Toy round up
The Poco A Poco charity is asking for toys and diapers for children living in the indigenous Lakeside communities of San Pedro Itzican and western Mezcala. Wanted are new toys (no war or battery operated), diapers, sports balls, coloring books, crayons and other gifts for deserving kids who would be thrilled to receive a gift on Dia del Niño (April 30).
Drop off locations include Roberto’s Restaurant, Salvador’s, Just Chillin’, Avocado Club, Super Lake and El Corazon Creativo Store. For cash donations, call Poco A Poco Vice President Myrian Mendez, (331) 501-2325.
Open Circle
Sunday, April 9, 
will give a talk on “How to Love the World” at the Open Circle held in the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) Sala, 10:30 a.m. to noon.
“My work is loving the world,” declares the great contemporary poet Mary Oliver in a poem called “Messenger.” To hearten and steady us during the current climate of cynicism, Susa Silvermarie will give us Oliver’s and others’ poetry in an inspirational program.
Spoken word artist Silvermarie is a new permanent resident of Ajijic. She is a widely published and anthologized writer known for her own original work that delights the senses while calling the spirit. Hers is a voice that can wail, whisper, conjure and cry. A Silvermarie performance invokes change in her audience and her message is always full of music. Look for her e-book, “Tales from My Teachers on the Alzheimer’s Unit,” on Amazon and all platforms. She invites you to visit her at www.susasilvermarie.com.
For more information, see opencircleajijic.org.
Good deed
After their client had her tire punctured for the second time on the same storm drain – at Calle Rio Nazas and the Carretera – El Tempisque Herreria (iron smiths) decided to fix it themselves instead of waiting on city hall to act. The welders thank everyone who contributed to the project, including Ajijic Delegado Chuni Medeles.
Monday Market moves
Monday Market cooperative member Martin Meza’s quiches and samosas sell fast at the first Monday Market held at its new venue in Sunrise Restaurant on the Carretera in C moveshula Vista, San Antonio. Sunrise sports two entrances: one in the front and another on the side street with lots of easy parking. The restaurant will open its bar, serving coffee, soft drinks, wine, beer and specialty drinks. Come and visit your favorite vendors at the new venue, Mondays, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Wines
Howard Feldstein was one of about 200 connoisseurs of the grape who showed up to the LCS Wine Tasting, where they tried more than 50 varieties while enjoying a duet on harp and guitar and a convivial atmosphere Saturday, April 1.
Officers
The 2017 slate of officers for the School for Special Children was unanimously voted in at the annual meeting held March 24. Maritza Freyslinger will move to the post of past president, Jan Riley is the new president, Ian Lambert is vice president, while D’Le Beatty-Tobias continues as treasurer and Carol Curtis ​secretary.
Democrats Abroad
Sunday April 9, Democrats Abroad will host a special screening of the movie “1984.” Orwell’s portrait of a government that manufactures its own facts, demands total obedience and demonizes foreign enemies has never been timelier, the group says.
Ajijic will join more than 200 art house movie theaters in the United States, Canada and Europe that are projecting “1984” on April 4 to promote support for the National Endowment for the Arts, freedom of speech and creative expression through entertainment.
LCS Seminar
Lake Chapala Society (LCS) members are invited to attend a TED seminar, hosted by Fred Harland, featuring environmentalist and futurist Stewart Brand, speaking on “The Dawn of De-extinction. Are You Ready?” Tuesday, April 11, noon to 1:15 p.m. in the LCS Sala.
Throughout humankind’s history, we’ve driven species after species extinct: the passenger pigeon, the Eastern cougar, the dodo ... but now, says Brand, author of “Whole Earth Catalog,” we have the technology (and the biology) to bring back species that humanity wiped out. So, should we? If yes, which ones? He asks a big question whose answer is closer than you may think.
Old cars wanted
The Red Cross will help you get rid of that clunker you don’t want at no cost. For whatever reason you wish to dispose of a non-working, crashed or too-expensive-to-fix vehicle, Mexican or foreign-plated, with or without title or registration, the Chapala Cruz Roja will have it towed for you and take care of the paperwork.
To donate your old car to this organization, call Fernando Reyes, (376) 765-4095 or 331-485-9048.
Neill James Lecture
Rick Rhoda will give a presentation entitled “Mexico’s Magnificent Environment” at the next Neill James Lecture, Tuesday, April 11, 2 p.m. in the LCS Sala. This is for LCS members only. Bring your card.
Mexico is a combination of many diverse climates, landforms and ecosystems. Enormous variations in rainfall give rise to arid deserts as well as tropical rainforests and enormous raging rivers. With a great variety of different climatic and ecological regions, Mexico is one of the most biodiverse countries on the planet. Consequently protecting its environment is important to the future of life on this planet.
Rhoda and his spouse, Valerie, have lived in Ajijic since 1999. Before moving here, they were with the U.S. foreign aid program and spent 16 years in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Central America. Rhoda has given dozens of lectures at LCS on Mexico and other topics, as well as co-publishing a book on the dynamics of modern Mexico in 2010.
Lakeside Progressives
At their Tuesday, April 11 meeting, the Lakeside Progressives will discuss an essay by Norman Pollack entitled “Political Cannibalism,” as well as the direction of U.S. democracy and foreign policy under President Trump.
An Internet forum called Ajijic Progressives is up and running on Yahoo Groups. If you have joined the Ajijic Progressives Yahoo Group, you can post your comments on 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.. You can also email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have any questions.
The Lakeside Progressives, a group of like-minded people looking for progressive solutions to political problems, meet at 4 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at the Peacock Garden Restaurant on Colon in Ajijic. The group’s Facebook page is Lakeside Progressives.
Canadian Club
Guadalajara Reporter staffer and 44-year resident of Lakeside, Dale Hoyt Palfrey will be the guest speaker at the next meeting of the Canadian Club, Wednesday, April 12 at the La Nueva Posada. Palfrey will give a talk on “Trailblazers: Foreigners Who Brought Change to Lakeside.” The club’s social hour begins 3 p.m. and the program, 4 p.m. There is a 50-pesos charge for non-members. See www.canadianclubmx.com for more information.
Sing-a-long
“Fun With Music” will hold sing-a-longs on consecutive Wednesdays in April. April 12: La Valentina Assisted Living Care Center, Carretera 905. April 19: Casa Nostra, Santa Margarita 8 in Riberas del Pilar. April 26: Mi Casita, Gonzalez Gallo 10 in San Antonio Tlayacapan.
All the sing-a-longs begin at 4 p.m. For more information or to join in, call Belva, 766-0156.
Dems meeting change
The Democrats Abroad Chapala Chapter has changed its next meeting date from Monday, April 10 to Monday, April 17. Kelly Hayes-Raitt will speak on “Emerging Democracies and my recent trip to Mongolia” at the meeting, which begins 4 p.m. at La Bodega Restaurant in Ajijic.
Hayes-Raitt is a political consultant from California. Join her for a spirited conversation about the recent U.S. election and other topics.
Hope House BBQ
Juan Mata of Ranger’s BBQ in El Salto will host a Texas pork barbecue fundraiser for Hope House, a boys orphanage in Ixtlahuacan de Los Membrillos, Wednesday, April 19, noon to 3 p.m., at La Huerta Events Hall in West Ajijic.
The menu will include BBQ pork, coleslaw, macaroni and cheese, iced tea, lemonade and cold beer on tap. Tickets, 200 pesos, will be sold at the door.
Funds raised from this event will be earmarked for the daily operating expenses of the home, which cares for 22 boys aged from two to 16.
Separately, a team of 30 adults and college students from The Way Ministries Guadalajara in Kentucky will be coming down to the area to work on construction of a transition home for boys in the orphanage who have reached the age of 18. By law, all youths must leave the orphanage once they have turned 18. Many of the boys, however, have had no other family except the home, which will celebrate its ninth year of operation in June.
The new facility will provide training and schooling to help the youths become self-sufficient and find work.
Thanks to funds raised in the United States, The Way Ministries Guadalajara is providing all the money to build this new facility. Construction started last year on a lot across the street from the orphanage when a team of 15 volunteers flew in to get things going.
Hope House directors and founders, Rodney and Kina Dutro, have hired a local contractor to ensure that Jalisco building codes are met.
To become involved in the project, or get more information on Hope House, contact Kina Dutro at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or board member Al Reynolds 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..
Buddhists
The Sangha’s regular meditation and teaching session is on Wednesday from 3:30 p.m., and the formal program goes from 4-6 p.m.
Hour-long silent meditation periods, including sitting and walking meditation, are offered Sundays and Mondays from 9-10 a.m. and Thursdays from 11 a.m.- noon.
Note: No Wednesday morning yoga class April 19 and 26.
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’s location is at Guadalupe Victoria 101 in Ajijic. For more information, visit heartofawareness.org, or call Janet Reichert, (331) 043-4669.
LCS Bus Trips
The Lake Chapala Society hosts a bus trip to the crafts centers of Tonala and Tlaquepaque, Wednesday, April 26. Shop in Tonala for home decor and handicrafts, while Tlaquepaque features many upscale retailers and fine dining options in an historical and architecturally significant pedestrian-only zone.
Thursday, April 27, LCS takes the bus to Guadalajara’s Galerias Mall, with its adjacent Costco, Sam’s and Super Walmart stores. Major retailers at Galerias include Best Buy, Sears and H&M, while restaurant choices include Cheesecake Factory, PF Chang and Applebee’s.
Cost for either trip is 350 pesos for members and 450 pesos for non-members. The bus departs promptly at 9:30 a.m. from at the sculpture in La Floresta.
Red Cross snack bar
Cruz Roja Chapala is soon to open a small store at its Chapala headquarters that will be an outlet for foods, snacks and drinks on sale to the public, as well as a public washroom facility. This service will help fund its medical clinic and ambulance services to surrounding communities.
The Cruz Roja Chapala board of directors is soliciting donations of new or gently used equipment needed to furnish the store and restrooms. The list of items includes a stainless steel kitchen sink, microwave oven, small gas oven, juice extractor, shelving storage units with doors, five white toilets with tanks and two bathroom vanities with basins. The Cruz Roja can provide official receipts. Cash contributions are also appreciated.
For additional information, contact board member Bob Foster 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..