British Society
The Lakeside British Society holds its monthly luncheon Saturday, March 3, 1 p.m. at Manix Restaurant, Ocampo 57 in Ajijic.
Dr. Santiago Hernandez Martinez will speak about the new hospital being built at lakeside. He has been involved from the start both in the planning and the raising of funds for this vital addition to the community.
Menu choices begin with a small salad or green soup; choice of meatloaf with scalloped potatoes, seafood pasta, Cobb salad with blue cheese dressing or a large salad with protein. Dessert is chocolate mousse. The cost is 150 pesos plus tip.
Contact Sue Morris at (376) 766-0847 or e-mail 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.
Open Circle
Dr. Todd Stong will present “Update on Lake Chapala and the Surrounding Villages” at the next meeting of Open Circle, Sunday, March 4, 10:30 a.m. on the patio of the Lake Chapala Society.
Dr. Stong will talk about the state of Lake Chapala — its water supply and wastewater treatment in area villages; potential job creation via aquaculture, hydroponics, volcanic ash products, and assisted living; first class beach development with amenities; children dying from kidney disease in villages west of Mezcala; and the coming chaos of national and local elections in July.
Dr. Stong has pursued voluntary humanitarian service for the past 22 years in Africa, Asia and Latin America. This is his 16th year at Lakeside, where his focus has been on public infrastructure projects and potential employment opportunities for villagers. His professional career included 15 years of overseas construction and 20 years of laboratory direction. He is the progenitor of six engineers and a nurse, plus 52 grand and great-grandchildren.
For more information on Open Circle, see opencircle ajijic.org.
Democrats Abroad
The Lake Chapala Chapter of Democrats Abroad will start its sixth “Sunday Afternoon at the Movies” festival, Sunday, March 4 at Cinema del Lago in the Bugambilias Plaza.
Ten films are included in the 2018 not-for-profit series which begin at 1:30 p.m. each Sundays on topics covering U.S. politics, and racial, economic and humanitarian issues.
The first film, “Marshall”, will cover the early career of the first African-American Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall as a young lawyer. Muzzled by a segregationist court, Marshall partners with a young Jewish lawyer and together they mount a defense in an environment of racism and anti-Semitism that later served as a template for Marshall’s creation of the NAACP legal defense fund.
The other films to follow will be: “The Invisible War,” “Capitalism: A Love Story,” “Get Me Roger Stone,” “Mission Blue,” “Normal is Over,” “Anita,” “The Last Mountain,” “The Visitor” and “The Most Dangerous Man in America.”
Proceeds from the films’ 80-peso ticket price will be used to support the “Get Out The Vote” campaign for the November 2018 midterm elections. The Chapala Chapter is currently providing voter registration support at the Lake Chapala Society every Tuesday morning from 10 a.m.-noon. Lakeside residents and visitors who will not be in the U.S. in November are encouraged to visit LCS and learn from our volunteers how to submit forms for themselves and their friends to receive absentee ballots.
The next monthly meeting of Democrats Abroad will be Monday, March 12, 4 p.m. at Salvador’s Restaurant in Plaza Bugambilias. The guest speaker will be the author Mike Hais, who will examine “The Past and Future of the Democratic Party” within the context of demographic and societal trends that are remaking the United States. His talk will suggest steps that the Democratic Party should take to make the most of opportunities its new 21st century coalition provides. For more information on local Chapter activities, 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 TED talks
Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt will give a lecture on “Can a divided America heal?” Tuesday, March 6, noon to 1:15 p.m. at the LCS Sala. The talk is facilitated by Fred Harland. LCS members only.
In a conversation with TED Curator Chris Anderson, Haidt describes the patterns of thinking and historical causes that have led to such sharp divisions in America – and provides a vision for how the country might move forward.
Neill James Lecture
James Broehl presents “How to Find Great Art” at the next Neill James lecture, Tuesday, March 6, 2-3:30 p.m. in the Sala of the Lake Chapala Society.
Where would you look for it and how would you know it if you saw it? James Broehl discusses his process for educating himself about art, finding and identifying truly valuable pieces, and acquiring them. LCS members only.
UVA
Students Eduardo Gilberto Diaz Daniel, Bianey Carranza Estrada, Bertha Alicia Morales Osorio and Anna Magaly Muñiz Espinosa celebrate the completion of another semester at the UVA (University Vocational Assistance Program) at the home of UVA President Sue Torres.At the event, the quartet, along with 40 other students, received checks for the spring semester. This bi-annual meeting gives the students and the UVA board the opportunity to discuss the last term and any issues that need to be resolved. UVA has assisted bright but financially challenged Lakeside university students for more than 40 years. The UVA Scholarship Fund holds its annual general meeting Saturday, April 7, 2 p.m. in the Torres home. Everyone is welcome. For further information about UVA, contact Cristi Baron, 766-3574 or Torres, 766-2932.
“Mutt Strutt”
Lucky Dog dog shelter is holding a “Mutt Strutt” fundraiser in Cristiania Park in Chapala Saturday, March 10.
To participate bring your dog to walk, jog or run a designated route set up in the park and along the Malecon. Registration for the walk is 100 pesos and walkers are asked to get pledges from family and friends to support Lucky Dog.
The walker bringing in the most pledges will receive a prize and any walker bringing in pledges over 400 pesos will receive a special walk T-shirt. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the walk at 10 a.m.
After the walk, everyone is encouraged to remain in the park and enjoy a fun day featuring agility demonstrations, dog contests with prizes, the Lucky Dog Marketplace, with top-dog vendors showing canine-related products and services, including nail clipping, Talk to a Trainer, Ask a Vet and photo opportunities. The Dog House Bar and Grill will be open with BBQ and cold drinks.
The finale is a dog talent contest at the bandstand around 1 p.m., showcasing the multi talents of our canine friends.
LCS bus trip
The Lake Chapala Society will head out to Tonala and Tlaquepaque, Wednesday, March 14. Tickets, 370 pesos for members and 470 pesos for non-members, are on sale at LCS through Saturday, February 24.
Shop in Tonala for home decor and handicrafts and in Tlaquepaque find upscale retailers and fine dining in an historical architecturally significant, pedestrian-only zone. The bus departs promptly at 9 a.m. from the sculpture in La Floresta. All reservations must be made by the Saturday prior to the excursion.
Rib Fest
A limited number of tickets are still available The Shriners 12th annual Rib Fest Wednesday, March 7, 1 p.m., at Cumbres Events Garden on the top of Chula Vista Norte. The Ajijic Jam Band will entertain while you enjoy Adelita’s famous ribs and chicken with full table service. Added attractions include door prizes, a 50/50 cash raffle and attractive items up for bid in the silent auction. Obtain tickets, 500 pesos, from David, 331-017-1724.
Jaltepec event
Funky Finns Bar and Grill in San Antonio Tlayacapan will host a Lakeside International Women’s Day Fundraiser for the benefit the Centro Educativo Jaltepec (the Women’s Hospitality and Hotel School) Thursday, March 8. The event starts at 4 p.m. with a no-host bar, then dinner at 5 p.m., followed by a short presentation about Jaltepec by Linda Buckthorp at 6 p.m. Music for dancing will commence immediately following with the Yanin Live World Music Trio and DJ Walt.
Tickets, 300 pesos, are available at Diane Pearl, Mia’s Boutique and Funky Finns.
Writers confab
The 2018 Lake Chapala Writers Conference is scheduled Wednesday-Friday, March 7, 8 and 9 in the auditorium inside El Jardin Restaurant at the Ajijic Plaza. The program is designed for beginning and experienced wordsmiths, offering opportunities to sharpen skills and gain inspiration through exchange with knowledgeable guest speakers including journalist, author and teacher Jennifer Wilson (“Running Away to Home”); writer, editor and teacher Samantha Waltz; novelist Roberta Rich, Toronto literary agent Beverly Slopen and memoir marketer Pat Chase.
The cost, 2,500 pesos, includes entry to the Wednesday evening meet-and-greet reception (with cash bar), in addition to the nine work sessions slated for Thursday and Friday, including coffee breaks, lunch and a wrap-up party.
Registration forms for the conference are available at Diane Pearl in Ajijic, or by request to Victoria Schmidt, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and Herbert Piekow, 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
Presentations for the Culinary Arts Society of Ajijic’s celebration of Valentine’s February 19 were both beautiful and delicious.
In the seafood or fish category, Janet Jorch took first place with a romantic picnic lunch of chilled curry rice with shrimp. Monica Molloy took second, Presentation and People’s Choice awards with a shrimp and smoked chili butter and tomatillo salsa on hominy cakes. Third place went to Judith Greenberg for chili salmon with glass noodles.
In the Your Heart’s Desire Desserts presentations, Roberta Hilleman won first place with a Virginia caramel tart with brandy whipped cream; second place went to Mary Ann Waite with a tiramisu cheesecake trifle; and third place, Presentation and People’s Choice awards to Carol Westbrook for a fudge pie with strawberries and whipped cream.
CASA’s next meeting will be Monday, March 19, with categories of Vegetarian Main Dish and Candy (soft/hard/caramel/nuts). Monday, March 26, CASA will celebrate its anual awards banquet. For more information about CASA, 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..
Buddhists
The Heart of Awareness Insight Meditation Community offers four opportunities each week for silent mediation. Sunday, March 4, the center is open from 9 a.m. until noon for three rounds of sitting and walking meditation. Participants are welcome to come for all or just a portion of this extended practice period. Additional meditation periods are offered Mondays at 9 a.m., Wednesdays at 4 p.m. and Thursdays at 11 a.m. All sessions are open to the public and chairs and cushions are provided.
During March, the Wednesday practice periods will be followed by brief video presentations from a series titled “The Ten Perfections.” The teacher is Thanissaro Bhikkhu, known as Ajaan IGeoff to his students. He has translated several meditation guides from Thai, and is also a well-known teacher, scholar and author. The ten Paramis, or perfections, provide a highly useful framework for guiding Dharma practice in daily life. Any activity or relationship approached wisely with the primary purpose of developing the perfections in a balanced way becomes part of the practice.
The perfections also provide one of the few reliable ways of measuring the accomplishments of your life. “Accomplishments” in the realm of work and relationships have a way of turning into dust, but perfections of the character, once developed, are dependable and lasting. The presentation on March 7 is titled “Discernment.”
The meditation center is located at Guadalupe Victoria 101, Ajijic. For more information, see heartofawareness.org.