en inglés

Pot with pozole cooking over firewood in the traditional way.

Jazmin Stengel. – The use of new technologies has led to the end of cooking over firewood. In the past, pozole was cooked for the whole block, now it is ordered to take away. On New Year’s Eve Chapala families still get together for dinner. On the one hand there are those who cook at home, but most choose to order something already prepared. The truth is that the flavor of the extinct pozole a la leña only lives on in the memories of the older ones. 

About 35 years ago, when Lourdes was still a child, she used to watch the huge pots cooking pozole over the burning firewood. «All along the street there were bonfires,» she said, smiling and stretching out her hand as if pointing to something that has no end.

It was the older ladies who every year were in charge of cooking the traditional pozole, while the men were in charge of gathering the firewood and lighting the fire. The preparation began the day before, soaking the corn kernels so that they would swell.

“This practice kept the family awake all night, since the secret was to keep the fire burning,” stated Lourdes, who said she had learned the recipe from her aunts since she was a child. “Nowadays this is no longer done, now everyone cooks with gas, which makes the process faster, but it doesn’t taste the same,» said the cook.

These days, it is unusual to find families that still gather around a bonfire in the middle of the street as in the past when even the food and drinks were for everyone on the block. «You’d walk by and they’d invite you to stay,» Lourdes recalled with her childhood neighbors.

Most modern families now prefer the convenience and the comfort of their own home, making use of new digital technologies and ordering the family dinner to go.

Translated by Sydney Metrick

Truck in which the seven young people were traveling. Photo: Courtesy.

The year began with a tragic accident in the Jocotepec municipality that saw  an 18 year-old young man dead and six others seriously injured.

The accident occurred on January 1st in San Pedro Tesistán at around 12:00 noon, and was so serious that one of the injured was taken to Guadalajara by helicopter with  a fractured skull and fractured ribs. As of the closing of this edition, his condition remained delicate, according to medical authorities.

The red RAM model pickup truck, hit  two other vehicles,  then lost control and ended up completely overturned on the side of the road, said tone of the  medical authorities. He added that the driver was one of the least injured and was assessed as conscious on the Glasgow scale (scale for assessing the level of consciousness). Since he did not have any type of Social Security (IMSS or ISSSTE)  he was transferred to a private hospital.

The helicopter that transported one of the injured youths to Guadalajara for treatment. Photo: Courtesy.

According to unofficial information, the driver was in custody; however, no official statement has yet been issued by the Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Medical authorities one scene  said that they did not have the toxicology reports on whether the alcoholic beverages was a determining factor in the tragic accident, since the Public Prosecutor’s Office has its own medical team to determine the possible causes and responsibilities.

«We were only in charge of safeguarding their lives; the Public Prosecutor’s Office will make causal determinations, including the injuries were  aggravated  by the fact that  that some of them were being transported in the back of the truck»,  one of the medical authorities said, noting that. fractures in extremities, skull and spine were a common factor in these kinds of accidents.

The Civil Protection and Fire Department of Jocotepec has not delivered the report on the accident despite a request by Laguna.

Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan

The mayor of Chapala, Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel, during a visit to the Municipal Nursery.

Editor. – The mayor of Chapala, Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel, announced during a visit he made to the Municipal Nursery, that the nursery will grow ornamental plants year-round in order to beautify the municipality.

Through social networks, the mayor detailed that the project of beautification of the municipality would start with the median strip along Avenida Francisco I. Madero, as well as Avenida González Gallo, and Paseo Ramón Corona, in the municipal capital.

«Pedro Quiñones, who is in charge of the nursery, presented me with both short and medium-term projects that will ensure we have a constant production of plants that will serve to beautify our municipality throughout the year,» shared Aguirre Curiel through his personal Facebook account.

During the tour, the municipal president reviewed the state of the machinery and the facilities of the nursery.

The visit to the nursery, which took place on January 5, also provided an opportunity to review the state of the facilities, the machinery available, and their condition. The mayor was accompanied on this visit by the director of Parks and Gardens, José Luis Hernández, along with other officials.

The tour included the Ajijic boardwalk, where the mayor gave instructions on how to improve its beauty.

On the same day, the mayor toured the Ajijic Boardwalk, where he observed some of the problems there, and gave instructions to address and resolve them in order «for the municipality to be the benchmark of a friendly, clean and warm city,» wrote the mayor. 

Translated by Colleen Beery

From the investigations carried out, it appears that Miguel Ángel «N» is the leader of the gang and originally from Baja California Sur, while Héctor Manuel «N» and Víctor Manuel «N» are from Sinaloa, and Jesús «N» from the state of Guerrero

Two kidnapped farmers from Jocotepec were released and four people were arrested. The kidnappers had demanded a ransom of fifteen million pesos.  Those under arrest are Miguel Ángel «N», Héctor Manuel «N», Víctor Manuel «N» and Jesús «N.» The Public Prosecutor’s Office charged all four with aggravated kidnapping.  The court ordered them to be sentenced to trial and remanded in custody for one year as a precautionary measure.

This alleged criminal group has been completely dismantled by the UECS (Unidad Especializada en Combate al Secuestro) and prevented from continuing to operate in the state and the rest of the country.

The acts for which they were arrested occurred on November 15, 2021.  Two berry farmers were deprived of their freedom as they were traveling in a Chevrolet pickup truck to a ranch on the Morelia-Guadalajara highway, in the municipality of Jocotepec.

Hours later, relatives of the victims received threatening text messages in which they were asked for fifteen million pesos in exchange for the victims’ freedom.  The relatives reported the facts to the State Prosecutor’s Office.

As soon as the Specialized Unit to Combat Kidnapping became aware of the crimes, they began investigating. In the town of Hacienda San Martin in Jocotepec, they found a truck owned by one of the victims.  Investigators also found a platinum Ford Fiesta type vehicle used to transport the victim to the location where they were held in the Nueva Jerusalén neighborhood in the municipality of Sayula.

Based on solid evidence that the probable kidnappers were there, an agent of the Public Prosecutor’s Office directed an operation resulting in the arrest of the four subjects. The two victims were released safe and sound.

A Judge of  the  Control y Oralidad court ratified their detention as legal. After the indictment hearing, he analyzed the case, evaluated the evidence, and issued an indictment against the four subjects for the crime, ordering them to be remanded in custody for one year.

Translated by Elizabeth Shields

José Guadalupe Dueñas Acosta was sworn in as treasurer of Chapala for the fourth time.

Arturo Ortega (Chapala, Jal). – As of January 1, José Guadalupe Dueñas Acosta began serving for the fourth time as treasurer of Chapala.  Dueñas Acosta served previously as treasurer for two PAN administrations and one EMEA administration. His appointment follows the «irrevocable resignation for personal reasons» of Jaime Nicolás Padilla Ramos. Ramos served as treasurer from October 1 to December 29, 2021. 

The mayor of Chapala, Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel, described Nicolás Padilla as a trustworthy person due to the fact that he has worked in his family business for years. From the beginning, it was understood that his commitment was to serve the Chapala municipal administration until the end of 2021, when he would then resume his former position in the family business to handle a series of upcoming fiscal reforms.

Mayor Aguirre added that he had time to get to know Dueñas Acosta, whom he personally chose to put forward as treasurer, and knows that he is capable as well as experienced with the institution. Mayor Aguirre also considered the timing of the handover was good to allow for a clean transition for both administrations.

«For me, it is an honor and a privilege that Mr. Alejandro has given me the opportunity to serve again,” said Dueñas Acosta, who was sworn in as the head of the Municipal Public Treasury during the last session of the City Council held in 2021.    

As the new Treasurer of the 2021-2024 administration, Dueñas Acosta reiterated that he has always been committed to the job and added: «I know the great responsibility that the municipal treasury entails and rest assured that I will be focusing on giving the best results,» he told the aldermen. 

«I know of the great needs that exist in the municipality, and have always focused on managing every peso that enters the treasury. I am also very strict about spending, and prioritize ensuring that needs are covered while avoiding unnecessary expenditures that do not have any benefit. That has been my calling card,» added the Treasurer. 

For his part, Councilman Moisés Alejandro Anaya Aguilar observed that one of the key pieces of any administration is the treasury. Since Dueñas Acosta’s skills had produced positive results in the past, he would have confidence in him again as treasurer. Finally, Councilman Aguilar said that regardless of his personal relationship with the Treasurer, he would still remain vigilant of public finances.

Dueñas Acosta previously served as treasurer during the administrations of J. Jesús Cabrera Jiménez (2010 – 2012), Joaquín Huerta Barrios (2013 – 2015), and most recently in the administration headed by Moisés Alejandro Anaya Aguilar (2018 – 2021). No charges have been filed by the State Superior Audit Office since the last two periods of the Partido Mexicano Socialista administration.

José Guadalupe Dueñas Acosta is a graduate of the University of Guadalajara in Public Accounting and Law, and has an accounting firm.   

Translated by Rebecca Zittle

The exercise equipment is out of order and users are waiting for government support to repair it. Photo: Héctor Ruiz.

Héctor Ruiz Mejía.- The municipal president of Jocotepec, José Miguel Gómez López, has decided to withdraw economic support from  its municipal gymnasium, according to the gym’s users. Mayor José Miguel reports that the sports center’s annual cost to the city of Jocotepec is 24 million pesos, and was “no longer affordable” to City Hall.

After the mayor’s announcement that the gym located on 30 Degollado Street was going to be dismantled, a committee of gym users was formed to meet with the City to discuss allowing the recreational center to remain open. Consequently, it was agreed that the gym facility would remain in operation, but without any economic support from City Hall.

As a result of the City’s funding termination, the per visit fees were increased from 10 pesos to 15 pesos per visit, and the monthly fee has risen from 100 pesos to 150 pesos per month. «We had to organize among ourselves, and we agreed to raise the fees and to have more control over the payments. The users, especially those in the morning, have been very motivated to help this [gym facility] remain open,» said one of the users, who preferred to keep his name anonymous for fear of reprisals.

A regular user of the gym who was a part of the committee disputed the Mayor’s assertion of a 24 million peso annual cost to operate the facility. According to Alberto Reyes, ex-director of COMUDE, during his administration the monthly rent of the facility was around 3800 pesos, and if maintenance, cleaning and trainers’ payroll is included, the monthly outlay should not have exceeded 15,000 pesos per month. 

The gym has a membership of 70 people. Photo: Héctor Ruiz

In Semanario Laguna’s interviews of gym users, the importance of keeping the gym open was stressed, since the facility’s cost is accessible to the great majority of the people; and by closing the facility, many people would not have the opportunity to exercise. «Maybe there are people who have the possibility of paying for a normal gym, but there are many other people that you take this away from them and what do they do?» commented one of the interviewees.

Seminario Lakeside’s request to the City’s Social Communication Department for comment in this matter was unanswered. Carmelo Gutierrez, manager of the new Sports Management Department, only responded to a request for comment with an assurance that he «did not have at hand» information concerning the gym’s monthly expenses, but denied that financial support will be revoked by the City.

Translated by MaryAnne Marble

This is what one of the more than one hundred fixed stalls on Chapala’s malecon looks like.

Jazmín Stengel. Chapala (JAL) : In the second year of the pandemic and few outdoor Christmas festivities, tourists did not visit Chapala as they did in previous years. Based on a series of interviews conducted with merchants of different trades during the first week of January in the downtown area of the municipal capital, Laguna found that few did well this season.

On December 24 the stores and sidewalks of Avenida Francisco I. Madero were full of people, but in spite of this most of the merchants reported that they sold less than in previous years. «Even last year with the pandemic we did better,» commented a young woman selling traditional winter fritters, while buying a glass of atole from her neighbor, who also complained of having sold only half of what she used to sell.

Members of the “Tianguis Navideño,” that was relocated to the main square of Chapala, also complained about the low sales. «The location was bad, and there was little support from the City Hall,» said Francisco (Paco) Mora. The line of businesses were visually blocked by the tianguis, so although access to their businesses remained, customers passed by.

On the malecon, the souvenir and accessory stalls also had the same complaint. «This year the holidays were not even felt,» said a woman preparing micheladas. However, the tourist areas were able to take advantage of holidays such as Christmas (December 25), December 31 and New Year’s Eve, when the food and beverage businesses achieved their highest sales of the season.

Among restaurateurs there were also differences. The diverse food places had many reservations from both Mexicans and Expats  to celebrate Christmas Eve dinner on December 24, according to Laguna’s research along the boardwalk. Seafood restaurants were the most popular on December 25 and January 1, but none of them managed to surpass the sales of previous years.

«After two years locked up, we don’t even love each other anymore,” exclaimed a voice from Johnny’s Place, who also said that the families that have attended year after year have changed their customs.

Due to the cancellation of the presentations planned by the municipal government a few hours before the beginning of the New Year’s Eve celebration, many people ignored the health warning and looked for a pleasant place to continue the night, which filled almost all the bars in the area. Unfortunately, such nights were few and far between.

Those who suffered the least from this year’s losses were the hoteliers, who, although they did not manage to reach the occupacity of other years, did maintain a partially full capacity during the two weeks of vacations.

Translated by Sandy Britton

The crash left  2 vehicles damaged

Excessive speed was the cause of a serious accident on the highway in San Antonio Tlayacapan, as a late model black pick-up truck was driving towards Chapala on the highway  and rammed another vehicle the morning of January 3.

The  hit and run driver lef a Chevrolet pick up 2500 black and white with Jalisco license plates  with damage to the left side dashboard, panels and right side tire,  and a family van Peugeot 2011, with  damage on the right side and front of the vehicle. Both cars were immobilized on the road, causing serious traffic problems.  There were no injuries.

Only 100 young adolescents were vaccinated in this past application of the Pfizer vaccine. Photo: Archive.

Héctor Ruiz Mejía – The number of positive cases of Covid-19 in the municipality of Jocotepec has tripled, announced the director of the Rafael Gómez Rodríguez municipal clinic, Dr. Ricardo Alvarado.

According to Ricardo Alvarado, for a little more than two weeks, between four to five of ten patients he sees in a day in his private consultations alone have tested positive for coronavirus.

«In the previous wave, at the most I was giving one or two positive people per day in my office, that number has already tripled alarmingly», the doctor said in an interview for Semanario Laguna.

Dr. Alvarado said that within the coronavirus results there are all variants, which apparently indicates that the Omicron variant, which has raised international alarm, is already in the municipality.

Without having exact data, Dr. Alvarado said  that the positivity within the hospital has been  correspond to some degree with the results  he sees in his office, which he said indicates  that he the current situation of contagion in the municipality is «worrisome».

Dr. Ricardo Alvarado, director of the municipal clinic. Photo: Archive.

He also reiterated his concern that the increase in infections will come with the January holidays, noting that the United States is currently one of the countries most affected by Covid-19 and during  these holidays a large percentage of the  ‘Absent Sons’  –  Mexicans living abroad – usually come, he said.

He also added that those who have been most affected in this new upturn have been children and all those who have not been vaccinated, «there are people who do not want to vaccinate their children and this is having serious consequences,» he said.

This fact was reflected in this last vaccination days, which began last Wednesday, January 5, and which was aimed at young adolescents between 12 and 14 years of age, of which only one hundred units of the Pfizer vaccine  were administered-  one of the vaccination days with the lowest participation.

Finally, Dr. Alvarado urged the community of Jocotepec to become aware of the personal responsibility of each resident, even during the patron saint festivities, to maintain the correct sanitary measures.

«At this point it would be worse to cancel everything, since the merchants had already paid and to return all the money would have been chaos», he asserted, but it is necessary to wear a mask at all times, as well as to ask our companions to wear it, he said.

Translated  by Maryanne Marble

There is concern among merchants about how to finance the new requirement imposed by City Hall to increase space in the Mercado. Photo: Courtesy.

Héctor Ruiz Mejía: Of the 28 street vendors who have been proposed to join the Municipal Market of Jocotepec, 10 will have to pay 7,500 pesos to secure their place.

After the extensive rehabilitation of the Market, where the spaces for street vendors on Morelos and Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez streets were erected, only 18 places were available. The City Council decided to make 10 extra modules available so that everyone can fit. 

One official, who preferred not to be identified, said the measure and the cost are mandatory for the vendors. It will be the only way to ensure their place inside the establishment. 

Each module will cost 7,500 pesos. Vendors must make a down payment of 3,750 pesos and the other half is to be paid in monthly installments, according to municipal authorities.

However, the measure surprised more than one of the merchants, who after a constant bad “streak” since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, live precariously on a daily basis with families to feed.

At least 28 street vendors are expected to be introduced to the Municipal Market. Photo: Archive.

“We just got out a few bags of nopales and things have not picked up as we expected at this time,” said one of the vendors. “How are we going to pay 7,500 pesos?” The vendor added that the merchants were concerned about the impact their sales will have when they are relocated. Now there is the initial payment to have this “privilege.”

“Previously I had my ‘puestito‘ (little stall) fitted out. It cost me 10,000 pesos with much sacrifice, and now they tell me I need to spend again in another place to be able to enter,” said another vendor. In view of the uncertainty, she offers her vegetables to passers-by with the hope that an improved economic situation will help her find stability.

This represents the mayor’s final step in eradicating street vending in the municipality and confining merchants once and for all to a single place. The move is based on the idea that street sales are a big “nuisance” that contributes little. 

However, some residents of the riverside municipality, originally from the United States, Canada and other parts of the world, visualized the future with sadness, saying street vendors are part of the essence of Mexico. These are people who settled here long ago and love Mexican culture.

“The street markets are what give color to the urban landscape, how sad it will be when they are gone,” said a Michigan native with a certain nostalgia. She preferred to remain anonymous, but she has lived in Jocotepec since 1970, partly because of the warm climate but also because she was captivated by the warmth of the people and the streets that are full of life.

Translated by Mike Rogers