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Founded in 1987
Hidalgo #223
Chapala, Jalisco,
Mexico 45900
Tels. (376) 765-2877,
765-3676
Fax (376) 765-3528

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tod Jonson
Ektor Carranza

May 2007

     2007 Hall of Fame for Lifetime Achievements went to a very special lady this year. Ann Whiting has given Lakeside a steady flow of benefits over the past three decades. It hasn’t been only her participation in the annual Chili Cook-off, but her devotion to other charity works by donating her time and efforts arranging for Corona Beer to sponsor events for fund raising. The Hall of Fame was founded in 1996 to honor one of the great matriarchs in Chapala: the late Mrs. Natalia Cuevas. She and her family were pioneers in establishing this entire region. Enormously popular Judy and Morley Eager followed in 1997, later establishing a thriving hotel and restaurant business. In 1998 Chagua Celis was noticed for  helping the lepers and abandoned children of Guadalajara. 
    Leading philanthropist and major character, the late Lance Elmstrom, won his place in 2001. In 2002, historian of Lakeside, Armando Hermosillo was introduced to everyone. Jorge Agnesi with his life dedication to the Cruz Roja took top honors in 2003. In 2004 we lost the Lenchek’s (Ruth and Shep) but not their place in history.Their devotion to the Red Cross was legendary. 2005 saw Lakeside’s own Aurora Michel Galindo be recognized as one of our greatest contributors over several decades. And now Ann Whiting steps into the roster of great names in the history of Lakeside.

     Speaking of great names in Lakeside history, Joyce Vath returned to Ajijic from her latest home in Fairhope, Alabama. Upon the passing of her husband, director Richard Vath, and after 20 years of enjoying this community, Joyce Vath moved back to the USA to start a new life. While back here, she has renewed old ties with Lakeside School for the Deaf (where she did publicity for years), Culinary Art Society of Ajijic (CASA where she has been a multi-winner and a former President), with Lakeside Little Theatre where she has given us more roles (34) in more plays than any other actress in its history, choir singer with the St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. She was co-editor with Tod Jonson for five years with El Ojo Del Lago.

     The production of La Cage aux Folles had that always dreaded experience wherein a leading performer falls extremely ill and must drop from a show. A Lakeside favorite, actress Jeritza McCarter, had to drop out early in the run. Seasoned trouper that she is, Joyce Vath stepped into Jeritza’s role and delivered a stellar performance. 

     Mother’s Day is probably the biggest holiday of the spring season. Mothers here in Mexico, as in the United States, are truly revered. Mother’s Day is a day for celebrating motherhood and thanking mothers. In the USA, it is held on the second Sunday in May, while in México, May 10 is the standard. Mothers usually receive gifts on this day, and are often exempted from any form of work. Tradition calls for the wearing of roses or carnations on Mother’s Day: a red one if one’s mother is alive, white if she has died, and pink if one is not certain.

     We never know grief until we face it head on unexpectedly. Within the last few weeks we lost some extraordinary Lakeside people. The passing of Jim Evans, Reni Rice, Geoffrey Ward (the Olympic gold medal baking winner), and now Yolanda Fryer of Los Naranjitos (Ajijic) and El Faro Restaurant (Roca Azul). We mourn our losses but retain our memories while keeping their image alive. 

     The Las Plazas Outlet Store of Guadalajara is drawing Lakeside members by the bus loads.  Recently a capacity bus load of people left the American Legion Post 7 Chapala for a full day of shopping in the Mall. In the north wing, nine Lakeside artists exhibited their paintings: Xilote, Maria de Paola Blum, Antonio Cardenas, Xill Fessenden, Javier Zaragoza, Belva Velasquez, Juan Navarro and Dionicio added striking color. A beautiful and charming young lady, Alejandra Valentina Carreño Jaime, Director of Las Plazas, introduced us to Mrs. Martha L. Melzow, Consul of the United States. What a delightful lady!
     When you get tired you can attend the food court with some 12 different restaurants or go to a movie in a ten-plex theatre court with both English and Spanish movies. There is a unique bookstore, exclusively Spanish, but not a single art gallery.  

     May Day is big the world over!  Most of us do not know why May Day is so big in European countries, but it is. May 1 was always a traditional springtime holiday in many pre-Christian European pagan cultures, and the Maypole represents and refers to various socialist and labor movement celebrations. Following the example of the Europe, May Day has become an international celebration of the social and economic achievements of the working class. The earliest May Day celebrations appeared in pre-Christian Europe countries. Although the pagan-oriented celebrations faded as Europe became Christianized, a more secular version of the holiday continued to be observed in schools and churches of Europe well into the 20th century. In this form, May Day may be best known for its tradition of dancing around the Maypole and crowning the May Day Queen. Little celebrations are taking place here at the Lake. Mason’s Day is Día de la Candelaria, certainly a big day (5th), as is Teacher’s Day on May 15 .

     While prancing around in May, would all local writers who wish to submit their short stories, poetry, or novels for consideration in the competition of the Pamala Hall Awards to be held in August in conjunction with the El Ojo Del Lago Literary Awards, do so as soon as possible? This is the first announcement, but the reading committee of editors, published writers, and publishers does need the month of July to review all submissions. The winners in each of these three categories receives a cash award. Final deadline: July 1. Please bring your material to Tod Jonson at LCS any day of the working week from 10-12 (noon). Forms for submission are available at the time of delivery of your material. Please do not wait until the last minute.

     Have you noticed recently how many people play golf seriously here at Lakeside? Here is a little slice of golf history: Golf as we know it today originated from a game played on the eastern coast of Scotland in the Kingdom of Fife during the 15th century (1421). So why are there 18 holes instead of 10, a dozen, or even 20 holes on a golf course? During a discussion among the club’s membership at St. Andrews in 1858, a senior member pointed out that it takes exactly 18 shots to polish off a fifth of Scotch. By limiting himself to only one shot of Scotch per hole, the Scots figured a round of golf was finished when the Scotch ran out. Now you know! Let’s go play golf at the Chula Vista or the Vista Del Lago course!  Great socializing and the exercise wouldn’t hurt any of us. Okay, Tiger, move over because your competition is revving up.

     Have you ever gone to a Sabbath dinner? Ektor and I were invited to a Shabus, the Sabbath dinner that was auctioned off recently at a charity function. In turn, Rabbi Phil Posner prepared a Shabus dinner that could easily change the way of eating. The food was so spectacular, with one dish topping the next, the eight guests couldn’t get up from the table. During the dinner, religion became a part of the discussion. I have been a Christian nearly all my life, but the views expressed that night were a challenge to anyone who wishes to clarify the relationship between Christians and Jews.   What an extraordinary evening.

     The newcomer on the block seems to be Spas. As Lakesiders become more aware of the value our local spas provide, the more time is allotted to improving our health. The true value is in weight reduction. But it seems most people want to look like runway models. While attending a test run at a local luxurious Spa & Salon I was amazed at the number of people praising the results from hot rock massage to scrubs and wraps, facials, hair care and waxing. To keep our hearts in top shape and avoid strokes we need all the elements that spas afford us. Here at Lakeside there are several emporiums of health care. For further information turn to page 90 and look under spas in our service directory for a list of local spas.

     Here at Lakeside we perhaps have more restaurants than any small village should have. However, there are some restaurants and food that we do not get here on a regular basis. Now ~~ Guadalajara can solve that problem and magnificently. The LCS Dining Club, in its quest to find really good restaurants in the big city, is putting together a bus trip for an evening of dining. The evening’s dining will be May 25, and the bus will leave the Ajijic auditorium at 5:00 sharp and plans to return you home by 9:30 or 10:00 the same night. All for a $100 pesos. Your dinner is your choice from the menu. If we are speaking of bargains, here is the best of the month.

     There is not much that can be changed about the story of the crucifixion of Christ...however Ajijic has been placed on the map as a cultural/religious center during Easter as shown in a local reconstruction of the event in history that changed the world. The annual Easter Pagent has been a  spectacle that should be seen at least once by every visitor and resident alike. You will remember it long after Easter has passed.

     On May 28,  American Legion Post No. 7 will conduct its annual Memorial Day Service.  The entire community is invited to attend the services honoring our military/civilian family and friends who are but asleep. As part of the ceremony, Post 7 shares this program, which begins at 1:00 pm, and is the major Memorial Day observance for residents of the Lakeside area.  It will include representatives from other organizations in this area who will recite touching words honoring our veterans.

     Pretty is as pretty does, and here is a first class world beauty! Our lake valley has lost a huge sparkle in our lives. Health dictates that Juanita must return to the USA for treatments. Juanita Reed has been a huge asset in these lake communities for nearly 30 years from the day she arrived in 1978 from Seattle with her husband, Jim Reed. She was one of the original founders of the Culinary Society of Ajijic, and was widely known for creating Hagamoslo Juntos, a children’s clean-up program still in effect today which won 1987 Project of the Year (CASA) from the El Ojo Del Lago first time awards. Eventually they became the Lakeside Community Awards sponsored by our Chapala Mayor’s office. She  went on to win 1993 Woman of the Year, and in 1996 Keeper of the Flame for a lifetime of work. The sun won’t be quite as bright, the air nearly so fresh, and our lives will lose a lot of light with the moving away of Juanita Reed.

     Bolshoi Sextet  It is rare that we have the joy of knowing that members of Bolshoi were here for a classical musical evening. We were in line for the Bolshoi Sextet to perform on May 1 at our Ajijic Auditorium, and so they did to a most enthusiastic audience. The Lake Chapala Society donated their Ticket Booth showing extra interest in helping bring culture to our area and worked with the Music Appreciation Society, VIVA La Musica, and the Russian Cultural Department in México headquartering out of Guadalajara.
This event was only one evening, May 1st, wherein the orchestra held its own every minute of the time while illuminating our thoughts showing us there is something to be said for legendary artists who share their talents with us.
     This is station 101 Ajijic signing off until next month.

Past Lakeside Living