The next few weeks are likely to prove the wisdom of the familiar Mexican proverb: Febrero loco y marzo otro poco. Weathermen at Mexico’s national meteorological service are forecasting sporadic rains and shifting climatic conditions for the remainder of February and into next month. 

It is not uncommon for February weather in our part of the planet to be marked by intermittent drizzle, cloudbursts and overcast skies, frequent low range temperatures mixed with abrupt jumps on the thermometer that may occur from one day to the next or within a 24-hour period, and powerful winds that seem to suddenly come out of nowhere.

However, in the overall forecast for the first three months of 2015 forecast, the El Niño phenomena rising from the Pacific Ocean is expected to provoke episodes of rain that will exceed the historical trimestral average. 

Over the first week of this month temperatures in Guadalajara have registered below the norm, with occasional showers.  And while predictions for next week anticipate sunnier skies bringing on a spike in daytime temperatures, it would be advisable to keep sweaters, jackets and umbrellas handy over the coming days.

Jalisco’s offer of a 15% discount on the yearly refrendo (yearly auto sticker) payment has come and gone as of February 3. A 10-percent discount is in effect through the end of February and a five-percent discount in March. After March 31 car owners must pay the 476-peso fee before fines begin to mount at the end of June. Payment can be made at any of 135 state recaudadora offices open 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. In the metro area and until 2:30 p.m. in other municipalities. Lines may be long (1/2-2 hours) so go early and take a something to read with you to avoid boredom. To find a list of recaudadora offices nearest you go to http://sepaf.jalisco.gob.mx and at the right of the site click on the image at right. Where to pay If you pay at the recaudadora, you will get your tarjeta de circulation and your window sticker immediately. If you’d rather pay at your bank or Oxxo (fewer lines than the recaudadora) you can print out a payment sheet from the same website, but expect to wait months for the sticker and tarjeta de circulacion to arrive at your domicle. This newspaper had to go down to the city’s main recaudadora last year and have them search for the documents, which were never delivered as promised. A copy of your receipt kept in your glove box will suffice in lieu of the tarjeta in any dealings with transit police, but after a certain point in the year, you risk being stopped for not having the sticker. To print out your payment sheet, at the website, scroll down to the image above and click. At the next window (see right) type in your plate number and then the last 5 digits of your car’s serial (VIN) number, which can be found on your previous tarjeta de circulacion, and click on Consultar. A list of any parking and traffic fines will be included with your refrendo charge and sort-of-obligatory 40-peso Red Cross fee. (See image at right) Click on TODO and a total will show up. Then where it says Eliga un banco para pagar (see image above), hold down the cursor and move it to generate un formato de pago and then click on PAGAR. Save the PDF file (see image at right), print it and with it pay at any of the options listed: seven different banks, Oxxo, 7-11, Comercial Mexicana and the Telegraph office. According to a legend at the bottom of this form, three days after payment is made, you can solicit the tax office to deliver your paperwork to your address by returning to the website. Good luck!

The Chinese market for Mexican raspberries and blackberries has opened and is expected to lead to skyrocketing profits and significant growth in the sector. The first batch was sent from Jalisco this month after a deal was signed in November 2014.

According to forecasts by the Ministry of Rural Development (Seder), the Chinese deal could triple the current 20,000 Jalisco berry jobs and lead to a rapid expansion in the acreage devoted to the sector.

“Entering China is a great opportunity to increase our acreage to 6,000 hectares in the coming years and then to 10,000 hectares.” said Seder Commercial Director Rene Lopez Ruelas. “There are many benefits, these berries are replacing some consumer habits; for example, they are being sold in theatres in the United States instead of popcorn and they are replacing bananas at breakfast, because they have less calories, taste great, and provide energy to live day by day.” 

Jalisco and Michoacan are leaders in the production of strawberry, blueberry, blackberry and raspberry. Last year, Mexico produced a total of 538,000 tons of berries with a value of US$9 billion.

Tarahumara Project co-founder Libby Townsend has firmed up two fundraisers to help the traditional indigenous Tarahumara of the Copper Canyon in northern Mexico.

The first will be a colossal yard sale Saturday, January 31, and Sunday, February 1, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Project headquarters, (Townsend’s home) at Pescadores 2, in Riberas del Pilar. Turn toward the lake just East of Mom’s Deli, where the new building is, just past Maskaras Clinic. Turn left, go two blocks and turn right. 

If looking for that one thing that you never knew you had to have isn’t your thing, the second event is for you. February 8, from noon to 5 p.m., The Tarahumara Project  hosts a blanket and warm clothing drive at La Bodega Restaurant in Ajijic. Anyone donating cash or goods will be entered in a raffle for a prize. Tarahumara handcrafts will be on sale, a 50/50 raffle, live entertainment will be offered and Javier and Martha, owners of La Bodega, will donate the proceeds from a special meal.

Townsend recently spoke with staff at the free Tarahumara Hospital.  Record numbers of Tarahumara are seeking help, or medical attention. According to the staff, patient numbers are up 50% over the same period last year, which is really putting a strain on resources. There has been a huge increase in cases of respiratory ailments: lung infections, pneumonia, bronchitis, and tuberculosis. The increase is probably due to exceptionally cold temperatures, it has been below freezing at night since November, with many nights of temperatures in the single digits (F). Living in a shallow cave, or under a rock outcropping with nothing between them and the cold except a pile of rocks, it’s no wonder so many get sick and die. While there hasn’t been a lot of snow yet in Creel, it has snowed a number of times this winter in the Sierra near the hospital. The Tarahumara used to migrate to the more temperate areas of the canyons in the winter, but most of that land has been sold off by the government to ranchers and “growers” who won’t allow these special people to live there, or in many cases even cross their property.

Please help these people who keep nothing for themselves if another can use it or needs it. For them it is a sin to keep more than what is needed for immediate use. We all have so much we don’t need, that someone else can use, and put to good use.

For more information or to donate contact Libby Townsend at 766-3338, or 766-1167.

Flicks are shown at 7 p.m. 40 peso price includes popcorn. Bar opens at 6:30 p.m.

January 26: “On The Waterfront” (1954), Elia Kazan Director, Marlon Brando, Lee J. Cobb.

February 2: “Around The World in 80 Days” (1956), Michael Todd Director, David Niven, Cantinflas, Robert Newton, Shirley McClain.

February 9: “Bridge on the River Kwai” (1957), David Lean Director, Alec Guinness, William Holden.

February 16: “West Side Story” (1961), Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins Directors, Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer.

February 23: “The French Connection” (1971), William Friedkin Director, Gene Hackman, Roy Scheider.

March 2: “The Sting” (1973), George Roy Hill Director, Paul Newman, Robert Redford.

March 9: “Chariots of Fire” (1981), Hugh Hudson Director, Ben Cross, Ian Charleson.

March 16: “Out of Africa” (1985), Sydney Pollack Director, Meryl Streep, Robert Redford.

The Consulate General of the U.S. in Guadalajara has announced important new changes to the Federal Benefits Unit (FBU).