Open Circle
Katja Kohl and Araceli Kopiloff will talk about Negocios Magicos Ajijic at the next meeting of Open Circle, Sunday, August 7, 10:30 p.m. at the Lake Chapala Society.
Negocios Magicos Design Challenge is an exciting new project being launched in Ajijic by Kopiloff and Köhl of Kohl.Design Haus. The duo has created an economic development and philanthropic project that offers creative design solutions to small businesses. The goal is to work with ten businesses a year, and provide cosmetic, aesthetic and business solutions that are smart and cost effective.
The inspiration came from a recent trip to Oaxaca where Kopiloff said she was “struck by the care and attention to detail present in local businesses. The colors, creativity and smart design were present in so many of the small shops, boutiques and restaurants.”
Kopiloff felt that these same principals could be applied to businesses in Ajijic. The goal is not gentrification, but making improvements by partnering with businesses that are already established and are open to a fresh perspective.
“We can work within a small budget, doing what we can to assist them,” says Kopiloff. “It is after all, their business and their dream.”
Register at opencircleajijic.org (click on Contact Us).
Dying well at Lakeside
Loretta Downs is leading the “Living Well and Dying Well Lakeside” two-part workshop at the Lake Chapala Society, held August 10 and 17, 10 a.m. to noon. The workshop gives you information on Mexican healthcare directives, wills, and the LCS document along with guidance and motivation to complete and register your document as part of your total advance care planning process.
Downs is an internationally recognized inspirational speaker, writer and consultant on the subject of preparing for and supporting the end-of-life experience with comfort and dignity.
Dance classes
Tuesdays and Thursdays dance classes are offered the Centro Cultural Ajijic. Beginning salsa classes will be from 2 to 2:45 p.m. and advanced salsa from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. The cost is 400 pesos per month of lessons.
Pro Frisbee wannabes
A course on disc golf is held Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon at Parque de la Cristiania in Chapala.
Veterans
Lakeside Medical will be at the American Legion Wednesday, August 10, 1 p.m. to discuss what and how they will work with U.S. veterans. This event is open to all U.S. vets at Lakeside. More information: Lakeside Medical’s Goreti Reyes, 376-766-0395.
Chapala Birders
Lake Chapala Birders is an informal group of bird observers led by John and Rosemary Keeling.
Friday, August 19, the Lake Chapala Birders will meet 8 a.m. at the Sculpture (at the only traffic light in La Floresta, south west corner, opposite Restaurant Pranzo) and also at 8:15 a.m. at the Pemex near the intersection of the Chapala-Guadalajara highway with the Libramiento, leaving immediately for the Lake Cajititlan marsh (a 30-minute drive). Expect to see a variety of marsh and lake birds such as black-necked stilt and whistling ducks. There will be a break at 11 a.m. Return to Ajijic about 1 p.m. To reserve you place, email John at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. at least two days ahead informing him if you are offering to bring a vehicle or need a ride.
Bird walks are open to all those interested in birds, both beginners and experienced birders. Just bring binoculars. There are always have knowledgeable birders on hand to identify the species. Car trips are limited to four vehicles because larger convoys are hard to manage when trying to stop on country roads to look at the birds. If you are being given a ride, you should contribute to your driver for gas and tolls (perhaps 100 pesos for a half-day outing, 200 pesos for a day trip).
Top sightings in July:
• Wood Storks have returned to Lake Cajititlan in even greater numbers than last year. The curious thing is that a month ago there were none. Where did they breed?
• Twenty American White Pelicans were seen in Jocotepec at the beginning of July - these would have been first-year birds. But then for three weeks they disappeared from the lake and nearby reservoirs, only to reappear at the end of the month.
U.S. notarizations
Charles (“Chuck”) D. Wilder, Esq., an Lake Chapala Society member and a Florida attorney and civil-law notary, will be available at the LCS campus Friday, August 19 and Tuesday, August 23, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., to notarize documents that are valid for recording, filing or other notarization purposes in the United States. The fee is $US35 for the first document and $US25 for each additional document. Wilder will accept U.S. currency or equivalent cash in pesos.
You will be required to make a copy in the LCS office of each document to provide him for his protocol at your expense.