Open Circle
Peter Steven Malakoffn will present “Introduction to Ayurveda” at the next meeting of Open Circle, Sunday, September 29, 10:30 a.m. to noon, on the patio of the Lake Chapala Society (LCS).
Ayurveda is the oldest medical system in the world, which gave birth to Chinese, Tibetan, Greek and western medicine. Our present approach to healing has gone over to the “dark side of the force,” primarily treating symptoms with drugs and surgery instead of removing the cause. As a result, “Iatrogenic disease” (a state of ill health or adverse effect resulting from medical treatment) is now the third leading cause of death in the western world.
Ayurveda is not idealistic, and what may be good for one person may be poisonous for another. Ayurveda always takes into account Dosha or elemental body type, season, time of day and period of life (youth, middle age and old age), and in those contexts prescribes diet, herbs, lifestyle changes and other modalities to bring about health.
Malakoffn has a degree in Religious Studies, (Hinduism-Buddhism) from UCSB and in 2004 received the Ayurvedic Sadhana Padavika Diploma from Kalidas Sanskrit University, Maharashtra, India. For the last 14 years he has taught courses on Ayurveda in the United States and India.
Information: opencircleajijic.org.
Genealogy Forum
The Genealogy Forum group meets the last Monday of every month at the Latter Day Saints Church from 1 to 3 p.m.
The next meeting on September 30 will be the last “workshop style” get-together. At this meeting there will be genealogists with varying experience who are happy to help you plan your research, give ideas of where and how to search, and celebrate your successes. There will be experts on U.K., Irish, American, Canadian, European, Jewish, Australian and New Zealand records, plus the exploration of DNA test results, and various software or websites. Please bring your laptop or tablet. The Family History Centre will be open at the same time, in addition to its regular hours of Wednesday and Thursday 10 a.m. to noon.
Starting the end of October, and throughout the high season, Genealogy Forum has a class each month on different aspects of family history. Everyone is welcome with any level of experience. There are no dues. The LDS Church is located diagonally from Mom’s Restaurant. Information: Phyl at 376-766-2722.
LCS courses
LCS members can take advantage of a variety of courses and seminars.
• Mexican Salsas, Monday, September 30, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Don’t get ripped off while building or remodeling your house by Marco Fuentes, Wednesday, October 2, 10 to 11 a.m.
• Introduction to Lakeside. Topics include: banking, shopping, medical services, transportation, housing, utilities, maid and gardening services, social protocols, fiestas, holidays, and religious observations. Thursday, October 10, 9 a.m.
• Mexican Corn Tortilla with Ana Moreno, Wednesday, October 9, 1:30 to 4 p.m.
• Learn about Mole with Ana Moreno, Thursday, October 17, 2 to 4 p.m.
• Mexican Tricky Spanish with Alfredo Perez, Tuesday. October 15, 1 to 3 p.m.
• Mexican Manners with Alfredo Perez, Thursday, October 24, 10 to 12:30 p.m.
• Learn some of the history and great traditions of Dia de los Muertos and build an altar as well as create a {calavera literaria} (humorous ode to death) with Alfredo Perez, Wednesday, October 30, 10 to 1 p.m.
Check the LCS office or website for costs and to sign up.
TED Talks
Environmentalist and Futurist Stewart Brand presents “Environmentalist and Futurist: The Dawn of De-extinction. Are You Ready?” at the next Ted Talk, Tuesday, October 1, noon to 1:15 p.m. in the Lake Chapala Society Sala. Open to LCS members only.
Throughout humankind’s history, we’ve driven species after species extinct: the passenger pigeon, the Eastern cougar, the dodo ... But now, says Brand, we have the technology (and the biology) to bring back species that humanity wiped out. So, should we? Which ones? He asks a big question whose answer is closer than you may think.
Hosted by Susan Weeks.
Hot Science at LCS
Lake Chapala Society (LCS) members can get the lowdown on new science, technology and medical news, each Tuesday in the LCS Sala, 1:45 to 2:45 p.m. Topics for October 1: New algae-based bioreactor can swallow carbon dioxide 400 times faster than trees; digital trends: “The U.S. and Canada have lost more than one in four birds in the past 50 years” (ScienceDaily); “Scientists think they’ve found a way to stop the common cold in its tracks” (IFLScience).
Presented by Silicon Valley guy Richard Clarke.
Tech classes at LCS
Michael Goss teaches tech classes Thursdays, 10-11:30 a.m. for LCS members.
Sign up for classes by email 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..
• October 3: Keeping Your Passwords
• October 10: Skype and Texting
• October 24: Google Photos
• October 31: Chromebooks
Every Thursday, noon to 2 p.m., Technical Help Desk for phones, laptops, tablets, TV questions, cell phone operations, email and everything else tech.
British Luncheon
The Lakeside British and Commonwealth Society holds its monthly luncheon on Saturday, October 5, 12:45 p.m. at Manix Restaurant, Ocampo 57 in Ajijic.
Gary Fish will speak on “Grieving.”
Menu is a small salad, lentil soup, roast pork tenderloin, mashed potatoes, vegetables and gravy, spinach lasagna or a large salad with protein. Dessert shortcake with strawberries and ice-cream. The cost is 180 pesos plus drinks and tip.
Contact Sue at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Arleen at 376-766-1742 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to confirm your attendance. Visitors welcome.
Ecology & recycling party
The Committee for Recycling of Ajijic, in cooperation with the Lake Chapala Society, will hold an event at LCS, Saturday, October 5, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Learn how recycling will benefit the local community. There will be refreshments, drinks, live music and food. Entry fee: one piece of recycling material.
Inspirational festival
Water, Light and Hope is the name of the inspirational festival that will be held Saturday, October 5, 4 to 10 p.m., at Chapala’s Cristiania Park.
The highlight of the event will be a mass after-dark release of floating lanterns in Lake Chapala’s waters. On-site activities will include entertainment featuring local performers, a play area for children, a commercial exhibition section and a variety of food and drink stands.
Information: AguaLuzyEsperanza.com.
Medical Information Kit
The Chapala Cruz Roja, with the help of local medical professionals, has created a Medical Information Kit that could very well save your life.
For a mere 50 pesos, and an hour of your time at a workshop, you can go home with a vial of life, refrigerator magnet, wallet card, Lakeside emergency phone numbers and a list of Spanish phrases to use in an emergency.
Cruz Roja Medical Information Kit workshops will be held at the Lake Chapala Society on October 8, October 23 and November 12, as well as by request for local social, religious and neighborhood groups. Advance registration is required and the class size is limited. To register for a workshop or to schedule a special workshop for your group, email Colleen Beery, volunteer CR instructor 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..
Conexiones
Conexiones Entre Amigos is a monthly networking event.
This month’s featured speaker will be from the new San Antonio Hospital. Tuesday, October 8, 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Lake Chapala Society. Free entrance.
Singalong
Join the Lakeside Singers Wednesday, October 9, 4:30 p.m. as they perform for the residents at O’Hana’s assisted living facility, Calle La Paz 6, in San Juan Cosala. After the performance, the singers will dine at Viva Mexico restaurant, on Calle Porfirio Diaz.
Introduction to Spanish
Open to all current LCS members, this class is designed for individuals without any Spanish language background. Classes begin Tuesday, September 10, noon to 1:30 p.m. for three Tuesdays. Register and pay online or register and pay in the LCS service office.
Tarahumara
A day of food and fun is slated for Sunday, October 6 at La Bodega, starting at 1 p.m. and continuing into the evening.
Proceeds will help replace the cash, school supplies and warm blankets and clothing earmarked for the free Tarahumara children’s hospital and school in the Copper Canyon, which were stolen in two robberies at the house of the Tarahumara Project founder Elizabeth Townsend earlier this month.
The Tarahumara Project has been working with the Free Tarahumara Children’s Hospital since 2006 and the school since 2008. The hospital sees an average of 6,500 patients a year. The school teaches the indigenous children in their own language first, and then Spanish, to be proud of who they are, and where they come from.
At the event, the special is grilled hamburgers and the a la carte menu will also be available. La Bodega will donate proceeds from the sale of food and drink. Tarahumara handicrafts will be for sale, as well as clothing made by Townsend, original jewelry and artwork. A a 50/50 draw will be held. All donations of cash or kind will get a chance to win a piece of art or jewelry.
All proceeds and donations will go to the hospital.
LCS bus trip
The Lake Chapala Society takes a bus trip to the Guadalajara Zoo Thursday, October 10.
Check the LCS office or website to sign up and learn the departure times and cost of the trip. Registration and payment can now be made online at lakechapalasociety.com.
Insight Meditation
The Heart of Awareness (HOA) meditation center offers meditation sessions Sunday at 9 a.m., Wednesday at 4 p.m. and Thursday at 11 a.m. All are open to the general public regardless of experience or affiliation.
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; Website: heartofawareness.com. The HOA center is located at Guadalupe Victoria 101.
Practicing for disaster
Chapala City Hall personnel assigned to the internal emergency brigade guided 350 employees and visitors out of the building in the practice evacuation held at noon on Thursday, September 19. The building was emptied in just under three minutes. The simulacro exercises designed to test response to possible seismic events were also carried out at the local Walmart and Coppel outlets. Several schools also participated in the annual program promoted by Jalisco’s Civil Protection agency on the anniversary of the devastating 1985 earthquake that leveled buildings and killed thousands in the nation’s capital.