The Guadalajara Reporter

Laguna Chapalac - November 30, 2013

Man’s best friend will have a chance to lap up a day of sporting fun on Sunday, December 1 at the Dog Agility Match to be hosted by the Free Spirit Playpark, Ramon Corona 166, San Antonio Tlayacapan.

The event is designed to give handlers an opportunity to put dogs through their paces as practice for following commands and dealing with the distractions and challenges involved in formal qualifying competitions.

Registration opens at 9 a.m., with canine obstacle course contests starting at 10 a.m. A sign-up cost of 100 peso per dog includes lunch for the handler. There will be an added 50-peso fee for each run in any of the six agility classes: jumpers, snookers, standard, relay, gamblers and steeplechase.

Admission for the general public is set at 20 pesos a head. Spectators are advised to leave non-competing pets at home and bring hats and their own chairs to comfortably watch the action.  Food and drinks will be available on the premises.

Chef Lorraine Russo, (center) outdid herself with a wonderful Thanksgiving repast fit for the most finicky turkey traditionalist. Pictured with her are Michael Eager (L) and Judy Eager, all of La Nueva Posada in Ajijic.

LCS lecture

The Tuesday, December 3 Neill James Lecture, from 1:50 p.m. to 3:20 p.m., in the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) Sala will feature Fred Harland speaking on the “Anti-aging Debate.”  Modern medical advances may enable us to live to 100 or 120 years; are we ready for the social and financial implications?

Progressives

The Lakeside Progressives will hold their first meeting on Wednesday, December 4.  The members intend to discuss critical problems that the United States is currently facing and to advocate effective solutions for them that are not being offered by either the Republican or the mainstream Democratic parties.  For information, e-mail Ken Crosby at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Heart of Ajijic Fiesta

The Heart of Ajijic merchants hold their annual Fiesta de Navidad, Saturday, December 7, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Ajijic Plaza.  Participating merchants will be offering discounts, refreshments and hosting special events.

Visitors will be able to enjoy cookie decorating with Diane Pearl, listen to live music, get a shoulder massage or psychic reading and browse participating businesses.

Among participants are Ana Rosa “La prenda hecha arte,” Chali, Jose Melendrez, Mi Mexico and Simply Chocolate at Diane Pearl’s.

Special art exhibits will be up at Hacienda del Lago and La Bella Vida.

Manix will serve a barbecue at 3 p.m. on Saturday, with tickets priced at 200 pesos.  

La Bella Vida hosts the opening of Diane Pearl’s drawing and watercolors exhibit on Friday December 6, from 2-4 p.m. and promises surprises and holiday joy. The art theme continues on December 7, with special offerings by Nancy Gray, Antonio Cardenas and Linzy.

Biologists René Velázquez Moreno and Alejandro Juárez from Corazón de la Tierra spotted nearly 20 species while leading the first of three guided walks through Chapala’s Cristiania Park programmed for the 2014 Lake Chapala Bird Festival. The final bird watch trek is set for Saturday, November 30, departing from the park entrance at 9 a.m. Other festival activities scheduled this weekend include Saturday’s art auction at the Ajijic plaza, 4 p.m., and family-oriented cultural activities at the Ajijic Malecon on Sunday, from 5 to 9 p.m. 

British Society

The Lakeside British Society will meet for the last time in 2013 on Saturday, December 7, 1 p.m. at Manix Restaurant (Ocampo 57, Ajijic).

The speaker will be Moonie King, president of the Tepehua Centro Comunitario, a facility that provides support for families in one of Chapala’s most economically challenged neighborhoods. The center offers assistance through education, counseling, nutrition and health.

The meal costs 120 pesos, including tip, and is a choice of chicken Parmesan, potatoes and vegetables, or sea bass Veronica with vegetables. Both selections include a small salad. A large salad is available for 80 pesos. Dessert is  carrot cake.

Contact Alicia McNiff at 765-4786 or Ceri Dando at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you plan to attend. Visitors are always welcome. Manix has parking available on an adjacent lot.

Canadian Club

Everyone is invited to celebrate the holiday season on Wednesday, December 11, at La Nueva Posada in Ajijic. Judy King, editor of the Lake Chapala Review and author of “Living at Lake Chapala,” will talk on the history of Mexican December holidays.

The Canadian Club’s social hour begins at 3 p.m. and the program at 4 p.m. All those attending are asked to bring their favorite holiday treats to share during the program.

Canadian Club 2013-2014 yearly club membership fees are 200 pesos per person. This includes four 25-peso drink tickets for beer, wine or soft drink.  Guests pay 50 pesos each.

Upscale Resale next door

The new deli cafe, Green Point, has finally opened next door to Upscale Resale in Riberas del Pilar.

Lorna Ramirez, maker of the popular Granola and Herbed Sea Salt sold at Upscale Resale, says she opened the cafe to serve the local community with tasty and healthy foods. In addition to serving a variety of coffees with her breakfasts and lunches, Ramirez offers gluten-free foods and frozen meals to go.

There is undercover seating outside next to the parrots, and inside next to a most interesting mural.

Upscale Resale is dressed for Christmas and carries cards, gifts, trees and lights. Both shops are located between Maskaras clinic and Dr. Pinto’s office on the south side of the Carretera.  You can enjoy breakfast at one outlet, then shop for the holidays at the other.

Upscale Resale Bazar helps support two children’s homes, La Ola and Hope House, with consignment and donated items. Staffed by volunteers, the store is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.  The deli cafe is open from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

For more information contact Betty Parker at 766 5723.

Trivia quizzes

Niños Incapacitados will be hosting two brain-teasing, lively, fun trivia quizzes on Tuesday, February 4, 2014, at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the Real de Chapala in Ajijic.

Prizes will be awarded to the winning teams, and also for noteworthy tables.  A cash bar will open one hour before each quiz.

To reserve tickets and tables, contact Dawn McGinnis at 766-3408, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or Kathy Dingwall at 766-5829, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

All proceeds from this fun event go to the children in Niños Incapacitados del Lago’s program.

Democrats Abroad Chapala Chapter has elected three new members to its board of directors: (R-L) Fran Reidelberger, chair; Brooke Reidelberger, vice-chair; and Lorene Fields, secretary.  At far left is David Fields, incumbent  treasurer. The next general membership meeting of the organization will be in January, time and date to be announced.

Open Circle

Arnt J. Thorkildsen will discuss “Collapse,” a book by Jared Diamond, at the Open Circle meeting on Sunday, December 1 at the Lake Chapala Society. 

Diamond writes about “how societies choose to fail or succeed” and “how we can learn from the past.”

Weekly Open Circle gatherings start with coffee, tea and sandwich bites for socializing at 10 a.m., followed by the program at 10:30 a.m. sharp.

Dec. 8 Open Circle

At the Open Circle on Sunday, December 8, Dr. Donald Aitken presents a PowerPoint slide talk entitled “8th Annual Update on Global Warming, Climate Change, the Transition of Mexico to Renewable Energy, and Ajijic Solar Update.”

Aitken will focus his lecture on how entire nations can convert to 100 percent fossil-free renewable energy, on what important international steps have already started in this direction, and how these lessons can be applied to Mexico.

Aitken has just returned from making an invited presentation at the 2013 Solar World Congress on the topic “Transitioning Mexico to Renewable Energy.”  He also chaired an invited forum of Mexican researchers and scholars on the same topic.

Aitken’s expertise comes from his 40 years of professional experience and contributions in renewable energy policy at high national and international levels, and his continuing interest in the global warming and renewable energy fields. 

Aitken and his wife Pia have lived in Ajijic for seven years. The conversion of their home to all solar energy in 2007 was the first at Lakeside, and started the tremendous local solar development that has made Ajijic Mexico’s solar capital on a per capita basis.

Note that this event will not take place at Open Circle’s regular LCS location but at the Club Exotica auditorium (behind the El Jardin restaurant on the Ajijic plaza).

St. Andrew’s Anglican

St. Andrew’s Anglican Church begins its “high season” schedule this week, with services at 9 and 11 a.m., fellowship and welcome between the services at 10 a.m., and Sunday School at 10:45 a.m. 

This Sunday is also New Year’s Day as the Church reckons time, the beginning of a new season of spiritual exploration and growth, this year from the perspective of the Gospel According to St. Matthew.  And truth to tell, it’s a somewhat startling beginning to the new year.  Instead of one of the traditional, familiar images for God – Shepherd, Father, King, Companion, Counselor, Guide, Judge – Jesus starts us on our annual journey to the Bethlehem manger by warning us about the God who comes to us like a thief in the night.  So in this week’s sermon, “God the Thief”, Fr. Winston Welty explores that imagery of a God who breaks in on us when we least expect it, in order to get past our defenses and false securities, to re-order our lives and win us to faith. 

Anyone who forgets the change in the Sunday schedule, should not worry; they will arrive just in time for refreshments and fellowship before the 11 a.m. service.  St. Andrew’s is located at Calle San Lucas 19, just a block south of the Carretera in Riberas del Pilar. 

Carols & potluck

On Friday, December 13, St. Andrew’s holds its annual Carol Sing and Potluck Dinner.  This year it will include the first annual Children’s Christmas Pageant – angels, shepherds, and saints from their Sunday School.

Christ Church Anglican

Christ Church Anglican fellowship will celebrate the first Sunday of Advent December 1, 2013 by celebrating the holy Eucharist Right II at 9:30 a.m. in the Little Chapel by the Lake in Chula Vista. Deacon Rob Wells’ sermon topic is “God only knows” based on Matthew 24, verses 36 to 44. Christ Church and the Little Chapel by the Lake will celebrate their joint fellowship time in the Fellowship Hall between their two services from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m.

Deacon Wells is leading a Bible study on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. in the fellowship Hall of the Little Chapel by the Lake. Each session last about one hour. This week’s session is a continuation of a look of the gospel of Matthew.  Wells is using the Jerusalem Bible as his principal study text and commentary. It is not necessary to have attended a session in order to take part.

Little Chapel

The Little Chapel by the Lake will hold its regular service on Sunday, December 1, 11:15 a.m., when “A Can of Worms” will be the title of Rev. Gene Raymer’s message.  First Sunday is always “Beans and Rice Sunday” as donations of beans and rice are collected to aid the Love in Action children’s shelter. After the service, members of the congregation will gather at Yves’ Restaurant at its new location.

The Little Chapel is an interdenominational congregation welcoming all Christians.  It is located on the Carretera just east of the Chula Vista Golf Club.

Unitarians

The Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (LCUUF) meets every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at the Plaza de la Ribera (formerly Sol y Luna), Rio Bravo 10A, Ajijic. This Sunday, John Blacker will deliver the talk “Sweet & Gorgeous and the Anthropoops.”  The title, which will be explained in the talk, refers to John’s experience with mysticism through the Swedenborgian Church  and at his boarding school, High Mowing, which was based on anthroposophical/Waldorf/Steiner principles.  There will not be a coffee hour this week.  Instead, a brunch will be served at Daniel’s Restaurant.  For more information call 766-1119 or 765-7231, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Spiritual Living

Join Reverend Tim Schubert to celebrate “Let Your Light Shine” at the Center for Spiritual Living (Nicolas Bravo 17, Ajijic) on Friday, December 6, from 5-6 p.m.  A social hour will follow.  

On Wednesdays, Schubert leads a class on “Conscious Living” from 10:30 a.m. to noon.  The Thursday discussion group, “The Unfettered Soul,” begins with an optional meditation from 10 to 10:20 a.m., followed by the group from 10:30 a.m. to noon.  The Thursday evening Spanish Group continues from 6:30-9 p.m. in the online course, Fundamentals of Science of Mind.

Start planning now for Friday, December 13 when the center will host an ornament contest, cookie decorating and sharing of favorite holiday foods – potluck – at 6 p.m  For information contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , call 766-0920 or check the website at www.cslchapala.com.