Donate now!
Poco a Poco San Pedro Itzicán, a Lakeside community organization focused on helping the people in poorest pueblos east of Mexcala, is asking for donations that will be matched if made in 2023.
Donations can be made by scrolling down the Foundation for Lake Chapala Charities website: Lakechapalacharities.org/health-education-human-services. To find out more about Poco a Poco, see pocoapocosanpedro.com.
Open Circle
Democrats Abroad Lake Chapala Vice Chair Larry Pihl will present “Vote 2024! What You Need to Know” at the next meeting of Open Circle, at the Lake Chapala Society, Sunday, January 7, 10:30 a.m.
Learn why you —and every eligible U.S. citizen abroad—should get ready in early January. Hint: 2024 elections start as early as late January.
Attend this critically important presentation to learn:
• How voting by U.S. citizens saves and strengthens our democracy.
• The surprising history of expat voting.
• How Vote From Abroad works together with U.S. legislation to make sure your vote is counted.
• How Vote From Abroad makes it easy to request and return your ballots—with a simple tool on your computer.
• Why personal voting assistance is always available.
• Why you should request your ballot and more by January 15, International Voter Registration Request Day.
Adoption day
The Ranch, Lakeside’s oldest dog shelter, will be resuming monthly Adoption Days at the Lake Chapala Society beginning Wednesday, January 3. You can meet several great adoptable dogs and learn about ways to help The Ranch through fostering, sponsoring dogs or volunteering. Adoption Days will be held on the first Wednesday of each month from 1 0a.m. to noon near LSC’s “blue patio.”
Come and meet your new best friend.
Memoir workshop
Doris Gallan is holding an Introduction to Memoir Writing Workshop to raise funds for the Lake Chapala Society (LCS).
She has helped six new authors complete their books and help get published. The class is Wednesday, January 3, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the LCS. “You’ll learn how to get started and keep going, how to organize yourself and your writing to finish your book and many tips on finding inspiration and overcoming some of the challenges of writing,” she says. The cost is 780 pesos (30 percent off for LCS members). Register in advance at lakechapalasociety. com/public.
Vets invited
American Legion Post 9 holds its monthly meetings the first Thursday of each month. The next one is on January 4, 2 p.m. at Mama’s Musical Bar in San Antonio Tlayacapan. Call 331-895-6866 for information.
Author on deck
La Bella Vida hosts a book signing of the “Samantha Bowers Mysteries” by Ardelle Holden at its monthly First Friday Fiesta, January 5, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Live music by Joel Tallboy and Louie Pavao. Everything in the shop is discounted in January. Constitucion 6, Ajijic.
Crafts and arts
• The monthly Artisans Market (Art in the Plaza) at Centro Laguna Mall—behind Black Coffee and across from Walmart—Saturday, January 6, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Come enjoy the music and shop from over 60 vendors selling gourmet food, art work in all disciplines, textiles, jewelry and much more.
• All are welcome to the grand opening of Heber’s Artesanal Galeria in Plaza Interlago, local 7 on the Libramiento in San Antonio, Saturday, January 7, noon to 5 p.m. Browse their selection of stylish home decorations, artworks, jewelry, handbags, gem stones and more. Live music and mezcal tasting.
Democrats Abroad
• Representative Jaime Raskin will talk about truth, accountability and protecting democracy in his online discussion “Justice and the Power of the Vote,” Saturday, January 6, 8 a.m. ET. Raskin is a key figure in the investigation into the events of January 6, 2021, serving as the Chair of the House Select Committee. He will discuss the committee’s work and its efforts to uncover the truth. To RSVP, go to democratsabroad. org/events and scroll to this event.
• Democrats Abroad Lake Chapala representatives will offer personalized 2024 voter assistance at the Lake Chapala Society, Monday, January 8, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Mortality
Loretta Downs presents Mortality Up Close and Personal, an intimate conversation about death and dying, at the Heart of Awareness Meditation Center, Guadalupe Victoria, 101 in Ajijic. The two-part program runs Mondays, January 22 and January 29, from 2 to 4 p.m. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.
Tequila lovers
Jaltepec Technical Hospitality and Hotel University for young women at Lakeside is offering tour of Tequila Reserva de los Gonzalez in the Jalisco highlands.
This family owned tequila distiller and hacienda is near Atontonilco el Alto. The tour includes round-trip transportation from Ajijic in a 19-seat luxury van leaving at 9:30 a.m. from Centro Laguna and returning about 5:30 p.m. The excursion includes a guided tour of the facilities by the owners, in English, a gourmet Mexican lunch with wine, tequila tasting, and refreshments. The 2,500-peso cost benefits the young women of Jaltepec as they secure a successful future for themselves and raise the economic standards of their families and communities.
For trip dates and more information, contact Linda Buckthorp at 333-407-8193; 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..
Beans and grapes
The Festival de Café, Chocolate y Vino will take place on the Ajijic Malecon January 20 and 21. This event is a setting for a cultural, ancestral gastronomy of two grains that characterize the culinary richness of Mexico, coffee and cocoa. Likewise wine has become an art that goes along with Mexican history and tradition and represents a healthful style of life. More than 30 enterpreneurs from Queretaro, Guanajuato, Aguascalientes, San Luis Potosi, Puebla, Guerrero, Veracruz, State of Mexico, Chiapas, Oaxaca, Mexico City, Chihuahua and Michoacan will promote their products.