Ajijic

Moment of the arrest of Leo «N» in Ajijic. Photo: Facebook.

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).- An alleged stalker who was detained by police after he was chased and beaten by angry residents was released from custody after authorities said they had received no official complaints.

The individual, identified as Leo »N», had been accused of taking photographs and posting them without peoples’ consent. He was freed after serving 36 hours for an “administrative offense.”

The alleged stalker was arrested on Tuesday, May 31, outside the Italo hotel where he was staying in the center of Ajijic.  According to Ramón Gabriel Cerna Sánchez, deputy director of Public Security of Chapala, there had  been earlier complaints on social networks about a man with similar characteristics to the individual under arrest.

Ajijic Acting Delegate Maximiano Macías Arceo, said that while he had no precise information about the young man, his behavior appeared to suggest he suffered from mental problems.

The alleged stalker posted images he had obtained without consent. Photo: Facebook.

Several people said they had contacted Macías Arceo to file a complaint against the young man with the Public Ministry. But no complaint reached the ministry, authorities said.

A source at the Italo hotel said the man had stayed there for about  two months. While he was never aggressive or harassing, he was “rather distant.”

One of those whose photos were published said: “It alarms you, because they are exposing your image and what places you travel – along with a serious accusation.

“But from what (was) published, it is evident that he is not very well in the head. His family is the one that should be looking out for him, given his condition.”

Marcela Montaño, a psychologist, said that while she could not give a specific diagnosis, her advice for dealing with a mentally unstable person would be to avoid them to avert a dangerous situation..

Translated by Alan Ferguson

Refugio canino, ubicado al poniente de Ajijic, al pie del Cerro Colorado. Foto: Sofía Medeles.

Sofía Medeles.- Voluntarios y trabajadores de SOS Chapala Dog Rescue aseguraron que, se encargaran de que ninguno de los perros que se encuentra actualmente en el refugio ubicado en Ajijic llegue al nuevo refugio que está acondicionando el actual Gobierno de Chapala, ubicado en Hacienda de La Labor.

Los entrevistados compartieron a Semanario Laguna que, debido a la gran inversión en salud y mantenimiento que han tenido en cada perro que se encuentra en el refugio, así como al desconocimiento que tienen por el compromiso de cuidado en el nuevo espacio, no permitirán que ninguno de los 85 perros sea transferido. Hasta el momento, no les han dado una fecha límite para abandonar el lugar.

Actualmente hay 85 perros, los cuales cuestan mensualmente entre 90 a 100 mil pesos. Foto: Sofía Medeles.

“Ninguno de los perros va a caer allá, esto más que nada por todo lo que se le lleva invertido a cada uno, además de que no se tiene la certeza de que se va a seguir cuidando del mismo modo. Buscamos que se vayan a un lugar mejor, no a un matadero. Por otro lado, no se sabe nada de la metodología que se pretende usar, si el lugar es apto, si hay gente capacitada, si la alimentación es correcta, etcétera”. 

También señalaron la falta de compromiso por parte de los ayuntamientos para seguir con proyectos que están dando resultados positivos, como lo es el refugio, y añadieron que en ningún momento, ni personal del gobierno, ni del Departamento de Ecología, se acercó para notificarles, por lo que se enteraron por medio de redes sociales.

Según los voluntarios la inversión mensual va de los 90 a 100 mil pesos, entre gastos médicos que incluyen esterilizaciones, desparasitaciones, vacunación, y en algunos casos medicamentos y quimioterapias, además de la alimentación, los pagos de salarios de los empleados y la sanitización que se realiza. Esta suma, es aportada por voluntarios y asociaciones que no solo aportan monetariamente, sino en especie y gestionando para que haya cero por ciento de sacrificios.

Asimismo, señalaron que el modo en el que se ha llevado el albergue siempre ha sido siguiendo las normas internacionales para este tipo de sitios, como las medidas de las jaulas, el material de estas, el declive en techos y pisos, patio de recreo, jaulas de aislamiento, y paseos diarios. Dudan que este nuevo refugio pueda cumplir con estas características.

Por su parte, el presidente municipal de Chapala, Alejandro Aguirre Curiel, aseveró que aunque no tiene un aproximado del presupuesto para el nuevo refugio, no es mucha la inversión, y que espera que se abra a la brevedad posible. 

Por otro lado, mencionó que un grupo de extranjeros tiene el interés de apoyar, pero que, al ser un refugio municipal, también ellos estarán al pendiente y buscando patrocinadores para tener el espacio en buenas condiciones. Mencionó además que se firmó un convenio con los responsables del refugio, donde se estipulaba que tenían al menos 30 días para desalojar, fecha que hoy, se encuentra expirada.

Este nuevo albergue se encuentra en Hacienda de La Labor, y a finales de mayo, se aseguró que tenía una extensión de una hectárea, así como se anunció que en pocos días tendrán listas las 50 jaulas. El costo por el arrendamiento del espacio es de 15 mil pesos mensuales, que serán cubiertos por el grupo de vecinos que estaban en contra de la locación en Ajijic, durante dos años.

Finalmente, los voluntarios entrevistados añadieron que la gente interesada puede ayudar a los perros donando, adoptando o siendo casa puente, e incluso, si existiese la posibilidad, prestando un espacio en comodato para que se establezca un nuevo refugio, en la delegación de Ajijic, donde se encuentran la mayoría de los patrocinadores y voluntarios. Para más información, comunicarse a la página de Facebook SOS Dog Chapala Rescue.

Además, pidieron conciencia en la tenencia de mascotas, “no vamos a terminar de enviar perros y perros a Estados Unidos, si la gente es más rápida en abandonarlos. Se necesita llegar a la conciencia de las personas, todos somos casa permanente, casa puente y refugio, no necesitamos de gobiernos para cuidarlos”, concluyó. 

Efrén González with his wife and children, during the ribbon cutting of the Ajijic Art Museum. Photo: Sofía Medeles.

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).-  The new Ajijic Museum of Art opened this week with three days of art presentations and the unveiling of three new murals in the neighborhood surrounding the building in the west side of Ajijic.

The new museum, located on private Flores Magón 3, opened its doors on June 1st, 2nd and 3rd. The museum contains works by internationally renowned painters such as Georg Rauch, Carlos Terrés, Miguel Miramontes, Sylvia Fein, and other artists who found inspiration in the Magic Town. The oldest work of art is one from 1924, according to the museum’s curator, Antonio Velazco. 

The murals located on Flores Magón Street range from a landscape of Parroquia Street in the center of the town, another illustrates the view of the lake next to  anchored fishing boats. The third, located at the intersection of Flores Magón and Ocampo, is a Virgin of Guadalupe. In front of the latter, a second Wall of the Dead is in process, similar to the one located on Marcos Castellanos Street.

Unveiling of the mural at the intersection of Flores Magón and Ocampo. Photo: Sofia Medeles.

On the last day of the opening celebration, June 3, there was a parade with a band from the main square to the new museum, also inaugurated on the 50th anniversary of the life of its founder, Efrén González. 

The museum will be open from 10 A.M. to 5 P.M. and the entrance fee will be 40 pesos. Although, of course,” we will try to facilitate access to people from the neighborhood and locals,» said historian Antonio Velazco, a member of the  presidium that founded the museum.

The presidium was formed by Efrén González, painter Javier Zaragoza, journalist Dale Hoyt Palfrey, the head of the González Gallo Cultural Center (CCGG), Gabriela Serrano, Ajijic Acting Director Maximiano Macías, Oscar Santoscoy, and historian Antonio Velazco.

The second stage of the museum will be inaugurated at the end of the year. 

Translated  by Patrick O’Heffernan

Jesús María Higuera Hernández, born on March 1, 1951, passed away at the age of 71 on May 22, 2022. Photo: Facebook.

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).- Beloved Ajijic personality Jesús María Higuera Hernández, known as Katuza, was recognized worldwide, not only for his artistic skill, but for being a spiritual master and revolutionary man every day of his life.

Born on March 1, 1951, he grew up in Ajijic in a family originally from the town.  Later he would travel to Canada to start a restaurant. After a few years abroad, he decided to return to his hometown after succumbing to excessive drinking.

Katuza, pictured performing a ritual in Porter’s music video «Palapa». Photo: YouTube.

Upon his return, according to one of his closest friends, Daniel Palma, he continued excessive drinking, until he had a scare that made him forswear alcohol. After this, he became interested in the Huichol culture and their pilgrimage of «La Cruz».  Joining them he learned about dance, healing, spiritual rituals and temazcal (sweat lodge), and received the title of marakame (one who merges art and culture) by the Wixárika community.

One of the skills for which he was most recognized was the temazcal, an ancestral healing ritual connected to the sweat lodge. One of his students, Luis Ríos, shared that with his apprentices, Katuza was always very firm, with a strong and sincere character, which surprised many, and alienated many others.

«He handled the traditional Mexican temazcal with burnt brick, mud and his own hands. He fought so much that he lost the sense of the temazcal. It moves with love and with love people are healed. The temazcal goes deeper, cleanses your being, your soul, and returns the essence of why we are alive, that’s how he taught me,» Luis said.

Katuza during a cleansing he performed at the Municipal Government Palace, in 2016. Photo: Facebook.

He performed dozens of temazcals not only in Chapala, but also throughout México and even Europe. National and international people became interested in him because of his rituals. Several of his acquaintances said that he was always traveling to continue learning and cultivating his skills, which is why he was portrayed in articles in media around the world, such as the New York Times.

«Once, some friends of mine were looking for this kind of healing. I took them to Katuza because he did what they were looking for. After they left, they told me that, in healing them, he was very specific with each one, ridding them of what ailed them, without having to mention it to them. They were very surprised, that’s why they recognized him as the medicine man,» Daniel Palma shared.

One of his wood and leather drum courses in the main square of Ajijic. Photo: Facebook.

As for his artistic side, his friend and colleague Daniel said that he handled wood and stone in a very rustic way, and his main creations portrayed lizards and iguanas.

Jesús María passed away last Sunday, May 22, at the age of 71. Many of his friends and acquaintances bid him farewell with a mass and small rituals.

He was a man who is a legend of the people Ajijic who is described with multiple titles: shaman, teacher, friend, artist, tyrant, and who inspired dozens of writings, songs, and videos that captured his eccentric life. One of those is a fragment of the song “Pájaro Rojo”, by Erick de Jesús Ocelotl:

Bajando luces de otros tiempos

Between the moon and the cold 

Goes a marakame marking dreams

And the whispers of a child 

[…]

Because you 

You paint wings to my senses

And I 

Smiling at your madness I tell you

[…]

Katuza is on an uncertain journey 

Red bird red bird friend 

Don’t forget what I say 

Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan

Municipal President and SIMAPA officials during the announcement that the well would be connected to the potable water network. Photo: Government of Chapala.

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).- The well on the outskirts of Ajijic was put into operation at the end of last week, after approximately a year and a half of drilling, and will supply the areas from La Cristina to Alceseca, to the west of the town.

The person in charge of the Municipal System of Potable Water and Sewage (SIMAPA) Ajijic, Timoteo Aldana Pérez, said  that although it does not have the expected capacity, the water is suitable for consumption and sufficient to cover the needs of the area.

The wells shortly after being drilled in 2020. The well is located in the area of La Mojonera and will supply water from La Cristina to Alceseca. Photo: Sofía Medeles.

«The well produces less water than we expected. Normally the capacity of the other wells ranges from 33 to 16 liters per second, but this one gives between eight and ten. It is not what we expected, but it is enough water for the area. We hope that with the rainy season it can improve,» said Aldana Pérez.

He also said that the low capacity of the well could be due to the fact that the bentonite -material used to avoid or reduce landslides in the wells- that was used during its drilling has not yet been completely cleaned. «It’s a matter of waiting to get it all out,» he mentioned.

He added that this well is the deepest of all the wells in Ajijic and the drilling expenses were assumed by the past administration. This administration was in charge of the electrification and the placement of the pumping system, and although he does not know the total cost of the well, he commented that he estimates it could be approximately three million pesos.

Neighbors of the zone said that the operation of the new well is already noticeable. 

«Yes, there has been water for more days, although not all day. Before there was water two or three days a week, and now up to six days,» commented José Rosario, who lives in the Alceseca area.

On the other hand, one of the interviewees, an inhabitant of La Cristina, to the west of Ajijic, commented that she has noticed the change, however, the water has been more cloudy with a whitish color.

The well is located in «Rancho San Vicente», on the municipality’s borders. This was announced by the last administration (2018-2021), where the then municipal president Moisés Alejandro Anaya Aguilar stated in November 2020 that the well was already drilled, however, it was not  actually completed  in his administration.

Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan

The Pedro Rey Mariachi School is located in Ajijic, at Constitución #147 in «la casa de adobe». Photo: Facebook.

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).- The first Mariachi School in Lakeside opened this week in Ajijic. Named after the musician Pedro Rey, the school will offer different disciplines in the most Mexican musical genre, the mariachi. 

The presentation took place in the facilities of what will be the new school in the well-known adobe house, located at Constitución #147. Classes will begin on June 6th. 

VIP table at the opening: (L to R) Jorge Cerna, Miguel Barrón, Ramón García, Daniel Medeles, Pedro Rey, René Mejía Jacobo, Carlos Mata and Jorge Corredor Zaraza. Photo: Sofía Medeles.

Present at the event were the founder of Mariachi Los Galleros, Pedro Rey, after whom the new school is named; musician and teacher Jorge Cerna; arranger and music producer Miguel Barrón; musical director of mariachi Los Toritos, Ramón García; and the director of the Pedro Rey Mariachi School, Daniel Arturo Medeles Córdova. 

Mariachis attending the event with Pedro Rey. Photo: Sofía Medeles.

Medeles Córdova, director and founder of the school said that they will begin offering regular classes for the young people who join; approximately 35 people are already enrolled. 

The school will offer classes to young people between 7 and 17 years of age; among others, the students will learn to play the trumpet, guitar, guitarrón, violin, vihuela, in addition to singing classes to tune the voice of those interested. 

Information on the classes, convocations, schedules and information regarding the school, can be found on the Facebook page: «Escuela de Mariachi Pedro Rey» . 

«I feel fulfilled and totally convinced to return to Ajijic. I am from here, my family is from here and here I grew up and became what I am. I feel fulfilled, motivated, and eager to give something back to the town for all that it has given me,» said Daniel.

Also on the podium at the opening were musician and composer René Mejía Jacobo; harpist and teacher, Carlos Mata; musician and business administrator, Jorge Corredor Zaraza; the municipal president of Chapala, Alejandro Aguirre Curiel and his wife Erika Eryn Torres Herrera, president of DIF. 

Translated  by Patrick O’Heffernan

El equipo de porristas del Instituto Terranova dio una animada bienvenida a las escuelas participantes a los Terra Games durante el 25 y 26 de mayo.

Redacción. – Con la participación de diez instituciones escolares y la presentación de los cantantes tapatíos Zornoza y Marco León, el Instituto Terranova de Ajijic celebró los Terra Games en su edición 2022.

La directora académica de la escuela anfitriona, Diana González Hermosillo Garibay, informó que fueron alrededor de 700 alumnos de primaria mayor, hasta bachillerato de distintas instituciones educativas, de los municipios de Chapala y Guadalajara quienes participaron en diferentes justas deportivas como fútbol, básquet, voleibol, tenis y más. 

Durante su discurso de bienvenida, el director general del Instituto, José Andrés Blum, destacó los valores como la armonía, la participación, el sentido de superación, la tenacidad, entre otros; valores que se encuentran en las artes y el deporte, que deben ser parte de la vida de los alumnos y del ser humano.

Previo al corte de listón inaugural, los cantantes tapatíos Zornoza y Marco León quien participa como actor en la serie Guerra de Vecinos interpretaron dos temas musicales, destacando el tema de amor “Bonito”.

Lupita Hernández Romero y Moisés Real, creadores del “Son del Telar”. Foto: La Tradición de Ajijic.

Sofía Medeles– Con gran aceptación y entusiasmo se ha estrenado el “Son del Telar”, el primero dedicado al Pueblo Mágico de Ajijic. 

La pieza musical que fue creada por María Guadalupe “Lupita” Hernández Romero y el músico Moisés Real Gómez, fue presentada el 29 de mayo con danza y música folclórica, en la plaza principal. 

En el acontecimiento donde llegaron más de 150 personas se habló acerca del son y el baile folclórico, además de la confección de la indumentaria que se usará para bailar la pieza musical que tiene una duración de alrededor de tres minutos y treinta segundos. 

La presentación fue enmarcada por un telar. Foto: La Tradición de Ajijic.

La canción se presentó al ritmo del telar, acompañada del Mariachi Nuevo Chapala, y la colaboración del Ballet Folklórico Maya y el Ballet Folklórico Huitzillin.

“Desde el inicio estuvo muy entretenido, y al momento de presentar el son, a muchos nos hizo llorar. Las personas quedaron muy sorprendidas con el resultado”, aseguró un asistente al acontecimiento.

La canción “El Son del Telar Ajijic” se puede encontrar en YouTube y Facebook; en el video se puede apreciar los populares personajes de las sayacas y lugares como la plaza y el malecón del Pueblo Mágico.  La interpretación está a cargo del Mariachi Nuevo Chapala. 

“No hay pueblito más bonito que mi Ajijic tan lindo, lleno de muchachas guapas y mucha sayacas”, se oye en el son escrito en honor a dicho poblado.  

Delegation staff collecting abandoned street vending clothing. Photo: Delegation Ajijic 2021-2024.

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).- Due to the growing problem of accumulation of large items such as furniture, tires and debris in the streets of Ajijic, town staff have opted to help low-income people remove this waste.

The Ajijic acting delegate, Maximiano Macias Arceo, commented that they have already identified several areas of Ajijic, among them the streets Emiliano Zapata, Francisco Villa, or the northern part of Juárez, where oversized garbage is constantly discarded that the collection trucks do not take away.

«Armchairs, mattresses, other furniture, tires and debris, are taken out in the street, and they stay there several days. Sometimes the people who throw them away do so because they do not have the money to pay for a service to take the furniture, debris or tires, the latter are taken to specific and authorized places», commented Macías Arceo.

Because of this, he offers the support to remove them, as long as whoever requests it does not have the resources to hire a service of this type. Help can be requested at the phone number: 331-537-9134.

He added that they do not charge a fee, they only ask in exchange that, if possible, the debris be delivered in bags, and the area of the debris be clear so that it can be easily loaded onto the truck. In addition, a support «for the refreshment» of the workers because at times the workers do this work outside their normal working hours.

Translated by Christalle Dalsted

Presidente municipal y funcionarios de SIMAPA durante el anuncio de que el pozo sería conectado a la red de agua potable. Foto: Gobierno de Chapala.

Sofía Medeles.– El pozo a las afueras de Ajijic se echó a andar tras aproximadamente año y medio de su perforación, a finales de la semana pasada, y surtirá las zonas desde La Cristina hasta la Alceseca, al poniente de la población.

El encargado del Sistema Municipal de Agua Potable y Alcantarillado (SIMAPA) Ajijic, Timoteo Aldana Pérez, comentó que pese a que no cuenta con el aforo esperado, el agua es apta para el consumo y suficiente para cubrir las necesidades de la zona.

“Es un pozo con poca agua. Normalmente el aforo de los demás pozos va de 33 a 16 litros por segundo respectivamente, y este da entre ocho y diez. No es lo esperado, pero es suficiente agua para la zona. Esperemos que con el temporal de lluvias pueda mejorar”, aseveró Aldana Pérez.

Asimismo, comentó que el bajo aforo que tiene el pozo podría deberse a que aún no se limpia por completo la bentonita -material usado para evitar o reducir derrumbes en los pozos- que se usó durante su perforación. “Es cuestión de esperar a que lo saque todo”, mencionó.

Sobre el pozo, añadió que es el más profundo de todos y los gastos de la perforación se asumieron en la administración pasada. Esta administración se encargó de la electrificación y la colocación del sistema de sustracción, que pese a no saber cuál es el costo total del pozo, comentó que estima podría ser un aproximado de tres millones de pesos.

Vecinos de la zona aseguraron que ya se nota el funcionamiento del nuevo pozo. “Sí ha habido agua por más días, aunque no todo el día. Antes había agua como dos o tres días a la semana, y ahora hasta seis días”, comentó José Rosario, quien vive en la zona de Alceseca.

Por otro lado, una de las entrevistadas habitante de La Cristina, al poniente de Ajijic, comentó que sí ha notado el cambio, no obstante, el agua se ha percibido más turbia, teniendo un color blanquecino.

El pozo se encuentra ubicado en el “Rancho San Vicente”, en los límites del municipio. Este fue anunciado por la administración pasada (2018-2021), donde el entonces presidente municipal Moisés Alejandro Anaya Aguilar comunicó en noviembre del 2020 que el pozo ya estaba perforado, no obstante, no se concluyó en su administración.