The unidentified man was found lying on the shore of the lake on January 17. He died days later.
An alleged immigrant who on Monday, Jan. 17, was found on the shore of the lake in the Ajijic area with a severe case of alcoholic congestion, died a few days later at the Ajijic Municipal Clinic, authorities reported.
The person was found covered with blankets lying on the lakeshore between Colón Street and Marcos Castellanos. He was taken to the clinic and initially reported to be in stable condition, but he died days later.
The deceased was apparently a Central American migrant, but information about his family is unknown, so the body was taken to the morgue.
Translated by Mike Rogers
Mural of Michi Cihualli, located at the intersection of Morelos and Del Paseo.
Sofía Medeles (Ajijic, Jal.) – Artist Jesús López Vega will restore one of his several murals, the mural featuring Michi Cihualli (the Goddess of Lake Chapala). The artwork is located at the intersection of Morelos and Del Paseo, where Ajijic Tango restaurant is currently located.López Vega said that the mural is approximately eight years old, and that he is glad that he was asked to maintain it, «I thought it was going to be removed with all the new the works that were recently completed, and although they did whitewash a part over the mural, it can be restored. I had to repaint that part, in addition to the restoration.»This property has murals by other artists, such as José Durán, and Javier Zaragoza, which were also recently renovated. López Vega added that he is pleased with the location of the mural close to the lake. He hopes that both tourists and locals can learn a little more about the legend of Michi Cihualli via his mural.
López Vega commented that the legend of Michi Cihualli caught his attention after reading a writing on pre-Hispanic mythology by Jesús González Gortazar. With time and research, he found out that an author named Tapia, had documented that in the lake of nearby Cajititlán they had the same goddess of the lake, strongly suggesting that Michi Cihualli spans more than one region, and may be a divinity of the coca culture.
Translated by Amy Esperanto
SIMAPA, Ajijic 2022 collection.
Sofia Medeles (Ajijic, Jal.) – The Director of Sistema Municipal de Agua Potable y Alcantarillado (SIMAPA) Ajijic, Timoteo Aldana, hasn’t received instructions for – and doubts that – SIMAPA fees collected will remain exclusively for SIMAPA projects, or even solely within Ajijic.
«We have not yet been given any indication. As commented, the collection so far has been slow. I think that probably what is collected will be used to improve SIMAPA’s service, and make pending payments. Even so, it is difficult to determine; the final decision will come from the president.»
During his campaign, Alejandro Aguirre Curiel promised to invest at least five million pesos annually, coming from SIMAPA’s budget. These funds would be used to repair sidewalks, streets, finish the sports center project, and in tourism and cultural projects (including a new route of murals, and other activities). Although this investment has not been managed by Ajijic, work has already begun on the sports center, as well as on the repair of streets. Additionally, an interstate gastronomic festival was created to boost tourism.
Translated by Amy Esperanto
J. Vicente Negrete School started its first back-to-school cycle with considerable absence of children and educational staff. Photo: Courtesy.
Héctor Ruiz Mejía: With approximately 30 percent non-attendance of students and educational personnel, basic education schools in the municipality of Jocotepec returned to classes.
After it was announced (despite the worrying increase in cases of coronavirus by the omicron variant) that this Monday, January 17, basic education schools in Jalisco would return to one hundred percent of their capacity.
According to educational personnel, classes started with an average of 30 percent of non-attendance by students and teachers in the different schools in the municipality of Jocotepec.
Educational authorities, who preferred to remain anonymous, say the main reason why most of the children have not returned to classes is because their parents are sick.
Although it was not specified if they were Covid-19 positive, as stated by the interviewee who is a teacher at Jocotepec School, this first cycle of return to classes, after almost two years of distance education, started with 25 percent of students’ non-attendance and one child confirmed positive for the coronavirus.
The interviewee said one student who was sent home that same day has been the only child (so far) who has tested positive for Covid-19, «the situation is worrying and even more so after all the festivities that have taken place.»
In addition, the teacher does not see the outlook for the next two weeks in a positive light, adding that «after the holidays the parents are the ones who are infecting the children,» she said.
On the other hand, the J. Vicente Negrete school began this first school year with a 30 percent absence of students, as well as 20 percent of the teaching staff being sick.
However, in order to protect the health of the entire educational community, without affecting the training and integral development of children and young people, the Jalisco State Government announced the implementation of the strategy «Covid-19 Random Test Application Model for Educational Personnel,» a measure to be carried out in schools that started on January 19.
This strategy consists of randomly applying tests to educational personnel in the 125 municipalities of the state, with the aim of detecting positive cases and isolating those affected in a timely manner, minimizing the risk of contagion and providing appropriate follow-up to each of them.
The Secretary of Health in the state, Dr. Fernando Petersen Aranguren, announced that, «in order to carry out these actions, the Secretary of Education of the Government of the State of Jalisco (SEJ) acquired 45 thousand tests that will be given y health personnel in the Health Regions of the state.
Translated by Sydney Metrick
Upon entering the facilities of the Municipal Presidency, the sanitation protocol is carried out.
Jazmín Stengel – Chapala City Hall has registered 46 new positive cases, which totals 52 infected workers since January 3 to date, so it has decided to reinforce the sanitation measures recommended by the Jalisco Health Board in order to reduce the number of infections , the t Chapala President Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel announced.
Of the recent positive cases, 16 were recorded in the Public Safety Department and all have mild or moderate symptoms, said Elizabeth Oropeza, director of Social Communication.
President Aguirre Curiel said that «the infected have not been enough to restrict working hours, so the City Hall continues working in a regular manner», Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., while the first level officials are at the service of the community 24 hours a day.
Likewise, the recommended health measures have already been intensified, both in the municipality and within the City Hall, including immediate isolation when the first symptoms are identified, keeping a healthy distance, and the use of masks and proper disinfection inside poorly ventilated places.
The government health agencies have also made available to the community the Covid-19 testing service (antigens and antibodies), at the Municipal Clinic with a cost per test of 200 pesos, confirmed Aguirre Curiel, while at the Health Center they are offered free of charge, said its director, José de Jesús González Rodríguez thanks to an agreement signed by the Government of Chapala with the private laboratory ‘El Lago’, which performs the tests for its workers and residents who request them. To make use of this service it is only required to go to the facilities during working hours with the patient’s official identification.
Another of the preventive measures taken is the placement of banners that reiterate to visitors and the general public the health measures in force. Two of them have already been hung, the first one at the 7-Eleven at the entrance to the center of the town and the other at one at the busiest entrances of Ajijic where most tourists usually arrive.
Tourist areas, restaurants , bars, cantinas and casinos in Chapala and Ajijic, will now be monitored by the corresponding agencies to ensure compliance with sanitation measures, as well as to confirm the negative certification of their ‘Polymerase Chain Reaction’ (PCR) tests.
The inspections are also «in charge of verifying the percentage of diners in each establishment, as well as the sanitation measures recommended by the Jalisco Health Agency», said president Alejandro Aguirre in an interview. Chapala has registered a total of 919 cases to date, according to Radar Jalisco Covid-19.
Aguirre Curiel also said that «we have tried to be very prudent in this situation (large events and celebrations)» «We are going to begin to control these types of events to avoid contagions.» However the ‘Coffee, Chocolate and Wine Festival’ held on the Ajijic boardwalk on January 8 and 9 seemed to contradict this position. It had close to 50 exhibitors and few requirements regarding the use of masks or temperature takers, as Laguna witnessed during the event.
However, the public celebrations of New Year’s Eve, in front of the presidency and the Malecon of Chapala, the novenario of San Sebastian in Ajijic and the festivities of the Lourdes neighborhood in the municipal capital, were cancelled, and the delegate elections I will be suspended until the incidence of coronavirus infections in the municipality decreases, said the president Alejandro Aguirre Curiel.
Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan
Santos Degollados High School, with its classrooms occupied by students.
Sofía Medeles (Ajijic, Jal.) – Although not all students returned to classes, and opinions about their presence are very divided, the principals of three schools shared that the students who returned expressed a great desire to be back in the classroom, given the loss in learning in class caused b y Covid.
In an interview for Laguna, Raúl Zamora Cárdenas, principal of Santos Degollado High School; Candelaria Castañeda, principal of Marcos Castellanos Elementary School; and Iván Ramos, principal of Francisco Márquez Elementary School, agreed there has been low turnout for the students but that they are enthusiastic to return to the classroom.
They commented that instructions for this return to classes were given by the Ministry of Public Education (SEP) and the Government of Jalisco, indicating that one hundred percent of the groups would be able to return with full health measures in place, although face to face attendance would not be mandatory.
«At the high school, there are two or three students missing per classroom, who have reported in as sick. Those who do not come to school in person participate through school WhatsApp groups. If someone decides not to come, they can use the RECREA platform to do their schoolwork,» asserted Director Raul, who added that it seems to him that the State Government does not take into account the needs of the schools, as there has been a lack of adequate financing to cover costs.
Principal Iván commented that, in the case of his school only 49 percent in attendance, approximately 101 students, while six percent of the absentees chose to take part in distance education.
«Those who do not attend have close family members who are ill, so, to reduce risks, they themselves decided not to come. They are given the option of distance education, with the understanding that they are the same activities that are done in the classrooms, with small modifications to make it easier for parents and students. We prefer this to RECREA, since all parents find the platform difficult to use,» said Ramos.
Meanwhile, at Marcos Castellanos Elementary School, teacher Mrs. Candelaria reported that of the 210 students in the institution, approximately 150 students are currently attending, and the number continues to rise.
«The first day we had very low attendance, approximately 77 students. On Tuesday attendance increased, reaching groups of up to 30, and the following days the number has continued to increase. The missing students report as sick, but we continue to work at school with the usual health measures.»
Regarding the loss of learning and achievement by the students, all those interviewed confirmed it had occurred. Although the teachers were sympathetic, they commented on the lack of material or resources of some students to follow online classes, the lack of support from the teachers that is given in face-to-face, little space and time for the parents to assist their children, among other reasons. However, based on the comments from their students, they affirmed that the children are happy to return to classes. «They are very eager to return. They are enthusiastic. At school they like to be in class and with their friends, but yes, they go home, and suddenly they are upset because of their parents’ comments that they are behind in their learning,» added Mrs. Cande.
Principal Raul commented that this form of schooling will prevail for the rest of the school year, and that at the end of the school year the school will be given new instructions for operating. The three teachers thanked the parents for their help in monitoring their children for possible contagion and informed them that they are still working, and as far as possible, they are trying to be risk-free.
Translated by Colleen Beery
Besides asking for consolation and strength for Chuyito’s family and friends, the priest exhorted them to repent of their sins and remain united
Jazmín Stengel: Almost one hundred people said their last goodbye to Chuyito (Jesús Ignacio Rojas Ríos), who died on January 13 as a result of a fire. On Friday, January 14, the funeral procession of the child took place along Francisco I. Madero Avenue and the malecon of the municipal capital of Chapala, where family, friends and neighbors of the community gathered.
Chuyito’s death was caused by a fire at 110 Pino Suarez Street during the early morning of January 10. The child had first, second and third degree burns over 80% of his body.
The coffin of the boy was placed in front of the Fuente de los Pescadores (Fisherman’s Fountain) on the Chapala boardwalk, to allow family and friends to bid farewell. Afterwards, the funeral procession sang the norteño as they carried the coffin with Chuyito’s remains along the malecon to the restaurant area known as La Rampa, where the boy used to play. The caravan then continued along Paseo Corona to the parish of St. Francis of Assisi, where the mass was held.
During his homily, the priest who conducted the funeral mass said: «The just and the innocent suffer because of other people’s machaca». Neighbors say the child suffered from neglect and mistreatment by his mother and her partner, whose whereabouts are unknown.
The priest added, «The worst thing is when a human being is carried away by vices, debauchery and corruption. As a result of these bad decisions innocent and just people are taken.» However, «Despite the evil and all that this causes we must never feel defeated,» exclaimed the priest in an attempt to encourage those present.
«The justice of men is not perfect; however, from the justice of God no one escapes,» the presbyter reminded the relatives and friends of the deceased. «For love and mercy to bear fruit there must first be justice, because without justice there is no mercy, and without mercy there is no forgiveness,» he emphasized during the homily.
«It was we who spoiled that perfect harmony that God had created because of the misuse of our freedom …. God did not make us free to choose between good and evil, but to always choose what is best for us and that is to always choose God and his Divine Will», he concluded.
Translated by Elisabeth Shields
The gate of the cemetery creek, which was replaced last Monday, January 17.
Sofía Medeles (Ajijic, Jal.) – The creekbed located inside the Ajijic cemetery will no longer be used as a garbage dump, as of last Monday, January 17. Personnel from the Delegation took charge of putting the gate back in place.
According to some testimonies, approximately five years ago the gate was knocked down by a private vehicle and had never been put back in place.
According to Maximiliano Macías Arceo, the Ajijic delegado, the creekbed has been cleaned three times since the administration began, a little over 100 days ago. The neighbors are so used to throwing garbage in that place that the day the gate was put back up (while the delegado and his assistants left to get a chain to secure the gate), garbage had been thrown in the creekbed during their brief absence.
Macías Arceo commented that the creek is used as a dumping ground for different types of waste, ranging from leaf litter and garden waste, to debris and other types of garbage, which causes many complaints because the creek was used as if it were a garbage dump.
«There were many reports of people littering. An elderly man thanked us for putting back the gate that was just lying there, and we told him that it was mostly because it is not possible for us to clean up so often,” stated the person in charge of the office.
As for the northern part of the cemetery, at the entrance on the Chapala-Jocotepec highway where the bridge is located, Macías Arceo was asked if the Delegation would take steps to prevent littering there as well. Macías Arceo said that he is aware that, in addition to littering, some people use the site as a restroom. The place gives off a strong odor, so he intends to contact the director of Public Works to find a solution, such as putting up some fences to block access to the part of the creek that crosses the cemetery of Ajijic.
Likewise, during the rainy season the gates will be opened to prevent the stream from damaging the gate again. «Although the lower part of the gate has bars to allow the water to pass through, we prefer to open the gates to prevent the gate from falling again,» said Macias Arceo.
He also clarified that in case it is necessary to bring things into the cemetery through the creek, permission can be given to the Delegation to open the gate. On the other hand, on occasions such as the Day of the Dead, the opening of this access will have a schedule.
Finally, he said that the gates will remain open from early in the morning, so that people can enter to maintain their tombs, in addition to asking for the support of those who attend to keep the space clean.
Translated by Colleen Beery
Portón del arroyo del panteón, el cual fue colocado el pasado lunes 17 de enero.
Sofía Medeles (Ajijic, Jal.)- El cauce del arroyo que se encuentra ubicado dentro del cementerio de Ajijic dejará de ser utilizado como vertedero de basura, ya que el pasado lunes 17 de enero, personal de la delegación se encargó de colocar el portón de nuevo.
Y es que, según algunos testimonios, hace cinco años aproximadamente fue derribado por un vehículo particular.
A decir del Encargado de Despacho de la delegación de Ajijic, Maximiliano Macías Arceo, ya van tres veces que se limpia desde que inició la administración, hace poco más de 100 días de esto.
Y es tanta la costumbre de los vecinos de tirar en ese lugar la basura, que el día que se colocó el portón, mientras el Encargado de Despacho y sus ayudantes iban por la cadena para asegurarlo, cuando regresaron ya habían tirado basura nuevamente.
Macías Arceo comentó que, el arroyo se utiliza como vertedero de distintos tipos de desechos que van desde la hojarasca, desecho de jardín, hasta escombros y otros tipos de basura, lo que provoca que existan muchas quejas porque el arroyo se utiliza como si fuera basurero.
“Había muchos reportes de gente tirando basura. Un señor mayor nos felicitó por volver a poner el portón que sólo estaba ahí tirado, y le comentamos que más que nada fue porque no nos es posible limpiar tan seguido”, declaró el Encargado de Despacho.
En cuanto a la parte norte del panteón, en la entrada por la carretera Chapala-Jocotepec donde se encuentra el puente, se le cuestionó si tendrían precauciones para evitar la tira de basura, a lo que Macías Arceo añadió que está al tanto de que hay gente que además de arrojar basura usa el sitio como baño, e incluso el lugar desprende un olor fuerte por el mismo motivo, por lo que piensa contactar al director de Obras Públicas para buscar una solución, por ejemplo, poner unas rejas para bloquear el acceso a la parte del arroyo que atraviesa el cementerio de Ajijic.
Al igual, durante la temporada de lluvias se abrirán las puertas para evitar que el cauce pueda dañar el portón de nuevo. “Aunque en la parte baja tenga rejas para darle paso al agua, preferimos abrir las puertas para evitar que se venza y se vuelva a caer el portón”, señaló Macías Arceo.
También, el entrevistado aclaró que en caso de ser necesario meter cosas al panteón por el arroyo, se puede perder permiso a la delegación, para que acudan a abrir el portón. Por otro lado, en ocasiones como Día de Muertos, la apertura de este acceso tendrá horario.
Finalmente, dijo que las puertas se mantendrán abiertas desde temprano, para que la gente pueda entrar a dar mantenimiento a sus tumbas, además de pedir el apoyo de quienes asistan para mantener limpio el espacio.
Los nuevos módulos hechos por el Ayuntamiento para los vendedores ambulantes, ya se encuentran apostados sobre lo que sería el balcón del Mercado. Foto: Héctor Ruiz.
Héctor Ruiz Mejía.- Serán alrededor de 72 locales establecidos en la segunda planta del Mercado Morelos, ubicado en el municipio de Jocotepec, aseguraron los locatarios del establecimiento.
Y es que, tras la construcción de 18 nuevos espacios pensados para introducir al mercado a los vendedores ambulantes distribuidos alrededor de las calles Morelos y Josefa Ortíz de Domínguez, se construyeron diez nuevos módulos más, al no contar con los espacios suficientes.
Estos módulos de madera, que ya se encuentran dentro del establecimiento, fueron instalados a lo largo de lo que se pretendía fuera el balcón de la segunda planta, para que “tuviera un espacio abierto y tuviera una bonita vista”, explicaron los locatarios.
Adecuación que, aseguraron los propios locatarios, “no era como se había estipulado en los proyectos preliminares de la rehabilitación al mercado”.
Así, los 18 lugares ya construidos, los diez nuevos módulos, aunado a los 40 locales ya existentes (aproximadamente), conformarán solamente la segunda planta, por lo que, aún no han sido reubicados los vendedores y ya comenzaron las fricciones por los espacios.
Esto representa, tomando en cuenta que el promedio de personas que maneja cada local es de tres integrantes, habrá un aproximado de 216 personas (únicamente comerciantes) sin contar a los clientes.
Por lo que, además de la interrogante de cómo se distribuirán el espacio adecuado para cohabitar en armonía, algunos locatarios, así como a los vendedores, se mostraron también preocupados por la sana distancia, la cual, a sus ojos será nula.
“Ya me están queriendo recorrer mis mesas y no, yo no me voy a dejar, es mi espacio y lo tienen que respetar, no sé cómo vamos a caber todos”, aseguró uno de los entrevistados quien no ve con buenos ojos la medida.
Entre los vendedores ambulantes, persiste la incertidumbre también, pues “aunque los módulos si están bien hechos”, explicaron, son muy pequeños en relación con el espacio que ocupa su mercancía; ya que, cada módulo mide de ancho, aproximadamente poco más de metro y medio.
Además, el espacio entre cada módulo es alrededor de ocho centímetros, por lo que “como sardinas”, tanto los antiguos locatarios, como los vendedores ambulantes que serán distribuidos, intentan visualizar un escenario positivo para coexistir y “darle vida” a tan esperado proyecto del alcalde municipal.
“Pues veremos qué tal nos va. La verdad nos preocupa mucho cómo vayamos a sacar para el gasto, esperamos que sí suba la gente”, exclamaron algunos de los vendedores preocupados por la inminente reubicación.
© 2016. Todos los derechos reservados. Semanario de la Ribera de Chapala