The Centro Cultural de Ajijic (CCA) has taken a huge forward step with a major redesign of installations and activities on the facility’s top floor.

A celebration of life for Nina Discombe and Edward John Kular will be held on Monday, February 24, beginning with coffee served at 10 a.m. in the Oasis Cloud Café and followed by a community healing/guided meditation from 10:30-10:45 a.m. in the garden.

Traditional no-holds-barred Carnaval celebrations in the Chapala area will be underway as of this weekend, running in full-tilt party mode to peak on March 4, coinciding with Mardi Gras blowouts elsewhere around the globe.

The early numbers are in. The 36th Mexican National Chili Cookoff pulled in 3,745 visitors for three straight days of food and fun, named nine winners in food and drink competitions, and relied on 500 volunteers and vendors working the fairgrounds each day to keep things hopping.

Chapala is bracing for its own brand of Mardi Gras madness as hoards of revelers let down their hair for 12 straight days of Carnaval festivities commencing next weekend.

Brainteasers, creative costumes, colorful table arrangements and delicious food treats produced a festive, fun-filled afternoon and evening at this year’s Trivia Quizzes.