Book signing
Author Jack Estes will read from his book, “A Soldier’s Son,” and sign copies Friday, December 16, noon at La Nueva Posada.
Pueblos Unidos fest
Various local businesses are joining with Chapala City Hall to sponsor a festival devoted to giving Friday, December 16 through Sunday, December 18 on the Ajijic Malecon.
Bring a new or used blanket, clothes, toys or food to donate and enjoy music, workshops, and even a spinning classes by Zona Fitness Gym on Sunday morning.
On Friday the Club Ukulele de Laguna plays 5 p.m. and Yanin Saavedra and friends perform Latin folk, jazz and world music from 8 p.m.
Saturday kicks off with the sale of spiritual items, a sexuality workshop given by Adriana Gallardo and Silvia Flores of the Centro de Desarrollo Jocotepec at 10 a.m.; a workshop on medicinal plants and their uses at 11 a.m.; a health and dance workshop by Emma Plascencia at noon; a laugh therapy workshop by Tania Solis Sancez at 2 p.m.; a personal finance workshop for today’s Mexico at 3 p.m. a musical/water workshop at 4 p.m. and a rock concert by three bands beginning 5 p.m. in the Agora amphitheater.
Open Circle
David Pisarra will present “Inspiring with Humor! Laugh Your Way to Motivation” at Open Circle Sunday, December 18, 10:30 a.m. in the garden of the Lake Chapala Society (LCS).
As humans we are hardwired to learn through story, so Pisarra will be using a mixture of jokes, stories and personal insights to inspire you to keep growing and changing. His brand of authentic sharing lets you in to see his journeys and how he “finds the funny” to create a teachable moment.
Pisarra is a columnist with the Santa Monica Daily Press, author of six books, and a professional speaker who helps people find their story and voice. As he shares his journey he encourages others to share their story.
Open Circle will not meet Sunday, December 25 or January 1.
Purepecha fest
The Purepecha fest organized by Xill Fessenden in the Ajijic Plaza December 11 was a major success. Here, artisans join with Fessenden (back, far right) during the event.
Genealogy Forum
The Genealogy Forum will meet Monday, December 19, 1 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Riberas del Pilar. Ilona de Borhegyi will speak about “Problems in Researching Eastern European Genealogy,” including obstacles and research strategies; changing borders: political and geographic; civil records, names and occupations; and Jewish ancestry. De Borhegyi will also touch on problems she encountered in researching her Hungarian and Romanian ancestors. The Forum is open to all. The group hopes that those with Eastern European ancestry will join them for this interesting presentation.
For more information, contact Fran Murphy, 766-0067.
Carolers
Lakeside Singers will be caroling for the elderly throughout the day Tuesday, December 20. The day begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Little Chapel by the Lake before heading OHana’s rest home at 10:30 a.m., and Alicia’s La Paloma at noon.
The group takes a lunch break from 1 to 2 p.m. at Laguna Mall and then heads out again to sing at at 2 p.m. at Casa Nostra and 4 p.m. at Abbeyfield, where carolers bring drinks and snacks to share with the residents.
Join them and wear a Christmas outfit if you have one. For more information, contact Kay Borkowski, 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..">.
Ajijic Cultural Center’s children’s choir
The children’s band of the Centro Cultural San Antonio Tlayacapan played Christmas themed music during a cultural program in Santa Cruz de la Soledad, December 11. The Ajijic Cultural Center’s children’s choir will sing in the plaza, Monday, December 19, 7 p.m. during the town’s posada.
Neill James Lecture
Phil Rylett presents “Think Again - because once might not be enough,” Tuesday, December 20, 2 p.m. at the Lake Chapala Society
We all suffer from defects in thinking, but none is potentially more disastrous than the survivorship bias. We pay attention to the successful without realizing the knowledge and wisdom we can get from failures, failures that often we do not know even existed because they disappear from sight. Rylett will look at the consequences of this bias and how many lives have been saved by recognizing it. Tomorrow, it may be your own life you are saving.
Rylett spent his working years before retirement developing a state and federal breast cancer screening program for under-insured women in California. After recently hearing (and complaining about) a presentation on breast cancer, where this bias was dangerously evident, he was asked to develop a talk on survivorship bias.
LCS seminar
LCS members are invited to attend the December 20 TED seminar featuring neuroscientist Sophie Scott on “Why We Laugh.” The seminar facilitated by Reba Mayo is held from noon to 1:15 p.m. in the LCS sala.
Scott, Deputy Director of University College of London’s Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and a pioneering researcher into the science of laughter, discovered a second vocation: that of stand-up comic. This is a fast, funny dash around the sometimes surprising world of what tickles us enough to laugh.
Instituto Terranova
Instituto Terranova celebrated its 10th anniversary with a gala fiesta December 9. Director Jose Blum and his wife Maria d’Paola Blum enjoy a serenade by mariachis at the event.
Lakeside Freethinkers
In-lieu-of their regular meeting, the Lakeside Freethinkers will hold their annual Winter Solstice party Wednesday, December 21. The outgoing chairman will host the party.
The Lakeside Freethinkers define a “freethinker” as a person who as an atheist, agnostic, secular humanist, or skeptic. They believe that individuals should not accept ideas proposed as truth without recourse to knowledge and reason. They reject belief in the supernatural and rely on science and reason to guide their lives.
If you would like to additional information, please 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..
Santa and you
Get your photo taken with Santa at La Bodega restaurant Tuesday to Sunday, 2 to 6 p.m.
Pueblos Unidos festival
Yanin Saavedra and friends play Latin folk, jazz and world music Saturday, December 17, beginning 8 p.m. at the Ajijic Malecon as part of the Pueblos Unidos festival.
Buddhists
The Heart of Awareness Buddhist Sangha meets weekly on Wednesdays. The center opens at 3:30 p.m. for silent meditation. A 30-minute formal meditation period begins at 4 p.m. December 21, the meditation period will be followed with teaching by Marty Janowitz (live) – the third 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 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.
The Dharma movie matinee features, “Golden Kingdom,” Monday, December 19, 3 p.m. Golden Kingdom is the first international feature shot in Burma since the Buddhist nation opened again to the outside world.
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.
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 at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. about whether you can bring a vehicle, to help in carpool planning.
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.
Gardening
The Lake Chapala Society’s Personal Enrichment Program kicks off with the first of three seminars, Introduction to Lakeside Gardening by instructor Francisco Gonzalez Nava, on January 10. The course covers the area’s monthly garden calendar, effective communication with your gardener, beginning vocabulary and phrases of Spanish gardening terms, different plants for different sun/shade conditions, formal vs. casual and organic gardens, pest and disease management, drought tolerant garden, pruning, weeding, composting, mulching and a host of other concepts, as well as a guided tour of the LCS garden. The eight classes are held Tuesdays from 10 to 11 a.m. cost is 500 pesos.
Two other seminars to come are a history of the Mexican Revolution with Judy King beginning January 18, and an overview of Mexican history by Daniel Grippo beginning February 27. The classes are open to the public.
LCS Spanish classes
The Lake Chapala Society offers introduction to Spanish language classes for members. This is a casual class offered for the beginner that covers the Spanish alphabet, simple vocabulary and phrases to use about town for shopping, and other useful information about the area and Mexican culture.
Classes start Tuesday, January 10 at the LCS campus from noon to 1:30 p.m. Learning materials are provided, and the tuition for the classes is 175 pesos.
Sign up is available at the LCS office during regular office hours, Monday through Saturday or via www.lakechapalasociety.com.