Ajijic

Fueron aproximadamente 25 personas las que apoyaron en la remoción de las mallas ciclónicas. Foto: Sofía Medeles.

Sofía Medeles.- Después de poco más de seis meses de inactividad, el grupo Pueblos Unidos de la Ribera retomó su causa retirando mallas, en esta ocasión al oriente de la delegación de Ajijic. 

La concentración se realizó el pasado 28 de marzo con la participación de alrededor de 25 personas para retirar dos cercas que obstruían el paso por el margen del Lago de Chapala. 

Esto es lo que queremos evitar en nuestras playas”, agregó una activista tras cruzar agarrada de una malla que obstruía el paso por el territorio federal. Foto: Sofía Medeles. 

La primera estaba situada en dirección de la calle Donato Guerra y, aunque se mantuvo un diálogo por medio de llamada telefónica con la presunta responsable, quien aseguró tener concesión de la Comisión Nacional del Agua (CONAGUA) y mantener ese cercado por seguridad de su hogar, no se llegó a un acuerdo con ella.

En un inicio, la mujer se mostró de acuerdo en mostrar sus documentos que avalan el aprovechamiento del terreno federal, para minutos más tarde, decirles que no debía mostrar nada a nadie que no fuese una autoridad, por lo que el grupo procedió a remover la malla ciclónica.

Durante el primer derribo, acudieron elementos de la policía de Chapala, quienes informaron que se levantaría un reporte de los hechos, no obstante, varios activistas señalaron que se les pidió que se identificaran, además de fotografiarles los rostros. Asimismo, denunciaron sentirse intimidados por los oficiales debido a que portaban armas; sin embargo, éstas no fueron desenfundadas en ningún momento. 

Posteriormente, los inconformes se movieron más al oriente de la población, a la altura de la calle Revolución, donde una finca que se encuentra en obras de construcción había cercado casi hasta la orilla del lago. La malla fue removida rápidamente, sin embargo, al día siguiente la volvieron a colocar.

La policía se hizo presente en un momento de la reunión; los asistentes dijeron sentirse agredidos por el actuar de los elementos. Foto: Sofía Medeles.

Al terminar de retirar las invasiones federales, los congregados hablaron de otros puntos de Ajijic que registran la misma situación, acordando monitorear y recuperar los lugares que ya habían sido liberados al poniente de la delegación, así como ayudar a las personas de otras poblaciones para replicar el movimiento “anti-rejas”. 

“Se extrañan los tiempos donde se podía caminar desde Chapala hasta Jocotepec por la orilla del lago. Esos tiempos volverán, si todos nos unimos por esta causa, para que nuestra descendencia disfrute de las playas libres, que son derecho de todos”, afirmó un miembro de Pueblos Unidos de la Ribera.

El pasado primero de abril los activistas se volvieron a reunir para apoyar a los habitantes de la delegación de San Antonio Tlayacapan, para después continuar en el Pueblo Mágico.

Pueblos Unidos de la Ribera es un movimiento que se conformó en los primeros días de agosto del 2021, tras tres reuniones en las que se derribaron todo tipo de cercados en las playas del oriente, entre la zona de Tío Domingo y Villa Lucerna, decidieron manifestarse en las oficinas de la CONAGUA en Guadalajara.

Aunque la dependencia “dio su brazo a torcer” y les prometió estar más al pendiente de las invasiones al desplegar más inspectores, además de que se les indicó que no estaban incurriendo en un delito al quitar las obstrucciones, a la fecha, la CONAGUA ha hecho caso omiso de los acuerdos.

Ajijic’s virtual library, located in the delegation’s Parque de la Amistad. Photo: Sofía Medeles.

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).- Despite being in operation, Ajijic’s virtual library, located in the Parque de la Amistad on the boardwalk, is underutilized, which is why Ajijic’s delegate, Maximiano Macías Arceo, will seek to improve its facilities to increase the number of users. 

Macías Arceo commented that both the building and the computer equipment, despite having been in service since 2015, are in good condition and work well. The printer does not work, and this has been reported to the systems department of the municipality for review. 

«We will try to give it a higher priority, since it is used by young people who attend to do their homework. There are very few cyber cafes in town, and this space makes it easier for them to do their activities, in addition to the fact that it is free,» he added.

The virtual library is open from 9am to 3pm, and on some occasions, it is open later in the afternoon. The computers have internet to conduct research on the web and submit work to student platforms.

The five delegations and the municipal seat of Chapala each have libraries, of which four were inaugurated in 2015, in the administration of then president Joaquín Huerta Barrios. 

The investment was over 23 million pesos (about US$115,000) and the National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT) awarded the federal project to three municipalities in Jalisco: Tlajomulco de Zúñiga, Zapopan and Chapala.

Each module has 21 desktop computers with a 23.6-inch touch screen, Windows 8 operating system and Internet service.

Translated by Sandy Britton

Grupo Pasión de Cristo performing work for the verbena and the play’s performance. Photo: Sofía Medeles.

Sofia Medeles (Ajijic).- Organizers of the group Pasión de Cristo say they are relatively on schedule with preparations for the Verbena Jamaica del Pasado and the play, but they need young people to play the role of soldiers. 

Although dress rehearsals have not yet begun, they are calling on men to be in the performance. To participate, just sign up at Carretera Oriente #27, Monday through Friday, starting at 7:30pm.

Translated by Mike Rogers

View of the lake from the Ajijic beach, in front of the boardwalk. Photo: D. Arturo Ortega.

According to the National Water Commission (CONAGUA), the dams in Jalisco are at better levels than last year. The Calderón Dam is at 70 percent of its capacity and Lake Chapala is at 67 percent.

During the 2021 storm, the lake gained 1.90 meters, while the dams captured more than 80 percent of their total volume. However, the levels of the state’s bodies of water began to decline on December 18.

An acute drought in Jalisco for the coming months has been predicted, based on studies by researchers from the Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Occidente (ITESO), the Atlas de Vulnerabilidad Hídrica en México ante el Cambio Climático, CONAGUA, and the Monitor de Sequía Nacional.

Lake Chapala is at 67 percent of its capacity according to CONAGUA. Image of the shore of the beach in Ajijic. Photo: D. Arturo Ortega. 

These studies determined that, as of March 3, 2021, areas considered abnormally dry increased from 24 percent to 46.6 percent in the current year; and at least 91 municipalities in Jalisco began the dry season in  a moderate drought.

However, compared to last year, the dam basins’ recovery has improved. The Calderón dam, currently at 70 percent capacity, was at 16 percent compared to last year. The Vaqueros dam in the north of the state went from 26 to 77 percent of its capacity.

This led Jalisco Governor Enrique Alfaro Ramírez to share a positive message on social networks as part of World Water Day commemoration on March 22. «Despite the difficulties we have gone through, our dams and Lake Chapala are at much better levels now than last year. But we cannot slack off; if we want water for the future, we must raise awareness and how to use it wisely as a way of life.» 

Translated by MaryAnne Marble

Volunteers sorting recyclable material at the Ajijic Recycling Center in West Ajijic.

Patrick O’Heffernan (Ajijic).- After years of neglect by the former administration, recycling in Ajijic is back on track, thanks to former  and now current Committee Chairwoman Esther Prada and cooperation from the new Chapala Director of Ecology, Lic. María Guadalupe Vázquez Solano.  The citizens committee that handles recycling for Ajijic has been appointed, with all by one position, secretary, filled.  The committee manages the recycling center on the Carretera in West Ajijic, and handles some pickup of recyclable materials from the blue barrels.  

The center’s work has been slowed for some time due to the lack of a compactor to compress processed materials before they are trucked to Guadalajara for sale.  Reciclaje Ajijic operates out of a former military training center now owned by the government. Materials are delivered to the center, sorted, cleaned and packed for transport. While the committee owns a compactor, bought with donated funds, the previous administration was not helpful in  connecting electricity to the center to operate it. Appointing a new committee was the first step toward CFE assigning an address and connecting power to the compactor.

Prada was able to negotiate the committee’s  formation as part of her drive to obtain commitments from the municipality that they will continue support for the center and guarantees that equipment installed at the center will remain with Reciclaje Ajijic if a new administration is elected.  In a meeting  with Ecology Director Vázquez Solano., Laguna found her to be enthusiastic about the program  and to systematically seeing the process through with Reciclaje Ajijic and possibly expand recycling to other delegations

Reciclaje Ajijic is asking for volunteers to assist them in processing the backlog of materials at the center.  Those interested can contact Reciclaje Ajijic volunteer coordinator Colleen Kissinger at reciclajeajijic@gmail.com.

At least 58 students from public and private elementary schools took the test. Photo courtesy. 

Editor.- The Terranova Institute recently hosted the 2022 math skills test of the Jalisco State Mathematics League (LIMATEJ) tournament for elementary school children from school zone 96.

Fifty-eight students from public and private schools took the two-hour test on Wednesday, March 23. One student, Ángela López de la Cerda, solved the test in only 20 minutes. She will represent Terranova in the regional finals.  

The tournament, promoted by the Ministry of Education of Jalisco, was held in Terranova Institute’s facilities.

Translated by Mike Rogers

The incident remained just a scare.  

A tragedy was avoided by Civil Protection and Firefighters after the report of two minors who had entered Lake Chapala in the area of Ajijic, during the afternoon of March 22.  The minors were trapped in nets used by fishermen and could not get out of the Lake. Emergency personnel were able to free them, but emergency services were called and arrived with ambulances and firefighters.  

The pickup truck hit the vehicle from behind

According to the driver of the red car, he was driving along the highway when he was suddenly hit from behind by the pickup truck, apparently due to an oversight of the other driver who failed to brake. His car suffered damages to the hood and spilled antifreeze, while the pickup truck suffered minor damages.

The mishap caused a traffic jam for motorists who were driving from Jocotepec to Chapala.

Translated by Sandy Britton

In Castillo de La Floresta, jacarandas abound. Photo: Sofía Medeles. 

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).- Ajijic has earned the designation of Magic Town, not only for its traditions, but also for the beauty of its streets and the diversity of nature. Proof of this are its spring landscapes with the large number of colorful flowering trees. 

Purple rose or guayacan tree on Rio Yaqui street, at the intersection with Rio Bravo. Photo: Sofía Medeles.

La Floresta, in the east of the delegation, is one of the areas bursting with flowering trees.. It is enough to walk a few steps inside the subdivision to find several jacarandas – Jacaranda mimosifolia – that turn the planters purple. The so-called «Castle of La Floresta»  has one of the  highest concentration of these trees  in Ajiic. 

In the streets of the central part of Ajijic, what is most abundant are the spring trees – Tabebuia donnel-smithii – in yellow color, standing out among the older houses. «They must be at least 50 years old, even older,» commented some of the older adults interviewed. 

The yellow of spring tinges the cobblestones of Independencia Street. Photo: Sofia Medeles.

In some streets, pink also stands out due to the purple rose tree -guayacán or Tabebuia rosea-, as well as the bougainvillea. Although the bougainvillea bloom most of the year, they are most intense in spring. 

Likewise, on Ajijic’s boardwalk, on the west side, there are several trees in shades ranging from yellow to pink and purple, which are the most admired by visitors.

Leafy jacaranda trees on Hidalgo Street, in the area known as Las Seis Esquinas. Photo: Sofia Medeles.

Walking through Ajijic Magic Town during the spring, one is immersed in a colorful atmosphere that comes from its facades as well as from trees and flowers that decorate its narrow cobblestone streets. 

Pink bougainvilleas north of Ajijic, on Calle Galeana. Photo: Sofia Medeles. 

Trees with different colored flowers can be seen on the Ajijic boardwalk, in the area of the International Garden. Photo: Sofía Medeles.

Translated by Elisabeth Shields

Verbena Jamaica del Pasado 2019. Photo: Luilli Baron.

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).– The Verbena Jamaica del Pasado will be held Sunday, April 10th, after two years of cancellations. When it returns, it will have some modifications; the main one will be that it will focus on supporting the families of sick people of Ajijic, giving the event a “church fair” feel. 

The General Director of the Passion of The Christ Church, Eduardo «Lalo» Ramos Cordero, and the Treasurer, Ricardo Mora, noted that there are 17 families who will be selling different types of food throughout the day. The event starts at approximately 8am and runs until 10pm. At the event, there will be donation boxes; contributions will be distributed in equal parts to the sick.

In addition, the organizers assured that they will be bringing back another tradition, Light of the Past, turning off the lights, for about half an hour, starting at 9pm. The municipal government of Chapala will provide infrastructure for the event. The decoration in the stands will be the same as always, ‘papel picado’ or traditional cutout paper, and reeds. Around the square, visitors will see paper lanterns and bows with papel picado.

Local bands such as La Incomparable, Estrellas del Lago, La Misma Banda and Orquesta Típica de Chapala will provide free entertainment throughout the event. Event Organizers are looking for more groups or dancers to provide entertainment in the morning portion of the event.

Ramos expressed gratitude that he and the whole team have towards for everyone in Chapala, since they have always shown unity and support in these matters, as well as to the municipal authorities, including Municipal Trustee, Gamaliel Soto Perez, and his brother Carlos, Ajijic Delegado-Elect Maximiano Macias Arceo, and Councilwoman Denisse Michelle Ibarra, for their support

Translated by Amy Esperanto