Kids and young people with auditory problems present a pastorela
By Gabriela Blanco

Pastorela
Los Pastores Distraídos
Tues, Dec 11, 5:30pm
The Ring
Hidalgo 25

The IREE school is a special institute for kids and young people with auditory problems. They present a different pastorela every year as an academic complement to their yearly curriculum.

This year, they have chosen “Los Pastores Distraidos.” The play helps to extend vocabulary, to overcome introversion, to raise self-esteem, among other academic targets. The play is written and directed by the teachers with the students as the actors. To show gratitude for the help received during the school year, and to show to the audience their special language, the children also sing Silent Night using sign language. “The kids are very excited to present the play,” Cecilia Escobar said. Please don’t dress with neutral colors because they use special black light to present the show. Don’t miss it, for it promises to be a special experience.

The IREE was created 14 years ago and it began from the need to help and instruct children with auditory problems communicate, read, write and especially to be an integral part of their environment. This school was founded by three teachers who, after facing many challenges, finally have a place to educate and teach children. The institute is located at Pila Seca 41, and the school has 40 children of diverse ages ranging from 4 to 22 years. The children come from different communities located on the outskirts of San Miguel such as Salitrillo, Guanajuatillo, Cerritos, etc. Also there are children that come from Dolores. The school staff consists of six people—four teachers, a helper and a director. The teachers are qualified to give attention and the necessary care to the children and young people with special needs. The institute has all levels, from pre-school to secondary.

“The students come to school three times a week, mostly because they don’t have the resources to come everyday and also because the institute doesn’t have the room to attend to all of them simultaneously,” mentions Cecilia Escobar, Director of the IREE. The school functions on donations because “the auditory equipment is expensive and every kid needs one of them, the equipment cost from 12,000 to 20,000 pesos for each one,” said the teacher Cecilia. To make a donation to the institute, please call Cecilia Escobar at IREE 044 (415) 103-3045 or 152-0913. The donations are tax-deductible in the US.

Hidden treasures at Bodega sale

The Biblioteca Pública’s weekly “trash and treasure” sale the Bodega de Sorpresas has furnished the home of and dressed many a sanmiguelense. Known as the best place in town for bargains and books this program of the Biblioteca is now in its 34th year. The proceeds of the sale not only go directly to the institution’s scholarship fund with extra warm clothing items regularly donated to the Family Services agency (DIF). 

This year’s annual Christmas sale includes a variety of books, records, videos, clothes, jewelry and other treasures, and will be held Saturday, December 8, from10am to 1pm in the Biblioteca patio. 

The long time volunteer staff of the Bodega welcome donations, which can be left with Juan Carlos González of Biblioteca security, from Monday to Friday, 10am to 7pm. Donations of clothes will be received Monday and Tuesday.

Lindsay Wagner and Tania Libertad to head Breast Cancer Awareness Week
By Irina Posner

Many low-income women around the world have little access to mammography screening, and have breast cancer without knowing it. In Mexico, the State of Guanajuato ranks fifth in breast cancer deaths, with only four state mammogram machines in the entire region for six million people.

In the whole San Miguel area, the state provides no preventative screening, not even at the new Hospital General. Most local women ignore their risk and are added to soaring Mexican cancer fatalities. The “Catch 22” here is that once cancer is detected, government cancer services are available.

This lethal loophole in service has spurred the formation of a program, Una Mamografía para cada Mujer. The goal is to raise money for San Miguel’s Instituto Municipal de la Mujer to underwrite mammography screening at the best price with the best service for local women.

A Mammogram for Every Woman launches its fundraising in January with a weekend of events focusing on body and soul. Participating artists are Lindsay Wagner, founder of PeaceMakers Community and known worldwide as television’s original Bionic Woman, and Tania Libertad, the great Peruvian-Mexican singer.

Lindsay Wagner will bring to San Miguel her Peacemaker’s Community program of workshops which provide “a catalyst needed to break through undesirable patterns affecting family, relationships, parenting, friendships and work.” From Friday, January 18 through Sunday, January 20, she leads three days of workshops, two in English and one in Spanish.

On Saturday night, January 19, Tania Libertad, celebrated as the “voice of Latino America” and a UNESCO Peace Ambassador, will offer San Miguel her latest concert of world music.

The weekend’s fundraising events continue on Sunday, January 20 with a bridge tournament held at The Bridge Studio in Hotel Real de Minas. Closing the weekend with a gasp on Sunday, January 20, will be a runner’s race up the Picachos. The fittest eight women and men will receive prizes from Lindsay Wagner at the closing ceremony in the Jardín.

For information, call the Instituto de la Mujer at 120-4634 (Spanish) or Patricia Gonzalez at 152-6336 (English).

Irina Posner, a longtime San Miguel resident, previously worked as a journalist for CBS News and other national media.

Meet the Kids Art Calendar artists
By Atención staff

Kids Art Calendar launch party
Meet the artists
Sat, Dec 8, midday
Biblioteca Pública patio
Insurgentes 25
Calendar 160 pesos

One of the many educational, fun programs at the Biblioteca Pública is the children’s art classes held Monday to Friday from 4 to 6pm. Teachers Lupita Ramos and Radames Olvera have taught painting to an enthusiastic group of primary school children for more than five years. Over the years, works by the young artists have been sold at the library’s La Tienda and often can be seen on the walls of the institution. Despite the beautiful images produced by the talented children, it wasn’t until local resident Jody Feagan saw their work, that a more professional presentation was considered. The Kids Art Calendar 2008 is the result. This Saturday the Biblioteca Pública hosts the launch party for the more than 30 artisits who contributed to the calendar.

The calendar, a glossy bilingual publication, lists all US and Mexican holidays. Some of the themes represented are the Three Kings in January, Mexican Flag Day in February, and El Día de los Muertos in November. The calendars cost US$16 (160 peso) and a portion of your purchase helps provide art instruction and supplies for children who participate in the art program, which is free and available to all children in San Miguel. The calendars are available from the Biblioteca’s La Tienda. For more information go to www.kidsartcalendarsma.com. 


What the kids liked and sources of inspiration

Sergio Iván González Ramos (8)

Me gusto mucho el saber que mucha gente podrá obtener este calendario en muchas partes del país y talvez del mundo, y lo que mas me inspire fue mi imaginación.

(I am very happy to know that many people around the country and the world can see the calendar. My imagination is what most inspires me)


Dulce Alondra Reyes Palacios (11)

Me inspire en la naturaleza y en el medio ambiente.

(I am inspired by nature and the environment.)


Karla Paola González Ramos (9)

Lo que mas me gusto fue compartir con otras personas diferentes ideas y poderlas mostrar pintando. 

(I really enjoyed sharing ideas with different people and painting them.)


Samantha Sabina Moreno Castillo (9)

Lo que mas me gusto fue pintar cosas de mi imaginación y dibujos en las diferentes pinturas.

(What I most enjoyed was painting things from imagination and drawings in different paints.)


Maria Guadalupe Sánchez Cardona (16)

Lo que mas me gusto fue que todos estuvimos contentos al realizar los trabajos, y me inspire en alguien muy especial para realizar mis pintura.

(What I liked was that we were all content with the works. I am inspired by a very special person.)

Vintage apron fashion show at holiday luncheon
By Joan Strouse

Mujeres en Cambio Luncheon
Thurs, Dec 13, 2pm
Hacienda de las Flores
Hospicio 16
Advance ticket required, 120 pesos

Start your holiday season in the spirit of giving at the Mujeres en Cambio December luncheon. Members will prepare turkey, dressing and favorite holiday dishes, and host a vintage apron fashion show. Arlene Krasner will discuss her collection of aprons from the forties and fifties, slowly assembled over the years from garage sales and diverse sources. Young women volunteers will model about 20 aprons.

Seeing university students like Ines succeed brings relevancy to the holiday season.

She moved from the village of San Marcos to León, where she studies business administration. Ines, 18, is living away from her family for the first time and is the only one to have gone past the sixth grade. She stays with an elderly relative near León to save money on housing and food, and is learning to navigate the large city, the rigor of course work, and adjusting to more world-savvy classmates. “I don’t know how this would be possible without my scholarship,” she says. Ines also works part-time as a hotel maid and dreams of working in a bank or an office after graduation.

Tickets may be purchased in advance at Casa de Papel, Mesones 57A (China Palace building). For more information, visit www.mujeresencambio.com .