Cruz Roja to the Rescue
Mexico has recently been rocked to its core by earthquakes. In the days and weeks following the tragic events, volunteer rescue and assistance groups from around the world mustered into action.
Many of the volunteers sent to Mexico City were from Jalisco, including ten from Chapala.
At the Lake Chapala Society, Saturday, October 28, 1:30 p.m., you can meet one of the urban rescue squads, led by Disaster Action Team Captain Ruben Rabadan, an American-Mexican volunteer from Florida. Rabadan has prepared a presentation that outlines the work of these life-saving volunteers.
He’ll also be outlining how donations to the Red Cross are processed through their system, including how the local Chapala Delegation handles its income, expenses and disaster donations.
There will be time for questions after this 45-minute presentation in English.
Open Circle
Tony Burton presents “Rewriting History: Lake Chapala’s Forgotten Foreigners” at the next meeting of Open Circle at the Lake Chapala Society, Sunday, October 29, 10:30 a.m. to noon.
“Events at the end of the 19th century conspired to ensure that Lake Chapala became a powerful magnet for foreigners and has remained one to this day,” says Burton. “However, without the vision of a handful of determined individuals, such as Septimus Crowe, Chapala and Ajijic might still be languishing in relative obscurity. I will share stories of some of these individuals and their contributions to the area, while arguing that the commonly accepted history of these early days deserves a drastic rewrite,” says Burton.
A former resident of Jocotepec, Burton is the author of several books about Mexico, including “Western Mexico, A Traveler’s Treasury” (2013) and “Mexican Kaleidoscope: myths, mysteries and mystique” (2016). Having spent much of the past two decades researching the history of the Lake Chapala area, he is currently working on a sequel to “Lake Chapala Through the Ages; an anthology of travelers’ tales” (2008), which considered the period prior to 1910.
For more information, go to opencircleajjic.org.
Genealogy Forum
The Genealogy Forum will meet Monday, October 30, 1 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Riberas del Pilar.
Historic newspapers can be a goldmine of hints, fact and interesting information about our ancestors. They are being digitized all over the world as we speak. Marci Bowman will talk about where to find digitized copies of old newspapers, both for free and subscription, and show some real life examples of the kinds of information you might find. She has found everything from brick wall breaking details to wonderful tall tales told by her 104-year-old great-great grandmother to gullible newspaper reporters.
The Genealogy Forum, which meets monthly, is open to all. Call Fran Murphy for more information, 766-0067.
LCS seminar
Lake Chapala Society members are invited to attend a TED seminar titled “Brain-to-brain communication has arrived. How we did it,” given by neuroscientist and author Dr. Miguel Nicolelis, Tuesday, October 31, noon to 1:15 p.m. in the LCS Sala.
Nicolelis built the brain-controlled exoskeleton that allowed a paralyzed man to kick the first ball of the 2014 World Cup. At present he is building ways for rats and monkeys to send messages brain to brain. As he says, his work may go to “the limit of your imagination.”
Bridge lessons
Catherine Gonzales is holding supervised bridge classes every Wednesday, November 1-March 28, 1:30 to 4 p.m., at the Lake Chapala Duplicate Bridge Club in Riberas del Pilar near Mom’s Restaurant. Each session begins with a lesson on a single topic and then supervised bridge with advice from the instructor and/or experienced players on a hand you’re playing. The session is casual and there is no competition or time limits. The cost is only 50 pesos with 50 percent going to charity. For more information, contact Gonzales at 766-0781, 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..
Brits meet
The Lakeside British Society holds its monthly luncheon Saturday, November 4, 1 p.m. at Manix Restaurant, Ocampo 57 in Ajijic. Molly Chagollan is the speaker for this event. She grew up on Florida’s east coast where hurricanes are a fact of life. She will share her experiences, storms of all sizes and intensities, and the adventures that went along with them.
Menu choices begin with a small salad or lentil soup; choice of spinach quiche, fish and chips, pork chop, apple sauce and mashed potatoes or a large salad. Dessert is berry pie. The cost is 150 pesos plus tip.
Contact Sue Morris at 766-0847 or email 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.
LCS bus trip
The Lake Chapala Society is hosting a bus trip to the Guadalajara Zoo, Wednesday, November 8. The cost, including admission and everything else except the Sky Ride, is 440 pesos for members and 540 pesos for non-members. Food options are available at the Zoo. The bus leaves at 9 a.m. Sign up for either trip at the LCS office.
Fore!
The Cruz Roja XIV Annual Golf Classic is slated for Thursday, November 9 at the Chapala Country Club. Last year, sponsors and participants raised funds that, with the help of the Cruz Roja Jalisco, were used to purchase the first new ambulance for the Chapala area in 30 years. Entry fees include golf and cart rental, a goodie bag full of useful information about the tournament sponsors, breakfast, a bag lunch on the course and the Country Club’s almost legendary Western barbecue. If you don’t play golf, you can still enjoy the dinner. All proceeds go to the Cruz Roja Chapala Delegation. For more information, call Don at 766-4990 or get your entry form at the pro shop at Country Club de Chapala.
Christmas at Jaltepec
Timothy G. Ruff Welch will direct Los Cantantes del Lago in a performance at the Jaltepec hostelry school’s early Christmas luncheon and dinner fundraiser. New head chef Caty Llovet Abascal has organized a delicious menu for both events: salmon cream with tequila, roast turkey with stuffing, gravy and cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables, and, for dessert, chocolate mousse with touch of brandy and apricot coulis and Mango mousse with pinole and biscuit served with coffee or a selection of teas.
The luncheon event is set for Tuesday, November 28 and the candlelight dinner Wednesday, November 29. Tickets are 600 and 700 pesos respectively.
Wine by the bottle will be available: Los Moras Sauvignon Blanc and Los Moras Merlot at 250 pesos per bottle, along with full bar service.
The luncheon event begins at noon with a no-host bar and complimentary hors d’oeuvres. The musical presentation is at 1:15 p.m. and lunch at 2 p.m.
The dinner begins with hors d’oeuvres at 6 p.m., the concert at 7:15 p.m. and dinner at 8 p.m.
Proceeds from these meals help the needier students of this technical school in hotel and hospitality management – not only the young ladies themselves but also their families. These students value the education they receive and in turn are financially able to help educate their siblings.
RSVP before November 17 to Linda Buckthorp, 766-1631 or 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..">.
Casa
Members of the Culinary Arts Society of Ajijic (Casa) presented and enjoyed brunch items at its October 16 meeting. Winning first place and the presentation award in the savory brunch main dish category was past president Monica Molloy with shrimp, sausage, corn and tarragon eggroll with Creole tomato sauce. Roberta Kaplan took second place with spicy maple-candied bacon with cheddar jalepeño bread and Patrick Waite won third place with eggs Benedict casserole.
In the Meringue dessert category, Michele Lococo won first place, best presentation and people’s choice awards for Daquoise; Marina Benz’s mile-high lime meringue pie took second place. Steve Matheson’s Italian meringue torte came in third.
Casa’s next meeting is Monday, November 13, and will feature presentations of Eastern European main dishes and desserts. Meetings are held at La Mission in West Ajijic. For more information, 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..
Buddhists
The Heart of Awareness Insight Meditation Community’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. November 1, the meditation period will be followed with a video teaching by Ven. Robina Courtin, an Australian-born Tibetan Buddhist nun. The talk, titled “Unpacking Delusions and Disturbing Emotions,” is the first in her series of four teachings on the topic “Unraveling Our Emotions.” The Wednesday gathering ends by 6 p.m.
The Heart of Awareness is located at Guadalupe Victoria 101 in Ajijic. See heartofawareness.org or call Janet Reichert, (331) 043-4669.