There were 1,800 vaccines applied on the second day of vaccination.
Berenice Barragan (Jocotepec) – The three-day vaccination campaign to deliver the second dose of SINOVAC in Jocotepec took place as more than four thousand senior citizens and hundreds of family members converged on the Community Hospital of Jocotepec.
Guards at the facilities said that in spite of the fact that health and municipal authorities asked people not to wait in line a day before or in the early morning, residents ignored the instruction, so that registration began as early as 2:00 a.m. when staff saw that elderly adults and family members were already lined up.
The 4,200 doses of SINOVAC vaccine arrived at approximately 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 26, was unloaded, counted and prepared for distribution, which took medical personnel about an hour. First shots were applied at 12 noon. The process went smoothly on Day 1 and 800 shots were administered with little waiting once they began.
On Tuesday, April 27, the doses were already at the Community Hospital so the second day of the campaign began at 8:00 a.m., and the first group of 200 people were done and ready to leave with their booster an hour later. With 1,800 vaccines administered on the second day of the campaign, most of Jocotepec’s elderly population was immunized in two days.
Wednesday’s waiting line was much shorter, however people on the scene reported that there were dozens of people from Chapala, Cuidad Guzman, Ocotlan and even Guadalajara waiting at the hospital hoping to receive the second dose, since there was still no date for booster shots in their municipalities.
«People from other municipalities arrived for booster shots but we asked them to leave because the vaccine doses were already counted and labeled for the people of Jocotepec», Municipal Medical Services Director Ángel Aguirre Pimienta said.
Health personnel from the Community Hospital of Jocotepec, Servidores de la Nación and Municipal Medical Services personnel pointed to the quick and efficient vaccination of more than 4 thousand senior citizens in Jocotepec and its towns, calling it a success.
The director of Municipal Medical Services of Jocotepec, expressed his gratitude to the personnel of the Jocotepec City Hall, to the staff of the municipal clinic, the nurses and doctors of health centers and the medical staff of the host hospital, who provided assistance and care at all times to those vaccinated and their families. Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan
Photo: Director of Chapala Movilidad, Geraldo Bautista Mejía.
Patrick O’Heffernan, Ajijic, and Arturo Ortega (Chapala). Director of Chapala Movilidad, Geraldo Bautista Mejía disagrees with the design and execution of the infamous “Walmart intersection” where the Libramiento, the Carretera and the entrances to Walmart, and the shops of Centro de Laguna all come together.
“Everything is wrong with the Walmart intersection:, he told Laguna in an early morning interview over a cup of tea. “We only wanted three lights; now there are so many, much too many,” he said.
When asked specifically about questions posted by citizens on social media , his answers were clear – right now drivers can’t do what seems simply logical. He said that it is not legal now for people to turn left into the Walmart parking lot from the eastbound lanes of the Carretera – in other words, you can’t get into Walmart from Chapala or San Antonio Tlayacapan.
He also told Laguna that the option of going straight into the Walmart parking entrance from the left lane of the Libramiento is not legal – something he wants the state to change. Nor is it legal to take the turn lane from the Libramiento and turn in any direction but right onto the Carretera – in other words, you cannot enter Walmart legally from the east or the Libramiento. He said he wants to change that.
He put the blame for the consuming intersection squarely on SIOP, who designed and built the intersection with little input from the Chapala municipalidad. He said that the intersection was rebuilt because of all the complaints and accidents. He noted that during Holy Week there were only flashing traffic lights but the result was very slow traffic, so SIOP reprogrammed the lights as they are now to speed up the flow of cars. He stressed that only SIOP can program the traffic lights.
Hopefully help is on the way, according to Bautista Mejía, when The Site Representative from SIOP visits the intersection next week.
“ In eight days José Pablo Dávalos Cervantes, of SIOP will visit the intersection and see the problem fresh and maybe fix it with lights or signs” , Bautista Mejía, told Laguna. He continued, saying that he would ask the Municipal President of Chapala to accompany José Pablo Dávalos on the visit.
He told Laguna that after the final changes and corrections are made to the intersection, responsibility for its maintenance and operation will revert to Chapala, and he will be responsible for it. He is determined to make it work.
“I want to do it right,” he told Laguna forcefully, hoping that he is not handed a mess to clean up and that he can operate it for safety and a good traffic flow.
Lourdes Montain.
Sofía Medeles (Ajijic, Jal.)– The local environmental group Axixic Chimalli released a study on the danger avalanches or «Trombas” resulting from excessive urbanization in mountains. The study was conducted in collaboration with the criminal sciences expert Dr. Raquel Gutiérrez Nájera, Ph.D., and geographer Luis Valdivia Ornelas.
Noris Binet, a spokesperson for he Axixic Chimalli group, explained that the study is a technical report analyzing why different landslides and mudslides have occurred over the years when urbanization puts homes and residents of the town at risk due to factors such as steep slopes, runoff and soil type.
He explained that the main purpose of this study is to support the lawsuits brought by Dr. Raquel seeking to stop all types of invasive construction in the mountains and the advance of the urban sprawl towards the mountains.
«The doctor cannot go to the judges and just tell them to stop the construction; this study provides the proof needed to demonstrate that it is violating human rights. The developers do not guarantee the safety of homes and they exacerbate the lack of services like water while they risk a catastrophe to buildings and people in the area of the construction,» stated Noris.
The file – which can be found in the Facebook group «Ajijic Junta Vecinal»- includes the history, of the landslides and the damages they have caused in the last 50 years in San Juan Cosalá, Jocotepec and Ajijic. Both Axixic Chimalli and Dr. Raquel s plan to continue with this type of studies along the riverbank, with the same purpose.
In addition, Binet explained the importance of education and awareness beyond the dissemination of the report.
«In addition to its use in court, this document can really help other people to understand why the residents in Axixic Chimalli seek to stop construction in sites that represent an imbalance for the environment, and cause damage, » he said.
He also pointed out that this is the right moment to act, and if we don’t , «it will be too late». He said that progress is not about being destroyers, but about being sustainable, so that the next generations can solve or avoid the problems caused by the environmental degradation caused by previous generations. Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan
Dozens of Cosalense residents gathered at the school «de abajo» to express their disagreement with the direction of the bike path to municipal authorities.
Berenice Barragan (Jocotepec, Jalisco) – Many residents of San Juan Cosalá protested against the changes in the Chapala-Jocotepec bike path, the 25 kilometer bike path will go through La Paz street in San Juan Cosalá on its way to Jocotepec Dozens of protesters gathered Wednesday, April 21, at the 700 Urban Elementary School, J. Encarnación Rosas, on La Paz Street at the intersection of Del Cardenal Street to voice their concerns.
«We were not informed that the direction of the work would be changed, “ one protester told Laguna, saying that, “as residents, we don’t like the fact that they are coming down the street below. Chapala and Ajijic are very nice with the bicycle path, but San Juan will have nothing to beautify it because of the road».
However, as Director of Public Works of Jocotepec Héctor Hernández, who represented himself as the voice of the state government and municipal authorities listened, local merchants supported the change of the second section of the bike path. The second section of the work began construction last September, comprising Ajijic and San Juan Cosalá, valued by the Secretary of Infrastructure and Public Works (SIOP) at 87.5 million pesos.
«If they continue the work along the highway, they will not leave us space to unload our merchandise, and our sales will drop because people will no longer have a place to park». said the merchants.
Hernández explained that, although the work was a federal project, he would notify the corresponding agencies of the people’s disagreements, which would remove him from responsibility for the work.
«I will make sure that they come and listen to them as I am doing. I will do what the majority of the municipality is in favor of,” he assured the demonstrators.
Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan
Poster.
Patrick O’Heffernan, Ajijic. Lakeside’s music season is off to a great start with the International Music Festival this weekend, produced by the Ajijic-based music organization Ray Velvet Productions, directed by Ray Domenech of Casa Domenech. The festival launches Friday evening with R&B and funk, moves onto Saturday with soft rock by Ajijic’s own SAGREY, and wraps up Sunday with hot Latin music from Mexico, Cuba and Venezuela.
The festival will be held at Number 9, a large outdoor venue owned by a local musician, located at Aquiles Serdan #9, 20 steps down from Vinos America on the Carretera. Festival goers will enjoy a Mexican all-you-can-eat buffet dinner with fresh handmade tortillas, a cash bar, and socially-distanced tables.
Friday’s lineup is ON FIRE , a R&B and jazz funk band with Willy Zavala on keys, Armando Curiel on drums and “Malabres” on bass and featuring Ajijic’s star saxman, Chuco Soto. Saturday evening will bring the vocals of Barbara Sagrey, fronting the SAGREY ban , with Diego Casas on drums, Kevin Real on bass, Azael Medeles on Keyboard, Ray Domenech on guitar and Kenji Matsui from Japan on lead guitar.
The Festival wraps up Sunday, April 25, with MANO PA’RRIBA, playing red hot Latin Music with the beloved Freddy Adrian from Venezuela on standup bass, Mexico’s Giovanni Figueroa on drums and Ronald Rivero from CUBA on the keyboard and fronted by Jackie Jacks with her beautiful vocals.
Tickets are $700 for VIP and $580 for general admission for each day (discount for multiple days). You can buy your tickets online at: Paypal.me/rayvelvetpro or in Casa Domenech, Zaragoza 109 Ajijic ,or At Angelina’s inside the Lake Chapala Society. Doors open at 6:30pm each day.
Pitbull, Rottweiler, Dogo Argentino, Boxer, Bull Terrier, Doberman, among others, are classified as PPP.
Sofia Medeles (Ajijic Jal.)– In the last six months at least three cases have been reported of attacks on humans by the so-called PPP, (Perros Potencialmente Peligrosos), dog breeds. In response, Ana Luisa Maldonado, head of the Animal Protection Office of the municipality of Chapala has announced that her office will enforce the obligations of the owners of PPP dogs.
PPP (or PDD in English) is derived from the Spanish Royal Decree 287/2002 that has been used in several Latin American countries to designate breeds with characteristics that can represent a danger due to injury or even death to humans because of their strength, energy, and aggressive character. PPP breeds include Pitbull Terrier and all its variations, the Rottweiler, Doberman, Dogo Argentino, Boxer, Mastiffs, Dogue de Bordeaux, Akita Inu, Fila Brasileiro, Bull Terrier, and any other dog with the PPP characteristics.
The Director of Ecology, José Jaime Ibarra, and the head of the Animal Protection Office, Ana Luisa Maldonado, explained that the danger with this type of breeds comes mainly from the lack of training of the owners about their dogs, and by the owners of the dogs.
Three of the most serious incidents in the municipality have occurred with Pitbull dogs; in one incident, the Pitbull was mortally wounded by the owner of another dog that it allegedly assaulted; in the second incident an aggressive dog killed a puppy; and in the third, a dog brutally bit an elderly woman in San Antonio Tlayacapan.
The obligations for the owners of these dogs are three: to keep them muzzled while in public spaces, not to remove the leash at any time while walking with them, and finally to register this type of dog in the Ecology Department so it can better monitor the population and behavior of each one.
Ana Luisa Maldonado said that in the coming months, PPP dogs that do not comply with the established rules will be cited and the municipal police will be able to remove them from their owners.
The trials of the owners of the dogs involved in three incidents have been moving slowly, according to Maldonado, because of witnesses, victims and owners who do «not want to get in trouble» so they distort their testimony. The judge involved, Judge Guillermo Hernandez, has been accused of errors and omissions in the case of the puppy named Alexa, and Ecology Director Jose Jaime said that the judge was sanctioned with a suspension of activities without pay.
Meanwhile, in the Department’s dog shelter there are 8 pit bulls in rehabilitation after they were assaulted and are not considered dangerous. However, because the shelter is staffed by older adults, the dogs represent a problem when dealing with them due to their size and strength, so Ana Luisa Maldonado wants to set up an exclusive space for PPP dogs where they can coexist and interact properly.
Both José Jaime Ibarra, and Anna Luisa Maldonado stress that it is urgent to de-stigmatize these breeds and educate the population regarding dogs in general, because problems with dogs always come from the lack of respect for pets. «A dog is a reflection of the owners and the situation of their home, we must start with education to eradicate any kind of problem,» they said. Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan
Walmart intersection.
I am a Los Angeleno; I was born with a steering wheel in my mouth. I know driving (over a million miles in at least 10 countries and no chargeable accidents). But the Walmart intersection is beyond me. So I randomly asked people in the Centro Laguna and the Walmart parking lots what they thought about Lakeside’s newest “traffic improvement project”. Here is a sample of what is printable in a family newspaper.
“I think it was designed to let the traffic police give us more tickets but even they don’t understand it,” said Stan, a Canadian who lives in La Floresta.
“It is my worst nightmare,” said Royal, “ because I have to go through it every day and every day it is a mess.”
“It is amazing how a traffic light actually increases traffic”, Monica said as she was loading her car in the Walmart parking lot. She said something in Spanish to her passenger and they both cracked up pointing to a car going the wrong way on the road in front of the parking lot.
“It seems like the government – whichever government it is, I can never keep them straight – had a mission to install as many lights as possible with no regard for how they impacted traffic- this was just a stoplight full-employment program. Drivers be dammed,” cracked Roger, an American eating a hamburger at Centro Laguna.
“If you have to ask, you have not driven through it,” Rebecca told me, her meaning clear from the scowl on her face.
I had to agree with them. I came from Chapala this morning and needed to turn into Walmart.
You can’t. The entrance into Walmart from the Carretera is blocked. There is no way to make a left turn into Walmart if you are coming from Chapala and no way from the Libramento. At least I don’t think there is. There is a double traffic light over what could be a left turn into Walmart from the east, but it is either red or green – never a green arrow. As a very polite cop who pulled me over recently told me that in Mexico you can’t make a left turn on a red light or a green light; you have to wait for a green arrow.
But there is no green arrow, so think it is OK. At least the car three ahead of me thought it was ok and he turned left into the Walmart lot on a green light after oncoming traffic on the Carretera waited for him.
I was chicken. My solution was to go down to the La Floresta sculpture, make a U-turn then a right into Walmart, after enduring the traffic backup. Getting out of Walmart is equally dicey – a left turn across the Carretera, but at least there is a light.
I also noticed that most people have not figured out the red arrow on the approach to the Carretera from the Libramento, especially bicyclists who are not sure what the cars think they should do and if the cyclists guess wrong, they end up under a car.
I think Roger had it right – the Walmart intersection is a traffic light full-employment program that is not really intended to improve traffic or cut down accidents. But maybe when all the barrels and tape and barriers are moved I will be proved wrong. I hope so. Patrick O’Heffernan
Emma’s Deli re-opens Monday.
Patrick O’Heffernan, Ajijic. Bagels and lox anyone? They will be ready for you Monday morning at the grand re-opening of Emmas’s Deli at Ramón Corona 5, a half block south of the Lake Chapala Society in Ajijic. Or come for lunch and the new sirloin burgers.01
A favorite of the Expat crowd since opening as they learned that owner Fabian Zamora and his wife Alejandra have perfected the American-style hot dog (Chicago, kraut or cheese), Reuban sandwiches, and Pastrami on Jewish rye for a bit of New York or Chicago in Ajijic. Emma’s was full almost every day with Expats wandering over from LCS or their offices and apartments in the neighborhood for lunch, or even from San Antonio Tlayacapan. But, even with some outdoor seating, Zamora said they could not remain open with the Covid infection rates in the Red Light zone. So to stay in business they shifted to making bagels that are now found in markets throughout Lakeside.
But with the Covid shutdown lifted, Fabian and Alejandra decided it was time not just to re-open, but to expand their hours to include breakfast and beef up with menu with bagels and lox and sirloin burgers. Plus fresh bagels are available at the deli, along with their traditional apple pie, New York cheese cake and matzo ball soup.
Word got out so their were people lined up on Thursday for an unadvertised “soft opening” to make sure the recipes were spot-on. Monday is the full scale opening with breakfast starting at between 8:3- and 9 am and lunch from 11:30 am to 3:30 pm. Covid protocols will be in place .
Ghristopher Michael Kilough, missing from Jocotepec.
Patrick O’Heffernan, Ajijic. Fifteen-year old Christopher Michael Kilough went to Oxxo at 8:20 am on April 4, 2021, a few blocks from his aunt’s house in Jocotepec and never returned. Since then there has been no word from him, no evidence of foul play or other indication of what happened to him – he simply vanished. His disappearance followed a tumultuous two weeks in which his Expat mother and father fought constantly, his father died and his mother left Mexico for the US.
A huge effort has been launched to locate Christopher including posters, Amber alerts, t-shirts, videos, banners and social media posts and shares. As of our deadline on April 15, 2021, Kilpough’s granddaughter confirmed to Laguna that there has been no word of or from him. There has been an outpouring of support and help on his behalf from both government and private parties .Note: the interview has been edited and condensed in places for space and to protect privacy.
Laguna: When did your grandson go missing?
Cheryl Kilough: April 4, 2021 at 8:21 in the morning walking to the store to get some milk. He never returned. I have heard nothing since them
Laguna: Did you report him missing to the authorities?
Cheryl Kilough: Yes. We contacted the authorities in Jocotepec at the police station and they refused to take a report. They sent us to the Chapala police
Laguna: Did they say why they did refused to take a report and send you to another country?
Cheryl Kilough: No. They said Chapala should make a police report. This was Wednesday two days after he disappeared. We reported to the Chapala police and the Embassy. Both were very cooperative and very helpful, especially the Chapala Police.
Laguna: What was the follow up from the authorities?
Cheryl Kilough: The State Police came here and interviewed my son, Chris. The Embassy contacted me, gathered information and sent the report to three of their departments to follow up. All of them have gotten back to me. An Amber Alert was sent out. The Polly Klass Foundation’s Klaas Kids contacted us and are helping to find Chris. An investigator was here yesterday to compile information that might be helpful. And of course my two sons
have been combing Lakeside to find him.
Laguna: What has the response bee when you ask people to post your flyers?
Cheryl Kilough: The most amazing thing has been the loving response. Many of the businesses we approached to put our posters in knew Chris , since he has been here a while, and were very helpful. There have been people who asked for flyers. People have posted flyers in their cars. I am very touched and gratified by the response to our outreach.
Laguna: How would you describe the response of the government agencies you talked with?
Cheryl Kilough: Well, here in Jocotepec the response has not been very good. The response from Chapala has been very good. They have come over here a couple of times to talk with us, they have helped us. They were simply amazing.
Laguna: Do you have any theories on what may have happened to your grandson?
Cheryl Kilough: The only parent my grandson Christopher had was my son Chris, who is now dead. When Christopher saw his dad lying on the floor he was screaming “Dad. Dad”. We called for help – the medics who came to the house immediately tried to CPR but to no avail. We took him to the hospital, but they were not helpful, they did nothing. This impacted Christopher terribly. Then his mother left – vanished to the US. Christopher was trying to cope with the death of his dad and abandonment by his mother. So one theory is she is involved in his disappearance. Another is that he is seeking justice for his father’s death in the US.
Laguna: What other steps are you taking to find him
Cheryl Kilough: I am continuing to work with authorities. Amber Alert has been amazing -they are working to get the word out in Guadalajara. We also talked to women who can work with phones to track people even if their phones are off., since we have had reports that people have seen him in Guadalajara and others who have seen him in Texas (although nothing concrete). QWe will be putting up banners in Lakeside soon.
Laguna: If he did leave the country to seek retribution for his father’s death, could he get very far?
Cheryl Kilough: We don’t know. He only had $100 – no credit cards and no visa cards. It won’t be easy. I am providing the Embassy information on his mother so they can contact her in the US to see he has made contact.
Laguna: Has this story been covered in the US, since his mother fled to the US and he may be there?
Cheryl Kilough: No. Laguna is the only media to talk with us. We will keep getting the word out every way we can.
Christopher Michael Kilough (also known as Christopher Remington) was last seen near central Jocotepec wearing a red flannel shirt and dark blue jeans and carrying a backpack. He is 15 years old and an American citizen and does not speak Spanish. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of should contact Cheryl Kilough t 33 3030 4949
From left to right: Emmanuel Medeles, Artistic Director, Michael Reason, Conductor, Lake Chapala Community Orchestra, Fabiola Ramos, Administrador Areli Medeles, Tutor.
Patrick O’Heffernan, Ajijic. The legacy music school founded over 20 years was on the brink of closing until its fans and supporters stepped up with enthusiastic support of an online fundraising campaign based in Canada.
“We had fallen from 55 students to 25, a major loss of tuition revenue, and we were not able to produce on any concerts, a major source of revenue”, Michael Reason , Founder and Conductor of the Lake Chapala Community Orchestra and a supporter of CREM told Laguna. He explained GoFundMe is not supported in Mexico so he set up a Canadian campaign that allowed people to easily donate on line from Mexico.
“As a musician and the founder of the Lake Chapala Community Orchestra it was obvious to me that if the pandemic was to go on a long time a lot of educational institutions – especially in music – would suffer because of the economic conditions and the public health situation, “ he said, adding that “CREAM relies on tuition fees but its philosophy is that it doesn’t not matter what your economic situation is they will offer scholarships.”
Reason got involved when a member of his orchestra told him about CREM’s financial problem and since, he has “ always been committed to music education – its important to a person’s character as well as music knowledge,” he stepped in to help out the beloved institution.
CEM was founded 1n 1990 by the late beloved Ajijic singer and music composer Victor Manuel Medeles, beginning with a children’s choir and then introduced instrumental training over time until its present curriculum. It became a registered non-profit under the name CREMusica A.C. in 2013.
Most students – all Mexicans – are children or teens, but there is no age limit. Until the pandemic, CREM had 55 students and several instructors and tutors who taught music theory, trained students on various instruments and operated an orchestra and choir, chamber music groups, and various ensembles. Once a year there is a public exam where students play pieces they have prepared over the year. Many of the first generation of its graduates are part of the Jalisco Philharmonic or are professional musicians.
Reason and the staff and students and families of CREAM are excited at the success to date of the GoFundMe campaign and hope it reaches its goal in a few weeks. The school has limped along with a few online classes and some backyard or home practice sessions but neither of these provide the funds or the education CREM and its students need.
Ramos feels that meeting their GofundMe goal will tied them over but Ramos and Reason are realistic about the mid- and long term success of the school and its funding.
“We will need to continue to raise funds, perhaps with small house concerts this summer for scholarships to bring our students back,” CREM Administrator Fabiola Ramos told Laguna, adding that ;they may try to produce some all school concerts this summer.
Monthly tuition is $535 pesos – very low for most schools, but still a significant amount for the average Mexican family in Lakeside, so scholarships are important to guarantee that that school is open to everyone regardless of financial situation, one of the school’s goals.
People who want to donate or volunteer should go to the school’s Facebook page at facebook.com/CentroRegionalDeEstudiosMusicales or directly to the GoFundMe campaign at https://bit.ly/2PF8z7v
© 2016. Todos los derechos reservados. Semanario de la Ribera de Chapala