en inglés

The mayor of Jocotepec will seek to implement new regulatory measures in the garbage collection system once the crisis is resolved. Photo: Courtesy.

Héctor Ruiz Mejía.- After ensuring that he has the documentation that would legally allow him to reopen the La Loma landfill, Jocotepec,President  José Miguel Gómez López iis opting to peacefully resolve the issue with the ejidatarios (indigenous peoples) which has prevented the reopening of the provisional La Loma landfill. 

«At first they were reluctant, very closed, but now they are changing their minds,» said the mayor, who explained that ejidatarios have begun to change their minds after attending meetings.

The landfill would provide a temporary solution to the worrying situation faced by the current garbage collection service, which has to transport the garbage to Ixtlahuacán in a round trip that takes more than four hours. 

«AlrWith a landfill open there a single truck could make three round trips in one day», explained José Miguel, who added that the collection company GIRRSA would also benefit, since it has not been able to profit from its trash-hauling contract with Jocotepec. «This would decrease their operating expenses, such as diesel fuel costs, tires, maintenance, personnel time, as well as allow the operation of only four trucks out of the seven stipulated in the contract,» said the official.

José Miguel is counting on the ejidatarios of La Loma to allow use of the landfill that was closed in 2017. Photo: Courtesy.

Therefore, he said that in a «Solomonic» way, everyone will benefit from the project and assured that it will put an end to the endless bags that daily wait on the sidewalks to be moved. 

Once the garbage collection service is regularized, the interviewee stated, new measures will come into effect for processing of the garbage, from its collection, to its disposal. 

As part of the new measures, he explained, there will be a charge (according to the amount of garbage picked up, similar to the United States, which is a first world country, where  everyone has to pay for the service», he said.

He added that  the separation of garbage will be mandatory to allow some cost recovery, since all the cardboard, glass and metals will be sold. The government is still working on profitable recycling of organic waste.  Service will be denied to anyone who does not separate their garbage.   

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator and Elizabeth Shields and Patrick O’Heffernan

Photo: Decorations that will be used on Colón Street, which will need a «manita de gato».

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic, Jal.)- The person in charge of Ajijic’s office, Maximiliano «Max» Macias, requested the help of volunteers to rehabilitate the Christmas decorations that will decorate Colón Street and the main square.

Since according to Max, the decorations will be reused, “they need a little help.»

«We already have the material to fix the decorations, we only need the hands to start the work. The meeting days will be shared on the Ajijic page, and the afternoon schedules will also be posted there.”

Finally, Max indicated that he has planned several family activities for this Christmas season in Ajijic, which will be published on the Facebook page: Delegación Ajijic 2021-2024.

Translated by Sydney Metrick

Photo: Calle La Paz in San Juan Cosalá.

Calle La Paz in San Juan Cosalá is getting a facelift less than a year after it was repaired. According to municipal authorities, installation of a new drainage connection began last Thursday. The new connection will lie at a depth of 80 centimeters rather than the four meters of the old connection.  If maintenance is needed in the future, this will minimize the amount of digging needed. 

So far, Jocotepec’s Social Communication Office  has not provided information regarding the cost of the work or the estimated time of its completion.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator  and Elisabeth Shields

Although there is no official confirmation from the authorities, forensic service vans were present at the site.

There has been another report of a property in Chapala where buried human bodies could be located. It is on Navarro Street at the intersection with Juarez, near Madero Avenue, the main avenue in Chapala. Investigators from the Jalisco Institute of Forensic Sciences and the Jalisco Prosecutor’s Office have been searching for skeletal remains for the past week.

There are unofficial reports that human remains have been found, but authorities have not confirmed this. As of Thursday, December 2, they have not provided information to this newspaper. 

The property, which is near a department store and the truck station, has seals indicating that it is a secured property. The search continues. 

Translated by Mike Rogers

Posada of the year 2017, in the nine days of posadas the children of the town receive bolos of sweets and sometimes even tamales, among other surprises from the family that is sponsoring the posada that day.

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic, Jal.)- After a year’s absence the posadas will be celebrated again in downtown Ajijic, at least in the neighborhood of San Sebastián and its surroundings.

The organizer for 56 years of the posadas, Mrs. Maria Perez, made a call to the inhabitants of the neighborhood to participate in a responsible manner in view of the current pandemic situation.

She asked the attendees to wear masks throughout the event, and to respect as much as possible, healthy distance. 

The posadas will be held from Thursday, December 16 to Friday, December 24, at the usual time of 5:00 in the afternoon. For the first tour, the villagers will meet in front of the parish of San Andrés Apóstol, and from there they will go up Marcos Castellanos Street with the first hosts: Becky and Juan Gil who have their home on Zaragoza Street. The following day, they will meet at the same address to continue their tour to another host house, belonging to Mrs. Cuca López and family. 

Maria Perez, said the traditional dynamics will be changed a little due to the pandemic situation. It’s possible that the piñata will not be broken at the end of the singing in all cases. In addition, she urged the Ajijic residents to preserve the traditions, and above all the faith, since this custom has its origin in the Catholic religion.

The hosts for each day will be: Thursday 16 with Becky and Juan Gil; Friday 17 with Cuca López; Saturday 18 with the Higuera family; Sunday 19 with Lourdes and Manuel; Monday 20 with Mónica Ángulo; Tuesday 21 with Mary die Pérez in La Ciruelera; Wednesday 22 with Pina Gutiérrez; Thursday 23 with Carmen Martínez; and finally, Friday 24 with Quique and Luis. All these, in the streets of the downtown area of Ajijic.

Translated by Sydney Metrick

Malecón de Ajijic. Photo by: Elba Camejo 

Friday, December 3rd 

Event: Book presentation and Jazz Concert

Description: Invitation to the presentation of the book, 20 Poems to Build a House, by the poet Alejandro Von Düben.

Venue: González Gallo Cultural Center (CCGG) in Chapala. 

Hours: 6:00 p.m.

Cost: Free. 

Friday, December 3rd 

Event: The Space Cowboys

Description: Classic rock band

Venue: Iron Horse, Hidalgo 78, Riberas del Pilar, San Antonio Tlayacapan. 

Time: 9 pm. 

Cost: Cover $150

Friday December 3rd, Saturday December 4th and Sunday December 5th.  

Event: El Andén 

Description: Bazaar  offering original designs and handicrafts. 

Place: Pancho ‘s Deli Market, Hidalgo 75, Riberas del Pilar, 45906 San Antonio Tlayacapan, Jal.

Cost: Free admission

Hours: 10am – 6pm  

Saturday December 4th 

Event: The Lake Sound Festival

Description: Concert in honor and in memory of Karlita.

Venue: Punta Marisol, Del Pilar 10, Riberas del Pilar, San Antonio Tlayacapan. 

Cost: Pre-sale $150 Day of the event $200

Schedule: 2pm – 2am

Saturday, December 4th 

Event: Concert by »Reino de Nueva Galicia».

Description: The ensemble »Reino de Nueva Galicia» I will  perform original music composed in the new world during the viceroyalty.

Venue: González Gallo Cultural Center (CCGG) in Chapala. 

Cost: Free admission. 

Time: 19:00 hrs.

Saturday, December 4th 

Event: Donnadie Original Presents 5th Anniversary

Description: Freestyle Battle (rhymes). 

Venue: Madero Avenue, Chapala

Cost: General $150 – Platinum $500

Schedule: 4pm

Sunday November 5th

Event: Race with a Cause

Description: Traditional Mexican carnival  to benefit Teresa Paz Ramos

Place: San Antonio Tlayacapan Square

Schedule: 8:30am

Cost: Free admission. 

Sunday, December 5th 

Event: Great Kermes

Description: Great traditional carnival  to benefit Adelina Gonzalez 

Place: Malecón de Ajijic

Cost: Free admission.

Schedule: Starting at 10am

Sunday December 05th 

Event: Piano Concert

Description: A peaceful and nostalgic journey that the notes of Frederic Chopin’s compositions make us experience.

Venue: González Gallo Cultural Center (CCGG). 

Cost: Free admission

Time: 12:30pm

Sunday, December 05th 

Event: Screening of the documentary series »El Tema».

Description: An audiovisual that expresses the importance and invites us to reflect on the climate crisis we face.

Venue: Malecón de Chapala and Malecón de Ajijic

Cost: Free admission

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, December 8th 

Event: Serenade to Las Lupitas

Description: Live music with harps from Chapala

Venue: Tlalocan thermal Spa, at the San Juan Cosalá spa. 

Cost: Guests $250 – Visitors $350 pesos. 

Schedule: 8pm.

Thursday, December 9th 

Event: La Ribera Battles

Description: Rhyme and freestyle battle.

Place: Ajijic Malecon Forum

Cost: Free admission

Schedule: 5pm.

Friday December 10th and Saturday December 11th 

Event: 1st Expo Bazaar «Second Chance» PROMEXICO. 

 Description: Sale of products made by women from La Ribera.  Massage therapists, caregivers for the elderly, sale of preserves, handicrafts, among other products and services. 

Place: Porfirío Díaz 15, in front of the plaza of San Juan Cosalá. 

Cost: Free admission. 

Schedule: 1PM to 8PM 

More information at: 3333 2586 63. 

Friday December 10 and Saturday December 11 

Event: Intellectual Property and Copyright».

Description: classroom course-workshop

Place: Virtual Library of Chapala

Cost: Free admission

Schedule: 10am- 2pm

Saturday, December 11 

Event: Art Auction. 

Description:  auction of all types of art

Venue: PabLo the Gallery

Cost: free admission

Time: 4pm

Thursday, December 16th 

Event: El Cetac 01 Ajijic 

Description: Christmas Festival

Place: Explanada del Plantel next to the Auditorio de la Ribera Ajijic, Fraccionamiento La Floresta. 

Cost: Free admission

Schedule: 5:00 p.m.

Translated Patrick O’Heffernan

By Patrick O’Heffernan.

I noticed  this week that Volaris Airline was rated the # 3 worst airlines in the world in a recent survey by userbounce.com, an airline passenger site. I was not surveyed but I  agree with that result.  I recently flew Volaris from Guadalajara to Tijuana and found that it violated at least one of userbounce.com’s judgement criteria – they charge for carryon bags in the overhead bins.

Article 47 Bis, section IX, third paragraph of the Civil Aviation Law, establishes that: “… the passenger may carry up to two pieces of hand luggage in the cabin. The dimensions of each one will be up to 55 centimeters long by 40 centimeters wide by 25 centimeters high, and the weight of both should not exceed 10 kilograms. However, Volaris charges for any carryon that does not fit under the seat – their criteria is 35 x 45 x 20 cm.

Profeco, the Mexican consumer protection agency, warned Mexican airlines to stop selling tickets requiring a charge for carry-ons in overhead bins, calling  airline’s flouting of law  “abusive” because  “since hand luggage is an inherent element of the passenger’s air transportation service, and charging as an additional service is improper since it is not subject to negotiation.” According to the Mexico Daily Post, Profeco warned Aeroméxico, Viva Aerobús, and Volaris  on November 5 not to sell tickets that do not include the option of carrying hand luggage that meets the law’s size requirement .

Apparently Volaris did not get the memo, because last week my wife and I were both charged the US equivalent of $11 each for our carry ons that fit in the overhead bins.  And to make matters worse, they oversold the overhead carryon space so boarding passengers at the end of the line (including us) had their overhead carry-ons taken off and checked through – which meant waiting, in our case, 25 minutes for a small carryon to reach us on the baggage carousel. 

So, Volaris illegally charged us for a carryon bag which they  then did not allow us to carry onboard because they illegally collected too much money for other carryons.  And Volaris gate staff refused to provide a refund.  

I see that Profeco will “issue an Alert and initiate procedures for violations of the Law,” (quoted from Mexico Daily Post) . Despite the threat from Profeco, Volaris’s  website  still limits basic fare to one carryon that fits under the seat – max “35 x 45 x 20 cm.  If you want to bring a carryon that does not fit under the seat but fits in the overhead bin,  you have to pay a fee or  upgrade your ticket.

So what to do if you travel on one of the low-cost airlines this holiday?  You can hope Profeco begins enforcing  Article 47 of the Civil Aviation Law. In the meantime , you can complain at  denunciapublicitaria @ profeco.gob.mx . Include details of the violation and your full name and telephone number.

Antonio Gonzalez  said that at least four out of every ten people in the world live with HIV without knowing it.

Héctor Ruiz Mejía Jocotepec (JAL) – World AIDS Day went almost unnoticed in the municipality of Jocotepec  – not tests, no talks, no activities on the first of December  in Jocotepec, despite the fact that, as of June of this year, a total of 22 active cases of HIV were counted in the municipality , according to information provided by COESIDA (State Council for the Prevention of AIDS). 

COMUSIDA has not operated  in the municipality for three months although it is in charge of detection, treatment, support and prevention of AIDS cases in the municipality.  

«This year they didn’t even do a rapid test day, nor a talk,» commented Antonio Gonzalez, former director of COMUSIDA Jocotepec, who expressed his concern regarding the follow-up of people currently suffering from the disease.

«Of course this has affected not only the  patients, but everyone associated with them», explained the ex-official, pointing out that when the COMUSIDA was operating, in the municipality with the support of the State, it was in charge of facilitating patient transportation to Guadalajara and follow up processes after the detection and, the prevention. Of further cases

Antonio Gonzalez  said that at least four out of every ten people in the world live with HIV without knowing it, which is why he urged the municipal authorities to pay attention and support raising awareness in the Jocotepec community. GRUPO MILENIO reports that 18 people have died of AIDS in Jalisco in the past 10 months and approximately 600 people in the state live with AIDS in  the state, of which around 200 have not  been treated.

The functions and follow-up provided by COMUSIDA will be absorbed by the Municipal Clinic of Jocotepec under the management of Ricardo Alvarado, director of the Clinic, who assured  Municipal President José Miguel Gómez López that it had the staff to do it, despite the loss of  the former Director.

«Unfortunately, due to budgetary issues, it was not possible for «Tony» (former head of COMUSIDA Jocotepec) to return, but the municipal clinic has all the personnel that can easily be trained to continue attending cases,» said the mayor.

Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan

During the delivery, the municipal president was invited to «go all out… in order to avoid or prevent backwardness, dropouts and school desertion».

Jazmín Stengel / D. Arturo Ortega.- The second stage of the Recrea Educating for Life program began with the delivery of the first 173 packages of school supplies, shoes and uniforms to the students of the José Vasconcelos Foranea Secondary School Number 1 in Chapala.  The approximately six million pesos, program will delivers 10,780 backpacks, school supplies, uniforms and shoes to preschool, elementary and high school students in Chapala.

According to the Municipal Education Director, Diego Beltrán González, there are approximately 10,600 students in basic education throughout the municipality of Chapala in 66 schools (33 preschools, 25 elementary and 8 high schools).  Not all of the schools are served by the Recrea program, but through the resources of the Municipality all schools  are given the same support to start the year consisting of shoes, uniforms for the corresponding school, backpacks with the school supplies corresponding to  each child’s grade, and a disinfection kit 

Each school had to register for the Recrea program independently until September. From that point on, the registration of sizes was carried out.

Director of Liaison José Niños Guzmán delivered a total of 10,578 packages to Chapala, of which  he said that «for the moment are in the warehouses of Social Development, where  the uniforms and shoes will be sorted correctly and then will be delivered school by school in the coming weeks.»

«The design and execution of this program not only supports the children and young people of the 125 municipalities in Jalisco, but also supports the family economy… as the State Government through the Secretary of Social Assistance System invested more than one billion pesos for the municipalities, supporting more than one hundred thousand students,» explained Guzman , speaking  for Governor Enrique Alfaro Ramirez.

Mayor Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel stated that, «education is and will always be one of the fundamental pillars , if not the most important  pillar, for the development of peoples and societies. Economic, industrial or scientific growth cannot be achieved without schools,» he said prior to the delivery of the school packages.

In the center, Astrid Guzmán, director of the José Vasconcelos Foranea School Number 1, and the municipal president, Alejandro Aguirre Curiel; on either side, the representative of Sistemas de Asistencia Social Jalisco and the Director of Linkage (right).

On Friday, November 26, representatives of the Ministry of Social Assistance of the Government of the State of Jalisco, the City Council, parents and students of the José Vasconcelos Foranea School Number 1, gathered inside the school facilities for the symbolic beginning of this stage.

In order to pick up the school package, children have to be previously registered, they must present their CURP and the official identification (INE) of the parent or guardian of the student, as well as sign for receipt on the day of delivery.

Translated  by Patrick O’Heffernan

Today, and always, the photo of Ángeles -extreme left-, poses in the living room of the family home, where she is remembered despite her absence.

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic, Jal.)– The patron saint festivities are a space where many families gather, with the help of The Guild of the Absent Sons, which brings children back to their native Ajijic who have immigrated and made a life abroad but whose hearts are often  often divided between two countries. Angeles Medeles, an absent daughter for 21 years who currently lives in Indiana, United States,  shared her feelings with Semanario Laguna during her visit to Ajijic for the festivities.

She explained that her reason for leaving Ajijic was personal growth — she felt there would be more opportunities for her to grow in every sense in the US than in Ajijic.

«I thought that in Ajijic there would not be an opportunity for me to realize my potential.  I didn’t want to just be known as «the daughter of», «the sister of», or «the one with the good taste».  By broadening my horizons and looking for something new I could  search for  myself as an individual. Although Ajijic is a big place and very close to the city, some people feel  its confines as a  small town, and they seek to leave what they feel is a small town but a ‘big hell’».

However, she related that not everything in her new home abroad has been personal growth and improvement.  Ángeles  told of bitter moments, far from her loved ones,  for example, the death of her parents was difficult and made her think about her decision. 

«Yes, I would leave (Ajijic) again, but I have considered returning. I had a plan in my head to return when my parents were old and sick, with the money I’d saved, and I set the dates and everything, but sometimes life moves on and my parents did too». 

The Absent Sons who face these situations often  come to feel a sense of guilt for not being there physically and feeling far away, even though they are not missing children.

She pointed out that one of the reasons the absent ones remain abroad is to support the family here in Ajijic. But they often build  a life abroad and in some cases with  a family, and must remain away to support their family there and in Ajijic;  it is not possible to return and maintain the standard living for both families, it it can still be painful.

«When you have your children and they grow up in another country, although you want to instill your original traditions and customs, they have different ones and another way of living. In those cases it becomes complicated to return, which increases, for example, although it is not my case, when the grandchildren arrive. One is divided, the navel stays on one side and the heart on another,» she said

Despite the events that changed her plans, she said  that she will certainly return as many times as possible and maybe someday she will stay  for good. 

«I would return to the peace, the tranquility, even the gossip of the people, with people who have known me all my life,– these are things that I miss, so maybe to retire would be good».

Finally, she added that although she often feels that she is just a being on the move, going around the world without a fixed destination, returning to the  patron saint festivities, for her is like returning to her family, her traditions and a part of her heart.

Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan