CASA
The Culinary Arts Society of Ajijic (CASA) Award Banquet and 30th Anniversary bash held March 1 at Roberto’s Restaurant was a hit. (L-R) CASA President Monica Molloy and Lorraine Keefer presented Rick Feldmann, the top winner of the 2015 Bing Award (three first places in a calendar year) and most points, with an award for being the longest serving CASA board member (now retired) with 10.5 years of service.
Journalists
Journalists Angela Kocherga (L) and Alfredo Corchado drew a record crowd of 500 people at Open Circle last Sunday at the Lake Chapala Society. Later, the couple lunched with Lakeside residents including Barbara Hildt, who invited the couple to speak after reading Corchado’s 2013 book, “Midnight in Mexico.”
American Legion Post 7
Kathy Gallop, who checks blood pressure at American Legion Post Seven in Chapala on Thursdays at 11 a.m., is looking for a glucometer. Anyone who is willing to donate or lend one to her, should 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..
British Society
Carol Curtis from Operation Feed is the speaker at the next meeting/luncheon of the Lakeside British Society, Saturday, March 5, 1 p.m. at Manix Restaurant. Curtis will talk about the group’s work.
“Our mission is to provide food and improve the lives of the very poor and marginalized people of San Juan Cosala,” she says.
Call Alicia McNiff at 765-4786 or Sue Morris at 766-0847 to reserve your meal choice. Visitors are always welcome.
Open Circle
Janice Kimball explores how the creative mind works, where ideas come from, and how to jump start the creative process in her presentation “The Birth of an Idea,” Sunday, March 6 at Open Circle, held in the Lake Chapala Society Garden, 10:30 a.m.
Kimball, MFA, University of Chicago, is a visual artist, weaver, author and retired college instructor who loves to share her diverse knowledge and experience with others. She is known locally for her column “Art Talk” in the now defunct Lake Chapala Review and Lake Chapala Insights Magazine, as well as for articles in the Ojo del Lago. She also designed the serpent mural along the Carretera facing her gallery, Aztec Studios, in West Ajijic. Kimball is author of “Three in a Cage” and “The Joy of Art.” You can read more about her history and current endeavors at www.janicekimball.com. She invites you to join her for a reception following Open Circle, venue to be announced.
Buddhists
The Heart of Awareness Community holds its First Sunday Long Sit, Sunday, March 6, from 9 a.m. to noon. Arrive by 8:50 p.m. to prepare for three rounds of 40 minutes and 20 minutes of walking meditation.
Monday, March 7, the Dharma Movie Matinee will feature “Seven Years in Tibet,” at 3 p.m.
Drop in meditation is every Sunday (except first Sundays); every Monday from 9 to 10 a.m. and every Thursday from 11 a.m. to noon. A Drop-In Practice/Study group meets every Friday from 2 to 4 pm. All are welcome.
The Community meets on Wednesday, March 9 at Guadalupe Victoria 101, Suites A&B, in Ajijic. Noble Silence begins at 4 p.m., followed by a formal meditation, dharma teachings and discussion at 4:30. At this meeting the second of five audio presentations will be held: “Waking Up — What Does It Really Mean?”
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 www.heartofawareness.org, or call Janet Reichert at (376) 766-6069.
LCS seminar
Lake Chapala Society (LCS) members are invited to attend the Tuesday, March 8 learning seminar from noon to 1:15 p.m. featuring a Ted Talk by cognitive scientist Laura Schultz. Her talk is titled: “The Surprisingly Logical Minds of Babies.” Bill Frayer is the moderator.
How do babies learn so much from so little so quickly? In a fun, experiment-filled talk, cognitive scientist Schulz shows how our young ones make decisions with a surprisingly strong sense of logic, well before they can talk.
Lakeside Progressives
Local progressives meet on Tuesday, March 8 to discuss the current status of the Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton campaigns and what more can be done to help everyone feel the Bernie Burn. Other topics may be suggested by members and guests.
The Lakeside Progressives meet at 4 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at the Peacock Garden Restaurant on Colon in Ajijic. This is a group of like-minded people looking for progressive solutions to problems not being addressed by the major political parties.
Most attendees have an early dinner at the restaurant following the meeting. The group’s Facebook page is Lakeside Progressives. Email Chad Olsen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have questions. Bring a progressive friend!
Neill James lecture
Roger Heath presents “The Moral Side of Economics” Tuesday, March 8, 2 p.m. in the LCS sala.
In this talk, Heath will show how, in an effort to appear “scientific,” economics has not emphasized morality. He will examine the role morality plays in our daily economic activity. The economic philosophers, Locke and Adam Smith, argued that governments must ensure properly functioning markets. However, in today’s marketplace, unfair practices (e.g. predatory loans, the irresponsible marketing of pharmaceuticals, unfair working conditions and tax evasion) skew the market in favor of the strong. Are we then right to reject such a marketplace?
Heath worked as a government economist for more than three decades in Ottawa, before settling in Chapala with his wife, June. For some time, he has coordinated the Discussion and Philosophy Groups at the LCS and has given several talks in the Neill James series.
LCS Bus Trip
The next LCS Bus Trip is Wednesday, March 9 to the Forum Mall in Tlaquepaque, which features Liverpool, Best Buy, Suburbia, many other stores, restaurants and a food court, as well as Home Depot. The bus leaves the sculpture in La Floresta at 9 a.m. The cost for members is 300 pesos and 350 pesos for non-members. This trip will not include a trip to the crafts center of Tonala. Buy tickets at the LCS office.
Putting on the Ritz
Niños Incapacitados’ annual Diamonds & Denim Ball fundraiser will be held Thursday, March 10, 5 p.m. at the Hotel Real de Chapala. Tickets for this event are selling fast. Contact Sue Williams at 766-0487 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to get yours now. See programaninos.com for more information.
The Culinary Arts Society of Ajijic (CASA) Award Banquet and 30th Anniversary bash held March 1 at Roberto’s Restaurant was a hit. (L-R) CASA President Monica Molloy and Lorraine Keefer presented Rick Feldmann, the top winner of the 2015 Bing Award (three first places in a calendar year) and most points, with an award for being the longest serving CASA board member (now retired) with 10.5 years of service.
LCS meeting
The Lake Chapala Society’s Annual General Members Meeting will be held on the grounds of LCS Thursday, March 17, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. All LCS members are invited. All other LCS activities will be suspended during this time.
People’s Choice
Those 2015 first-place People’s Choice Award winners who have not yet received their printed certificates can pick them up at the Guadalajara Reporter office on the first floor of Plaza Bugambilias in Ajijic. A complete list of winners can be viewed at www.BestofLakeChapala.com.
To claim their digital emblem, winners should 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.. Two versions of the emblem will be attached and sent in reply: a high resolution file for print reproduction, and a low-resolution file for web publicity.
Directory available
The Chapala Directory, Lakeside’s annual phone directory and area guide in English, is now available in hard copy at Diane Pearl and in limited supply at the additional advertisers.
It is interesting to note that this year’s directory features 16 more pages of advertising than last year, which publisher ImagenMx hopes is a sign of economic growth in the area.
2016 StreetSmart
The fourth edition of StreetSmart Lake Chapala, containing detailed area street maps, a street index and useful articles, will be updated and printed in the coming months. For information, 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..