Well one thing is certain. Assuming that we all survive these last few days of the two weeks of Easter vacations and the accompanying heavy traffic, we will have enough stories about creative drivers to last the entire summer round of lunches, dinners and cocktail parties.
You all have your own tales of narrow escapes and near misses. I’ve been logging a few, too. Some are old hat. The illegal left turn on red (at intersections marked with a no left turn sign) is a common maneuver among local drivers. It gets them where they want to go and if they pay attention they usually are not endangering others on the road. Maybe it’s true that two wrongs make a right – at least on local highways.
The problems worsen this time of year when four or five times the normal number of cars jam the Carretera Chapala-Jocotepec. Throw in an inordinate number of inexperienced, youthful drivers from the city. Young people of all nationalities are a hazard on the road; they believe they are immortal. The problem is compounded when normal macho instincts are intensified by a car-load of buddies and generous amounts of alcohol and the distraction of a weekend “at the lake.”
I’m awarding my personal 2014 worst driving maneuver award to the guy in the club cab truck who was heading west when, in front of Walmart, he discovered he was the eighth car stopped at the red light at that super busy (and dangerous) intersection with the Libremiento. Seven cars stacked up at the red light were no deterrent for this superhero and the load of buddies hanging out of the doors and windows of his truck. He just hit the accelerator, crossed the solid yellow line, and passed all seven cars while weaving in and out of the unsuspecting drivers who had made legal left turns into his path. And he accomplished all of this while running the red light and dodging the oncoming traffic in front of the water park. I can’t think of any other infractions he missed, short of an actual collision.
My lesson was a reminder to go home and stay home, or at least revert to traveling on the side streets during these two vacation weeks and let the visitors have the roads to themselves.
Genealogy Forum
The monthly meeting of the Genealogy Forum will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, April 28 in the Sala at the Lake Chapala Society (LCS). Everyone is welcome to attend to hear a brief presentation on the research member Maria Dolores Medina Sotelo de Graber is doing on her own family history. Medina has ancestors from Mexico and her research has presented unusual challenges.
Marci Bowman will present a series of short subjects including new Google tricks, Evernote tips, crowd sourcing brick walls, and “Genealogy Pay it Forward.”
British Club
Sue and Peter Nunn are Lakeside newbie’s from England, via Spain. At the Saturday, May 3 luncheon meeting of the British Club, they will share their experiences on leaving England to take up residence in Spain and then leaving Spain to live at Lake Chapala.
The 1 p.m. meeting will be held at Manix Restaurant. Make reservations by calling Alicia at (376) 765-4786 or emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Be sure to include your menu choice. Priced at 120 pesos are the ribs pibil and chayote or bass Veracruz with rice and vegetables. The large salad is 80 pesos. The dessert is mango mousse. Visitors are welcome.
LCS Spanish Lessons
The Lake Chapala Society (LCS) offers a beginners’ three-week Introduction to Spanish series on Tuesdays. It includes learning the Spanish alphabet, simple vocabulary, and phrases for shopping, as well as other information on our area and the Mexican culture.
Each new three-week class session begins on the first Tuesday of the month. Classes are held each from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the LCS campus. Learning materials are provided with students paying a 175-peso tuition fee when they sign up at the LCS office between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on weekdays.
A new term of Lake Chapala Society (LCS) Warren Hardy Spanish-language course is set to begin on Monday, May 5. Designed for adult students classes will run through June 21. Several levels of learning are available for students as they progress.
Attendees can register on weekdays at the LCS office. From Monday April 28 through Friday, May 2, students may sign up between 11 am. and 1 p.m. on the blue umbrella patio. The instructor will be available to evaluate students and suggest the correct level of study. There is a fee of 750 pesos for the summer course.
LCS is located at 16 de Septiembre 16A in Ajijic. For more information, call the office at (376) 766-1140 or visit the website: www.lakechapalasociety.com.
Honored for immigration help
For his assistance in helping solve the immigration problems of members of the Lake Chapala Society, Ricardo Ariel Vera Lira (second from left in photo at right), the Jalisco delegate of the Instituto Nacional de Migración, has received recognition from the Chapala Chamber of Commerce and its delegate Yolanda Martinez Llamas (far left). U.S. citizens (far right) John Jones and Allen McGill presented Vera Lira with the certificate of appreciation.
Legion Auxiliary
The ladies of the American Legion Auxiliary of Post 7 in Chapala are hosting a Soup and Salad Bar on Thursday, May 8. Tickets are 80 pesos and available in advance. Members who bring a dish will find that tickets are half price. The event begins with cocktails at 5 p.m. followed at 6 p.m. by the build-your-own salads and the soups. Bread, and ice cream sundaes for dessert will also be available. American Legion Post 7 is at Calle Morelos 114 in Chapala. Call (376) 765-2259 for more information.
Lake Chapala Progressives
The Lakeside Progressives met on April 8 to discuss ways to help make people aware of three major issues – global climate change, campaign finance reform (gerrymandering and the Citizen’s United Supreme Court decision), and income inequality. The local group decided a new website titled “Progressives Abroad” is the best approach to combat the apparent apathy and indifference of many voters. The site will help convey the importance of these critical issues to Congress and those who should be interested in finding progressive solutions.
Also discussed were the amendments to the U.S. Constitution proposed by former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens in his book “Six Amendments: How and Why We Should Change the Constitution.” Two of these proposed amendments directly address one of the critical issues the group identified: reform of campaign and election procedures.
LCS Bus Trips
The next Galerias Mall bus trip sponsored by the LCS is scheduled for Thursday, May 15. This large mall includes a variety of stores such as Liverpool, Sears, Best Buy, Zara, Sephora, MasKota, Sanborn’s and many smaller boutiques and restuarants. Nearby are the huge Costco, Sams, Mega and Walmart stores. The bus leaves from the sculpture at La Floresta at 9:30 a.m. and returns to Lakeside at 4 p.m. The price is 250 pesos. Sign up at LCS on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
A north-of-the-border shopping a trip is scheduled to leave on Sunday, May 4 for McAllen, Texas. The group will leave McAllen on Wednesday afternoon, May 7 and return to Ajijic on early on Thursday, May 8. Due to the new tax, the price is now 7,000 pesos (527 dollars) per person for a double room and 8,700 pesos (655) for a single room. This price includes the round trip on a deluxe bus, three nights at the Hampton Inn, breakfast on three mornings, and tips for the two drivers to and from McAllen. The bus take the passengers to and from all of the McAllen shopping areas.
There is a non-refundable 1,000-peso deposit at the time of registration with the balance due in advance of the trip. Sign up weekdays at LCS between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. For more information, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Canadian Club
The 2014/2015 officers of the 200-member Canadian Club of Lake Chapala were elected during the April 9 meeting at La Nueva Posada. New President Barbara Wills expressed the group’s appreciation to outgoing president Rick Standing.
Other new officers for the coming year are: Derek Nelson, first vice president and program speakers; David Paterson, second vice president and publicity; Rita Frost, secretary; Marylin Miller, treasurer; Lynn Turnbull, program; and Sharon Ford, membership. The Canadian Club will resume their monthly meetings in the fall.
Hernandez Realty Group
Following the recent opening of lakeside’s Hernandez Realty Group office in Guadalajara’s Colonia Jardines Universidad, Manuel Hernandez (right) was installed as the newest member of the Guadalajara chapter of AMPI, Mexico’s organization of real estate professionals. The broker of both the Lake Chapala and Guadalajara offices, Hernandez is familiar with AMPI; he has belonged to the lakeside and national groups for more than 15 years.
St. Andrew’s Anglican
This week is sometimes called “Doubting Thomas” or “Low Sunday.” Fr. Leo Theriault, one of the capable clergy associates at St. Andrew’s, will preside at the Eucharist and present the message. During this service the congregation will be allowed to peek into the minds and hearts of Jesus’ first disciples. They will discover their reaction to the resurrection was much like many of us, with feelings of fear, doubt, wonder and joy.
St. Andrew’s begins its “low season” schedule with a single 10 a.m. service this week. A time of refreshment, welcome and fellowship follow in the garden. This is also “Children’s Sunday” at St. Andrew’s with a special focus on the youngest parishioners. Several of the Sunday School children will take responsibility for parts of the worship service and fellowship.
St. Andrew’s is located at Calle San Lucas 19, just a block south of the Carretera in Riberas del Pilar.
Christ Church
Christ Church Lakeside will celebrate the Second Sunday of Easter, or “Low Sunday,” at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, April 27 with Holy Communion served from the pre-sanctified elements. Deacon Rob Wells will preside and present a message, “I Send You,” based on John 20:19-31.
The congregations of Christ Church and The Little Chapel by the Lake share a common coffee fellowship time from about 10:30 am. Until 11:15 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall of The Little Chapel by the Lake at Carretera 10 at the base of Chula Vista.
Deacon Wells’ Bible Study group will not meet this week, but resume on Tuesday, May 6, 10 a.m.
The Little Chapel
Following the joint 10:45 a.m. refreshment time with the congregation of Christ Church, the members of the interdenominational Little Chapel by the Lake will begin their regular worship service at 11:15 a.m. with singing, scripture and prayers. Rev. Gene Raymer will deliver a message “What If?” as part of the worship experience considering the question, “What if we had lived in Jesus’ time. Would we have been good disciples, or would we have abandoned Jesus somewhere along the way? And conversely, what if the disciples had lived their lives the way we do today? Would they have had the impact that they had, or would they just have become anonymous characters who disappeared in history?”
The Little Chapel welcomes all Christian believers to their worship services. The church is located on the mountain side of the Carretera just east of the golf course in Chula Vista
Presbyterian Church
Pastor Ross Arnold is starting a new series of sermons entitled “Beginnings” at the 10 a.m. service on Sunday, April 27. This appropriate topic follows the most holy time of the Christian year. Easter is the time of resurrection, of new life and of new beginnings.
The first in these sermons is titled “In the Beginning.” It will look at the critical importance of God’s creation of the universe as recorded in the first chapter of Genesis. Rev. Arnold looks at this report of how everything began, and discusses why our understanding of this information is absolutely critical for our lives today.
The Lakeside Presbyterian Church is in Riberas del Pilar, on the mountain side of the Carretera, between S&S Auto and Vigolari. Look for the church sign “You have family at Lakeside!” A refreshment time follows the service.
Unitarians
Lew Crippen will present “UU Evangelism” during the Sunday, April 27, 10:30 a.m. meeting of the Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. A coffee hour follows. The group meets at Plaza de la Ribera (formerly Sol y Luna), at Rio Bravo 10A. For more information, please call either 766-1458 or 765-7231.
Open Circle
Open Circle starts each Sunday morning in the back patio of the LCS with coffee, tea and sandwich bites during a socializing time followed by the presentation at 10:30 a.m.
On Sunday, April 27, “Retirement and The Power of the Internet” will be the subject of serial life re-inventor Peter Levitan, who will discuss how he is building a new life that includes writing books and consulting globally from Portland, Bangkok, Rome and Ajijic.
He says, “The Internet has dramatically expanded our post retirement opportunities. We can now live anywhere we want and easily start local and global businesses. We can reinvent ourselves via a new personal brand and can stay in visual contact with people across the world.”
Levitan was a photographer in San Francisco; worked in New York and London for the world’s largest ad agency. When he became interested in the Internet in 1995, he built two digital start-ups. Microsoft bought one. He moved to Oregon in 2002 to buy his own ad agency. After selling in 2011, he wrote “Boomercide: From Woodstock To Suicide,” and is currently writing his next two books while running a global marketing consultancy.