Grant applications
The Outreach Committee of St. Andrew’s Anglican Church will accept applications for grants from Lakeside charities through September 24. These grants will be awarded in October.
Grant application forms are the same as used in the past. For forms and instructions, 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.. This round of grants is made possible by the success of the resale/consignment store Todo Bueno in Riberas del Pilar.
Silence retreat
Noris Binet offers “A Day Silence Retreat” Saturday, August 25, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Aquiles Serena 5 (blue door), Ajijic. This meditation, contemplation and self-inquiry event is limited to ten participants. To register and for information, call 331-441-7715 or (376) 766-0312 or e-mail 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..
Open Circle
Rachel McMillen presents “Then and Now – and What If” at the next meeting of Open Circle, Sunday, August 26, 10:30 a.m., on the patio of the Lake Chapala Society (LCS).
Most of us think that history is a record of the past. In fact, the definition of the word is: a continuous, systematic narrative of past events as relating to a particular people, country, period, person, etc. We also know that “history” not only influences the present – how we think, how we react, what we believe – but also the future. But what if the history we know is not true? What if history consists not of facts but of a collection of stories we tell about the past?
Rachel (R.J.) McMillen was born in England, raised in Australia and spent three years in Greece before moving to Canada in 1968. She is the author of the popular “Dan Connor” mystery series published by Touchwood Editions, which includes Dark Moon Walking (2014), Black Tide Rising (2015), Green River Falling (2016), and Gray Sea Running (2018). Previous nonfiction, poetry, and freelance articles have appeared in such publications as Write, WordWorks, Pacific Yachting, B.C. Outdoors, Greyzine, Season Magazine and El Ojo de Lago. She is teaching a creative writing course at LCS beginning September 3. Sign up at the LCS office through August 29.
Information: opencircleajijic.org.
Blood pressure
Blood Pressure screenings are available to the public Mondays, from 10 a.m. to noon, at the Lake Chapala Society.
U.S. Voter Assistance
Representatives of Democrats Abroad are available at the Lake Chapala Society every Tuesday through October 23 from 10 a.m. to noon on the Blue Umbrella Patio to assist any U.S. voter in making applications for ballots for U.S. elections. They will be at LCS every Tuesday through October 23 from 10 a.m.-noon.
LCS TED Talks
Philosopher and cognitive scientist Dan Dennett will discuss “The Illusion of Consciousness” at the next TED Talk, Tuesday, August 28, noon to 1:15 p.m., at the Lake Chapala Society Sala. LCS members only.
Dennett makes a compelling argument that not only don’t we understand our own consciousness, but that many times our brains are actively fooling us.
Pickleball
People interested in learning pickleball, lakeside’s fastest growing outdoor sport, are welcome to take advantage of classes for beginners held Thursdays, 6-7 p.m., at Chapala’s Hotel Montecarlo, Avenida Hidalgo 296.
For details, contact Kevin Duff at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or 315-133-9484 (cel).
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.." class="caption" style="float: right;" width="300" height="298" />Tech classes
Lake Chapala Society members can take technology classes with LCS techno-wizard Mike Goss Thursdays, 10-11:30 a.m., in the LCS sala.
Thursday August 31: Android Q&A. Bring your Android questions for clarification.
British Society
The Lakeside British Society holds its monthly luncheon Saturday, September 1, 12:45 p.m. at Manix Restaurant, Ocampo 57 in Ajijic.
The speaker will be Dr. Santiago Hernandez, who will talk about the new hospital in Ajijic he is involved with.
Menu choices begin with a small salad or mushroom soup; choice of meat pie with mashed potatoes and gravy or vegetarian pasta or a large salad with protein. Dessert is raspberry pie with ice cream. The cost is 150 pesos plus tip.
Contact Sue at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call Sue Morris, (376) 766-0847, to confirm your attendance and menu choice.
LCS Spanish
Spanish classes using the Warren Hardy Spanish language course begin Monday, September 3, and are given two days per week for 1 1/2-hour sessions through October 22 at the Wilkes Education Center in Ajijic. Several levels of instruction are available. The course program manager is available to answer questions and register students August 27-31 at LCS on the blue patio umbrella.
Introduction to Spanish classes for LCS members are held each month starting the first Tuesday and continue for three weeks. Classes begin September 4 at the LCS campus, noon to 1:30 p.m. This is a casual class that covers the Spanish alphabet, simple vocabulary and phrases for shopping, Mexican culture and the lakeside area. Sign up at the LCS office or at www.lakechapalasociety.com
Labor Day celebration
American Legion Post 7 Chapala will celebrate Labor Day September 3. Social hour begins 1 p.m. followed by a BBQ rib dinner. Music and dancing follow. Tickets, 220 pesos, are available at Post 7.
Basic yoga
Learn how to safely move to maintain your alignment while becoming comfortable with yoga poses and transitions Wednesdays, 2-3 p.m., on the LCS gazebo, beginning September 5, for LCS members. Bring a mat. Chairs are available.
Mexican taxes, government
As part of the Lake Chapala Society’s Personal Enrichment Program, Maria de las Nieves Solbes and Diego Solbes will lead the course, “Taxes and government: How do they work in Mexico?” Fridays, September 7-28, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the South Campus Board Room.
Moving to another country might be a very confusing experience when it comes to how the law works. You are full of questions and doubts. What taxes should I pay? How? When? Why? What does the government do with them? What does a delegado (municipal delegate) do? What’s the structure of the Mexican government? How does it work, etc?
Sign up at the LCS office, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Enrollment ends September 1.
Monday Night Football
American Legion Post 7 kicks off Monday Night Football, September 10, 6 p.m., featuring the New York Jets vs. the Detroit Lions. Hot dogs and snacks available from bar.
Imbibing Mexican style
Lake Chapala Society members can partake of a Prueba Mexico class in Mexican hot cocktails with instructor Carlos Yañez, Tuesday, September 11, 3-5 p.m.
Learn how to prepare a vampirito, a sangrita, a casuela, a traditional margarita and a michelada, just in time to celebrate Mexican Independence Day. Sign up through September 6 at the LCS office.
LCS bus trip
The Lake Chapala Society heads to downtown Guadalajara, Wednesday, September 12.
The bus departs at 10 a.m. from the sculpture in La Floresta.
Cost is 370 pesos for members and 470 pesos for non-members.
Introduction to Lakeside.
New to lakeside? You need this seminar. Topics include banking, shopping, medical services, transportation, housing, utilities, maid and gardening services, social protocols, fiestas, holidays, and religious observations.
The seminar is held in the Lake Chapala Society Sala Thursday, September 13, 9 a.m. For LCS members only. Register in the office or on the LCS website.
Insight Meditation
The Heart of Awareness Insight Meditation Community offers multiple opportunities each week for silent meditation: Sundays, 9 a.m., Wednesdays, 4 p.m., and Thursdays, 11 a.m. All sessions are open to the public regardless of experience or affiliation. Chairs and cushions are provided as well as brief written instructions on meditation for beginners.
Wednesday, August 29, the meditation period will be followed by a video talk by Julie Nelson titled “Taking Vows, Attaining Nothing: A Zen Perspective on Personal and Social Projects.”
Nelson, an economics professor and teacher in the Boundless Way Zen school, talks about how the concept of non-attainment can transform the way we work with our desires, intentions and deeply felt commitments, examining our longing for happiness and health and our aspirations for social, economic and environmental justice. This week’s talk is titled “Non-attainment and Social Change.”
Everyone is welcome to come for just the meditation or the program and discussion, or both. The session ends at 6 p.m.
The meditation center is at Guadalupe Victoria 101, Ajijic. Information: heartofawareness.org.