Open Circle
Loretta Downs will present “The Death Positive Movement and the Rise of the Death Doula Practice” at the next Open Circle meeting on Sunday, February 16, 10:30 a.m. at the Lake Chapala Society.
The worldwide movement to improve the end-of-life experience is fostering growth in the profession of death doulas, who act as midwives to the dying. Death doulas are rapidly becoming part of the care team that helps patients and loved ones through the transitional and sacred processes that occur during the end-of-life experience. Downs will explain how the Death Positive movement is changing attitudes and rituals around dying, and the death doula practice that is growing at Lakeside.
Downs is a gerontologist who has worked with the aging and dying for over 35 years. She is a Certified Senior Advisor, End-of-Life Care Practitioner, Advance Care Planning Facilitator, and a Death Doula. She gives quarterly workshops at LCS on Advance Care Planning.
Lakeside Cooking Club
The Lakeside Cooking Club kicked off its second year at Club Positivo on Wednesday, January 15. The theme was Indian food, and members and guests enjoyed some truly outstanding dishes. Winners in the sweet category included Kathy Zyroll’s Gaygar halva, Laure Hilden’s mishti doi, June Eguchi’s coconut ladu, and Geanie Tilley’s rosewater cake. In the savory category, winners included Alice Tumble’s Indian relish tray, Judith Greenberg’s chicken mango curry, Carol Westbrook’s Mulligatawny soup, Paula Odom’s chana masala and Mindy Pinkus’ butter chicken.
The club’s February meeting will be held Wednesday, February 19, 4 p.m., at Club Positivo, Calle San Luis 217, Riberas del Pilar. This event features small group cooking, and the theme is Decadence Dining, in honor of the Valentine’s holiday. Members or guests who plan to attend should email lakesidecookingclub@gmail now to reserve a spot.
Cooks are not charged the 200 pesos dinner fee.
Wednesday, March 19, at 4 p.m., at same location, there will be an individual competition with a theme of puff pastry, savory or sweet. Email your attendance or dish you wish to cook.
See the Facebook page, Lakeside Cooking Club, for more information.
Ask an Expat
Interested in relocating to Lakeside? Whether you’re considering part- or full-time living in Ajijic, San Antonio Tlayacapan, Riberas del Pilar, San Juan Cosala, or other nearby communities, Ask an Expat can help!
The “Ask an Expat Happy Hour” offers a chance to learn everything about life at Lakeside in one place, at one time. Steve Taylor continues with this series on the first and third Tuesdays each month, 5 p.m. at Casa Del Sol’s downtown inn lobby.
The event is free and open to all. No reservations are required. Casa Del Sol’s full-service cash bar will be available.
Taylor, who moved to Lakeside in 2022, will lead the discussion. He’ll answer questions and share insights from his experiences as well as presenting his “10 Expat Commandments,” offering guidance for those moving to or visiting Mexico.
“This is a conversation and learning opportunity, not a lecture,” Taylor says.
For more information, text him at +1 (512) 921-6150.
DayBreak Dementia Support
Lakeside DayBreak Dementia Support offers guidance and assistance to those caring for loved ones with early-onset dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), led by local resident Elly Contreras, whose husband, Ramiro, has been living with dementia since 2015
The organization’s first weekly session on Monday, February 17 is titled “I Knew Something Was Changing” and will focus on assessment and diagnosis. Upcoming topics include: “We Adapt” on February 24; “People Around Us Change/Adapt Too” on March 3; “To Tell or Not to Tell” on March 10; and “Living Today and Tomorrow” on March 17.
Those interested in joining the Lakeside DayBreak TWIMC program can register for free by completing the form at https://form.jotform.com/250175578897879.
ANAVETS
ANAVETS will be hosting a St. Patrick’s Day Party Monday, March 17, at Scallions Bistro in Ajijic. Tickets, 300 pesos for members, 350 pesos for non-members, are available from all executive members. 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.. Doors open 2 p.m. Live music, Pub style food choices of fish and chips with coleslaw, chicken and chips with coleslaw. A silent auction to support AMAVET’s favorite charities (Mi Bebe y Yo and the Blue School) will be part of the program.
LCS trip to IKEA
The Lake Chapala Society is taking a shopping trip to the new IKEA store in Guadalajara, Tuesday, February 18, departing from the La Floresta sculpture on the Carretera at 10 a.m. and returning to the same spot about 6 p.m. The cost is 1,100 pesos (LCS members receive a 30-percent discount). To reserve your seats, or to become an LCS member, visit kakechapalasociety. org.
Lakeside Freethinkers
The monthly meeting of the Lakeside Freethinkers will be held Thursday, February 20, 2025, 4 p.m., at Yves’ Restaurant in West Ajijic.
The discussion topic is whether there’s a move toward authoritarianism in Mexico, Canada, the United States, and other parts of the world, and, if so, how such a trend could affect Freethinkers and what they might do about it.
A “freethinker” is one who thinks independently of tradition, dogma or established belief, and includes atheists, agnostics, secular humanists and other skeptics who reject belief in the supernatural.
If you are interested in attending this meeting or would like more 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..
Chapala Birders
Thursday, February 20, the Lake Chapala Birders will meet at 8 a.m. at the traffic light in La Floresta, leaving immediately for the Rosa Amarilla Loop on the south side of the lake (a 60-minute drive). Expect to see a variety of grassland birds and possibly a white-tailed hawk. Bring refreshments for the morning and sandwiches for the 12:30 p.m. lunch stop. The group will be back about 4 p.m. You must reserve by emailing John Keeling at chapalabirders @yahoo.com at least two days ahead indicating if you can bring a vehicle and can take others, or you would like to be a passenger.