Maximiliano Macias Arceo’s priorities are sports, the proper functioning of all services and working hand in hand with the people of Ajijic

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic, Jal.)- Three months after taking office, the head of the town of Ajijic, Maximiliano «Max» Macías Arceo, said that the unforeseen events that have occurred at the beginning of the administration (such as the landslide that affected mainly La Canacinta and the unexpected fall of a tree in the main square) have not distracted him from his goal. His intention is to improve public services for the population, such as street cleaning and the patching of cobblestones.

For Macías Arceo it is of utmost importance to optimally maintain services such as availability of drinking water, street lighting and street cleaning in addition to maintaining communication with the people of Ajijic to learn their needs first hand. 

«The work we have been doing is mostly maintenance. For example, repairs in the main square, in the services of the boardwalk, several cleanings in the creek of the cemetery, as well as in the streets,» he named as the work done in the last three months.

As for the projects that are coming up for Ajijic, he said that although sometimes people are looking to see big works, both he and the president of Chapala, Alejandro Aguirre Curiel, seek to prioritize works that really benefit the population and not projects that are just done for the sake of doing.

«Ones that will always continue to be done are, for example, patching potholes, for which I have always asked Public Works to use a sustainable material. Currently they point out that it is jal, when in reality it is composed of 90 percent of a volcanic soil called tepetate and 10 percent jal (pumice), in order to maintain the tradition and image of the town.»

On the other hand, he commented that they are already working on finishing the works of the Ajijic Sports Unit located in La Floresta in the area of Los Carriles, since the previous administration did not complete them. 

One of the projects is to finish the Ajijic Sports Unit, located in front of Los Carriles, in La Floresta.

He and the person in charge of sports in Ajijic, Alejandro González, are very enthusiastic about these works. They are also planning to maintain the soccer field located to the west of Ajijic in the area known as El Bajío, as well as the future construction of bathrooms in the area of La Cruz (at the end of Nicolas Bravo Street, where the Malecón corridor ends) and the cleaning of the lakeshore.

«We want to provide works that give good service to everyone, to have the areas of the square, the streets and the boardwalk ready and conditioned for everyone to go and enjoy, as well as to give attention to all Ajijic beyond the center. The president, the head of COMUDE (The Municipal Sports Council) Ajijic, and above all the people, are working together to achieve this,» declared Macias Arceo.

Colón Street, in the center of Ajijic, is a good example of the maintenance that the cobblestones of the streets of the Pueblo Mágico have received

Max added that for him, the most important thing is to reactivate sports and work with young people, carry out multiple cleaning campaigns and the creation of committees in the neighborhoods to have a more immediate communication.

Finally, he was asked if he would run in the town elections, to which he responded, «The future is uncertain and I could not say now if I would do it. If the people, because of my work, asked me to do so, I would do it. I would not make promises, I would base it on the actions and the work that has already been done. My stay in this position has always been to seek a positive change in Ajijic.»

Translated by Sydney Metrick

Cleanup of Emiliano Zapata street, where workers picked up debris, tires and an abandoned vending cart (Photo: Delegación Ajijic 2021-2024).

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic, Jal.)- After  government workers  clean Ajijic’s streets and removed handbills, armchairs, tires and even an abandoned vintage vehicle, the Head of Office of the Ajijic delegation, Maximiliano Max Macías Arceo asked people to stop  discarding their trunks and garbage in the streets. 

Max commented that in the last stretch they cleaned, Zapata Street from its intersection with Revolución, within  two blocks the truck was full of tires, old chairs, and other junk thrown on the side of the street.  The workers also  cleaned the creek in the Ajijic Cemetery for the third time  because people throw so much garbage in it.   He  added that the cleanup work will continue over the next few days.  

Stream next to the cemetery before being cleaned (Photo; Delegación Ajijic 2021-2024).

«In the case of the cemetery, a budget has already been requested for a gate because the creek is always open and used as a dumping ground for debris, garden garbage, and  old furniture. The entrance of people will not be affected, only the creek will be closed, and  signs  posted with the number of the delegation for reports of this practice», commented Max.

He also e said that they have received many reports about the streets, requesting cleanings  so he asked for the support of the residents to  keep the streets clean for a long time.

«In some cases, it is cleaned, and a few days later, the garbage is back. This is because in some places the garbage bags are put outside  before the truck passes, like the night before, and the stray dogs break the bags.  So the next day the people from the truck only take the bags that are closed , forcing us to clean up garbage constantly. I ask for your support to remove the garbage in a timely manner,» he said.

Discarded armchairs in the street (Photo: Delegation Ajijic 2021-2024).

Max, said that if any inhabitant of the delegation needs to throw away tires, instead of taking them to the street, they should call the number of the delegation (33 3490 0382), so that they can be picked up for an amount of 10 pesos per tire,  and they will be sent to Ecology Chapala which pays 12 pesos per tire for them to be discarded.

Likewise, for large items, such as furniture, the delegation offers the service, because it has authorization from the landfill to pick them up and take them to their final destination. He commented that the service is free, and to request it, they also have to call the number of the delegation.

Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan

Some of the houses on Zaragoza Street still preserve the typical architecture of Ajijic and  bright murals on their facades.

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic, Jalisco) – The 2022 Jalisco State Expenditure Budget allocates 15 million pesos for the nine Magical Towns of the state, ‘which would mean 1.666 million pesos for Ajijicif, as  it was last year, the  budget is split equally among Jalisco’s nine Pueblos Mágicos.

In 2021 Ajijic  received 1.333 million  pesos for its Pueblo Mágico budget, some of which was returned unused to the State.  Part of the budget was  slated for  a festival that never took place due to the pandemic, some for a  mural contest, some for an as yet unopened information booth on the boardwalk, and  some for signage that has not been completed. 

The 2022 Expenditure Budget of the Government of Jalisco has prioritized  health, security, education and infrastructure but it has allocated 152 million pesos to tourism, of which 15 million are for the nine Magical Towns: Tapalpa, Mazamitla, Lagos de Moreno, Mascota, San Sebastián del Oeste, Talpa de Allende, Tequila, San Pedro Tlaquepaque and Ajijic. 

To learn more details about the Pueblos Mágicos in our state, visit the website: https://secturjal.jalisco.gob.mx/nuestro-estado/pueblos-magicos. 

Translated  by Patrick O’Heffernan

La laguna de Chapala. Foto: Héctor Ruíz. 

Por: Daniel Jiménez Carranza

Una vez rebasada la pandemia decembrina de celebraciones y la alegría de los pequeños por sus regalos de reyes, ahora nos corresponde emprender los cambios que nos hemos propuesto este año, para mejorar en todos aspectos, no solo el económico, que es  consecuencia de estos previos:  el familiar, político, social.   Los tiempos que nos corresponde afrontar como individuos y como sociedad, requieren del mejor desarrollo de una auténtica conciencia.

Los aspectos enunciados, empezando por el familiar, son piedra angular en la construcción de una nueva sociedad mejor preparada, más libre, más capacitada, a todos los padres nos incumbe la responsabilidad irrenunciable de formar adecuadamente a nuestros descendientes, no podemos delegar esta responsabilidad a los profesores, al estado, y ocuparnos egoístamente sólo de nuestro trabajo, de nuestros amigos, de actividades que se nos presentan y distraen nuestra atención de la tarea primordial y fundamental que es la formación de nuestros hijos dentro de una sana convivencia familiar.

El aspecto político, sin duda es otro de los elementos que debemos de fomentar a nivel de formación personal, e impulsar en nuestros descendientes el interés por la información crítica de los acontecimientos con los que convivimos diariamente, y que regulan nuestra vida en todos nuestros actos;  importante es el hecho de  crear una conciencia objetiva libre de partidismos o ideologías,  lo importante que debe impulsarse es la inquietud por la investigación y la formación de un criterio personal, que contribuya a la diversidad y evolución positiva de la sociedad, pues el círculo familiar es la semilla que engendra a la sociedad de un país.

El contexto social de formación, podemos decir que representa también un punto medular familiar, pues el individuo como tal, convive y se desarrolla en un ámbito en el que se relaciona con diferentes entes, al interior, lo que es el círculo familiar, y hacia el exterior, lo que es la escuela, los compañeros de clase, amigos, profesores, compañeros de trabajo, etc.    Todos ellos, individuos y espacios que requieren ser vistos como entidades autónomas en donde el respeto por la identidad de la persona, por lo ajeno, deben ser considerados elementos esenciales de la diversidad, con la aceptación de todo lo que involucra sus hábitos, sus costumbres, forma de vida, etc., evitando caer en el enjuiciamiento que divide a la sociedad; importante también es la consideración de apoyo a las personas en condición de necesidad, que no pueden valerse por sí mismas, o que atraviesan por situaciones de crisis, en donde cualquiera de nosotros puede contribuir a paliar su condición.

Emprendiendo sanos propósitos, iniciaremos el camino hacia la construcción de una nueva prosperidad personal, familiar y de nuestro país, en todos los ámbitos.

The Entry of the iconic image of the Holy Virgin of Zapopan, Patroness of the Archdiocese of Guadalajara and Queen of Lake Chapala, kicked off the celebrations  of Señor del Monte, Patron Saint of the town of Jocotepec since 1833.  The celebrations which began January 6, recalled that according to tradition, Señor del Monte saved the people of Jocotepec from the Morbus Cholera epidemic. The Holy Virgin of Zapopan is also known for miracles such her emergence intact from the  collapse of a chapel in 1609

The Holy Image stayed until 4:00 pm on Sunday to return to its resting place in the Basílica of Zapopan, where images of the Virgin and Señor del Monte were  worshiped by  hundreds of faithful in the hope of putting an end to the  new global pandemic.

As of January 13th, seven out of ten patients who were seen for a suspected case of Covid-19 tested positive at the Jocotepec Community Hospital. Photo: File.

Héctor Ruiz Mejía: Hospitals in the municipality of Jocotepec are preparing for a new wave of coronavirus cases after the Christmas and Señor del Monte festivities, medical authorities asserted.

As of January 13th, seven out of ten patients who were seen for a suspected case of Covid-19 tested positive at the Jocotepec Community Hospital.

Now they are faced with the forecast of a 35 percent increase in the number of cases, estimates the municipality’s medical authorities.

«Fortunately, the vaccine has had an beneficial effect and the severity of the cases have decreased; however, we are preparing the facilities in case treatment is needed», assured the medical authorities of the Community Hospital.

They explained that there are currently six beds available in case of pneumonia complications from the coronavirus or for patients who may need oxygen supplementation.

A 35 percent increase in coronavirus positivity is expected in the next two weeks. Photo: File.

For the past week, the number of positive results at The Rafael Gómez Rodríguez clinic has remained at an average of around three confirmed COVID-19 patients per day, explained Ricardo Alvarado, director of the clinic.

Although he agrees with the «favorable» observations of the Community Hospital regarding the seriousness of the illnesses, he showed his concern regarding the outlook for the increase in infections that are predicted, following the festivities of the Señor del Monte.

«Unfortunately, it has been very difficult to stop this spread of the disease, and given the effort that families from Jocotepec had already made, we don’t understand why the decision was not made to cancel the festivities. Even so, sanitary protocols were maintained at the festivals,” commented the doctor. However, the doctor himself acknowledged that it was almost impossible to maintain a healthy distance during the festivities.

Given the estimate of medical authorities of a 35 percent increase in positivity for the next few weeks, the Rafael Gómez Rodríguez clinic has already adapted a special room for extra coronavirus patients.

The space will have eight beds and the necessary medical supplies, including oxygen in case patients arrive with complications in order to avoid a past hospital occupancy crisis.

Medical authorities urged the community to evaluate the need to attend the upcoming festivities. If you attend, be fully aware of the risk and take all necessary precautions.

Translated by Colleen Beery

The vehicle, a 1999 model Chevrolet Cavalier, was recovered.

Officers of the State Security Secretariat recovered a car that had been stolen on Wednesday, January 13, 2022 in Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos. The officers, who were carrying out surveillance work in the area, arrested the man driving the car who was found to be in possession of prohibited substances.

State police officers were patrolling the downtown area of the municipality when a woman approached them to notify them that her 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier had been stolen the night before.

During their search, the officers spotted the vehicle at the intersection of Guerrero and Cuauhtémoc streets. Upon being detected, the man driving the car tried to run over the officers, so they fired shots at the tires of the car to apprehend him safely.

Translated by Rebecca Zittle

By Leticia Trejo

 Dear readers of Semanario Laguna, this introduction gives me the opportunity to share with you something I tell my students in my yoga classes: Welcome all bodily sensations, comfortable and uncomfortable. When we begin the process of returning to physical activity after many years of not doing anything with discipline and constancy, it is common for our bodies to ache. Muscles and joints that for years have not received the special attention of self-care do not recognize the activity and respond by manifesting pain. 

Another common sensation is shortness of breath. We try to follow the new routine – whether it’s twenty minutes on the treadmill or elliptical, a yoga or spinning class, or a tennis match –  whatever activity we choose to get moving again represents an effort that feels enormous. And of course, the most important muscles for any routine, or extra-ordinary, activity of the day are now shrunken, shortened and atrophied.

At the risk of making this sound too technical, there are muscles that we should  know about, and one of these is the diaphragm. The diaphragm is the most important muscle for respiration, responsible for seventy-five percent of the total function of taking in oxygen and removing toxins and carbon dioxide from the body. So if you, like me, thought it was the lungs that deserved all our attention, you now have more accurate information on how to help the lungs perform their important functions. 

To be more precise: the lungs do not function without the work of the diaphragm. To give you a clearer picture, this muscular structure lives inside the ribcage; it is mushroom-shaped and acts like a parachute, filling with air when you inhale and collapsing when you exhale. It fills the entire circumference of the ribcage, and as it moves it massages the heart, the lungs, and the esophagus – the valve that prevents gastric juices (acids) from going up into your throat from your stomach. As if that were not enough, it is responsible for you being able to climb stairs without getting tired, or climb a hill without gasping, as well as for reducing or eliminating one of the most uncomfortable and annoying activities that some of us engage in: snoring. How does it do that? -When you learn how to prepare it, train it, and strengthen it, thereby making it more elastic.

An alarming fact is that, out of all the capacity of this important muscle, most people use only two percent. It can extend a total of ten centimeters, but ninety percent of people cannot make use of their diaphragm’s full capacity due to weakness or deterioration of this muscle. To phrase it in stark perspective, if ten centimeters of capacity equals one hundred percent life, then two centimeters would be eighty percent death. I don’t want to be dramatic, but I see it every time I train or teach someone who has years of not moving everything, and everything is extremely difficult for them. 

There are special exercises to work this muscle and to achieve its maximum capacity. My most important advice in this column is: before forcing yourself to do intense physical activity, first train the diaphragm.

And as an extra gift I give you one more important fact: fat is not “burned,” and sweat is not fat. Fat goes through an oxidation process that turns it into vapor and liquid that come out through urine, feces and exhalation. A strong and elastic diaphragm will bring in a large amount of oxygen which will decrease your visceral fat levels, and visceral fat is the fat that surrounds your organs such as your heart, liver, kidneys, etcetera. A strong and elastic diaphragm will help eliminate a lot of fat, among other toxins. So if you really want to get in shape, take this information to heart! See you next week with more wellness tips.

Translated by Rebecca Zittle

Doctor in charge of the Health Center, Sandra González, and nurses Irma Ortega and Gloria Cisneros.

Sofia Medeles (Ajijic, Jalisco) – According to the hospital staff, neither the doctors nor the nurses at the Ajijic Health Center (CS) have received specific instructions from the Jalisco Health Secretariat (SSJ), or municipal superiors, on how to assist in treating the new variant of Covid-19 Omicron.

Dr. Sandra González said that the Jalisco Health Board, which is in charge of issuing protection measures at the state level, usually focuses more on training hospitals where they handle a high incidence of the virus or very serious patients. The health centers take a back seat, having only the power to redirect cases to more suitable facilities.

«Here at the center these last few days have been quiet. We have not received any suspected cases. In my day-to-day work I have noticed many people presenting symptoms that appear to be the new strain, which resembles a cold,» said Dr. Sandra.

She suggested that civilians when faced with any flu, symptoms or suspected case, take the same precautions taken with the Covid-19 virus, since the risk of contagion of this variant is higher and has increased due to the false belief that it could be a common cold. Additionally, the antigen tests are not functional against this strain.

The Omicron variant presents symptoms that a common cold would normally have–runny nose, sore throat, fatigue, sneezing and headache. Unlike other strains, there is no fever, nor loss of taste and smell.

As of Monday, the State Governor of Jalisco, Enrique Alfaro Ramírez, confirmed 16 cases of Omicron. However, the University of Guadalajara (UDG) estimates that there are at least 107 confirmed cases and there could be many more.

Translated by Sydney Metrick

During the day there was a large flow of attendees. Due to the constant offering of tests, not everyone wore a mask during their stay at the festival.

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic, Jal.)– In spite of assurances to the press prior to its opening, the Coffee, Chocolate and Wine Festival organizers failed to implement COVID-19 prevention protocols as they had planned. 

At the pre-event press conference, event organizer Raúl Ceniceros proposed that event staff would limit and control the capacity of the crowd inside the tent by having only one entrance and one exit, and that they would take temperature checks and enforce the use of face masks for both attendees and exhibitors. However, none of these measures were fully instituted. 

The inauguration of the festival was presided over by the mayor of Chapala, Alejandro Aguirre Curiel; the director of tourism, Paola de Watterlot; the head of the Ajijic delegation, Maximiliano Macías Arceo; the municipal trustee Gamaliel Soto Pérez; and the event organizer, Raúl Ceniceros.

The festival, held over two days (January 8 and 9) on the Ajijic boardwalk, was well attended and at times saw hundreds of people crowded together inside the tent. Neither exhibitors nor visitors were required to wear masks, and the public could enter at different points without using antibacterial gel or getting temperature checks. Furthermore, the constant sampling of products on offer at the event was a pretext for many not to use masks. 

Event staff stationed at the designated «entrance» to the festival tent, shared that the only instructions they had been given were to ask people entering to wear their masks; to hand out sanitizing spray, and to take peoples’ temperature.  They said that overall they had no major problems carrying out the safety measures, except with a few attendees who refused to comply.

From the perspective of exhibitors, however, the festival was a success. Several exhibitors interviewed stated that they are very grateful for events like these, as they provide increased exposure for their products and opportunities for sales at a time when such opportunities are scarce due to the pandemic.

The festival, held over two days (January 8 and 9) on the Ajijic boardwalk, was well attended and at times saw hundreds of people crowded together inside the tent.

«It went very well, we are delighted with the event, the first of this year,” commented an exhibitor from Do Perniler, marketers of Serrano and Iberian hams from Tequisquiapan, Querétaro. “People kept stopping by, everything was very pleasant, and everyone was open to trying our products. It went very well, and Ajijic is a wonderful place; we left very much in love.»

The event, in addition to having samples of food products and wines, also had art and handicrafts for sale. The sixty-six exhibitors included a number of local artisans, such as Luna Cacau. 

The head of the Ajijic delegation, Maximiliano «Max» Macias Arceo, assured that while some might look unfavorably on the event due to the circumstances of the pandemic, there were no serious mishaps. He also commented that he viewed the event as positive, in keeping with the promoted theme and of good quality.

Translated by Rebecca Zittle