Passing
Dr. Ricardo Heredia of Chapala passed away in his sleep apparently due to cardiac arrest. A funeral mass was scheduled for Thursday, December 8 at Chapala’s San Frnacisco parish. He was admired by his many English- speaking patients for his kindness and compassion, as well as professional skills embracing both traditional and alternative medical approaches.
Operacion Compasion
Dr. Guillermo Romero worked along with five other veterinarians and more than 30 volunteers at Operacion Compasion’s December 4 spay and neuter clinic in San Pedro Tesistan. Many volunteers, as well as Lucky Dog, the Ranch and Operation Amour, helped to make this endeavor a success. Contact Dee Mistric at (387)761-0041 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you would like to participate in upcoming clinics.
University Vocational Assistance
The UVA (University Vocational Assistance) group celebrated the holiday season with their annual party at Manix, where 58 university students and sponsors danced, ate and enjoyed the festivities. A laptop computer, donated by Ted and Gail Ruddy, was raffled off and winner Cindy Yessenia Zamora Ponciano (second from left) from San Juan Cosala was all smiles as she received the computer from (left to right) UVA president Sue Torres and Gail and Ted Ruddy. The UVA Scholarship Fund A.C. is celebrating its 40th year of serving the Lakeside community. Currently, 41 students receive financial assistance with their education. Individuals interested in sponsoring a student should contact either Sue Torres at (376) 766-2932) or Cristina Baron at (376) 766-3574.
Fiesta Purepecha
The Purepecha Fiesta will be held in the Ajijic Plaza Friday, December 9, beginning noon and continuing Saturday and Sunday, December 10 and 11, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Craftspeople from 20 Michoacan pueblos will participate in a show and sale of folk art. All the crafts are handmade by the artists attending the exhibits. Several local products made by Ajijic artists and craftspeople will also be on display. The event is free and an excellent place to purchase holiday gifts
A special part of the program will feature Michoacan gastronomy, regional dances, and a prehispanic fire ball game called Uarhukua Ch’anakua.
The Club Ukulele de Laguna will perform in front of the Cultural Center on Friday at 5:30 p.m. A guitar recital by Javier Pascual Renosa will follow.
On Saturday at 4 p.m., dancers from the town of Tocuaro will perform the dance of the Diablo and Little Old Men. The Purepecha prehispanic ball game will be played first in the plaza at 6 p.m., and later on the beach in front of the Old Posada.
Sunday’s program begins at 3 p.m. and includes the Danza del Toro y Pescado, Sones Jorochas by Marysol and Ajijic’s local Veracruz group, as well as local folkloric dancers.
Pancake breakfast
The non-profit Lakeside Assistance Group, which has successfully imported millions of dollars’ worth of firefighting and emergency response equipment from Canada, is holding its semiannual pancake breakfast Saturday, December 10, 9 a.m. to noon at the Tobolandia Water Park.
Tickets for a plate of pancakes, sausage, juice and coffee are 100 pesos. Firefighting equipment will be on display and zip line rides provided for children.
Since 2014, three containers of donated equipment have been sent from Canada, helping equip 78 civil protection and firefighting teams in the states of Jalisco and Michoacán.
Purchase Pancake Breakfast tickets at La Huerta Tuesday Market, Diane Pearl, O&A Investments, the Chapala Fire Station and American Legion Post 7, or by calling John Kelly, 106-1609.
Toy collection
Hundreds of kids from low-income families will wake up on Christmas morning to find a special gift from El Niño Dios (Baby Jesus) thanks to Juguetón Chapala, organized by the San Francisco parish Curate Enrique Monteón Curiel and the Salesian lay mission group Grumis. The tenth annual toy collection marathon will take place at the main Chapala Plaza, running non-stop from 6 p.m. on Saturday, December 10 through 9:30 p.m. the following evening. A huge entertainment program is lined up.
Disability Day fest
The Chapala government is sponsoring a celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Saturday, December 10. Those privileged to live without handicaps will have an opportunity to experience what it is like to cope with the challenges of sight, hearing and mobility losses through different exercises to be offered at the Chapala plaza, from 10 a.m. A cultural festival slated for 4 to 6 p.m. at the Fuente de Pescadores, Avenida Madero at Ramón Corona, will feature a dance performance by youngsters with Downs Syndrome and a demonstration of cycling for the blind.
Christmas fair
The Annual Fiesta de Navidad at La Bella Vida is Saturday December 10, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Find local artists, food, fun and treasures from around the world. Constitucion 6 in Ajijic, tel. 766-5131.
Open Circle
Michael Warren will present “Holiday Stories” at Open Circle Sunday, December 11, 10:30 a.m. in the garden of the Lake Chapala Society (LCS).
Warren will read two well-loved Christmas stories. First “Hoodoo McFiggins’ Christmas” by Stephen Leacock, a famous Canadian humorist who died in 1944. For many years this story was a staple of Canadian radio at Christmas time. Next he will read the Christmas classic “The Gift of The Magi” by O. Henry.
Warren was part of the group that founded Open Circle in 2001, a spin-off from the New Dimensions Sunday Discussion Group. He is a poet and playwright and has published a collection of his poems under the title “A Particular Blue.” He has appeared onstage in eight plays at the Lakeside Little Theatre. For the last seven years, Warren has been writing the theater reviews for El Ojo del Lago in his column “Front Row Center.”
Democrats’ Navidad
Democrats Abroad is holding a holiday party at La Bodega Restaurant Monday, December 12, 4 p.m. A Santa swap (150-200 peso gifts) will be held, and music, elves, and a buffet featuring ribs, fettuccine Alfredo, vegetarian lasagna, salad and dessert will be included in the ticket price of 200 pesos, available at Diane Pearl or at the door. Bring canned goods and boxed food and lightly used or new blankets for a collection for Operation Feed.
Rotary auction/brunch
The Ajijic Rotary Club will hold a Christmas auction/brunch Tuesday, December 12, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hotel Real de Chapala to benefit student scholarships. A silent and live auction on over 140 items will be held while those attending feast on quiche, fresh fruit, potatoes and gingerbread Christmas cookies. Donation is 100 pesos. Entertainment is by Santa and the San Juan Cosala Children’s Choir. Tickets available at Mia’s Boutique, Diane Pearl and Terry King Tianguis in Chapala.
Blue school Xmas
The Ladies Auxiliary of American Legion Post 7 are requesting help in their efforts to hold a Christmas party for the children of the Little Blue School Thursday, December 15. The school teaches people with disabilities in Chapala of all ages. It is not supported by the government and relies on donations. Small gift bags, small gifts or cash donations are requested. Donations can be dropped off at the Legion through Tuesday, December 13. Cash may be placed in the can on the bar that says Little Blue School.
The Legion is also raising funds to install a playground at the school.
Lakeside Progressives
The Lakeside Progressives will discuss the establishment of an Internet forum called Ajijic Progressives at their next meeting, Tuesday, December 13, 4 p.m. Chairman Mel Goldburg will present the concept and provide some training. Also on the agenda will be the U.S. presidential election: What went wrong and can be done to help right the ship.
The Lakeside Progressives meet on the second Tuesday of each month at the Peacock Garden Restaurant on Colon in Ajijic. This is a group of like-minded people looking for progressive solutions to problems not being addressed by the major political parties.
Most attendees have dinner at the restaurant following the meeting. For more information, see Facebook/LakesideProgressives 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 seminar
LCS members are invited to attend a TED seminar featuring historian David Christian: “The history of our world in 18 minutes,” Tuesday, December 13, from noon to 1:15 p.m. at the LCS sala. Ron Mullenaux will be the facilitator.
Backed by stunning illustrations, Christian narrates a complete history of the universe, from the Big Bang to the Internet, in a riveting 18 minutes — an enlightening, wide-angle look at complexity, life and humanity, set against our slim share of the cosmic timeline.
Neill James Lecture
Historian Yuval Noah Harari will discuss “What explains the rise of humans?”– the second in a series on Being Human. Harari suggests a surprising reason for the rise of humanity.
A lecturer in history at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, in his book “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind,” Harari asks what made homo sapiens the most successful species on the planet. His answer: We are the only animal that can believe in things that exist purely in our imagination, such as gods, states, money, human rights, corporations and other “fictions,” and we have developed a unique ability to use these stories to unify and organize groups and ensure cooperation.
Chapala Birders
The Chapala Birders invite interested people to two Christmas bird counts this month.
The group’s Ajijic area Christmas Bird Count will be held Wednesday, December 14. This is one of the birding highlights of the year — a fun day intensively birding an assigned territory with your team.
Five teams of about five people, each with a leader and an assigned area, are planned. Most teams start at about 8 a.m. and are usually through by midday. There is no cost to take part in the count, but there is a charge for the evening dinner celebration at 6 p.m., when participants share details of each team’s adventures. Feel free to invite friends along if they have an interest in birds. You must register ahead both for the count and the dinner.
Bird Count registration will take place on Monday December 12, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at John Keeling’s home, Condominium Villas del Tepalo, Callejon al Tepalo 140, Villa 46. This is three blocks uphill from Donas Donuts, on the east side of the school. For detailed driving instructions, or if this time does not work for you, call Keeling, 766-1801, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to arrange an alternate time.
The second Christmas Bird Count will be held Friday December 16 at the east end of the lake, some 80 kilometer from Ajijic. Two teams will be assigned to different parts of the dyke across the lake. The teams leave Ajijic about 8 a.m. and meet for a sandwich lunch at about 1 p.m. on the shore of the Lerma River. You can sign up for this count at the same time as signing up for the Ajijic Bird Count.
Bird Walk
Wednesday, December 28, the Chapala Birders will meet 8 a.m. at Donas Donuts, to carpool to the Rosa Amarilla Loop on the plateau above the south side of the lake (a 60-minute drive). Expect to see higher altitude and pasture birds such as Eastern Meadowlark, Redwing Blackbird and, maybe, a Roadrunner. Bring refreshments for the morning and sandwiches for the 12.30 p.m. lunch stop. The group returns to Ajijic about 3 p.m. Email Keeling ahead of time about whether you can bring a vehicle, to help in carpool planning.
Canadian Club
The Canadian Club holds a pot luck Christmas gathering at La Nueva Posada Wednesday, December 14, 3 p.m. The club will also host its first annual arts and crafts fair. DJ Howard will play holiday tunes.
Bring finger food to share with at least ten people. You do not have to be Canadian to participate. The cost for guests is 50 pesos and includes one 25-peso drink coupon.
Anti-aging
The Lake Chapala Society will host presentations by Bio Stem technologies experts on anti-aging, longevity and wellness Wednesday, December 14, 2 to 4 p.m. Talks will be given by Dr. Richard Cohen, Dr. Manuel Solano and Dr. Anabel Herrera. The event is free and open to the public.
Buddhists
The Heart of Awareness Buddhist Sangha meets weekly on Wednesdays. Noble Silence begins at 3:30 p.m. followed at 4 p.m. by a 30-minute formal meditation period. December 14, the meditation period will be followed with teaching by Marty Janowitz (live) – the second in a series of four talks he will give this month on the “Paramitas,” aspirations for perfecting the way in which we conduct our lives and perceive the world. The six paramitas are concerned with the effort to step out of the egocentric mentality.
The center is open for hour-long silent meditation periods Sunday and Monday, from 9 to 10 a.m. and Thursday from 11 a.m. to noon.
A yoga class suitable for all levels of experience is offered at Heart of Awareness on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9 to 11 a.m.
The Heart of Awareness is grounded in the teachings of the Buddha as preserved in the Theravada/Vipassana tradition. Prior experience or affiliation is not required. The sangha is at Guadalupe Victoria 101 in Ajijic. For further information, visit heartofawareness.org, or call Janet Reichert at (331) 043-4669.
Toys for Tots
American Legion Post Three in Chapala joins with Los Gueros motorcycle club for the third and Grill, Mama’s Bar or the Lake Chapala Society. Monetary donations can be left at Legion headquarters or Just Chillin’ before December 15.
Upcoming water program
Water is one of our most necessary commodities and yet its availability is often taken for granted. Introducing us to discovering the spiritual qualities in the movement of water, this January 6 (Epiphany) weekend workshop entitled Water’s Own Voice will take place at Flora Exotica (corner of the Carreterra and Libramiento in Ajijic) and will be led by Jennifer Greene, founder and 40-year Director of the Water Research Institute in Blue Hill, Maine. Highlights include a slide lecture presenting the scientific research, an all-day participatory demonstration of experiments revealing water’s natural tendencies to move and change its environment – and continuing revelations of water’s miracles. For more information, contact 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..
Home tours
The Behind the Walls home tours of some of Lakeside’s most gorgeous residences that benefit the School for Special Children have sold out their Christmas home tour. But tickets for the once a month winter and spring tours are still on sale at Diane Pearl or Charter Club Tours for only 200 pesos.