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AROUND TOWN
Meetings & Lectures
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
San Miguel’s Dr. Roberto Maxwell and Antonio Abundez present a report on the current status of HIV/AIDS diagnosis, reporting, and treatment in the state of Guanajuato and Mexico. This program is offered by the Welcoming Congregation Task Force in commemoration of World AIDS Day 2007 at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship on Sunday, December 2.
The UU Fellowship meets every Sunday at 10:30am at La Posada de la Aldea, Ancha de San Antonio 15 and welcomes people of all ages, races, religions, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Visitors are invited to attend the service and then join the UUs in the hotel restaurant for brunch.
Preserving the cultural heritage of San Miguel de Allende
Va Por San Miguel de Allende, AC would like to extend their thanks to all of those who attended the first meeting on November 9. At this time, they wish to announce the next meeting which will take place on December 3 at 7pm at the Hotel Real de Minas. The invitation is open to any person who wishes to attend.
The main objective of Va por San Miguel is to promote by all legal means the responsible and sustainable development of the city and of the municipality of San Miguel de Allende, through the protection, defense and conservation of its natural and cultural heritage, which includes the natural elements that may have an ecological, social or scenic value, as well as all the buildings and other elements, tangible and intangible, that are products of human activity throughout history and reflect and conform to the cultural identity of our city and municipality.
Rotary annual meeting
On Tuesday, December 4, the Midday Rotary has their Annual Meeting for the election of new officers and directors for the Rotary year 2008–09 commencing on July 1, 2008. Nominations were open from November 1 to November30. Voting will be by secret ballot, the nominees being listed in alphabetical order under each office.
The Rotary Club of San Miguel de Allende-Midday meets every Tuesday at the Villa Jacaranda Hotel, Aldama 53. Check-in time is 12–12:25 and the meeting starts promptly at 12:30pm. Visiting Rotarians, those interested in Rotary, and all members of the general community are invited to attend this meeting. Rotary is an organization of business and professional persons united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. Lunch follows at 1:30pm in the hotel dining room. For more information, please go to the Rotary Club website:
www.rotarysma.org.
Estate planning for the expatriate in Mexico
David R. Barrow, attorney at law, licensed to practice US law in Mexico is repeating his October presentation on Estate Planning In Mexico on December 5. Barrow will expand upon his previous presentation in several areas. In the presentation, Barrow will discuss, among other things, issues of “folklaw”—things that expatriates may have been told, but just aren’t true. For example, expatriates are often told that contracts written in English will not be upheld by Mexican courts. Not true, according to Barrow. Or they are told that US enacted wills will not honored in Mexico. Again, not true.
This second presentation on “Estate Planning” will be held in the Biblioteca Pública’s Sala Quetzal on December 5, 6:30 to 7:30pm. David Barrow is an actively practicing US attorney with offices in San Miguel de Allende. He has over 25 years of experience in international law, including estate planning, business law, and real property. For more information, please call his office at 154-8975 or email Barrow at
smalawyer@gmail.com.
Bereavement groups to start
Hospice San Miguel is sponsoring two free bereavement support groups for area residents who have lost loved ones. The first group, lead by Dorie Beach who is a board member of Hospice SM and an experienced bereavement counselor, is for English speakers and meets on Saturdays, from 1–2:30pm at Hospice San Miguel, located at Manuel Rocha 35 in La Lejona. Please contact Dorie directly at 154-7605 or dorieb@hospicesma.org to arrange to attend the group.
The second group is for Spanish speakers and is lead by Leticia Gonzales, also a Hospice SM volunteer and experienced psychotherapist. This group meets on Saturdays from 3–4:30pm at Hospice San Miguel. Please contact Leticia directly at (044) 415-114-8331 or
lego_2000_mx@yahoo.com.mx to arrange to attend the group.
The groups will be small, so reservations are necessary. Please call Dorie or Leticia for information and to reserve a place.
For more information about the groups or any Hospice service, you may contact call our office at 154-4287, email us at
mail@hospicesma.org or check our website at
www.hospicesma.org.
Learn more about La Virgen de Guadalupe
On Saturday, December 8, local resident Georgeann Johnson will present a slideshow talk on “The Mysteries of La Virgen de Guadalupe.” This is an excellent time to see an historical overview, as the celebration of La Virgen draws near. The talk and images foster insights into her uniqueness as a symbol of the heart and soul of Mexico. The roots of her legend intertwine in the history, archaeology and culture of Mexico; in the streets and homes of Mexico, one is often witness to the layers of La Virgen. This talk, presented for the first time last year, was well received by Mexicans and foreigners. It is a synthesis of legend, astrology, archaeo-astronomy and history.
Johnson is an educator, astrologer and practicing visionary. Her background in starlore, mythology, archaeo-astronomy and photography have all combined to present a new look at the Empress of the Americas. She says, only half-jokingly, that the talk is a “mything link” in the history and mythology of La Virgen de Guadalupe.
The talk is set for 6–7pm at the Warren Hardy Language School. The school is across from the San Juan de Dios church at San Rafael 6; use the side entrance. The cost is 50 pesos.
Classes & Workshops
Chess workshops for children and adults
Free chess workshops begin Monday, December 3. Children 8 to 12 years old will meet 4–5pm in the Sala Infantil, and adults at 5–6:30pm in the central patio of the Biblioteca Pública. The Biblioteca has chess sets, but bring your own if you’re fond of it, or if it’s charged with a mojo of good luck. Local chess master Francisco de Santiago will provide a few minutes of sage advice and underhanded tricks, and then you’ll have over an hour to practice them on your opponents. On November 26, Santiago played five games simultaneously in the patio and won all five games. Afterwards, Teatro Santa Ana showed The Luzhin Defense, a 2001 movie about a grandmaster driven mad by chess, set in the lush surroundings of an aristocratic resort hotel.
Tours & Excursions
Saturday Adventurers
It is December 1, so off to one of Santa’s workshops. Well, almost—the Hernandez paper-mâché factory makes many things that come out of Santa’s sack, such as jolly clowns, sets of fruit napkin holders and many cute stocking stuffers. They will show us how these gifts evolve from paper made into a gooey mass, how they are put in molds, unmolded, dried, painted and many steps later ready to export to Santa’s workshop. Next, to Rancho La Loma, an equestrian center for the training of Andalusian horses in the art of dressage. After a tour of the extensive grounds, we will see a couple of trojes, typical houses from Patzcuaro, one now a chapel, the other a guesthouse, with many modern amenities added. Their tack room contains a fabulous collection of antique carriages, including the first taxi of Mexico City, horse drawn, of course. From the grandstand, we will witness the well-trained beauties in all their gaits of dressage. You will have a chance to go for a carriage ride behind a beautiful Percheron—what fun! D
on’t miss this great tour! This Tour leaves from inside the Jardín, across from the Parroquia at
10:30am on Saturday.
Botanical Garden Tour
Every Tuesday morning discover the marvels of cacti and other Mexican plants as well as the history of El Charco with Mario Mendoza, Vice-Director of the Garden or David Melville. The tour includes a visit to the nursery which contains many rare species and is not usually open to the public.
Entrance fee is 30 pesos (waived for members) and the tour is 50 pesos. All proceeds benefit the garden. The tour is in English and starts at the main entrance at 9:00am and lasts about 2 hours. Bring a hat and water. Space is limited, so reserve by calling 154-8838 or email
charcodelingenio@gmail.com.
Performances & Events
Holiday sale at Hospice San Miguel
On Saturday, December 8 from 10am to 1pm, Hospice San Miguel will present their third Treasures, Trash and Treats Sale. The theme for this event is Holiday Decor and Holiday Baked Goods. Of course, the previously owned items are for any season. There will be wreaths for your door, centerpieces for your table, ornaments, Christmas cookies and holiday homemade fudge. Come to shop and/or to learn more about Hospice San Miguel. If you have donations you would like to share, please call 154-4287 to arrange for pick-up. Hospice San Miguel is located at Manuel Rocha 35, two blocks behind Mega, in Colonia La Lejona.
Art sale at St Paul’s Church
Marta MacDonald, a resident of San Miguel for four years, is the featured artist for the month of December at St. Paul’s Church Hall.
This is the first time that Marta MacDonald has offered her paintings for sale. She entered several art competitions in California where she won many blue ribbons, but never wanted to sell her paintings. She said, “The reason that I never wanted to sell is that I used to sew and made beautiful clothes for me and my two girls. Then in 1965, I did it for a living and now I hate to sew and won’t! I was afraid that if I did the same thing with my art, it would ruin it for me.”
Marta will be showing her paintings December 1 through December 31. Hours 11am–2pm, Monday–Friday, and before and after church services on Sunday 9–12am. Artist reception will be Saturday, December 8 from noon–3pm.
Annual Christmas Bazaar for Los Charcos
Friends of Los Charcos Waldorf school are invited to participate with crafts or services at the Annual Christmas Bazaar. We must ensure that all booths participating will be in keeping with Waldorf Philosophies— Handmade with natural materials and attention to color and design; crafts should be designed to stimulate not limit imagination, services should support the spiritual development of the human being.
We request written descriptions of each craft or service and how it adheres to Waldorf philosophy and a donation to the school. This family event will be held at La Carpa, on Sunday, December 9 from 12 to 5pm.
Please submit your applications before November 30 by email to loscharcos@waldorfsanmiguel.org.
Instituto Allende announces schedule for winter arts and crafts fairs
Instituto Allende hosts four arts and crafts fairs during the upcoming winter season. The Saturday and Sunday events are scheduled for December 29–30, January 19–20, February 2–3 and March 1–2. Fair times are 10am–6pm. Vendor’s fee for the December fair is 550 pesos per table for two days. The table fee for next year’s fairs has been raised to 600 pesos. Tables are still available for all four fairs. Instituto Allende is in search of food vendors who would like to sell in the back food court.
These four particular fairs are produced by Instituto Allende, Gabriela Zavala, Martin Villa Franco and Lou Christine. For more information visit Instituto Allende, Ancha de San Antonio 20, or call 152-0226.
Films & Videos
Dynamic film from ShalomSMA
}ShalomSMA Forum has the pleasure to present a dynamic film, The Syrian Bride.
E
ran Riklis’s film digs into the Middle East conflict with the tale of a Druze woman who lives with her family in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Her family makes plans for her to marry a Syrian television star from Damascus, but the wedding must take place at the border, and once she marries and crosses into Syria, she’ll never be able to return home. Hiyam Abbass and Makram J. Khoury and Clara Khoury star. What do you know about the Israeli Druze? This is an eye-opener.
See it at the Hotel Quinta Loreto TV Room, Monday, December 3 at 5pm. You’ll want to stay for the lively discussion afterwards. A donation of 50 pesos to ShalomSMA is much appreciated.
Volunteer Opportunities
Does your nonprofit need hands? Send your short requests to edit@atencionsanmiguel.org
with “Volunteer Opportunities” in the subject line.
Save A Mexican Mutt (SAMM) is a charitable organization that rescues, spays/neuters, provides veterinary care, socializes, and transports highly adoptable Mexican street dogs to the United States for adoption. We need volunteers to foster dogs for up to six weeks and to transport dogs to the United States. If you live here full or part-time and can provide a temporary loving home for one of the many dogs in line to be transported to their forever homes or are traveling to Texas, New Mexico or Colorado by car and can transport one or more dogs with you, please contact Kelly Karger at
info@saveamexicanmutt.org and see our website at
www.saveamexicanmutt.org.
(Save A Mexican Mutt is a US 501c3 charitable organization. Donations to SAMM are tax deductible on your US federal tax return.)
Field volunteers needed for Patronato Pro Ninos
PPN, one of the oldest and most vibrant charities in SMA, is looking for a selective group of volunteers who would be willing to dedicate two or more mornings per month to go out to the outlying areas of the municipality of San Miguel de Allende to visit schools, talk about the work that PPN is doing to assist children with medical and dental problems, and to invite those children who need medical attention to the office of PPN for evaluation and assistance at little or no cost to the family. The volunteers ideally would either be reasonably fluent in Spanish and/or have a car/truck/SUV which can withstand the back (mostly unpaved) roads of the municipality. If interested, please contact Steve Livingston at
steve@stevelivingston.com with your name and contact information.
Feed the Hungry looking for screening volunteers
Feed the Hungry is looking for volunteers to help with the preventive medical screening of our school children. We are looking for persons with one or more of the following skills: Bilingual persons, drivers with access to vehicle with high ground clearance willing to drive out to the ranchos, computer data input persons. This medical work is being conducted in cooperation with Patronato Pro Niños for the children our organizations serve. For more information please contact us on 152-2402 or
contact@feedthehungrysma.org.
Volunteers needed to help organize San Miguel Walk 2008
The 5th Annual San Miguel Walk Against Domestic Violece takes place on January 24, 2008. The San Miguel Walk funds the Violence Prevention Program at CASA, Centro Para los Adolescentes de San Miguel de Allende, A.C., a local non-profit organization that has been serving the poor, particularly adolescents, rural women and their families, through health, social service, education, and environmental outreach programs since 1981. We are looking to form a team of dedicated volunteers to help out with advertising, publicity, fundraising and outreach. Please contact Shelley at
shelleybull@gmail.com or 044 415 114 8648 for more information.
Pro Musica
Pro Musica de San Miguel AC puts on more than 30 classical music concerts throughout the year in the city. We are looking for volunteers to fulfill various roles. These include helping out as ushers at St. Paul’s Church and other venues during concerts, selling tickets prior to the House and Garden Tour at the Biblioteca on Sunday mornings, helping to organize suppers in private homes after concerts for our musicians and patrons, and assisting with publicity, marketing and fundraising. We are a fun group of people to work with and the music is fantastic! Contact Pro Musica’s President, Michael Pearl, at 152-2688 or email him at
mpearl5493@aol.com.
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