Bilingual Toastmasters
Six guests attended the most recent meeting of the Lake Chapala Bilingual Toastmasters club where new members Juan Magallon Moreno and Oscar Martinez assisted with the program. Maureen Jones received the bronze Competent Communicator award.
The group will meet for a Spanish session of Monday February 2 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Sala at the Lake Chapala Society (LCS). Members can use the Ramon Corona entrance to the society grounds.
For more information about local meetings or officer training, contact Guy Jobidon at (376) 766-5181Marissa Urrutia has information in Spanish at (33) 1600-5937.
LCS Seminars
The Tuesday February 3 noon seminar for Lake Chapala Society (LCS) members in the Sala will be chaired by Bill Frayer. It features a TED talk by international law professor Karima Bennoune. “When People of Muslim Heritage Challenge Fundamentalism” will be discussed by Bennoune, a University of California in Davis law school professor. Bennoune grew up in Algeria and the United States. She shares four powerful stories of real people fighting against fundamentalism in their own communities while refusing to allow the faith they love to become a tool for crime, attacks and murder. These personal stories humanize one of the most overlooked human-rights struggles in the world.
The Neill James Lecture on Tuesday February 3 will be presented by Lakeside resident, Dr. Suzanne Forrest who will talk about the growing acceptance of the theory of Multiple Pre-Columbian Trans/Pacific Contacts. In her anthropology work, Forrest has researched pre-Columbian societies for decades, published books on the subject and has delivered numerous lectures to the lakeside community.
Lakeside Health Care Assistant Program
The 12 students enrolled in the first lakeside health care assistant program are working in both classroom and lab-style settings. In early sessions students are learning infection prevention, hand washing, gloving, masking and waste disposal. The class is taught in English and prepares the students to work in doctors’ offices, nursing homes and privately in patients’ homes. Many volunteer nurses are working with the program.
Mexican Cooking
The February authentic Mexican cuisine classes are starting. These month’s classes include Mexican Lenten specialties. Cooking instructor and chef Linda Harley has more than 35 years of experience that allow her to include not only culinary expertise, but the passion of cooking the foods of Latin America and the Caribbean.
With class sizes limited to eight participants, each student will leave the session able to prepare an authentic meal for their family and friends. Attendees must register in advance in the Lake Chapala office. The cost of each class is 300 pesos.
Chiles en Nogada: Tuesday, February 3 from 4 to 6 p.m. Learn to make Mexico’s signature Independence Day dish. Chile poblanos are stuffed with chopped meats, dried fruits and nuts and topped with a creamy walnut sauce.
Tianguis to Table: Wednesday, February 4 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The group meets at Salvador’s Restaurant to visit the market in search of exciting vegetables and to learn about the abundant variety of chiles, herbs and seeds. Along the way they decide the day’s menu which may include a simple sopa de verduras, a selection of cheeses or perhaps fish.
Calabaza Soup and Salad: Thursday, February 5 from 4 – 6 p.m. Mexicans love soups, pastas and rice. February is focusing on fare from various regions of Mexico. This class features fresh squash soup and a refreshing salad of raw beets, carrots and jicama.
Oaxacan Molotes: Tuesday, February 10 from 4 to 6 p.m. Molotes or masa empanadas (savory turnovers) are popular in many states. Either an appetizer or main dish, the turnovers can be filled with meat or a variety of ingredients and then fried. The vegetable garnish and red salsa are traditional.
British Society
Ceri Dando will report on the Agents/Wardens Conference he attended during January at the Saturday February 7, 1 p.m. meeting of the Lakeside British Society at Manix Restaurant in Ajijic.
Members and guests planning to attend the meeting must call Alicia at (376)765-4786 or email Dando at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to register their menu choice which was arranged by Sue Nunn with the restaurant chefs and owners. At the February meeting attendees can select beef curry with rice and broccoli or salmon in pastry (salmon en cruete). Both will be served with a small salad or soup and rum cake for 120 pesos. The other luncheon option is the large salad with goat cheese and pear and dessert for 80 pesos. Prices include tip.
Shopping Trip
Area shoppers have another opportunity to visit the Galerias Plaza and the surrounding big box stores in Guadalajara on Tuesday, February 10. The bus leaves the sculpture in La Floresta at 9:30 a.m. Members will pay 250 pesos with the fee for nonmembers at 300 pesos. The anchor stores in the mall include Best Buy, Sears, Sanborn’s and Liverpool. Shoppers can visit the nearby Super Walmart, Costco, Sam’s Club, and the Super-Mega store.
Great mall restaurants include the Cheesecake Factory, PF Changs and Carne en su Jugo Garibaldi. Buy tickets in the LCS office soon. The last two trips sold out.
Lakeside Conservatives
The Lakeside Conservatives Group general meeting will take place Wednesday, February 11, 4 p.m. at the Racquet Club clubhouse in San Juan Cosala. Please note that this is a new venue for the club and will be the location for the next two meetings. The program for the meeting will be Stuart Browne speaking on this subject: “What is net neutrality? Who wins and who losses if the FCC adopts the White House proposal to regulate the Internet.”
Stuart Browne is an international telecommunications consultant with over forty years experience in engineering and developing telephone, data and satellite communications systems for telephone companies, government and private network operators. His most recent work was in 2014 for the government of Azerbaijan in Central Asia undertaking a feasibility study to launch a new broadband satellite. Stuart has lived at Lakeside for nine years with his wife Gaye, and their two children Cory and Kelea — both studying at a university in Seattle, Washington.
Guests are welcome to attend with members and we encourage joining and participating. For further information e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (387)761-0484. The program will start promptly at 4:15 p.m. in order to finish by 6 p.m. (before dark).
Wine, tequila beer classes
The Lake Chapala Society is running six 90-minute Wednesday afternoon classes and guided food and beverage tastings to explore the worlds of wine, tequila and artisanal beers.
They start on Wednesday, February 11 at 3 p.m. at the LCS Sala and are taught by sommerliers Bob Atkinson and Rebeca Martin Casas. They’re open to anyone, and you can register for all of them (and save 20 percent) or just the ones that interest you most. Class costs are 300 pesos each for LCS members and 365 pesos for non-members, and include all food and beverage tastings.
Topics include wine types and winemaking, food and wine pairing, Mexican wine and artisanal beer, the wine tasting process and tequila production (including a field trip to a local tequila distillery with tasting session).
To register or for more information, please call cel. (333)454-8875, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call or visit the LCS office (766-1140) weekdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Have Hammer...Will Travel
The older participants of Have Hammer…Will Travel shown here in their Riberas del Pilar workshop are able to continue in the valuable training program due to the assistance of the community in previous fundraisers. Tickets are selling quickly for this year’s event on Wednesday, February 11 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Club Exotica in the Ajijic Plaza. Reserve tickets for the barbeque chicken or ribs dinner and entertainment by the Tallboys Band by calling (376) 766-4663. 
Canadian Valentines
The Canadian Club of Lake Chapala is celebrating Valentine’s Day with a dinner dance at the Danza del Sol Pavilion. The Saturday February 14 event begins with cocktails and botanas at 6 p.m. followed by a three-course dinner catered by Roberto’s at 7 p.m. Sol y Luna will play music for the evening.
Tickets are 325 pesos per person, including tax and tips, and available at Fenix Real Estate in San Antonio. Reserved seating is available when purchasing a table of 10. For more information or tickets call (376)766 5231 or (376)763 5161. The dinner menu is at www.canadianclubmx.com.
Hot spots for chili cooks
Back in 1967 U.S. author-humorist H. Allen Smith wrote an article for Holiday Magazine entitled “Nobody Knows More About Chili Than I Do.” Dallas newsman and chili enthusiast Wick Fowler answered that bold claim with a dare that the two to go head-to head in a widely publicized cooking contest that took place in Terlingua, Texas. The match ended in a draw, but it ignited the chili cook-off rage that has since gone global.
Lakesiders who wager they have the right stuff to brew up award-winning chili can prove their mettle and take a shot at the fat 10,000-peso champion’s purse at the 37th Mexican National Chili Cook-Off charity event to be held Friday, February 27 through Sunday, March 1 at Tobolandia.
The chili challenge has space for 10 contestants each day of the event, with openings for masterful home cooks as well as professional chefs and restaurateurs looking for a great promotional opportunity.
And the same goes for amateur and pro bartenders who sign up for the three-day collateral Margarita mixers contest that comes with a 5,000 peso grand prize for the most popular tequila cocktail concoction.
Go to www.mexicannationalchilicookoff.com for all the details on contest rules and locking in a competitor’s slot before the slates are filled.
Shriners Ribfest 2015
The Eighth Annual Lake Chapala Shrine Club Ribfest is scheduled for Wednesday, March 4 at Villa Encantada, the event location on the curve of the Carretera just east of Chapala. Doors will open at 1 p.m. with food service beginning at 2 p.m. The lunch menu includes both barbeque ribs and chicken prepared by Tony Andalon of Tony’s Restaurant.
Tickets, at 400 pesos, are available now from any of the Shriners. Purchase a block of 10 tickets to reserve a table. Wonderful entertainment and plenty of Shriner fun is planned for the afternoon.
This fundraiser will help transport lakeside children in need of medical treatment to the Shriners Hospital for Children in Mexico City and to provide treatment locally and in Guadalajara.
Additional information will be available as the date of the Ribfest is closer. Those wishing tickets or more information can contact Noble Deker at (376)766-2200, Noble Tom at 766-2514 or Shrine Club Secretary Denny Strole, at 766-0485 or 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..
St. Andrew’s Anglican
“Do you Trust Jesus,” is Deacon Don Snell’s message during the Sunday, February 1, 10 a.m. worship service at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church. Fr. Leo Theriault will lead the celebration of the Eucharist. The children’s bilingual Sunday School begins at 9:45 a.m. and a fellowship and coffee hour follows the service in the garden.
The feeding program supported by St. Andrew’s always welcomes non-perishable food items such as beans, rice, lentils, pasta, salt and oil. Donations can be left in the baskets by the church doors.
St. Andrew’s is located at Calle San Lucas 19, just a block south of the Carretera in Riberas del Pilar.
Christ Church
Father Danny Borkowski will lead Christ Church Lakeside during the Sunday, February 1 service at 9:30 a.m. The Very Rev. Sandy Olson will present the message titled, “Into the Light,” based on Mark 1:21-28 at the Little Chapel by the Lake at Carretera 10 in Chula Vista.
The congregations of Christ Church Lakeside and The Little Chapel by the Lake share a common coffee fellowship time between their two services from about 10:35 tto 11:10 a.m. The two congregations also share a potluck luncheon at 12:30 p.m. on the first Sunday of each month. The February luncheon’s theme is “Mexico,” in order to coordinate with the February 2 Constitution Day holiday. The groups collect dried beans and rice on each first Sunday to assist the Chapala children’s home, Love in Action.
Little Chapel
“Members of the Little Chapel by the Lake are reaching out to help others, as directed by Jesus.” says Rev. Gene Raymer. “The first Sunday offering of rice and beans for Love in Action on the first Sunday of the month is just one of these giving experiences.”
Raymer’s message on Sunday February 1 at 11:15 will deal with judgment.”We often think of judgment as the time when we receive our punishment, but for practicing Christians it will be the time to receive our reward for serving God first.”
The mid-week movie on Wednesday February 4 is “The Second Chance.” In the film, a suburban pastor is transferred to an urban church and must deal with his own background and prejudices. Admission and refreshments are free for the 4:30 p.m. showing.
The Little Chapel by the Lake is located on the mountain side of the Carretera just east of the golf course in Chula Vista.
San Andrés English
Fr. Basil G. Royston, D.Min., will preside at the celebration of the Mass for the English congregation of San Andrés Parish Church in Ajijic on Sunday, February 1 at 9 a.m. “Today is designated on the liturgical calendar as the day of the Lord, our teacher, and we celebrate Christ Jesus who speaks with authority and to whom we must give our undivided attention, says Royston.
The first Sunday of each month members of the congregation bring an offering of non-perishable food and supplies to assist the children who live in La Villa Infantil, the orphanage across the lake. The long list of helpful items includes beans, lentils, rice, oatmeal, sugar, cocoa, cleaning supplies, soap, toilet paper, and diapers.
Lakeside Presbyterian
Most challenges to the Christian faith focus on Jesus – questioning his existence, his claims, his divinity or his resurrection.
In his Sunday, February 1 sermon, “Why We Believe in Jesus,” Pastor Ross Arnold looks at the critical Christian belief that Jesus was a genuinely historic person, the fulfillment of Jewish prophesies and expectations for a Messiah. He explores that Jesus was (and knew himself to be) the Son of God, that he performed miracles, and that he was unlike any other religious leader who has ever lived.
English language worship services at Lakeside Presbyterian Church are at 10 a.m. with Spanish language services at noon. Both congregations gather in the garden at 11 a.m. for fellowship and refreshments. Lakeside Presbyterian Church is on the mountain side of the Carretera in Riberas del Pilar, beside S&S Auto.
Unitarian Universalist
Bill Frayer will present “Doubt and Faith” during the meeting of the Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalists on Sunday, February 1 at 10:30 a.m. He will examine the relationship between faith and doubt and the group will discuss how some degree of doubt is essential to faith. A coffee hour will follow.
Unitarian Universalists search for truth along many paths. They gather around common moral values that include the inherent worth and dignity of every person. They are a caring, liberal, open-minded community that encourages others to seek their own spiritual path wherever it leads.
The group meets every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at Plaza de la Ribera, Rio Bravo 10A in Ajijic. For additional information visit www.uuflc.org.
Buddhist Community
The Heart of Awareness Buddhist Community meets Wednesday, February 4 at 4:30 p.m. for meditation and dharma teachings. Shown at the meeting will be the first video of a four-part series, “The Power of Forgiveness,” presented by Gina Sharp, founder of the New York Insight Meditation Center.
The first Sunday-long sit is scheduled for February 1, from 9 a.m. to noon. Participants must arrive by 8:50 a.m. to prepare for three rounds of 40 minutes sitting and 20 minutes walking meditation.
On Saturday, February 7 from 2 to 4 p.m., Loretta Downs begins her four-part workshop, “Making Friends with Death: The Contemporary End of Life Experience.”
The sangha’s new location is in Plaza San Juan at Guadalupe 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 people with no previous meditation experience. For further information on the sangha or the four-part workshop, call Janet Reichert at (376) 766-6069.
Open Circle
“The Russians Are Here,” the theatrical production pioneered at Open Circle by Mark Sconce, Olga Kaplounenko and René Welte
r received an enthusiastic response.
Now, “The Russians Are Back” in a program that highlights the Silver Age of Russian poetry, with the mood set by Russian classical music. Moscow-born Kaplounenko, a premier Russian chanteuse sang in various choirs while working as an electrical engineer in Russia, Sweden and the U.S. and now is with Los Cantantes del Lago and the Lakeside Little Theater.
Sconce has entertained other Open Circle audiences with his recitations and commentary on various poets and their poems. Welter is an architect with a lifelong interest in music who is a musicology lecturer at McGill University in Montreal.
A new wardrobe for Baby Jesus
It’s that time of year. Party-goers who found the child figure in the King’s Cake on January 6 and became the godparents of the child figure in the nativity scene are out shopping for a new wardrobe for Baby Jesus. It’s part of Mexican tradition that wraps up the Christmas holiday season with the raising of the Christ Child from the manger during the Monday, February 2 celebration of Candelario (Candlemas). The “godparents” select a layette outfit, a monk’s robe or the finery fit for a king and then take the Niño Dios (child god) to be blessed at some churches.