Around Town
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Meetings & Lectures
Shalom San Miguel
On Friday, October 2 at 7pm, join us in welcoming Sukkot and Shabbat with a short guitar service followed by covered-dish dinner in the sukkah. Bring a dairy or pareve dish to feed 6–8 people. Call Carole Stone at 154-6760 to coordinate the food and reserve your space.
Shabbat and Yom Tov religious services are on Saturday, October 3 at 9am (no lulov on Shabbat); kiddush in the sukkah.
Sunday–Thursday, October 4–8, the sukkah will be available for anyone wishing to use it for meals, prayers, etc.
On Friday, October 9 at 9:30am, Hoshannah Rabbah services with guest Rabbi Zev Schwartz feature discussions with holiday themes. Kabbalat Shabbat/Erev Sh’mini Atzeret services at 7pm, followed by Rabbi Schwartz’s talk on the importance of Shabbat.
Shabbat and Sh’mini Atzeret services, including Yizkor, are Saturday, October 10 at 9am. Rabbi Schwartz continues his talks with holiday themes. Havdalah and Simchat Torah service at 8pm. Party time! Tequila will be served.
Simchat Torah services are Sunday, October 11 at 9:30am, with continued celebration. Another “kumsitz” with Rabbi Schwartz, on any topic you wish to bring up.
UNAM lecture cancelled
The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and the Biblioteca Pública annouce that the lecture, “The role of ideas and politics in structural change in Mexico,” scheduled for Saturday October 3, will be canceled. The Biblioteca will be closed due to the festivity of San Miguel Arcángel and La Alborada.
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
At this week’s fellowship, Elsmarie Norby’s talk, “The Agenda of the Rich, the Plight of the Poor,” describes her experiences of living and working in rancho San Miguel Viejo, a nearby rural community. Her talk explores the rich, complex nature of the many social levels of Mexican life and how it threatens the future of millions of Mexican children and the whole country.
For 14 years, Norby has provided opportunities to hundreds of children, using singing as the primary vehicle for children to discover the joys of music and gain self-confidence. She currently offers free classes in art, music and reading to 70 children in her neighborhood in a program called Ojalá.
The UU Fellowship meets every Sunday at 10:30am at La Posada de la Aldea, Ancha de San Antonio 15. Visitors are invited to attend the service and then join the UUs in the hotel restaurant for brunch.
Midday Rotary Club
On Tuesday, October 6, we welcome as our guest speaker Dr. José Luis Gallegos, President of the local Red Cross. He holds a degree in neurosurgery from Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Gallegos will talk about the Red Cross in San Miguel—activities, services and plans for the new complex which will include a public blood bank, a noncritical care emergency facility, an HIV/AIDS testing and referral center and a training center for local restaurant and hotel workers.
The Rotary Club of San Miguel de Allende-Midday meets Tuesdays at Hotel Real de Minas, intersection of calles Ancha de San Antonio and Stirling Dickinson. Check-in time is 12–12:15pm and the meeting starts promptly at 12:30. The meeting is followed by a luncheon and visitors are invited to stay for lunch and fellowship. Visit
www.rotarysma.org for more information.
Blessing of Animals
Saturday, October 3, is the Eve of the Feast of St. Francis, the patron saint of animals. To mark this anniversary, St. Paul’s Church offers the annual Blessing of Animals on the front lawn at 2pm. All pets are welcome to receive a holy water blessing from the Rev. Michael Long.
The Empowerment Center
The Empowerment Center has scheduled 10 events for Wednesday, September 30–Monday, October 5. The center, located at Privada Calzada de La Aurora 5, Col. Guadalupe, (415) 100-7633, is a gifting community and all are welcome to attend any event at no charge, though a donation is appreciated. See “Que Pasa” for the center’s full event schedule.
Book Club: Meets monthly on Wednesdays, 4–5:30pm.
Writer’s Group: Meets weekly on Thursdays, 10am–1pm.
Eckhart Tolle: Discussion follows video of A New Earth, on Thursdays, 2–4pm.
Grupo de Conversaciones en Español: Jueves, de las 6–7:30pm.
Personal Philosophy of Life Dialogues: Tuesdays, 10:30am–noon, information: 152-4606.
Great Minds of the Western Intellectual Tradition: Classical Origins, Lecture 3 of 12, Friday, October 2, 11am–1pm.
Spiritual Reunion: Law of Attraction, Saturdays, 2:30–4pm.
Video Presentation: Joseph Campbell: The Power of Myth, Part 1 of 6—“The Hero’s Adventure,” Saturday, October 3, 4:30–6pm.
Meditation Practice: Mondays, 4–5pm.
Spirituality and Spiritual Growth: Sunday, October 4, 2–4pm.
Tours & Excursions
Saturday Adventure and House & Garden Tours
The Saturday Adventure and House & Garden Tours are not scheduled this weekend because processions close the streets as the town celebrates Día de San Miguel. On October 11, San Miguel celebrates the Feast of San Francisco. Join the House & Garden Tour October 18, when they will be back on the regular Sunday schedule. See Atención next week for more information on the Saturday Adventure tour.
Lions Club Valle de Bravo trip: The Sequel
The Lions Club is off to the Switzerland of Mexico October 1–3. That proved so popular it sold out and a second trip is now filling for the following week, Thursday–Saturday, October 8–10. Both trips are the same in all details.
Reserve with Jean Schickel at 152-0934 or email her at jeanschickel@yahoo.com.
Botanical Garden Tour
A guided tour in English of El Charco del Ingenio each Tuesday and Thursday, 10am–12:30pm, is a fun and informative activity for people of all ages. Enjoy a stroll in nature while learning about our conservation project and garden. Entry is 30 pesos (waived for members) and the tour is 50 pesos. We suggest you wear a hat and closed shoes. Reservations are not necessary. Information:
www.elcharco.org or 154-8838.
Haciendas in the Heart of Mexico
Mexico’s haciendas open their doors each Thursday, 9am–7pm, during July, August and September. The owners and staff of Hacienda de Monjas, Hacienda de San Juan Pan de Arriba and Hacienda La Jaula, in the municipality of San Diego de la Unión in Guanajuato, welcome tourists to learn about the richness of the history of these large dwellings. Visitors are treated to an engaging version of Mexican colonial history as the people of the haciendas share their customs, their knowledge and their food.
Tickets at 900 pesos are available at Teatro Santa Ana, or call the project’s headquarters at 045 (442) 274-3540 or 274-3541. The full-day tour includes transportation, guide/translator, explanations of each Hacienda, visit to production areas, meals and tastings.
Bird Walks
Signe Hammer leads bird walks in El Charco del Ingenio on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. Join her Wednesday, October 7 at 9am for a 2.5-hour exploration of San Miguel’s botanical garden.
The walk is for birders of all levels, no reservations are needed and you are free to leave the walk at any time. Bring binoculars and water, and wear comfortable walking shoes and a hat. Cost is 50 pesos for members of either El Charco or Audubon, 80 pesos for nonmembers (includes El Charco entrance fee).
Wildflower identification walk
Richard Cretcher, author of Flores Silvestres, a pocket guide to the wildflowers of San Miguel, offers a walk in El Charco del Ingenio to identify the multitude of gorgeous flowers blooming this month. Fen Taylor will assist in guiding this walk. The date is October 9, starting at 10am, and the cost is 70 pesos for members and 100 for nonmembers of El Charco. This is a popular activity, so reserve space early by emailing
nzerriffi@yahoo.com.
Films & Videos
Meditation Center
The Meditation Center of San Miguel presents Video 12 in the 12-week Eckhart Tolle series, Touching the Eternal, from a retreat in India in 2002. The series concludes Thursday, October 8, at 5:30pm at Callejon Blanco 4. Presentations of the center are free; donations are gratefully accepted.
Volunteer Opportunities
Does your nonprofit need some extra help, perhaps for an upcoming event? Send new, short requests for volunteers to
edit@atencionsanmiguel.org
with “Volunteer Opportunities” in the subject line. Listings run for four issues.
Proofreaders needed for Atención
Sharp-eyed people needed to proofread newspaper copy weekly. You could join a crew reading galleys on Tuesday, or if you have copy-editor inclinations, you could read manuscripts Thursday or Friday afternoons. Background in editing or technical writing preferred. Contact Suzanne, Jesús or Micha at the Atención office on the second-floor terrace of the Biblioteca, or email
edit@atencionsanmiguel.org.
Bilingual translators for the Biblioteca
The Biblioteca Pública needs translators to convert articles and documents for our website and newsletter from English to Spanish, and Spanish to English. The documents and articles will range from 50 to 200 words.
All work can be done via email and by the individual article and/or document. The time commitment for this volunteer opportunity will vary by the individual.
If you require more information or if this volunteer opportunity appeals to you, contact General Manager Michel Amanton at the library, email
michel@bibliotecasma.com or call (415) 154-6000.
Pro Musica
Pro Musica is San Miguel’s leading promoter of classical music, staging over 20 concerts every year at St. Paul’s Church. We hold wine and botanas receptions, champagne parties and dinners after many of the concerts. We are looking for a part-time volunteer to help us organize and oversee these functions between September and March each season. This is a fun role and an opportunity to meet a wide range of people on a social basis. Contact Pro Musica President Michael Pearl at 152-2688 or 044 (415) 100-1458, or email
mpearl5493@aol.com.
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