Legion events
The Royal Canadian Legion Lake Chapala Branch has three major events scheduled this month.
A Three Kings Mexican Christmas dinner will be held Saturday, January 6, 2-6 p.m. at the Casa de la Musica, Calle La Paz 59 in San Antonio. Music begins at 2 p.m., games and prizes continue and dinner is served at 4 p.m. The menu is turkey with all the trimmings at a cost of 200 pesos. Only 100 tickets for sale. Call Sam at (376) 765-2602 or 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.. Valet parking will be available.
Next up is a lady’s lunch to be held at Tango Restaurant Thursday, January 11, 12:30 p.m. for all new members and their friends. RSVP Chris Benett, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
And finally, the annual Military Ball will be held Saturday, January 20 at the Hotel Real de Chapala. Dress is formal military and only current or former members of the Mexican, Canadian, U.S. or other foreign military are invited with their guest. Tickets, 350 pesos, are available at the Legion (Casa de la Musica) Fridays, noon-3 p.m. or by contacting Rolie Ferron, 331-348-6203.
British Society
The Lakeside British Society holds its monthly luncheon Saturday, January 6, 1 p.m. at Manix Restaurant, Ocampo 57 in Ajijic. Geraint Wilkes will sing and entertain the attendees.
Menu choices begin with a small salad or vegetable soup; choice of meat pie with chips and gravy or grilled fish fillet with chips or cheese and onion pie with chips or a large salad. Dessert is strawberry cheesecake. The cost is 150 pesos plus tip.
Contact Sue Morris at 766-0847 or e-mail Sue Sterlini at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to confirm your attendance and menu choice.
Open Circle
Susan Weeks presents “The Dance of Life” at the next gathering of Open Circle, Sunday, January 7, 10:30 a.m. at the Lake Chapala Society.
Nothing remains static in the universe or in nature — and there is a rhythm to everything. All too often we hold on to the notion that nothing can change in our lives while the evidence, the reality, points in an entirely different direction. With humor and compassion, Weeks leads us away from the fear of change or loss by opening the door to possibilities and a new way of thinking.
Weeks is now a licensed unity teacher with a varied academic and professional background, including 13 years as an international tour director. Having lived in eight countries, she has adopted Mexico as her own and recently won the Toastmasters’ Table Topics National Championship in Mexico.
Lakeside Progressives
Lakeside Progressives will focus on the impeachment of President Donald Trump at their next meeting, Tuesday, January 9.
“What will it take for this to happen? What are the obstacles in the path of this solution to correct a flawed election and unethical presidency? What can we do to help?” A lively discussion is sure to follow.
The Lakeside Progressives is a group of like-minded people looking for progressive solutions to political problems. They meet the second Tuesday of each month, 4 p.m. at the Peacock Garden Restaurant, on Colon in Ajijic. The group’s Facebook page is Lakeside Progressives.
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Social Club outing
The Lake Chapala Society (LCS) Social Club invites one and all to take a trip to Guadalajara’s new aquarium, the Acuario Michin, Tuesday, January 9. The aquarium is located beside the Parque Rehilete Alcalde, not far from the city center. The cost of the bus trip is 370 pesos for LCS members and 390 pesos for non-members. The aquarium entrance fee is 199 pesos for adults and 120 pesos for those with an INAPAM card. A café is located at the venue. Sign up at the LCS office.
LCS Seminar
Lake Chapala Society (LCS) members are invited to attend a TED seminar titled “How megacities are changing the map of the world,” presented by global strategist Parag Khanna and hosted by Fred Harland, Tuesday, January 9, noon to 1:15 p.m. in the LCS Sala.
“I want you to reimagine how life is organized on earth,” says Khanna. “As our expanding cities grow ever more connected through transportation, energy and communications networks, we evolve from geography to what he calls ‘connectography.’ This emerging global network civilization holds the promise of reducing pollution and inequality – and even overcoming geopolitical rivalries.” In this talk, Khanna asks us to embrace a new maxim for the future: “Connectivity is destiny.”
Visiting death
Loretta Downs will present a seminar, “The New Age of Dying and Death: From Ignorance to Bliss,” at the Lake Chapala Society, Tuesday, January 9. 2-4 p.m.
When Elizabeth Kubler-Ross published “On Death and Dying” in 1969, showing the absolute denial of death in hospitals, a revolution began. Nearly 50 years later a critical mass in the worldwide social movement about the end-of-life experience has been reached, that mirrors the growth of the birthing movement.
As populations age in vast numbers, consumer demand is expanding choices for conscious dying and palliative treatments like medical marijuana. New professions that focus on supporting the dying and providing more meaningful funeral practices are developing. Discussions about dementia and advance care planning are being conducted. Legal aid-in-dying is increasingly considered to be a human right.
Loretta Downs has an MA in gerontology. She is past-president of the Chicago End-of-Life Care Coalition and is a Certified Senior Advisor, Advance Care Planning Facilitator and Death Doula. She created the Chrysalis Room concept for nursing homes and hospitals to provide private rooms for loved ones to keep vigil with the dying. A Chicago native, she has lived the last seven winters in Lakeside where she gives presentations at Open Circle. For more information, see www.endoflifeinspirations.com.
Canadians
The Canadian Club of Lake Chapala invites you to hear Rosi Cepeda of Charter Club Tours talk about little-known places in Mexico at their next meeting, Wednesday, January 10, at La Nueva Posada. Social hour begins 3 p.m. and the program at 4 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Non-members are charged 50 pesos.
LCS bus trip
The Lake Chapala Society will head to Guadalajara Thursday, January 11, for a self-guided walking tour of the city center.
Admire the historical 17th-, 18th- and 19th-century architecture and stunning murals. Visit the famed Instituto Cultural Cabañas. Sit and people-watch in the beautiful plazas, have lunch in the Plaza de los Laureles or enjoy the elegant dining at the Hotel Mendoza. A detailed map will be provided.
The cost is 370 pesos for members, 470 pesos for non-members. The bus will leave promptly at 9:30 a.m. from the sculpture in La Floresta. Sign up at the LCS office.
Health
A free meeting of Lighten Up! hosted by James Wayne will be held at La Bodega Restaurant, Thursday, January 11, 10:30 a.m.
The focus is on nutrition, sharing recipes, shopping tips, sharing weight loss stumbling blocks and life-change plans with others. For more information, contact Wayne 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..
Lakeside Freethinkers
At their next meeting on Wednesday, January 17, the Lakeside Freethinkers will consider the question: What is mind? Just brain activity, or is there something else? Phil Rylett and John Stokdijk will debate.
The Lakeside Freethinkers define a “freethinker” as a person who as an atheist, agnostic, secular humanist, or skeptic. They 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.
If you would like to attend, or just obtain additional information, 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. for further information or to make a reservation to attend the event." />
Paella Festival
Lake Chapala Shrine Club is pleased to have Dr. Tony Pinto prepare and serve his famous Spanish paella at a Paella Festival Sunday, January 21, 1-5 p.m., at the Centro Cultural Gonzalez Gallo (old train station) in Chapala.
The proceeds from the festival will be used to provide physical examination of Lakeside children to determine if they qualify for treatment locally or by family trips to the Mexico City Shrine Hospital, the cost of which is financed by the Shriners. The Shriner’s unique health care system, which has 22 hospitals in three countries, is dedicated to improving the lives of children with emphasis in pediatric orthopedics, burns, spinal cord injuries and cleft lip and palate.
Frequent Lakeside-area fundraisers such as Dine with the Shrine, the Chili Cookoff, the Rib Fest and tax-deductible donations help fund these children’s transportation costs.
Tickets, 300 pesos, area available via David Eccles at 331-017-1724, Perry King at (376) 763-5126, Diane Pearl, Dr. Pinto’s office, the O’Rourke and Asociados office or any Shriner. Tickets can be delivered and transportation can be arranged from the Laguna Mall, if required.
To learn more about Shriners, see Shrinershospitalsforchildren.org.
Chiliheads unite!
Get ready for the 40th Mexican National Chili Cookoff to be held February 23-25 at Tobolandia waterpark. This three-day extravaganza provides non-stop entertainment and lots of food and handicrafts as a sideline to the margarita salsa and chili contests, while raising hundreds of thousands of pesos for local charities.
To rent a booth, call Jorge at 331-279-1721. To enter any of the competitions, see mexicannationalchiliookoff.com.
Gala rescheduled
Niños Incapacitados’ annual Gala Dinner Dance fundraiser, White Night … White Lights, will be held Thursday, March 22, 5-10 p.m., at the Hotel Real de Chapala. Entertainment is by Great American Songbook, with Francis Dryden, Paul Brier and Jimmy Barto. Tickets, 550 pesos, are available via Sue Williams, (376) 766-0487 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..
Lakeside Singers
For those who wish to join the Lakeside Singers continuing effort to bring music and smiles to area retirement homes in February, contact Kay Borkowski 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.. She is trying to get a consensus on which days and times folks can participate and if they would like to join together for a meal after the sing-a-long.
Buddhists
The Heart of Awareness Insight Meditation Community offers four opportunities each week for silent mediation. Sunday, January 7, the center is open from 9 a.m. to noon for three rounds of sitting and walking meditation. Participants are welcome to come for all or just a portion of this extended practice period. Additional meditation periods are offered Monday, 9 a.m., Wednesday, 4 p.m. and Thursday, 11 a.m. All sessions are open to the public and chairs and cushions are provided. There are brief written instructions on meditation for beginners Wednesdays the meditation period is followed by a short presentation on Buddhist teachings and a discussion period, before ending at 6 p.m.
A screening of the newly released documentary “Walk with Me” will be held Monday, January 8, 3 p.m. This contemplative journey follows in the steps of Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh and is a rare insight into life within a monastic community. There is no charge.
Only a few spaces remain for the January 19-21 silent insight meditation retreat “Patience – the wisdom of slowing down,” with DaeJa Napier. This residential retreat is being held at Cinco Elementos in La Cristina and the registration deadline is Wednesday, January 10. Details and registration information can be found at heartofawareness.org or by email to 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..
The meditation center is located at Guadalupe Victoria 101 in Ajijic. All are invited regardless of experience or affiliation. For further information, see, heartofawareness.org.