LETTERS

Editor,

New information (that we pass on guardedly only because dates issued from hospitals appear to be etched in a veil of uncertainty) have come forth from the hospital staff at University Hospital in Monterrey in which Gloria is now formally scheduled to undergo the bone marrow transplant procedure and treatment. Although Gloria heard December 2 directly from the hospital about dates, continue to regard this information as tentative, our history with firm dates being somewhat shaky.

Total funds in our account to date to fund this expensive procedure and its related costs are reported to be at 268,148 pesos. We continue to seek our goal of 360,000 pesos—91, 852 pesos more!

Our next fund raising activity is an art auction at the Generator Gallery at the Aurora from 7 to 10pm on January 16, 2008 with many top-notch artists contributing; publicity is forthcoming.

Other fund raising activities continue in the planning stages, including a yet tentative raffle of a very high-end furniture piece generously donated by Dies y Seis (furniture store on Sollano), likely to be held in February; more publicity on this event forthcoming, as well.

May the Christmas Spirit be particularly influential on our lives this season, its awesome power of motivating good will and ample giving a miracle in itself! We may all remember from 2007, having witnessed the love and compassion of this community during the efforts to facilitate Gloria’s medical intervention, that the richest of our living is through the giving. Thank you, San Miguel de Allende, for your generosity and compassion shown to date.

Contact Jay Vlasak for donation information at 415 154 9390, Ext. 108 or 044 415 153 5097 (cellular); email Jay at jayvlasak@gmail.com. 

Jay Vlasak

Editor,

On December 3, I used the ATM machine at the brand new HSBC bank at the Liverpool/Gigante mall. As has now been revealed, within minutes the information on the strip of my card was being used by people in León and Mexico City.

I only realized this recently when I tried myself again to get cash. Was I ever surprised—my account had been nearly wiped out.

Bank of America told me they have seen a dramatic increase in this kind of fraud in foreign countries and advise not to use ATM or any kind of credit/debit cards that have the magnetic strips.

Hope this is helpful to you and let people know.

Barbara Levine

Editor,

Just wanted to let you know so you could notify the public that I got my debit card cloned and my bank account cleaned out between Sunday and Tuesday. Four days before I had used the ATM at Banorte on San Francisco, and had a seemingly normal transaction. However on November 13, I used the ATM on the Jardín at Banamex, and had an unusual transaction where I scanned my card and put in my pin—everything about the machine looked normal—but received no money. I went on line to check my bank account the next day and realized that it deducted the amount I didn’t receive. It had to be one of these two banks.

Lisa Simms

Editor,

I was surprised to see the suggestion on the front page of Atención about separating our trash because, 1.5 years ago, when the program was announced, our condo complex purchased additional trash cans, labeled them and we divided our trash.

After a number of weeks, our caretaker reported that the people throwing the trash into the truck didn’t keep the trash separated. Has this procedure changed such that the trash IS being kept divided and IS, in fact recycled? I hope so.

We will all comply again once we hear that the trash is being collected and recycled properly.

Phyllis Pitluga



PEASMA Coordinator,
Eugenia Velasco responds:

Thank you for your letter concerning one of the 3 Green Tips of the Week. You brought up a very good point and this is exactly what this column is about; information and dialogue.

San Miguel de Allende has a waste separation plant that is not yet operational. We hope that when it is functioning the local authorities will begin to recollect the garbage in a suitable manner.

In the meantime we invite you to encourage the recycling process through three simple steps:

1. Separate waste at the household level

2. Making compost with organic waste

3. Move the remainder of solid waste to the collection centers


Next week, PEASMA will be publishing an article in the Atención of what should be done with garbage after it has been separated into different categories. It will include a list collection centers in San Miguel de Allende.

Thank you for bringing up this point, hopefully through awareness and dialogue we will be able to make a positive influence.

I hope that this information is helpful, please feel free to contact PEASMA if you have any further questions