San Antonio expats
Expat residents of San Antonio Tlayacapan hold their monthly get-together Saturday, February 25, 6 p.m. at Cenaduria Elvira, Ramón Corona 127.
Look for blue doors at the entrance just west of the plaza and across from Mario’s Restaurant. For more information about the group, see http://sanantonioexpats.weebly.com.
Helping man’s best friends
Companions and Compassion is a group dedicated to the spay and neutering of dogs and cats in Jocotepec. Each clinic spays and neuters approximately 100 animals, including street dogs, as well as the cats and pets of the disadvantaged villagers who most need the help.
The group’s annual Spay-ghetti No Balls dinner is held Saturday, February 25, 5-10 p.m. at the Raquet Club terraza. An all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner (vegetarian or Bolognese), salad, garlic bread and dessert is offered for 300 pesos, all of which goes to the cost of the clinics. Dana Douin will give a performance as Neil Diamond.
For tickets call Gail, (331) 325-6227; Dee, (387) 761-0041 or go to Diane Pearl or the Raquet Club office.
Also this weekend, The Ranch (Lakeside Spay & Neuter) is holding a Bazar, Saturday, February 25, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday, February 26, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Paseo de la Colina, 22 Upper La Floresta. All proceeds benefit the dogs at the Ranch.
LLT
Lakeside Little Theatre shares a portion of each of its stage play’s proceeds with a different local charity. On opening night of “Chicago,” Beth Leitch (left) and Garry Peerless present a donation to Moonyeen King (center) of the Tepehua Centro Comunitario, which provides assistance to families in the Tepehua neighborhood of Chapala, encompassing education, counseling, nutrition and health care.
Open Circle
Sunday, February 26, Dr. Donald W. Aitken, PhD., presents the “10th Annual Update on Global Warming, Climate Change and Renewable Energy” at Open Circle, to be on this occasion at Club Exotica (above the Jardin Restaurant on the Ajijic Plaza), from 10:30 a.m.-noon.
This Power Point talk covers the last two years. It looks at the development of the global temperature statistics, the apparent effect on climate change during that period, and the continued growth of renewable energy worldwide, as well as in the United States and Mexico. Dr. Aitken will also discuss the Paris Agreement and U.S. energy policy as revealed during the first month of President Trump’s term.
Dr. Aitken has been a research professor of physics at Stanford University, 21-year Chair of the Department of Environmental Studies at San Jose State University, two-time President of the American Solar Energy Society, three-time Director of the national solar energy conferences, and Executive Director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Western Regional Solar Energy Center. He developed renewable energy policy that has been adopted by 42 states and the European Union.
For more information, see opencircleajijic.org.
LCS seminar/lecture
There will be no LCS seminar or Neill James lecture Tuesday, February 28 due to traffic issues related to Shrove Tuesday celebrations.
Lakeside Garden Guild
Lakeside Garden Guild’s February meeting was held at the home of Leslie Martin. Newly-elected President Georgia Barneburg announced her 2017 board and committee chairmen, followed by an informative program on orchids by member Karen Lingo. Members at the meeting included (L-R, front) Georgia Barneburg, Jan Quarton, Joyce McNiven; (L-R,second row) Carmel Bentivoglio, Twig Smye, Sue Williams, Cris Grant, Jan Riley, Stacy Girton, Celina Haramis, Linda Rudisell-Hines; (L-R back row) Kenee Campo, Estella Hidalgo and Merelyn Shore.
Genealogy Forum
The Genealogy Forum will meet Monday, February 27, 1 p.m. in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Riberas del Pilar. The Mormon church is located diagonally across the street from Mom’s Deli and Makaras Clinic.
The topic of the meeting will be Genealogical Standards of Proof. Most researchers want their family trees to be as accurate as possible, but what exactly does that mean? Must we have birth, marriage, and death records for every ancestor or not include them? Phyl Gaskell will explain the genealogical proof standard and what it means to us for evaluating and sourcing the information we collect. She will discuss what we should strive for, even if we don´t always find it.
For more information, call Fran Murphy, 766-0067.
Ajijic Book Club
The next meeting of the Ajijic Book Club (ABC) tackles an important but sensitive topic: grieving the loss of a loved one. The focus will be on “Yes, Men do Cry: A Journal,” written by local resident and ABC member Gary Fish. The book captures his personal journey of grieving the loss of his wife over a three-year period.
See Fish ‘s website at yesmendocry.com and reviews of his book at computerguyajijic.com/abc/BookReview.
ABC will meet at Just Chillin’, at Constitucion 32, Tuesday, February 28, 4 p.m. New members are welcome.
Legion Fat Tuesday
Tuesday, February 28, American Legion Post Seven in Chapala hosts a Mardi Gas celebration. A social hour with DJ Howard begins 3 p.m. and dinner is served at 4 p.m. The menu is jambalaya with candied carrots, tomatoes vinaigrette, corn bread and ice cream. Tickets are 175 pesos.
Buddhists
The Heart of Awareness Buddhist Sangha offers meditation opportunities several times each week. Hour-long silent meditation periods are offered Sundays and Mondays from 9-10 a.m. and on Thursdays from 11 a.m.-noon. The hour includes sitting and walking meditation.
The Sangha’s regular meditation and teaching session is on Wednesdays when the center is open from 3:30 p.m. The formal schedule begins 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 1, meditation will be followed by the first of a four-part series on “The Precepts”; Tricycle Retreat videos featuring Soto Zen teacher Susan Moon. There will be a brief discussion period after the talk.
The Heart of Awareness is grounded in the teachings of the Buddha as preserved in the Theravada/Vipassana tradition. Prior experience or affiliation is not required. The sangha’s location is at Guadalupe Victoria 101 in Ajijic. For more information, visit heartofawareness.org, or call Janet Reichert at (331) 043-4669.
LCS Bus Trip
The Lake Chapala Society hosts a bus trip to Costco/Mega and Home Depot on Avenida Lopez Mateos on Wednesday, March 1. Cost is 350 pesos for members and 450 pesos for non-members. Meet at the sculpture in La Floresta. The bus departs promptly at 9:30 a.m.
Dine with the Shrine
Roberto’s Restaurant in West Ajijic will hold the next Dine with the Shrine fundraiser, Thursday, March 2, noon to 8 p.m. The total cost of the 150-peso specials offered (not including, tip, salads, desserts or drinks) will go toward the activities of the Lake Chapala Shrine Club, which helps families of burns victims with transportation and lodging costs so they can receive treatment at the Shriner’s Burns Center hospital in Mexico City. For reservations call 766-1616.
New Friday market
Trunk Junk, Take-Out & Treasures is a new Friday market held at La Huerta Eventos in West Ajijic from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thirty-five vendors showed up the first weekend and 40-45 are expected at the next event. Household/yard sale items and live plants will be sold out of autos parked in front of the venue, while inside vendors will offer cakes, pies, buttermilk, fresh produce, frozen choice meats and sausages, homemade cheeses and chocolates, health supplements, hand-made arts, crafts, clothing, crochet items, leather handbags, silk scarves, costume and original jewelry, custom lamps and vases, live flowers and plants, as well as yard sale and closet treasures.
La Huerta is an easy access party hall so all are welcome. Check out their Facebook Group: TT&T Ajijic for a peek at the items being offered. Contact: 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..
Villa Infantil
Supporters of the Villa Infantil Guadalupe y San Jose Orphanage have an annual luncheon fundraiser Saturday, March 4, at the La Huerta Eventos, starting 12:30 p.m. The theme this year is “Flower Children – They Bloom and Grow at Villa Infantil.” Guests will enjoy a fashion show featuring designs by Alma Gutierrez, entertainment by the Lake Chapala Chorale and a heart-warming performance by the children, who will sing, dance and play ukulele.
A raffle for prizes worth under 1,000 pesos, a silent auction for items valued above that amount, and a live auction for several high-ticket treasures are also scheduled.
General admission is 350 pesos per person. Those attending as Benefactors of the Orphanage for a donation of 1,500 pesos will be seated at reserved tables (limited to 20 guests) to be treated to a special luncheon with wine and extra treats.
Tickets are available at Diane Pearl, Mia’s Boutique and Yoli’s Salon. For benefactor tickets contact Connie Ondola at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Michele Lococo at 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..
British Society
The Lakeside British Society will hold its monthly luncheon meeting Saturday, March 4, 1 p.m. at Manix Restaurant, Ocampo 57 in Ajijic. This month’s speakers title themselves: “3 SRNs = Slightly Rude Nurses” and tell about comical happenings during their nursing careers.
Menu choices begin with a small salad or leek and potato soup, choice of brisket with mashed potatoes, gravy and vegetables, fish filet with mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and vegetables, spinach lasagna or a large salad. Dessert is chocolate mousse. The cost is 150 pesos plus tip. Call Arleen at 766-1742 or contact Sue Sterlini at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to confirm your attendance and choice of menu. All visitors welcome.
Shriner’s Ribfest
The 11th annual Shriner’s Ribfest will be held Wednesday, March 15, 1-5 p.m. at Cumbres Jardin Eventos, located at the top of Chula Vista Norte, boasting one of the best views of the lake anywhere.
There is ample parking at the event. For those who don’t wish to drive, shuttle buses will take patrons to and from Black Coffee on the corner of the Libramiento. Adelita’s will serve their famous BBQ ribs along with chicken and all the trimmings, served by about 20 of their trained staff. Two cash bars will be running and the Ajijic Jamm Band will keep the party rocking. Tickets, 400 pesos, are available from Diane Pearl, O&A Investments or by calling David Eccles, 331-017-1724, or at 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..
CASA winners
The Culinary Arts Society of Ajijic (CASA) members presented seafood main dishes and anything chocolate desserts at the group’s February 20 meeting.
First place in the main dish category was taken by Laurie Hilden for seared scallops on lemon coconut risotto with vanilla butter sauce. Garth Bogart took second place for his spicy shrimp stack with mango salsa. Judith Greenberg won third for shrimp noodles with peanut sauce. Hilden also took the presentation award and tied for people’s choice with Monica Molloy’s tuna tostada with black bean mango salsa and smoked red pepper sauce.
Tracy Rueter tied for first place in the dessert category for chocolate walnut torte with Grand Marnier, along with Michele Lococo for Morello cherry truffles and white chocolate mousse cups. Second place was won by Hazel Tash for La Bete Noire; third place was tied by Catherine Suter for a chocolate pistachio mousse cake and Dana Craft for a mocha chocolate cake; Allison Quattrocchi won the presentation award for her three chocolate bark with spice pecans and dried cherries; and the people’s choice award was taken by Rick Feldmann for Heath brownies with toffee.