AROUND TOWN
Meetings & Lectures
Shalom San Miguel
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.
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
Sallie Latch, a local Jewish woman, watched the destruction of homes and lives with disbelief and horror during the Israeli war on Gaza last spring. She was so moved she went to Israel and Palestine to see for herself what was happening. At this week’s meeting, she recounts, in “Peacemakers among the Carnage,” her experiences with peace activists she met on both sides.
She has been an activist for much of her life in the antiwar, farm workers and civil rights movements. A Peace Corps volunteer, her professional career included teaching jobs in China, prisons, preschools, special education and the university. She spent 15 years traveling and living abroad before moving to San Miguel 4½ years ago, where she has worked as an artist and continued her activist work.
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 13, guest speaker Iben Schake will give us a taste of what the European Union (EU) is undertaking today. The EU is an institution not well known to most Americans or Mexicans. However, it is of utmost importance to Europeans as it suggests and approves directives, which the member countries subsequently put into law in their respective countries. The EU deals with numerous matters such as agriculture, trade, transport, research, foreign policies and European defense.
Iben Schake has a thorough knowledge of the EU from many years of experience. She has been teaching EU affairs at Denmark’s International Study program. At the present, she is Head of Section in the Danish Parliament, serving the committee dealing with all European affairs. Schake is also the daughter of Rotary member Ivar Schake, and we are fortunate to have someone of such expertise talk to the club while she is here visiting.
The Rotary Club of San Miguel de Allende-Midday meets Tuesdays at Hotel Real de Minas, intersection of 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.
Lions Club International
The Lions Club meets Thursday, October 15, at Sappos Restaurant at calle Nueva 10.
Check in time is 12:30pm and the meeting begins at 1pm, on the first and third Thursdays of each month. You may order lunch from the special menu and one-hour validated parking is available next door. For additional information, contact Nick Maguire 152-7523.
Classes & Workshops
Bereavement Support Groups available
Hospice San Miguel sponsors two free bereavement support groups for area residents who have lost loved ones. The groups are small, so reservations are necessary.
The first group, led by Dorie Beach, is for English speakers and meets on Wednesdays, 11:30am–1pm in Centro. Contact Dorie at 154-7605 or
delaplaya3@yahoo.com to arrange to attend the group.
Leticia Gonzales leads the second group, for Spanish speakers, on Thursdays, 5–6:30pm at Hospice San Miguel, Manuel Rocha 35 in Col. La Lejona. Contact Leticia directly at 044 (415) 113-9806 or
lego_2000_mx@yahoo.com.mx to arrange to attend the group.
For more information about the groups or any Hospice service, call 154-4287, email
mail@hospicesma.org or visit www.hospicesma.org.
Tours & Excursions
Saturday Adventure Tours
An exceptional tour on October 10 begins with Stelara, Raul and Lupe Hernández’ ceramic factory. They make no ordinary ceramic; it is all high-fired stoneware. Raul will show us the process, from mixing the special clay, pouring it into molds, drying, painting, and then firing at over 1000 degrees. The results are beautiful lamp bases, vases, decorative plates, coffee mugs and more great gift items at factory prices.
Next we visit “Puerta de Sosa,” a 16th century hacienda and an ancient granary. Nearby, in the 16th century chapel, frescos painted long ago are still visible. Behind waving plumes of pampas grass is the old Colonial home filled with heirloom furniture. This splendid hacienda is a camera buff’s delight.
The tour benefits the Centro de Crecimiento school for disabled adults and children and leaves the Jardín, across from the Parroquia, at 10:30am on Saturdays and Wednesdays.
No House & Garden Tour October 11
On October 11, San Miguel celebrates the “Feast of San Francisco” and processions close the streets. Enjoy the festivities over the weekend and join the House & Garden Tour October 18, when they will be back on the regular Sunday schedule.
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.
Bird Walks
Signe Hammer leads bird walks in El Charco del Ingenio on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. Join her on Wednesday, October 14, 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 the book, Flores Silvestres, a pocket guide to the wildflowers of San Miguel, offers a walk in El Charco del Ingenio this month to identify the multitude of gorgeous flowers blooming this time of year. 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 a space early by emailing
nzerriffi@yahoo.com.
Performances & Events
Arthur Murray Dance Studio
Tuesday is the Newcomer Party at 7:45pm, students and visitors gather on Friday for the Studio Party at 8:30pm and Saturday is the Latin Party, also at 8:30pm. Every other Wednesday is Singles Night at 8:30pm; upcoming dates are September 30 and October 14. Parties are free to Arthur Murray students and 200 pesos for non-students (Singles Night is 100 pesos). Call today to schedule a free first lesson: 152-0095 or 044 (415) 106-4401, or stop by Hernández Macías 68.
Singles Social Group
San Miguel Wednesday Social Group now meets at the Sunset Bar in Casa Linda, Mesones 101, diagonally across the street from Teatro Ángela Peralta. Singles, couples and anyone interested in meeting new people are welcome every Wednesday, 5:30–7:30pm, for 2-for-1 national drinks, delicious Mexican botanas and lively conversation.
Films & Videos
Meditation Center
The Meditation Center of San Miguel presents the latest Eckhardt Tolle DVD, Finding Your Life’s Purpose, Thursday, October 15, at 5:30pm at Callejon Blanco 4. Presentations of the center are free; donations are gratefully accepted.
If you’ve been searching for your true purpose in life, Tolle has some straightforward advice: stop struggling. The primary purpose of every human being is simply to be…fully engaged in this moment and aligned with the natural flow of reality itself. The author of A New Earth invites you to discover the two-fold intention of our human incarnation: to free yourself from the prison of “thought-based reality” and to express in your own way the grand vision that universal consciousness has for your life
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.
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.
Patronato pro Niños
Patronato pro Niños is looking for caring volunteers who wish to work with the schoolchildren and teachers in the areas surrounding San Miguel. They are searching for children in need of medical and dental care. Volunteers should have Spanish capability and/or a car that can withstand back roads. Volunteers are teamed to complement capabilities and are asked to dedicate two mornings a month during the school year. Contact Steve Livingston at
steve@stevelivingston.com.
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