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The Queen Live Band will perform onstage at LCS at 3:30. Photo: Semanario Laguna. 

Patrick O’Heffernan, Ajijic.  Roy Gomez Cruz will return to the Concerts in the Park at LCS once again in the person of Freddie Mercury in two December 1 concerts that include a full Queen Live Band performance and a live and visual presentation of the “I Want It All :The Freddie Mercury Story”.

The Queen Live Band will perform onstage at LCS at 3:30. The band that dazzles audiences in the Palm Cabaret Club in Puerto Vallarta will bring its excitement to the LCS Park stage with favorites like We Will Rock You, We are Champions, Radio Ga Ga and Another One Bites the Dust.

At 6 pm Gomez returns in Mercury persona with   “I Want It All: The Freddie Mercury Story”, a high energy, visual and emotional journey through the songs and life events of the legendary Freddie Mercury. Gomez, who has a Master’s Degree  and is currently a PhD Candidate in Performance Studies at Northwestern University, immerses himself in the role of Freddie Mercury and amazes audiences with his detailed, authentic portrayal of the rocker. Palm Cabaret Entertainment Director Mark Rome, formally of the Spotlight in Ajijic, says, “I have never seen audiences embrace and enjoy a performance like this before,” of Gomez’s “I Want It All: The Freddie Mercury Story.

Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara in 1946 and died in 1991) was a British singer, songwriter, record producer, and lead vocalist of the rock band Queen who is regarded as one of the greatest singers in the history of rock music. Known for his flamboyant stage persona and four-octave vocal range, Mercury defined  and redefined the conventions of a rock front man.

Advanced ticket purchase recommended. Tickets can be purchased at LCS office or online at https://lakechapalasociety.com. General Admission tickets (seats arranged in rows): $350 MXN.

VIP table tickets: $500 MXN

Open Parliamentary Bench in the Jalisco State Congress. Photo: Courtesy. 

Héctor Ruiz Mejía – In her first public act as deputy-elect, «Lolis» López, originally from Jocotepec, declared that she will seek a legislative agenda that is close to the people, to her district, as well as to promoting substantive equality, she said during the first open parliamentary session that took place on November 10 in the Jalisco State Congress.

The deputy was sworn in as president of the Substantive Equality and Gender Commission, and as a member of the Environment, Civil Protection and Resilience Commission. She aims to ensure better participation of women in both private and public spheres.

«Equality is not only a women’s issue, it is not a fight against men, it is a matter for everyone», explained López Jara, who stated that she will work towards all women having an impact on «an even floor of equal opportunities».

 López Jara presented the five axes of the program of Movimiento Ciudadano (MC) to a diverse audience including businessmen, activists and different media. She highlighted issues such as economic development, security, culture and corruption, especially the approach to the civilian population.

The Jocotepec congresswoman explained in an interview with Semanario Laguna that her plan is «to get to know the people» and explained that she intends to repeat the presentation  in her District (District 17). She has several times tried to hold similar formal events in delegations such as San Juan Cosalá, but attendance has been low. 

«These proposals are not conjectures, it will be an open parliament to listen to the entire civilian population because sometimes everything is concentrated only in the metropolitan area,» said Lolis.

López Jara served as a Councilor in the 2018-2021 administration, as well as a consultant for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; in addition, she has attended various courses focused on leadership for women, and equality and gender perspectives

Translated by Elisabeth Shields

Foto: Comunicación Social de Chapala.

Redacción.- Luego de que se volcara la embarcación en la que viajaba acompañado de otras dos personas, el cuerpo de Moisés «N» fue encontrado sin vida, en el interior del lago por elementos de Bomberos y Protección Civil de Chapala.

El incidente habría ocurrido la noche del 14 de noviembre cuando Bomberos y Protección Civil recibieron el reporte que se hacía referencia a una canoa perdida con tres personas a bordo, y cuya embarcación se volcó cuando regresaban a la orilla.

Comunicación Social informó que el cuerpo fue localizado a las 13:45 de este 15 de noviembre, a 10 metros de donde se encontraba la embarcación hundida en la que viajaba.

The Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary, in Ajijic, is close to starting the restoration project 

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic, Jal.)- The project for the restoration of Ajijic’s Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary is very close to starting, and after four fundraising events, the group “Sumando Voluntades” or Summoning Volunteers is ready to take the next step.

Their most recent event was the seventh annual Run for the Rosary, held on the day of the Virgin of the Rosary, October 31, with 180 runners participating in the race. The race and the fair held on the same day raised 40 thousand pesos, giving a total of approximately 350 thousand pesos that the group has raised to start working.

The architect in charge of the project, Josué Ramos, said that the restoration project was presented to the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) and needs some modifications, however, the capital raised is enough to get started.

«They asked us to revise the structural project to the specifications provided by the architect of the INAH. The architect said that we don’t have to spend all the capital in the first stage since they were quite simple things to start with,» Josué asserted.

He also added that they have more events in mind, although they have yet to plan the details or set the date. In the short term, they plan to focus on the architectural survey and the necessary restructuring.

«We will continue to raise funds for this project. For the moment, we are thinking of selling a black and white poster with the Virgin of the Rosary and the little chapel in the background, which we will start selling during the patron saint festivities and whenever we have the opportunity», concluded the architect Josué.

 Translated by Kerry Watson.

The preschool, elementary and high school students prepared a catwalk in which they wore their Catrinas, Catrines and skeleton costumes.

Instituto Terranova Writing Workshop. – The Terranova Institute celebrated the Day of the Dead like never before with the creation of an altar of the dead, a costume parade, folkloric dance numbers, and an aerial dance, among other activities.  Nine art and sports workshops allowed all students to participate and watch the events.

The preschool, elementary and high school students prepared a catwalk in which they wore their Catrinas, Catrines and skeleton costumes. Chess students performed a game with living pieces.

Students of the music workshop enlivened the festival with  songs,  while the students of the Acrobatics workshop performed a surprising display of their rope skills.  No less surprising was the aerial dance workshop.

Teachers and students made a six-level altar featuring a colorful sawdust mat, floral offerings, pan de muerto, sugar skulls, different dishes, and the typical papel picado, as well as photographs of loved ones.   

Translated by Elisabeth Shields.

Altar accompanied by the iconic Frida Khalo. Photo: Héctor Ruíz.

Héctor Ruíz Mejía – Despite municipal authorities nearly closing the festival «Al fin, para morir nacimos» («In the end, we were born to die»), the event for the Day of the Dead was held in Jocotepec, moving some local residents  to tears.

According to Carlos Cuevas, ex former director of Casa de la Cultura José Vaca Flores, who was one of the organizers of the event, the new director of the highway system, Aguirre (who had not even been sworn in yet), tried to close the event, arguing that the appropriate permits had not been requested.

Cuevas explained that the road personnel argued that they lacked the Civil Protection review and that according to him, «it was in their power to cancel the permit if they wished.» However, Civil Protection rose to the call to provide support to the event so the event could proceed.

Sample of one of the altars on Morelos Poniente street. Photo: Héctor Ruiz.

The first edition of the festival took place last Sunday, October 31 on Morelos Poniente Street, where in addition to enjoying typical music and spectacular performances by students from the School of Performing Arts of the University of Guadalajara (UdeG), dozens of people witnessed the stories on the 11 altars that the community itself erected along the street.  

One of the altars was made by the Ibarra Campos family to honor their father, Goyo. He was described as a cheerful man, a cab driver, who enjoyed life, as well as atole and chicken.  These stories brought the audience into the stories themselves of those who lived before them.

Sample of one of the altars on Morelos Poniente street. Photo: Héctor Ruiz.

«Because we are not only united in death, but also in life,» Carlos said, adding  that everyone contributed a little or a lot, like the ladies of the neighborhood, who for two weeks set up the two portals covered with marigold flowers located at both ends of the street.

«It was incredible to see how all the people came together to make the event, from people who supported with 20 pesos, to those who anonymously supported with up to ten thousand pesos,» explained Carlos. 

Sample of one of the altars on Morelos Poniente street. Photo: Héctor Ruiz.

«The truth is I didn’t know what to expect, I was in the plaza and I started to hear that they were coming here, so I came to see what was going on and I really had a good time», commented Ramón. He said that he couldn’t stop laughing from the Chiapas death jokes in one of the plays. 

The first edition of the festival in commemoration of the Day of the Dead was packed with  a large turnout which exceeded all the expectations of the organizers and the community which longed to celebrate this date after a year of inactivity.

Translated by Kerry Watson.

Efrén González before the lighting of the Wall of the Dead. Photo: Sofía Medeles. 

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic, Jal.)- Painter Efrén González announced her would create a second Wall of he Dead just  before he lit the candles of the 1,600 skulls that make up his current installation on one of the walls of the Marcos Castellanos school.  

The «new wall of the dead» will be located in La Ladrillera, near his home, to the west of Ajijic, Efrén informed the hundreds of attendees who came to view the lighting of the candles at the November 2nd event, along with other presentations. 

Efrén explained that he was given the authorization to make a similar, but smaller wall on the outskirts of Ajijic  made up of  800 clay skulls. 

«I will turn first to my neighbors, because they are the ones who deserve the space first, then all the people of Ajijic, or who have had something to do with Ajijic,» said Efrén at the event, explaining how he will dedicate the skulls.

He concluded by stating that he will not charge for putting the names of those who want to be on the new wall, however, it is very difficult for him to do so, so he asked them to be generous  in supporting the project.

Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan.

Residents of La Cristina say they are not receiving support from the City Hall to clean the street, and that, until recently, the DIF and civil organizations have supported them with food.

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic, Jal.)- A week after the mudslides in the west of Ajijic, the neighborhood of La Canacinta is already in better condition, with clean streets and every day with fewer traces of the damage caused by the October 5 disaster.

However, the neighborhood of La Cristina has not fared as well, as the neighborhood (also west of town) was difficult to access due to the mud blockage until the beginning of the week.

Residents of La Cristina told Laguna that since the day of the mudslide (which flooded at least five neighborhoods), and up to now the authorities have not helped them clean up with heavy machinery, they have had to do it themselves. 

«They say they can’t come to clean up here because it is a private street. The heavy machinery that has come to open our street has been because the neighbors paid for them,» said one of the neighbors interviewed.

«Until the beginning of this week, the DIF and social organizations supported us with food supplies and some clothes, because the first week no one stopped by to see how the residents were doing. One family even had to sleep in their car, since their house had been buried in the mud and they had nowhere to go. Here the disaster was the same or even worse than in La Canacinta, since walls were also burst and the mudslide left boulders», said a neighbor of La Cristina.

In a tour made by Semanario Laguna on October 13, the people who live in La Cristina were still cleaning their homes and streets, and picking up the garbage that the current left behind. In addition, the mud, which according to the marks on the walls, reached more than one meter high, has begun to expel foul odors.

In nearby La Canacinta, the streets are already free of landslide damage and some households continue with cleaning their homes. At the beginning of the week, neighbors of La Canacinta also received medical support from Servicios Medicos de Chapala, because people began to present respiratory and stomach infections due to the contact with the mud. The Axixic Chimalli group, along with many other civilians, donated the medicines. They also received household appliances, beds, clothes and food from donations by private individuals.

Translated by Kerry Watson

Last weekend, cones were placed to prevent people from parking, in preparation for the return of the Andador Cultural Axixic. Photo: Sofía Medeles. 

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic, Jal.) – The current Encargado de Despacho of Ajijic, Maximiliano «Max» Macías Arceo, says there are plans to reinstall the andador on Calle Morelo, in the heart of Ajijic. He added that the reinstallation will not only benefit businesses, but also locals and tourists.
(Note: An “anador” means a walkway. In this case it is a “cultural walkway” of outside vendors, in front of existing shops on Calle Morelos)

Macías Arceo continued, «this time, we are planning for it to be a cultural walkway, focused on the local artisans, and the businesses of Calle Morelos.”  He said he understands the objections some people have to the project; the previous administration (2015-2018) led a similar project. Objectors felt the previous version of the andador benefited the businesses located along Calle Morelos, but not the local artisans. Another objection is that the andador means Calle Morelos is closed to vehicular traffic on the weekends to make way for the vendors and pedestrians.

Since the new administration (PAN) took office, there has been speculation about if, or how the andador would return. In preparation for the revival of the andador, road agents have been in charge of preventing vehicles from parking on Calle Morelos, beginning at the intersection of Morelos and Ocampo.

In the first two weeks of the previous government (Ciudadano Movimiento), the andador was closed; seven street vendors were relocated close to the pier, at the entrance of the Ajijic malecón. There are now more than twenty street vendors selling at the new location. 

When 17 people were interviewed about the return of the Andador Cultural Axixic, nine of them supported the re-opening, while eight others were opposed to closing a main street again for the sale of handicrafts. Francisco, a young resident of Ajijic, said «they are only giving way to the restaurants to bring their filth back to the streets little by little. They may say it is to support local culture, but they said the same thing last time. It’s good that they are fixing the street, but with the stalls there, they are only going to cause traffic chaos.»

On the other hand, those who support the re-opening,seem confident that it could be a profitable platform for local artists. «A cultural walkway, like the one in the plaza, but exclusively for people from Ajijic, is what the town needs. Ajijic has many artists who should have more visibility to those who come to visit our pueblo mágico,» commented Fany, an Ajijic resident.

Andador Axixic, in 2017. Tables from restaurants and shops line the street for outdoor shopping, and dining. (Photo: Archive).

The new Municipal President, Alejandro Aguirre, is aware of the mixed opinions. His administration is also looking to fix Calle Morelos starting at Calle Colón, always taking the opinions of the people into account. Macías Arceo says that the project should begin later this year. The Andador Cultural Axixic was started during the PRI administration by PRI member Javier Degollado. It had been cancelled during the Ciudadano Movimiento administration.

Translated by Amy Esperanto

The Alebrijes subdivision is accused of reducing a riverbed from eight meters to approximately one-and-a-half meters, which is now clear of mud.

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic, Jal.) – After the October 5 mudslides, some residents of La Canacinta in Ajijic accused the subdivisions at the foot of the hill of actions that made the mudslides worse. The accusations were made to the Chapala president, PAN member Alejandro Aguirre Curiel, during his October 8 tour of the areas affected by the landslide. He assured residents that he would take action on the matter, and some neighbors told Laguna they expect the president to keep his word.

Aguirre Curiel committed himself to  “open, review and corroborate permits,” and find out who gave permission to build in these areas. He focused on the Alebrijes subdivision, located in La Canacinta to the west of Ajijic, which has been accused of increasing the landslide problem because it reduced the flow of a stream that crosses the development.  

Neighbors in the area, as well as Ajijitecos who have supported victims of the October 5 landslide, were happy with the news but they warn they expect action. 

“It is good that they are going to investigate this. They’ve been saying that for a long time, but it is up to us to check that they follow up because they promise things and then are silent. We will continue asking the president and the officials how they are doing with the case until they find the guilty parties and can remedy the damage caused by the overflowing of the stream,” said Sarahí, a resident of Ajijic who provided medicines for landslide victims.

“It is good that they are working to find the culprits. The damage has already happened, but let’s hope that it doesn’t happen again and that not only are those responsible found, but that they themselves are responsible for paying for the damages that happened due to the foolishness of wanting to gain a few meters for their main street,” said a neighbor, referring to the Alebrijes subdivision.

Wearing a hat and dressed in blue, Chapala president Aguirre visited La Canacinta on October 8.

Aguirre commented that the next step is to carry out damage evaluations in affected homes, which will be done by the State Unit of Civil Protection and Firefighters (UEPCyB), Civil Protection and Firefighters of Chapala, and Public Works. In addition, an emergency declaration has been submitted to the state government to access the State Fund for Natural Disasters (FOEDEN) and support the affected homes. No action has been taken yet on the declaration.