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Christmas in Mexico
Allan Wall - PVNN
December 24, 2010

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It's that time of year again - Christmas in Mexico.

The worldwide diversity of Christmas in its various cultural forms is an interesting study. The essence of the holiday - a celebration of the incarnation and birth of Jesus Christ - is the same throughout Christendom. The holiday has a real power to inspire art, literature and folk customs, and express itself in various manners in diverse cultures.

Real celebrations come from the people, and are not imposed by governments to promote an agenda. In Mexico, Christmas is a true folk celebration. Mexican Christmas customs are an eclectic mixture of the old and the new, including elements from Europe, elements developed in Mexico, and, in recent years, elements borrowed from the USA.

One prominent aspect of the Mexican Christmas season is the widespread use of the nacimiento - the crèche or nativity scene. It is often more elaborate than those used in the United States. Its ceramic figurines includes interesting elements such as the nopal cactus , hermits and ducks. (I've even seen ducks with halos!). My Mexican wife has fond memories of the nacimiento which belonged to her late grandmother.

In northern Mexico, the traditional gift-giving occasion is the night of December 24th-25th. Traditionally, in southern Mexico, the principal gift-giving date is January 6th, Epiphany, or more commonly Day of the Magi Kings, commemorating the presentation of the gifts by the wise men to the Baby Jesus.

The piñata is probably the most famous Mexican Christmas custom, although it is not exclusively a Christmas custom. In fact, the piñata is used throughout the year at children's birthday parties, suspended in mid-air and struck repeatedly until it breaks.

In the US, the most famous piñata is in the form of a donkey, but nowadays a piñata might be in any form. For example, you might see a Bart Simpson piñata or a Spiderman piñata.

The piñata used at Christmas time though is a ball with spikes. In colonial times a piñata in the form of a big ball (representing Satan) with 7 spikes (representing the 7 capital sins) was used by the friars as a teaching device. Thus, breaking the piñata represented defeating Satan.

Another Christmas custom is the posada, which superficially bears some resemblance to the Christmas caroling celebrated in English-speaking countries. However, the singing in the posada is a ritualized musical drama. The people outside sing the part of Mary and Joseph, the people inside sing the part of the innkeeper, and finally those outside are invited inside for the party.

The Mexican pastorela is a genre of Christmas play. Its roots go back to the mystery and morality plays of medieval Spain. The pastorela focuses on the shepherds, pastor being the Spanish word for shepherd. In the pastorela, the shepherds hear from the angel about the Christ Child, and they set out for Bethlehem to see Him. Along the way they encounter the Devil, who puts various temptations in their path to prevent their arrival at the manger. Each shepherd is tempted by a particular sin. But they resist the temptations and at the end of the play, they reach the Christ Child.

In more recent years, Gringo customs such as Santa Claus and Christmas trees have been adopted in Mexico. Actually they have been assimilated quite well into the culture.

During the season, stores do a brisk business in Christmas trees. I recall one December in Mexico City, seeing a gigantic artificial Christmas tree in the Zocalo (the main Mexico City plaza.)

Santa Claus is well-known in Mexico now, and many small children eagerly await his annual visit.

One curious result of the adoption of Christmas customs from the US is seeing snow-related decorations in regions of Mexico where it hardly ever snows.

Just as in the USA (and maybe everywhere it's celebrated) Christmas is very commercialized in Mexico. But maybe that's inevitable, because the main reason it's commercialized is the holiday is important to people.

As long as you remember the real reason for Christmas, and as long as you don't go into debt buying presents, that can be a very good thing. It's certainly good for the commercial economy. In fact, a lot of stores do a big share of their business during the season.

In conclusion, allow me to wish all the readers of Banderas News a Happy Holiday Season, or as they say here in Mexico - ¡Felices Fiestas!

Headline News

Death toll from Mexico crude-oil blast rises to 29

The death toll from a massive crude-oil explosion that laid waste to parts of a central Mexican city has risen to 29. Authorities in Puebla state say they located the remains of a baby in the arms of one of the other 28 victims….go to original article

The Mexico Quandary: Safety or Savings?

WHEN Alex Trettin and his wife, Jenn, suggested to family and friends that they take a group vacation to Mexico, the reaction was mixed. About half of the group of 29 immediately signed on for the November trip to the Riviera Maya, south of Cancún, where they would visit Maya ruins, fish and lounge by the pool at an upscale resort for the bargain price of $150 a person a night. The other half hesitated, citing concern about Mexico’s continuing drug war. …go to original article

Mexico disputes El Salvador claim of migrant abduction

Mexico has disputed El Salvador's allegation that dozens of Central American migrants who stowed away on a cargo train were kidnapped by gunmen.

El Salvador had denounced the abduction of up to 50 Central American migrants in southern Mexico….go to original article

International court rules against Mexico's army

It sides with two peasant ecologists who had long claimed they were illegally detained and tortured by Mexican soldiers working at the behest of powerful logging companies….go to original article

Colorado River water deal aids U.S. and Mexico

Mexico will leave part of its Colorado River allocation in Lake Mead for the next three years, slowing the decline of the drought-stricken reservoir and possibly delaying the onset of water rationing in Arizona and Nevada.cThe arrangement, announced Monday by U.S. and Mexican officials, was devised to give farmers in the Mexicali region of northern Mexico time to repair damage from an April earthquake that disrupted water-delivery systems. Mexico lacks the means to store unused water in its own country….go to original article

Mexicans attribute miracles to late Pope

An exhibition of personal items belonging to the late Pope John Paul II is drawing thousands here, with some claiming that the pilgrimage has helped them overcome illness.

'People who come here feel very touched, even moved to tears. They say they feel the presence of John Paul II,' said Guillermo MacLean, director of Villacero Foundation that put together the exhibit…go to original article

Police raid German gunmaker over Mexico arms

German police searched the offices of Heckler and Koch, a German manufacturer of premium firearms, Tuesday over suspicions that its exports of rifles to Mexico may break German arms-export laws, prosecutors in Stuttgart said…go to original article

WSI sees 17 storms, 9 hurricanes in 2011 season

Weather Service International on Tuesday forecast that the 2011 hurricane season will be more active than normal, with the U.S. Gulf Coast energy region under "significant threat" for hurricanes to come ashore…go to original article

Centuries before the first speakers and subwoofers, ancient Americans—intentionally or not—may have been turning buildings into giant sound amplifiers and distorters to enthrall or disorient audiences, archaeologists say…..go to original article

Anger over Mexico's creaky, inefficient justice system boiled over after a mother who waged a two-year battle to bring her daughter's killer to justice was herself shot to death, possibly by the same man suspected of murdering the teenager….go to original article

Guadalajara, Mexico, Dec 15, 2010 / 01:53 pm (CNA).- Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iniguez, Archbishop of Guadalajara, Mexico recently highlighted the importance of marriage, calling it “a service to life, to love, to humanity, but above all, a service to God,” who “created man and woman to cooperate in creation, to transmit life and to care for it.”….go to original article

An intensive manhunt along Mexico's northern border has failed to turn up any of the more than 140 prisoners who escaped from a federal prison….go to original article

Swimming With Whale Sharks, Traditional Dancing and More to Preserve a Fragile Marine Ecosystem. Celebrating the beauty and culture of Isla Mujeres, Mexico, and championing the need to preserve a fragile marine ecosystem, ecotourism travel agency Ceviche Tours and the Isla Mujeres Department of Tourism announce the Fourth Annual Whale Shark Festival, a community extravaganza that showcases the achievements, the traditions and the environmental splendor of Isla Mujeres….go to original article

This spring, President Obama promised Mexican President Felipe Calderon that he would work to deter gunrunning south of the border. Behind the scenes, White House officials were putting the brakes on a proposal to require gun dealers to report bulk sales of the high-powered semiautomatic rifles favored by drug cartels. ….go to original article

Mexico President Felipe Calderon announced plans for a huge new tourist development, including two marinas on the mainland side of the Sea of Cortez.

Described as twice the size of Cancun, the new beachfront development will initially cover 7.5 miles of Sinaloa coastline in an area about 80 miles south of Mazatlan. Stretching over 5,884 acres, the mega-resort will encompass the vast Laguna Agua Grande waterway and several canals, plus the seaside towns of Isla del Bosque and Teacapán at the border with Nayarit…go to original article

 President Felipe Calderón’s effort to reorganize local police forces and clamp down on money laundering in the fight against organized crime has suffered a setback with the failure of the Mexican Congress to move forward on the initiatives. …go to original article

Virgin America on Thursday inaugurated its first route to Mexico, beginning nonstop service to Los Cabos International from its San Francisco hub. Los Cabos is the first of two Mexican destinations that will be served by Virgin America. The carrier also will add flights to Cancun, with service from Los Angeles beginning Jan. 19 and from San Francisco on Jan. 20. With the two Mexican cities, Virgin America will fly to three destinations outside the U.S. It already flies nonstop between California and Toronto…go to original article

Federal marijuana distribution conspiracy charges were filed Thursday against seven defendants arrested on Wednesday during what is believed to be the largest seizure ever of marijuana in the Chicago area - conservatively estimated at about 21,800 pounds, or nearly 11 tons. The drugs were packed into six railroad cars from Mexico that arrived at a warehouse in south suburban Chicago Heights earlier this month. The marijuana is estimated to have a value of about $22 million…..go to original article

Last Week

Mexico President: Party Led to Drug Lord's Death

Felipe Calderon Says La Familia Gang Invited Hundreds to Party and Didn't Bother to Keep It Secret, Leading to Police Visit….go to original article

Report: Houston is Mexico’s biggest gun supplier

A year-long investigation by the Washington Post reveals Houston supplies more guns to Mexico than any other Texas city. Since President Felipe Calderon came into office in 2006, 30,000 people have died in Mexican drug wars.…..go to original article

Alleged drug trafficker extradited by Mexico to US

A suspected Mexican drug gang leader linked to a 2006 border incursion by armed traffickers into Texas has been extradited by Mexico to the United States., the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas have said….go to original article

Six Million Celebrate in Mexico City ‘Virgen de Guadalupe’

They celebrated everywhere were the Virgin of Guadalupe is revered but no where else like Mexico City where her basilica and relics are housed.  Over six million pilgrims came many on their knees to pray and sign the traditional Mexican birthday ‘mañanitas’ (birthday).  It is considered and for good reason the largest Catholic event of its kind throughout the Americas.  Many pilgrims started arriving the day before pitching tents to camp…..go to original article

U.N. Climate Change Conference Ends With Agreements

The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Cancun, Mexico, ended with the adoption of a package of decisions, called the Cancun Agreements, that set governments on the path toward a low-emissions future and support enhanced action on climate change in the developing world, according to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)….go to original article

The Monarchs are back

San Juan may have their swallows but Goleta has the Monarchs.

Once a year North American Monarch Butterflies (Danaus plexippus) overwinter in Mexico and California. Monarch Butterflies are the only butterflies that migrate during the winter months. Other butterfly species are able to survive the cold winter months as larvae, pupae, or even as adults but Monarchs must leave the cold northern areas to survive for the following year.,,,go to original article

Breathe easier in Mexico City

 As host to this year's UN climate talks, Mexico also holds the conference presidency – and the country is positioning itself as a key negotiator, one that can bridge the gap between rich and poor nations.

Despite tales of drug violence, visitation to Mexico was up almost 19% over last year, as of September. And with 22.6 million tourists expected by year's end, numbers will about equal the record-breaking totals in 2008. About 80% of visitors are North American….go to original article

On the Streets in Tonala!

Photos by Larry Baron

Just a sample of great bargains you can purchase on the streets in Tonala

To view other Tonala pictures, click here

Click to go to our site

Local Artists

Poinsettia:  From Legend to Christmas Décor

© Tara A. Spears

 One of the ubiquitous signs of the Christmas season is the vivid scarlet of the poinsettia plants that appear in malls, churches, homes and offices in December. Its shape appears in tablecloths and wrapping paper, silk flowers, and seasonal jewelry. This indigenous Mexican plant quickly garnered world-wide popularity and comes with a charming legend that explains how the poinsettia came to be a symbol of Christmas spirit.                                                                                

The legend of the poinsettia tells of a girl named Maria and her little brother Pablo. They were very poor but always looked forward to the Christmas festival. Each year a large manger scene was set up in the village church, and the days before Christmas were filled with parades and parties. The two children loved Christmas, but were always saddened because they had no money to buy presents. They especially wished that they could give something to the church for the Baby Jesus. But they had nothing.

Continued on Page 2

At the Terraza Restaurant in Rinconn

Ladies Bridge.   We meet on Tuesdays at 11 am at La Terraza Restaurant (opposite the church) in Rincon de Guayabitos..

We play friendly bridge and have lunch. Everyone who has some knowledge of the game is welcome. Drop in and play..

Guayabitos Artists' Collective Art Show and SaleGuayabitos Artists' Collective Art Show and Sale

Xaltemba Gallery  December 23 to January 5

The 3^rd Annual Guayabitos Artists’ Collective Show and Sale will be kicked off this year at an Artists Reception on December 23^rd .from 6 to 9 pm. Everyone is welcome

Some of the Artist Collective

The collective is 13 strong: and consists of:

Bobbi Attwood

Tosia Archer

Marylyn Beaubien

Brenda Bitkoff

Amy Buckingham-Flammang

Mona Cavalli

Lin Chimes

Susan Cobb

Sheila Finzer

Rosalie Hope

Marielena Lozano

Nancy Milski

Mary Alice Ranta

The artists all paint in water colours, and some of venture into other mediums as well. 

Come out and support the arts!

Check out our new Web PageCheck out our new Web Page

The Jaltemba Cup

The Jaltemba Cup will be held on January 29 and 30th 2011.

The Jaltemba Cup is a major event on the Jaltemba Coast. It is a fun tournament that spans two days, culminating in an awards ceremony and entertainment.

The proceeds of the tournament for the last two years has gone to kids and computers, supporting education through technology.

The Jaltemba Cup is part of the Jaltemba Foundation. Our funds are transparent and accountable.

 

Caution:  ATM Scams in Riviera Nayarit

                ©Tara A. Spears                          

Thieves always work overtime during the holiday season, and this year they have targeted local ATM machines, particularly in Rincon Guayabitos. Since many of the residents are retired expats with foreign bank accounts and regular monthly deposits, this group is a gold mine for would be thieves. To avoid having your account depleted, take the time to follow a few safety steps.    The methods used by criminals to gain entry to your money accounts include hacking into bank databases, phishing scams and unsolicited emails, the breaching of retailer computer systems and card skimming devices placed on ATMs. 

Skimming Defined: In general, skimming occurs when ID thieves secretly install special equipment in credit card readers either at the ATM, gas pump machine or any other card swiping device to capture the personal information on your card each time you swipe.

The reader makes two copies of your credit or debit card information: one to process the transaction and one to later download the information to the ID thieves. There’s sometimes a hidden camera to record your pin, as well. There have been instances, too, where your information gets transmitted wirelessly to thieves. On average ID thieves rake in $30,000 per skimming incident, according to ADT Security Solutions.

Closely study the following pictures of a safe machine and one that is tampered with:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 What kinds of scams are out there?

 According to the fraud department of the American Banking Association, there are currently four main types of electronic theft occurring worldwide:

Fraudsters make counterfeit ATM cards by using a skimmer, which is a card-swipe device that reads the information on a consumer's ATM card. Scammers take a blank card and encode all the information from an ATM card when they swipe immediately after the machine's last transaction. The skimmer catches the PIN (personal identification number) through a small camera mounted on the ATM. The consumer is unaware they've been scammed because the ATM card has not been stolen and still works at other machines.

The “Lebanese Loop” is another popular ATM scam. Scammers insert a portable steel loop into an ATM card slot. The scammer usually approaches the victim while at the machine, and poses as the person next in line. Victims are advised to enter their PINs three times and then hit cancel to get the machine to accept the cards. The scammer is able to memorize the PIN for future use and the machine keeps the card because of the excessive number of attempts to enter the correct PIN. Victims leave in frustration because they couldn't get any money and they've lost their card. Once the loop is taken out of the ATM the scammer has the card and the PIN number for future transactions. This is a relatively new scam that many experts believe will be short-lived due to fast technology upgrades.

In some situations, criminal hackers are able to capture account information by using WiFi scanners and cracking programs to download transaction data when the systems fail to be protected by high-level encryption software. Thus far, those I talked to in the area who were scammed have been Mexican and American- I’ve read that Canadian banks have a better, safer encoding magnetic strip on their cards-perhaps it’s true.

Bandit machines. These ATM machines look like the real thing but are not owned/connected to an  actual bank or financial institution. The criminals place them near legitimate machines, place an ‘out-of-order’ sign on the real machine which channels customers to the bogus machine. The bandit machine will not give you money, but is there to record your personal information for the thieves to be able to access your account.

Phishing scams and unsolicited emails

Phishing is probably the easiest method for criminals to get into your account and is a widespread fraud technique. Some of the scams are quite clever but they all rely on poor judgment by the recipient to be effective.

Never click a link in an email to go to your bank, credit union, financial investment institution, eBay account or anywhere else to log in if it's related to your finances. Always go to these websites directly from your bookmark or by typing in the address yourself. If even that worries you then give the bank a call and ask them for information. Following this simple rule will protect you from getting "phished" by a criminal. Every time you delete- it’s even better to ‘spam’- an email requesting that you click a link to enter your credentials on a banking website foils a phishing scam.

Guidelines to avoid ATM fraud:

Keep a low monthly limit on your cards

Keep your PIN in a safe place and don’t tell it to anyone

Watch out you are not observed when entering your PIN

Don’t keep your PIN in your wallet

Don’t be distracted or helped by persons near ATM

After the completed transaction make sure the card you are holding is yours and has not been swapped

If many ATM machines are out of order in your local area, they might have been intentionally damaged to direct you to the single one who is working

Use Trusted ATM locations. Your bank’s indoor ATM is a safe bet, since it’s usually guarded with a security officer or camera. It’s much more difficult for ID thieves to compromise an indoor bank ATM than say, a random ATM on the street corner outside a convenient store.

If your card gets lost, stuck in an ATM machine or stolen cancel it and report to your bank or police as soon as possible

Check to see if anything has changed on your machine!

  Learn to spot scams. Call the customer service number on the back of your card if you suspect a fraud attempt.

Shield the keypad and your card number from view when entering your PIN into an ATM. Some brazen thieves will use binoculars to steal account information and then create counterfeit cards. Ask questions if a store clerk swipes your card using two different machines; one of them could have been a card reader used to copy your account information.

 If your card is denied, use another machine. Skimmers aren’t efficient and may need you to punch in your pin more than once in order to fully record your information. If you get asked more than once to submit your information, cancel the transaction and move to a different machine. If possible, notify a bank rep of the difficulty with the machine.

 Check Your Card’s Activity Regularly. While we can’t always prevent ID theft, we can be proactive in limiting the damage. Check your card’s activity online daily to make sure the transactions are, in fact, legitimate. Notify any suspicious activity to your bank as soon as possible.    

 If you still think that skimming and card fraud is something that couldn’t happen to you, read these facts as reported in USA TODAY:   Avivah Litan, fraud analyst at Gartner, a research firm, estimates that fraud involving debit cards, PINs and point-of-sale equipment has surged 400% over the past five years. One tactic, she says, has been "flash attacks": Using the stolen information, gangs create thousands of counterfeit debit cards and then dispatch cronies to at least 100 ATM machines in several cities at once. Each withdraws a small dollar amount from several accounts to avoid fraud-detection software, adding up to tens of thousands of dollars in losses.

Until recently, skimming equipment was relatively crude and clunky, attached to card-readers with double-stick foam tape and relying on small cameras to record hands punching in PINs. Newer devices include equipment that fits inside card readers, pinhead-sized cameras and well-crafted attachments that sit snugly on top of ATM card readers and PIN pads, looking just like the real equipment. Bluetooth technology allows the fake card reader and PIN pad to talk to each other, and data drives or wireless technology can make downloading of stolen information quick and easy.

 Fraud criminals also are targeting bigger players: Whereas most of the fraud in previous years took place at independent ATMs or at retail points of sale, fraud at bank-owned ATMs made up more than 80% of the breaches in the first six months of this year, says Fair Isaac, which provides fraud-detection software.  “ If it's done correctly you would not notice that anything looks amiss," Krebs says. In a traditional skimming scam, thieves place a card-skimming device into the card insertion slot. The skimmer can steal account information stored on the magnetic strip on back of the card when it is dipped into the machine. The new twist? Clear plastic overlays also are placed on top of the PIN pad to capture personal identification numbers. Also, some skimmers can text the stolen bank account information and PINs directly to the scammer so that person never has to return to the scene of the crime. I was horrified to learn that scammers don’t have to be in the area to hack- they can be sitting anywhere in the world!

By being aware of the potential fraud, you can take precautionary steps to prevent becoming an electronic victim.

Mexico Telecoms May be Fined for Poor Service
Cyntia Barrera Diaz - Reuters
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December 23, 2010

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Mexico City - A company controlled by billionaire Carlos Slim as well as an affiliate of broadcaster Televisa could be lightly fined for providing poor service, a Mexican regulator said on Wednesday.

Telecommunications watchdog Cofetel also said this week it will ask congressmen to change the law to boost such sanctions.

Cofetel said it found in an inspection that more than half of all the calls handled by Telcel, the commercial brand under which Slim's America Movil operates in Mexico, failed to connect.

Telcel's cellphone network, which is by far the largest in Mexico, "suffered a glitch that hurt customer service" in November and did not report it promptly, Cofetel said.

The regulator also said Televisa's cable affiliate Cablevision did not get permission to carry out a network overhaul that left thousands of customers with no cable television or Internet services across Mexico City between October and November.

Cofetel will hand the communications ministry a report on the problems. The ministry will ultimately decide whether to apply fines that could range between $93,000 and $187,000.

Cablevision said in a release that problems have been "isolated and temporary" and were due to the upgrading of its network to offer clients better services. The company said customers were informed of such improvements in written form.

Telcel said in a brief statement that Cofetel has yet to send it a formal notification of the planned sanctions.

America Movil had $1.85 billion in third-quarter earnings and Televisa posted a profit of $174 million in the same period.

Service from several key telecom providers in Mexico is notoriously prone to glitches.

In the case of pay television services, light rain or wind can leave many residential zones with no programming for hours or freeze Internet services. A mild earthquake earlier this year left many Cablevision clients in the capital with no web access for nearly a week.

Cofetel said it will ask "Congress to analyze the possibility of reforming the telecommunications law to strengthen the equilibrium between service deserved by customers and sanctions that can be imposed in case such service is not provided."

Televisa shares ended up 0.54 percent at 65.09 pesos on Wednesday while America Movil slipped 0.63 percent to finish at 34.97 pesos. Cablevision last traded on Dec. 13, closing at 29 pesos. ($1 = 12.3 pesos)

(Editing by Gerald E. McCormick and Tim Dobbyn)

Highlights from the December 13 Meeting of Los Amigos de La Peñita

There were 53 individuals in attendance, including 9 guests.

 It was announced that Margie and Peter from Los Amigos de Quince del Sol had made a donation of 4,000 pesos.  The funds are for the provision of one scholarship, with the balance going to the Las Rosas Kinder project.

 Maruca Dinsmore and Judy Krajno made a presentation on the Cancer de Mama Project.  The goal of the project is to assist women who are suffering from, or who have survived, breast cancer.  The dates for this year’s event are February 4, 5 and 6 at the La Peñita RV Park.  There will be an organizational meeting on January 10 at 10:00 AM in the park for those interested in helping out.

 Four members of the current Executive were re-elected: Ken Snyder (International President), Zobeida Barrera Lozano (National President), Eddie Dominguez (International Vice-President) and Dave Easby (International Secretary).  Bruce Hilton was elected Treasurer.  Sergio Vega Reyes was elected National Vice-President.  Paola Rosario Garcia Brambila was elected National Secretary. 

 A report was presented on the status of Fiesta 2011.  We are going with a Mexican theme –  Ole!.  The tickets, pamphlets and posters are with the printer and the Fiesta website is up and running.  A number of donations have already been received for the auctions.  We are still trying to recruit “Special Sponsors.

 Carlos Flores indicated that the Education Committee will be having its Gran Bazar on January 22 at 10:00 in the EcoPark.  He noted that the Committee had just completed an emergency project to repair a wall at Escuela Secondaria Plan de Ayala.

 Sixty baskets had been made in the last two Saturday workshops that had been organized by Tony Dixon and Ryan Campbell.  In addition, Sergio Vega Reyes made 25 more on his own.  Another workshop is scheduled for this Saturday at Retorno Gaviotas #13 in the Residential Zone. The Committee is looking for volunteers to approach the hotels, bungalows  and restaurants about recycling and to develop an inventory of our t baskets. 

 The Los Amigos Booth at the tianguis will be up and running this week.  We will have T-Shirts and tote bags for sale. 

 A report was presented on the three initiatives of the JEDI Committee.  “Buy Local” tote bags that we will be asking stores to promote are in the final stages of production.  We are hopeful of receiving government funding for the Mango Salsa project for next summer.     The hope is that the project will result in permanent employment for 6 individuals.  PEACE has agreed to administer our micro-financing program.  The Committee hopes to organize a family event at the end of February to raise money and generate awareness of the initiative.

 

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

 

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