Help for Animals

John Marshall from the Lakeside Friends of the Animals sent information worth clipping and saving, or at least copying into your address book. If you, or your friends notice a suffering animal – one that has been hit by a car or that has been injured by abuse, you can report it to the Chapala Ecology Station. The office is between Bancomer and the Beer Garden in the block leading to the Chapala malacon. The station’s telephone is (376) 765-8025, or you can email them 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..

Open House

The local Royal Canadian Legion is sponsoring an open house at the Jocotepec shelter for the elderly, Corazon del Anciano, on Saturday, March 14, from noon until 4 p.m. The building recently had major settling problems which caused a lot of damage, including cracks in the walls. Parts of the shelter, including the dining room and shower areas, cannot currently be used. 

While the elderly and the homeless miss their weekly Saturday lunches and access to the warm showers, they are continuing with dance, exercise and craft classes. 

The open house will allow area residents to visit the facility and see the extent of the work that needs to be done before the home can again offer full services to the poor of the area. 

Lakeside Dems

The Lake Chapala Chapter of Democrats Abroad Mexico will elect new officers at its monthly meeting on Monday, March 9, 4 p.m. at La Bodega Restaurant. Chapter members who have not voted by email may still vote by attending the meeting. All ten board positions will be filled with each person elected serving a two-year term.

Also on the meeting agenda will be a report on the chapter’s Sunday Afternoon at the Movies series as well as plans for the chapter to host Democrats Abroad Mexico’s annual meeting here on April 17-19.  Representatives from five chapters throughout the country will be on hand for the meeting at the Monte Carlo Hotel and resort.

A one-man show entitled “Hard Travelin’ With Woody Guthrie” will be part of the event.  The Woody Guthrie show, open to the public, will be staged at Club Exotica in Ajijic on April 18, 7 p.m.  Tickets for the show, at 200 pesos each, will be on sale soon.

For more information about the Woody Guthrie show and the chapter meeting, contact Larry Pihl, 766-3274, or 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.. 

Water Conversation Lesson

A crowd of 700 students from four Ajijic schools learned valuable lessons on water conservation at the educational and recreational workshops held Wednesday, March 4 at the town’s waterfront Malecon under the auspices of the Jalisco Water Commission. The event was scheduled as a prelude to the March 22 commemoration of World Water Day.

Bilingual Toastmasters

Preparation, the word of the month will continue to be explored by presenters at the Monday, March 9 English meeting of the Lake Chapala Bilingual Toastmasters. The weekly meetings alternate using English and Spanish and are held in the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) Sala from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Group members hosted a booth at the recent Chili Cookoff to explain the benefits of membership to event attendees. 

For information in English call Guy (376) 766-5181; Spanish information is available from Marissa at (33) 2600-5937. 

LCS Seminars

LCS members attending the Tuesday, March 10 seminar chaired by Ron Mullenaux will hear the four stories people tell themselves about death. Philosopher Stephen Cave begins his TED talk with the dark but compelling question: When did you first realize you were going to die? He continues with a series of even more interesting ideas, including why humans so often resist the inevitability of death. The narratives explored by Cave are common across civilizations. “These are the stories people tell themselves selves in order to help us manage the terror of death.”

The  Neill James Lecture by Bill Frayer on Tuesday, March 10, 2 p.m. is titled “Critical Thinking – Skills Worth Knowing.” Frayer has published a book on critical thinking as well as taught college level courses on the topic for decades. The National Council for Excellence in Critical Thinking defines it as the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action. 

The malecon

As lakeside days lengthen and warm, families move to the malecon, parks and back yards for picnics and events. Included in these afternoon outings are the oldest and youngest family members, and the pets – even the occasional goat. 

Lakeside Progressives

Local  author and poet Mel Goldburg will be featured at the Tuesday, March 10 meeting of the Lakeside Progressives. Goldburg’s most recent book, “Catch a Killer, Save the World,” is a detective story about a secretive anti-Arab vigilante group in the United States. His presentation for the meeting is: “How Socialism Saved America.”

The Lakeside Progressives meet on the second Tuesday of each month at 4 p.m. at the Peacock Garden Restaurant. The club is a group of like-minded people looking for progressive solutions to problems. Last month the group reviewed Senator Bernie Sanders’ “Twelve Initiatives to Restore the Middle Class” and sent a letter to him voicing their support. 

Most attendees remain after the meeting to continue the discussion over an early dinner. The group’s Facebook page is Lakeside Progressives. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with questions. 

Mexican Cuisine

Chef Linda Harley will host another two Tianguis to Table Classes on Wednesday, March 11 and Wednesday, March 18. She meets the class members at Salvador’s Restaurant at 10 a.m. each morning. Class members must sign up in advance at the LCS office. The cost is 300 pesos per person. 

On Tuesday, March 17, Harley will teach the class how to make a Mexican specialty from the state of Campeche. Pan de Cazon is a delicious concoction of shredded fish on homemade tortillas with black beans. Then the Thursday, March 19 class will feature Mexican Soups, Stews and Salsas as the cooks make Mole Poblanao, which is also called Mole Verde.  

LCS Annual Meeting

The annual general meeting of the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) is scheduled for Wednesday, March 18, 10 a.m. on the society’s grounds. Following the usual business updates and the reports from the board of directors, the president and executive director will present the proposed five-year plan of changes to the LCS constitution. Additional details about these changes are available at lakechapalasociety.com. 

Unique Bus Trip

LCS travelers on the Thursday, March 19 trip to Guadalajara will tour the city’s spectacular Japanese Gardens, a gift from Guadalajara’s sister city Kyoto, constructed in the beautiful Colomos Park. Trip Advisor has named the gardens, with the plantings, pond and castle, the city’s sixth best attraction. 

After exploring the gardens, the bus passengers will be on to the nearby upscale Andares Mall for lunch at one of the familiar chain restaurants and still have time to shop in Liverpool, Hugo Boss, The Body Shop, Prada, Victoria’s Secret, Best Buy, etcetera. 

Tickets are available in the LCS office; members will pay 250 pesos and non-members 300 pesos. The bus leaves from the sculpture in La Floresta at 9 a.m. Early sign up is recommended. 

Capirotada Festival

Ajijic’s first celebration of the favorite Lenten dessert is slated for Sunday, March 22, 4 to 6 p.m. in the Ajijic Plaza. A variety of recipes and methods for making the bread-based pre-Easter sweet will be served during the afternoon event. There is no charge to the participants or those attending. Music will round out the old-time Sunday afternoon in the plaza atmosphere. For information call (33) 1706-1234.

St. Andrew’s

In a no-limits, “everything goes” culture, where the commandments seem to have lost power, Fr. Winston Welty’s message “Back to Basics” during the worship service on Sunday, March 8, 10 a.m. at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church asks if there is a place for something as ancient and out of touch with contemporary culture as the Ten Commandments? The monthly offering for the Sunday School children from Jocotopec will be received.

The third Lenten Bible Study meditations about the six “Easter People” individuals whose road to the empty tomb changed their lives is set for Wednesday, March 11, 11 a.m. Cleopas and his mysterious companion are featured. The men’s monthly breakfast is in the church kitchen on Wednesday, March 11, 8:30 a.m. 

St. Andrew’s is at Calle San Lucas 19, a block south of the Carretera in Riberas del Pilar.

The Little Chapel

The Sunday, March 8 worship service of the Little Chapel by the Lake begins at 11:15 a.m. following a 10:45 a.m. refreshment time shared with the members of Christ Church Lakeside. Rev. Gene Raymer’s message is based on Micah 6:8. “I try to take an unconventional approach to the spiritual truths,” says Rev. Raymer. “Micah says that all we have to do is ‘act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God.’ We’ll look at how to do that here and now.”

Members of the congregation will continue their discussion over lunch at the local restaurant, La Misión.

The Little Chapel by the Lake is located on the mountain side of the Carretera just east of the Chula Vista Golf Course. There is more information about the church at their LCBTL Facebook page.

Christ Church 

Fr. Danny Borkowski will preside during the Sunday, March 8 service of Christ Church Lakeside at 9:30 a.m. at the Little Chapel by the Lake at Carretera 20 near Chula Vists. Borkowski’s theme, “Jesus and Scripture” is based on John 2:13-22.

The congregations of Christ Church Lakeside and the Little Chapel by the Lake share a common coffee time from about 10:35 until 11:10 a.m. each Sunday. 

Deacon Rob Wells leads an hour-long Bible Study each Tuesday at 10 a.m. in the church fellowship hall. The group is still working through the Gospel of Luke.

Borkowski, who spent many years in the Middle East, is leading a four-week discussion of Islam at 3:30 p.m. on the Fridays of March. The group meets at the home of Aideen and Brian Howard, Rio Nazas 43 in Rancho del Oro. 

San Andrés English

“This week we mark ‘Christ, The wisdom of God,’” says Fr. Basil G. Royston, D. Min.

“During our English Mass on Sunday, March 8, we celebrate the foolishness of God that is wiser than any human wisdom: the utter folly of his love that allowed the destruction of the temple of the body of his Son. And we dedicate ourselves anew to the love of the Lord which gives wisdom to the simple.”

The English Mass is at 9 a.m. at San Andrés Parish church in Ajijic. A second English Mass is held each week during Lent on each Wednesday at noon. Following the Mass a Bible study class is held in the classroom. 

Lakeside Presbyterian

Dr. Sidney DeWaal’s sermon title for the Sunday, March 8 service is “The Calvary Event is a Public Affair.” DeWaal will fill the pulpit while Pastor Ross Arnold is abroad on a lecture tour. The reference for DeWaal’s message is John 19:16-37. Reading of Jesus’ final sufferings, Christians are amazed that the Son of God and therefore God Himself, brought new life, the pardoning of sins and enduring peace through his own suffering. 

English-language worship services are held at 10 a.m. and followed by refreshments and fellowship with both of Lakeside Presbyterian congregations at 11 a.m. The Spanish-language services start at noon. The second Sunday potluck buffet is scheduled for noon.

Lakeside Presbyterian Church is in Riberas del Pilar, on the mountain side on the Carretera beside S&S Auto.  

Unitarian Universalist

Sue Kelley will speak on “Animal, Vegetable, Mineral: Some Thoughts on Ethical Eating,” during the Sunday, March 8 meeting of the Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at 10:30 a.m. at Plaza de la Ribera, Rio Bravo 10A. Kelley’s talk will explore the pros and cons of meat eating, vegetarianism, and the involved ethics. A coffee hour follows the meeting.

Unitarian Universalists search for truth along many paths. They gather around common moral values which include the inherent worth and dignity of every person. They are a caring, liberal, open-minded community that encourages others to seek your own spiritual path, wherever it leads. For further information, visit www.uuflc.org.

Buddhist Community 

The Heart of Awareness Buddhist Community meets Wednesday, March 11, 4:30 p.m. for meditation and dharma teachings. Each meeting begins 30 minutes of sitting meditation followed by a 10-minute walking meditation and then 10 minutes sitting. Karin Miles will present “Taking Dementia on the Path, Part 1.”

The sangha’s new location is in Plaza San Juan at Guadelupe Victoria 101 in Ajijic. Heart of Awareness is a non-sectarian Buddhist practice community grounded in the original teachings of the Buddha as preserved in the Theravada/Vipassana tradition. Membership in Heart of Awareness is open to those with Zen, Tibetan or Shambhala backgrounds, as well as those with no previous meditation experience. For further information on the sangha, call Janet Reichert at (376) 766-6069.

Open Circle

Arnt Thorkildsen, the featured speaker at the Sunday, March 8 meeting of Open Circle in the back patio of the LCS, is looking at “Why We War.”

During his 10:30 a.m. presentation he looks at the origin of World War I, and how he feels it never ended and became the origin of World War II. He’ll discuss the Treaty of Versailles, Hitler’s rise to power and the rise of Nazism, why Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and the eventual dropping of the atomic bomb, what happened to the leaders of the Nazi party, the holocaust, man’s inhumanity to man and why the world is still at war, and the threat of ISIS and its future effect upon Europe and the world

Thorkildsen was born in Norway and, while living there under German occupation, saw his mother and grade school teacher arrested by the Gestapo. He majored in history and has traveled the world.

Sunday movie

A dramatic recreation of the financial meltdown of 2008, “Too Big to Fail,” will be the first of eight films in the Sunday Afternoon at the Movies series, sponsored by the Lake Chapala Chapter of Democrats Abroad Mexico.

Bilingual Toastmasters

Arturo Gutierrez took first place at a Spanish speech contest at the Monday, February 16 meeting of the Lake Chapala Bilingual Toastmasters Club. Marrisa Urrutia and Carmen Guzman ranked second and third. Gutierrez will represent the local group at a regional competition in Guadalajara on Saturday, March 28. 

The Toastmasters will meet in an English session on Monday, February 23, 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Sala of the Lake Chapala Society (LCS). For English information call Guy at (376) 766-5181. Spanish information is available from Marissa at (33)1600-5937.

Bilingual Toastmasters

The English speech contest at the recent meeting of the Lake Chapala Bilingual Toastmasters saw Guy Jobidan take first place and Karuna Gomez Mont second. Jobidan will represent the group at the March 28 competition in Guadalajara. 

The group will hold a speech competition in Spanish during the Monday, February 16, 7 to 8:30 p.m. meeting in the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) Sala. The winner will also participate in the Guadalajara event. 

Interested participants can contact Jobidan for information in English at (376) 766-5181 or call (33) 1600- 5937 for information in Spanish.