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Founded in 1987
Hidalgo #223
Chapala, Jalisco,
Mexico 45900
Tels. (376) 765-2877,
765-3676
Fax (376) 765-3528

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Kay Davis

August 2008

     Casa de Ancianos opened their new Therapy Building June 21. There was a ribbon-cutting by Dr. Miguel Angel, Presidente del Colegio Medico and Director de la Clinica Municipal. Lynn Martin provided music, and food and drinks were offered to a group of Mexican and gringo supporters. Casa de Ancianos was opened in 1972 following two years of building the main residences for elderly Mexicans who had no means of caring for themselves. Since then six casitas have been added along with expansion to the main building. Future plans include adding more casitas.
The grounds are treed and cheerful.


Dr. Miguel Angel, Presidente del Colegio Medico

     2008-2009 Season Tickets for Lakeside Little Theater (renewal and new sales) will be available September 9 - 10 from 10 – 1 in the LLT Lobby. Season Tickets are $700 pesos each for reserved seats, all six plays. Tickets for individual performances are $125 pesos. For more information contact Paula McTavish at 766-0954 (leave message) or email: mctavish@prodigy.net.mx. Play schedule includes:
       Office Hours:
                   September 27 – October 5, 2008
       The Hollow:                     October 31 – November 9, 2008
       Twelve Angry Jurors:     December 6 – 14, 2008
       Incorruptible:                  January 17 – 25, 2009
       Kiss Me Kate:
                  February 28 – March 10, 2009
       Looking:                          April 4 – 12, 2009
     Lakeside Little Theater’s 2008 Summer Studio was performed July 3, 4 and 5 at 7:30 p.m. and July 6 at 3:00 p.m.  Roseann Wilshere facilitated as actor and director. This presentation consisted of five to ten minute excerpts from ten plays such as The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, The Taming of the Shrew, Beaches and others. One of the favorites, judging by audience enthusiasm, was God’s Waiting Room. The Summer Studio offers actors an opportunity to try new things. It is a training ground for those appearing on stage for the first time, and for the experienced, it is a chance to perform a piece they might not otherwise do. Summer Studio performances often sell out, so if you missed this one, you might make a note of it for next summer.
     Open Circle at LCS on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. will present:
Aug. 3   Otto Rand, Don Edwards & Robert Croog: Facing the American Revolution - conversation between a Catholic (Charles Carroll), a Protestant (John Jay) and a Jew (Haym Solomon) in New York 1776.
Aug 10  Lynn Martin: Love Heals, Fear Destroys
Aug 17  Cheryl Lynch: Relationship Choices When It Isn’t Working
Aug 24  Dave Kestner: EST Training–Awareness & Responsibility
Aug 31  Dr. Gary Schmid: Conciousness Medicine
And on Thursdays at 12 noon, there is a weekly discourse on "It Is What It Is" by Charlie Fagan, in the back garden area.
     Gatherings, a new English- language book store, opened July 10. The store is located two doors up from the LCS on Ramon Corona at #11. It is a pleasant spot, artfully arranged to maximize space for browsing, reading (there is an alcove complete with comfortable chairs), buying or just relaxing on the back patio. The spot is the new gathering place for a small writers’ group devoted to reading and critiquing short stories. Most of the members are also with the Ajijic Writers’ Group. Books and magazines in English are available in Spanish. Newspapers will be available soon. Hours are Monday – Friday 9:30 – 6 and Saturday 10 – 6.


Gatherings garden coffee shop

     Fiesta Lago Chapala, the new tour boat, had its maiden voyage on July 2. The owners, Martha Real and her husband André Navi, celebrated their 20th anniversary with the launch of their new vessel. Their hope is that the tour boat will be a bell weather tourist attraction. Jocotepec mayor Felipe Rangel cracked a bottle of champagne on the hull of the boat before leading a party of special guests for the inaugural cruise.
     LLT Needs a Videographer. If not for the talents of an enthusiastic videographer, fine theatrical performances would be recorded in the mind’s eye only, soon to be forgotten. For this reason, Lakeside Little Theatre has compiled an archive of its productions, and the position of videographer has just become available. LLT would like to hear from anyone interested in filling the volunteer position. Filming takes place during the final rehearsals, the videographer interacting with cast, crew, light and sound technicians for the best visual and sound values possible. The position is for all productions: winter and summer seasons and, if possible, the summer workshop and reading productions as well. Part-time resident volunteers will be considered. Anyone wishing for more details and/or to volunteer, contact LLT’s Production Manager, Don Chaloner, at 766-1975, or e-mail him at 77dondo@gmail.com.
     Medical Needs in Mexico can be scary for the uninitiated. In January 2007, our Editor-in-Chief, Alejandro Grattan, wrote an article titled A Most Pleasant Experience. It was about IMSS and gives the positive side of dealing with the Mexican Medicare system. This is invaluable information, so if you have wanted to learn about an actual case history, I urge you to look it up under El Ojo del Lago–Columnists–Editor’s Page.
     And to this end, I would like to add a recent experience of my own. My husband and I are on IMSS, but our doctor recommended a private hospital and a surgeon whose work he respects. With trepidation we asked the cost. "$25,000 pesos ($2,500 USD)," he answered, "all inclusive." I was stunned. That includes all hospital costs, including doctors, anesthesiologist, nursing care, medicine, surgical requirements, technicians, tests, food freshly prepared, private room with private bath and a sofa for my husband to sleep on overnight while I recovered enough to go home. The rooms are air conditioned and provide TVs, phones and extra bedding. For patients with US medical insurance, there are forms for reimbursement.
     How had this diagnosis evolved? I had been ill too frequently, an uncommon occurrence, and our family physican, Dr. Gerardo Leon, set up an appointment for an ultrasound of my gall bladder. There were sizeable stones and the entire gall bladder had to come out.
It was a dark and rainy morning on the way to Guadalajara, and even as early as 5:30 a.m., we passed two major accidents, but we arrived safely at Hospital Versalles on the north side of town. Following check-in I went directly to my room and prepared for surgery. By early afternoon, I was resting in bed.
     If you have felt uncertain about using Mexican medical services, let me assure you that you have affordable choices here that we did not have "back home." Medical training in Mexico is outstanding. Our hospital was clean as a whistle, and we were quickly attended whenever we buzzed. All Telecable channels were available on TV, quite a few in English. We had a phone beside the bed. Before rushing north when you need medical care, ask your doctor about options and costs here in Mexico. We are very fortunate Lakeside.


Hospital Versalles

     There was a DIF Fashion Show at the Yacht Club on July 17. This event was put on for the benefit of the "safe house" for battered women. Opus, Fiaga and La Bella Vida boutiques provided beautiful clothes, worn by gorgeous models from both cultures. Opening the show was the mayor’s wife, Marta Zepeda Degollado, kicking off the hard work by Yoli Martinez who organized this affair.


Dress and Reboso (shawl) from Fiaga

     The first Risky Reading was held at Lakeside Little Theater July 19. At the start nearly all seats were filled, and the audience learned what Risky Reading means. Some of these plays were selected specifically because there is some risk in doing them, e.g. an intellectual story. However, as a reading rather than a performance, the board of the LLT can assess what the public considers of value.
     The first play, Six Characters in Search of an Author, had been read by the performers only twice prior to putting it on display, and the actors then read to the audience. There was no staging. Good actors give excellent performances with little practice, it seems, for they knew many of their lines. The audience was pleased with their presentation but the play was, well, not everyone’s cup of tea. Nearly half the audience left early.
     The second Risky Reading was an Arthur Miller play, The Crucible, performed on July 26. The story is set in the late 17th Century during the witch hunt era. Its timelessness is in the theme–the lure of power, the gullibility of those who believe they have a moral imperative, the need to accept responsibility for the consequences of our actions and the nature of truth. We will tell you more about this one next month.
     August 2 at the Lakeside Little Theater the second in a series of four Risky Readings will be presented, called What the Butler Saw, written by Joe Orton. Casual attire is appropriate during the summer season. Admission is free to LLT members and $50 pesos for non-members.
     August 9 at the Lakeside Little Theater you can see a Risky Reading of The Perfect Alibi by Michael Warren. Michael is one of our local writers. This play has everything a good thriller needs: a rich and ruthless newspaper magnate, his worldly wife, his sexy mistress and sundry suspicious characters. All Risky Readings are free to LLT members and only 50 pesos for non-members.
     The first Ajijic Writers’ Film Forum presented The Mission with Jeremy Irons, Robert De Niro and Liam Neeson. Released in 1986, this film didn’t quite grab the public, but the elements of good drama become evident after the first 15 minutes when the audience becomes engaged with the mix of characters, a murderer (Robert De Niro) released into the custody of the priest (Jeremy Irons) who heads up the Paraguayan mission of peaceful and talented Guaranis Indians.
     Set in the 1750s the story is carried by global conflicts between the Portuguese who had previously ruled the seas and the rise of the Spanish Armada who challenged their dominion. Under Spanish settlement and geographically next to Brazil, Paraguay was a challenge to the Portuguese. The local Indians, along with their beloved Jesuit priests, were caught between the two historically aggressive forces. The audience appreciated the story and kicked around its strengths and weaknesses, but better sound was a universal request for the next film.


Film Forum Committee: Kenneth Clarke, Nora Thea Lewis, Ed Tasca, Michael Cook Cunningham and Victoria Schmidt

     Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the United Mexican States, Giles Paxman, visited our area July 24. British Nationals were invited to attend a gathering at the home of Susan Bruhaug in Chapala. Ceri (like "Kerry") Dando was her co-host for the evening while Paddy Andrews greeted all guests and gave them name tags as they arrived. Also present was Iván Ramirez, head of the UK Trade and Investment Mission in Guadalajara. Having business in Guadalajara gave Ambassador Paxman an oppor-tunity to visit the Lakeside British Society with a sub-stantial number of British subjects who reside in Mexico. The meeting began with an open bar and two tables of appetizers. In the back patio area there was a string of Marine flags spelling "w-e-l-c-o-m-e." Before his appointment to Mexico, Ambassador Paxman served in Paris, Brussels and Rome. As the UK representative in Mexico he will further strengthen commercial, political, cultural and bilateral relations between the two countries.


Ambassador Paxman, Susan Bruhaug, Ceri Dando, Alicia McNiff

     Don’t forget that August 28 starts the Mariachi Festival which runs through September 7. There will be the usual nightly galas at the Degollado Theater, free concerts in public places, shopping malls and restaurants. A big draw will be the concert at the Auditorio Telmex on September 5, given by Juan Gabriel, one of Mexico’s most famous ranchero singers. The festival parade in downtown Guadalajara on Saturday, August 30, starts at 4 p.m. and will feature 16 floats and hundreds of musicians, dancers and charros (Mexican horsemen and women). Organizers hope to extend the event to the United States in November and Spain in January.
     As a fund raiser for ACÁ, Tony Burton is coming to Ajijic to give a talk August 5 for the Eco Training Center. ACÁ is Lakeside’s only organic farm. The meeting will take place on the LCS back patio from 12-2. A contribution of 75 pesos is requested. His talk will focus on the history of the Chapala area. An award-winning writer, explorer and environmentalist, Tony lived in Mexico for 17 years. In his popular book Western Mexico, A Traveller’s Treasury, he is your tour guide for exploring locations not often visited by tourists.