Fundraiser for firefighter
The Cave is holding a fundraiser for injured firefighter Heriberto “Erick” Garcia Medina, whose family is facing a hefty hospital bill.
The event is Friday, September 1, 8-11 p.m. and includes music and entertainment, raffle prizes and gifts, a DJ and dance competition and more. Tickets, 150 pesos, are available at the Cave, Diane Pearl, Mia’s Boutique or via Alicia, 331-466-9839 (cel), or Ady, 331-512-7961 (cel). The Cave is at Hidalgo 159 in San Antonio, next to Fenix Real Estate.
Legionnaire needs help
American Legion Post 7 Commander Tim Stern has been in the Hospital Civil in Guadalajara with severe pneumonia four weeks. He is receiving costly medical care and had to be put briefly on a ventilator. The expensive medicines he needs have exhausted his funds and the debt is rising at a steady rate. Unfortunately, this treatment is not covered by his Veterans Administration disability. Legionnaire friends are working to get him a place at VA hospital in the United States, but his doctor says he can’t travel yet.
A fundraiser was held recently at Yves Restaurant, but more donations are needed. If you can help, contact Vince Britton, either in person at the Legion 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..
British Society
The Lakeside British Society holds its monthly luncheon Saturday, September 2, 1 p.m. at Manix Restaurant, Ocampo 57, Ajijic.
The Lake Chapala Society turned 60 in 2016. As part of the anniversary celebrations, it embarked on an oral history project designed to capture the memories of expat pioneers, people who arrived on the shores of Lake Chapala before there were proper roads or grocery stores. These intrepid souls survived without all the comforts we take for granted, such as telephones and bank machines. Project Coordinator Harriet Hart has interviewed over 30 individuals and will share some of the highlights of their stories.
Menu choices begin with a small salad or vegetable soup, choice of steak pie with chips, fish and chips, pasta primavera or a large salad. Dessert is chocolate mousse. The cost is 150 pesos plus tip.
Contact Sue Morris at 766-0847 or Sue Sterlini at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to confirm your attendance and menu choice.
Mexican cooking class
Anayeli Cornejo Rodriguez pours her freshly made green salsa over rolled enchiladas before adding shredded cheese and popping them in the oven. Eight attendees participated in a collaborative Mexican cooking class, hosted by Debra March. This four-course dinner was the fifth in a series assisting Rodriguez to reach her goal of graduating as an attorney by the end of this year. All were delighted at the cooking skills and tips Anyeli shared with the group. The sixth class, scheduled later in September, will feature chiles en nogada. For more information, contact Kenee Campo, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 766-4510.
Tarahumara fundraiser
The Tarahumara Project will be raising funds to help support a free Tarahumara school in the Copper Canyon region at an event held at La Bodega in Ajijic on Sunday, September 3, noon to 5 p.m.
“Education is of the utmost importance for the survival of these shy people who inhabit the copper Canyon, and this school prepares them well for dealing with the outside world,” says said Libby Townsend, who with her mother Jeanne Chaussee began the Tarahumara project in 2006. “The students are willing to walk for miles in the snow, sometimes barefoot. The least we can do is make sure that they have the necessary supplies when they get there.
La Bodega will be offering up an Italian feast buffet for 190 pesos. All the proceeds will go to the school. The restaurant’s regular menu will also be available, with a portion of the proceeds donated to the cause.
All donations of cash or school supplies will be entered for a raffle of artwork.
Tarahumara handcrafts will be on sale, as well as donated jewelry and art. Also on the card for the afternoon is a 50/50 drawing and live music.
La Bodega is located at 16 de Septiembre 124. For more information, call Townsend, 333-495-7263 (cel).
Open Circle
Jim Cook will present “September 16, 1810, Brought to Life” at the next meeting of at Open Circle, held in the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) Sala, Sunday, September 3, 10:30 a.m. to noon.
In September, we celebrate Mexico’s great struggle for freedom from Spain. Did you know Mexico’s Paul Revere was a woman? Or that its George Washington was a long-haired hippie who loved wine, women, and song? Photo-journalist Jim Cook will talk about the vivid personalities and dramatic events that launched Mexico as an independent nation.
Cook and his wife Carole moved to Ajijic in 2007. Since then, they have traveled all over Mexico and Jim has intensively studied the country’s history and culture. Their photo-journal blog, “Jim and Carole’s Mexico Adventure,” has attracted more than 1.5 million page viewers in over 130 countries on every continent in the world, including Antarctica. Their stories and photos have appeared in various websites, magazines and books published in English, Spanish, Danish and Russian, as well as in a film soon to be shown on the History Channel.
For more information, go to opencircleajjic.org.
Grant Program
“Raffle Wizard” Charlie Klestadt keeps an eye on Margy Kassier as she draws the winning tickets for the summer raffle benefiting the Grant Program affiliated with the Foundation for Lake Chapala Charities. The winning tickets were numbers 342 (platinum) and 487 (gold). By the end of September, 100,000 pesos will be distributed to at least four lakeside non-profit organizations, selected from applications submitted to the Grant Program. The program will make available more than 250,000 pesos to local charities in 2017, with additional fundraisers and grant opportunities to come in 2018. For more information, contact Grant Program Director Kassier at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 766-4337.
LCS seminar
Lake Chapala Society (LCS) members are invited to attend a TED seminar, hosted by Susan Weeks, on “Green the World’s Deserts and Reverse Climate Change” by grassland ecosystem pioneer Allan Savory, Tuesday, September 5, noon to 1:15 p.m. in the LCS Sala.
Desertification is happening to about two-thirds of the world’s grasslands, accelerating climate change and causing traditional grazing societies to descend into social chaos. Savory has devoted his life to stopping it. He now believes – and his work may show – that a surprising factor can protect grasslands and even reclaim degraded land that was once desert.
Heart of Awareness
The Heart of Awareness Buddhist Sangha offers meditation opportunities several times each week. Sunday, September 3 the meditation center is open from 9 a.m. to noon for 3 rounds of sitting and walking meditation. Participants are welcome to come for all or part of this extended practice period. There are two additional hour-long silent meditation opportunities each week on Mondays from 9-10 a.m. and Thursdays from 11-noon.
The Sangha’s regular meditation and teaching session is on Wednesdays when the center opens at 3:30 p.m. and formal meditation begins at 4 p.m. September 6, the meditation period will be followed a video teaching by by a presentation and discussion on “Evaluating our Practice: motivation and understanding.” The gathering ends by 6 p.m.
On Wednesday and Saturday mornings, from 9-11 a.m., Latika Pierrette Claude offers a gentle and spiritual yoga practice at the Center.
The Heart of Awareness is grounded in the teachings of the Buddha. Prior experience or affiliation is not required.
The center is located at Guadalupe Victoria 101 in Ajijic. For more information, go to heartofawareness.org, or call Janet Reichert, 331-043-4669.
Lakeside Singles
Wednesday, September 6, the Lakeside Singles will meet at the Avocado Club in San Antonio Tlayacapan, 4-6 p.m. Reggae band Jamaica Me Crazy will entertain and margaritas and beer will be priced two for one. If you plan to attend, 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..
Education
Chapala Sunrise Rotary Club is kicking off their fall season with a dinner party and silent auction to raise funds for the Save the Future with Education (SAFE) Scholarship Fund, Saturday, September 9, 5:30 p.m.
The gala evening includes cocktails and gourmet hors d’oeuvres followed by a three-course chateaubriand dinner catered by Manix Restaurant and a selection of fine wines to complement the meal. Live jazz by Dos Juntos features Mike Leisenbach on sax and flute and vocals by Karen Procter.
You can bid on some great items including a dream week in a luxury hotel in any one of many cities around the world, custom-made wooden furniture, a Lake Chapala boat trip with lunch for six and lunch and dinner at popular lakeside eateries.
The evening’s host is Blair Ferguson at Rio Amazonas 17-B in Rancho del Oro.
Tickets, 700 pesos, are available at Diane Pearl. RSVP before Thursday, September 7 to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 333-142-3038 (cel).
Party Time
Help fund the pueblo of Ajijic’s Mexican Independence celebrations (Fiestas Patrias) and come to a Fiesta Mexicana held by the Lake Chapala Society, Wednesday, September 13, 5 p.m. Enjoy Mexican food and drink, mariachi and ballet folclorico held in the LCS gardens.
LCS Bus Trip
The Lake Chapala Society hosts a trip to Galerias Mall/Costco in Guadalajara Thursday, September 21. The bus departs promptly at 9 a.m. from the sculpture in La Floresta.
Cost is 350 pesos for members and 450 pesos for non-members.
Holistic clinic
The third Sana-Clinica Pop-Up Clinic will be held Saturday, September 23, 2:30-6:30 p.m. at Mexico Refuge in San Antonio Tlayacapan. This event offers a spa-like atmosphere where community members are invited to come and sample the healing modalities of local holistic practitioners. Services are offered on a donation basis. For more information, or further instructions, see sana-clinica.com.
Enrich yourself
The Lake Chapala Society begins its Personal Enrichment Courses for the fall with “Introduction to Creative Writing” by Rachel McMillen, Tuesdays, October 3-24, 10 a.m. to noon at the South Campus board room. Cost is 400 pesos.
Marshall Krantz offers up “A Novel Approach to Films” Wednesdays, October 4 to November 1, 2-5 p.m. at the LCS Sala. Cost is 750 pesos.
Francisco Nava continues his popular “Practical Gardening at Lakeside” courses Wednesdays, October 11- November 29, 9 to 10 a.m. in the garden area of LCS. Cost is 600 pesos.
Judy King gives a course on “Mexico’s Winter Holidays and Traditions,” Mondays, October 30-December 4, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Cost is 600 pesos.
A minimum of 11 and maximum of 20 students are required for each course, except the gardening course, which tops out at 15.
Sign up at the LCS office. For more information, see www.lakechapalasociety.com.
CASA
The Culinary Arts Society of Ajijic (CASA) enjoyed a Mediterranean menu at its August 21 meeting.
Taking first place in the Mediterranean main dish category was Judith Greenberg for her eggplant parmesan; Sally Myers placed second with Emilia Romagna lasagne verde; Patrick Waite’s presto pasta penne placed third and also won best presentation and there was a three-way tie for the people’s choice award with Julia Miller’s Tuscan shrimp and spaghetti and Rick Feldmann’s fusilli with porcini mushrooms and beef.
In the dessert category, Marina Benz placed first and tied for people’s choice with her cappuccino delight; Carol Westbrook took second place, best presentation and tied for people’s choice for her French chocolate mousse cake; Roberta Hilleman took third place with a French apple almond tart.
CASA will celebrate Mexican Independence Day at its September 18 meeting and categories will be Mexican main dish and Mexican dessert. The group meets at La Mision Restaurant on Calle Rio Bravo in West Ajijic at 3:30 p.m. For more information, contact casalakeside @yahoo.com.