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Lakeside Living
By Kay Davis

Phone: (376) 766-4774
or 765-3676 to leave messages
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April 2009

      Events are listed by date, like a calendar. Some organizations offer multiple events or dates, and these items appear at the end of the column.
      CASA, the Culinary Arts Society of Ajijic, had a beautiful display of Valentine Desserts and Cajun main dishes at their February meeting. The main dishes had a scrumptious Louisiana flair, but it was Monica Molloy in first place for her Mirliton Pirogue, Stuffed with Shrimp & Andouille with Tasso and Oyster Hollandaise. Second place went to Mary Wingrave for her Cajun Chicken, and Preston Whitford won third place for his Dulac Dirty Rice. Cheryl Davis won People’s Choice for her Oysters Bienville.
      CASA welcomes new members interested in creating, learning about and enjoying good food. For more information on CASA and joining the group, call Patrick at 766-4842, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..


CASA winners, main dish entries

      February 28 the Lake Chapala Society hosted the 50s Sock Hop in the Gazebo. From the twist to the stroll to the pony, it was a blast! Over 150 people showed up, some dressed in poodle skirts and some in black jackets, to relive the 1950s with dancing, hamburgers, fries, cokes, ice cream floats and their picture on a Harley. LCS may opt to make this a yearly event. Money made from the Sock Hop will buy a speaker system for LCS.
      March 5 Northern Lights provided a “violin tasting.” Works by Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev were played by Sadie Fields on violin and Angela Park on piano, two wonderfully talented young women whose virtuoso performances brought vigorous applause.
      Throughout March Xill Fessenden’s photos were displayed at Gatherings on Ramon Corona across from the Lake Chapala Society main entrance. The display featured new techniques Xill has been working with, using light and color to create new images.


Sunset on the Ocean

      The Irish-American Magazine announced their 2009 list of 100 Irish who had made a global impact. Dr. Michael Hogan of the American School of Guadalajara, along with Vicente Fox, were the only two from Mexico. Others on the list included Senator Ted Kennedy, Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney, singer Paul McCartney and author Frank McCourt.
      March 28 was the book-signing for Beyond the Walls by Alison Pickering, featuring the homes of Lakeside residents and interior designers. The author’s first book, Behind the Walls, remains popular, and this second book, with 238 pages of photographs, displays the work of local architects, artists and interior designers, including Kaylee Bakker, Rick Bruno, Antonio Cardenas, Cathy Chalvignac, and others. The photographs showcase interiors and outdoor living spaces. 
      Proceeds help to support Lakeside School for the Deaf and Children with Special Needs in Jocotepec, who provide education for deaf children and teach them sign language, reading, sculpture, carpentry and arts. They also provide everything related to the enhancement of a hearing defect. For information, contact Robin Lawrason, 766-3070, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..


Dining Room – Michael Schaible home, La Floresta

      April 1 & 8, Shirley Haverland will appear at Adelita’s Café in San Antonio Tlayacapán (next to the church). Shirley has joined forces with Bob Cris, the Dean of Comedy Magic, to bring you a night of excitement and fun. Doug Livingston lends his considerable talents to the twosome to create “Comedy with a Twist.” To save tickets at the door, please call 766-0097 or 766-1853, tickets available at Adelita’s. This is Shirley’s first appearance since she became a “fallen woman,” breaking her arm in five places. And she’s still funny!
      The Ajijic Writers Film Forumwill show Saving Grace (2000) on April 21, 2009 at the Plaza Jardin Restaurant and Theater at 12:00 noon.  Doors will open for seating at 11:30 a.m.
      Unexpectedly widowed, prim and proper housewife Grace Trevethyn (Brenda Blethyn) finds herself in dire financial straits when she inherits massive debts from her late husband. Faced with losing her house, she decides to use her talent for horticulture and hatches a plan to grow potent marijuana, which can be sold at an astronomical price. The efforts of Grace and her gardener Matt (Craig Ferguson) to hide their illegal enterprise from the curious townsfolk and to market turn into comic turmoil. Food and drinks can be ordered (not included in admission fee). After the movie, there will be discussion on the story and characters. Participation is encouraged.
      The ticket price is $50 pesos. Proceeds from the project will help fund a scholarship program through Los Niños de Chapala y Ajijic A.C. for a Mexican creative writing student. Advanced tickets may be purchased from Pat Percival, at Writers Group meetings, or you can purchase your ticket at the door. For more information, contact Victoria Schmidt at 765-5858. Your participation to date has provided two years of education for a student. Thank you.


Saving Grace

      April 28, 7:30 p.m. Belva McIrvin Velázquez, well-known local artist, musician and member of Los Cantantes del Lago will be performing her “Favorite Classical Arias & More.” The recital will be in the Capilla del Rosario, the little chapel at the Ajijic Plaza, piano accompaniment by Timothy G. Ruff Welch, Music Director of Los Cantantes, and joined by fellow singers Ted Dresie, Jayme Littlejohn, Emanuel Medeles Medina and Keith Scott. The program will include pieces from Handel’s Messiah, Mendelssohn’s O Rest in the Lord, Panis Angelicus. Tickets are $150 pesos, available from Belva at 766-2691, from members of Los Cantantes and by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. All proceeds go to Los Cantantes del Lago’s Central Mexico Tour 2009 scheduled for early July.
      The American Legion schedule for April:
April 1 – US Consulate and Social Security
April 3 – 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Yard Sale
April 6 – Legion executive board meeting
April 7 – Auxiliary executive board meeting
April 12, 19 & 26 from 12 – 3 p.m. – Legion grill: best burgers Lakeside
April 27 – 4 p.m. candlelight dinner
April 29 – 3 p.m., Lone Star Club – be a Texan!
      Lakeside Little Theater has begun selling season tickets for the new 2009 – 2010 play season, $800 pesos per seat. Ticket sales are from 10 – 1 daily. Here is the play lineup:
Regrets Only                        September 26 – October 4, 2009
Paul Rudnick’s political comedy, directed by Barbara Clippinger
Mousetrap                            October 31 - November 9, 2009
(no show November 2)
An Agatha Christie mystery, directed by Rosanne Wilshere
Don’t Dress for Dinner           December 5 - 13, 2009
A comedy by Marc Camoletti, directed by Roger Tredway
The Dresser                          January 16 - 24, 2010
A drama by Ronald Harwood, directed by Larry King
The Boyfriend                       February 27 – March 9, 2010
A new 1920s musical by Sandy Wilson, directed by Allen McGill
Dracula                                April 3 - 11, 2010
      Adapted from the Bram Stoker thriller, directed by Tod Jonson
      LLT’s final presentation for the 2008 – 2009 season is Norm Foster’s Looking, directed by Bob Coull, April 4 - 12, 2009. The box office will be open April 2 - 12 from 10 – 12 daily (except Sundays) during the run of the show and one hour before curtain. Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. For ticket information, contact Paula McTavish, Box Office Manager at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
      LLT’s Applause Party to thank members who have volunteered in any capacity during the 2008 – 2009 season will be held at the theatre on Saturday, April 18 from 5 – 7 p.m.
      LLT has elected new officers for the Board of Directors. First Vice President is Emma Bergh-Apton and 2nd Vice President is Ken Yakiwchuk, who will serve a term of two years. Pat Carroll will remain as President, Georgette Richmond as Past President, Fred Koesling as Treasurer, Allen McGill as Secretary, Trish Conner, Facilities Manager, Don Chaloner, Production Manager, and Sylvia Bitting, Public Relations.
      Look for news in May about LLT’s upcoming Summer Seminars.
      Mexican holidays this month:
April 3 – Viernes de Dolores (Friday of Sorrows)
April 5 – Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday)
April 5 – Daylight Savings Time – spring ahead one hour
April 9 – Jueves Santo (Maundy Thursday)
April 10 – Viernes Santo (Good Friday)
April 11 – Vigilia Pascual (Easter Vigil)
April 12 – Domingo de Resurrecci?n (Easter Sunday)
April 30 – Día del Niño (Children’s Day)
Ajijic’s Pasion de Cristo (Passion Play) is a favorite with the Easter story staged in episodes from Palm Sunday through Good Friday.
      Los Niños de Chapala y Ajijic received a donation for the benefit of their scholarship program from Jack Runnels, representing the Lake Shastina Kiwanis in Northern California. The money was gathered by the Butteville Elementary School children to help Mexican children of poor families stay in school. This donation will pay for the tuition of eight children from our local area whose families would not otherwise be able to send them to school. Pat Percival, President of Los Niños de Chapala y Ajijic accepted the donation.


Jack Runnels and Pat Percival for Los Niños de Chapala y Ajijic

      Open Circle at LCS on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m.:
April 5          Todd Stong, PhD, PE – Future of Infrastructure at Lakeside
April 12        Karen Blue – Chinese Astrology: Outer and Inner YOU
April 19        Magdalena Villarreal – Mexican Rural Women
April 26        Steve Frowine – People-Plant Connection
May 3          Arnold Coopersmith – Evolution
      VIVA Summer Concert Series season ticket prices have been reduced to $900 pesos for members and $1,250 pesos for non-members. Individual tickets for the Opera will be $250 pesos for members ($350 pesos for non-members). The other four concerts will be $200 pesos for members ($300 pesos for non-members). Season tickets will be on sale at LCS from April 22 – April 28. Reserve tickets by calling Rosemary Keeling at 766-1801. Tickets will also be on sale at LCS the week before each concert. All concerts will take place in the Auditorium on Thursdays at 7 p.m. Here is the schedule:
June 25 Concert: Duo performance by Christopher Wilshere on violin and Joel Juan Qui on piano
July 30 Concert: Baritones David Small and Luis Rodriguez from the University of Texas performing operatic arias with members of the University of Guadalajara vocal workshop, accompanied by virtuoso pianist Jason Peterson
August 27 Concert: Internationally recognized Jose White String
Quartet, all principals in the Aguascalientes Symphony Orchestra
September 10 Concert: A “first” for Lakeside: concert opera
“The Elixir of Love” by Donizetti conducted by Luis Rodriguez.
Auditions for the chorus March 18 at 10a.m.  Please email
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October 8 Concert: The Cuauhtemoc Garcia Jazz Flute combo
      Future Plans: The Board will consider bus trips to selected concerts in the May Festival, visiting Colima to hear Los Cantares de Colima, and a trip to Zacatecas.
      Gloria Palazzo entered a contest run by Smith Magazine. Her submission was published in the book, Six-Word Memoirs on Love & Heartbreak. Gloria is a local writer, previously published in Agave Marias, a set of short stories written by 10 local women. Gloria also wrote one-liners in Agave Marias. The six-word memoir challenge thus grabbed her attention. Legend has it that, in response to a challenge, Ernest Hemingway wrote: “For sale: baby shoes never worn.” That tells an entire story. Here are more:
1.     I still make coffee for two. (unknown)
2.     Pants tight. Comfort food. Unending cycle. (ercatalano)
3.     Writer explores truth about father’s murder. (RitaWrites)
4.     I usually give about eighty percent. (sko)
5.     My son, forever 23, miss you. (dad)
6.     Years of words broke my spirit. (backinaflash)
7.     Not a drop since the rape.
8.     I love you. So sue me. (Wench)