En algún momento de la velada, el propio Pedro Rey subió al escenario y cantó.

Patrick O’Heffernan.- La Gala del Mariachi realizada en el Lake Chapala Society (LCS), producida el sábado pasado para recaudar fondos para la Escuela de Mariachi Pedro Rey, fue un éxito, recaudando más de 90 mil pesos y rompiendo récord de asistencia.

Más de 250 personas disfrutaron de la música, una de las mayores audiencias que LCS haya visto en un Concierto en el Parque, según el presidente del consejo de LCS, Steve Balfour.

Una obra donada por el creador Efrén González se subastó en el evento por 28 mil pesos.

La Gala, que fue la presentación final del festival de mariachi Al Son de Lago en Ajijic, atrajo a los mejores talentos del mundo del mariachi, así como a estudiantes de la Escuela Pedro Rey, que entretuvieron a una audiencia cautivada por su alto nivel de talento musical y profesionalismo.

Para muchos, el plato fuerte de la Gala fue el Mariachi Femenil Corona, uno de los grupos de mariachis femeninos más importantes de México, que entretuvo a un público desbordadoLake C con canciones modernas y clásicas y una constante sucesión de chistes e historias.

El Mariachi Femenil Corona, que tuvo sus inicios como grupo el 2 de julio de 2015, se presentó en La Voz México, el Festival Internacional del Mariachi en Guadalajara, y ha lanzado cuatro sencillos en los primeros cuatro meses de 2023.

Les siguió el Mariachi Corona, que volcó su alma en su música con virtuosismo y pasión, poniendo al público de pie y aplaudiendo. En algún momento de la velada, el propio Pedro Rey subió al escenario y cantó, demostrando que su voz seguía tan potente como siempre.

Alumnos de la Escuela de Mariachi Pedro Rey. Foto: Patrick O’Heffernan.

La Escuela de Mariachi Pedro Rey, dedicada a enseñar y preservar el arte y la música del mariachi, abrió sus puertas en junio de 2022 con 35 alumnos, que ofrecen clases a chicos y chicas de siete a 17 años.

Daniel Medeles es el director y fundador de la escuela ubicada en la calle Constitución 147, en la Casa de Adobe. La escuela ahora enseña a docenas de niñas y niños cada semana, realiza conciertos y participa en festivales de mariachi, galas y conversatorios en toda la Ribera de Chapala.

Balfour se mostró encantado con la asistencia y señaló que entre el público había muchas familias y aficionados mexicanos. También señaló que los grupos tocaron gratis, donando sus honorarios a la Escuela, lo que hizo posible que toda la venta de entradas fuera directamente a la Escuela de Mariachi Pedro Rey.

Comisario de Chapala, Alfredo Ulloa Higuera, dando una plática sobre seguridad a los extranjeros. Foto: Sofía Medeles.

Sofía Medeles.- Oficiales de la corporación policial de Chapala compartieron a miembros de la comunidad extranjera medidas de autocuidado para mantenerse al margen de situaciones que los puedan poner en riesgo en la Ribera. 

La plática informativa se realizó el pasado viernes 17 de marzo, en las instalaciones de Lake Chapala Society (LCS), siendo la última sesión de un ciclo de charlas relacionadas con seguridad y finanzas, y fue impartida por el titular de seguridad de Chapala, Alfredo Ulloa Higuera.

Según compartió el Comisario, se brindó a los expatriados medidas de autocuidado para prevenir robos, como por ejemplo, ir acompañados cuando retiren grandes cantidades de dinero, estar al pendiente de sus objetos personales como carteras, celulares y bolsos, y dejar sus vehículos y hogares cerrados. Además se les compartió una vía de comunicación directa para denunciar cualquier tipo de delito a través de WhatsApp al número 33 2029 0866. 

“La tecnología nos ofrece romper esta barrera que puede ser el idioma, y ofrecerles un apoyo inmediato. Al comunicarse a este número, si requerimos algo de información de lo que está pasando, por ejemplo, una breve descripción, que envíen su ubicación, para así poderles brindar el apoyo, y darles indicaciones en caso de ser necesario”, explicó Ulloa Higuera.

El comisario reiteró que las redes sociales no son una autoridad, por lo que no sirve de nada que coloquen ahí sus denuncias, e incluso, podría ser contraproducente el hacer públicas las caras de los agresores, entorpeciendo las investigaciones de las denuncias.

Además del número de WhatsApp, el cual únicamente recibe mensajes escritos, están los números 376 765 4444 y 376 765 4455 que reciben llamadas, aunque solo en el idioma en español, y el 911, que según comentó el comisario, tarda un poco más en ofrecer asistencia.

Corte del listón inaugural de la exposición Retrospectiva 1954-2023 Legado Artístico Neill James. Foto: Sofía Medeles.

Sofía Medeles.- La primera exposición colectiva titulada “Retrospectiva 1954-2023” se realizó con éxito, y los integrantes del grupo Legado Artístico de Neill James, informaron que con las ganancias buscarán seguir exhibiendo el trabajo que la filántropa hizo en Ajijic. 

Algunos de los integrantes del Legado Artístico de Neill James. Arriba de izquierda a derecha: Domingo Márquez, Jesús López Vega. Abajo, de izquierda a derecha: Antonio López Vega y Daniel Palma. Foto: Sofía Medeles.

La muestra pictórica se realizó el siete de enero en las instalaciones del Lake Chapala Society (LCS), con la participación de alrededor de 25 artistas que fueron formados por Neill James, entre niños, adultos e incluso, hubo obras de artistas fallecidos, expusieron un aproximado de 100 obras. 

Se vendieron 24 mil 300 pesos, de estos, el 20 por ciento fue donado por los artistas, es decir, cuatro mil 860 pesos. A esta cifra, se le sumó lo recaudado por la venta de comida y bebida, que fueron tres mil 100; dando un total de siete mil 960 pesos recaudados.

Entre los planes, metas y objetivos del grupo están retomar las becas para que los niños más talentosos del taller infantil de pintura de Neill James, el cual se realiza los sábados en LCS, puedan formarse profesionalmente en las artes plásticas, según comentaron los entrevistados Jesús y Antonio López Vega, Daniel Palma y Domingo Márquez. 

Fotografías de Neill James, que se expusieron en el evento. Foto: Sofía Medeles.

Además de que buscarán un espacio para tener una exposición permanente de las más de mil 300 obras de los niños del taller, desde 1950 hasta el 2010, y de la colección de arte que perteneció a Neill James, la cual adquirió de sus propios alumnos, y a futuro, poder crear un catálogo cronológico de sus cientos de alumnos.

Aunque aún se encuentran en pláticas para programar próximos eventos, Jesús López Vega aseguró que buscarán tener al menos tres eventos al año, por ejemplo, en Día de Muertos, propiciando la unidad de la comunidad local con LCS.

Neill James fue una periodista y viajera, que llegó a Ajijic tras un accidente mientras escalaba las laderas del volcán Paricutín, en Michoacán. No solo fundó el taller de artes para niños, del cual salieron varios artistas prominentes, sino que fundó la primera biblioteca de Ajijic, ayudó a instalar la luz eléctrica, el centro de salud, e inició con los desayunos gratuitos para niños en primaria. 

Casa D owner Ray Domenech and long-time fan celebrate the Grand Opening of Casa D LCS.

Patrick O’Heffernan (Ajijic JAL). It’s official!  The new, improved and larger Casa Domenech  launched  at the Lake Chapala Society with a packed  – but Covid safe – Grand Opening Saturday. The community Ray Domenech has built for years around his original location – fans and musicians –  turned out in force.

Casa Domenech is now in the space at the LCS formerly known as Angelina’s which was operated by Ray Domenech for lunch and breakfast.  Casa Domenech is now open for breakfast lunch and dinner and features music most days for lunch and dinner.

The Grand Opening followed a  short “break-in” period in which  Casa D was open for food and music but had not yet been officially inaugurated.  Ray Domenech wanted to make sure the operation was smoothed out and working perfectly, which it was by Opening Night.  The celebration also showcased the advantage of moving Casa D from its original location in a small restaurant in West Ajijic to LCS where seating was outdoors and could spread beyond the immediate restaurant into the adjacent courtyard.  

“I love the new space where we can continue to create food, music and community like we have for five years, only with more people.  Many thanks to LCS for inviting us,” Domenech told Laguna.

According to Domenech, he can produce events for well over a hundred people at LCS. And the different seating locations give diners the option of being close to the music, or far away for conversation. And of course, special events like the recent Casa Domenech 5th Anniversary party in the LCS courtyard are always possible.

Music was in abundance, headlined by the Aloha Rock band and joined by the duo Old Souls – Scott Henrich and Yvonne Watterson,  singer Barbara Sangrey and folksingers Mike and Terrie.  And of course Ray Domenech sat in with his guitar whenever he could.

Casa D at LS is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Dinner served at 4:30 pm until 8 pm.  Enter through the library entrance to LCS for dinner.

Lupita Jimenez entertains the sold-out crowd.

Patrick O’Heffernan Ajijic (JAL) The sold-out Wednesday afternoon concert starred Lupita Jimenez, Roy Cruz and SAGREY and featured  awards, door prizes, opportunities to underwrite a Cruz Roja table at LCS, plus  free-flowing alcohol and appetizers.  But the real star was Cruz Roja.

Produced by LCS-Board Chair Steve Balfour – who celebrated his birthday at the concert – the event was classily designed  with white tablecloth seating, waiters serving delicious appetizers  and tequila and a program packed with talent and events. But the focus was on rebuilding Cruz Roja, financially hurt by the Covid crises that prevented its fundraising events, helping it build a badly-needed new facility to treat patients. The LCS concert kicked off a new fundraising campaign for Cruz Roja, netting $320,000 pesos.

Yolanda Martinez address Mexicans and Expats, thanking them for their support

Sponsors included Jose Cuervo, Semanario Laguna, Pancho’s Deli Market, and Ray Domenech of Casa Domenech and Angelica’s restaurant. The audience was both Mexican and Expat and the language from the stage was both English and Spanish so everyone felt at home.  

The concert opened with Ajijic’s Mexican folkloric  troupe performing traditional dances in colorful costumes as cameras clicked and whirred. Next,  local Mexican singer Lupita Jimenez,  a long-time friend and supporter of Cruz Roja, was introduced and let loose with classic Mexican songs and a few American Standards, and got the crowd singing with her – Expats and Mexicans together in Spanish.  

As the applause died down, Yolanda Martinez, President of Cruz Roja Chapala, mounted the stage, almost dwarfed  by the huge red cross podium.  She thanked the packed crowd for their generosity and then welcomed the National Cruz Roja Vice President and translated his address. The architects for the new facility then walked the audience  through the design process, and urged them to look  at the plans for the new Cruz Roja medical facility arrayed around the Lawn on easels.

Roy Cruz brings the Freddie Mercury story to LCS 

Freddie Mercury imitator Roy Cruz, put on a preview of his coming July 25 performance at LCS, singing Queen’s classics, moving around the crowd, urging them to join him in song and even welcoming a super Queen fan who had traveled here to see him.  The local band SAGUEY, fronted by blues/jazz singer Barbara Saguey, kept the crowd dancing until well past closing time.

The music was broken up, however, with a door prize drawing for prime bottles of tequila, an opportunity for people to get together to pledge $40,000 pesos for a new LCS table for Cruz Roja (they did), and a birthday cake for LCS-Board Chair Steve Balfour. 

The concert was a one-time event to launch Cruz Roja’s fundraising season, but the need to support Cruz Roja  is ongoing.  With a monthly budget of $300,000, Cruz Roja ‘s ambulances and food and health services  serve everyone but are  a lifeline to the poor in Lakeside because it charges no fees for its services, relying  on donations for its operations and to build a fund to construct a new facility.

Donations of any amount can be made by dropping them off at Yoly’s Unisex Styling Salon, next to El Torito market in Ajijic or at the Cruz Roja Chapala headquarters in Chapala next to Christina Park.

Poster for Quarantine for Two.

Patrick O’Heffernan, English Editor. After being off the stage for an entire season, Lakeside Little Theater will present a fully realized play – actors, costumes, stage, props – all in a socially distanced, Covid-19 safe, specially-built outdoor theater on the Angel Terrace.

Appropriately entitled Quarantine for Two, the play written by Hy Conrad who has generously allowed LLT to produce it, will feature three actors live onstage, six live by Zoom, and three projected onto a screen.  The stage will be specially constructed  under the awning on the Angel Terrace with the audience seated outside in socially distanced chairs and mandatory masks.

The dark comedy speaks to our times. After months of quarantine, the recently retired Oscar Ebersol and his wife Ruth are driving one another nuts and are ready to kill each other.  A chance encounter with a stranger turns their world upside down and someone is likely to end up dead!

On stage will be Peter King as Oscar, Monnie King as Ruth, and Brian Fuqua as Marty the disruptive stranger.  On screen will be Johanna Labadie and Gabriel Casillas and the Zoom party will feature Donna Burroughs, Randy Warren, Araceli Kopiloff, Brian Mattes, Carlos Rodriquez, and JeanMarie Harmon.

Quarantine for Two will run from March 25 through April 2, with no show on March 29.  All productions will begin at 7:30 pm except for Saturday and Sunday,  March 27 and 28, when curtain will be at 4 pm.  

Lake Chapala Society 2020 budget projection showing  a project loss of over $221,000 pesos.  The actual deficit was over $300,000 pesos.

Patrick O’Heffernan, Ajijic.  “We almost closed,”  LCS Board President Stephen Balfour told the LCS Annual General Meeting Tuesday, reporting to the members gathered online  that “during June and September we were at a high risk of closing – we were looking at being $1.3 million pesos below budget at the end of the year.  We were exploring selling the Wilkes Center, laying off our staff, and even closing and selling the campus  – we faced the possibility of closing for good.”

But the members and donors of LCS came through with a jaw dropping $2.3 million pesos in donations–  fr more than its projected donations budget – which not only staved off the end of LCS, but to enabled it to emerge stronger and ready to raise funds  to  move ahead with is  new LCS 2.0 growth plan.

“We have emerged from 2020 stronger – we are prepared not only to do things right, but to do the right things,” new Executive Director Luis Pacheco told the Zoom audience of over  150 people.

Tuesday’s Annual General Meeting was Pacheco’s first Annual General Meeting (AGM ) and it was a trial by fire for the new ED, as he took over the reins after the worst year in the organization’s history.  In 2020 LCS lost over 1000 members, had to close the campus to meet Covid guidelines, postponed all of its expansion programs, lost its important trip and program revenue, and ended the year with an deficit of  over $300,000MX.  But LCS survived and Pacheco is  determined that it will  grow and prosper – with continuing help from members and donors.

“What we can do now is live within our hope,” LCS’s first Mexican ED told the members, as he laid out plans for improving and modernizing LCS, and expanding its engagement and collaboration with the Lakeside Mexican community. 

Members received a report from Treasurer Timothy Boardman showing the pace of  donations and the deficit from last year, a report from Education Director Alfredo Perez describing new Spanish language classes and Personal Enrichment classes including an upcoming program on how government works in Mexico, LCS’s support for 40 Mexican students, and LCS volunteer work with local schools .  Development Director Diana Ayala explained the LCS emails about the pandemic, the upcoming 2021 Directory, and the project to improve the LCS computer system with help from the Instituto Technologico Superior de Chapala.

The staff and board laid out the highlights of LCS 2.0, its 10-yer plan for growth and development, previously approved by the Board but put on hold. LCS 2.0 has 42 goals in 5 categories and is led by the twin drives to improve and grow the organization’s programs and resources for members and dramatically increase engagement and cooperation with the Mexican community of Lakeside.  Part of the plan is a capital campaign that seeks donors of any amount, but especially those who can give $40,000  pesos during the campaign, and an effort to rebuild membership, including its nascent Lapsed Member Program that calls  former members to encourage them to rejoin even if they are not in Lakeside at present.

The AGM, usually a somewhat routine program that draws mostly highly dedicated members, was stocked with surprises, vital information, and new initiatives.  Among the new announcements was the incorporation of Open Circle – formally a separate organization – into LCS with live meetings in July, the announcement of a new Master Marketing Council,  the re-election of the Treasurer and five at-large Board members, information about  the Concerts in the Park program with a hint of plans for music into September, the establishment of a Mexican Advisory Council, and a small increase in membership fees.

Enrique de Allende  finishes the Concert in the Park with “You Raise Me Up” while LCS  Board President watches from the side.

Patrick O’Heffernan, English Editor. A nearly full house greeted Enrique de Allende  and his piano accompanist last Saturday as he strolled onstage, flashed a 1000-watt smile and greeted the audience with a bit of his personal story delivered in the signature smooth golden voice before kicking off over an hour of music.

He gave the audience thirteen songs, mostly golden age covers, but some Spanish songs and Spanish versions of American classics, interspersed with conversations, shout outs to his girlfriend  at one of the tables and expressions of gratitude to LCS for allowing him to sing in front of an audience – a treat he has been missing due to Covid.

Beginning with a classical love song in Spanish, his operatic tenor filled the lawn and the gazebo.  He wrapped up the concert with the 2001 Secret Garden song “You Raise Me Up” in English and was brought back for an encore, the Spanish “Ver A Mi”. Early in the concert he took off his jacket in a concession to the heat, revealing the muscular body that carried him through an Olympic-level soccer career before he turned to music.  The entire performance was livestreamed on the Facebook pages of both Semanario Laguna and Lake Chapala Society.

Enrique de Allende kicks off the Concert in the Park with a Spanish love song

Some audience embers interviewed by Laguna did not know who he was before LCS promoted the performance, but signed up for the concert because they, like Enrique, craved live music and looked forward to a  sunny afternoon with friends and drinks and food from Angelica’s.  Audience comments to Laguna afterward were along the lines of “a gorgeous voice from a gorgeous man singing songs we know and love – bring him back!”

Next week LCS is bringing back Kim Kuzma and her band, a frequent visitor to Ajijic. Voted Canada’s Best Independent Artist by fans at canadian-music.com and five-time West Coast Music Award nominee, winning ‘ Best Independent Recording’, Kuzma is an international singing sensation whose music and sassy stage conversations with audience members makes her performances at LCS a golden ticket sellout. Tickets will be limited to 100 seats for each performance, advanced purchase only. No tickets sold at the gate. VIP tickets (50 seats, features prime location with table): $500 MXN General Admission tickets (50  seats arranged in rows) are priced at $350 pesos. There will be 2 performances, 2pm and 4:30 pm.

The Concerts in the Park Series is not only a welcome diversion for Ajijic residents but, given the fall off in membership this year at LCS due to the pandemic and many members not being able to come to Ajijic from Canada, the income is important to LCS.

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Spencer Day and Effie Passero at LCS Concert in the Park.

Patrick O’Heffernan, Ajijic.  A full house – or lawn – greeted Spencer Day, Effie Passero and Zoe Wood as they made their way to the outdoor stage on the LCS lawn last weekend. They returned the love with favorites like the Beatles “Come Together”,  and the Mexican classic “La Llorna” plus a slew of applause-generating originals like “Movie of Your Life” And “My Prometheus”.

The packed chairs’ and tables were in response to the popularity and fame of the leads;  Spencer Day is a Billboard #1  modern jazz singer and songwriter best known for his hit jazz single «Till You Come to Me» as well as appearing on the CBS television network show Star Search . Effie Passero was an American Idol star. Originally trained in opera, she is well known in the US and Puerto Vallarta for her powerful vocals and joyful stage presence.  Zoe Wood is  an in-demand singer/guitarist/composer Puerto Vallarta music scene.

The musicians performed two shows, keeping their energy  up at a high level, receiving standing ovations at the end of each set, and staying after each show to chat with LCS members.  The concert was held on the grass and in the gazebo with all audience members socially distanced and masked (except when drinking and eating the snacks and dinners provided  by Chef Ray Domenech from Angelica’s Café at  LCS.

Strolling the grounds during both concerts was Luis Pacheco, new LCS Executive Director, beaming because he not only loved the music, but he loved to see the full VIP tables and  gazebo audience.  

“Yes, we are making money on the concerts: after expenses  and paying the artists we will raise funds  for LCS,” he told Laguna.  Given the fall off in membership this year at LCS due to the pandemic and many members not being able to come to Ajijic from Canada, the income is highly welcome, as is the music.

The series will continue  Saturday March 28 with Kim Kuzman band, a favorite of the Lakeside LCS community.  LCS will produce 2 performances, 2pm and 4:30 pm. Tickets will be limited to 100 seats for each performance, advanced purchase only. No tickets sold at the gate. VIP tickets (50 seats, features prime location with table): $500 MXN General Admission tickets (50  seats arranged in rows) are priced at $350 pesos.

En la actualidad, alrededor de 40 niños acuden al Programa de Arte para Niños del Lake Chapala Society.

Redacción (Ajijic, Jal).- Con altas y bajas el taller de Arte para Niños de Lake Chapala Society (LCS), fundado hace 68 años por la fallecida Neil James, ha logrado subsistir y dar fe del nacimiento de reconocidos artistas locales.

Sin embargo, durante los últimos meses, la asistencia de niños se ha visto mermada debido a que muchos acuden al catecismo en el mismo horario, lo que les impide llegar al taller artistico.

“Nuestro número de estudiantes ha bajado, porque muchos de los niños quieren venir a la clase pero tienen que ir a prepararse a la Primera Comunión”, aseguró el maestro Javier Zaragoza, quien fue de la primera generación de alumnos y hoy tiene 20 años impartiendo clase en el programa. “Pero de todas maneras, no deja de haber artistas”, remató el entrevistado.

El taller de arte ha sido tan importante para la comunidad de Ajijic, que -a la fecha- el artista plástico estima que más del 90 por ciento de los talentos en la ribera han salido de dicho programa.  

Artistas voluntarios y alumnos del Programa de Arte para Niños.

Javier Zaragoza añadió que, a pesar de que no todos los niños serán artistas cuando salen del taller, los conocimientos adquiridos les servirá en su formación académica, ya sea para estudiar una licenciatura, una ingeniería o un oficio, por lo que invita a toda la juventud a asistir cada sábado.

En la actualidad, el programa recibe a alrededor de 40 alumnos de manera gratuita y regular (anteriormente, recibía hasta 120 alumnos), todos los sábados, de los cuales la mayoría son de Ajijic, mientras el resto provienen de San Antonio, Chapala y San Juan Cosalá.

Los instructores, que apoyan al programa como voluntarios, afirman que muchos de los estudiantes al ver a artistas como Jesús y Antonio  López Vega, Javier Ramos, Efrén González, se dan cuenta que sí se puede vivir del arte.

Para finalizar, Danielle Page, quien ha estado al frente del programa durante 10 años, explicó que el mismo es atractivo para los niños, porque la clase y todos los materiales que utilizan son gratis -como lápices, crayones, acuarelas, acrílicos, óleos, entre otros-.

Desde hace 68 años, el Programa de Arte para Niños de Lake Chapala Society ha forjado grandes talentos, quienes gracias a su fundadora Neil James, han generado un mercado para el arte en la delegación.

Page recordó, que se han llegado a contar hasta con 140 estudiantes durante los cursos de verano, que se imparten durante la última semana del mes de julio.

Es por ello que Danielle extiende la invitación a todas las familias de la ribera para que lleven a sus niños de manera gratuita al programa de arte, los días sábado de 10:00 de la mañana a 12:00 de la tarde.

Para saber:

Lake Chapala Society (donde se imparte el taller de arte) tiene su dirección en calle 16 de septiembre, en la zona centro de Ajijic.