Open Circle
Dr. Todd Stong presents “Annual State of the Lake Address and More …” at the next meeting of Open Circle, Sunday, February 20, 10:30 a.m. at the Lake Chapala Society (LCS).
This will be a multipoint update of the lake/village water conditions, the lake’s natural protections based on the past 50 years, and the pending failure of the 30-year-old lake water pipeline that serves three million of Guadalajara’s five million residents. Stong has 19 years of insight into the world of the 320,000 natives whon live around the lake’s 40-plus villages.
Stong’s 27 years in humanitarian service have focused on water-related projects in rural Africa, Asia, and Latin America. As a West Point graduate, he served as a construction engineer for 15 years in Korea, Vietnam and Germany, followed by 15 years directing research in federal laboratories. He has six engineer sons.
Dr. Stong also seeks persons to join him for (1) lake water sampling/testing. (2) addressing childhood kidney disease. (3) training in each village a person to administer first aid for children bitten by scorpions. (4) creating micro pharmacies in small villages. (5) teaching basic English to children/adults to gain jobs. (6) creating apprentice skill programs to train teens and (7) a plan for creating villager-police trust.
Chant
Wendy Cobina DeMos presents Chant Your Heart Open Sunday, February 20, 4 to 5:50 p.m. at the Villa del Angel at Emiliano Zapata 3, corner of Juarez, in Ajijic. Wendy will sing and play the guitar, while Juan Pablo Medeles plays the violin. Cover: 300 pesos.
Democrats Abroad
• The Democrats Abroad-Lake Chapala chapter is sponsoring a free Zoom presentation titled “Senate Watch 2022: Expanding our majority during the U.S. midterms,” Monday, February 21, 4 p.m. Register 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..
The guest speaker is Aftyn Behn, a highly experienced political organizer in the U.S. South, who will provide an optimistic viewpoint on the 2022 Senate midterms. Plus, she will focus on the most “emotionally intelligent” messaging strategies and ways to boost Democratic turnout. Behn currently is campaign director for RuralOrganizing.org. Previously, she built out national outreach programs, including The Indivisible Project’s nationwide rural program.
• Vote from Abroad.org and Democrats Abroad Lake Chapala is holding a voting assistance clinic Wednesday, February 23, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Hidalgo 261 in Riberas del Pilar.
Bazaar for San Pedro
A bazaar to benefit Poco San Pedro will be held Saturday, February 19, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Garden Center, Hidalgo 352 (opposite S&S Auto) in Riberas del Pilar. Find quality clothing, knits, tools, books, jewelry and plants. All proceeds go to projects in San Pedro Itzican and nearby indigenous villages, especially medicine and tests for renal-deficient patients.
Meow and Bowow
• Tails of Mexico holds a Spay and Neuter Clinic Sunday, February 27, at Cetac Ajijic, Boulevard Xin Ji 123 in La Floresta. Appointments and information: 333-247-6944. To volunteer in dog recovery email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Susan 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..
• Stray Dogs of Mexico presents a Mardi Growl at Rancho San Francisco Tuesday, March 1, 2:30 p.m. Enjoy food, fun, music, and a cash bar serving hurricanes, absinthe martinis, beer wine and soda. The menu is jambalaya, red beans, salad, corn bread and king cake.
Tickets, 450 pesos, at Maskota’s Lake Vet, It’s Kinda Bazar, Art Connection, Ladron Vet, Mario’s Wings and El Gato Feo Café. Round-trip bus transportation is offered for 100 pesos, limited space. Reserve 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..
Mardi Gras fiesta
The Rotary Club of Chapala Sunrise holds a Mardi Gras party/SAFE fundraiser Tuesday, March 1, 5-8:30 p.m. at La Paceña Restaurant in San Antonio Tlayacapan, including a Cajun dinner, music, a silent auction and party games. Doors open 5 p.m.; party begins 5:30 p.m. Covid protocols observed. Tickets, 750 pesos. Information: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Whatsapp 331-007-8432.
LCS classes
The Lake Chapala Society offers members many classes to make their lives here at Lakeside more enjoyable and informed. Sign up either at the LCS office or online at the LCS website.
• Mushroom workshop by instructor Ksenia Klimov is February 26, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Enrollment ends February 23.
• Cooking classes by Ana Moreno: Mexican Homemade Pozole, February 28, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Holy Mole, March 9 noon to 2 p.m. Beans the Musical Fruit, March 10, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
• Mexican Manners with instructor Alfredo Perez will help you understand the local habits and rules your Mexican neighbors live by. The class is March 2, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Ken Gosh Pavilion.
• Arrival of Cortez—A Change in Ancient Mexican History by instructor Ted Rogers is a four-segment course looking at the first European contact with the Aztecs, and how this led to the invasion by Cortez in 1519, culminating in the founding of New Spain in 1521. The class examines the cultural changes brought by the Spaniards, and also looks at how the founding of New Spain led to the first importation of slaves from Africa.
Rogers holds a triple concentration Ph.D. in history from the University of Colorado, as well as earning that university’s top teaching award. He has been Visiting Scholar at the London School of Economics, Lambeth Palace, and the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library. His travels to over 50 countries, having lived in four of them, give him a unique perspective, which further informs his teaching.
The class is every Wednesday and Friday, March 9, 11, 16 and 18, from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Gazebo.
Tours
• The Jaltepec Hospitality University is sponsoring monthly one-day tours to the distillery of Tequila Reserva de los Gonzalez in Los Altos de Jalisco. The next tour is Thursday, February 24. See ad on page 13.
• Casa del Sol Inn and Lago Travel Services are preparing a boutique wine and cultural tour of Aguascalientes and Zacatecas. The tour is three nights and four days from February 28 to March 3. See ad on page 15.
• Former Canadian Club tour director Veronica Valdovinos and Guenda tour operator are hosting a six-day tour of Oaxaca with round-trip flights from Guadalajara with an amazing list of places and events planned. See ad on page 17.