Car wash for critters
Chapala’s Surtiwash auto wash and detailing outfit is sponsoring a benefit event Saturday, August 11, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, August 12, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Proceeds from all services will be donated to support animal protection efforts by the non-profit association Paratti.
Surtiwash is located at Avenida Pepe Guizar 104, near the turn-off to the Chapala-Mezcala highway.
Running
The Ultra Trail Campanaria 2018 mountain race is Sunday, August 12, encompassing three contests of varied distances starting and ending at the Ajijic Malecon.
The 43-kilometer Tecuán race kicks off at 6 a.m., followed by the start of the 14-km Campanaria run at 8 a.m., and the 9.1-km Copal China contest at 9 a.m. Competition is open to a maximum of 500 runners, registered in male and female divisions with four age categories in the longer routes and five for the shortest run.
Cash prizes of different amounts will be awarded to the top runners. To sign up, contact Daniel Urzua, 331-443-1050 (cel).
Open Circle
Daniel Acuff, PhD, presents “Creation and the Afterlife – Perspectives of Six Cultures” at the next meeting of Open Circle, Sunday, August 12, 10:30 a.m., on the patio of the Lake Chapala Society (LCS).
From the dawn of consciousness, humans have looked to the stars and asked themselves three fundamental questions: Where did we come from? What is the best way we should live? What happens when we die?
Acuff will briefly explore the answers to each of these questions based on the mythology, or “stories,” of Native Americans, Australian Aborigines, Judeo-Christians, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists. Then there is a revolutionary view of creation and the afterlife that millions of people around the globe are now considering as an alternate view.
Acuff’s PhD. is in philosophy, sociology, and education. He has been a seminar leader and radio talk show host and is author of fifteen books including three philosophical/spiritual works of fiction: “God Lied–What’s Really Going on Here,” “The Mysteries of Quan,” and “Golf and the Zen Master.”
Information: opencircleajijic.org.
Blood Pressure
Blood pressure screenings open to the public are offered at LCS each Monday in August from 10 a.m. to noon.
Progressive Action Group
The meeting of the Progressive Action Group planned for August 14 has been cancelled as the group’s officers and many members are out of the country. The Progressive Action Group is a gathering of like-minded people looking for progressive solutions to political problems. They meet at 4 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at the Sunrise Restaurant in Chula Vista.
Information: Facebook/ProgressiveActionGroup; e-mail: 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..
Democrats Abroad
Democrats Abroad Lake Chapala Chapter continues with its non-partisan voter registration assistance at the Lake Chapala Society in Ajijic.
The help sessions will continue throughout August where volunteers will be situated under the umbrellas each Tuesday 10 a.m. to noon. All U.S. and dual-U.S. citizens who will not be in the United States this fall should register to request their absentee ballots as soon as possible to make their votes count in the November midterm elections.
Individuals who are housebound or not able to come to LCS on Tuesday mornings can e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to request personalized help with their ballot requests. Additionally, citizens can also receive their state ballots by registering directly online at votefromabroad.org or fvap.gov.
The chapter’s series of monthly meetings and other activities will start again in September. All members, visitors and new residents at Lakeside are welcome to attend its meetings.
Pickleball for beginners
People interested in learning pickleball, lakeside’s fastest growing outdoor sport, are welcome to take advantage of classes for beginners now held every Thursday, 6 to 7 p.m., at Chapala’s Hotel Montecarlo, Avenida Hidalgo 296.
Bilingual instructors Kevin Duff and Sam Recinos are offering the classes at no charge, although students are required to pay the hotel’s 50-peso charge for entrance to the courts.
Pickleball is a paddle sport for singles and doubles play that combines elements of badminton, tennis and table tennis.
The low-impact court game has seen a meteoric rise in popularity in recent years, particularly among senior adults. Basic rules and techniques are easily learned in a single class, the two coaches say.
For details contact Kevin Duff via e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or 315-133-9484 (cel).
Bingo Lago
Have Hammer Will Travel sponsors Bingo by the Lake (Bingo Lago) each Tuesday, 1 p.m., at Maria Isabel restaurant.
LCS TED Talks
Psychologist Barry Schwartz will discuss “Our Loss of Wisdom” at the next TED Talk, Tuesday, August 14, noon to 1:15 p.m., at the Lake Chapala Society Sala. LCS members only.
Schwartz makes a passionate call for “practical wisdom” as an antidote to a society gone mad with bureaucracy.
He makes the powerful argument that rules often fail us, incentives often backfire and practical, everyday wisdom will help rebuild our world.
Exploring Spanish
Lake Chapala Society members can take advantage of a free Spanish class, Wednesdays from noon to 1:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the LCS Sala.
Yoga
One-hour yoga classes by certified instructor Delia, featuring both chair and mat techniques, are held Wednesdays, 9 a.m., at American Legion Post 7 in Chapala. To sign up or for information, call 331-222-0438.
Tech classes
Lake Chapala Society members can take technology classes Thursdays, 10-11:30 a.m., in the LCS sala.
Thursday, August 16: Google Photos. Learn the basics of Google Photos. Store all your photos for free, create albums, share photos, enhance pictures, backup your smartphone photos automatically.
Thursday August 23: iPhone Q&A. Bring your iPhone questions for clarification.
Thursday August 31: Android Q&A. Bring your Android questions for clarification.
Birders
The Lake Chapala Birders meet Friday, August 17, 8 a.m. at Donas Donuts to carpool, proceeding to the Rosa Amarilla Loop on the plateau above the south side of the lake (a 60-minute drive). Expect to see higher altitude and pasture birds such as Eastern meadowlark, redwing blackbird and possibly a roadrunner.
Bring refreshments for the morning and sandwiches for the 12:30 p.m. lunch stop. Return time is 3 p.m.
Bird walks are open to all those interested in birds, both beginners and experienced birders. Just bring binoculars.
If you plan on going, e-mail John Keeling, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. at least 48 hours ahead of time saying whether you can bring a vehicle to help in carpool planning. If you are being given a ride, expected contribution for gas and tolls is 50-100 pesos for a half day outing, 100-200 for a day trip.
LCS bus trip
The Lake Chapala Society heads to Galerias Mall and Costco Thursday, August 23. Shop at major retailers such as Sears, Best Buy and Super Walmart. Dine at popular restaurants.
The bus departs 9:30 a.m. from the sculpture in La Floresta.
Cost is 370 pesos for members and 470 pesos for non-members.
LCS Prueba Mexico
The Lake Chapala Society offers more courses on Mexican traditions.
Thursday, August 31, the course is titled “Temascal: ancient Mexican ritual” (purifying spirit). It will be presented by Ricardo Yohualoceloth and Cesar Mata in the Tlatonal community near Ixtlahuacan from 2-6:30 p.m. The fee is 650 pesos. A minimum of ten students will need to sign up by August 24.
Imbibing Mexican style
Lake Chapala Society members can partake of a Prueba Mexico class in Mexican hot cocktails with instructor Carlos Yañez, Tuesday, September 11, 3-5 p.m.
Learn how to prepare a vampirito, a sangrita, a casuela, a traditional margarita and a michelada, just in time to celebrate Mexican Independence Day. Sign up through September 6 at the LCS office.
Mexican taxes, government
As part of the Lake Chapala Society’s Personal Enrichment Program, Maria de las Nieves Solbes and Diego Solbes will lead the course, “Taxes and government: How do they work in Mexico,” Fridays, September 7-28, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the South Campus Board Room.
Moving to another country might be a very confusing experience when it comes to how the law works. Our head gets full of questions and doubts. What taxes should I pay? How? When? Why? What does the government do with them? What does a delegado (municipal delegate) do? What’s the structure of the Mexican government? How does it work, etc.
Sign up at the LCS office, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Enrollment ends September 1.
Insight Meditation
The Heart of Awareness Insight Meditation Community offers multiple opportunities each week for silent meditation: Sundays, 9 a.m., Wednesdays, 4 p.m., and Thursdays, 11 a.m.
Wednesday, August 15, the meditation period will be followed by a video talk by Julie Nelson titled “Taking Vows, Attaining Nothing: A Zen Perspective on Personal and Social Projects.”
Nelson, an economics professor and teacher in the Boundless Way Zen school, talks about how the concept of non-attainment can transform the way we work with our desires, intentions and deeply felt commitments, examining our longing for happiness and health and our aspirations for social, economic and environmental justice.
Everyone is welcome to come for just the meditation or the program and discussion, or both. The session ends at 6 p.m.
A yoga class is offered at The Heart of Awareness on Thursdays from 9-10:45 a.m.
The meditation center is at Guadalupe Victoria 101, Ajijic. Information: heartofawareness.org.