LCS summer picnic
Join in with fellow expats and friends at the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) Summer Picnic for some good old-fashioned fun complete with food, drinks and games for everyone.
The event is on Saturday, June 18, from 2:30 to 6 p.m. with hamburgers and hot dogs and all the trimmings, corn on the cob, pies, cakes and a cash bar.
There’ll be a watermelon seed spitting contest, line dancing and a 50-50 raffle. Dance to the music of the Tall Boys in their farewell appearance on the LCS stage.
Admission is 180 pesos at the door. Advance tickets are 100 pesos for members and 150 pesos for non-members. Tickets are for admission only. Food and drinks are available for purchase.
Biker Dads’ Day
Jocotepec is hosting a Motorcycle Fathers’ Day event Sunday, June 19 together with the Moto Clubes Unidos de Jalisco (United Motorcycle Clubs of Jalisco) and Escuadron Biker Caballeria motorcycle club from Guadalajara.
The town’s mayor will welcome the bikers in the main plaza at 10:30 a.m. before they head out for a ride on Lakeside byways. A blessing of helmets is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at the Parroquia del Señor del Monte church in the center of Jocotepec. A parade of bikes around the principal streets will commence before the party ends up at the Jocotepec Malecon for live rock and ska music at 3 p.m.
Open Circle
John Thomas Dodds will present “Father Hunting” at the Open Circle meeting Sunday, June 19, 10:30 a.m. in the Lake Chapala Society garden.
Father Hunting is a personal journey in poetic narrative exploring abandonment, separation and fatherhood. It chronicles the child in search of a father, becoming a father himself, overcoming child custody, and then letting go, coming full circle in a loving father/son relationship.
Following years as a consultant in training & development in Ontario, Dodds moved to Massachusetts and ran the Vocational Department in a residential treatment center for abused males aged 11 to 21. He received his Special Education Teacher’s license at 65. With a degree in creative writing from the University of Texas, along with many years in theater arts, his writing career has spanned 50 years. He has publishing 11 books of poetry that explore relationships, spirituality and his romance with life. Dodds is presently working on his second novel. He and his wife Candis are permanent residents of Ajijic.
For more information on this talk and Open Circle, see opencircleajijic.org.
Welcome in the solstice
New age fans may delight in this fourth annual “1,000 Drums” family camp-out on Mezcala Island Friday, June 18 through Monday, June 21. Daily ceremonies are planned to welcome in the summer solstice.
Folks who want to take advantage of the sacred fire, the water ceremony, song ceremonies, pre-hispanic music and the traditional ceremonies for grandfathers and grandmothers without camping out, may just show up.
All visitors must pay their transport to the Mezcala boat men (about 30 pesos per person).
There is no charge for the events or camping, but to camp there or take advantage of the free temazcales you must register by telephone with Casa Lahak in Guadalajara before 8:30 p.m. on Friday. If you plan to camp out, you can either bring your own food (but no throw-away plastic) or you can ask for the food plan (150 pesos per day) and deposit the amount in any Oxxo.
Bathrooms and a camping area are available.
To register for the camping and temazcales and/or receive the account number to deposit for food, call (in Spanish) (33) 3613-1805. Visit facebook/1000tamboresguadalajara for more information.
Family History Center
The Family History Center at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Riberas del Pilar is now open again. The computers, which were stolen several weeks ago, have been replaced. Hours are Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Thursday, 10 a.m. to noon. To reserve space, contact Pam Ames for Tuesdays at (331) 831-3209 and for Thursdays contact Pat Reynolds at 766-3501.
Buddhists
The Heart of Awareness Buddhist Sangha meets weekly on Wednesdays. Noble Silence begins at 4 p.m., followed at 4:30 p.m. by a formal meditation period, dharma teachings and discussion. June 22 the teaching will be the fourth of a video series on “The Four Nourishments of Life: The Fourth Nutriment: Consciousness,” presented by Brother Phap Hai, a senior monastic disciple of Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh.
The Center is open for hour-long silent meditation periods on Sunday and Monday, June 19 and 20, from 9 to 10 a.m., and Thursday, June 23, from 11 a.m. to noon. A “Drop-In” Practice/Study group meets every Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. All are welcome.
A yoga class suitable for all levels of experience is offered at Heart of Awareness on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9 to 11 a.m. A donation of 50 pesos is requested for the class.
The Heart of Awareness is a non-sectarian community grounded in the teachings of the Buddha as preserved in the Theravada/Vipassana tradition. Prior experience or affiliation is not required. The sangha’s location is at Guadalupe Victoria 101 in Ajijic. For further information on the community and scheduled activities, visit heartofawareness.org, or call Janet Reichert at (376) 766-6069.
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Canada Day
The Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 1, 904 Wing Royal Canadian Air Force Association and the Canadian Club of Lake Chapala are throwing a party celebrating Canada’s 149th birthday Friday, July 1 at the Nuevo Chapala Club House (Zaragoza 731, Chapala) from noon until 4 p.m.
On tap will be burgers, hot dogs, door prizes, birthday cake and dancing.
Easy directions are to go north on the main street of Chapala and turn to the right at the Pemex, then go straight through until you come to a fork in the road, bear right and through by the guardhouse to the club house.
Tickets available at Fenix Real Estate are 150 pesos per person.
LCS Spanish classes
The Lake Chapala Society has announced the start of its next term of Spanish language classes for members. Classes will run from July 5 to August 22.
Classes meet two days a week for an hour and a half each session at the Wilkes Education Center (Biblioteca) in Ajijic.
The LCS Spanish program uses the Warren Hardy Spanish language course which is designed for the adult student. Several levels of instruction are available as students progress in the program. Registration for the upcoming classes is underway at the LCS office or online. A representative of the program will be available to answer questions and take registrations every day during the week of June 26 to July 1, 10:30 to 1:30 p.m. at LCS on the blue umbrella patio.
The LCS also announces its next round of Introduction to Spanish language classes for members. This is a casual class offered for the beginner that covers the Spanish alphabet, simple vocabulary and phrases to use about town for shopping, and other useful information about our area and Mexican culture.
Classes are held each month starting the first Tuesday of the month and continue for three weeks. July classes start on Tuesday, July 5 and will be held at the LCS campus from noon to 1:30 p.m.