Legion Football
American Legion Post 7 in Chapala is ready for the Grey Cup championship game of the Canadian Football League (CFL) on Sunday, November 29, with a 5 p.m. kickoff time.
Football fans will find a hearty group of like-minded fans, football pools and artisan pizza.
Open Circle
“This is an extraordinary time for most of us to finally live our lives without obligations running the show,” says Kat Miller, the speaker for the Sunday, November 29, 10:30 a.m. meeting of Open Circle at the Lake Chapala Society.
“We fulfilled the required roles of the first two acts of our lives. Now, in the third act, we can not only cultivate the wisdom from all our experiences, we can do the things we love and that feed body, mind and spirit.”
Miller adds, “Discovering what we really want and how to give ourselves permission to spend our days reflecting what we love, believe and care for while letting go of old stuff that is still holding us back is the challenge.”
During her talk, Miller will explore the secrets of living a joyful fulfilling life while not discounting our own and the world’s suffering.
Miller has an MA in Spiritual Psychology and is a counselor, teacher and group leader. Her passion is to deepen her own capacity and that of her clients and students to live freely, truthfully and fully. She will soon be offering a class on this topic at LCS.
World AIDS Day
Area residents will meet at the amphitheater on the Ajijic malecon on Tuesday, December 1, 6 p.m. to light a candle to remember a friend on World AIDS Day. Ajijic Cares, the local organization that shares educational information and AIDS awareness at lakeside, will host a short program.
For more information on World AIDS Day and these activities, contact Bobby Lancaster at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Stay current with Ajijic Cares activities on the group’s Facebook site.
Learning Seminar
Lake Chapala Society (LCS) members are invited to attend the Tuesday, December 1, noon to 1:15 p.m. learning seminar. Pete Soderman is the moderator and will introduce the video featuring Johann Hari talking on “Everything You Think You Know About Addiction is Wrong.”
Hari discusses the causes of addiction and touches on everything from cocaine to smart-phones. He has seen current methods fail firsthand, as he watched loved ones struggle to manage their addictions. He wondered why we treat addicts the way we do and if there might be a better way. Hari’s questions took him around the world and unearthed some surprising and hopeful ways of thinking about an age-old problem.
Pete Soderman is the author of “Powerless No Longer, Reprogramming Your Addictive Behavior.”
British Society
Menu choices for those attending the British Society on Saturday, December 5, 1 p.m., at Manix Restaurant include roast turkey, fish in lemon sauce or a large salad followed by apple pie.
The meeting’s speaker will be Helen Gallagher, who arrived recently at lakeside with her husband, James, an artist. Her background is in ballet, and she will talk about her travels and experiences on the way to her new life here in Mexico.
As is customary, there will be no British Society meeting in January.
Ukulele Sing Along
Don’t miss the Second Annual Holiday Sing Along on Thursday, December 3, 4 p.m. at Restaurant Maria Isabel (the old Posada). Members of the Club Ukulele de Laguna are brushing up on a variety of Christmas carols, a Chanakuh song and other holiday tunes. Song sheets will be available so the audience can join in the holiday cheer.
Also appearing at the event will be nearly two dozen of the 38 kids who attend the Academia de Ukulele de la Ribera founded by the adult group in January. They’ll share a pair of favorite Mexican carols with the group. Their instructor Jose Eduardo Garcia Espinoza will also take the microphone to perform a ukulele solo.
While there is no admission charge for the event, donations received will help pay for additional ukuleles and other expenses for the kids’ program.
Auxiliary Event
Christmas Shoppers take note. The annual Arts and Crafts Fair sponsored by the ladies of the Legion Auxiliary Unit 7 in Chapala opens on Saturday, December 5, 9 a.m. The event features artists selling handcrafted artistic pieces and goods, and homemade foods to take and bake.
The onside restaurant is planning a special quiche breakfast for hungry shoppers. Included is fruit, a glass of wine and juice or coffee.
Fishing Tackle
Members of the Ajijic Fishing Club realize that many lakeside visitors not only don’t bring their fishing gear when they come to visit, most don’t learn about fishing opportunities while they are here. To bridge this gap for fellow fishermen, the local group has created the Loaner Tackle Program.
Club members have pooled and donated fishing gear and tackle to be provided on loan for those who need it while on vacation. Their tackle packages include rods, reels, line and tackle boxes, complete with all the hooks, lures and extras needed for a freshwater fishing excursion. These loaner packages are available for use for up to a week at no cost. The club does require a deposit of 300 pesos per outfit. Cost of lost or damaged equipment is deducted from the deposit. Equipment donations to the group are appreciated.
The Loaner Tackle Program is available for everyone by contacting the group’s facilitator Jack Carson. He will also assist visitors in choosing the best gear for their planned trip. Call Carson at (376) 766-1391 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
LCS Singles
The 4th Annual Holiday Bash on Saturday, December 12, 3-7 p.m. is slated to be the biggest LCS Singles-sponsored event of the year.
A holiday dinner featuring turkey and ham with all the trimmings, plus luscious desserts, is planned for those who are single, and those who are not.
Noe Raygoza, Jimmy Barto and Paco Casas will be on hand to provide lively music for listening or dancing.
Advance tickets at 230 pesos will available at the booth near the corner entrance of the LCS from Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to noon. They are also available at Cugini’s Boutique and the Sweets and Treats Shop. On the day of the event, tickets will sell for 270 pesos.
Chapala Kids
The Children’s Holiday Fun Fair at the Tepehua Community Center has been rescheduled for Sunday, December 13, 2-4 p.m. The fair will feature easy game booths with prizes, and a holiday sack lunch.
According to Dian Abell, coordinator of children’s activities at the center, volunteers are needed to work the game booths, and to donate small fun items to be the prizes.
“These little prizes could be small balls, lollipops, mini candy bars, bottles of bubbles and other inexpensive toys and candies,” says Abell. “We need for volunteers to provide 50 to 200 of a small item. Maybe shoppers could toss a handful or two of the items into their grocery carts while shopping in the coming weeks.” Abell says donors can drop prizes – cash is welcome, too – at the Tepehua Treasures Bazar in Riberas del Pilar. “Please put ‘For Dian’ on the bag,” she adds.
While plans for the fair are advancing well, there is one thing missing, Abell admits.
“We need a Santa. There surely is a Santa living among us who has a costume, is available to visit with kids and can deliver a hearty, ‘Ho, Ho, Ho.’”
To volunteer to be Santa for the Holiday Fun Fair or to help in another way for the afternoon, contact Abell at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..