Guadalajara Reporter

New day classes for learning English at the Bucerias Bilingual Community Center (BBCC) start April 12. The BBCC appreciates the financial support and the children, of course, thank you.

The BBCC would also like you to remember that as you get ready to leave your corner of paradise to head north-of-the-border, they have a permanent space (Tienda Segunda) in the Sunday tiangis, where they sell donated items to help fund BBCC’s programs. Furniture, appliances, decor, clothes, games and most anything that is in good condition is welcome. Call Denise at the BBCC at (329)298-3527, for pick up of donations.

Network breakfast

The monthly United States Consular Agency networking breakfast, alternating locations between Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit, is back in Vallarta on April 16 at the Liverpool restaurant in the Galerias Shopping Mall, across from the cruise ship marina, from 9 to 11 a.m.

The breakfast provides an opportunity to meet U.S. Consular Agency staff for general information, as well as supplying a venue to network, make new friends, greet old ones, promote a business or charity and to find out what’s going on in Riviera Nayarit and Vallarta. The price of 90 pesos includes a buffet breakfast & tip. E-mail rsantanar@liverpool.com.mx for reservations.

This month’s “Bring a Thing” program will benefit the Casa Hogar Maximo Cornejo. Network participants are asked to bring a non-perishable food item, such as powered milk, rice, beans, lentils, hot cake mix, tuna, pastas or cookies.

With Children’s Day coming up April 30, it is also suggested that attendees bring a bag of candy for the celebration at the Ixtapa Penitentiary.

Health conference

The Marriott Casa Magna, Healthcare Resources Center Vallarta and the U.S. Consular Agency are joining forces to provide the local English-speaking community an opportunity to explore the medical services available along Banderas Bay. The all-day Health and Well-being Conferences And Medical Services Exposition is set for Tuesday, April 27, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is free. It will take place in the Marriott Casa Magna at Marina Vallarta.

Healthcare Resources’ owner Pamela Thompson will coordinate hourly speakers on health and well-being issues. An exposition will include health services information on ambulances, hospitals, clinics, laboratories, doctors, dentists and therapists.

For more details, contact consularagentpvr@prodigy.net.mx or pamela@healthcareresourcespv.com.

Animal clinics

PEACE, a local non-profit community service organization, has set it’s spay & neuter animal clinic Spring-Summer schedule. The clinics provide free service throughout the Bay of Banderas north shore.

Nicole Majewski, the group’s community relations director is looking for volunteers, anyone who wants to participate in volunteer training or sponsor a clinic.

The schedule is: April 13-14 and May 5-8, Bucerias; May 12-15, San Juan de Abajo; May 19-22, El Valle; May 26-29, San Jose Del Valle; June  2-5, Mezcales; June 9-12,  Punta de Mita

Contact Majewski for details at Nicole@peacemexico.org.

Wall of pride

Over one hundred volunteers and students recently labored to create a huge mural, transforming a once peeling-paint wall encircling the Escuela Telesecundaria Niños Heroes de Chapultepec secondary school into a panorama of community pride.

It’s there for the community and passers-by to see at the entrance to Col. Emiliano Zapata, near Punta de Mita.

Participants together ranged from professional artists and teachers, to enthusiastic four-year-olds.

Andria Burchett and Wendi Dwyer, traveled from the Chicago area to design and direct the PEACE-inspired project.

“We wanted to create something simple, positive and meaningful,” said Dwyer, a community artist.

“We were able to accomplish that task, but more importantly, we built community pride through teamwork and fun. We had a lot of excited green and blue children running around.”

She added, “It’s a powerful mural, illustrating the dependence and interaction humans and nature have with each other.”

Others pitched in to make the workday a success. Twenty pounds of marlin, donated to PEACE by Blue Water Grill in Punta de Mita, was prepared for lunch by Bucerias bed and breakfast owners Nadine & Casey Valkenburg.

“This new entrance helps represent the environmental and cultural pride we want to continue developing here,” said Molly Fisher, director and founder of PEACE.

“Not only did we have a really positive day, but the wall will encourage town pride for years to come.”

Chalk art walk tally

The bills have been tallied and the figures are in for the first annual Bucerias Chalk Art Walk.

The event, organized by Christy Beguesse, owner of A Broken Art Studio and founder of the Bucerias Art Walk, took place January 20 to 22.

Her idea was to create an annual event that was unique and would stimulate the Bucerias economy, bringing in tourists from throughout the bay area. She combined the street chalk art displays with “Taste of Nayarit,” showcasing area restaurants which offered low-priced samples of their signature dishes.

Beguesse had hoped that registration fees, sponsorships and donations would cover the costs, which included airplane tickets and hotel for several invited U.S. chalk artists, supplies and promotion.

As it turns out, it was also financed by Beguesse, much to her chagrin. The income: 25,000 pesos, expenses: 48,000 pesos. That’s about 2,000 dollars short of breaking even and it’s her own money that’s making up the difference.

Beguesse was quoted in this column at the end of the event stating, “Mission accomplished.” She said it was all worth it, but she will try harder next year to make ends meet.

“Since this was the first time I organized something like this, I did learn a few things,” she said.

Earth week

This year marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day and PEACE is celebrating it in a big way with Earth Week, hosting or participating in community eco events around the bay all week long.

“By spreading the word in several communities, PEACE will hopefully ignite community participation on a large level,” says the group’s community relations director, Nicole Majewski.

Earth Week starts off with a river clean up at the Rio Cuale in Puerto Vallarta. Partnering with Rivera Cuale Condominiums, Vallarta Adventures and Naef Cuisine, PEACE  is hoping as many as 100 volunteers will show up to help clean the two-mile long river space along the streets of the Colonia El Caloso.

In the Punta de Mita area, PEACE, in coordination with colonias Emiliano Zapata and Corral del Riscom, will be hosting two movie nights in their main plazas, featuring the movie “Home,” in Spanish.

On Earth Day, Thursday April 22, the BBCC Amigos y Vecinos, Recicladores de Bucerias and PEACE will sponsor the first ever New Eco Fair, in Bucerias from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the plaza.

“Once an annual event, we are all trying to start a new tradition on Earth Day,” says Majewski.

This year’s fair will feature workshops, information about ecological organizations in the Bay area and eco products.

The end of Earth Week comes on April 24, with the building of PEACE’s first Recycle Park in 2010. With the help of San Pancho’s Entre Amigos Civil Association, PEACE and a lot of volunteers, an entire playground made out of recycled materials will be constructed in ONE day.

This will be the first of four parks that will be constructed in the Punta de Mita area this Spring.

If you want more information about any of these activities or events, to volunteer or to donate supplies, please contact Majewski at nicole@peacemexico.org.