05282015Thu
Last updateFri, 22 May 2015 4pm

Laguna Chapalac – May 22, 2015

Memorial Day Picnic

American Legion Post Seven is a great place to start those conversations and to participate in a some special old-time Memorial Day observances and even a picnic on Monday, May 25. Not only do Post members clean and care for all of the expat graves in the Chapala cemetery, they will host a short ceremony to honor the dead of all wars at noon. Tickets for the pit-roasted pig picnic dinner are 150 pesos (hurry, they’ll be sold out soon). Call (376) 765-2259 for information and availability of tickets. 

New Happy Hour

There are things shaking and spinning at American Legion Post Seven. Most recently we’ve received notice that in addition to their already low prices on wine, beer and top shelf liquors there is a new happy hour price of 20 pesos for drinks for members. This new Happy Hour regime is in effect all week from 3-6 p.m. starting on Monday, June 1. Those who want a little nosh with their drinks can now order food from the late afternoon menu which is valid from 3-5 p.m., Monday through Friday. 

Lake Chapala Shriner Club

Lady Ro Crabtree (center) was honored at a special luncheon by the Lake Chapala Shriner Club on Monday, May 18. The club feted Crabtree for her exceptional service for the Shrine Club Transportation Fund. For more than ten years, she has made and sold soup to a wide group of friends to raise funds for her self-assigned goal to assist lakeside children with medical problems.  Ro is joined by the Shriners, from left: Denny Strole, Bob Glenn (Club President), Jim Pelzl, Robbie Robinson, Bill Phillips and Perry King.

Fashion Show

The Lake Chapala (LCS) will present a fashion show fundraiser for men and women on Saturday, May 30, 3 p.m. The theme is Summer In Ajijic.  

The show will be presented by Cugini’s Boutique, and include fashions for men and women, as well as jewelry.

No more than 200 tickets will be sold, priced at 150 pesos each. The models are personalities from the LCS membership (including LCS Singles member Bryon Cranston on the catwalk) and the surrounding business community.

The proceeds from this event will go entirely to the LCS Community Education Fund to sponsor local students that have qualified to attend university.

There will be an open bar and appetizers. This promises to be an enjoyable and very worthwhile event, so consider getting a table of friends together. 

British Club

During the Saturday, June 6 meeting of the Lake Chapala British Society, members will receive valuable information on becoming prepared for both life and death from Karla Rivera of a funeral home in Riberas del Pilar. 

Rivera will outline the services offered by the company and the procedures undertaken in Mexico. In addition, the discussion will address the need of additional paperwork, including the need for some to have a power of attorney.

Those wishing to attend the 1 p.m. meeting at Manix Restaurant need to make prior reservations by calling Alicia at (376) 765-4786 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with a menu choice. 

The two meals at 120 pesos are quiche Lorraine with arrachera and fruit or bass with curry sauce and rice. Both include a small salad and cheesecake. The other option is a large salad for 80 pesos. 

LCS Singles

Pencil in the date for the LCS Singles next “Singles Get-Together” at the Maria Isabel Restaurant, formerly the Old Posada (to the left of the pier on the lake at the bottom of Colon in Ajijic).

The scheduled Happy Hour Mixer is set for Wednesday, June 10, 5 p.m.  There will be several drink specials: 2x1 on the house wine, house margaritas, and beer.

The front room, with its big windows overlooking the lake, will be exclusively reserved for the Singles group. 

Shopping Paradise

Lakeside residents can escape the heat with a ride in the sleek modern bus chartered by the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) to shop in air-conditioned comfort at Galerias Plaza in Guadalajara on Thursday, June 11. 

Members pay 250 pesos for the trip, while non-members must fork out 350 pesos. The bus will depart from the La Floresta sculpture at 9:30 a.m., heading for the best shopping mall in Guadalajara. 

Galerias’ anchor stores – Best Buy, Sears and Liverpool – are joined by H&M, the Home Store, C&A, Apple Store, Max Makeup, and many more. The mall’s food court is filled with familiar chains. Also inside or outside the mall are Applebees, Chili’s, Outback Steak House, Sanborn’s, PF Changs, the Cheesecake Factory and Carl’s Jr. Shoppers can also head for adjacent Costco, Sam’s Club, SuperMega, and the super Walmart. 

Children’s Charities 

Spring profits for the Casi Nuevo Consignment and Thrift Shop are showing a healthy increase – meaning good news for the three children’s charities that benefit from the sales at this store in Riberas del Pilar.  

The total gross income for March came in at 72,990 pesos, and 75,650 pesos for April.

Those who donate clothing, furniture and household items will be pleased to know that their generosity is benefiting not only the store’s established charities, but also a large number of local residents who are delighted at the bargain prices.

Says store Manager Shirley Kollin: “While we have lots of new merchandise, including furniture, and lots of men’s and women’s clothing, we can always use more.” 

Kollin is also asking for volunteers at the shop on Tuesday mornings and Thursdays, beginning in June. Anyone who can help should contact her at (376) 106-2121 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Casi Nuevo is across the Carretera from Seven-Eleven in Riberas del Pilar. Summer hours are from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. 

Profits from the store help support the School for Special Children, Have Hammers… and the Education Program at the Lake Chapala Society. 

Lakeside Presbyterian

Sunday, May 24, at Lakeside Presbyterian Church, Pastor Ross Arnold will continue the new series of sermons he began last week with “If You Love Me,” based on the gospel record that Jesus said that if his followers love him they will keep his commandments. 

During the 10 a.m. worship service, Ross continues with “If You Love Me - Believe in Me.”  The first obligation for all Christian people, and the deepest desire of every human heart, is to come back into a true relationship with God the Father by believing in God the Son, and the sacrifice He made to save us. The sermon will address what this eternal objective means in today’s world. 

“The Pastor’s Forum,” a new weekly feature at Lakeside Presbyterian, begins on Sunday, May 24, 11:30 a.m. following the service and fellowship time. Attendees will be encouraged to ask the Pastor questions about the sermon, the church, faith or other topics of interest – with no holds barred!

The new Lakeside Presbyterian Church is at San Jorge 250 in Riberas del Pilar, two blocks south of Mom’s Deli. 

St. Andrew’s Anglican

While Pentecost is sometimes called the birthday of the church, during his Sunday sermon – ”Who’s On the List?” – Fr. Winston Welty suggests that it was the church’s IPO, an offering of availability to all. 

The Sunday, May 24 service at St. Andrew’s Anglican begins at 10 a.m., while children’s Sunday School starts at 9:45 a.m.  The service is followed by refreshments served in the garden.  

On Wednesday, May 27, the men of St. Andrew’s will meet for their noon monthly luncheon at Cocinart Restaurant. The restaurant is located on 16 de Septiembre in Ajijic.

Every Sunday, the feeding program supported by St. Andrew’s welcomes donations of non-perishable items, such as rice, beans, oil and salt, which can be left in the baskets by the church doors.

St. Andrew’s is located at Calle San Lucas 19, a block south of the Carretera in Riberas del Pilar.

Little Chapel

The interdenominational congregation of the Little Chapel by the Lake welcomes all Christian believers to services in its church on the mountain side of the Carretera just east of the golf course in Chula Vista. 

At the regular worship service on  Sunday, May 24, 11:15 a.m., the Rev. Gene Raymer will deliver a message titled “Harvest Time.” 

“When most people think of Pentecost, they think of the arrival of the Holy Spirit and the resulting conversion of listeners to faith in Christ,” says Raymer. “But the tradition goes back to the time the Israelites settled in the Promised Land. It was originally a festival of thanksgiving for the bountiful harvest God provided. Today, Pentecost is still a time of harvest when we can still celebrate the bountiful gifts God has provided for us, including His Son.”

The congregations of the Little Chapel by the Lake and Christ Church Lakeside share a common coffee fellowship time between their two services.

On Tuesday, May 26 there will be a showing of one of a series of 30-minute videos, “Experiencing God.” Raymer says the activities will be finished in time for everyone to get home before dark.

Christ Church

Christ Church Lakeside will celebrate the Day of Pentecost on Sunday, May 24, 9:30 a.m. with the Holy Eucharist in the Little Chapel by the Lake at Carretera 10 in Chula Vista. Fr. Danny Borkowski will preside and preach the message, “The Spirit of Truth,” based on John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15. 

Says Borkowski: “We celebrate the birthday of the church on this 50th and last day of the Easter season, and wear red vestments and red clothes to symbolize the Fire of the Holy Spirit which cleanses and enflames us, empowering us to continue the healing and freeing ministry of Jesus in this world.”

The congregations of Christ Church Lakeside and the Little Chapel by the Lake share a common coffee fellowship time between their two services.

San Andres English

“The great day of Pentecost,” says Fr. Basil G. Royston, Min. D., “was when Christ filled the church with the power of His spirit and sent it out into the world to bring his peace, joy, and forgiveness to all.”

The celebration of Pentecost will be featured during the Sunday, May 24, 9 a.m. English Mass at San Andres Church in Ajijic. 

Members of the congregation will wear red clothing as a reminder of the fires of the Holy Spirit during the Mass.

Unitarian Universalist

At the Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship meeting on Sunday, May 24, 10:30 a.m., Curly Lieberman will present “A Peace Delegation Perspective on Israel/Palestine.”

Lieberman traveled with Inter-Faith Peace Builders to the West Bank/Occupied Palestine in June 2014. This meeting will be an opportunity to hear about her experiences and the challenges to everyday life experienced by the residents there.

Unitarian Universalists search for truth along many paths. They gather around common moral values that include the inherent worth and dignity of every person. They are a caring, liberal, open-minded community that encourages others to seek their own spiritual path wherever it leads. Meetings are held at Plaza de la Ribera, Rio Bravo 10A. For further information, visit webpage at www.uuflc.org.

Buddhist Community

The Heart of Awareness Community meets Wednesday, May 27, beginning with Noble Silence at 4 p.m. The formal meditation, dharma teachings and discussion follow at 4:30 p.m. The teaching for Wednesday, May 27 will be the third of the four part pre-recorded talk by Ram Dass. 

The sangha’s is at Guadalupe Victoria 101, suites A and B in Ajijic. The Heart of Awareness is a non-sectarian community grounded in the teachings of the Buddha as preserved in the Theravada/Vipassana tradition. Prior experience or affiliation is not required. For further information on the community and scheduled activities, visit the website, www.heartofawareness.org, or call Janet Reichert at (376) 766-6069.

Open Circle

Those attending the Sunday, May 24 Open Circle will gather at 10 a.m. in the rear patio area of the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) for fellowship and refreshments.   

Dr. Todd Stong will take the podium at 10:30 a.m. to present a program that reflects on Mexico’s progress and ills, the future of  the world water supply and optimizing food production. He will also talk about the constantly changing world climate, species, energy, resources, the next action for more people than jobs, better ways to educate, the demise of our experiment with pensions, inequality across our world, and comparison of what can be purchased with billions and trillions. 

After more than 30 years as a civil engineer, half in the United States. Stong spent most of the past 20 years in Africa, Asia and Latin America as a volunteer engineer with a focus on rural water supply. His latest 13 years have been serving the infrastructure requirements and employment needs of 42 villages about the lake plus the testing of the lake’s water quality and its fish.