January 2026

A Life-Changing Educational Opportunity Beyond Lake Chapala’s flourishing expat communities, girls in poor indigenous families dream of better lives. But those dreams fade in the grim reality of the girls’ day-to-day existence. They’re surrounded by the constraints of poverty, parents struggle to provide even the basics for their children, illiteracy is common, and jobs are […]

Observing Change When I was young, some 40 years ago, I had a great “ride.” Lucha La Carrucha was a candy apple red, 1964 Dodge Dart convertible with light interior. I bought her on a whim, having spent the previous five years of my life riding a bicycle through Los Angeles, CA. Lucha and I

Lillie Henley lillie.henley@gmail.com 4th, 14th, 19th Democrats Abroad Lake Chapala Sunday 4th – 10:30 am  Democrats Abroad presents “Vote from Abroad, Importance of Voting Early” at Open Circle at Lake Chapala Society” Wednesday 14th 10:00 am Coffee and Conversation, email dmcdermeit@aol.com for location. Monday 19th at 4:00 pm at La Bodega, 16 de Septiembre 124 Every 3rd

Each of us no doubt thought that “childhood” diseases like whooping cough, mumps, measles, and chickenpox are only just for kids. Sadly, that is not totally accurate. Adults CAN get childhood diseases because: (A) protection provided by childhood vaccinations can fade over time. You can have intermittent immunity, or no immunity. (B) There’s a decline

It was my very first time to be on television as a June Taylor Dancer, working on the Jackie Gleason Show. I was shaking in my shoes as I stood in the wings and tried to remember which foot to start with. The butterflies in my stomach weren’t fluttering anymore … they were beating their

Casa de Tesoros A.C. ~ Treasure House Every month in this column, I’m reminded of how many quiet, steady acts of goodness are happening around our Lakeside community, work that doesn’t always make headlines, but profoundly changes lives. Treasure House, a registered Asociación Civil in Jalisco, is one of these places. Since opening its doors

This series is a collection of memories from my childhood growing up on a farm in Iowa. I hope they bring a smile as we reminisce together those days gone but not forgotten. Except for those with Amnesia. Now why am I sitting in front of my computer? Episode 3. Christmas Downtown, Schramm’s Dept. Store,

“It’s good that it’s Friday and the posadas are starting in the barrio,” Ramiro tells me as we walk together through the park that smells like freshly cut grass, on our way back from school. “Yes, let’s see how they get on with Doña Jandita and today with Doña María,” I reply. We arrive in

Part II Last month we started our voyage to Greenland, traveling through Prince Christian Sound and a peek at Qaqortag, the largest town in Southern Greenland. Now we find out there are no guarantees when cruising to Greenland and the stark contrasts in the country’s capital city, Nuuk. Paamuit Excitement stirred for our stop at

My first trip in 2009 with a loaded trailer from Dallas, TX ended in Sayula, Jalisco, MX, and I spent New Year’s Eve there before heading back to Laredo for another load. As I drove north, I had a heart full of a promising new life in Mexico. Back then, you could drive straight though