World AIDS Day
Ajijic Cares Foundation invites area residents to join them at the Amphitheater on Ajijic’s Malecon on World AIDS Day, Saturday, December 1, 5 p.m.
This year’s theme will be “Women and HIV.” Globally, women with HIV account for half of all people living with the disease. The program will be conducted entirely by women sharing their stories.
More than 450 Lakeside students have received safe sex educational seminars from the non-profits VIHAS de VIDA through their program Feria de Vida. This same presentation will be given on the afternoon of December 1. These seminars are made available by generous donations to Ajijic Cares, which funnels funds to this educational organization.
Volunteers will be on hand to accept cash donations.
For more information on World AIDS Day, contact Ajijic Cares Foundation 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..
British luncheon
The Lakeside British and Commonwealth Society holds its monthly luncheon Saturday, December 1, 12:45 p.m. at Manix Restaurant, Ocampo 57 in Ajijic.
With the holidays just around the corner, Rosemary Woodruff and Helen Gallagher have prepared a special Christmas Trivia.
Menu choices begin with a small salad or vegetable soup; turkey with all the trimmings or a large salad with protein. Dessert is chocolate mousse.
The cost is 150 pesos plus tip.
Contact Sue at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Arleen Foster, 766-1742 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., to confirm your attendance and menu choice.
Open Circle
Rev. Don Beaudreault presents “Playing Around – Creatively” at the next meeting of Open Circle, Sunday, December 2, 10:30 a.m., on the patio of the Lake Chapala Society (LCS).
Carl Jung says the creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity. The creative mind plays with the objects it loves.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.." class="caption" style="float: right;" width="402" height="269" />When we retire to lakeside, many of us embrace the creative activities we had denied ourselves earlier. Philosophy, psychology, theology, art – the major disciplines of the human intellect and heart – have extolled this need to create through playfulness. Beaudreault’s piano will assist this exploration.
Beaudreault served as a minister to Unitarian Universalist congregations throughout the United States and England for nearly 40 years. Before that, he was a teacher in the Philippines, Iran and American Samoa. A professional jazz pianist, he has given concerts for numerous causes. He is an author, actor, singer, marathon runner and global traveler. He has two daughters and two granddaughters. He and his partner share their lives with eight rescued animals.
Information: opencircleajijic.org.
Race for Love in Action
The Love in Action children’s home in Colonia Las Redes in Chapala will benefit from a fundraising race, Sunday, December 2, starting 8:30 a.m. at the Vela (sail) sculpture on the Chapala Malecon. The courses are five and ten kilometers and walkers are welcome.
Love in Action currently hosts 20 Lakeside area children ranging from one to 18 years of age. Sometimes, however, they have as many as six children in the four homes they manage, each with their own houseparents.
The group provides holistic care to abandoned, abused and orphaned children, who are placed by Mexican government authorities. The caregivers bath, clothe and feed the children, provide medical and dental care, vocational and educational programs, psychological support through group and individual therapy, and spiritual support through prayer. Find out more at loveinactioncenter.org.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.." class="caption" style="float: right;" width="404" height="261" />Registration for the race is at Clinica Ibarra, Calle Miguel Martinez 530-532 in Chapala or on the day of the event, from 7 a.m. Cost is 150 pesos adults; 50 pesos children.
TED Talks
Steven Pinker presents “Is the World Getting Better or Worse? A Look at the Numbers” at the next TED Talk, Tuesday, December 4, noon to 1:15 p.m., at the Lake Chapala Society Sala. LCS members only.
Was 2017 really the “worst year ever,” as some would have us believe? In his analysis of recent data on homicide, war, poverty, pollution and more, Pinker finds that we’re doing better now in every one of them when compared with 30 years ago.
But progress isn’t inevitable, and it doesn’t mean everything gets better for everyone all the time, he says. Instead, progress is problem solving, and we should look at things like climate change and nuclear war as problems to be solved, not apocalypses in waiting.
“We will never have a perfect world, and it would be dangerous to seek one,” Pinker says. “But there’s no limit to the betterments we can attain if we continue to apply knowledge to enhance human flourishing.”
Hosted by Fred Harland.
LCS bus trips
The Lake Chapala Society offers bus trips to various metro area locations throughout the month: Andares Mall, Wednesday, December 5; Tonala, Tuesday, December 11; Galerias Mall/Costco, Monday, December 17; Tlaquepaque Forum Mall/Home Depot, Thursday, December 27.
Check the LCS office or website to sign up and to learn the departure times and cost of the trips for members and non-members.
LCS Mexico courses
The Lake Chapala Society offers the following classes to its members: Piñata making, Tuesday and Wednesday, December 4 and 5; Mexico’s Traditional Fermented Beverages, Thursday, December 6; Revolutionary women in modern Mexican history, December 10, 12 and 13 and Negotiating Paradise, December 10, 12 and 13.
Sign up and check course details, times and the cost for each course at the LCS.
Shriners dine to help kids
The Ajijic Shriners Club invites you to dine with them at Hacienda Don Pedro, Thursday, December 6, 2 to 7 p.m. All funds from the meal go to the club’s transportation fund to help children get to the Shriners Hospital in Mexico City. The cost is 300 pesos per person. Tickets available at the door.
School for special children
An auction/fashion show to benefit the School for Special Children in Jocotepec will be held Thursday, December 6, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Restaurant Las Caballerizas Coxala, in the Raquet Club in San Juan Cosala.
“Show till you drop!” say organizers, who have lined up an auction fashion show, a silent auction and a clothing store, as well as a luncheon.
Tickets, 300 pesos, are available at Casi Nuevo, Diane Pearl and Mia’s Boutique. For table reservations, contact Wendy Petersen, 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 Holiday Bash
The Lake Chapala Society hosts a Holiday Bash on its grounds, Friday, December 7, 3 to 7 p.m. Dance the night away to music by the Crooners. Enjoy a traditional turkey dinner catered by Janelle’s Restaurant & Bar (formerly Roberto’s) featuring all the holiday favorites. A cash bar is available. Tickets for the dinner are 370 pesos and available at Diane Pearl, LCS and Janelle’s Restaurant.
Democrats Abroad
The Lake Chapala Chapter of Democrats Abroad holds their annual holiday party Monday, December 10, 4 p.m. at La Bodega Restaurant, 16 de Septiembre, Ajijic.
A Mexican buffet with a choice of vegetarian or chicken fajitas, great music and cash bar are slated. No program, just holiday cheer! Members, visitors and those curious to know more about the organization’s activities in Mexico and stateside are invited, but only 100 tickets will be sold.
The 300-peso ticket will include a welcome tequila shot, the buffet, Christmas/Chanukah music and a chance to participate in both a White Elephant Gift Exchange and Toys for Tots collection.
For the White Elephant Gift Exchange, participants should bring something to swap – a never-used gift that just “wasn’t you” but great for someone else, or something nice or comical that you no longer need but has a value between 250-500 pesos max. Participants can keep the gift they choose at the party or swap with another participant for theirs. It can be a lot of fun and laughs.
Members and visitors will also be able to contribute to a “Toys for Tots” collection. Democrats Abroad is working with the Los Gueros Motorcycle Club, the American Legion and the Canadian Legion in Chapala to provide toys and holiday meals to more than 350 very poor children in the Tepehua region of Chapala. Toys or cash donations will be very appreciated. All donated items will be given to the children December 16.
Members who want to take part in delivering the toys can meet at the American Legion in Chapala on that day, 10:30 a.m. and join the parade, complete with fire truck, motorcycles and vans. Those wishing to donate to the collection should bring to the party a wrapped, new toy for a child (cost between 100-150 pesos max). Mark on your gift to give to a boy or girl and age for recipient (newborn to 10 years old).
Regular monthly meetings will begin in January. Information: 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..
Cruz Roja paella feast
The Cruz Roja will hold a paella benefit dinner at Hotel Montecarlo, Thursday, December 13, 5:30 p.m. The menu consists of salad, paella and a variety of desserts. Ricardo and Blanca will provide the entertainment.
Tickets, 300 pesos, are available at Estetica Yoly’s, Diane Pearl and the Chapala Cruz Roja clinic. Information: Yoli, (376) 766-2260.
Insight Meditation
The Heart of Awareness Insight Meditation Community offers multiple opportunities each week for silent meditation. All sessions are open to the public regardless of experience or affiliation.
Sunday, December 2, 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 Wednesday at 4 p.m. and Thursday at 11 a.m.
Wednesday, December 5, the meditation period will be followed by a video teaching by meditation teacher and coach Anushka Fernandopulle. Even if we don’t think we are leaders, it’s likely we assume leadership roles we wouldn’t have defined as such within our families, communities and daily life. She explores how dharma practice can help us awaken to the ways we manifest as leaders in the world, developing the values of compassion, integrity and wisdom. A discussion period follows the video.
A yoga class is offered Thursdays from 9 to 10:45 a.m.
The meditation center is at Guadalupe Victoria 101, Ajijic.
Geek day in Chapala
Dozens of young tech geeks congregated at Chapala’s waterfront Plaza de la Vela Friday, November 23 for Roboticas Challenges competitions organized by the local Instituto Tecnológico. Competitors battled for cash prizes in an obstacle course race with drones and the knock-out rounds between pairs of homemade remote-controlled robots weighing up to five kilograms.