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Two new stores opened this week in Lo de Marcos

This Week

Mexico Remains a Preferred Travel Destination for Canadians

Mexico: Botox for prison warden, not drug 'queen'

Prosecutors say that doses of the cosmetic treatment Botox allegedly allowed illegally into a Mexico City prison were not used on jailed drug cartel suspect Sandra Avila Beltran, better known as the "Queen of the Pacific."

Mexico City chief prosecutor Miguel Mancera says the prison's former warden has acknowledged using Botox….go to original article

Quicker Route to Mexico Proposed

A quicker way to cross the border from Nogales Arizona is under discussion. Members of the Nogales Port Authority said if traffic can move quickly from Mexico to the U.S it should do the same when crossing from Arizona into Mexico….go to original article

Report: Thousands Of Migrants Kidnapped In Mexico

In Mexico, a man who tried to journey illegally into the United States to seek work vows that he will never again leave his home

His trip turned into a nightmare when he was kidnapped along the route, as happens to thousands of migrants crossing through Mexico each year….go to original article

Golf star Lorena Ochoa swings strong in face of Mexico drug war

Lorena Ochoa teed off in her first PGA Tour event since retiring nearly a year ago, her star power lending a needed boost to sports events in violence-wracked Mexico.

Nearly a year after retiring as the most celebrated golfer in Mexican history, Lorena Ochoa teed off Wednesday in her first Mayakoba Golf Classic, her star power lending a needed boost to sports events in violence-wracked Mexico….go to original article

Mexico criticizes advance of proposed Arizona law

Mexico says a proposed Arizona law targeting illegal immigrants is an unfortunate step toward violating the rights of Mexicans in the United States.

Julian Ventura, undersecretary for North America, says in a statement Thursday the bill approved this week by a state senate committee would harm relations between Mexico and the U.S. border state….go to original article

Alta. teens touched by cancer Mexico-bound

Davis Weisner, 15, wants to help out in the construction of three houses for low-income Mexican families in any way he can. Weisner has had cancer since he was 10 and isn't likely to recover. A 15-year-old Calgary boy with cancer wants to go to Mexico to help build houses for the poor. Even though Davis Weisner is weak and sick, he said he could still lend a hand. The Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta is helping him do just that, as he and 14 other Alberta teens who have been touched by cancer head to Ensenada, Mexico….go to original article

Expansion begins at largest U.S.-Mexico border crossing

A $600 million expansion that would more than double capacity at the world's busiest border crossing broke ground south of San Diego on Thursday, aiming to boost security and cut lengthy delays at the California-Mexico border….go to original article

Last Week

Mexico to Ban 'Call of Juarez: The Cartel' Video Game?

A shoot-em-up video game set in the border town of Ciudad Juarez has angered local officials who are busy fighting all-too-real violence.As reported last week at FoxNewsLatino, Chihuahua state legislators said Sunday they have asked federal authorities to ban "Call of Juarez: The Cartel," which is based on drug cartel shootouts in Ciudad Juarez. About 6,000 people died in drug-related violence in Ciudad Juarez in 2009 and 2010, making the city, located across from El Paso, Texas, one of the deadliest in the world….go to original article

Calderon says U.S. cooperation in the fight against drug cartels has been "insufficient."

Mexican President Felipe Calderon says U.S. cooperation in the fight against drug cartels has been "insufficient."Calderon says the United States should help by reducing drug use and stemming the flow of automatic rifles to Mexican drug cartels.Calderon tells the Mexican newspaper El Universal that relations with the United States were strained when secret U.S. diplomatic cables criticizing Mexico's anti-drug strategy were leaked to the public….go to original article

Jaime Zapata: US agent killed in Mexico hailed at funeral

US and Mexican authorities are co-operating in the investigation into Mr Zapata's death

US Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has hailed the dedication of a US immigration agent killed in Mexico last week in a speech at his funeral.

"We know that no words or actions will fill the void left by Agent [Jaime] Zapata's actions or repay the sacrifice he made... ," Ms Napolitano said….go to original article

BYU's long-running archaeology program helps uncover ancient sculpture in Mexico

For almost 60 years, researchers from a now BYU-run organization have scoured Mesoamerica for remnants of ancient civilizations and — as they have many times before — discovered another important artifact.

The 3,000-year-old stone monument — containing a corn god or central figure of some persuasion of power — was discovered in 2009 at Ojo de Agua, a site in southern Mexico within the state of Chiapas, with funding and participation from BYU's New World Archaeological Foundation (NWAF)….go to original article

Wal-Mart de Mexico 4Q profit rises 14 percent

Wal-Mart de Mexico SA says its fourth-quarter profit rose 14 percent thanks to its new stores in Central America.

The Mexican unit of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. says in an earnings report that net income rose to 6.5 billion pesos ($539 million) in the fourth quarter, up from 5.74 billion pesos during the same period in 2009….go to original article

Mexico's gross domestic product expanded last year at the fastest pace in a decade as Latin America's second-biggest economy recovered from a 2009 recession provoked by the global financial crisis.

GDP, the broadest measure of a country's output of goods and services, grew 5.5% last year, the most since 2000, the national statistics agency said Monday. GDP expanded 4.6% in the fourth quarter from a year earlier. The economy was forecast to grow 4.4% in the final quarter, according to a Bloomberg survey…go to original article

Retired priest risked life in southern Mexico

Now-retired priest devoted decades in Mexico to protecting villagers.

Inside the tranquility of a retirement home for priests, Father Ted Pfeifer enjoys the companionship of fellow priests and a chapel a short distance away for daily Masses….go to original article

Mexico Beefing Up Border Security

The President of Mexico is beefing up security along the U.S.-Mexico border. At a ceremony honoring Mexico's armed forces today, President Felipe Calderon said he has deployed four additional army battalions to the region to help with an ongoing crackdown on violent drug cartels….go to original article

4.5 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Mexico Border

A magnitude 4.5 tremor struck Baja California near Mexicali and lightly shook San Diego today, but no damage or injuries were reported, according to the sheriff's department…go to original article

Mexico's DISH sees tripling subscribers by end-2012

DISH Mexico, a provider of direct-to-home satellite services, is expected to almost triple its subscriber base by the end of 2012, a company source told Reuters on Tuesday….go to original article

Crop Freezes in Mexico Affect Grocery Prices in the U.S.

The last couple of weeks have brought unexpectedly low temperatures to the growing region of Sinaloa, Mexico. As a result, many growers have experienced crop loss of up to 80 or even 100%. Not all growers and crops have been affected, but the industry is nervous and wary of significant price hikes in the coming weeks. Tomatoes, bell peppers, beans, and eggplant are among the vegetables most devastated, according to The Packer, an industry news website. Watermelon, sweet onions, and grapes have stood up relatively well to the cold…go to original article

Live English Theatre Returns to Jaltemba Bay

 The Penita Players present an evening of comedy theatre for three performances.

 March 9, Pina Colada Restaurant in Guayabitos, on the highway west lateral just south of the second entrance.  Dinner is at 6:00pm followed by the show at about 7:30pm.   Latecomers will be seated at the first appropriate opportunity. Cover charge/donation 25 pesos for show, proceeds to Rotary Club's kindergarden construction project

 March 10, Restaurant Xaltemba Galeria in La Penita, just off the northwest corner of the main plaza. Doors open for dinner at 5:00pm; last sitting is at 7:30pm; the show will start at 8:30pm.  Cover charge/donation 25 pesos for show, proceeds to Los Amigos de la Penita Education committee.

 March 11, La Penita RV Park in La Penita, about 1 km north of the Avenida on the highway. Pizza dinner (by reservation for non-park residents) at 6:00pm,   Show starts at 7:00pm, 25 peso cover charge/donation goes to Jaltemba Foundation.

 This hour-long comedy show will fill your already well-filled bellies with laughter. Our six performers have prepared nine scenes on topics running the gamut of real-life experiences, ranging from dating disasters to technical difficulties. 

 The Penita Players began entertaining in Jaltemba in 2004 at Kathy's Restaurant, then in 2009 at Backstreet Restaurant, and are tickled to re-emerge with our largest and zaniest ensemble ever.    Join us for a fun-filled evening of  entertainment.  Don't delay; phone your  restaurant to book your seats now!

The Most Delicious Fundraiser in Town

Photos by Christina

Thank you to the anonymous kind person who once again donated an air conditioner for one of the school classrooms, all the Mom's in Los Ayala who worked hard baking, everyone who baked or bought a dessert to donate to the event; Casa Cooking http://casacookingclasses.web.officelive.com/default.aspx

for the Tres Leche Cake (the cake with the flowers), and all the volunteers who made this event possible. And an extra special Congratulations to  Linda and Orlando for making this event a success!

Letters to the Editor

This is an FYI for all those people, who like us, travel with their tennis rackets in the carry-on luggage.  We were very surprised when we arrived at the PV airport that they will not allow tennis rackets (or ceramics or glass items) in a piece of carry-on luggage.  This meant we had to quickly re-pack ours and hope that it arrived in tact.  This was a first for us as we have traveled with our tennis rackets in carry-on for as long as we can remember and this rule only seems to apply when departing from Mexico.  Thought this may be worth a mention in Jaltemba Sol.

As an aside, be very thankful to be in the warmth of RdeG - us Vancouver Islanders were hammered the other day with 10 - 15 inches of snow and today we have a temperature of minus 9 Celsius with the wind chill (a term not normally used in this part of the country).

Enjoy

Mel Reid

Mateja's on the Beach Customer Appreciation party was explosive thanks to Bobby Butler's pyrotechnics.

Mateja shows her appreciation to some of her most valued customers including Jodie, dot, Jack Kathy and Tracy.  Check back later to day to view more pictures of this fun event that attracted over 200 customers.  Click here to view more photographs by Bill Bell of this fun event

Epitome of Bad Taste - "Call of Juarez: The Cartel"  Video Game

No one ever accused video game producers of having great taste but the announcement this week of the upcoming release of the “Call of Juarez” hits new lows even by that industry’s standards.

Call of Juarez glorifies the drug war and makes a game of a tragedy that has wrecked havoc on thousands of families. Thousands of innocent people have died and this production company Ubisoft has made a game of it. One of the “environments” gamers can experience, for example, is a Mexican funeral. Ubisoft advertises  a “Fun Multiplayer Tiplayer Experience” and  that you can “choose between 30 weapons including pistols, revolvers, sub machine guns, machine guns, assault rifles, shotguns, sniper rifles, anti air weapons and more.”

Making a game of a national tragedy is cruel and inhumane to victims and victim’s families. This insensitivity is a sucker punch to the gut for Mexico and is comparable to the outrage Americans felt with the release of “New York Defender”  a game exploiting the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers.

This isn’t a joke. This isn’t a game. It is making “fun”  - exploiting the misery of others..

Next Meeting of Los Amigos de La Peñita

The next meeting of Los Amigos de La Peñita will be on Monday, February 28, 2011  at Restaurante La Palapa de Guty, Circuito Libertad #4. There will be a social gathering at 6:30 with the formal meeting starting at 7:00.

Key agenda items will be:

End of year budget items

Report from scholarship committee

Status of JEDI activities

Community report

Education Committee Activities

Report on Recycling program

Tianguis report 

An Information Session on Micro-Financing

The Challenge - which contestant makes the best Tequila drink - was decided unanimously by three international judges last Saturday evening. Pochteca won hands down with a tasty brew of tequila and fruit juices.

The Challenge - based in the principals and criteria from our very own local Margarita Challenge - is a major fundraising event for a technical school in Tequila which teaches, amongst other things, how to make the world famous alcoholic drink -Tequila. The judges rate performance, presentation, taste amongst other categories.

Three contestants sponsored by Tequila distilleries, vied for the coveted first place. Last year, Margarita Challenge Champions, the Patty Hueso / Hinde and Jaime's Restaurant won first place. The Champions did not return this year, however their outstanding fire and ice performance set a high standard for this year's event.

Pochteca made an outstanding performance with a Charro Lasso act, Mariachis, Aztec dancers and of course, a dancing horse. While all three contestants drinks were delicious, Pochteca's performance pushed them into the lead position.

Photography by Bill Bell

Gift of Mosaic Glass

Eva created this beautiful mosaic glass tabletop for her daughter Petra.

EVA GRAEBER has been attending Jo's creative stain glass workshops for quite some time and recommends them wholeheartedly;

Read more here

We would like to thank the following people:

The Margarita Challenge Executive

Ron and Sue, Ralph and Shirley, Shirley Middleton, Deb and Dale, Dot and Bill, Bill, Sheila, Rick and Geri

To the judges Bill, Dot, Romy and Louise

To the helpers at the event

Bill and Gina, Dot and Bill, Ron and Sue, Ralph and Shirley, Deb and Dale, Sheila, Yvonne, Tannis, Anna, Mavis, Yvonne, Rick, Geri, Mitch All the Pina Coloda Staff

Thanks to the Press for all the great pictures and stories.

Thanks to the DJ’s (John and Mimi) the Tequila company Pochteca for the free samples and the tequila for prizes to the Engraver (Salvador) for the engraving.

Thanks to all the people who donated silent auction items the people that bid on them and the margaritas and all the people that donated money Bold development 5000 Canadian dollars Mary Williams 100 American dollars, Ron and Sue Elms 100 American dollars, Gordon Cantmell and Colleen Auld 1000 pesos, Stu Barr 50 Canadian dollars

Marion and Clayton 1000 pesos Chaco 100 pesos from his t shirt sales.

Thanks to the contestants that make this happen Hindie and Jamie’s Patti, Xaviar and Rachael Latitude 21  Delma, Dana, and helpers Pochteca Aldo and Jorge

I hope I got everyone if I missed someone I apologize in all what a Great event hope to see you all next year

Jim and Bonnie and Esteban and Mina

Darling of the Sea: Pacific Dolphins

           © Tara A. Spears

There aren’t enough superlatives to describe the experience of seeing wild dolphins in their natural habitat.  As a life-time boater and fishing enthusiast, Ihave always treasured every encounter with these sleek and charming sea mammals. Everyone may be familiar with the specie from watching movies and viewing dolphins in aquariums or catching a show at Sea World, but being eye to eye with wild dolphins from a boat is breathtaking. They have such presence and entertaining behaviors that a picture cannot convey!  The Dolphin is the largest and most diverse family of cetaceans. It contains 26 recognized species and six toothed whales. Most forms of this family have functional teeth in both jaws, a melon shaped head with a distinct beak, smooth sloping foreheads, a single notch in the middle of their flukes and a dorsal fin. Of the 26 species of dolphin, 13 tend to have long, well-defined beaks and streamlined, torpedo shaped bodies. These intelligent animals are powerful swimmers, and live in family groups called pods that contain from 10 to a thousand of individuals.

Click here to read the entire Tara Spears story

Jaltemba Cup Golf tournament a great success!

Jaltemba cup organizer Larry Baron announced that the Jaltemba Cup raised over just over 75,000 pesos for a computer lab in La Peñita Secondaria Plan de Ayalas.

“I am extremely pleased to say that participation in the event was 50 per cent higher over the previous year and so was the amount that we raised,” Baron told the Sol. 

Baron said that the Cup went off “without a hitch.”  The money raised is just one of the many ways the golfers who play at the El Monteon Field of Dreams give back to the community that they love.

Thank you Larry from all of us golfers.

Thanking All Fashion Show Guests and Volunteers                                 © Tara A. Spears
The Women to Women 2011 Fashion Show is a wrap, and now it’s time to bask in the afterglow. Thank you to the 300 guests that attended the event- and had a good time in spite of a few snags in the production. The original outfits were inspiring, the food delicious, and wasn’t it fun to have a day out with your friends? The Fashion Show committee deeply appreciates the generosity for all of those who participated in the raffles, auction, and scholarship pledge drive: your financial support will have a long lasting impact on the future of this rural Mexican community. And you all looked so beautiful in your outfits! All proceeds from the Fashion Show will support the Cancer de Mama Clinic and provide scholarships for local students who would otherwise not be able to attend university- what a tremendous outcome from a day of enjoying friends, food, and fashion. The Women to Women Fund first-ever scholarship pledge drive was a huge success, providing money solely for additional scholarships.
. go to page 2 for complete Article

Hugs Make the Difference

At Cancer de Mama Clinic          2011

 © Tara A. Spears

The sky was a gloomy gray and the temperature dipped to a record low on the Jaltemba Bay coast the first week-end in February, but the mood at the Cancer de Mama Clinic was upbeat, underscored with hope and compassion as the volunteers in cheerful pink shared smiles and hugs with the hundreds of women from throughout Nayarit. Many of the women traveled for hours by bus to receive assistance at the annual breast cancer clinic.  The statistics are impressive: 342 women clients were given 380 medical prosthesis; 341 prosthetic bras; 191 prosthetic tab bras; 739 regular bras, and 73 wigs for chemo patients.  The clinic welcomes the clients with cheerful banners and comforting smiles from the volunteers hoping to ease the women’s fears, at least for a few hours.  By having to deal with a long term illness such as breast cancer, many of the women lose the support of their family and friends and are having to cope by themselves. “We at the clinic become their family,” said Judy Krajnc, co-chair of the Cancer de Mama Clinic group. The Cancer de Mama Clinic’s success can be measured by the friendships, smiles, and hugs of all the participants. ...Go to Page 4 for complete article

Walking for Cancer de Mama Donors Mystery Donors

Annette Richard & Linda Hamel & Mar de Cortez Hotel

We would really like to thank the "Mystery Donors" who gave and dashed at the walk for Malena and Cancer de Mama walk.

The Recycling Committee of Los Amigos is pleased to announce that we have now started to collect cardboard for recycling.  The driver (Tavo) picks up at various business, bungalows and hotels and will now collect cardboard if left beside the existing baskets on the streets.  The route is Mondays for Guayabitos and Los Ayala and Wednesdays for La Peñita and La Colonia.  Please put out the cardboard only on delivery days and break down boxes if at all possible.

Thank You

Guayabitos' own mad hatters!

Highlights from the February 15 Meeting of Los Amigos de La Peñita

A financial report on the Fiesta was presented. Total gross revenue was 403,000 pesos, including 65,000 pesos in donations from Special Sponsors, which covered all expenses. This meant that all the proceeds from the auctions and ticket sales will go into our programs. Total net revenue was 337,000 pesos; 63,000 of this is designated for scholarships, leaving 275,000 for our other programs for next year. Thanks were given to everyone who made the event such a success.

Given the increase in the number of scholarship students, additional volunteers are being sought for the Scholarship Committee. A number of teachers and other community leaders have expressed an interest in joining.. The intention is to do more than just provide tuition but to also provide personal growth programs, leadership training and, possibly English training.

With respect to the Mango Salsa project, it was noted that the women selected for the project will be going to Tepic this week for the second step of the selection process. The first sales flyer from the Buy Local Campaign will be out this week and will be available at the tianguis; Buy Local bags will be for sale at the tianguis in Guayabitos on Monday for the next two weeks. In terms of the Micro-Finance Project, a meeting was held with Se Mas, an offshoot of PEACE, this week; Se Mas is the organization we are looking at to administer the program should we decide to proceed. An information session for interested participants is scheduled for March 3 at 7:00 PM at the Ejido. The amount of interest generated by the information session will determine next steps.

It was reported that two Kinders – Las Rosas and La Hoya – will be receiving their official documents giving them ownership of their land this Saturday. Romy Mora, Sydney Richmond and the Parents’ Committee at La Hoya were thanked for their help in moving the La Hoya project forward and Peter and Marje Holstein were thanked for their donation of toys, games and shelves to Las Rosas.

Recycling Committee volunteers have now made 224 baskets this season and will be approaching the hotels and bungalows in the area over the next two weeks to encourage them to participate in recycling.

A presentation was given on the Senior Centre that is proposed to be built in Sayulita. Land has now been donated. A rodeo in being held in La Peñita on February 27 from 4:00-7:00 to raise funds for the construction. The Centre will serve seniors from Compostela to Bucerias.

It was reported that 342 women participated at the Cancer de Mama Clinic in early Febraury. Individuals came from all over the State of Nayarit, Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. Thanks were given to all the volunteers who helped out at the Clinic.

The next meeting will be February 28.

Full Minutes are available on the Los Amigos Website (www.losamigosdelapenita.com).