Going solar
In the spirit of Christmas, a group of 13 golfers from the Chapala/Ajijic area were invited by Ivan Tamez and Ron Magen of Solar Technology to join them at the beautiful Santa Anita Golf and Country Club on Guadalajara on December 13.
The group, taking a lead from Tamez and Magen, got generous and decided to have an impromptu golf tournament to raise funds for the purchase of Christmas toys for the kids at the Tepehua Community Center in Chapala. Each golfer made a donation to a 50/50 pool and the team with the lowest net score received half and the remaining money went to the Tepehua Toy Fund. Solar Technology matched the remaining donations bringing the total fund to 1,300 pesos. The winners then generously put their share back in for a total donation of 2,000 pesos.
Some members of the group were humbled by their lofty scores at such a world-class golf course, but their seasonal spirit remained high as they knew they were bringing joy to the needy children of Tepehua. This impromptu golf tournament/charity event was a spontaneous gesture by 13 golfers to provide a token of appreciation for all that they have in Mexico. They hope other golf groups will follow with similar events for charities of their choice.
On the boil
As a prelude to the New Year on Saturday, December 31, American Legion Post Seven in Chapala hosts its annual Shrimp Boil.
You’re guaranteed all you can eat of extra large shrimp with corn-on-the-cob, garlic loaf bread, cole slaw and a mystery dessert.
The festivities commence at 1 p.m. Ricardo will be on the keyboard from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Noe and Roy from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The price is 200 pesos per person. Contact Susannah Kelly at 765-3757 or stop at the Legion, Morelos 114 in Chapala to purchase tickets.
Polar bears
Don’t forget about the Polar Bear swim set for Sunday, January 1, 2012 on the malecon in front of the Beer Garden Restaurant in Chapala. The fun begins at 12:30 p.m. with the swim at 1 p.m. Sponsors will want to be on hand to cheer on their special “bears.”
The swim will be followed by the Polar Bear Swim Raffle in which the Red Cross will be giving away two cash prizes. The Gold Raffle winner will receive 40,000 pesos and the Platinum Raffle winner 100,000 pesos. Tickets are available from Charlie Klestadt and other volunteers and will also be for sale at the “Swim.”
If you would like to participate as a Polar Bear please contact Don Marie Fraser at 766-4990 or Charlie Klestadt at (cel.) 331-445-2136.
Wildlife Rescue
Vern Geiger (L) and Carmen Limon (R) of Lakeside Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation present the “Silver Eagle Award” to Bob Hugi for his years of service protecting the animals of Mexico.
Bus trips
Cruz Roja bus trips for January will include one to Galerias Mall on Thursday, January 5 for 200 pesos; to Tonala and Tlaquepaque on Wednesday, January 11 for 200 pesos; to Galerias Mall again on Tuesday, January 17 for 200 pesos and to the Guadalajara Zoo on Wednesday, January 25 for 300 pesos. Tickets can be purchased at the Cruz Roja table at the Lake Chapala Society, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Learn Spanish
Term I of 2012 of the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) Warren Hardy Spanish Program begins Monday, January 9. Terms are seven weeks long with two class meetings per week of 90 minutes each. Six hundred pesos are required upon registration per term and there are also materials required. Please visit the website http://palasociety.org/test/Member_Activities/act_06_spanish.php for program description and cost of materials.
Register for Term I on Tuesday, January 3 and Friday, January 6 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the blue umbrella patio at LCS or on any Tuesday or Friday at the LCS service office. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with questions.
Please note that payment must be made at the time of registration. The classes are open to all 2012 members of the Lake Chapala Society.
Carolers
More than 30 folks joined the Lakeside carolers on December 16. This photo, taken at the last stop, Abbeyfield, shows (L-R) Kay Borkowski, Marge Powers, Jim and Mina Powers, Belva Velazquez and Aideen and Brian Howard. The day of singing was enjoyed by the carolers and the caroled-tos.
New Deal
The Lakeside Chapter of Democrats Abroad will hold a “New Deal Dance” on Sunday, January 29 to celebrate the 130th birthday anniversary of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The celebration, scheduled 3-6 p.m. at Club Exotica on the Ajijic Plaza, will feature a short play written by local actor, writer and directo Ed Tasca. The play, “FDR: The Man Who Gave America Its Future,” will feature local actors portraying the late president, Eleanor Roosevelt and prominent cabinet members.
Roosevelt, who historians have called the “Father of 20th Century Democracy,” was responsible for the “New Deal,” WPS, Mothers’ Aid and other progressive programs.
Tickets will be on sale for 150 pesos each beginning January 10 at the Lake Chapala Society and Diane Pearl’s Colecciones.
St. Andrew’s Anglican
Christmas festivities at St. Andrew’s begin on Christmas Eve (Saturday, December 24) at 6:15 p.m. when they gather in the church for seasonal carols that introduce the Festal Choral Christmas Eucharist at 7 p.m. The Rector’s Christmas Eve sermon, “To an Open House in the Evening,” begins by wondering whether God couldn’t have planned things a little better when it comes to Christmas (the answer may surprise you). After worship will come the traditional Christmas bonfire in the garden, accompanied by many, many home baked holiday goodies.
On Christmas Day (Sunday, December 25), the usual two Sunday services will be combined into a single 10 a.m. liturgy complete with music and a sermon entitled “Invitation from the Manger.” Whether on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve, all are welcome to celebrate the birth of Christ at St. Andrew’s, located at Calle San Lucas, 19, just a block south of the carretera in Riberas del Pilar.
Presbyterians
Lakeside Presbyterian Church will hold a Song Service on December 24, 4 p.m. Pastor Ross Arnold’s meditation will be “The Delight of Jesus,” from Isaiah 11: 1-10. On Christmas Day at 10 a.m., Arnold ’s sermon topic will be “More than a Baby,” from Timothy 1: 14-17. Friday Bible Study (book of Luke) will be held on December 30, 10 a.m.
Lakeside Presbyterian Church is located on the mountain side of the Carretera just west of S&S Auto and Bubba’s Restaurant.
Little Chapel
The Little Chapel by the Lake (non-denominational) will hold a candlelight caroling service, beginning at 4 p.m. on Saturday, December 24.
Children from the La Ola Children’s Shelter will present a seasonal program on Christmas Day at 11 a.m.
The Little Chapel by the Lake is located on the Carretera near the Chula Vista Golf Club.
Unitarians
The Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (ICUUF) meets each Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at Santa Margarita 113 in Riberas del Pilar. Sunday, December 25, the ICUUF service is entitled “Lessons and Carols” and will be given by Sue Kelley. It will explore the adult messages found in three children’s Christmas stories. The ICUUF choir and congregation will sing traditional songs of the season. For more information please call 766-1119 or email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. This is a welcoming congregation.
Christ Church Anglican
Christ Church Anglican Fellowship will celebrate Christmas Eve with a Holy Eucharist, Rite I, at the home of Kay and Danny Borkowski, 5 p.m. at Javier Mina 62. Father Dannys Borkowski’s sermon topic will be “Do not be afraid,” based on Luke 2:1-20. There will caroling, ending with “Silent Night, Holy Night” after Communion. There will be a potluck dinner after the service. There will be no service on December 25.