Model ship
On Monday, July 8, Susan Netherton presented Chapala Port Captain Luis Jorge Ochoa with a model U.S. Navy ship that was built by her late husband, David Netherton.
David was a talented builder of many different types of models. He was responsible for building the model railroad trains and layout that he donated to the Lake Chapala Shrine Club and is now installed at the old train station in Chapala (Centro Cultural Gonzalez Gallo).
The ship presented to the Capitania is a model of the U.S.S. Gallup, PC-85. It is slightly over five feet long, and replicates the ship that was commissioned in 1966 and served off the South Vietnamese coast in 1967. One of 17 ships in her class, the ship is now decommissioned, and in mothballs in Florida (one of two that still exist).
Ochoa assured Netherton that the model ship would be on permanent display in the Chapala port office for all to see and enjoy.
Also present at the ceremony was Navigation Officer Lt. Jose Suarez, as well as Perry and Moonyeen King and Denny Strole.
Railway project
The Fourth of July fiesta organized by the Lake Chapala Shrine Club at the Centro Cultural Gonzalez Gallo raised 11,000 pesos for the fund to complete the Garden Railway project at the former Chapala railway station.
The Shrine Club’s Loco Motive Unit volunteers fed around 150 guests, who also enjoyed the first full exhibition of model trains on both levels of track. Romantic Mexican music was provided by DJ Eduardo, who donated his services.
Jennie Macarthur designed and installed the miniature landscaping, while local model railroad enthusiast Juan Diego Castro Morales and his daughter, Barbara, set up and operated the two trains during the four-hour exhibition.
The next phase of the project is to complete the miniature landscaping. Then, say its promoters, the real fun of implementation and operation of the trains will begin. Local high school and technical school students are expected to be recruited to operate and maintain the railway.
The builder of the equipment, the late David Netherton, envisioned this project as a way to teach railway history and culture to boys and girls in the local community.
Pet Food drive
The monthly pet food drive will be held on Thursday, July 18, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Animal Shelter pet food store.
This monthly event occurs on the third Thursday of every month thanks to the support from Geoffrey Kaye of the Cat/Animal Shelter, and the assistance of Animal Buddies representatives.
Purchase help the Shelter’s cats, as well as Anita’s Animals, or your choice of animal rescue group.
You can make a purchase of dog/cat food at anytime if you are unable to come to the Thursday food drive. When making your purchase, inform the store clerk if the pet food is for Anita’s Animals, or your choice of animal rescue group, and the shelter will hold your donation purchase for pickup.
After you have made this purchase, you will need to contact the designated rescue group you have selected.
Please let that group know that there is a paid food purchase made by you that is waiting to be picked up at the shelter.
Freethinkers
Members of the Lakeside Freethinkers, who reject religious beliefs and rely on science and reason to guide their lives, will hold their regular third-Wednesday-of-the-month meeting on July 17. They will enjoy fellowship and discuss matters that members bring up. For time and place, e-mail Ken Crosby at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Monday, July 15.
Christ Church Anglican
Christ Church Anglican Fellowship will celebrate the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost on July 14 by celebrating the Holy Eucharist Rite II at 9:30 a.m. in the Little Chapel by the Lake (Carretera 10, Chula Vista). Father Danny Borkowski’s sermon topic is “Do This, and You Will Live” based on Luke 10:25-37. Christ Church and the Little Chapel share a common fellowship time between their two services in the Fellowship Hall of the Little Chapel from about 10:30 until 11:15 a.m.
Unitarians
The Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship meets on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. at Sta. Margarita 113 (southwest corner of Santa Clara and Sta. Margarita) in Riberas del Pilar. On July 14, Paul Bennett will give the talk “The Best and Brightest: What Happened to Critical Thinking in American History?” Paul will examine the thinking of influential people and leaders in the United States regarding dropping the bomb on Japan, McCarthyism, the Vietnam war and the war in Iraq. A coffee hour will follow the service. There will not be a service on July 21. Instead, members and visitors are invited to attend a potluck at a different location at noon. For more information please call 766-1119 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Little Chapel
The Little Chapel by the Lake will maintain its regular schedule on Sunday, July 11. At 11:15 a.m., the Rev. Gene Raymer will deliver a sermon based Hebrews 7:23-28. Following the service, members will gather for a fellowship luncheon at the Tabarka Restaurant. At 10:30 a.m. the congregation will share refreshments with the members of Christ Church Anglican Fellowship.
Wednesday’s interactive class, “What We Believe and Why,” will begin at 2 p.m. Attendees each week select a topic for the following week’s class and prepare accordingly.The Little Chapel by the Lake is located at Carretera 10, Chula Vista.
Center for Spiritual Living
The Reverend Tim Schubert will present “One World” at the Center for Spiritual Living’s regular service on Friday July 19, from 5-6 p.m.
The center will host Spanish-speaking Ciencia de la Mente practicioners from Mexico and abroad from July 15 to 21. Due to this special event there will be no classes/discussions on July 17 and 18. They will return Wednesday, July 24, (from 10:30 a.m.-noon) with a new class entitled “Non-violent Communication” taught by Arch Crane.
The new Thursday (10:30 a.m.-noon) discussion group begins on July 25 and will be centered around “Natural Abundance” – the teachings of Ralph Waldo Emerson.
The center is located at Nicolas Bravo 17, Ajijic. For further information contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 766-0920.
Hu Song
Everyone is invited to the Center for Spiritual Living to participate in a HU Song held on the third Saturday of every month from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., followed by a fellowship time. The HU Song is a contemplative spiritual exercise which helps bring inner peace and more love in your life. People of all faiths are welcome.
The next July HU Song is scheduled for Saturday, July 20. The door is monitored and closed at 10:30 a.m., so be sure to arrive no later than 10:20 a.m. Contact Penny White at 766-1230 for further information. The event is hosted by Eckankar Mexico.
St. Andrew’s
This Sunday’s sermon at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church is titled “Don’t Just Understand – DO!” During these summer months, as we explore St. Luke’s telling of Jesus’s life, we encounter some familiar, beloved stories that may take us back to childhood. But when we hear them anew, with grownup ears, we can discover fresh, sometimes unsettling insights. It’s that way this week at St. Andrew’s as we hear once more Jesus’s Parable of the Good Samaritan. But are new insights enough? Is the world around us changed just because we understand something differently?
The Summer Sunday School for children aged 4 and up begins at 9:45, and worship starts at 10:00 a.m., followed by a time of welcome, fellowship and refreshment in the Garden. St. Andrew’s is located at San Lucas 19, just a block south of the Carretera in Riberas del Pilar.
Presbyterians
The theme for the sermon at Lakeside Presbyterian Church (LPC) on Sunday, July 14, will be “The Price of Righteousness.” We sometimes wonder if we take a stand, what might be the ultimate cost? Is it worth it? What can be the consequences? Based on Mark 6:14-29, Pastor Ross Arnold will explore these issues in depth.
Sunday worship begins at 10 a.m., and this being “Second Sunday,” will be followed by a pot-luck lunch. Lakeside Presbyterian Church is located on the mountain side of the Carretera, just west of S&S Auto and Bubba’s Restaurant.
Bible School
Vacation Bible School at LPC will be humming this week. The youngsters attending will be working on a play involving Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Daniel’s three friends who made it through the fiery furnace). LPC invites everyone to come on Sunday July 14 and enjoy their performance.