General News

Far from being an exaggeration, the inevitably enthusiastic pre-show publicity proved to be absolutely accurate and Chucho Lopez Big Band’s performances at the Auditorio on January 22 and 23, were absolutely superb. It was sheer magic to be able to witness top quality big band music right here in Ajijic.

Clandestine workmen once again outwitted local authorities, sneaking into lot located in a back alley of San Antonio Tlayacapan in the middle of the night to complete the installation of a cell phone tower that was presumably squelched by city hall early last year. 

An international benefit organ concert is scheduled for Wednesday, February 11 at 4:30 p.m. at San Andrés Church on Calle Marcos Castellanos in Ajijic. Neal Biggers will perform the same program of music in Ajijic as he recently presented at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Henderson, Kentucky. Biggers has been organist in many churches and has been director of liturgical and musical ministries at Holy Name for more than 12 years. 

In a step towards building a stronger bridge to the foreign community, a large party of officials from the Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM) arranged a public ceremony held Tuesday, January 20 at the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) campus, to deliver official ID cards to 25 contented expats who have successfully jumped through all the hoops to obtain temporary or permanent resident immigrant status.

The contingency was led by Ricardo Vera Lira, regional IMN delegate in Guadalajara, and Patricia García Quezada who took charge at the agency’s Chapala office last November. 

Also on board as a special guest was Jorge Arizpe García, commanding officer at Federal Police headquarters in the state capital. He took advantage of the occasion to chat up LCS president Ben White about his own wishes to establish communication ties with lakesiders. 

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Among the recipients of the prized permanente green cards was Kenneth Neely who arrived from San Diego last October to put down roots in Ajijic. “I’ve been planning the move for ten years,” remarked the delighted newbie settler, noting that his experience in going through the immigration process was positive all the way.  “I did my paperwork at the consulate in Calexico. It went as smooth as silk. I was done in two hours and did it all myself, without a facilitator.”

That’s the sort of feedback Lira eats up. “We are very proud that so many foreigners have chosen to move to our country and contribute to its cultural and social development,” he told the Reporter. “We hope you are all pleased with the changes we’ve made to exercise our duties as responsible and committed public servants.”

After presiding at the formalities of handing out the documents and congratulating each of expat residents one-by-one, the INM chief took the mike to briefly address the audience. His message centered on the 12-month amnesty program INM implemented on January 1 to correct the situation of foreigners who are living in Mexico without proper legal status.  

The no-threat  immigration fix is open to individuals of all nationalities who entered Mexico prior to November 9, 2012, provided they are not currently in the process of deportation, are not awaiting pending migration resolutions, and have not provided the authorities with false information or fraudulent documentation.{/access}

The new ShowStoppers is coming! Yes, popular local choir Los Cantantes del Lago is gearing up to present its latest ‘ShowStoppers 10’ concert at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church on Sunday, February 15 at 4 p.m.

If you own a home in a high-end neighborhood and live in a fairly new house built with top notch materials you’re likely to be among the scores of Chapala area residents getting socked with a substantial hike in this year’s predial (property tax) bill. 

Opera lovers are in for a real treat when the Ópera de Cámara de Axixic appears Wednesday, February 4, at 6 p.m., at the Auditorio de la Ribera, La Floresta. The bill for the gala concert will feature masterpieces composed by Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, Donizetti, Bizet, and Rossini performed by a company that boasts three talented young musicians from the lakeside area along with accomplished performers from Guadalajara.

Chapala’s urban planning department has issued progress reports on the major public works now under way.

The Chapala plaza remodeling project funded by the state government is essentially done, with only the installation of new street lamps and illuminated posts lining the perimeter along Calle López Cotilla still pending.  

The municipality will cover costs for patching and repainting the face of the city market to upgrade the appearance of the surrounding area. 

Rehabilitation of Ajijic’s central Calle Colón is also entering the final stages. Work should be completed within approximately one week, although the street will remain closed until the new cobblestone surface has time to firm up and settle.

The project that still has a long way to go is the renovation of the southern leg of Avenida Cristiania-González Gallo. The installation of water and sewage mains beneath the southbound lane is due for completion before Carnaval festivities crank up on February 6.