Kim LeMieux
Email: kimslakesideliving@gmail.com
OCTOBER PRESENTATIONS INCLUDE
October 2nd Eduardo “Lalo” Ramos Cordero with Philip Rylett
The Hidden Traditions of Ajijic
There are so many wonderful Ajijic traditions which are very visible. But there are others that we either don’t see, or simply don’t understand what is happening. Lalo will recount those traditions that have survived and are still practiced today, sometimes discreetly and sometimes hidden in plain sight.
Lalo is Ajijic’s Cronista, a title given to those who are charged with keeping the stories of the pueblo. As a teenager, he recognized that many stories of the older folk might disappear, so he collected them. He also organizes the Easter Passion Play as well as many lesser-known events. He has revived many traditions lost to the past.
October 9th – TBA
October 16th Lago de Chapala Toastmasters Club
Facing our Stereotypes Together
Alfredo Pérez Aldana is a native of Guadalajara and is currently the director of education at LCS.
Marissa Urrutia Martinez is a native of Monterrey, Mexico, and has lived in the Chapala area for the past 17 years.
Ken Knittel is a native of Texas and has lived in the Chapala-Jocotepec area for the past 13 years.
Sarana Donaldson is a native of the northeastern United States and has lived in San Antonio Tlayacapan for 5 1/2 years.
Two Americans and two Mexicans will discuss the stereotypes that exist about citizens of our two countries and how they distort and affect the relationships between our peoples. Questions such as these will be explored:
– Do these stereotypes affect our ability to create friendships?
– Do these stereotypes affect how we treat our neighbors and for NOB expats how we treat people hired to help us or do work for us?
– Is language our only barrier to closer ties with our sister countries?
Attendees are invited to participate in the discussion.
October 23rd, Keith Lindauer, Earthships and Rainwater Harvesting
A Gateway to Sustainable Living
Earthships are off-grid homes constructed from recycled and repurposed materials generally discarded from society. Old car tires, glass bottles and aluminum cans are the primary building blocks of these homes. Powered by the sun, heated and cooled by the earth’s abundant and free energy sources, with all domestic water harvested from the rain and snowmelt, Earthships are affordable to build, attractive, and perhaps the healthiest homes you can build.
Renegade architect Mike Reynolds, aka the Garbage Warrior, is father of the Earthship and the gladiator for change and salvation of the planet. I am a soldier in Mike’s army. I will show you what Earthships are, how they are built, and how and why they could change your life—and the environment—for the better.
Rainwater Collection Lakeside
As water continues to be a serious problem in the Lake Chapala region, RainManMx has stepped outside the box and designs and installs rainwater collection systems for homes, businesses, and schools. RainMan will tell you how it’s done, and why you and your environment will benefit from drinking the rain.
Keith Lindauer is a traditionally educated and trained architect gone rogue.
In 1996, after an encounter in Colorado with New Mexico architect Mike Reynolds, Keith’s life took a left turn. He discovered Earthships and sustainable building, including straw bale houses, cob, and adobe. The next 25 years were devoted to green building, planning and developing sustainable communities and off-grid homes across the Americas.
October 30th Loretta Downs
Celebration of life and being prepared to die. Loretta has been a companion to the dying for over 30 years as a friend, family member, hospital, hospice and nursing home volunteer.
Speaking is her specialty. A storyteller with the ability to move people, to help them see the sacred passage in death, and to think about death as a meaningful and sacred part of life–like birth. And she has a talent to inspire people to talk about death, rather than hide it. She has been told she is able to reduce the fear of dying and increase connections with loved ones. “I’m proud of the fact that I’m known as ‘an inspiring and uplifting’ presenter about supporting the end-of-life experience. I meet people years after they’ve heard me speak, and they tell me I changed their lives.” VoyageChicago.com
October 9th at 3:30 and 5:30 Kevin-Anthony With over 40 years in the entertainment industry, Kevin-Anthony brings a breadth of experience both as a performer and producer. As a performer, his vocal abilities and charismatic performance style have thrilled audiences in 28 countries. His Broadway and National Tour credits include Miss Saigon, Grease, Dreamgirls and Saturday Night Fever. He has been a featured television soloist on the PTL Network with Jim and Tammy-Faye Bakker, has had a series of children’s videos on Nickelodeon and The Learning Channel, and was a featured performer at the White House for President Clinton and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. For his leading roles in Broadway productions, he has been favorably reviewed by some of the most prominent newspapers across America, including USA Today, The New York Times, as well as the Washington Post, among others. https://kevin-anthonysings.com/bio
There are only two shows in the lush gardens of The Lake Chapala Society. This is a show that you don’t want to miss! You will be glad you came!
Tickets are available at the Lake Chapala Society Office 10 am to 2 pm Monday thru Friday or at lakechapalasociety.com
Cost: VIP seating: $500 pesos, General seating: $350 pesos
October 29, 5:00, Ajijic Malecón Basketball Court
“THRILL THE WORLD” is an annual worldwide simultaneous dance of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” Here in the Lake Chapala area of Mexico, we are celebrating our 12th anniversary, where zombies young and old, Mexican and expats, learn the dance and raise money for local charities.
This year, our goal is to raise money for the Tepehua Community Center of Chapala. The funds we raise will go toward expanding their potable water program, which requires a new, heavy-duty truck for the water delivery from their own reverse osmosis distribution center on Tepehua Hill.
“The Tepehua Community Center has been successfully helping a village help itself for twelve years. Their services include free medical, dentistry, family planning, counseling, feeding those under the poverty line, and educating the children. Two years ago, at the onset of the pandemic, they included getting free potable water to those under the poverty line, including new nursing mothers.”
“Installing a reverse osmosis machine that can produce 300 five-gallon garrafónes (water jugs) a day, they have enough water to service the private sector by charging a nominal amount for sustainability and giving the rest to those in need. What Tepehua needs to deliver water to the poor barrio, is a strong truck to handle the mountainous terrains.”
“The poor need clean water to drink to combat the rise of kidney failure in children and young adults . . . help us do that by donating towards a truck. We drink to your health, and to that of the peoples worldwide listening to Thriller!!!”
Donations can be made at: www.GoFundMe.com/ThrillChapala. Everyone is Welcome. You can register at www.MyChapala.com or email us at: ThrillChapala@gmail.com.
VIP Tickets are available for sale at Tepehua Treasures (Riberas), Gossips Restaurant (Ajijic), and Mel’s Casa Social (Ajijic). VIP tickets include access to our covered seating areas, one free drink and exclusive entry into our VIP raffle.
Once again, many thanks for your kindness and generosity.
October 31
Most towns in Mexico have their own patron saint and virgin which people celebrate each year with multi-day fiestas. Ajijic’s patroness is Our Lady of the Rosary, who is honored for the entire month of October, culminating in a grand evening procession, including floats and festival on Danzantes, bandas, and the carrying of La Virgen, herself, through the town.
On weekends during October, you might hear early morning skyrockets and/or bandas or mariachis as they proceed from various points in town to the church for the early morning Mass. The whole point of having cohetes, bandas, and processions including singers in the predawn hours is to wake up the people for the morning Mass, not that everyone goes every day.
While some northerners are put off by all the early morning “noise,” it is important to remember that these are long-held and deep traditions emanating from the time before there were alarm clocks, all the way back to the pre-Hispanic times. Most of the good people of the village are up at that hour anyway, as half of the kids go to the early shift at their schools. These are not holidays. Life goes on, people go to work and school as usual.
NOVEMBER 1 & 2 The Day of the Dead is a true Mexican tradition. In Spanish it is called “Dia de Muertos.” It is a very important and popular event which celebrates the passing of loved ones. It is a way for family members who lost loved ones to bring them back for a one-day special visit by honoring and remembering their presence by making an altar and filling it with items that person once enjoyed. Most commonly the altars have marigold flowers, skull, candles, food, possessions, and even a picture. All these items are known as offerings and are meant to guide the loved one back.
Ajijic is full of Day of the Dead celebrations, mostly centered around the cemetery and the main plaza.
November 1 The Children’s Day or Day of the Little Angels, which is also sometimes called El Día de los Inocentes. Visit the cemeteries in the area in the afternoon to see people creating altars and cleaning the graves. Or go after dark to see the graves illuminated by candlelight.
November 2 Noche de Muertos, Plaza Principal, themain square in Ajijic, altars and sawdust carpets are built at the plaza. Families spend both afternoons replacing old decorations and putting in new plants, making everything bonito. Once night falls, celebrations begin with music, dancing, people dressed for the occasion, and of course great food.
Don’t miss the main attraction, which is just off the Plaza Principal, along a wall of Marcos Castellanos school. It is the Wall of Skulls, across from the main church, with candles illuminated at 8 p.m. It was created in 2016 by the artist Efren Gonzalez. Each plaque was fashioned from the same mold but with a different name inscribed on it, honoring someone who has passed over. One candle is on each plaque. When the wall was created, anyone who wished to honor a loved one could pay a small fee to have that person’s name on a plaque.
Check out Jocotepec, San Juan Cosalá, San Antonio Tlayacapan, Chapala and Ixltahuacán de los Membrillos. All will be holding celebrations in their central plazas and cemeteries.
Chapala also has a nighttime parade that usually starts sometime between 7 and 9 p.m. near the malecón at Church San Francisco. The Chapala City Hall building opens its doors to public where they have set up their own altars as well.
November 4-13 – Twelfth Night by Shakespeare
Directed by Dave McIntosh
Show Times: Evenings: 7:30; Matinees – 4:00
Saturday and Sundays shows are Matinees
Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare’s finest comedies. It is a fast-paced romantic comedy with several interwoven plots of romance, mistaken identities, and practical jokes.
For ticket information: www.lakesidelittletheatre.com; $350 Pesos
Steve Taylor, FoodBank Lakeside volunteer
Want to enjoy a local restaurant’s tasty offerings while also helping to feed local families?
FoodBank Lakeside’s Dine & Donate program has 14 restaurant partners where at each table a colorful table tent implores diners, “You Can Help Beat Hunger.” It notes that, for the price of an average meal, one can feed a hungry family of four for a month.
How? Simply ask your waiter for a FoodBank donation envelope, fill out your information, insert your donation and return it to the waiter. There’s also a QR code on the table tent to make online donations via your mobile device.
“Feed yourself, feed someone in need,” advises Donna Vernet of Ajijic, a Dine & Donate campaign volunteer who seeks to add 2-3 restaurants a month to the list and is looking for volunteers to add restaurants across Lakeside, from Chapala east through Riberas del Pilar, San Antonio Tlayacapan and Ajijic. During June, Dine & Donate generated about $10,000 pesos for the FoodBank,
A $400 peso donation provides essential food and hygiene items for a family of four for a week. Thanks to very limited overhead costs, the all-volunteer FoodBank Lakeside, an organization of Mexican nationals and expats, guarantees at least 95 percent of donations go toward feeding families.
Since its April 2020 inception, FoodBank Lakeside has provided more than 20,000 dispensas (packages of essential items such as beans, rice, milk, eggs, bath and laundry soap, toilet paper, etc.) to more than 1,000 families in need. Beneficiaries are reviewed on an ongoing basis by FoodBank’s local coordinators, all Mexicans who live in the towns they serve, to ensure donations go to those who need it most.
Dine & Donate contributions help pay for much of the food. Donna, a 12-year local resident from California, said she was attracted by the idea of giving while enjoying a splendid restaurant meal.
“The restaurants have been great about it,” she said. “They want to give back to the community.”
Restaurants interested in joining Dine & Donate can contact Donna on WhatsApp at +52 33 1157 5593. For more information, visit FoodBank Lakeside’s “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” website at foodbanklakeside.org.
- Lakeside Living – April 2023 - March 30, 2023
- Lakeside Living – March 2023 - February 27, 2023
- Lakeside Living – February 2023 - January 30, 2023
You guys can’t just steal photos without permission. In this day and age, how could you not be aware of that?
Would you like to tell me which photos we are stealing without permission You have not responded to the two emails we have sent you.