Once best known for the cattle and horses wandering on the long, lonely stretches, the Libramiento (Chapala bypass) is now a center of education. The newest of the schools built on the hills overlooking the shortcut joining La Floresta and the highway to Guadalajara is perhaps also the most innovative.

As the mission of the former School for the Deaf in Jocotopec broadened over the past few years, the student population has become more diverse until this year only 20 percent of the students are hearing impaired.

Two of Lake Chapala’s favorite organizations, American Legion Post 7 and the Lake Chapala Shriner Club (LCSC) are joining forces to host a Labor Day celebration on Monday, September 1 at the Post in Chapala. Proceeds from this important fundraiser will go to the LCSC Transportation Fund.

Each month the members of Lake Chapala Birders record the species of birds in the area. Interesting sightings in July included the Blue-black Grassquit, Fulvous Whistling Duck, and the White-tailed Kite – all spotted near Cajititlan. They also report hearing the call of the Northern Bobwhites at a variety of locations.  

With a new Consejo (board of directors) at the helm, the Chapala Red Cross (CR) is in the process of restructuring its internal administration to effectively fit into the national Cruz Roja organizational scheme and keep in step with changing legal boundaries set for all health care facilities.

Customers last week browse an array of hand-crafted huaraches made during four-week training workshops offered to unemployed residents of Jocotepec.