitados fundraising Robbie Burns Supper, which will feature Scottish dancing, tartans and bagpipes, Monday, January 25 in the patio area of the Hotel Real de Chapala.
Contact Anne Flaningam at (376) 766-1609 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for tickets at 375 pesos. Tickets can also be ordered from the website programaninos.com.