12082016Thu
Last updateFri, 02 Dec 2016 6pm

North Banderas Beat - December 3, 2016

Welcome back party

The Party With A Purpose (PWAP) not only gives folks a chance to get together with friends they have not seen since spring and meet newcomers, but also to answer the question: “How can I improve the quality of life while I’m here enjoying my winter stay?”

“Snowbirds” will be able to interact with local non-profit community service organization representatives, who will be manning tables and displaying information about their groups.

The PWAP will be on Sunday, December 4, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., at Casa Ayita, Lazaro Cardenas 74, near the intersection with Benito Juarez.

There are about a dozen non-profit groups operating in the Bucerias area, from animal protection to advising Mexican entrepreneurs how to grow their businesses.

The PWAP also features sales of food and drinks, a silent auction and entertainment.

For information, contact Susana Del Toro 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..

Annual Christmas story

Twenty-four years ago, Bucerias residents Ron and Arlene Tackett felt homesick at Christmas, so they decided to bring seasonal cheer to the kids of Bucerias.

They decorated a Jeep with Christmas lights, played music and drove around the town, tossing out candy to the children.  As Arlene Tackett tells it, “It was so much fun that the next year we brought down 50 toys purchased at a dollar store and that was so popular that the following year we purchased a trailer and filled it with lots of toys.

“After a few years, it was apparent that it was dangerous to drive up and down the roads of Bucerias, as the kids became so excited we were afraid we could run them over.”

Arrangements were made for them to give out toys in front of a neighborhood church.

Over the years, the number of children has increased greatly, to the current level of about 1,200. 

Four years ago, after 20 years of organizing this Christmas event, the Tacketts retired and passed on their Santa outfits to Jan and Jennie Roden.

The Rodens are no longer able to continue their coordination of the program, so it has been adopted by Amigos de Bucerias.

A fund-raiser will take place on Monday, December 5, from 2 to 6 p.m., at the Drunken Duck in Bucerias. There will be music by the Gecko Band, raffles and door prizes. Tickets cost 200 pesos.

Also, the search is on for volunteers for three dates to help bring Christmas to the children of Bucerias.

Forty volunteers are needed to wrap the gifts on December 15. 

On December 21, 20 people are needed to package cookies that will be given out to the children with their gifts.

The last event – distributing the gifts to the children – takes place on December 24 and is the most fun of all.  Around 50 volunteers are needed to organize gifts, candy, and kids. Start time is 10 a.m. and the elves expect to finish prior to 4 p.m.

If you can help, email Gwen 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..

New golf course

The Greg Norman Signature Course at Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta officially opened November 14, with the renowned Australian golfer in attendance. 

The course is unique in that it is located on both sides of the Ameca River, running between Nuevo Vallarta and Puerto Vallarta, making it the only golf course in Mexico built in two states, Jalisco and Nayarit.

The two “states” of the course are connected by the world’s longest suspension bridge for golf carts.

At the inauguration Norman said, “In designing this course, much consideration was given to conservation of ecologically sensitive areas. As a result, the layout was dictated by nature, planning around dense vegetation, streams and wetlands.”

Interesting features include the presence of many large, old guanacaste and parota trees.

For more information, visit www.vidanta.com.

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