Correction
We’ve had some phone calls from folks wishing to donate money to the bank account aiding the mission for the indigenous Tarahumara in Chihuahua. Checks should be made out to Complejo Asistencial Clinica Santa Teresita, A.C. and deposited at any Banamex bank, account number 70619 sucursal (branch) 838. Sorry this was left out of last week’s article about the Tarahumara.
Pitch in
A collection for local jeweler Daniel Jackson Garcia is going on at Diane Pearl’s Colecciones, Ocampo 1, in Ajijic. Jackson’s studio blew up when a tank of acetylene gas exploded on January 20. Jackson, who has third degree burns on 40 percent of his body, has lost all of his tools and appliances and won’t be able to work for at least six weeks. Money is needed for the support of his family and to begin putting their lives back together. Jackson has been a generous supporter of local charities for years. Now is the time to give back. Dig deep. This is an urgent situation.
Singles
The Lake Chapala Society Singles will meet at Viva Mexico Restaurant just two blocks west of the plaza in San Juan Cosala on February 9. The ambiance is warm and inviting and it is a great place to socialize. Cocktails will be served from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The first cocktail will be free and the restaurant will offer special prices for all drinks. Stick around for an optional, excellent meal after the cocktail hour. For further information about the group, contact Walt Bowkers at 766-5710 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Daughters of the American Revolution
(L-R) Dorrie Sheppard and Belle Arnold were installed as new members into the Thomas Paine Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution on January 18 by chapter regent June Matthews (R).
Your family
The next meeting of the Genealogy Forum will be on Monday, January 20, 2 p.m. in the LCS Sala. Bill Levy will make a presentation on how to photograph your precious documents and research findings. Since most archives will now allow the use of a digital camera without a flash, it is important to understand how best to set up your camera and documents to get legible results. This is a fast way to get your research results as well as a good way to preserve your originals in a digital format without a scanner. Feel free to bring your camera and questions. Everyone is invited to attend, whether or not they are members of the Lake Chapala Society. For more information contact Phyl Gaskell at 766-2722 or Fran Murphy at 766-0067.
Learning
Ron Mullenaux will chair the next LCS seminar on January 31, noon, in the LCS Sala. The seminar will feature (via TED Internet podcast) Ya Shen Huan speaking on “Does Democracy Stifle Economic Growth?” Huang compares China to India and is asked how China’s authoritarian rule contributed to its astonishing economic growth—leading to a big question—Is democracy actually holding India back? Huang’s answer may surprise you.
Brits
The British Society will meet Saturday, February 4, 1 p.m. at Manix Restaurant, Ocampo 57 in Ajijic. The speaker will be Dr. Victor Youcha, selected to represent Mexico to treat athletes at the recent Para Pan American Games and will share his experiences. Youcha is a Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine and operates the Chiropractic Wellness Center where he specializes in rehabilitation, and work, sports and auto accident injuries.
The menu for the luncheon meeting is a choice of chicken parmesan, potatoes and vegetables or fish almandine and vegetables for 120 pesos (including tip) or salad and dessert for 80 pesos. The dessert is tres leches cake.
Please call Alicia McNiff at 765-4786 or contact Ceri Dando, society president at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to let them know if you plan to attend and your choice of menu. Visitors are always welcome.
Have Hammers
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Have Hammers…Will Travel at their 2012 Annual Fund Raiser February 15 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Club Exotica on the Ajijic Plaza (entrance through El Jardin Restaurant). This is a sit-down BBQ ribs or chicken dinner and music and dancing with the Tall Boys Band. The event will support the Hammers Trade Center, where local teens, young adults and adults learn valuable life skills through carpentry and woodworking classes.
Tickets are available at the Trade Center at Ocampo 49A, Diane Pearl Colecciones, Actinver Bank and the Lake Chapala Society. A seat on the main floor costs 300 pesos and premier seating on the mezzanine is 400 pesos per person. Tables for ten are also available; so bring your friends to this event that supports one of our community’s most rewarding charities.
Survey
The Lake Chapala Society (LCS) is surveying current members, past members and those who have never been members to gather opinions from the Lakeside community. The responses from this first-ever comprehensive evaluation will be used by the LCS Board of Directors to fine-tune its program and service offerings.
LCS was established in 1955 and offers a multitude of services including Spanish language classes, an English reading library, post life planning, meeting space for numerous service and support groups and fund-raising events to benefit local charities.
LCS also sponsors outreach programs for the local Mexican community, including a scholarship program for 47 deserving young people. English classes for more than 300 students each year, funding for remedial classes for local students, a Spanish lending library and a weekly children’s art program.
The Lake Chapala Society also provides complimentary health screenings, free access to providers of immigration and health insurance services and monthly access to the staff of the United States Consulate in Guadalajara.
To participate in the survey, go to the LCS website at www.lakechapalasociety.org.
Bus trips
The Chapala Cruz Roja (Red Cross) bus trips for February are to Galerias Mall on Tuesday, February 7 and to Tonala/Tlaquepaque on Wednesday, February 15. Each trips costs 200 pesos.
Another trip, to Tequila is set for February 29 at a cost of 950 pesos. Brochures regarding this adventure are available at the Cruz Roja table Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Lake Chapala Society, along with tickets to all of the Cruz Roja trips.
Tepehua Little League
Tepehua Little League has left the streets of the neighborhood and is now on the field. Perry King, John Clark and Robbie Robinson have assisted forming softball teams. the kids play softball (although it’s new to them) with the same enthusiasm they have always played soccer. All of the boys are registered with the Tepehua Community Center, the newly formed activity center on one of the poorest neighborhoods in Chapala.
New Deal
Tickets are still available for the New Deal Dance celebrating the 130th birthday of President Franklin D. Roosevelt on January 29. Set up like a nightclub with tables, waiters with food and drink, the event will feature a play written by Ed Tasca, “FDR, The Man Who Gave America Its Future.” Tickets are 150 pesos at the door.
Get it in
This is absolutely the last chance to get new, changed or corrected listings (residential or commercial) into the new 2012 Chapala Directory. It is being finalized now but listing changes can still be worked in if they are received in the next ten days. Contact the director at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (376) 762-0403.
Unitarians
The Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship meets each Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at Sta. Margarita 113 in Riberas del Pilar. Sunday, January 29, Trudy Crippen will give the talk “Our Unwritten Covenant of Kindness,” discussing the challenges of live up to our principles in daily life. Bill White will be the service leader. The service will be followed by a potluck lunch and the fellowship’s annual general meeting. For more information call 766-1119 or email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship is a welcoming congregation.
Christ Church Anglican
Christ Church Anglican Fellowship will observe the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany with a celebration of Mourning Prayer, Rite I at 10 a.m. on the ground floor area of Manix Restaurant. The Fellowship decided at the annual meeting to use Morning Prayer as its act of corporate worship on the fifth Sunday of months that have five Sundays. The sermon topic by Father Danny Borkowski will be “The Power and Authority of Jesus, based on Mark 1:21-28.
St. Andew’s Anglican
The title of this week’s sermon by Father Winston Welty at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church is “In Our Own Spiritual Journeys Have We Lost touch with the Teaching Power that Underlies the Entire Christian Message?” The church is located at Calle San Lucas 19 in Riberas del Pilar. It has convenient street and lot parking and Sunday services are at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., with a fellowship hour in between.
January 31, 1 p.m., is ‘Italian Fiesta” time at St. Andrew’s Church. A wonderful lunch will be featured, along with live music, door prizes, a grab bag auction and the usual great time to be had by all at St. Andrew’s special events. Tickets are 175 pesos and you can sign up on Sundays or by calling the Church office at 765-3926 weekday mornings.
Presbyterians
The sermon for the January 29 service at Lakeside Presbyterian Church by Pastor Ross Arnold will be “Real People: The Forbearance of Hosea,” from Hosea 1:2-10. The service begins at 10 a.m.
The Circle of Friends prayer group will be at 10 a.m. on February 2 and Bible Study from the Book of Acts will begin at 10 a.m. on February 3.
Lakeside Presbyterian is beginning to collect donated items for their spring Charity Bazaar to be held March 2 and 3. Clothing, furnishings, electronics and books can be dropped off whenever the church is open or between 10 a.m. and noon Monday through Wednesday from February 8 to February 22. If you need items to be picked up or if you have questions, contact Betty Prentki at 766-4292.