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Free / Gratis
Volunteering in the Baja
October November 2016 Issue No. 76
By: Christine Courtright Well, it is the beginning of another wonderful season here in the East Cape! It is getting cold where I am so I can’t wait to return to the warmth and life here in the East Cape! This year, the East Capers Magazine is making this season, the year of volunteering! All of us who are fortunate enough to be able to come to the Baja and spend some time, likely have some time to help someone who is not as fortunate as we are! This issue will talk about a few of the great opportunities you have to donate your time and/or maybe a few dollars. Many hands make work light. With all the different opportunities, all physical conditions can be utilized, none of the volunteer jobs are huge – especially if there are many hands. There are many opportunities in the Baja to help out. I personally love to volunteer and I feel so much better after each time. I meet great folks, and at the end of the day, I know I have made a difference in the environment or someone’s life – and that someone sometimes is a cat or dog!
Asociacion de Artes:
I thought I would start with this Magazine’s, favorite Non-profit, Asociacion de Artes del Mar de Cor tez AK A : the Art Association. The primary goal of the Association (a legal Mexican Nonprofit Corporation) is to provide art supplies to 18 East Cape Public Schools along with supporting activates for youth. Activities such as Baseball Camps, Cursos de Verano (3-week summer school for local kids), Easter Sports (Semana Santa) to name a few. Moneys to support this is all done through putting on 3 art related events: December Art Show, Artist Studio Tour and the big Spring Art Festival. Not only do our activities help provide the necessary funds for the things we support, but we help the artists of Baja have an opportunity to sell their wares. Our past couple years have been
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hard on the association due to 75% of our membership having to return home due to illness, or other circumstances. We are looking for some folks that want to have fun while providing opportunities for the kids of the East Cape area. For more details, contact us at:
eastcapearts@gmail.com
Baseball Camp 2014— Batting lessons
Rotary International:
Might take a full page to write all that the Rotary does for our community. From orphanages, to water, Mardi Gras parade, to our LB fountain. Contact: mikekoehnsr@gmail.com
East Cape Recycling Center (ECRC):
There is not organized recycling here in the Baja. If we want our paradise to remain so, we need to make sure the landfills are not full of recyclable items. The center located at East Cape RV Park with the recycle day being the first Thursday of each month. Contact: Holly burgin.holly@gmail.com
Caps for Cancer:
Knit or crochet? This is an opportunity for you. Caps and blankets made to share with local hospitals for cancer patients and others who need something to keep them warm! Contact: Annette iikaiser@frii.com Continued on page 3
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Advertising in East Capers
Advertising in the East Capers gets the word out about your business AND your ad money supports the 3 week 'Cursos de Verano' summer school, for over 120 local children, provides art supplies for 18 East Cape public schools, baseball camps, just to name a few things the Asociacion de Artes does! In addition to space in the printed version, your color ad appears in the online version at no additional cost. You can download the 2016/17 Advertising Kit by visiting our website at: www.eastcapearts.com.
Tax-deductable Contributions to the Asociación de Artes
The Asociación de Artes del Mar de Cortez A.C., Los Barriles, B.C. Sur, Mexico is a legal non-profit Mexican corporation not affiliated with any other organization, association, club or business. The Asociación is in full compliance with the terms of the NAFTA agreement of January 1, 1994. As such, contributions made to the Asociación de Artes are tax-deductable in the United States, Mexico and Canada. For more information visit: www.eastcapearts.com or the NAFTA Website at: http://www.ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-tradeagreements/north-american-free-trade-agreementnafta.
Volunteers Needed!
The Asociación de Artes needs volunteers to help support their programs that bring the arts to the local communities and the schools. To learn more about these programs, visit: www.eastcapearts.com. If you would like to volunteer, send an email to: eastcapearts@gmail.com.
Call for Articles
East Capers is looking for fiction and true stories about our region and items that affect our residents. If you are interested in submitting articles, recipes, stories or your personal experiences in Baja, email your 1,000-words or less article to: eastcapersmagazine@gmail.com
Thank You!
This publication is possible with the help of the board members of the Asociación de Artes and members of the community.
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East Capers Periódico Publisher Asociación de Artes del Mar de Cortez A.C., Los Barriles, BCS, Mexico Editor
Christine Kenck-Courtright
Copy Editor Pako Ford
Circulation
Brian Cummings
Advertising Contributors Theresa Comber Christine Courtright Kathleen Bulger Holly Burgin Urmas Kaldveer Jorge Bergen Robert Pudwill Steve Reed Ann Keiser Sephi Held Kim Schoelfield Cathie Smith LoCiero Dennis Riley Gary Graham JoAnn Hyslop Michelle Melehes Bajainsider.com History Online Mike Koehn
Printer
Imprenta Ciudad Los Niños, La Paz, BCS, Mexico
To learn about Ciudad Los Niños, visit their website at: http://ciudadninoslapaz.org/english/home.htm ———————————
The opinions expressed within the articles in East Capers are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Asociación de Artes del Mar de Cortez A.C.
Newsletter Email Address eastcapersmagazine@gmail.com
October November 2016
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Volunteers Continued from Front Page
East Cape Guild:
To go to school above the 8th grade, it costs in Mexico. The Guild has a scholarship program. They are the group behind the Monte Carlo Night that we all love, among other great activities! Contact: Irene dacebob@gmail.com
Baja Shakespeare:
They put on one play a year. Act, sing, back stage, create sets, etc. Contact: tyfield1@hotmail.com
ALMA - Animal Lovers of Mexico Association: Contact: bajalynda315@gmail.com SNAP - Spay, Neuter and Prevention: Just as the name indicates, that is the mission of SNAP with biyearly clinics and year-round education. Contact: snaplosbarriles@gmail.com San Antonio Cultural Center: Located in San Antonio, a center to teach arts, crafts and other cultural arts to the residents of the area. They are always looking for supplies and volunteer teachers to teach their skills. Ages range from Kindergarten to adults. Contact. Maryzonia at creazonya@yahoo.com Baja Sports Mexico: Bringing sports activities to the local youth and working towards a sports complex here in Los Barriles. Contact: francisolachea@gmail.com Volunteering in Los Barriles: Opportunities for all kinds of volunteer jobs. Contact: pikuchito@hotmail.com or delegaion_lb@hotmail.es
Misión San Luis Gonzaga By: JoAnn Hyslop Jan/Feb 2009
We have always talked aobut visiting Misión San Luis Gonzaga, located southeast of Ciudad Constitución in a little oasis in the midst of some of the most barren and forbidding country on the Baja peninsula. This Jesuit mission was established in 1737 to convert about 2000 members of Indian tribes on the Magdalena Plain and to establish a mission station near Magdalena Bay. When the Mission was active, the garden, irrigated by a spring behind masonry dam, produced figs, oranges, grapes, mangos and other fruits and vegetables. The small stone church, build in 1750 by Padre Baegert is still in good condition. About 200 yards behind the church there are a few old Indain graves. The second building near the church was build in the 1800’s, as headquarters for an independently owned cattle ranch. When the mission was closed in 1768, only 300 Indains remained. In later years, Misión San Luis Gonzaga was a way station for travelers on the old rail from Loreto to the Cape Region. Today, there is a small community near the church comprised of several families, a elementary school and a concrete block casa for the schoolmaster and his family. Basic necessities are aailable at the government store. Misión San Luis Gonzaga is accessible from Highway 1 about ten miles south of Ciudad Constitución. Turn right at the mission sign just south of Villa Morelos. The 23 mile graded dirt road is doable in a two-wheel drive vehicle.
Located next to East Cape Health Center Our management services include the following:
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Lord of the Winds 2017 By: Steve Reed
The battle on the sea begins on January 18th as the Lord of the Wind kicks off its seventh annual Kiteboard competition. With over $20,000 in prize money plus the prestige of being crowned the Lord or Lady of the Wind at stake, many of the world’s best kiteboarders will be coming to Los Barriles to put on a display that is nothing short of AWESOME! Whether you’re a kiteboard enthusiast or not, the Lord of the Wind event is a great time! Los Barriles, just 45 minutes north of the Los Cabos International Airport, is a wonderful place to visit, or as many have found out, it is the perfect place to call home. Whether the goal is to excite the adrenaline or embrace serenity, Los Barriles and the East Cape has much to offer. The Sea of Cortez is well known as one of the best places in the world for sport fishing with the plentiful species including marlin, tuna, wahoo, dorado and many more! And if your pleasure on the boat is not to catch a fish, you’re quite likely to see whales, dolphin, rays, a turtle or two and maybe even a whale shark! Jacques Cousteau got it right when he likened the Sea of Cortez to “the world’s aquarium”. Some additional aquatic activities include: snorkeling, SCUBA, and Stand up Paddle boarding – or hanging out on the beach and simply watching. On land, the activities include taking a quad out for a ride up an arroyo, riding a horse along the beach, and exploring the numerous trails on a mountain bike or on foot. For those wanting to simply embrace serenity, there are many spas and yoga studios to choose from. And then there are those who practice yoga on a SUP! When the sun starts to get low, the evening options are plentiful! There are a wide variety of fantastic restaurants and hotels. Whether the desire is to be on the beach, in the town center, or tucked away from it all in a quiet venue, the options are plenty. And of course there’s kiteboarding! In the winter months the wind picks up and the sky fills with the colorful kites pulling riders across the water sometimes at astounding speeds. Other times, the rider will launch themselves into the air and either simply fly for an apparent eternity or perform some gymnastic-like jump / twist / roll / kick / flip trick! Watching this never gets old! Which brings us back to the Lord of the Wind. It is an event not to be missed! As enjoyable as it is to watch kiteboarders every day, the performances during this competition are amazing.
This year the Lord of the Wind riders will also be competing for points toward the Mexican Freestyle Championship. The competition starts on Wednesday, January 18th and finishes on Sunday the 22nd. This year’s Boarder Cross / Slalom will feature obstacles that the competitors will need to jump over during the race. The course is set-up to be similar to the Boarder Cross Kiteboarding event scheduled in the 2018 Youth Olympic Games.
with the crowning of the first ever Miss Lord of the Wind! Then from Tuesday the 17th thru Sunday the 22nd there is a party every night!
Tuesday the 17th: Riders registration and welcome to Los Barriles party will be at the Plaza del Pueblo for a rocking fiesta hosted by Vagos Bar and Joe’s Pizzeria! Wednesday the 18th: A local favorite, the tamale cook-off featuring great food and traditional dancing by some of the local youth. Thursday the 19th: Rock’n Roll and dancing in the street at Smokey’s Cantina! Friday the 20th: The famous reggae party and auction night at Hotel Buena Vista Beach Resort! Saturday the 21st: Beach Party!!! This year hosted by El Gecko and North Kites! Sunday the 22nd: Closing night and Awards celebration hosted by the Van Wormer Resorts at Hotel Palmas de Cortez!
Come join us on the beach during the days and/or in the restaurants in the evening. There is something for everyone!
For more information, find us at LordOfTheWindBaja.com or Lord of the Wind Baja on Facebook.
Photos by: Lori Makabe
The true winners of the Lord of the Wind are the local community. The towns of Los Barriles, Buena Vista, El Cardonal, and La Ribera all benefit from this event as it is a fundraiser for the local Club Deportivo, a non profit organization supporting local youth thru sports and the Rotary Club (Club Rotario Cabo Este). The Rotary Club operates the local technology center, supports the local health clinic, manages projects for other charities that want to help in the area but do not have a presence, and provides assistance for urgent needs such as hurricane relief.
The evening festivities, start on Saturday, January 14th
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October November 2016
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Taste of East Cape By: Steve Reed
The culinary experiences of the East Cape are better than ever! From the long standing establishments and the new arrivals to the area we have offerings from land and sea infused with a variety of tastes ranging from traditional Mexican to Nuevo Asian. On Monday, November 28th, we will be presenting the Taste of East Cape, a culinary experience for the benefit of the East Cape community. Come join this awesome experience, an annual event that is not to be missed! The event will commence @ 5:00pm at Laguna Park in Los Barriles. Tickets for the Taste of East Cape are $25 prior to the event or $30 if purchased the day of the event. Tickets are available at any of the participating restaurants. Or you can reach out to Ian Gibson (ian.gibson@outlook.com) to reserve your tickets via paypal. At the time of wring this the participating restaurants include: El Gecko, Smokey’s Cantina, Bay View, Hotel Buena Vista Beach Resort, Campestre Triny’s, La Fogata, El Rincon (Carmen’s place), Restaurant Amalia from Sol de Mayo, Joe’s Pizzeria, and Joe’s Deli. Keep your eye on the Baja Pony Express as this list of participating restaurants expands. In addition, restaurants will have a Taste of East Cape sign announcing their participation.
This all being said, the winners of this evening will be the local community! This event is being coordinated by the community non-profit organizations: Rotary, Baja Sports, and Club Deportivo. These organizations will organize the event marketing / promotion, ticket sales, event security and music, as well as acquire the tents, table & chairs. Our objectives in holding this event are: bring more attention to the East Cape and the culinary experiences within, provide some financial benefit to Club Deportivo who supports our local youth through athletic activities, and learn more to grow this annual event in future years. Lastly, a huge thank you to the participating area restaurants who are donating their time and their food to the Taste of East Cape event! The event cannot be held without their great involvement! If you see a Taste of East Cape while you’re at your favorite restaurant, please thank them for their support in this community. And we hope to see you at the Taste of East Cape!
Buying the ticket prior to the day of the event saves you money but it also helps the restaurants better prepare by knowing how many diners will be coming! In addition, we will be capping the number of tickets to be sold. If we sell out, we sell out…. Come have a taste from the each of the participating restaurants. You will also be provided a beverage, and if desired additional beverages will be available for purchase. Lastly, help us select the winning Restaurant of the 2016 Taste of East Cape!
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Happy Turkey Day!!!!
Kindergarten through High School
ECRB Recycling Success in Los Barriles Schools By: Theresa Comber
With your support, it’s working! From Kindergarten through High School, our Los Barriles children are now recycling each day in their schools. In the closing three months of last season’s school year, East Cape Recycling Baja (ECRB) created a seamless recycling system that has resulted in bulging one ton bags of recyclables coming from our ‘Kinder’, Primaria, Secundaria and Preparatoria each week. The kids are recycling predominately plastics – the single serve water/Gatorade/juice bottles they bring from home, followed by aluminum. Good things take time, and the goal we targeted nearly 7 years ago to recycle in our local schools is now a reality. We’re grateful that the aligning of like minds made this happen and ECRB wants to specifically thank our Mayor Francie for her constant support and partnership, as well as acknowledge the ‘Directoras’, aka Principals, at all four local schools for embracing this recycling program. We believe our East Cape schools, and the children in them, and the future world they will inherit, will be a much better place for generations to come.
School kids working on the recycling. Getting them started early!
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October November 2016
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The ‘Capullo’ of the East Cape 2016 Summer Camp Hits the Mark By: Theresa Comber
Most of us have come from other places and have had the great fortune to travel, helping us to know what a beautiful, special place our Baja’s East Cape region is in the world. Often this experience translates to the reason we ‘choose’ to be here. In contrast, many of our local children know just the East Cape and are unaware of what lies beyond these incredible shores; they don’t know that all the world is not made up of their white sand beaches, the abundant, crystal clear Sea of Cortez, untouched deserts and fresh, clean waters that come from our pristine mountains and their natural aquifers. One of our overriding environmental lessons is to help our community's children to understand the precious ‘capullo’, or cocoon, that we live in. We highlight that it’s an enormously special place and it’s their responsibility to care for it, to be good stewards and protect it both now and for the future. The theme for this year's summer program was: "Cuida Las Playas" Care for our Beaches, "Cuida El Pueblo" Care for our town, "Cuida El Agua" Care for our water and "Cuida Los Tiburones" Care for our Sharks, which resonated greatly with our entire community and continues to instill environmental mindfulness with its children.
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We also connect the dots that a healthy ecology is connected to a healthy economy. Tourism is the East Cape’s primary industry and our community’s visitors and guests value clean streets, trash free beaches, clear night skies and clear blue seas. A thriving tourism community means our economy will thrive as well, most likely translating directly into their family’s personal benefit. This year's 'Curso de Verano' Summer Camp was bigger, and felt better, than ever! El Cardonal sent 20 kids to join in, topping the charts with 120 kids for the threeweek program during the last week weeks of July and the first week of August. Thank you for supporting East Cape Recycling Baja. Thank you for allowing us to help our community become a model for environmental awareness. "Imagine a Green Earth"!
Quote of the Day We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid. -Benjamin Franklin
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Recycle and share with a friend or return to East Capers Rack! A Smashing Summertime Success!
ECRB Restaurant Recycling Pilot Program By: Theresa Comber
Seven of your favorite Los Barriles’ restaurants participated in a six week ‘Restaurant Recycling Pilot Program’ this summer which was a smashing success. East Cape Recycling Baja designed a seamless, hassle free, completely supported program for restaurants to manage ‘front of the house’ and ‘kitchen’ recycling and are impressed and encouraged by the response from the owners, managers, chefs, cooks, waiters and waitresses. Café Maria, Caleb’s, Campestre Triny, El Gecko, Green’s, La Casita, La Fogata all raised their hands and enthusiastically participated. And like the success of our school program, the Restaurant Recycling program resulted in bulging one ton bags of plastics, aluminum, cardboard and metals. ECRB provided as many as 3 recycling containers, the one-ton repository bag and structural frame, stickers, posters and promotional materials that they are participating. In exchange, ECRB asked for two hours of hands on support for processing recyclables during our 'First Thursday' monthly recycle day. If staffing isn't available, the restaurant provides a $200 peso gift certificate for ECRB to use for future fundraising. Please, visit these participating restaurants, give them a big recycling thumbs up, and encourage your other favorite restaurants to join this progressive and successful group of Los Barriles restaurants. With your support, it's working!
Restaurant Recycling Members
Update on Team Angel – Los Barriles’s very own Science and Technology Dream Team
By: Chris Courtright Remember the team of four young men, Angel Martinez, Andres Lucero, Jesus Castro Garcia and Osvaldo Lucero Robles, from Los Barriles High School? You know the boys creating an electric outboard motor that won their way to an invite to go to the International Science Expo in Peru (front page article in issue #75)? Well, they are preparing to pack up their outboard motor and bags to go to Peru! The boys have not been relaxing over the summer. Instead they continued working on the motor, entered another competition and won first place- another award to add to their collection. But the big prize, the one that will help them with their future dreams and goals, is to go to Peru and win! Heck, even making it to Peru is a huge win and an opportunity of a lifetime! All summer, they have worked to raise funds to ensure they could get to Peru and represent Mexico with their electric outboard motor. They also received some good news from the school district about helping with some of the expenses, but still more money is needed. We all need to get the boys to Peru. This is such a great honor for our local high school, our community and for the tenacity of the boys to keep at the project, and make it a reality. Help these boys put our little community on the International map! Any amount you can spare will help them out. You have two options to make donations. You can go to PayDennis and drop off cash – account under Team Angel, or you can go to the gofundme account. Just go to gofundme.com/teamangelmartinez If you have any questions, please email- leighanne292@gmail.com Thanks for helping this become a reality! Heck, we might all have electric outboard motors on our boats in the near future! And thanks to our very own Los Barriles boys!
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October November 2016
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October November 2016
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The Intimate and True Adventures of “El Ballenero” Episode 12 - Clarity and Purpose By: Urmas Kaldveer, PhD
My twelfth season monitoring our local humpback population ended in mid April 2016 when I went out for one last search for IDs. Overall it was a good season and though I only obtained 22 good IDs the population looked healthy and others working in Mexico had obtained greater numbers in their grids. I did not have any “in the water” adventures with them due to physical limitations from my stroke but I hope to remedy that next season. Encounters between humans in the water with whales has resulted in some extra-ordinary new concepts regarding both whale intercommunications and communication between whales and humans. I am terribly proud and delighted to be part of that research: it has been a strong force in my continued work. For those interested in some of the findings check out the New York Times article “A Conversation with Whales” by James Nestor in the Sunday, April 17th, 2016 issue.
Where the whales stop here in Mexican waters is dependent on a number of things: one of which is that they do not always come back to their exact same location for breeding and calving. Our whales have a large area to choose from (east and west cape of Baja Sur, entire Sea of Cortez, the mainland south to Puerta Vallarta and the Revillagegido Islands in the pacific) and do so according to personal choice as they enter our waters. What is of importance beyond my numbers, and brings me great satisfaction, is that my work has been helpful in establishing a protected area for them and has also helped raise human awareness of their beauty, intelligence and importance. I would like to devote my next few installments to what I have come to see as THE OTHERS: “The Whale People”. This “vision” of what I now refer to as “The Whale People” actually came to me after the 2011 season. It was as if one day I understood the “message” I was getting from the whales all these years and now I knew how I was going to deal with the information/insights that they had given me. This I did by focusing on the core of my revelation, YES, WE ARE ONE PLANET AND ALL THINGS ARE CONNECTED, BUT THERE ARE TWO DISTINCT WORLDS on this planet, each with their own very special and very, very different physical parameters within which The Universal Life Force has manifested. BOTH WORLDS are carbon based of course; having evolved from the same primordial matter 3-4 billion years ago , BOTH containing species questing for the energy necessary to propagate and insure their survival, BOTH following the biological law of Natural Selection…..AND, BOTH, having followed the dictates of these planetary parameters, resulted in some animal
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and thus becoming endowed with “higher intelligence” that allowed them to manifest the benefits of such development forms adopting the anatomical/ physiological characteristics. On the terrestrial part of the planet we humans have been the beneficiaries of that evolution. Within the Marine World it is The Cetaceans and particularly the great whales that have benefited most. The realization I came to was that we humans continue to relate to the great whales as truly beautiful and intelligent creatures but without FULLY recognizing that they are THE “OTHER” TRULY SENTIENT SPECIES ON THIS PLANET. They, just like ourselves, have evolved to develop this intelligence to the higher levels of consciousness we call cognizance, that is, awareness of self (the classic, “I think, therefore I am”). We have BOTH followed that common evolutionary thread that results in the “Mammalian Brain” (as described by Carl Sagan in his book, “The Garden’s of Eden”) gifting us with the capacity to love, hope, anger and all the other emotions that we consider as being only within the human behavioral realm but are shared with the Cetaceans (and other mammals too but not to the same extent). We are dead wrong in not recognizing the full implications of this commonality. In the next issue I will elaborate on that theme and present information that substantiates the major premise; WE are not the only advanced intelligence on this planet. Around November/December of this year (2016) the humpbacks will again return to their breeding/calving grounds here in Mexico. I will be asking for donations to support my work for I do not have any institutional support to rely on. Donations can be made to me via check to: MioSah, C/O Susan Janssen, 20 High Land Court, Ukiah, CA. 95482 or online to my funding account at: gofund.me/6j0prg My book – THE OTHERS “The Whale People” - is available online at Balboa Press, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
October November 2016
Read the color version online at www.eastcapearts.com
Baja Shakespeare Festival By: Kim Schoenfield
We’re busy working on our production this year, but not ready to announce our play! We will have the same location as last year, Rancho Buena Vista Conference Center in Buena Vista. We are pleased to announce the Shakespeare Festival will coincide with the Art Festival on March 19th. The schedule will be as follows: Opening Night Friday, March 10th, 7pm Saturday, March 11, 7pm Sunday Matinee March 12, 1:30pm Thursday March 16, 7pm Friday, March 17, 7pm Saturday March 18, 7pm We're writing an original script based on a wellknown fairy tale. At this point, title less, but it will be a comedy, fun filled, song & dance with a large cast of locals. This will be year 17 for Baja Shakespeare. Camilla Ford will be returning as our Director with Jeanette Grittani as our Musical Director. Robin Jackman will be our Choreographer. Auditions will be held the week after Christmas, before New Year's, with the date/ time/location to be announced. We always welcome new comers, no experience necessary. If getting up in the stage is not your thing, but you'd like to be a part of the fun, join the backstage production team. For more info, Kim at: tyfield1@hotmail.com
Baja
By: Kathleen Bulger Baja del Sur Rocks erupt from the Sierra Sandstone walls etched by time Caves with honey bee hives dripping it's sweet nectar Cattle foraging for nutrition Arroyos sometimes meant for buggies But mostly designed by nature For rushes of water from the fresh rain An oasis of palms amidst the dessert growth Cordones, nopales, chollas, mesquite Torotes, Palo de arco, pitahaya Desert brush frosted gold from wind whipped sand Color bursting from dessert flowers Red, yellow, coral, orange Roadways coughing from the sand And blocked by sand banks Remote, beautiful, tranquil A nomad's dream A recluse's hideout Pristine shorelines, blue, green, pure The sea scintillating, Whales, turtles, Dolphins, tuna, dorado A fisherman's gold mine Hidden ranches, families, distant, thriving Valleys, canyons, fresh streams of water Endless beauty Baja Sur
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Baja California SUR Recent History From History Online
During the Mexican War of Independence (1810 -1821), Baja California Sur was largely isolated from the hostilities because of its remote location. After the war, the region was divided into four municipalities by President Guadalupe Victoria and Governor José María Echeandía. Loreto, the oldest continuous settlement in the region, served as the capital until 1830. That year, heavy rains forced the government to move to La Paz, which has remained the capital since then. At the conclusion of the Mexican-American War in 1847, the United States withdrew from Baja California Sur. The following year the two countries signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, in which Mexico agreed to sell the land that now comprises the modern states of California, Nevada and Utah, as well as portions of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming. In return, the United States acknowledged Mexico’s ownership of the Baja Peninsula. Despite the agreement, in 1853 a journalist named William Walker led a group of 45 Americans to capture the city of La Paz. The expedition did not have the official support of the United States, however, and the Mexican Army quickly drove out the Americans. The territories of Baja California Sur and Baja California were formally established in 1888 under the government of President Porfirio Díaz. Baja California Sur became a state on October 8, 1974.
COPPER RIVER DESIGNS JEWELRY CHRISTINE ROGERS
christinerogersbaja@yahoo.com US CELL (206) 669-1675 VONAGE (775) 772-0906 MEX. LANDLINE (624) 141-0014
check out my Facebook page
LOCATED ON CALLEJON CAMINO REAL turn east at Baja Properties and follow the signs
Hours: Monday thru Friday 9 am to 2 pm or call for appointment
Remember not only to say the
right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment. ~ Benjamin Franklin
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October November 2016
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Diary of a Gringo Building in Mexico By: Chris Courtright
Our adventure has officially started! We are finally heading towards closing and can break ground soon – of course, as soon as we come back to LB! Now we are not novices to building, we have built 3 homes in the past 13 years in the states, but this will be the first time we are having it done ‘move in ready’. This is very different for us, as we usually do much of the work in our homes. Our current house, which we started 3 years ago, was finally finished - all details including the outside kitchen- this summer. With this last 3 year build, we have realized we are tired, and we are too old to do that much work – or at least our bodies are too old! And face it, building with cement, is not building with wood. We thought that it would be of use to those of you thinking of building here in Mexico, but worried about the entire process, to catalog our build, and let you decide how hard or easy it is. The Beginning: Back in 2006 our original plan was to build. We found a small palapa home in a great community, right across from our friends that introduced us to LB, we loved it and put off building. Then our friend passed away and we got a dune buggy. Now, the dune buggy was the turning point because with no garage or ‘work’ space, our living room became the garage…..It was time to build. We had a great agent who was very patient with us showing us many properties within our perimeters. We looked at them over and over each morning on our, now, long walks. We kept coming back to one. Ok, this is it, let’s put in an offer. We put our offer in, and now wait. Just when we were about to give up, our offer was accepted! BUT, we are informed it might take some time to start the closing, due to seller’s circumstances. We wait….and wait….and wait.
baring any major problems. We are not people that do ‘change orders’, so delays won’t be our fault….in all theory. Our next move is to sit down with our builder, once we are back in LB, go over the one change, review the plan and the final details. Then hand over the first payment to get it started. We are very excited, but as we have discovered in past builds, if we plan for 3 months, it will be 4+, if we plan for $XXX, it will be $XXX+X. We also have to start thinking about the decorating details: tile, do we go bright Mexican, or more neutral (thinking of resale). Should we do colored cement, or stone and what about window coverings- keep out the light for energy efficiency, or keep it bright and pay for the cooling? Lots of decisions to make, and lots of driving my husband crazy with looking at colors, tiles, paint swatches, etc! And then there is the security, how to we make the house secure while we are gone? The upcoming ‘diary’ in future issues will give details on how it all goes, where we found issues, where it was a breeze and where we could improve. We are selling our palapa home, and with any miracle, we can have it sell just in time for us to move in to the new home! But, I may be wishing for too much, and we will see. Unfortunately, I can tell we are already going through the first stages of grief…..the loss of our old neighborhood, the loss of familiarity. I know we are only less than a mile away…. but it will not be the same….. As they say in sports “Let the building begin! Oh, I mean, “Let the games begin!”
Just when we were about to go to plan ‘B’, we get the call! Closing will start!!! My education is Interior Design, I designed our other houses, so again, I designed our little casita. Before we headed back to the states for the summer, we interviewed several builders and settled on one that we felt was a good match. He could do it all, he had an excellent reputation, his bid was fair, his work appeared excellent and he seemed to understand what ‘gringos’ want. Our builder took my plans and drew them up and sent us back to the states with the plans, while we wait to close. During that time, I made one small change which we will discuss when we return mid-October. Our plan is for a small home/casita, with an outdoor kitchen – which we had in our other LB home and loved. It is a simple plan and our builders time line is about 3 months…. October November 2016
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1 Jan: New Year’s Day
MEXICAN HOLIDAYS
6 Jan: The Three Wise Men day, celebrating arrival of the Three Wise Men to see and bring gifts to baby Jesus. 2 Feb: The Candelaria Virgin Day, celebrated in many places around the country (not an official holiday) 5 Feb: Constitution Day (1917) 24 Feb: Flag Day (not official) First Sunday in March: Family´s day
21 Mar: Birth of Benito Juárez (1806). 2006 was the bicentennial year. 1 May: Workers' Day commemorates the Mexican workers' union movements. 5 May: The Battle of Puebla against the French army, 19th century. 10 May: Mothers' day 1 September: Dia del Informe. Although no longer official, it is still important as it is the day in which the Mexican President addresses to the Nation of the progress his administration on a yearly basis. Every President makes six Informes 15 September: Grito de Dolores 16 September: Independence Day (celebrates the start of the fight for the independence from Spain in 1810, achieved 27 Sep 1821). 12 October: Discovery of America (Descubrimiento de America) (not an official holiday) 2 November: Day of the Dead 20 November: Revolution day (1910) 12 December: Virgin Mary of Guadalupe Day. Technically not official, but is one of the most important Mexican Holidays 24 December: Christmas Eve (Not an official holiday, but normally a full non-working day or only half day) 25 December: Christmas
31 December: New Year’s Eve (Not an official holiday, but normally a full non-working day or only half day)
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October November 2016
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Critter Control By: Gary Graham
Spend much time is Baja around the water and you are sure to encounter a few critters ... things that sting and bite. Although not life threatening, many of them are threatening enough to make you realize that to be forewarned is to be forearmed. Jellyfish can be found on both sides of Baja – along the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez, on the beaches and in the water. The most prevalent of the jellyfish are the small ones called aguamalas by the locals. Harmless enough looking, these small critters can put a big hurt on anyone who comes in contact with them, either in the water or even on the beach. Purplish in color, they can usually be spotted along the high tide line. People often make the mistake of riding their ATVs along that high tide line, unaware that the dead jellyfish can get caught in the treads of the tires and get flung onto both driver and passenger, resulting in nasty stings. Recently an angler on a hot Baja afternoon jumped off his charter boat onto the pier, and then off the pier into the clear, blue water -- right into a school of jellyfish drifting on the surface. His howls of pain pierced the throaty rumble of the diesel engines of the boats. Writhing in pain the young man screamed to a Mexican kid standing on the pier. "Do something!" He shouted as he pointed at a red can of gasoline, “Pour some of that on my arms!” Only to scream even louder as the eager-to-please Mexican kid did as directed. While the poor guy was miserable … I suppose he would have been even less thrilled it the kid had used the local remedy and peed on his welts, or maybe not. The best solution for jellyfish stings and almost any creature that stings or bites has been Benadryl spray, gel, cream and/or tablets in that order. Get spray or gel
October November 2016
on immediately, and take at least 2 Benadryl tablets if you are an adult. Stingrays tend to be more prevalent on the Sea of Cortez side of Baja. Brown or tan, they tend to blend in with flat sandy bottoms and usually hang out in groups. They are sometimes buried in sand. In calm water, just a little bit deeper, they can be found lying still on the bottom. With barbed spines near the base of their long whip-like tails, stingrays are capable of inflicting wounds on whatever part of the 'target' they strike. Since most people surprise stingrays with their feet, foot injuries are the most common. Since most waders shuffle their feet when walking forward in the water, stingrays will do their best to get out of the way. If stung, however, venom enters the bloodstream and the pain is sharp and immediate. In all my years of hanging out on Baja beaches, I have had only one "stingray incident" where I was stung. Sam Talarico, an outdoor photographer from New York, Don Sloan, a friend from Montana, and I were in the middle of a photo shoot on a Baja beach. I was shooting underwater shots of a small roosterfish while Sloan guided the fish in front of my camera lens. Not paying any attention to where I stepped, I felt something squirm as I took a step, followed by a sharp pain shooting up from my foot. I knew exactly where I kept my Benadryl spray in my ATV gear bag and I also knew I could get to it quicker than either of my companions. Only after I was at the bike smearing gel over my heel did I turn and explain that I had been stung. I sat in the shade of a palm palapa for a few minutes waiting for the pain to subside but soon decided to leave the other two to finish the shoot. Although it was only a couple of miles back to Rancho Deluxe, I don’t even remember the ride back. As I climbed up the Continued on Page 16
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Recycle and share with a friend or return to East Capers Rack! Critters continued from page 15 few stairs to our porch, Yvonne met me with a puzzled look on her face. Neither of us had encountered this creature before, so insisting I lie down with a cold compress, she sat down at the computer and googled stingrays. A few minutes later she was back at my side with a couple of Benedryl tablets and directions for me to soak my foot in a pan of hot, hot water. Within an hour or so, that did the trick and I headed back down the beach to find the photo shoot. There are Sharks in Baja waters, of course. However, in all the years I've been fishing, I've only seen one near the beach and I was standing on dry land and considered myself pretty safe. Snakes. The captains offshore talk about sea snakes, and I have seen a few of what I assume were snakes in the water, but, they quickly swam away ‌ long before they were close enough for me to film or get a good look at Then there are the fish bones, dead puffer fish, shells and sticks that litter the beaches in some areas ‌ Be Aware! Not exactly critters, they can cause pain as well. Benadryl spray, gel, cream and tablets mentioned above are worth carrying in your First Aid kit for any of these emergencies. We have found them to be invaluable when critters collide with people.
THE MOST PREVALENT of the jellyfish are the small ones called aguamalas by the locals.
THEY ARE SOMETIMES buried in sand. In calm water, just a little bit deeper, they can be found lying still on the bottom
Returning in November
Sign seen in Mexico????? 16
October November 2016
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The Good Doctor
By: Jorge Bergen This is the true story of Francisco Hernandez Zurita, born in Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico in 1914 who attained a degree as a doctor of medicine in Mexican Universities and went on to perpetuate his professional discipline in so many unusual ways. He died in 1986 but his legacy lives on to shine brightly in the colorful history of Mexico’s modern emergence. Here I give you what little history I learned from his last, now youngest daughter, Monica Hernandez Olguin, now operating a small pharmacy/clinic in my village here in Baja Sur. While he was practicing medicine in Veracruz he was also teaching, studying and raising a family. His wife bore him a proud family of 3 boys and 8 girls. While that alone required prodigious energy and commitment on his part, he also took up with a mistress, in Spanish, A mante, lover. Make what you will of this time honored tradition but that woman then bore him 4 more boys and 3 girls. I’m told that it is not unusual in Mexico, under these conditions for the wife, the A mante, the children, to know each other, consider each other a part of the family and interact as a large group in harmony and tranquility. This was certainly the case with the doctor and his clan. He was to each of them a provider, teacher, mentor and role model and he gave them all tailored but wonderful life options as they, one by one, graduated from preparatory schools: First, he would see to the cost of University Education provided they all seek completion of a discipline or specialty leading to at least a Bachelor’s degree. He did not specify medical degrees! Second, each of them must strive to master the
playing of a musical instrument. Third, each of them must choose some popular college sport and learn to play it as it is played in inter-mural systems. ALL 18 OF THEM ACHIEVED, OF THEIR OWN CHOOSING, DEGREES IN MEDICINE AND ALL BUT ONE HAS MADE IT THEIR LIFE’S WORK. How the good doctor came by enough money to accomplish this is sketchy. There is a mystery involved: When my doctor friend Monica was less than two years old she contracted tuberculosis. He took her to specialists who said there was no hope and she was going to die soon of her sickness. The doctor cleared out a storage room at his home, boarded up the windows as a makeshift quarantine, placed the girl there and gave her his own special medical care and treatment daily. He vowed that if she survived, he would never again charge anyone a single centavo for his services. She did survive and he kept his word. Not only did he continue his free practice until his death, he established a Medical Aid Foundation in his own name to provide country-wide rural clinics, traveling doctors with different talents to seek out little villages too far from medical aid which harbored sick children and adults. The Foundation still operates today and many of his children do their own special kind of mobile clinic medical miracles in the fields and pueblos, in the lowlands and in the mountain jungles of southern Mexico. This dedicated army of medical heroes keeps growing; at this date the good doctor’s huge family of physicians has added ten more doctors --eight of his grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Continued on page 18
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Recycle and share with a friend or return to East Capers Rack! Good Doctor Continued from page 17
Like many in the family, Monica Hernandez Olguin, opened her small specialty clinic in La Ribera where she practices family medicine and psychotherapy at a cost of only 100 pesos per consultation to provide local rural services to those who otherwise have to travel far and pay much more. I am honored that Monica would allow me to record the history of this very special man and his family; the record to be preserved and disseminated to his far-flung family and others as a reminder of stunning welfare success driven by inspiration and private enterprise can be a shining beacon to future caregivers longing to ameliorate Mexico’s social ills one patient at a time.
Conversations Of a Teenager Overheard in the hallways of a United States High School
“If your so cool, doesn’t that make me hot?”
“What time is it? ”…… “There’s a clock right there.” …… “Did I ask you where the clock is?”
My coach said I run like a girl. I said if he ran faster, he could too.
“If I wanted to commit suicide, I would climb up to your ego level and jump down to your IQ”
Zombies eat brains. You are safe.
My teacher pointed a ruler at me and said “at the end of this is an idiot” I got detention when I asked “which end?”.
“Are you talking back?”
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“Well, yeah, that is how communication works.”
CAPS FOR CANCER BAJA By: Annette Kaiser
Caps for cancer baja is a group of 40+ ladies in the East Cape, who volunteer their time and talents to knit, crochet and weave caps, scarves, blankets and booties for the children in the Pediatric Cardiac Care and Pediatric Oncology at Salviterra Hospital, sick children who visit the Eat Cape Health Center in Los Barriles, and several hospitals in Veracruz on the mainland. All articles are gifted to the sick children. All the yarn is donated. Membership is free. The meetings are held once a month, when the ladies bring their articles for donation, and then share their patterns and information.. We ask residents of the East Cape returning in the fall from the U.S and Canada, to bring down and donate a ball or two to our cause. On December 17th, 9a.m there is a rummage sale for Caps for cancer baja at the El Toro y Luna building in La Riviera, to raise funds to purchase more yarn for the year. If you would like to join Caps for cancer baja, have donations of yarn or articles for our rummage sale, please contact Annette at iikaiser@frii.com or Monica at behrendsdaniel@hotmail.com
Some of the many recipients of the caps and blankets.
October November 2016
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Read the color version online at www.eastcapearts.com
Directory of Advertisers Real Estate
Baja Properties Homes and Land of Baja Bahia Real Estate Coldwell Banker
624-141-0075
US 310-494-5700
624-141-0277 624-141-0808
Health/Beauty
East Cape Health Center 624-124-8203 East Cape Dental 624-141-0375 Salon de Cortez 624-124-8056 Blue Wave Wellness Spa 624-132-6893 Susan Ackerman Personal Counseling susanackermancounseling@gmail.com
Permanent Make-up 624-414-0422 Solutions Clinica de Belleza 624-414-0422
Activities
Awesome Charter Boats cell – 624-141-0231 Exo Kite US 541-380-0948
Where to Shop
Joes Deli Market Located on Nov 20 Street Los Barriles La Buena Vida Mercantil / Tea of Cortez (down street from Chapitos) Copper River Designs Jewelry 624-141-0014
Where to Eat
Caleb’s Café 624-141-0531 Located on Nov 20 Street Los Barriles Joes Deli Market Located on Nov 20 Street Caffe Encinalito Located on Costa Brava Blvd Road Runner Café & Bakery Plaza del Pueblo
Building/Construction
CMC Construction 624-124-8176 EF Block cell 612-169-9348 Robert Rosa Builder cell 624-175-4855 Unique Beautiful Livable Design cell 624-145-2750 ASM Windows and Doors cell 624-100-0516 C & G Builders 624-124-8012 Tejas El Guila - Tile 612-114-6622 Juan M. Castro Builder 624-226-9891
Rentals/Hotels
East Cape Vacation Rentals 624-141-0381 Wolf Property Management 624-124-8171 Hotel Buena Vista Beach Resort 624-129-6525 Rancho La Venta 612-156-2347
Services
Pay Dennis 624-141-0261 G & T Pest Control 624-121-6804 Wolf Property Management 624-124-8171 Aero Burro 624-141-0520 Two Friends Guide Service 624-132-6893 Beto Castor TV Service cell 624-958-2900 Oscar the Mechanic 624-117-3412
Spiritual
East Cape Community Fellowship www.eastcapecf.com
Rentals/Hotels
East Cape Vacation Rentals Wolf Property Management Hotel Buena Vista Rancho La Venta
Insurance & Legal
Cathie Smith Insurance Baja Legal
624-141-0381 624-124-8171 624-129-6525 612-156-2347
US 575-993-8227 612-136-4598
Cut out this page and keep it close at hand for the important numbers on it! October November 2016
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Did you know??
The earth's secondlongest peninsula, the Baja encompasses more than 700 miles of the mystical, ethereal, majestic and untamed.
CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES This is not all the activities, just the ones we know of right now!
NOVEMBER 1st All Saints Day 2nd All Souls Day 3rd Recycle Day – first Thursday of the month th 19 Community Market at LB City Park begins Market held every Saturday until May th East Cape Guild’s Monte Carlo Night 19 20th Revolution Day Memorial th 24 Thanksgiving 26th Asociacion de Artes Fall Baseball Camp 26th East Cape Guild Baja Ha Ha Golf Tournament DECEMBER Asociacion de Artes Art Festival at 4th Colina del Sol th 17 Caps for Cancer Rummage Sale in La Ribera JANUARY Designs House Tour 6th th 14 Lord of Winds Beauty Pageant 17t Lord of Wind Registration
JANUARY Continued 18th – 22nd LOW Competition Lord of Winds Awards Dinner 22nd 25th – 29th La Ventana Classic FEBRUARY 8th Asociacion de Artes Artist Studio Tour 24th Agility Doug Tournament 26th Dog Show 28th Mardi Gras / Carnival MARCH Shakespeare Play Opening 10th 11th Shakespeare Play th 12 Shakespeare Play 16th Shakespeare Play th 17 Shakespeare Play Shakespeare Play 18th 19th Asociacion de Artes Festival de Artes APRIL 16th Easter
h
Useful Conversions
To convert temperatures in degrees Celsius to Fahrenheit, multiply by 1.8 and add 32
1 kilo = 2.2 lbs
1 gallon = 3.78 litres
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October November 2016
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October November 2016
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Recycle and share with a friend or return to East Capers Rack!
Techo
By: Jorge Bergen
This is not a complaint. It is a salute to my Mexican neighbors. All 2,500 of us live just a click above the latitude line of the Tropic of Cancer. Most of my neighbors were born here and have lived here all their lives and that’s all they know about heat versus cold, dry versus wet. They are known as Choyeros, cactus people, and proud of it. I’ve been among them over twenty years now and my backround says I was born to live here; born and raised in South Florida, then from age 13 till I turned 58 I lived in the Mojave desert in Las Vegas. So it was not like I lived my whole life in Bismark, North Dakota, then plopped myself down here in the tropics. There are some days now (I’ll be 80 years old next month) that I just can’t reconcile any comfort in this place. Nothing unusual about the day; a little hazy, 94 degrees, humidity 70%, not a breath of wind. Our whole summer is almost exactly like today but right now the weight, the heat, the stillness has closed in on me and seems to want to crush my body and m;y spirit my spirit. me and seems to want to crush my body and my spirit.
What brought it all home, the big slap in the face, came about 10:30 in the morning when I went to the store for some supplies. As I lugged the bags up to the house I heard some ruckus coming from a construction site two blocks to the east. Some rich gringo is building a mansion over there and has hired a crew from Los Cabos or La Paz because we don’t really have enough skilled workers here for a job that large. On the very day I’m having misgivings about my whole late life plan,
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they have chosen this day to pour the roof. I couldn’t stay, I couldn’t watch or listen to their songs and curses because everything about their heroism against this heat shames me, mocks me. They are not thinking that the terrible heat will take them down, kill them just for their bravado --- they are thinking about the cases of cold beer and cokes, the piles of warm and spicy tacos and tamales the rich homeowner is obliged to lay out for them when the roof is flat as a mirror, has become a shimmering and unforgiving heat reflector. Tonight two of them will stay behind to wet the cement down every few hours to keep it from cracking and in the morning the crew will pull up in cars and trucks to start the footings for walls and service buildings. My computer told me tomorrow will be a carbon copy of today --- they don’t have computers and don’t know a thing about heat indices or Feels Like ratios. They know the man with the pesos wants this big house to be built quick and strong and the weather won’t slow them down unless there’s a Chubasco. Maybe it’s the archetypical imprinting loaned them from their Toltec and Olmec forebears who were the builders of the planet’s largest man made structure, the Great Pyramid Cholulu near Puebla in Mexico. The construction began in 300 BC and no one knows just when the project was abandoned --- what we do know is that many Meso-American dynasties had their hands in the laying of adobe brick to erect the massive 4.5 million cubic meters dwarfing the Great Pyramid at Giza with just 2.5 cubic meters of structure. (Apologies to China and the 13,000 miles of Great Wall) So maybe these young Turks were loaned some predisposition and are genetically suited to be masons, albanil, or cementeros. To be fair, this little village is right on the beach and Cholulu’s base is 7,000 feet above sea level; the average temperature for September in Puebla, Mexico is 76 comfy degrees while it gets about 7 inches of rain in that month to cool it off even more. The pyramid builders lived on about 2,000 calories of corn per day, while our local guys here probably burn twice that much with varied diets of meat, fish, bread, vegetables and cerveza. My personal cop out in this thing must be that if I grabbed a 17 year old Irishman out of his potato patch and transported him down here today, he wouldn’t last till noon on that roof. (and he wouldn’t be here in the morning) October November 2016
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October November 2016
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Las Fiestas Patrias By: Steve Reed
Las Fiestas Patrias night of celebration in Los Barriles was a great success. Hundreds of locals turned out to celebrate Mexican Independence Day in our La Cancha. The evening began with the Grand Opening of our new Banos de la Cancha, supported by Rotario de Los Barriles, Club Deportivo, the Van Wormer Family, Tonia and Chris Scurr, Bill and Gwen Klotz, Ken Phillips, Leonel Tamayo, and countless other donations of dinero and materials from the Los Barriles community, as well as from far away folks in Canada and the US. Attending Rotary members were Leigh–Anne Cameron, Ian Gibson, and Francis Olachea, who is also the Delegada de Los Barriles. The official ribbon cutting was done by Leigh-Anne Cameron, Francis Olachea, and the General Contractor for the project, Rigo Lucero Silva, and his amazing team of builders; Hugo Cruz, Moises Lucero, Raul Corral, Arturo Sandoval, and others…. The new bathrooms with a changing room in the women’s section brought smiles to everyone’s faces. The sense of community was palpable as proud parents and children paraded through the new facilities. Everyone in Los Barriles should be proud of how our little community came together to provide sanitary facilities for our children.
Juan M. Castro
Custom Builder & Designer * All facets of Construction *
Specializes in cabinets and furniture Superb craftsmanship and competitively priced!
624-226-9891
singing groups, and a swinging mariachi band. And just when your face hurt and you thought you couldn’t smile any longer, the Royalty was presented, with the Coronation of Patricia for 2016.
Once the ribbon was cut and the banos declared officially open, the fiesta really began with dancing and singing and celebrating independence the way only Mexico knows how. The Cancha overflowed with families come to enjoy a delicious dinner, traditional dancing, some
(Photographs by Erick Cota)
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October November 2016
Read the color version online at www.eastcapearts.com
This is an important subject, and therefore warrants re-printing to ensure we have the proper documents to live here in the Baja successfully. The original article has been edited to cover the list of documents that are most important to have. Complete article printed in April 2016 issue.
Dying In Mexico By: Cathie Smith LoCicero, World Wide Travel Insurance
I have found a lot of different opinions on what needs to be done, but one thing is for sure, whether we are tourists, snowbirds, or expats, we all need a PLAN. This may take several articles to share all my findings, and I invite all of you to please email me your own experiences and findings as well, to aid in my investigations. First of all, do you have a will? Have you expressed your final wishes to your close family members, friends and neighbors? This is something that has to be done in advance, and is very necessary. PLAN AHEAD! Provide your family members, neighbors, and legal representative: 1. a key to your home and information regarding the location of your passport(s) and will(s). Include a copy of your passport. 2. a sum of money or access to Mexican pesos sufficient to cover basic expenses when you die. Suggested minimum: $20,000 pesos. 3. the location and pin number(s) of your ATM card(s) (My cousin had to borrow money to cremate his wife because he didn’t have the pin number to their Mexican bank account.) 4. a list of names, telephone numbers/and or e-mail addresses of family members and friends you wish to be notified; 5. the telephone numbers of your consulate or embassy and of your government representative in Baja (if your country of origin has a representative there); 6. a letter specifying who will care for your property and valuables until your next of kin can reach your Mexican home. (Only next of kin or legal representative can make final burial or cremation decisions.) 7. a signed, preferably notarized, letter clearly stating your wishes regarding burial and/or funeral and church ceremonies; 8. a copy of your will(s). If you are a full time resident of Mexico with property and/or bank accounts in Mexico, you should have a Mexican will as well as a will valid in your home country if you have assets in that country;
October November 2016
What would you do if you or your spouse suffered a stroke or heart attack tonight? If returning home to the US or Canada in the event of a serious or critical medical emergency for insurance or family reasons is important to you, you are cordially invited to attend an informative talk on Travel MedEvac at 11am on Friday Nov 4 in Los Barriles, location to be announced. Learn how our affordable membership plans guarantee to take you anywhere you wish in the US or Canada. Join Cathie Smith LoCicero, Travel MedEvac Director Sales Mexico and spec ial G uest Speaker Minerva Santos, International Liaison Coordinator, Global Patient Services at Sharp HealthCare San Diego.
Email:
cathie@cathiesmithinsurance.com
for location and to secure your spot at this
9. Some areas may require that all documents; i.e. birth certificates, marriage certificates, are “apostilled” and translated into Spanish before releasing your remains to your next of kin. An apostille is a certification provided under The Hague Convention of 1961 for authenticating documents for use in foreign countries. The sole function is to certify the authenticity of the signature of the document. Put simply, an apostille is a certificate that is attached to another document so that it will be accepted Continued on page 26
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Recycle and share with a friend or return to East Capers Rack! Americans: Go on line to http:// Dying in Mexico continued from page 25 when used overseas. It is obtained through the Secretary of State in which the document was created. NOTE: Canada does not subscribe to The Hague Convention so Canadians must directly contact the Mexican Embassy or Mexican Consulate closest to your place of residence in Canada or consult their websites for information and instructions regarding the legalization of Canadian documents to be used for any legal purpose in Mexico. Register your personal information with your embassy in Mexico City:
mexico.usembassy.gov Choose U.S. Citizen Services 1. Select Security and Travel Information 2. Look for STEP (Smart Travelers Enrolment Program) and fill out the registration The registration can be updated as your information changes
Canadians : Go online to http://travel.gc.ca/travelling 1. Choose Registration of Canadians Abroad (ROCA) 2. Select online registration
The registration can be updated as your information changes
Next issue I’ll address what needs to be done immediately after death and returning physical remains to home country. **Some information in this report comes from tomzap.com
For more specifics on documents you need Email: cathie@cathiesmithinsurance.com
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October November 2016
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Rancho La Venta By: Robert Pudwill
It all started when Bob and Liz first landed in Los Barriles in 1988 from Alaska for sun and windsurfing, camping at North Beach Single Palm (long gone now). Just like so many others, they loved the place and returned yearly ...a little longer each year. After building a couple of places in Los Barriles, they discovered the jewel Rancho La Venta. One of the oldest ranchos in the area, they decided to move up in 2002. Still going back to AK to work in summer -Bob commercial fishing and Liz running her restaurant "BAJA Taco"...started in 1989 after eating fish tacos for the first time- Bob and Liz moved full time to La Venta for the rest of the year. Nothing but the old ranch ruins were there, but after years of work, now there are Bed and Breakfast casitas, a vineyard, wine cellar, organic gardens and orchards, art studio and beautiful pool and sauna, miles of trails for guided horseback rides and world class birding. La Venta is a great place to visit. If it's too windy, not windy enough, an adventure for visiting family, or a romantic getaway in one of the cozy casitas. Kids love to pet Wilson, the burro, see horses, sheep, pigs and chickens. Contact them at rancholaventa1@me.com. 1/2 hr from Los Barriles and La Ventana at km 144.5 on Mexico 1. Check out their web sitewww.rancholaventa.com
Some friends to have at Rancho la Venta
Value of Worrying Who says worrying does no good? Everything I worry about does not happen! ~Author Unknown
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The Old Road Remembered
With Dennis Riley Holiday Issue 2006 I came down the Baja peninsula for the first time in 1964. I was 21 years old and just out of the Navy. My mother and stepfather were with me. My stepfather, Johnny Mitre, was involved in the original Palmas de Cortez property. He had leased the property in 1959 and developed a small seven room fishing hotel called, the Bahia de la Palmas Lodge. My mother and I planned to help him run the business. After a few years, Johnny turned the lodge over to another operator. He and a business partner then made plans to develop a hotel at Punta Pescadero. We had to bring building materials and supplies down from the U.S. while we were building Punta Pescadero. First, we had to cut a road north from the San Bartolo arroyo so we could get to the site. During this time, I made two trips from the border to Los Barriles on the Old Road. The first trip we hired an experienced truck driver who had the right kind of truck for the Old Road.
Beto Castro
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The truck had balloon tires on the back, which could accommodate the center ridge in the road. When we came to the top of the Cuesta Infierno east of Volcan Tres Virgenes we had to stop at the top and look down the steep incline to see if anyone was coming up. Since we had the right of way going down, we could proceed if it was clear. But, we never saw more than two or three cars on the road anyway so we never had to wait. Johnny and his partner opened Hotel Punta Pescadero in 1968. In some parts, the old road was paved. But, most of the 1000 mile trip was on rocky dirt road. Back then, it took about two and a half weeks to get from Tijuana to East Cape, depending on the weather. One year we came down in August during the rainy Season and the trip took 31 days. The road was flooded between Santa Rosalia and Loreto, so we had to make our way through the mountain roads to Mision San Javier and the two Comondo communities to hook up with the road going to Insurgentes and Constitution. Another time we were close to El Arco on the way to Vizcaino when a sway bar broke on the truck. We had to wait for another car going north so we could go to Guerrero Negro to fix the part. It took 2 days to get there and one day back.
Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain - and most fools do. ~Benjamin Franklin
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October November 2016
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Message from Mike Koehn President; Rotario de Los Barriles Cabo Este BCS
With only 26 active members, our Club Rotario de Los Barriles is very small, but also very active. The tasks we take on often dwarf our personnel and resources, but we tackle them anyway, and trust we will prevail if we proceed with good hearts and best intentions. Our last season provides a perfect example. Our 2015 – 2016 season rapidly became the most ambitious of our ten-year tenure. Requests for help increased our project list to include several surrounding pueblos, and our President then, Chris Geyer, proposed an ambitious schedule to address several projects simultaneously. We solicited support from fellow Rotarians in the States to help us rebuild the albergues in two nearby pueblos. Their response was inspiring. Members of five clubs from California arrived in March and immediately began work on the albergues and our healthy water projects. Our project list included renovating albergues (dormitories) in nearby pueblos; providing healthful water filtration systems and training to outlying pueblos and families; Lord of the Wind – the most successful LOW ever; a new Rotary Interact – teenage members of a Rotary Interact visited from Madera, CA; and Carnaval – our 2016 Carnaval featured the largest parade and fiesta in the history of Los Barriles. Throughout our season, visiting Rotarians worked with the families and children who live here. Rarely do we get the chance to work alongside those who need, and just as rarely those who receive help become empowered. But the result of working together is that we make friends, not dependents, and everyone benefits. Often clubs like ours go dark through the hot, humid summer months, when many members retreat to cooler homes up north. Our club used to slow down June through September, but with an increase in local membership and more of us living in LB year around, two major Rotary projects were completed last summer. Our Los Barriles elementary school now has a new kitchen, new covered seating and a sanitation station. And now our Cancha has new banos for our children and for public use as well. The grand opening of our new banos was celebrated at the Cancha at the Quince de Septiembre Fiesta, or the celebration of El Grito de Dolores, the call that Miguel Hidalgo made for the people of Mexico to rise up against the authorities of New Spain on September 16, 1810, in the town of Dolores, near Guanajuato, initiating Mexico's War of Independence. This event is commemorated
October November 2016
every year in Mexico on the night of September 15th. The grand opening of the new bathrooms was appropriately timed, as the stands and chairs in our Cancha were filled with happy families. As returning members fill out our ranks this fall, many of our regular projects will be renewed, such as support and maintenance of the Tech Center next to our Cancha, and our maintenance of the town Fountain. Once again this coming season we’ll see members of stateside Rotaries coming to work on projects benefitting East Cape communities. Ongoing projects include a return to San Antonio to complete the renovation of their albergues, the distribution of healthful water filters to hundreds more outlying ranchos and small pueblos, and full support of the Lord of the Wind international kiteboarding competition in January 2017. We also have a couple of new projects. We are supporting a new Rotary Interact Club being formed at our local high school, and the same Interact Club that visited last year from Madera, CA, now plans to return. The ease of the cultural exchange between the teens is stunning. We’re also initiating a new program called "Turnout Gear", that provides firefighting equipment for local personnel. The first sets were delivered last summer. And just for fun, we will be assisting the Los Barriles Delegado, Francis Olachea, with the planning and production of our new expanded Carnaval Parade and Fiesta. Come join us, for a breakfast meeting, a celebration, or a project. We’re Club Rotario de Los Barriles and all are welcome.
If you want more information, contact: mikekoensr@gmail.com
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and other water sports steps away! Two great properties for Sale! See pictures, details and contacts at:
www.affordableparadise.weebly.com 29
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The Los Barriles Elementary School Cafeteria Project By: Steve Reed
A teacher surrounded by many young students was asked who her favorite child was, and she responded with ‘over time they all are but at any particular time – the ones that need me the most.’ Over 250 children are enrolled in our Los Barriles elementary school, and the number who rely on school lunches for nourishment fluctuates. The school cafeteria had only a small kitchen, limited seating, and a shaded play area in disrepair. It has been a desire for a number of years to remodel the kitchen and eating area with the objective of improving the nourishment available for these children. Recently we met with the school principal, elementary teachers, and the parents club, to discuss this project and we came up with a project scope. We then met with Carlos and Marta Coscetti of CMC Construction who helped us determine a target budget of $10,000. The project included building a larger kitchen area, a refrigerator, a more effective stove, and a much bigger kitchen sink – (you have to love a project that covers everything, including the kitchen sink). The plans also called for installing a new shaded area, the dirt area to be covered in concrete.
Chris Geyer, Club Rotario de Los Barriles member and Past President, met with Susan and Tim Madden cofounders of a non-profit organization in Oakhurst California, “Be the Power of One”, who after learning the details of our cafeteria remodel, decided to support our project with a fundraiser that raised $3,000 for this cause. On top of this, additional funds were provided by the Oakhurst Morning Rotary Club ($1,500) and the Oakhurst Noon Club ($1,500). With $6,000 coming our way, we then asked Carlos what we could accomplish toward the project goal and the Coscetti family surprised us with the generous response of offering to complete the project with for the lesser amount donating their time and asking their business partners to also make contributions. The project is near completion and looks awesome! Albert Coscetti and his team have done a fantastic job! The old kitchen area has been removed and replaced. From the ground up there is a new kitchen including – of course the kitchen sink. And it also has beautiful granite counter! Typical with project like this, we started somewhat later than we wanted… But we are very happy with how it is turning out. At this point the kitchen is largely completed. The appliances should be coming in within the next week or two, and at that time the kitchen will be fully functioning. Then work will halt until there is a break in school to allow us to finish items including the shade structure. Our heartfelt thanks to all who contributed with their donated time, money, and materials for this project.
The new school kitchen area!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Investing into today’s children is an investment in all our futures. Giving the investment of our time and or our funds is giving a deposit into the quality of our future. Not only for this generation, but for generations forward. ~author unknown~ 30
October November 2016
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BONES MATTER & BONE DENSITY By: Sefi Held
Bone is living tissue and it is constantly renewed through a process in which old bone is removed and replaced by new bone. Bone eroding cells called osteoclasts erode the bone creating small cavities; bone forming cells called osteoblasts then fill in the cavities with new bone. This is Mother Nature's way of restoring bones and keeping them strong. The key bone building years are in childhood and adolescence. The skeleton reaches its peak bone mass at around age 16 for girls and age 20 for boys. In our 20's, the cells that erode bones and the cells that rebuild them work together in maintaining healthy bones. After our mid 30's, the cells that build bone are not as efficient and we begin to gradually lose bone. An aging, health oriented population has resulted in widespread interest in osteoporosis prevention. We know that weakened bone structures can turn a minor fall into a major disability. Osteoporosis, although striking women more frequently, affects men as well. No single cause for osteoporosis has been identified yet. Check out some of the stats below:
◗ Impaired vision ◗ Being shorter now than at age 25 ◗ Low bone density These days, people are not only interested in longevity, they also wish to stay active and healthy as long as possible and the bottom line is that there is highly convincing evidence that being physically active reduces the risk of hip fractures. Moderate to vigorous physical activity has been associated with a reduced hip fracture risk of 45% in men and 38% in women! Include daily exercises where you support your body weight such as walking, dancing, racquet sports and also include some regular weight bearing and resistance exercise as well as yoga and balance training to lower your risk of osteoporosis. Healthy aging is not determined by genetic information contained in our cells but emerges out of positive continuous engagement with each other and our environment. Make the most of your life here in beautiful Baja.
◗ Affects 1 in 4 women over the age of 50 ◗ Affects 1 in 8 men over the age of 50 ◗ By age 75, 30% of men have osteoporosis Low bone mass & deterioration of bone. Affects 30 million Americans. 80% are women. Silent disease. Bone loss occurs without symptoms. Osteopenia: Bone Miner al Density (BMD) deviation of 1 to 2.5 - the norm. Osteoporosis: BMD deviation - 2.5 below the nor m. Osteopenia is 10 to 20% loss of bone density Osteoporosis is 25% or greater loss of bone density PREDISPOSING FACTORS FOR HIP FRACTURE ◗ Unable to stand up from a chair without using hands ◗ Being on the feet less than 4 hours per day ◗ Not walking for exercise ◗ Poor depth perception ◗ Resting heart rate is less than 80 beats per minute ◗ Anti-convulsant drugs ◗ History of maternal hip fracture before age 80 ◗ Use of benzodiazepines (tranquilizers and mood altering drugs) ◗ Poor self-rated health ◗ Advancing age ◗ Fracture since age 50 ◗ Weighing less than at age 25 ◗ Caffeine intake is more than 4 cups per day October November 2016
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Farmers Market in Los Barriles!
Farmers Market in Los Barriles
Returning in November! 32
By: Michelle Melehes The season begins and the Los Barriles Community Market welcomes you all to its first market of the 2016 -2017 season on Nov 19 at the New City Park from 9am-1pm. This will be the Market’s sixth season and we feel lucky to be able to offer you all another great year at the Market. All our faithful vendors will be returning in addition to some new talent as well. We now have a few veggie vendors, several food vendors offering everything from tamales to sausages, pizza to full breakfast with Baja Biscuits. Our artists continue to bring tempting new designs in clothing, jewelry and housewares. And it all happens in our little town on Saturday mornings, thanks to you all and your continued support of the Community Market. We like to be reminded every year as to the initial goal of the Community Market so we simply go back to the definition of community—a group of people living in the same place, enjoying a feeling of fellowship with others while sharing common goals. We in Los Barriles have two communities, local and foreign and the market’s goal has always been to be the place where both communities join together to work toward shared goals. Every year sees change and challenge and we hope to keep the community market a place to keep our communities together— We do a good job of that in Los Barriles so join us in celebrating community Saturday, November 19th 9am—1pm in the new city park. See you at the Market! October November 2016
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LOS BARRILES RECYCLES!!! By: Holly Burgin
Norte Americanos (that would be all of us Gringos) are well trained by our local municipalities in the US and Canada to separate our recyclables and yard trimmings for pick-up on trash day. So when we moved to Los Barriles, we looked around and wondered what to do with all of our recyclables. That was in 2009 and there was no recyclable program in our town. So, like-minded volunteers formed East Cape Recycling Baja (ECRB) to protect our beautiful environment. ECRB has a Recycle Center that is the envy of towns throughout Baja, thanks to the space donated by East Cape Casas and RV Resort, located across from the Modelorama on 20 de Noviembre. Our all-volunteer program is simple and easy. On the first Thursday of every month from November to August, 9:00 am – 11:00 am, local residents bring their recyclables to the Recycle Center for collection. We accept all plastic, metal and cardboard, plus more. Go to EastCapeRecyclingBaja.com for a complete list of recyclables that we accept. We ask everyone who participates in recycling, to crush their plastic and aluminum and sort their recyclables into the appropriate containers when they drop-off on Recycle Day, and to help crush and sort the recyclables that we collect from the local schools and restaurants. ECRB collects tons of recyclables each month that would otherwise pollute the environment at the dump, or worse, end up in the Sea of Cortez. To be sustainable, our recycling program must be a community effort. Many volunteer hands make light work…and that is why we ask you to please volunteer for one hour a month. We do not receive any government funds, nor do we have employees. We need volunteers for our recycling program to succeed and to provide other community programs to protect our environment.
Recycling is not the only mission of ECRB. We also have taken the lead in: environmental education of youth during Cursos de Verano, the summer day-camp program for local children; providing recycling services for community events (please let us know about your event and we can tell you how we can help) including Lord of the Winds, the Art Festivals, Los Barriles Dog Show, off-road auto races, and municipal events including the activities during Semana Santa (Easter week) and more; donating trash barrels for our heavily used beaches; and consulting with our Mayor in developing municipal recycling programs. But wait!!! All of these programs and services require funding, so you may wonder, “how do they do it?” We Continued on page 34
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Recycle and share with a friend or return to East Capers Rack! Recycling in Los Barriles Continued from page 33
rely on people who recycle to share the cost of transporting recyclables to La Paz and other recycling expenses, with a $5.00 ($100 peso) donation each month. These donations keep our recycling program funded. The source of most of our operating funds for other programs are donations made at Movie Night, where ECRB screens first run, award nominated, films on the BIG screen (18’ x 12’) in Parque de Laguna, twice a month, January – April. Gourmet movie theater style popcorn (made with real butter and sea salt), beer, wine, water and special treats are always available for a donation. Some of the first run blockbuster films that we screened last season are The Bridge of Spys (Tom Hanks), The Big Short (Brad Pitt) and The Revenant (Leonardo DiCaprio). We already know that Sully, directed by Clint Eastwood, starring Tom Hanks, will be on the line up this season. So, have your folding chair ready and we will see you at the movies. Recycling and environmental protection isn’t warm and fuzzy and doesn’t tug at your heartstrings, but the success of our model environmental programs depends on your support. Please recycle. If you need help to set up a recycle system in your home, let us know. We can help. And to all of you wonderful people who volunteer and donate, thank you. We are looking forward to another fabulous season with your help and support.
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October November 2016
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Traffic violation information
Handicapped Spots, DUI & Other Baja Traffic Violations from www.bajainsider.com Posted By: Tomas 2/03/2016 http://www.bajainsider.com/article/handicappedspots-dui-other-baja-traffic-violations
Beachside Handicapped Parking - The fine is $7000 pesos and your US sticker doesn't count Baja California Sur has begun to crack down on traffic offences. The latest welcome addition to the revenue source for the city is the heavy fine levied on those that park in the blue marked handicap zones without proper plates or stickers displayed. To be very clear: Handicapped access permits issued in the US or Canada will not be honored as valid. To obtain a Mexican Handicapped access permit in Mexico requires a form and an assessment by a doctor that is submitted to DIFF (The human services agency of Mexico) and you can be issued a special permit. You must also hold a Mexican Drivers License Just prior to the end of the year the Transito Department of La Paz announced that they would begin aggressively enforcing the state and federal law with special officers. The fine in is $7000 pesos, and the city officials clearly stated there will be no early pay discounts applied to this infraction, nor will any pardon be given. The first week of February the mid state city of Constitucion has announced that the will be "booting" cars found parked in specially designated parking spots.
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In California I have known cases where the inconsiderate person managed to argue and wriggle their way out this infraction if the posted sign AND the space painting were not present. A little tip: "That dog don't hunt, in Baja." You'll end up with the ticket and maybe a little extra with that argument. Driving Under the Influence: Fifteen years ago this was a joke. The adage was, "If you are too drunk to walk to the store for more beer, take the car." and they suspended check points because "they didn't want to ruin anyone's holiday." That has changed and today many holiday checkpoints are equipped with breathalyzers. If you are arrested for drunk driving it will cost you $3000 pesos in Baja Sur and $5000 to $7000 pesos if accident resulting, PLUS potential criminal charges for injury and no early pay discounts. In the event of an accident: Call the police, the second call is to your insurance agent (Don't tell me you don't have one?) Your agent will often be your only advocate. He who does the 'hitting' in an accident is most commonly judged at fault, being a gringo without an advocate will OFTEN result in the accident being your fault. If the accident is severe in injury or property damage expect to be detained. In many cases also expect to be taken to the station for a Blood Alcohol test if a mobile test unit isn't available. BCS law states that those with foreign licenses will have their home state notified of DUI infractions, which could cost you a whole lot more on your home insurance later. Do NOT let a Mexican licensed driver use your foreign plated car. This is not allowed, even with a note from your mommy. This not only gets you in hot water with Transito, but also Aduana for importation and can cost you weeks and up to one third the value of your car to Continued on Page 36
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Recycle and share with a friend or return to East Capers Rack! Traffic Volitions continued from page 35
get it back. This INCLUDES someone like me that no longer holds a US license, although I'm not as likely to be "detected" for it. Other Traffic Violations of Note: Let's start by busting another Gringo Rumor Bubble, your car must me legally registered and current where ever you are from. You can be sited for expired plates and licenses.
Talking or Texting on a cell phone while driving in either Baja California or Baja California Sur is an impressive infraction. I'm not certain, but I believe it to be $800 pesos. Stop signs: Stopping for these red and white signs is a point of constant consternation, but in Baja Sur a rolling stop is OK. Pay attention to who arrives first and tie goes to the runner on the right. I would suggest taking MORE care if you insist on making full stops out of habit, and watch for being rear ended. Drivers must stop in urban areas for pedestrians in crosswalks. This has been a big money maker in La Paz in the last few years, and besides, it is so hard to get all of the mess out of the grill work, so give them a break. A minimum Mexican liability insurance policy is also required to drive on Federal Highways in both Baja
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California and Baja California Sur. This is usually an 'add-on ticket' when stopped for another offence or following an accident. We have always recommended you drive with liability insurance in Mexico. As a foreign national you must make restitution for your damages before you can leave the country, often before you can leave the scene of the accident. THIS is why Mexican liability insurance is important. You will end up in jail and your car impounded until the bill is paid. This becomes particularly critical if you wish to be airlifted to your home country for treatment. It won't happen until you pay the bill. No one under the age of 16 may ride in the back of an open truck without seat and seatbelt. Now here is a surprising one: Pets must be restrained in the back of an open vehicle and secured when riding within the vehicle. This is probably not a bad idea anyway, as in the event of an accident it save the coroner time in deciding which body parts were yours and which belonged to the airborne pet. 2016 Baja California Sur registration stickers are now available at the La Paz Transito offices. Enforcement of this year's stickers usually begins April 1.
October November 2016
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Sawyers Baseball Camp #5 By: Chris Courtright
It is Sawyers Baseball Camp time again and this time our community is San Bartolo. This being our fifth camp, we are getting closer to a league of our own! For those of you not familiar with our camps, let me go through our plan. First of all, our goal is to teach the basics of baseball to youth of each community in the East Cape area. We find someone to be the coach for that community, someone to house the equipment near a ball field (otherwise known as the soccer field) and have a training camp. At our camps, we split the youth into three age groups, 6 – 9, 10 – 11, 12 – 15 yrs. We offer three sessions: batting, throwing and pitching, and fielding and catching. We let our three coaches teach their way trying to have a translator for each coach, and if not, hand gestures seem to work fairly well! We have discovered that you can do a lot with gestures – to get them to pay attention to you, tap their shoulder, point two fingers to your eyes (three stooges style), and then demonstrate. It worked great! In our past sessions, it became evident real soon that there were some talented kids out there, and that the younger kids were super cute to watch! After all sessions are done, we then have a scrimmage – still by age group, and the kids have a chance to practice their new skills. At the end of the day, the kids are ready to keep playing, the volunteers and coaches are ready to take a break- or a drink! One thing that everyone can help with to keep the camps going is collecting and bringing down equipment. Check out your local little league clubs and see if they have equipment they don’t use, thrift stores and garage sales, even your own garage, or even your neighbors garage for that mitt, bat or ball that are not used. Bring the gear down, and little by little we can supply each community with gear, training and later they can have their own youth team! Donations of dollars are also appreciated which we will use for purchasing bases and food for the camps.
Lunch at Hooters A foursome of male Street Rodders, all in their 40's, discussed where they should meet for lunch. Finally, it was agreed that they would meet at Hooters because the waitresses were young, good looking, had big breasts and wore very short-shorts. Ten years later, at age 50, the rodding buddies once again discussed where they should meet for lunch. Finally, it was agreed that they would meet at Hooters because the food and service was good, they had many televisions to watch the games on, and the beer selection was excellent. Ten years later, at age 60, the foursome again discussed where they should meet for lunch. Finally, it was agreed that they would meet at Hooters because there was plenty of parking, they could dine in peace, and it was good value for the money. Ten years later, at age 70, they discussed where they should meet for lunch. Finally, it was agreed that they would meet at Hooters because the restaurant was wheelchair accessible and had a toilet for the disabled. Ten years later, at age 80, the friends discussed where they should meet for lunch. Finally, it was agreed that they would meet at Hooters because they had never been there. Oh! The joys of aging! How our priorities change!
We can always use coaches, assistants and helpers. No experience necessary, no Spanish necessary and we need skill and health levels of all kinds. It takes many hands to make this a success, it is a lot of fun, and we do make a difference in the lives of all who participate. Check out our facebook pagewww.facebook.com/ beisbolcampoeneastcape -Make sure you ‘like’ the page. If you want to become part of the baseball program, email us at jonandchris@juno.com. Watch for more details on the BPE. Lets play ball!!!!
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RESTAURANT EL NAVEGANTE
A unique dining experience awaits you, as you enjoy the culinary creations of our own Chef Dahli as he prepares his Beef, Chicken, Sea Food & Mexican dishes, with his own creative style & flair. Come & dine “Al Fresco” on our beach front terrace for an enjoyable night out! Join us at your leisure for Breakfast, Lunch, Appetizers, Happy Hour or Dinner, at Buena Vista Beach Resort. The place to be in the East Cape!
*Monday is “Fajita Night” (starting Nov. 7th)
Join us every Monday night for Chef Dahli’s delicious Beef, Shrimp & Chicken Fajitas as you dine al fresco on our beach front terrace while enjoying live music!
*Monday night football* Come to our main bar to watch football on Monday night, special price on beer and wine during game
*”Happy Hour” Every day from 4Ͳ6pm
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Come & enjoy the ambiance of our main bar with 2 for 1 drinks and order October November 2016
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October November 2016
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October November 2016