Dogs in limbo
The article in last week’s Reporter about the man who committed suicide left the fate of his dogs in question.
The man’s Mexican landlady took his four medium-sized white dogs to Anita’s Animals. She donated 100 pesos of her own money, thanking Anita Strehlow for sheltering the dogs. As of the middle of this past week, two of the dogs had been adopted out to the same home. The others are still up for adoption.
Call 387-761-0500 for more information. Let the phone ring many times as Anita is outside with the animals.
Democrats
The Chapala chapter of Democrats Abroad will meet Monday, January 14, 4 p.m. at La Nueva Posada when Maureen Jones, a former election judge in Texas, will give a talk entitled “Democracy is Not a Spectator Sport.”
Jones and her husband, Karl Smith, moved to Ajijic at the end of 2010. Besides her talk, Jones will share some of her electoral experiences in Dallas.
Democrats Abroad is also on the lookout for subjects Democrats would like to have presented at future meetings and for speakers.
Election campaigns are coming in the next few months and Democrats Abroad is also seeking volunteers to fill various offices. This is a great opportunity to become involved and to influence future activities. Contact publicity chairperson Lois Schroff at 766-5606.
Seminar
The Lake Chapala Society (LCS) seminar, slated for Tuesday, January 15, noon in the LCS Sala will be chaired by Fred Harland. It will feature the TED Internet podcast “The Danger of a Single Story” by Nigerian writer and story-teller Chimamanda Adichie.
Adichie suggests that by showing a people as only one thing, we fail to recognize who they are and force them to become our limited image of them. The seminar is open to all LCS members.
Pet food drive
The monthly pet food drive is continuing into the new year. The next one is set for Thursday, January 17, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Animal Shelter pet food story in Riberas del Pilar.
This ongoing monthly event occurs thanks to the support of Geoffrey Kay of the Animal Shelter and assistance of Animal Buddies representatives who will be there to help.
Your purchase helps the cats at the Shelter as well as Anita’s Animals, or your choice of animal rescue group. Those who can’t make it to the food drive can make a purchase anytime you visit the shelter. When making your purchase for the food drive, inform the clerk of the animal rescue group for which the purchase is intended. The Shelter will hold the food for pick-up. Just let the animal group for whom the purchase was made that there is a donation waiting for them.
The community’s generous donations in the past few months have made a big difference for those rescue groups who rely on your help in feeding the many dogs and cats they support.
Air Force Association
Many members of the 904 Wing of the Air Force Association of Canada, with wives and companions, celebrated their fifth annual New Year’s Day Levee on January 1. A champagne toast was raised to the Queen and a lusty rendition of “Auld Lang Syne” was led by the members of Scottish birth. A fine refreshment table was available and members and their guests drank heartily of the “moose milk” lovingly prepared by Ken Stroud. The Levee is celebrated in every military unit throughout Canada and Abroad. It is a tradition dating back to early French Canada when the governor invited the colonial citizens to the affair. Pictured here, enjoying the auspicious occasion are (L-R) Ken and Stella Stroud, Don Slimman, Ron and Babette Hudson, Luz Teresa Ramos, Dr. Manuel Cordova, Ellen Okunsky and Nicole Slimman.
Cruz Roja bus trips
Cruz Roja bus trips lined up for January are:
Tuesday, January 15, to Tonala. Departing Ajijic at 9:30 a.m. and returning at 3:30 p.m.
Friday, January 25, to Guadalajara’s historical center. Geparting Ajijic at 2 p.m. and returning at 8 p.m. Plenty of time for shopping, cultural visits and dinner.
Thursday, January 31, to Tlaquepaque. Departing Ajijic at 9:30 a.m. and returning at 3:30 p.m.
Purchase tickets at the Cruz Roja desk at the Lake Chapala Society or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Name and phone number
The public Chapala Directory in English, now in its 13th year, is about to go to press. However, publisher Adelle Cordero tells us that there is still time for businesses and residents to submit new or updated phone numbers. There is no charge for the basic telephone information that should be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For security reasons, residential addresses are not published and do not need to be submitted.
LCS bus trips
The Lake Chapala Society (LCS) will sponsor a bus trip on Wednesday, February 6 to the Galerias Mall in Guadalajara. Check out Liverpool, Sears, Best Buy, Walmart, the Home Store, Sam’s, Costco, Mega, Krispy Kreme and many other outlets and restaurants. The bus leaves promptly at 9 a.m. from the sculpture in La Floresta and leaves the Costco area at 3:30 p.m. The price is 200 pesos per person. Sign up now at the Lake Chapala Society office.
Freethinkers
The Lakeside Freethinkers will hold their regular third-Wednesday-of-the-month meeting on January 16. The group now has nearly 70 members who reject belief in any religion and rely upon science and reason to guide their lives.
The program, postponed from last month, will include a presentation about Thomas Paine, one of the most important of the founding fathers of the United States, who helped make that country a secular nation. For information on time and place, email Ken Crosby at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
HU Song
Everyone is invited to participate in a HU Song held on the third Saturday of each month from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Spiritual Center at Nicolas Bravo 17B in Ajijic. People of all faiths are invited to join in this contemplative spiritual exercise. The January HU Song is set for Saturday, January 19.
The door is monitored and closed at 10:30 a.m. so be sure to arrive no later than 10:20 a.m. Stay for a fellowship time afterward. Contact Penny White at 766-1230 for further information. The event is hosted by Eckankar Mexico.
Presbyterians
Many people believe Christianity has too many rules … but Jesus was something of a rule-breaker. Pastor Ross Arnold’s message at Lakeside Presbyterian Church for Sunday, January 13, is called “New Rules,” based on a story from Jesus’ life told in Mark 2: 23-17. The service begins at 10 a.m. Everyone is invited to come to the free Second Sunday lunch immediately after the service.
The Friday morning Bible study is in the book of James and starts at 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. Extra parking is now available on the other side of Vigolari.
Unitarians
The Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship meets each Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at Sta. Margarita 113 in Riberas del Pilar. The talk on Sunday, January 13 is entitled “Buen Camino, Reflections on a Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.” Donna Jaramillo-Leone will share some of her experiences walking 500 miles of the Camino Frances starting in the French Pyrenees and ending in western Spain. There will be a coffee hour following the service. 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..
Christ Church Anglican
Christ Church will celebrate the First Sunday after Epiphany, The Baptism of Our Lord, on January 13 with the Holy Eucharist Rite II at the Little Chapel by the Lake at 9:30 a.m. The theme of Father Danny Borkowski’s sermon is “Cleansing Fire,” based on Luke 3:15-17, 21-22. There will be a time of joint fellowship for the congregations of Christ Church and the Little Chapel by the Lake after the 9:30 a.m. service of Christ Church and before the 11:15 a.m. service for the Little Chapel by the Lake.
St. Andrew’s Anglican
Every year, the Sunday after January 6 focuses on the Baptism of Jesus, an event that turned out to be a real eye-opener and a contradiction of everyone’s expectations. Even John the Baptizer, who had foreseen what was about to happen, found his predictions turned upside down by reality, “Seeing and Getting What We Expect” turn out to be two different things in the 21st century as much as in the first century. That’s worth keeping in mind as the people of St. Andrew’s prepare for their Annual General Meeting on Wednesday of this week. The goal is to see the direction in which the church is being called this coming year, that we might be both faithful to God and of service to the community.
Worship at St. Andrew’s is at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. each Sunday morning with a time of refreshment, welcome and fellowship in the garden between the services. St. Andrew’s is located at Calle San Lucas 19, one block south of the Animal Shelter in Riberas del Pilar.