Articles 2017

Uncommon Common Sense By Bill Frayerbillfrayer@gmail.com Big Challenges Ahead   The world is in the midst of transition and realignment. This, of course, occurs periodically, and the results of these changes will become obvious over time. It is always difficult for us to see exactly where we are headed even when we can sense that […]

The Drug Fix That Is Permanent By Christy Wiseman   (Ed. Note: Ms. Wiseman is a Certified Drug Prevention Specialist.  She has trained other teachers for in-service courses.) It happened again. This time to a friend’s son. He was found dead in his apartment. He was 47. They listed it as a stroke, but his friends

Howard And Helen Play House By James Tipton Helen had not been the same since Howard had hit her in the head with a can of tuna. That was Howard as in “husband” Howard, the same Howard who liked to tell Helen  that she needed to change her hair, that he wanted her to look

Welcome to Mexico! By Victoria Schmidt El Dia de Los Muertos   Being from the United States, I came from a background where no one talked about death. We use terms like; deceased, late, passed, or departed. There is usually a period of mourning, a funeral, burial, and perhaps visitation to graves. Death is a

One Step Ahead By Jack Prins and Pia AitkinReviewed by John Stokdjik   While introducing Zwartboek at the 7th Annual Ajijic Jewish Film Festival in January, local resident Jack Prins mentioned his book One Step Ahead – A child’s story of daring and bravery during the Holocaust. This memoir will be of interest to the

Todos Somos Migrantes (We Are All Immigrants) By Kelly Hayes-Raitt   I expected to be in tears; instead I was in awe. For years, I’ve written about refugees’ struggles, pains, and losses, so I thought I knew what to expect when I visited FM4 Paso Libre, a shelter in Guadalajara for Central American refugees seeking

Tails Of Mexico By Jackie Kellum   Tails of Mexico is a new name, but not a new organization.  This group of ex-pats, with the original name of Operacion Compacion and Companions  initially had a singular focus. It was to provide spay and neuter clinics for cats and dogs of families who lived in the

Highlights from Jaltepec Centro Educativo Submitted by Carole & Terry Baker   Christmas at Jaltepec Reserve your table for the Christmas event prepared and served by the students with Musical Director Timothy G. Ruff Welch and a “Taste” of Los Cantantes del Lago. Tuesday November 28th Luncheon Wednesday November 29th Candlelight Dinner Please contact Linda

Focus on Art By Rob Mohr Color and Light Speak – Xill Fessenden, Fine Art Photographer    “A photographer’s work is formed by the way she looks at life and the world around her.” —Annie Leibovitz (Main photographer for Vanity Fair magazine) The rich texture of Xill Fessenden’s life, her actions to improve the quality

The Wild Flower By Armando Garcia   It doesn’t grow in greenhouses, nurseries, or tended gardens, and survives on but a single season of rain. Borne of hardship it is tempered and thrives where the less hardy wither away. The wildflower seed migrates riding the wind, the wind that recognizes no borders. When in foul