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Merchants during the demonstration on the access to Chapala on the Guadalajara – Chapala highway. Photo: Jazmín Stengel.

Jazmín Stengel(Chapala).-  Despite demonstrations and blockades by a group of boardwalk merchants in the main access to the municipality of Chapala, the City Council removed the existing tarps covering outdoor merchants and imposed the use of umbrellas in the restaurant zone. The events took place during the first day of Holy Week, on April 14. Two protest leaders were arrested.

The double demonstration closed the access to the municipality by the Guadalajara – Chapala highway for more than an hour. The main intersection at Francisco I. Madero and Hidalgo avenues was obstructed for almost two-and-one-half hours. While the point at the entrance to the Ajijic beltway was only blocked for a few minutes.

The demonstration that blocked traffic in the downtown area of Chapala, intersection of Francisco I. Madero and Hidalgo Avenue. Photo: Jazmín Stengel.

The more than 50 protesters were invited to form a committee of five representatives to talk with authorities. Saying, “We are willing to work, but not in your way,” they asked for a personal meeting with Chapala Municipal President, Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel, who never showed up. 

During the meeting of the protesters with municipal authorities, state and municipal authorities detained two of the merchants for “inciting the demonstrators” and “obstructing the freedom of transit,” according to Commissioner Sergio Conzuelo Ramírez.

The merchants’ main complaint is the requirement to buy umbrellas at a high cost. The Municipal Council intended the umbrellas to improve the boardwalk’s image. 

A press release issued by Social Communication on April 14 read, “We hereby notify you that in order to provide better service and a better image to tourists and visitors to Chapala, especially to the boardwalk area, as of April 13 of this year, the use of tarpaulins, banners or awnings in the areas of food and beverage sales is prohibited.”

These umbrellas were sold to merchants for 2,800 pesos. Photo: Jazmín Stengel.

The only objects authorized by the Municipality to shade the area are “metal umbrellas painted in brown, with a cement casting base and a high-density green canvas with the logo of the Municipality of Chapala printed on it, which have a value of 4,000 pesos.” 

Social Communication claimed, however, that “the total cost is 5,600 pesos per umbrella, of which 2,800, or 50 percent, must be paid by each tenant and the other 50 percent by the Municipality.”

Semanario Laguna compared the cost in another local store and the costs vary from 1,500 to 1,800 pesos per unit, with a canvas and a diameter of two meters. Meanwhile, larger umbrellas of three meters in diameter cost up to two thousand pesos in canvas, although of lower quality and lacking the  basic joints to position the umbrella.

The umbrella requirements were imposed on the merchants without the option of looking for another supplier, said the merchants after two months of dialogue with the authorities. The merchants also proposed to install a dome financed by the interested vendors, but never received authorization. 

Translated by Mike Rogers

Angel Serrano is currently 77 years old and has not fished Lake Chapala for more than 900 days. Photo: Alma Serrano. 

Alma Serrano(San Juan Cosalá).- Fishing is an unceasing activity that balances calmness, sensibility, patience, and creativity. Fishing allows you to enjoy your work and share that joy with your family.  Fishing was a job where you did not need vacations because you were always happy.

Fishing makes you an expert in so many things. You have had about eight canoes. You fished for mojarras (a species of whitefish) and charales (minnow-sized fish, a local delicacy). You used hooks and atarrayas (cone shaped fishing net). 

You knew when to get into the canoe and arrive home with 100 kilos of tilapia.  You knew you were an excellent swimmer. 

You were able to use all your senses to know when a fish was near, look at it, not lose sight of it, and set the hook with hope and wealth in your hands. You have been an excellent spectator. You could detect a movement in the water, in the wind and throw the net with great force. You become more cunning with time, able to fix your attention on the target, concentrating only on the action. 

Ironically, the fish ended up loving you, Ángel. For 50 years in San Juan Cosalá you have been their faithful companion. The fish got used to seeing you and they began to love you. It has been more than 900 days since they have seen you on the lake and they must be worried.

The lake must be in mourning, Ángel, you should not have left it. 

At the age of 12, Angel Serrano was already plying the waters of the lake in search of his family’s livelihood. Photo: Alma Serrano

One day you will not remember what your life consisted of for more than 60 years. You will not remember who you were and who you are now. Your hands have started to feel soft and empty. You need to go back to the lake, take the fishing line and create a new memory. Maybe that is the only way to remember yourself without using your memory, as the saying goes «what you learn well, you never forget». 

Ángel, your hands are a memory of what you love, you may be forgetting faces, feelings, and activities, even the essence of what you are, but people do not forget you. When we see a landscape, a wave, a fish, we remember you. Your body is at home, but your heart is still on the lake, fishing.

Ángel Serrano Medina, is my grandfather, a 77-year-old resident of San Juan Cosalá who started fishing when he reached his first decade. He no longer remembers how to fish. 

For three years his memory has been fragmenting bit by bit.  He has the disease where he loses the ability to relive memories: Alzheimer’s.

He is a strong and overflowing man, passionate about what he does best and dedicated to what he has devoted most of his life to: fishing. “Do you remember when you were one of the pioneers of fishing in San Juan Cosalá and caught a tilapia of more than one meter?” I ask him. “I hope you remember,” I answered. 

Translated by Nita Rudy

Slide area inside the waterpark at La Cristianía Park. Photograph: Jazmín Stengel.

Jazmín Stengel. – The remodeled waterpark located in the center of La Cristianía Park opened its doors this Easter vacation season, with a partial cost of 700,000 pesos (about US$34,000).

Two slides and a public pool were rehabilitated for the use of tourists and locals. As of the closing of this edition, there are accessories such as benches and umbrellas to be added and painting to be completed. 

Main pool on maintenance day. Photograph: Jazmín Stengel.

The budget included the purchase of new hydraulic pumps for the maintenance of the pools and another pump to drive the flow of the slides, as well as sand filters for them. It was also necessary to purchase new valves and piping.

The waterpark ceased to provide services during the 2018-2021 administration. The current administration’s Civil Protection and Firefighters departments carried out a safety diagnosis, which detailed the reinforcements that had to be made in the metal structure that supports the slides and pointed out the specific points to be repaired and marked inside the slides.

At the end of the work, a safety review was completed and Civil Protection and Firefighters gave the go-ahead for the reopening. The facilities were reopened on Thursday, April 14, the first day of vacation. The facilities were closed for maintenance on Wednesday, April 20.

Translated by Nita Rudy

Volunteers working on the repairs. Credit: Sofía Medeles.

Sofía Medeles.– Since the maintenance and repair work began on the Chapel of the Rosary, the group working on the project realized that the damage was greater than what was estimated before they began the restoration. Additional damage was found after work began; the workers found more cracks than they had initially noticed. 

In an interview with Semanario Laguna, Josué Ramos, the current president of the volunteer group Sumando Voluntades, shared that the original project budget was $850,000 pesos (about US$42,000). After the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) evaluated the building they said it could probably be repaired for less. Ramos asserted that a budget of $1,000,000 (US$50,000) is more feasible as they may uncover additional work that needs to be done. The group has only raised about $500,000 pesos (US$25,000).

Work is in progress inside the chapel. Credit: Josué Ramos.

«INAH suggested only filling cracks and repairing the water damage in the roof, but we also want to fix the structural problems including reinforcing the structure, and the foundation. This will be evaluated after INAH’s visit, which will ensure that the structure remains as faithful as possible to its original design,» added Ramos. Another member of the group, treasurer Mónica Gutiérrez, assured that despite being more damage than they expected, they are already seeking bids to buy the necessary material to fill the cracks, and continue with the work on the roof.

The committee of Sumando Voluntades recently restructured after the death of their former president, Armando. The new officers are: president and architect Josué Ramos, secretary Juan Antonio Miramontes, and treasurers Monica Gutierrez and Honorata Gómez. To make donations, you can go to «Pollería Gutiérrez” in Ajijic, where one of the treasurers is located. You can also donate by going to any BBVA bank; use bank account number 4152 3137 0415 7622 in the name of Honorata Gómez to donate.

Translated by Amy Esperanto

Authorities were able to recover the body. 

Staff. – Lake Chapala has taken another life, this time in the Jocotepec municipality delegation of San Cristobal. Personnel from the Civil Protection and Fire Department of Jalisco recovered the body April 17.

The person entered the lake but was not heard from again, so the authorities were called in to help. They located the body, which was taken to the forensic medical services. 

The National Water Commission has warned of the risks of swimming in Lake Chapala. The underwater fences, wells, branches and mud can make it difficult for people to get back to land. 

Translated by Mike Rogers

 Only three of the 20 stores open at the height of Holy Week. Photo: Héctor Ruiz.

Héctor Ruiz Mejía (Jocotepec).- Jocotepec’s boardwalk merchants reported low sales despite the Easter holiday period. Merchants in the 20 stores located on the boardwalk said that after two pandemic years, this holiday period has not generated the income they expected, as sales are down by almost 50 percent in contrast to previous years.

In spite of the fact that the projected economic revenue for this vacation season for Holy Week and Easter was $5,400,000 pesos, according toJocotepec Directorate of Tourism and Artisan Promotion Victor Manuel Loza Ornelas,  that goal has not been reached.

«The truth is that it has been very lonely compared to pre-pandemic Holy Weeks, even in previous years we were five people working here in the store, but this week there was only me,» said a vendor of nieve de garrafa, a Mexican sorbet.

She also said that one of the factors that could have affected tourism over the weekend was the protest that took place on Thursday, April 14 in Chapala, between vendors against the City Hall, since many tourists were unable to get through the blockade.

Insecurity and the economic crisis did not allow for the expected economic revenue on the Jocotepec boardwalk. Photo: Héctor Ruiz.

Another of those interviewed thought  that the poor sales could have been due to the  insecurity that has been experienced in recent months in the municipality.

«Fortunately this year we have had some sales, unlike other years, when almost no people came and many of those who came brought their lunch boxes,» said one of the vendors, who for years has sold hamburgers, seafood tacos and hot dogs.

Luck has not been so different for the boat tours, because in spite of having a good Holy Week until the cut-off on Wednesday, April 20, it was empty, say the personnel in charge of the boat tours.

«Now there are so many accidents, so much insecurity, and on Sundays the National Guard is here, and as a worker you do feel safer, but people are afraid and it is reflected in sales,» he concluded.

Translated by Kerry Watson

Drivers park their vehicles on the bicycle path. Photo: Semanario Laguna.

Two months ago, when the section of the San Juan Cosalá bicycle lane was approximately 90 percent complete, neighbors in the area began to regularly use the spaces to set up businesses. 

Neighbors of these areas and residents who pass through the road have commented on the lack of accessibility and the improper use of the bicycle lane.

«The bicycle lane is for cycling and walking at any time, but no, you put yourself in danger when passing through that street, next to the road, because there is not enough room to pass. You must go into the road, and it is not fair.  That is the reason the other sidewalk was left free, there to sell.  The bicycle lane was created to avoid accidents, not to cause them,» commented an annoyed neighbor.

There are more than three businesses that make use of this public space, in the stretch between Cardenal Street and the crossroads, as an opportunity to  expand their space, while others use it as a parking lot. 

Along the road, it is common to find cars obstructing traffic. Photo: Semanario Laguna

«The truth is that I don’t have money to rent a place and the bicycle lane is very wide and nobody has told me anything,» commented a merchant interviewed.

Some vendors opted to move to the other side of the road, after being told that they could not continue to set up in that area or there could be a sanction from the authorities. 

«When they told us we could not be on the bike path it was difficult to change everything.  Some moved, others stayed. A new vendor took over a space that had been used regularly but was vacated. There are people who park their cars as if it were their own house,» concluded another of those consulted. 

Translated by Nita Rudy

El incendio en el cerro de El Comal consumió 45 hectáreas de bosque. Foto: Ayuntamiento de Poncitlán.

Redacción.- Al menos 45 hectáreas forestales fueron consumidas tras un incendio registrado del Área Natural Protegida del cerro El Comal, en la comunidad de Mezcala de la Asunción, municipio de Poncitlán, durante la mañana del 25 de abril.

Más de 10 horas de trabajo y 26 descargas de agua de la presa de San Juan Tecomatlán, acarreadas por el helicóptero “Witare” de La Secretaría de Desarrollo Territorial (SEMADET), fueron necesarias para controlar el incendio.

El incendio que inició a las 11:00 de la mañana del pasado lunes, tuvo la participación de la Asociación Intermunicipal para la Protección del Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo Sustentable (AIPROMADES) del Lago de Chapala, además de 15 voluntarios de Mezcala, 10 d Casa Blanca y de las autoridades municipales.

Event organizers and participants (from left to right): Nora Maldonado, Nora’s daughter Sol, and Noris Binet. Photo: Sofía Medeles 

Sofia Medeles (Ajijic).- The activities of the Earth Day celebration on April 22, 23 and 24  were designed not only to raise awareness through the knowledge shared by the exhibitors and groups that attended, but also by means of the spiritual and educational aspects of the native history of the Chapala lakeside.

Two of the organizers, Noris Binet and Nora Maldonado, explained that spiritual elements and themes are included to promote an awareness that will be deeper and leave more of an impression on the attendees, without dismissing the work of the researchers and professionals who will be presenting.

Nora, who is part of the group «Guardians of the Lake,» said that spiritual events  included an offering to the lake, in which flowers, fruits, seeds and other things that do not interfere with the flora and fauna of the ecosystem  were  left on the shore of the lake. This offering was on Sunday April 24 at 6:00 pm, as part of the closing of the festival.

They also said that their goal is to make this event an annual event and to involve more and more lakeside towns, as well as schools of all levels, and to involve students in the activities.

Some of the scheduled activities included conferences with activists such as Manuel Villagómez Rodríguez and Luis Valdivia, musical shows, eco-friendly technology exhibitions and children’s art contests.

Among the organizers are Douglas Reid, Sihara Casillas Gaeta and Noris Binet.  

Translated by Rebecca Zittle

Painting auctioned in front of the little chapel of the Rosary. Photo: Efrén González

Sofía Medeles(Ajijic).- The auction of a painting by Efrén González began on April 17 and will end on April 22. González painted live in front of the Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary.  Although the auction won’t end until April 22, when the painting will be delivered to the high bidder,  the highest bid in the first hours was $650 or 13,000 pesos. The proceeds will be invested in the restoration works of the Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary.

Translated by Elisabeth Shields