The calls are made by people dedicated to scamming.
Several people from Jocotepec and Chapala have received calls demanding that they make a cash deposit in exchange for not harming them. The threats are false; the callers are scammers with n o ability or plan to harm anyone and some calls are even made from penitentiaries.
Both the Government of Jocotepec and the Government of Chapala have alerted citizens not to be being fooled by people who take advantage of the fear generated by violence in the news like the multiple homicide in Jocotepec and the disappearances in Chapala.
The scammers make the calls using some basic personal information often available publicly or on social media, deceiving people into believing they can be targeted. Some people «play along» with the extortionists, curse them and even make fun of them, but authorities advise people who receive calls to hang up and report them to the authorities. Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan
SIMAPA authorities emphasize daily actions to conserve water
Sofía Medeles (Ajijic, Jal.)- The authorities of the Municipal System of Potable Water and Sewage (SIMAPA) of Chapala and Ajijic said that the drought affecting Mexico and the local area is no cause for alarm, but that it is lasting longer than historically projected.
The general director of SIMAPA, Alfredo Arana Hernández, commented that this year and at this time, the wells that supply the town of Ajijic are lower than is historically normal, however, none have shown signs of drying up, and he hopes that with the coming rainy season, they will recover as happens every year. Director of SIMAPA Ajijic, Omar Gustavo Cerna, commented that despite the low water level this year, there is no schedule for tandeos – water rationing -which is used only when necessary according to factors such as the amount of water used in the areas that each well supplies.
In his opinion, the lack of water is due to the fact that «more is extracted than is recovered» due to population growth in the area and new developments that are currently under construction, in addition to the lack of consumer culture to make responsible use of drinking water.
Omar Gustavo Cerna López, director of SIMAPA Ajijic, emphasized that the dry season has lasted longer this year, since the normal is two months, and this year it has already exceeded three months. He emphasizes that it is necessary for people to learn to value of drinking water, and conserve it, because it is the vital liquid for life and it is not unlimited. People also need to understand that between the well and the water that comes from the faucet, there is a lot of work involved – the supply can’t be expanded overnight.
Finally, both Alfredo and Omar exhort the community to be aware of water use, and to take actions such as reporting leaks immediately, turning off water faucets, reusing water if possible, and turning off the faucet while soaping oneself at shower time, as well as taking short baths.
At least 5 lots are in dispute in Callejón de la Zapota, with residents resisting land takeover by Armida de la Parra Chavez and the Ceda family.
Redacción (Ajijic, Jal.)- Ajijic residents have denounced Armida de la Parra for invading their land, which they say they have been taking care of for generations until one day a new “owner” arrived with fake deeds. They accuse Armida de la Parra Chavez, also known as Armida De La Parra De Espinoza De Los Monteros, of appropriating other people’s land, in alliance with a group of people dedicated to land theft, who go by the alias «Los Huizapoles».
Mrs. Armida de la Parra has been associated in multiple occasions with the dispossession of lands in Chapala and even in Guadalajara, by expanding her property lines, sending machinery into other properties to “claim” the land saying she inherited it, and then tying up the owners in court for years.
In Ajijic in in Rancho del Oro, she was denounced by the Indigenous Community of Axixix and recently the case in Villa Lucerna, where a trial has been going on for a year. They claim that she is allied with the Ceja family to help them takeover land.
Several families gathered on Tuesday, May 11 to protect the properties located in Villa Lucerna which has been invaded after machinery was used to break wire fences. They stood to protect and area located towards the mountain of Ajijic, also known as «La Zapota», in order to stand guard and make sure that people in question do not enter the land to try to take it over. Thanks to the notice given to the Flores family by one of the affected parties, where machinery had been used to remove the fencing from the land, they arrived immediately and contacted the other neighbors to try to stop the invasion.
The disputed land, 11 thousand square meters, along Callejón de la Zapota street, is divided among several owners, a point disputed by the lawyer handling the case on behalf of De la Parra, who said in an interview that this space is a single property.
However, the problem appears to extend to 5 affected owners, one of whose property was invaded by the Ceja family, nicknamed «Los Huizapoles» -known in the town for illegally appropriating land- who drove a vehicle in the middle of the property.
That day three owners met to block invasion; Manuel Pérez Ramos, Carmen Flores and María de Jesús García Flores. One of the family members who own the invaded land, said she wanted to join with the other affected property owners and file a group lawsuit, in the hope that, since there are many people, it will be more relevant for the authorities and thus be able to fight what they consider an injustice.
The lawyer handling the case for De la Parra Chávez, -who did not want his name to be mentioned- responded that the so-called invaders have a legitimate claim to the land, including the Ceja family «los huizapoles» since they have deeds in Armida’s name, dating back to 1970, with supposed certified copies.
He claimed that the deeds originated in the state of Jalisco and in the municipality of Chapala and emphasized that there was a confusion in the name of one of the parties involved, Armando Espinoza Montelongo came to light, who was confused with Fernando Espinoza de Los Monteros.
Drone.
Patrick O’Heffernan. Ajijic. The Chapala Bomberos are raising funds to buy a firefighting drone that will allow them to spread their resources father during fires, pinpoint where their firefighters are needed most, help find lost hikers and rescue drowning victims.
Drones are reshaping the way fire departments attack fires, deploy resources and communicate. Specially-designed, heavy-duty drones with cameras, speakers, lights and communications systems will enable the Chapala Bomberos to more quickly and effectively fight fires in the hills, like the fire last week on Mt. Garcia.
The Chapala Bomberos are looking at a heavy duty drone that is heat resistant, can travel 7.5 kilometers, and equipped with two way communication and a search light The Technical Institute has committed to train Bomberos staff to use drones for firefighting and rescue operations.
As of this week, the Bomberos have raised $500US toward their goal. Donations can be made
through paypal at ms1cb@yahoo.com or drop off pesos to Manix restaurant #57 Ocampo ajijic. Mark donations for «Bomberos»
Cast of Marjorie Prime: L to R: Mark Donaldson, Peggy Lord Chilton, Debra Bowers, Brian Fuqua.
Tickets are now available online for the Lakeside Little Theater ‘s first production of Season 57,Marjorie Prime, a future tale of a love story embedded in a tragedy surrounding a committed family dealing with loss of memory in age of artificial intelligence.
Written by Jordan Harrison and directed by Lynn Gutstadt, the ART reading stars Peggy Lord Chilton, Debra Bowers, Mark Donaldson, and Brian Fuqua. A finalist for the Pulitzer Prize of Drama, Marjorie Prime is produced through an arrangement with Concord Theatricals, LTD on behalf of Samuel French Ltd.
Marjorie Prime runs May 28, 29 and 30 at 4 pm on the LLT Angel Terrace in San Antonio Tlayacapan. Tickets available at the LLT theater online box office https://lltmex.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales/sales. COVID-19 precautions are in place .
Photo: courtesy.
Patrick O’Heffernan, Ajijic. Seniors over 60 in Chapala have for the most part received their first Sinovac Covid-19 vaccinations. The booster shot is recommended within 42 days to assure full protection. As the recommended date approaches, many are asking when they will be able to get a second shot. Some people are also beginning to consider alternatives like going to the US for shots.
Laguna has researched the top three questions of Lakeside residents regarding the second shots of the Sinovac vaccine, and of alternative strategies for gaining full immunity to Covid-19.
When can we expect a second shot in Chapala?
Kerry Watson posted on the Chapala Health Talk Facebook group this week that Governor Alfaro says second shots will arrive in the “next few days” . This was before 1 milion new doses of the Sinovac vaccine arrived at the MexicoCity airport, so the Governor’s announcement may be sooner than expected.
As of Wednesday afternoon, District IV Health authorities had said that second shots could begin this week or early next week and that seniors should be prepared with all their documents to move quickly on short notice. They also indicated that it is possible that all shots will be given at Christina Park in Chapala according to the alphabetic rank of last names.
How long can we wait after the first shot before it loses potency?
The Mexico Health Department said delaying the second Sinovac shot beyond the recommended interval will not affect the effectiveness of the vaccine. Most medical authorities agree.
A recent study of Pfizer and Moderna vaccine in PLOS Biology suggested that lengthening the time between the first and second dose vaccines to 9–15 weeks may minimize new infections, hospitalizations, and deaths.
The WHO suggests that delaying more than 12 weeks on second shots to spread the first shots to more people is not a problem. The Canadian National Health Advisory Committee on Immunization advised that second doses could be delayed up to 16 weeks. In the UK, the second dose is often delayed past 12 weeks. None of these recommendations specifically mention the Sinovac vaccine, but since all the vaccines function in similar ways the advice that waiting beyond the recommended time limit appears to be safe.
Can I mix vaccines?
Some Expats and Mexicans are flying to the US for second shots that are different from their first shots. Is this a good idea?
Most medical experts agree that there is no theoretical reason why mixed vaccines would not work as well as second shots of the same vaccine, and some even theorized that mixing could improve efficacy. But there is little data and the ongoing trials in Europe of mixed use vaccines will not be available until at least June.
Basically, the first dose of a vaccine primes the immune system and the second dose boosts it. Different vaccines deliver their protein-spiking payloads differently, but the payloads are ultimately the same.
Franz-Werner Haas, the CEO of vaccine maker CureVac, told CNBC that “The good news is all these vaccines are coding for the same spike protein … ..there are clinical trials and data that seem to indicate that you can mix and match these different vaccine platforms.”
He was echoed by Danny Altmann, a professor of immunology at Imperial College London who said that he sees no argument why mixing would be an “unsafe or poor practice”. Other experts have told various media outlets around the world the same thing.
For a second shot, you will need a comprobante, proof of your first shot, your CURP card and some official photo id. Bring a copy of your original registration from the mivacuna website (mivacuna.salud.gob.mx/ ) or the copy of your completed vaccination form that if you were given one when you received your first shot. Bring copies of your citizenship – Temporal or Permanente with both sides of your card printed on one side of a single sheet. A utility bill or proof of residency may also be helpful. Given the arrival of vaccines Thursday, be ready for a message to move quickly to get a shot.
Yolanda Martinez llamas shows off her new supplement offering for health as well as beauty.
Patrick O’Heffernan, Ajijic. Yolanda Martinez Llamas, owner of Yoly’s Styling Salon and the President of Cruz Roja Chapala, obviously believes that health and beauty go together. So she recently added the Immunocal supplements line to her beauty products to give her clients a tool to use to strengthen their immune systems and stay well.
She choose Immunocal because it is a US-patented whey protein isolate – a natural food protein concentrate – which assists the body in maintaining optimal concentrations of glutathione (GSH), a powerful producer of anti-oxidants in the body and it is rated by the FDA as GRAS – generally recognized as safe.
The power of whey protein isolates to help the body generate GSH was discovered at McGill University in Canada in a research project to find a dietary protein source that would optimize the immune system and reduce hospital stays. Scientists there discovered a whey protein concentrate that boosted the immune system by helping maintain high levels of glutathione in 1981 and refined it until 1993 , when Immunocal put it to use.
Immunocal and Immunocal Platinum are lactose- and fat-free whey protein isolates derived from cow’s milk formulated to stimulate the production of GSH and has no known side effects. It was issued a method-of-use patent, which is given when an inventor has discovered a way to use either a patented drug or an unpatentable (generic) drug in a “novel, useful, and non-obvious” way.
Yolanda is happy to offer Immunocal to her clients, especially during the pandemic, because she felt that we all need a way to improve our resistance to diseases and because linking health and beauty makes sense. They can pick up a box after a haircut, making health care a habit as much as beauty care is.
Marjorie Prime opens Lakeside Little Theater’s 57th season on May 28
Lakeside Little Theater launches its first production of Season 57 with Marjorie Prime, a futuristic tale surrounding a love story embedded in a tragedy in a deeply committed family and loss of memory in age f artificial intelligence. Written by Jordan Harrison and directed by Lynn Gutstadt, the ART reading stars Peggy Lord Chilton, Debra Bowers, Mark Donaldson, and Brian Fuqua. A finalist for the Pulitzer Prize of Drama, Marjorie Prime is brought to Ajijic through an arrangement with Concord Theatricals, LTD on behalf of Samuel French Ltd.
Marjorie Prime runs May 28, 29 and 30 at 4 pm on the LLT Angel Terrace in San Antonio Tlayacapan. Tickets available at the LLT theater online box office https://lltmex.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales/sales.
COVID-19 precautions are in place for all performances.
Gold Line collapse seen from a drone (Instagram photo).
Patrick O’Heffernan, Ajijic. On Monday, an overpass on the Golden Line of the Mexico City subway collapsed plunging a packed train 50 feet to the ground , killing at least 24 people and injuring many others, including children. The crash occurred at 10:22 p.m. on one of the newest stretches of track in the subway system, the second largest subway system in the hemisphere.
Critics immediately charged that it was no accident, but the result of shoddy construction, corruption, and years of delayed maintenance. The trending hashtag now in signs and graffiti at the collapse site summarizes the critics:
#NoFueAccidenteFueNegliencia
Problems began almost immediately on Line 12. Beginning in the month the line was inaugurated there were 60 mechanical failures on trains or on tracks causing trains to slow down over elevated stretches of track because of possible derailments. It took a year before the city temporarily shut down part of the line for repairs.
When an earthquake struck Mexico City in 2017, subway managers reported “a structural fault” in one of the metro line’s supporting columns. Workers operating and maintaining the subway system had issued over a dozen complaints to transport authorities over the years, which they said were all ignored, and some workers who complained – including a representative of the subway workers union – were fired.
In 2018 a Master Plan for the subway system revealed substantial backlogs in repairs and maintenance of tracks and trains and warned that the Golden Line could see derailments unless major repairs were undertaken. It is not clear if the recommended work was done.
Finger pointing is now reaching a fever pitch because the collapse affects three of the most powerful politicians in Mexico: President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, and former mayor/now Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard. Ebrard oversaw the construction by a consortium of CARSO Infraestructura y Construccion (CCICSA), Mexico’s Grupo ICA, and the Mexican unit of France’s Alstom SA .
President Lopez Obrador is accused of shortchanging the subway system with his austerity program while he spent money on pet projects like a new airport and a train in southern Mexico. Lopez Obrador rejected the accusation from employers’ association Coparmex, accusing it of being part of his political opposition.
«The metro maintenance has a sufficient budget. It’s authorized by Mexico City’s legislative assembly. What does that have to do with austerity?» he said.
Ebrard came under fire almost immediately for the over-budget construction of the $2 billion line built during his administration for being fraught with structural problems amid warnings of potential accidents. In 2018, Senators from PRI said in an official document that the Golden Line was a “symbol of the corruption and the misuse of public resources that prevailed during that (Ebrard) administration.”
Ebrard said that his own responsibility for the project ended in 2013 and that subsequent administrations were responsible for the operation of the subway, claiming that the accusations against him are politically motivated. He has promised to cooperate fully with the investigation into the accident.
Complaints about the subway system have also been aimed at Mayor Sheinbaum for years. In 2019, accidents caused by mechanical problems on the escalators taking people to and from stations caused several injuries. Then, in March of last year one person was killed and at least 41 others were injured when two subway trains collided on the same track. A fire this January at the subway’s headquarters killed a police officer and sent 30 other people to hospital.
However, Sheinbaum, a close ally of AMLO and a strong supporter of his austerity program, has denied that the cuts in spending contributed to the collapse.
She said it appeared a girder had buckled in an overpass supporting column, which she said was inspected last year. At a later news conference, she said the collapse seemed to indicate a «structural failure”, adding that it is “not possible to say categorically, but it seems this is what happened.»
She joined Ebrard at a press conference, promising full cooperation with the investigation, which is underway by prosecutors and a Norwegian Engineering firm.
The damage will take months to repair and the political fallout will reverberate until at least the next election. The lost and shattered lives will never be repaired.
Compiled from sources including YouTube, the New York Times, the BBC, The Washington Post, El Pais, the Los Angeles Times, and AFP.com
The main PPP breeds in Chapala are Pitbull, Rottweiler, Doberman and Bull Terrier.
Sofia Medeles (Ajijic, Jal.)– The Animal Protection Office of Chapala has launched a campaign to register dogs classified as PPP perros potencialmente peligrosos or potentially dangerous dogs – to encourage responsible ownership and have basic information to help in cases of any type of report related to these dogs.
The registry is called REPPOPEC -Siglas de Registro de Perros Potencialmente Peligrosos de Chapala-, which is free. Four breeds will be registered: Pitbull, Rottweiler, Doberman and Bull Terrier and mix breeds that inherit the dangerous characteristics of the PPP breed. The campaign will run from May 1st until May 28th at the Ecology Department on Niños Heroes street, next to the municipal police station.
The owners of the dogs registered during this period will be able to participate in a raffle carried out by the Ecology Department in partnership with the rescue organization in charge of the Chapala dog shelter. There will be 10 prizes, including sacks of kibble, collars and anti-parasite treatments. Registrations will continue after the raffle’s closing date but will not be entered for a prize. The results of this raffle will be announced on Friday, May 28, through a social media post at 11:00 a.m.
Dog owners must bring the dog’s vaccination record, a proof of address and some official identification. The dog will be checked for characteristics such as weight, eye and coat color, and stains. A unique identification code will be given to each dog, a photo will be taken and its paw prints will be printed on a record that will be filed in the Ecology Department.
The benefits for the registered dogs include a PAW MISSING alert that disseminates its image and characteristics, and help for medical treatment in case of accidents or terminal illnesses (restrictions apply).
Ana Luisa Maldonado, head of the Animal Protection Office of the Department of Ecology, is promoting the project and plans to raise awareness for responsible dog ownership and to end problems such as clandestine breeders and fights. She also wants to quickly identify PPP dogs brought to the Department’s shelter in poor condition. The registry will also aid in handling reports from veterinarians, and will provide a reviewable record to verify and register dogs involved in attacks.
«My priority for now are the PPPs, which for the most part are pit bulls in Chapala. So far, there are only 12 records, we want to keep reporting and if possible, we would like to have a census to know the true population of PPP», said Ana Luisa Maldanado.
Letters addressed to SIOP personnel and to municipal and state governors were presented protesting the change of the cyclopista through the town instead of along La Paz.
Berenice Barragan (Jocotepe) – residents of San Juan Cosalá demonstrated at Jocotepec City Hall to protest the rerouting of the bike path through the town, saying it will disrupt their lives and businesses and the fact that they were not consulted.
Last Wednesday, April 28, protesters gathered to present a letter to the current Municipal President, Juan José Ramírez Campos, the Government of Jalisco, Governor Enrique Alfaro and the staff of the Secretary of Infrastructure and Public Works (SIOP), signed by residents of the town complaining about the project and asking the municipal authorities to follow up on their requests.
«We want them to listen to us, to let the people know what they plan to do and to take us into account. They started to open the street without consulting us.» Said people at the scene.
The project of the Government of the State of Jalisco is in its second stage of construction which includes the stretch between Ajijic and San Juan Cosalá,. The project managers changed the direction of the bike path from La Paz, which runs past the Church of San Juan Cosalá Casa de Luz and is the last street before Lakeshore. It will continue to parallel the Carretera as planned.
Some protesters at the demonstration were dismayed that they had to demonstrate because they had already presented their disagreement with the route change to various government agencies several times. Even with the signed petition letters, some of the protesters believe this measure should have been «unnecessary» since the government was aware of their complaints.
«In my opinion, it is better to build the street from below. It will only hurt us merchants because people will no longer come to buy from us. I don’t know why they make such a fuss if it’s better this way. commented one of the attendees who is in favor of the project.
The 25-kilometer project will continue along the Chapala Highway, passing through the riverside town, thus giving continuity to the original course. Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan
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