Chapala

Foto compartida por Elena Oetlin en redes sociales durante su competencia en Clearwatter, Florida.

Redacción.- La velerista de Chapala, Elena Oetling Ramírez obtuvo el cuarto lugar en el US Open Series, en la categoría ILCA 6 femenil, luego de su participación en los Juegos Olímpicos de Tokio.

La primera justa deportiva del año en la que participó Oetling Ramírez se realizó del 3 al 6 de febrero en Clearwatter, Florida, Estados Unidos, y servirá de preparación para participar en otras justas internacionales, como compartió en su cuenta de Facebook. 

“Esta regata es un buen punto de partida, para saber dónde estoy y en qué trabajar en los siguientes meses de cara a los eventos que vienen el resto del año”, escribió. 

Elena quedó por debajo de la estadounidense Crhistina Skellaris quien obtuvo el primer lugar, seguido por Charlotte Rose, en segundo y la canadiense, Coralie Vittecoq en tercera posición. 

Alumnos y profesores del Instituto Tarranova se enfrentarán en el Torneo Inter Escolar Terranova 2022, en las instalaciones del plantel. Foto: cortesía. 

Redacción. – Alumnos y profesores de bachillerato y secundaria del Instituto Terranova arrancaron con el Torneo Inter Escolar Terrranova 2022 de fútbol soccer y tendrá una duración de siete semanas a partir del martes 22 de febrero.

El torneo contará con una fase regular de cinco semanas y dos para las semifinales y final, donde participan seis equipos mixtos, integrados por cinco jugadores cada uno.  

En el primer partido, el equipo Los Bichos se impuso sobre los Cuervos, cinco a cero. En el segundo encuentro, los Bomboneros obtuvieron el triunfo sobre los Leñadores Terra, dos a cero; y para terminar la primera jornada, los equipos Naranja Mecánica y Los Negros empataron dos a dos.  

Lago de Chapala. Foto: Héctor Ruíz. 

Por: Daniel Jiménez Carranza.

La Laguna de Chapala, otrora bello enclave  que cautivó a sus pobladores originales, provenientes de Aztlán, por sus aguas transparentes y saludables, playas con arenas limpias, y  una variedad de peces, cuyas especies algunas han desaparecido y otras se encuentran en proceso de serlo, como consecuencia de la actividad humana.

El agua, es elemento fundamental para el desarrollo de la vida, en todas sus manifestaciones, y como tal, la laguna como humedal, cumple con una importante función en nuestro entorno, pues mantiene los mantos freáticos, la biodiversidad de los recursos pesqueros, estabiliza las condiciones climáticas controlando la erosión, la retención de nutrientes y sedimentos favoreciendo la proliferación de la flora en la región, lo que le ha permitido ocupar un lugar privilegiado en el enclave climático global, considerado por la revista General Geographic, como uno de los lugares con mejor clima en el mundo.

Actualmente es doloroso observar el agua de la laguna en las condiciones en que se encuentra por las altas concentraciones de desechos industriales, agropecuarios, desechos orgánicos, utensilios de plástico, etc.,  todo ello, producto de  la degradación ambiental por la proliferación de residuos no metálicos como el azufre y flúor, y metálicos que han propiciado la “eutrofización” que es una capa que impide la penetración de los rayos solares y oxígeno provocando una excesiva proliferación de materia orgánica como el lirio, y últimamente, una capa verdosa.

En atención a estas imperantes circunstancias, es necesario tomar acciones que contribuyan a restaurar la calidad del agua, y su biodiversidad, concertando acciones entre todos los municipios ribereños de la laguna, de aquellos municipios localizados en las márgenes de los ríos que confluyen a la laguna, para formar un organismo rector que se ocupe de verificar e inspeccionar que se cumpla con la normatividad de SEMARNAT,  de todos aquellos sitios que desalojen residuos contaminantes cuenten con las plantas de tratamiento adecuadas, que las zonas de cultivo, empleen métodos naturales de combate a plagas y fertilización, así como integrar un fondo para la compra de equipo de dragado y limpieza, además de una adecuada concientización a la población, a través de módulos de información donde se exhiban videos de los desastres medioambientales a la laguna, y la importancia de su participación en conducirse adecuadamente, instalando depósitos de basura… ¡Inaplazable!

So far in 2022, Lake Chapala has lost 26 cm (about 10 ¼ inches) of water. According to data from the National Water Commission, Lake Chapala is at about 72% of its capacity, as of February 14th.

During the last rainy season, Lake Chapala gained 1.90 meters (about 75 inches), reaching 75.69% of its capacity; the level began dropping on December 18th.

Translated by Amy Esperanto

Alejando de Jesús Aguirre Curiel during an interview in his presidential office.

Jazmín Stengel (Chapala).– The campaign to recover public spaces will  continue, declared Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel, president of Chapala, during an interview with the media on February 15. 

When questioned by this reporter about whether the opening of privatized streets will happen in other subdivisions of the municipality, the mayor said that work is already being done in this regard. «As you have seen, we have already been working on it and we will continue,» he announced. 

The first reopening of closed streets occurred in the Mirasol subdivision. This change provoked discontent from the subdivision’s residents.  Aguirre Curiel reiterated that these streets will remain open, «The streets have to be open because the population of the area has grown.» 

«The growth of the population is with its streets,» said the president, adding that the campaign to recover public spaces will not stop, as promised during my political campaign.

The authorities did not provide specific data on which streets will be reopened, nor how many subdivisions are in the same situation as Mirasol before this report went to press.

Translated by Nita Rudy

Traffic on the Chapala-Jocotepec highway, near Rancho del Oro, in Ajijic. Photo: Sofía Medeles

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).– In the last few weeks, traffic saturation on the Chapala-Jocotepec highway, at the height of Ajijic, as well as its streets, especially Ocampo, has been increasingly noticeable. This situation is changing from a holiday problem into a daily one, making it difficult for those who live in the town to use their cars. 

On Sunday the 13th and Monday the 14th, there were lines of cars from San Juan Cosalá, due to the accident on the Guadalajara-Morelia highway at the intersection of El Molino, in Jocotepec. This accident caused cars to take up to 50 minutes to drive the three kilometers through Ajijic, also congesting Ocampo Street while it was used as an alternate route. 

Although the traffic is not always this heavy, several drivers in the town said that it is increasingly difficult to drive in  Ajjic, especially during rush hour.

«Normally, from two o’clock in the afternoon until four o’clock, the road fills up with cars from La Floresta and traffic starts to become lighter in Villa Nova (in Chapala). The problem occurs in La Floresta, where everyone starts to use the side roads, and they jam  traffic. Then on Ocampo and Guadalupe Victoria, there is also a traffic jam, not to mention on Colón. I don’t know where so many cars come from and I don’t see a solution to the problem,» said Luis, a resident of Ajijic.

Another native of the town, Antonio, commented that some years ago these were problems that were only seen on vacations or when there were festivities, but since Ajijic was declared a Magic Town, it began to become a daily occurrence.

«On a Tuesday or Thursday, it has taken me up to 40 minutes to get through Ajijic. During rush hour they should assign traffic cops because there is no lack of visitors who want to go the wrong way on a street, just to get around the traffic on the highway. It happens a lot on Zaragoza Street, around Six Corners, and they don’t go slowly, they go very fast.»

Fany, a pedestrian in the area, confirmed that cars coming down to avoid traffic usually go at high speed. She said, «The children here on the block go out to play, plus there are several dogs. Cars going very fast don’t stop to see who might be trying to cross, they just think they are going down the road. They say that the traffic jam is due to the traffic lights not being synchronized, and if that is the case, the authorities should intervene quickly. Because it is not only the traffic, it can cause harm to the people who walk on the street.”

The director of Social Communication of Chapala, Elizabeth Oropeza Silva, commented that since the highway is a state highway, they haven’t asked for support from the State Government, for more police crs and traffic police. She also ruled out that the problem is due to the traffic lights, since they were maintained and synchronized at the end of the year. 

Translated by Christalle Dalsted

Our Lady of Lourdes during her coronation Feb. 11 in her neighborhood chapel.

Jazmín Stengel.- This year, the image of the Virgin of Lourdes got to know her neighborhood in depth. Due to the cancellation of the religious festivities and processions because of the pandemic, neighbors received the visit of the venerated image in their homes Feb. 11.

Since the usual procession to the church of St. Francis of Assisi was prohibited, the guard chose to go through the houses and streets of their neighborhood. This gave people an opportunity to enjoy the presence of Our Lady of Lourdes in an intimate setting. 

“We were not going to stand idly by,” said Carmelita, who every year helps organize the carnival in the parking lot outside the Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes, where the feast was usually held. 

“We told the neighbors that they could not come in the procession, but that we would pass with the statue to their homes.” Said Carmela’s husband. They all ran to their homes to receive the sacred image. People liked this very much, since “it was something beautiful and unforgettable,” said a young neighbor.

After she was crowned, parishioners thanked her for the miracles she has granted them.

The coronation of Our Lady of Lourdes usually takes place at 6 a.m. However, with the current restrictions and at the request of the priest in charge, it was postponed until the Mass of “the sick,” at noon. During that Eucharist, the people gave thanks for miracles the Virgin has granted them, kissing and caressing her once with her crown on.

The party used to last all night, with fireworks, rockets, drinks and lots of food. But that also was not possible this year. That did not change the faith, nor the loyalty of her parishioners who escorted her throughout the day until the removal of her crown, at almost at 10 p.m.

The crown was donated 50 years ago, according to the neighbors, by inhabitants of the French colony who helped build the Chapel of Lourdes in 1940, coordinated by Guillermo González Hermosillo y Brizuela.

Translated by Mike Rogers

COMUR members and Chapala authorities in the council chamber.

Laguna Staff.- The mayor of Chapala, Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel, swore in the members of the Municipal Commission for the Regularization of Urban Properties (COMUR). The objective of the commission is to give legal certainty to the citizens and the City Hall itself about their documentation and deeds that give them the ability to transfer, sell or dispose of their properties. 

Aguirre Curiel, who presides  over the commission, swore in its eight members and proposed the director of Urban Development and Planning, Jaime Arellano Rodriguez, to be the technical secretary of said municipal body.

During the installation of the COMUR on February 15, Jalisco’s Urban Development Attorney, Carlos Romero Sanchez, was present and recognized the importance of the commission’s work in updating the properties. 

He also spoke of working in a coordinated manner to demand that state deputies update legal instruments such as the State Zoning Regulation, which dates back to the mid-1990s, the Urban Code in force since 2009, and the General Law of Human Settlements of 2016.

The mayor of Chapala, Alejandro Aguirre Curiel, with the Jalisco Urban Development Attorney, Carlos Romero Sánchez.

The people who make up the commission are the following council members: Jesús González Amezcua, of Acción Nacional (PAN); Mayra Raquel Morales Cerda, of Movimiento Ciudadano (MC); Irma Paulina Vázquez Baltazar, of Revolucionario Institucional (PRI); María Isabel Mendoza Rodríguez of Hagamos. In addition, the trustee, Gamaliel de Jesús Soto Pérez, the general secretary, Lilia Alvarado Macías and José Barajas Gómez, director of Cadastre.

Arellano Rodríguez, as technical secretary of the recently formed COMUR, reminded everyone that the regularization of properties was a campaign proposal of the current mayor. He proposed to work jointly with the City Hall agencies so that many elderly people can inherit properties who have not been able to do so due to that due to irregularities in their property titles and documents.

Translated by Sydney Metrick

The portal contains fact sheets about the fauna present at Lake Chapala, one of them being the American White Pelican. Photo: Farid Bak. 

Editor.- The Program “Bosques+Agua+Gente para Chapala” (Forests+ Water+ People of Chapala) has created a website about Lake Chapala and its environmental importance to the region. 

The website’s goal is to inform the public about the wonders of, and challenges to, the Lake Chapala basin. This digital space presents clear, organized and solidly sourced information, aimed both at the public of the Lake Chapala shore, as well as those of the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area (ZMG).

The website discusses in detail the biological heritage of Lake Chapala. Information and photos are listed about the unique birds, animals, reptiles, fish and mammals found in the region.  Another area of the website discusses the value of vegetation, forests, mountains and groundwater. A chart of the 19 problems that affect the world’s lakes has been posted.  The 15 problems present in the Chapala basin are discussed in detail.   There is a map of the region listing the current projects addressing environmental concerns.  

This website is part of a program to conserve the beauty and natural wealth of the lake.  It will be an important, informative platform for anyone who loves or lives at Lakeside. 

It is funded by the Fondo Mexicano Para Conservacíon de La Naturaleza, A.C; Rio Arronte Fundación and the Corazone de La Tierra Institute de Desarrollo Ambiental.

The address for the website is www.lagodechapala.org. It is in Spanish only, but can be viewed in English with a Chrome browser and Google Translate plug-in.

Translated by Nita Rudy

María Alcalá Ortiz fue coronada como la reina del Carnaval Chapala 2022 durante la noche del 25 de febrero.

D.Arturo Ortega.- María Alcalá Ortíz fue coronada como la reina del Carnaval Chapala 2022 el pasado 25 de febrero en el Lienzo Charro, J. Jesús González Gallo, de la cabecera municipal. 

La reina del Carnaval 2020 – 2021, María Fernanda Ochoa Cárdenas cedió la corona a la nueva representante de los festejos, ante poco más de 300 personas; además de la presencia del alcalde, Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel quien acudió acompañado de la presidente del DIF, Erika Erín Torres Herrera.

María Alcalá, Anahí Mora y Esmeralda de la Torre fueron las candidatas del certamen de este año.

Fue la noche del 25 en la que María Alcalá, Esmeralda de la Torre y Anahí Mora fueron confirmadas como las candidatas del certamen, luego de varias nominaciones que surgieron en las diferentes redes sociales.

Luego de la presentación y dos pasarelas en el que las participantes lucieron un atuendo casual blanco y uno de noche en el que María lució su belleza en un vestido rojo que; el jurado deliberó a favor de la nueva reina de la fiesta más grande de Chapala.