Conservatives
During the remainder of April, the Lakeside Conservative Group is presenting the full nine-episode series, “The Men who Killed Kennedy,” at the Cinemas del Lago in Ajijic’s Bugambilias Plaza.
Produced by the History Channel in 1987, the series was never allowed to be shown in the United States. Instead, the network took the series to Europe.
The episodes include never-before seen film footage and photographs, as well as witness testimony that was not released by the Warren Commission. Each viewing includes two episodes totaling just less than two hours. A period for discussion will be held following the final session on April 28. The admission charge is 50 pesos per session.
Screening dates are Wednesday, April 14; Thursday, April 16; Tuesday, April 21; Thursday April 23 and Tuesday, April 28. All begin at 11 a.m.
85th Birthday Celebration
Long-time lakesider Jim Kaye celebrated his 85th birthday on Wednesday, April surrounded by a crowd of well-wishers gathered at a surprise party held in his honor. Among the party-makers present for the occasion were hostess Patsy Smart, fond pal Jim Donnelly and former Ajijic resident Regina Potenza, who flew in all the way from Cuenca, Ecuador just to salute the birthday boy.
LCS Noon Seminar
Philosopher Alaine de Botton will present “Athesism 2.0” when he is featured via a video TED talk during the Tuesday, April 14, noon seminar, available to Lake Chapala Society (LCS) members. The seminar will be chaired by Fred Harland.
De Botton is an atheist who is deeply respectful of religion. That is, although he doesn’t believe in any of religion’s supernatural aspects, he does believe atheism has much to learn from religion. In this engaging presentation, De Botton explains why.
Directories
LCS members who signed up in time to be included in the 2015 directory are reminded to stop by the office on the LCS campus to pick up their newly printed tomes.
Progressives
John de Waal will be the featured speaker at the Lakeside Progressives Club meeting on Tuesday, April 14, 4 p.m. in the Peacock Garden Restaurant on Colon in Ajijic.
De Waal will present “On Communicating, Global Warming, Capitalism and Reality.”
Last month the group entertained lakeside author and poet Mel Goldburg as he discussed “How Socialism has Created the America We Know.”
This is a group of like-minded people looking for progressive solutions to problems not being addressed by the major political parties. Most attendees have an early dinner at the restaurant following the meeting. The group’s Facebook page is Lakeside Progressives. Email Chad Olsen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with questions.
The Terranova Institute cheerleader group
More than 1,000 students from 23 area public and private schools attended the 9th annual Terrasport at Terranova Institute of Ajijic. During the afternoon event the students enjoyed competing in a variety of sports, including basketball, soccer and volleyball. The Terranova Institute cheerleader group shown above made their official debut with a series of dance steps, acrobatic moves and gymnastic maneuvers. 
Shopping by Bus
Shoppers must act quickly to reserve spaces for the Wednesday, April 15 bus trip to Guadalajara’s Plaza Galerias. This expansive mall includes giant department stores Liverpool, Sears and Best Buy, well-known clothing outlets such as C&A and H&M, as well as boutiques, specialty shops and an array of dining options. The mall is adjacent to Costco, Walmart, Mega and Sam’s Club, so bus passengers can also visit these big stores.
Tickets for the full day of shopping fun are available at the LCS office at 240 pesos for members and 300 for non-members. Buy tickets as soon as possible.
Freethinkers
Featured at the Wednesday, April 15, 4 p.m. meeting of the Lakeside Freethinkers will be a book report of “God and the Burden of Proof: The Analytic Defense of Theism” by Keith M. Parsons and a discussion of the question, “Why should we believe, or not believe in God (or gods)?
Members may bring up other matters. The group defines freethinkers as those who identify themselves as atheists, agnostics, secular humanists, or skeptics. Freethinkers believe that individuals should not accept ideas proposed as truth without recourse to knowledge and reason. They reject belief in the supernatural and rely on science and reason to guide their lives.
The group meets on the third Wednesday of each month at a local restaurant so that additional discussion can follow the meeting over dinner. Those who would like to attend, or obtain additional information, can email 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..
Mexican cooking
Through April, Linda Harley and the Lake Chapala Society continue their cooperatively sponsored cooking tours around Mexico at the chef’s storefront location at Constitución 3 in Ajijic.
The Tuesday, April 14 , 4-6 p.m. class features roasted pork, one of Jalisco’s many specialties. The class will taste pork in three favorite forms: torta ahogada, chicharrones (pork cracklings) and carnitas en salsa verde.
Wednesday, April 15 sees another popular tianguis-to-table class. Class members meet at 10 a.m. at Salvador’s Restaurant to stroll through the Ajijic market, seeking exciting vegetables to pair with chiles, herbs and seeds.
The Thursday, April 16, 4-6 p.m. class focuses on Mexican soups, stews, salads and salsas. A highlighted dish will be creamy calabaza soup with squash blossoms and tiny zucchinis or squash stuffed with rich garlicky ground pork stuffing, smothered with a spicy tomato and Serrano sauce. This class teaches the secrets of using chiles for flavor and not just heat.
The Tuesday, April 21, 4-6 p.m. class focuses on gorditas and sopa de tortilla. Gorditas are corn dough cakes grilled and stuffed with beans and chorizo. Class members will be hands-on making the tasty tortilla soup.
On Wednesday, April 22, class members meet at 10 a.m. at Salvador’s for another tianguis-to-table class.
Talla Pescado, a specialty from the state of Guerrero, is on the menu for the Thursday, April 23 class. These fish filets are prepared with two sauces – one is tomato based and the other cilantro based. Together they create an exotic combination of flavors and a beautifully colored presentation to go with traditional arroz a la mexicana. The meal will begin with an avocado stuffed with shrimp salad. Perfect to pair with a glass of Pinot Grigio – BYOB.
All classes are 300 pesos and must be reserved in advance at the Lake Chapala office.
Democrats Abroad
Sandra Loridans (center), Democrats Abroad-Chapala board member and elected member of the U.S. Democratic National Committee, was in Washington, D.C. for the announcement that the Democratic National Convention will be held in Philadelphia on July 25-28, 2016. She is seen here with Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter (left) and former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell.
Brit Gathering
Sharon Sibson will host the first British gathering at her home in Riberas del Pilar on Saturday, April 25. 2 p.m. While living in Guadalajara, she hosted similar events there to allow Brits an opportunity to relax and have an opportunity to socialize.
The group is not intended to replace the British Club’s regular meeting on the first Saturday of each month at Manix.
These events will be more social and include the opportunity for attendees to being a dish to share and a preferred beverage. Non-British spouses and partners are very welcome, as are those with a British connection of some sort.
For directions and to RSVP, contact Sibson at (376) 106-2179, or (33) 1527-0980.
Little Chapel
The interdenominational congregation of the Little Chapel by the Lake will return to its regular schedule on Sunday, April 12, when members share a refreshment period with members of Christ Church Lakeside, beginning around 10:35 a.m. at the church.
Rev. Gene Raymer will be returning to the pulpit for the 11:15 a.m. service, when he delivers a message he has titled, “Who Do You Trust?” Following the service, members of the congregation will continue their discussion and fellowship over lunch in a local restaurant.
The Little Chapel by the Lake is on the mountain side of the Carretera, just east of the Chula Vista golf course. Learn more at the church’s Facebook page: LCBTL.
St. Andrew’s
Those returning to St. Andrew’s Anglican Church on Sunday, April 12 will hear the flip side of Easter in Fr. Winston Welty’s sermon, “The Easter We Don’t Want,” based on “doubting Thomas.” Worship begins at 10 a.m. The coffee hour is in the garden after worship. Donations will also be received, as they are on the second Sunday of each month, for the support of Jocotepec children and their families.
Every Sunday, the feeding program supported by St. Andrew’s welcomes donations of non-perishable items, which are left in baskets by the church doors.
The second of four sessions in the series “Origins of the Church of England,” led by parishioner Arnold Smith, will be held at the church on Wednesday, April 15, 11 a.m.
St. Andrew’s is located at Calle San Lucas 19, a block south of the Carretera in Riberas del Pilar.
Christ Church
Christ Church Lakeside will observe the Second Sunday of Easter in the Little Chapel by the Lake. Deacon Rob Wells will preside and Warden Jim Powers will give the message, “I Doubt It,” based on John 20:19-31 during the Sunday, April 12, 9:30 a.m. service.
The congregations of Christ Church and Little Chapel share a common coffee fellowship time between their two services from about 10:35 a.m. until 11:10 a.m.
Wells will not lead the church’s regular Tuesday Bible study in April. The group will resume in May.
San Andrés English
The English congregation of San Andrés Catholic Church in Ajijic will survey faith during the 9 a.m. Mass on Sunday, April 12.
“We come together today like that first group of believers,” says Rev. Basil G. Royston, D.Min. “We remember that we are united in heart and soul and celebrating our victory over the world through our faith in Christ, the Son.”
On the second Sunday of each month, members of the English-speaking congregation present a special offering to fund the outreach projects to assist the groups of children, elderly, needy, uneducated and hungry they have selected to help each year.
Unitarian Universalist
The members of the Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship meet every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at Plaza de la Ribera, Rio Bravo 10A in Ajijic.
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. For further information visit www.uuflc.org.
Buddhists
The Heart of Awareness Buddhist Community meets at 4:30 pm on Wednesdays for meditation and dharma teachings. Each meeting begins at 4:30 p.m. with 30 minutes of sitting meditation followed by a 10-minute walking meditation and another 10 minutes sitting. The dharma film shown on April 15 is “The Power of the Open Question.”
The sangha’s 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, call Janet Reichert at (376) 766-6069.