FORUMS & LETTERS


Editor,

Re: Jan.30 article “San Miguel’s Innate Value.” Sorry, but I can’t hold my tongue when I see developers talking about San Miguel’s “innate value.” 

Audubon de México cares about innate value and for many years has been guardian of trees and parks, raising over US$100,000 for the restoration of Parque Juárez.

El Charco botanical garden cares about innate value and raises and spends US$200,000 per year to protect 167 acres from development.

Bald Mountain development removed every old-growth tree from the grounds of the old Aristos to make room for parking and development…innate value? Please.

Robert Haas

Editor,

The Super Bowl Party hosted by Rotary-Midday on February 1 at the Longhorn Smokehouse was a great success. Satisfied guests hooted and hollered and generally had a fun time enjoying an exciting game. We are happy to announce that the event raised 16,000 pesos and these funds will assist Rotary in helping others.

These events don’t happen without support from others and on behalf of our Club, we wish to say a special thanks to Keith of the Longhorn Smokehouse for opening up his restaurant for our party, Las Cervezas Modelo de Bajío for providing product and equipment, Tim Morrier for taking care of the electrical issues and our friend Fran Schiavo for helping to design our marketing materials. Most importantly, we wish to give sincere thanks to our 128 guests who attended our inaugural Super Bowl Party, and to others, who although not able to attend, sent in donations. The support provided by so many people in our community is always heart warming. 

The monies raised enable Rotary to continue to create brighter futures for all those in need throughout San Miguel. We hope to see you next year at Super Bowl XLIV.

David Bossman Larry Castriotta John Doherty
President, Fund-Raising Chair Event Coordinator
Rotary Club of San Miguel de Allende-Midday 



Editor,

As a point of interest, three of our schools (three we now know of, there may be more) were broken into last week and computers, monitors and our software were stolen. The thieves cut through the chain-link fence surrounding the property and then sawed through the grill work protecting the classroom. The opening seems very small and I suspect a kid was used to squeeze through the opening and then open the door from the inside. Nice way to bring up one of your children, isn’t it?

In at least one of the cases, a Smart Board was taken as well. These are fancy set-ups that use a ceiling-mounted projector to cast an image on a white board. If you touch the board, it is like touching a tablet computer. It sends a signal back to the computer. Very high tech. In the States, they can sell for as much as US$8000. They are connected to a satellite and are a great learning tool. This stuff will probably end up at the Tuesday market before long. 

I digress. Otra vez, muchas gracias to you both for your help. Expand young minds…not landfills. Visit www.cpjmex.org;  help kids be computer savvy. 

Bill Curra

Editor, This letter is to the friends of Scott Mahoric and to the people who didn't know him. Scott died from an ulcer, breathing difficulties and heart failure, Friday, January 30. I met him in 1979, soon after I moved here. He had been a lifeguard at Taboada, he was teaching meditation, playing classical guitar and exporting glass and brass boxes to Pier 1 Imports.

Not long afterwards, he purchased a ruin at calle Mesones 99 and turned it into a beautiful and exciting nightclub called Pancho y Lefty’s, named after a Willie Nelson song. It was a great hangout with a well-mixed following of patrons. He also supported many local artists in the decorating, including myself, Daniel Rueffert, Keith Keller and many others. Scott showcased himself, of course, many local musicians and introduced us to many artists he’d brought down from the States, like Steve Earl, Joe Morales, Joe King Carrasco and many more. Scott created an atmosphere that brought so many people together, merging new relationships that I still foster and enjoy, years later. It was people like Scott, and so many others who have since passed away, to whom I wish to express my gratitude for their love and work that preceded the San Miguel of today. Who were integral in forging what we should not take for granted. Many good people, nationals and foreigners, pioneered, trail-blazed, did the groundwork for all that 
we love about San Miguel. I’m pausing for an emotional moment, just thinking about Ron McComb, Tony Atkins, Tom McGinty, David Miller, Jack Sisto, Harry Roberts, Tio Carlson, Wanda Hanson, Pepe Mercadillo, Wendi Frahm, Loretta Sullivan, Chapo, Sareda Milosz, Otto Dobbs. I could easily give you a hundred names. It’s unbelievable how this town brings so many together and then, they’re gone. Jim Hawkins, Duncan Becker, Margarette Galloway, Carolyn Hayes, Diego McConkey, Ana Roy, Bob Sommerlotte, Judith, Mary, McCleod, Patrick, Jim Terry. I’ve got to stop, it’s too much. I just wanted to share these memories with all of you who are still alive and still coming. These fruits we enjoy have been graciously provided by the bones and souls of our predecessors.

Tom Frazee