Issue 1003 June 23 - 29, 2016 by Vallarta Tribune

Catch us online @ vallartatribune.com

From Here

around town

June 23 - 29, 2016 Year 19 Free Issue 1003

Summer surviving the heat

Riviera Nayarit Land crabs

Archive

Fun on the Riviera Nayarit

welcome

Welcome to Puerto Vallarta

and Riviera Nayarit Here is some advice to make your trip a little easier and more enjoyable. TIME ZONE: The entire state of Jalisco is on Central Time, as is the southern part of the State of Nayarit starting from Guayabitos in the north. BUSES: A system of urban buses with different routes can bring you from one end of the bay to the other and all the spots in between. Current fare in Puerto Vallarta is $7.50 pesos per ticket and passengers must purchase a new ticket every time they board another bus. There are no “transfers”. TAXIS: There are set rates within defined zones of town. Do not enter a taxi without agreeing on the price with the driver first. Price is per trip not person. MONEY EXCHANGE: Although you may have to wait in line for a few minutes, banks will give you a higher rate of exchange than the exchange booths (caja de cambio). You will need your passport. Better yet, use your bank card to withdraw funds from any ATM machine. Note that ATM’s in the banks are the safest to use and generally charge lower fees. DRINKING WATER: For the 18th year in a row, Puerto Vallarta’s water has been awarded a certification of purity for human consumption. The quality of the water tested at the purification plant varies greatly from what comes out of the tap at the other end. So do be careful. If you want to be doubly sure, you can pick up bottled water just about anywhere. EXPORTING PETS: Falling love with the street dog outside your hotel or a puppy on the Malecon doesn’t mean they can’t come home with you. The process is fairly inexpensive and only takes a day or two. You need a certificate of health from a local vet among other things. The time of year that pets can travel in the cargo section of the plane may be your biggest challenge. For the most up-to-date information contact the Puerto Vallarta SPCA at spcapv@gmail.com. COMMON SENSE: Just as you wouldn’t walk around your hometown drunk and beligerent, it is not acceptable to do that here. While Mexicans are a forgiving bunch, basic politeness is appreciated. For the guys, peeing in public is a major faux pas and if you are caught, can get you tossed in jail or an expensive fine. Pay attention to your surroundings. Pay your bills. Be courteous. And have fun! DRINKING AND DRIVING: First off – just don’t. The consequences are not worth it. Taxis are cheap and plentiful. Fines are as much as 10,000 pesos. You can be taken to jail and your vehicle impounded. There are many checkstops on the weekends and you will be asked to blow if they suspect you have been drinking. LEGAL SYSTEM: Not knowing the law is not an valid excuse in Mexico or anywhere. If you find yourself caught in a legal situation be aware that guilt is presumed until your innocence can be proven. This is a very difficult lesson to learn if you are visiting from the United States or Canada in particular. Immediately contact your consulate for assistance. Director Noemi Zamora noemizamorareynoso@gmail.com Editor Lic. Madeline Milne mmilne@Vallartatribune.com Sales Team Rebeca Castellón rebeca.castellonn@gmail.com Information office ventastribuna7@yahoo.com Designer Cynthia E. Andrade G. cysandra@gmail.com cisandra@vallartatribune.com

June 23 - 29, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Calling in Mexico Calling phones in Mexico can be tricky as it is different than in the US or Canada. There are different codes you need to use depending if you are calling landlines or cellular phones and if they are local or long distance. Long-distance calls from within Mexico For national long-distance calls (within Mexico) the code is 01 plus the area code and phone number. For international long-distance calls, first dial 00, then the country code (for the U.S. and Canada the country code is 1, so you would dial 00 + 1 + area code + 7 digit number). Calling Cell Phones (from a land line) If you are calling from a landline within the area code of the Mexican cell phone number dial 044, then the 10 digit number including area code. Outside of the area code (but still within Mexico) dial 045 and then the 10 digit phone number. Cell phone to cell phone only requires the 10 digit number. Phone Cards Phone cards (“tarjetas telefonicas”) for use in pay phones can be bought at newstands and in pharmacies in denominations of 30, 50 and 100 pesos. Pay phones do not accept coins. When buying a phone card for pay phone use, specify that you would like a “tarjeta LADA,” because pre-paid cell phone cards are also sold in the same establishments. Calling Toll-Free Numbers Some toll free numbers work from Mexico to the US and Canada, but many do not. You need to dial a different prefix. To call the following toll free prefixes, dial as follows: 800 numbers Dial 001-880-then the number 866 numbers Dial 001-883-then the number 877 numbers Dial 001-882-then the number 888 numbers Dial 001-881-then the number

Emergencies: 060 Red Cross: 065 Non-Emergency Police 322.290.0507 Fire Department: 322.223.9476

Ambulance: 322.222.1533

Consulates American Consulate Immigration: Nuevo Vallarta: 322.224.7719 322.222.0069 24 hrs Guadalajara: Consumer Protection: 333.268.2145 01.800.468.8722 Tourism Offices Canadian Consulate Jalisco: 322.221.2676 322.293.2894 Nayarit: 322.297.1006 24 hrs: 1.800.706.2900

Ahoy Cruisers!

In port this month

Day Ship Passengers 01-jun Carnival Miracle 2,124 08-jun Carnival Miracle 2,124 16-jun Carnival Miracle 2,124 21-jun Carnival Miracle 2,124 22-jun Carnival Miracle 2,124 29-jun Carnival Miracle 2,124

In the month of June Puerto Vallarta welcomes 12, 744 passengers!

Vallarta Tribune is an activity and entertainment guide and merely publishes information as it is provided by the advertiser or event host. We do not assume responsibility in errors or omissions other than to correct them as soon as they are made known to us regarding event schedules, locations and/or prices. In addition, we do not assume any responsibility for erroneous inclusion or exclusion of information except to take reasonable care to ensure accuracy, that permission has been obtained to use it, and to remove it as soon as is practical upon receiving your notification of error. We recommend you always confirm prior to attending or visiting an event or establishment. Weekly publication edited, printed and distributed by Ediciones y Publicaciones Siete Junio, SA de CV Grupo Editorial Tribuna Calle 21 de Marzo # 1174 Col. Lomas del Coapinole Del. El Pitillal, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco México CP 48290 Tel. 226-0800 editor@vallartatribune.com * www.vallartatribune.com * www.facebook.com/vallarta.tribune

editorial

Editor’s

Note

editor@vallartatribune.com Finally! And we can all breathe a sigh of relief. Were you worried the rains would never come? So, with the rains comes an even bigger need to be sure to clean up the litter on the streets, culverts, river banks, etc. We don’t want any more trash washing into the ocean. Sylvie Scopazzo and friends have started a group called Rubbish Rebels - search them on Facebook and make some friends will doing good things.

Championships! Open to 20 teams •Starship Racing - Starship Downwinder Open to 4 teams •SUP Clinics - With Veronica Nava and David Jianu You don't want to miss this! Adults $100 MX / Kids $50 MX All proceeds will go to support the La Cruz Education Fund. If you haven’t been to BNayar, it’s a relatively recent development on the north side of the bay with a beautiful beach club and protected bay. Fantastic swimming pools, vast open spaces. The new marketing team Penny and Wayne from Timothy Real Estate are doing good things to involve the local community in the development. They have some big plans. If you’re looking for a fun family friendly day – I highly recommend checking this event out. While things have gotten much slower around town, that doesn’t mean there aren’t still things happening. A number of restaurants and clubs have live music, and we (at the Tribune) are working on getting a more

comprehensive calendar of live events together for you. Hopefully, we will have something up for July. Getting up-to-date information in this town is not unlike herding cats, but we’ll try. On a particularly sad note, Vallarta lost one of its newer additions this past week. Chris Dalton of Under the Palapa fame passed away. He was an amusing man who was an absolute pleasure to meet. He would send me these cheeky emails and of course his sarcastic columns about life in Puerto Vallarta, all which will be missed. The Vallarta Tribune and I personally express our deepest sympathies to the friends and family of Chris. His lost will be felt in our little community. On that note, please get out! Enjoy your days and nights. Hug your friends and family tight, pick up litter, don’t harass the turtles, support local businesses and count your blessings. Safe travels, Madeline

his little guy’s name is perfect! He is a real lover. Romeo is a beautiful long haired Chihuahua mix just a bit over 13 pounds and a year old. He is very playful and just loves a game or two of fetch. Romeo is quite socialized and enjoys being around other dogs and even cats. He is the perfect little guy to add to your blended family. Romeo has been neutered, dewormed and is current on all his vaccines. Now it’s time to find him his forever home. If you are looking for a little lover in your life, contact us about adopting Romeo at spcapv@gmail.com.

What to do if you see a turtle laying eggs Maintain a minimum 10m distance If you take photos, don’t use a flash Don’t block the turtle from returning to the ocean Don’t step on or dig around the nest area Report it to the Department of Ecology at 322 160 3279

Enjoy this miracle of nature!

This weekend we have the first Annual Nayarit Ocean Fest being held on Sunday the 26th at BNayar, which is just past Bucerias before you enter La Cruz (You know the giant panther before you head to Sayulita? That’s the entrance to BNayar). The day will have a number of exciting events including: •Sup Racing - Sprints •SUP Polo - Nayarit State

Adorable Dog In The Spotlight... ROMEO

June 23 - 29, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

SPCA of Puerto Vallarta

C by Janice Gonzalez

ome and spend a rewarding afternoon cuddling the animals at Puerto Vallarta’s SPCA Sanctuary. Our dogs and cats are awaiting “forever homes” and your help is needed to jump start their socialization. The goal is to get these animals adjusted and ready to interact in the real world. The majority of the SPCA animals either come from extremely abusive situations or they have been abandoned. Your love and attention can make up for that sad history. During your visit, you can interact with the animals and even take a dog (or two or three) for a walk. During the low season (May through October), reservations to visit the sanctuary need to be made in advance. To make a reservation, contact us at spcapv@gmail.com. We appreciate any donations you can bring for our rescues and also please feel free to bring treats for sanctuary staff as they truly appreciate it.

By Janice Gonzalez

To see our animals available for adoption, visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/spcapv. Go to Photos where you will also find individual Albums for all the animals available as well as a bit of their history. Please be aware that our adoption fee within Mexico is $1,500 pesos. To make donations via PayPal, select the "Donate" option on our Facebook page www.facebook. com/spcapv or on our website at http://spcapv.com/donate/. You can drop off any donations for the SPCA at Hacienda San Angel located at Calle Miramar 336, above Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in El Centro. Get involved…rescue, adopt, foster, volunteer, donate or educate. Contact us at spcapv@ gmail.com. You can learn more about the SPCA Puerto Vallarta by checking us out at www.spcapv.com/home or on Facebook.

news

Open Trials Come To Mexico

ith thousands of cases still in some stage of the old process, it will function in parallel with the new system for an estimated three to five years It would have seemed routine in many places: A defendant accused of illegally possessing a gun sat across a gleaming courtroom from the judge who accepted his guilty plea and would pronounce his sentence. For Mexico, though, it was a remarkable change from a century-old judicial system of paper-shuffling court cases in which defendants rarely actually testified before the judge ruling on their fate from within a cramped, bureaucrat’s office. As of Saturday, the open, oral trial will be the norm nationwide as part of a sweeping judicial reform. Defense attorney Juan Manuel Gutierrez Cazares said that will be a jarring change. “In 95 percent of cases the defendant never sees the judge (under the old system),” said Gutierrez, who after a 15-year legal career was working on his first oral hearing in a Mexico City courtroom that opened just three months earlier. The oral hearings are the final stage of reforms passed in 2008 that seek to change every step of the criminal justice system; from the time police arrive at a crime scene to the moment a sentence is imposed. “This is an historic moment for the country,” President Enrique Peña Nieto said during a ceremony late Friday marking the change. He called it “the most transcendent juridical transformation of the last 100 years.” Some have expressed concern that until Mexico’s notoriously corrupt and poorly trained police are capable of operating in the new system, cases could be scuttled by their errors. Reliance

June 23 - 29, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

2 MAGNOS CONCIERTOS

EVENTO GRATUITO on confessions — often obtained through torture — as the ultimate piece of evidence evaporates under the new rules. Now a confession is just one piece of evidence and worthless unless made before a judge. There are estimates that only one or two of every 100 crimes committed leads to a sentence in Mexico. The reforms aim to reduce impunity for lawbreakers and increase the public’s faith in legal institutions. Some states have used oral trials for years, while others scrambled to make the Saturday deadline for the new system. Some 300,000 police officers have undergone training for their roles in the new system, learning how to better preserve a crime scene and how to testify in court.

The same goes for lawyers and judges. The system also incorporates non-prison alternative rulings, such as mediation and reparations, in an effort to reduce the country’s swollen prison populations. Maria de los Angeles Fromow, the federal official charged with coordinating implementation of the reforms, said they strengthen the presumption of innocence and give a greater voice to victims, who are now supposed to have advocates from the start. With thousands of cases still in some stage of the old process, it will function in parallel with the new system for an estimated three to five years, she said. For example, in a local courthouse close to where the federal

weapons case was heard, a convict seeking early release under the old system was questioned through a barred opening by a judge in another room. But at the federal court the next day, in a new courtroom of shiny granite floor tiles and light wood accents, the defendant facing a gun charge sat in street clothes beside his lawyers. Judge Gerardo Moreno Garcia, dressed in a black robe with red trim, addressed him repeatedly, painstakingly explaining every step of the process. The defendant had been free on bond since his arrest three months ago. Under the old system, he almost certainly would have spent that time in prison, mixed in with murderers, rapists and kidnappers. And when his case finally did begin to move, everything

would have been done outside the public’s view — even his own. In the past, testimony and motions were conducted on paper, reams and reams of it, passed back and forth to judges who few ever saw. Instead, over the course of the two-hour federal hearing, the defendant accepted responsibility, prosecutors agreed he qualified for a sentence less than the threeyear minimum prison term and he received his reduced sentence. And it all occurred in open court. “It is a reform that emerged from social organizations, an important demand for transparency, toward reducing the margins for impunity, granting attention owed to victims and guaranteeing human rights,” said Fromow, the federal official overseeing implementation of the changes.

Profeco Intensifies Verification of Gas Stations

T A Profeco representative inspects a gas pump in Mexico City. Photo: Cuartoscuro/Moisés Pablo

he Federal Consumer Protection Agency plans to verify half of the country’s gas stations this year The Federal Consumer Protection Agency (Profeco)has strengthened its actions to verify gas stations all over Mexico, to guarantee that consumer rights are being respected.

Until Mayo 30, Profeco has implemented 621 verifications in as many gas stations in the whole country, immobilizing 2,736 gas pump hoses for various irregularities. In a statement, Profeco detailed that the main causes were electronic alterations, pumping incomplete liters and deficient security

standards. In the last 18 months, 15 gas stations refused to receive the Profeco’s verification visit. In the cases where the refusal has occurred repeatedly, Profeco warned that conditions could be met for Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) to cancel their franchise. These gas stations are located in the states of Chiapas, Jalisco,

Tamaulipas, Sinaloa, Nuevo León and Baja California Sur. A gas station in Tijuana has already been closed for failing to comply with verifications. The verification program seeks to verify 6, 000 gas stations this year, more than half of the 11, 600 currently operating nationwide. Original: The News

local

June 23 - 29, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

From Here Marcia Blondin

marciavallarta@gmail.com

ne of the coolest things about living in Vallarta is this: most of us walk everywhere and that means we constantly bump into people we haven’t seen for awhile or get to see the same people we love over and over again. Last Friday, fresh off the boat from Yelapa was my talented old friend Philippo LoGrande. Philippo is a painter, muralist, quick-sketch artist, inventor, actor, and a wizard of a magician with rubber bands. His hands and his eyes are never still; he is constantly creating; which is exactly what keeps him healthy, interested and interesting. We caught up over lunch at Nacho Daddy’s; he is now,

as we speak, back in Oregon for the summer. Trying to remember where we met and can’t; it doesn’t matter. He is one of those friends who pops up on Facebook or at Market and the years fall away and even though neither of us drinks alcohol anymore, I swear we both get a contact high just talking about those “Old Days”. The hugs are as warm as the reminiscences. Lunch at Nacho Daddy’s was outstanding! Philippo had a salad served up in a fluted taco shell that overflowed his plate. He did not offer to share and my hamburger and fries were fabulous and consumed solely by me. Two clean plates went back to the kitchen. Owner Sean

just laughed when he cleared our table. While we are on the subject of food: On Tuesday, I am dining at the recently re-opened Roberto’s on Basilio Badillo and a few doors down from Nacho Daddy’s. Hoping to interview Roberto Castellon who has been in the resto biz forever in Vallarta. I am dying to know what brought him out of retirement and back to the same street. Next week, look for

the answers right here! More food…I was invited to celebrate Father’s Day with Jim Lee and Sean Carey (Celebrations Vallarta) at their villa, for an informal brunch. A small group of family and friends feasted, and I mean feasted on Jim’s amazing food. The best of which were the small muffins. OMG. I had three of them spaced throughout the afternoon and cursed myself for bringing a small handbag…I can’t

help being fond of the things I like. As not one of us has a living dad, we raised our glasses in memory and thanks. Hope y’all (I was surrounded by Texans!) had a great Father’s Day. I took a long walk home to nap, then get ready for Director Ramiro Daniel’s final show of the season. The play, “El Grito” was performed at Ramiro’s tiny theatre adjoining his home. It was packed to capacity. Ramiro, who also wrote El Grito, has the most amazing ability to make so much happen on a stage with little else but brilliant acting…and with that has to come great directing. Ana Karenina Nuñoz shone in her monologue – angry, heartbroken, sympathetic, agitated and wielding a very sharp machete on virtually blacked out/strobe-lit stage, standing on a box. Added an ‘edge’ to say the least. This production, as well as “El Hombre Ajeno” will be presented to a jury next weekend at Lagos de Moreno, one of the most prestigious theatrical competitions in the State of Jalisco. Bravos to Boa Viagem Teatro in the upcoming contest; break all your legs.

local

June 23 - 29, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Paradise

Your Pet’s Foreign Bank Account Report

and Parenting Leza Warkentin

mommyinmexico.wordpress.com

by Orlando Gotay, Tax Attorney

My Girl Child

came across a very informative note by a colleague on what are called “pet trusts”. As of last week, all 50 states and DC have laws allowing trusts to provide for care of domestic animals. We are very fond of them, and it is logical that owners may want to provide even when they are no longer around. Last week, at an IRS seminar on Foreign Bank Account Reports (FBARs) there was mention of a US person’s obligation to file FBARs if they owned or controlled a United States entity that had a foreign account. If a person is more than a 50% owner of a domestic entity that had a foreign financial accounts over $10,000, both the entity and the owner have a FBAR filing obligation. With respect to the owner, that’s an ‘indirect’ interest in the financial account. This applies to corporations, partnerships, Limited Liability Companies/ Partnerships, and—you guessed it—trusts. Trusts generally have three types of persons involved: The creator, or ‘settlor’; the trustee, who administers the trust, and the beneficiary. In pet trusts, ‘Fido’ is the obvious beneficiary. Fido is not a “U.S. person” but both the trustee and the settlor can be. If Fido’s trust has a foreign bank account for his benefit, it must be taken into account by both settlor and trustee for FBAR purposes. The highest account balance during the year

may put either over the $10,000 threshold and may cause a FBAR filing obligation for four persons: The trust, the settlor, the trustee, and the beneficiary. The settlor reports because of indirect ownership, while the trustee reports a signature authority over the foreign account. But--the beneficiary? I talked about Fido being the beneficiary--Fido does not report, right? Under the typical pet trust statute (I use California as an example), when Fido is no longer around, the trust purpose terminates and the remaining trust assets must be distributed. If the pet trust has human contingent beneficiaries (those who will receive what’s left after Fido does not live), any one of them with more than 50% interest in trust assets may also have to file a FBAR the year they become actual beneficiaries. Something as innocent sounding as a pet trust can have significant consequences as soon as a foreign bank account is involved.

Orlando Gotay is a California licensed tax attorney (with a Master of Laws in Taxation) admitted to practice before the IRS, the U.S. Tax Court and other taxing agencies. His love of things Mexican has led him to devote part of his practice to the tax matters of U.S. expats in Mexico. He can be reached at tax@orlandogotay.com.

en years ago, almost exactly today, I became the mother of a girl child. I thought I was ready to mother a girl. I actually thought I’d be pretty good at it because I myself am a girl. And thus I set out on a road littered with naïve hopes and unrealistic expectations, all to be shattered on the way. Mothering a girl is like hanging out with someone that you thought had all the same interests and hobbies as you. You forget that she is her own person and therefore won’t necessarily want to sit and read a novel when YOU want to sit and read a novel. She may enjoy chocolate but not necessarily semi-sweet chocolate chips, and not necessarily straight out of the fridge freezer (I know, it doesn’t seem likely). If you go in expecting it to be easy because you happen to share the same X chromosome, then you are going to be surprised. The reasons for this are: a) Parenting is never easy even when it’s easy. b) Girls have their own ideas of what is fashionable and they

will be in direct opposition to what their mothers think is fashionable. c) Girls’ daddies will be immediately placed under an enchantment by an invisible magic wand wielded by a teeny, dimply, newborn hand, rendering them totally useless to you as a co-parent of this feminine being. This goes for grandpas and, what the heck, even grandmas. Only you are somewhat immune. But now you are isolated. d) You think that intelligence, common sense, and love are all the tools you needed to parent any child. You are very wrong. If you aren’t at least a bit crafty, then you aren’t going to make it. I spend a great deal of time watching her from under my eyelashes because if she catches me she will demand an explanation. You see, this girl child dazzles me every time I remember that she came from body. She is complex, she is funny, and she is wise beyond her years. She is beautiful but doesn’t know it, she is dedicated to whatever she sets her mind, and she has music bursting from every pore. You cannot spend an hour in my house without catching a bit of song drifting from some corner.

My daughter loves and cares for others like it’s her favorite pair of shoes going out of style. She hurts for people, and even more for animals. Sometimes it makes me worry, because it’s in a way that can be shattering in a world like this one. She has somehow intuited that I am writing a piece on her. I know this because she keeps coming by to show me her slippers and tell me things like how you can tell when a dog is crying, but she’s actually trying to read over my shoulder. She thinks I don’t know, but that’s exactly what I’d do if someone were writing a piece on me. And if she does get a chance to read this part over my shoulder, I want her to know that being her mother is the one of the best things about being me. I want her to know that it’s hard, but like I always tell her, nothing that’s worth doing is ever easy, especially if you want to get it right. I want her to know that even when she refuses to wear the dress that was her favorite last week, I’m still going to be there for her (even though I may make her wear the dress anyway and she’ll despise me momentarily). I want her to know that I’m so proud and so fortunate to know someone who is such a good friend, such a dedicated person, such a hilarious human being. I want her to know that I’m glad that she isn’t a tiny version of me, and not only because that way I have all the frozen chocolate chips to myself. I’m glad because it would have been such a shame if the world couldn’t have one of her in it.

Christ Church by the Sea Worldwide Anglican Communion

Services Sunday 10:00 a.m. Air-conditioned Now! Services held each Sunday year around English-Traditional Holy Communion All faiths welcome-Casual Dress Across from airport, northbound service road next to Sixt and Thrifty Car Rental Blvd. Fco. Medina 7936, Puerto Vallarta Questions? Call Father Michael cell: 044-322-303-3916 e mail kpadresoy@outlook.com

www.ChristChurchByTheSea.org www.IglesiaCristoDelMar.org

local

Wellness Latina Marcella Castellanos

info@wellnesslatina.com

The Benefits of Frankincense Essential Oil

any are familiar with this plant as one of the three gifts given to baby Jesus along with myrrh and gold which is often claimed to be turmeric, a popular herb during that time. It was known as the ‘golden spice’ and considered at one time to be more valuable than gold. But I digress… Frankincense, also known as Boswellia, comes from the dried sap of trees that are found in places such as Somalia and Ethiopia. It’s been used for thousands of years to reduce disease-causing inflammation, prevent infections and help boost immunity. There are many ways to integrate frankincense essential oil into your lifestyle, but probably its most powerful claim is that it fights cancer. According to the University of Leicaster in the UK (among other research) this serum has

cancer-fighting potential. Frankincense has an impressive nutrient profile and compounds such as acetyl-11-keto-betaboswellic acid, or AKBA for short, that are proven enemies of cancer including ovarian cancer. For more info on these findings, reference www.thetruthaboutcancer.com. This is a nine-part documentary highlighting doctors, health experts and patients from all over the world, discussing natural remedies that fight cancer. Frankincense has

also shown significant effectiveness in dealing with cancer cells that don’t respond to chemotherapy, particularly in ovarian cancer. Aside from this powerful benefit of using frankincense, it has been used widely to support emotional balance, to enhance meditation or bring mental focus, and to support skin regeneration such as a treating a wound or wrinkles, among a multitude of other uses. My favorite way to use this potent oil is as a daily supplement, to ensure that I am helping my immune system be its strongest, and assisting with cellular regeneration. I put a drop on the roof of my mouth as it is said frankincense can cross the blood-brain barrier. I also use it on my fine lines and occasionally as one of my go-to’s for mental focus. If the oil is pure therapeutic grade it can be ingested, used topically or aromatically. I say, “ Gimme some frank, please! ” Marcella is a bilingual certified wellness lifestyle consultant. Her mission is guiding people to lead healthier lives with attention to compassion and sustainability in the world. She looks at the whole picture and helps you incorporate plant-strong nutrition, movement, and essential oils to support physical and emotional health. If you would like to receive health and wellness updates about vibrant, health living sign up for her updates at www.wellnesslatina. com.

“Se Buscan Héroes” (“Heroes Wanted”) Campaign Saves Islas Marietas

s part of the Paralelo 28 (Parallel 28) initiative there was constant surveillance and collaboration between the sectors, which achieved a 99% compliance rate of the Islas Marietas National Park Law. The sum total of the work put in by tourism-related businesses and organization and civilians in regards to the increased awareness and preservation of natural resources, as well as the efforts of the authorities who carried out successful marine monitoring operations, has resulted in an excellent compliance rate with the regulations put in place at the Islas Marietas National Park, an icon of the Riviera Nayarit. It has only taken six months for the “Se Buscan Héroes” (“Heroes Wanted”) campaign to prove its effectiveness and demonstrate an unprecedented success. Thanks to the

continuous presence of the authorities in the area, the compliance rate for the regulations pertaining to Las Islas Marietas has skyrocketed, surpassing an 88- to 92-percentage rate in 2015 to reach 99 percent in the months of April and May of 2016. “What’s happening in the waters surrounding the Riviera Nayarit will lead the way for the conservation of natural protected areas in Mexico’s northwest and in other regions of the country—perhaps even in other countries,” stated Mauricio Cortés Hernández, head

of the Nayarit office and director of the Programa de Recuperación de Especies Amenazadas de Pronatura Noroeste A.C., a member of the Paralelo 28 initiative. The National Commission for Protected Natural Areas (Conanp, by its acronym in Spanish) and the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (Profepa) have together performed 74 security rendezvous in the area and verified 4,118 boats. During this time period they detected 107 irregularities, which were subsequently resolved. This work was done in coordination with the Transportation and Communications Bureau (SCT) and the Secretariat of the Navy (Semar), with the complete support of Pronatura Noroeste A.C., as part of the Paralelo 28 initiative. The “Se Buscan Héroes” call is still active; if you’re interested in joining the effort please visit: sebuscanheroes.com.

June 23 - 29, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

10 Tips for Surviving Summer in Puerto Vallarta By Fabien Madesclaire and Ariel O’Donnell Fabien@g3mex.com

he summer is coming quickly! As all of us year-rounders know, June-September (and sometimes October) can be pretty steamy in Puerto Vallarta. I’ve lived here for over 15 years, and I still find aspects of it challenging, though you can survive and thrive without air conditioning. Personally, I’m opposed to using A/C. It’s VERY expensive, and I think that you’re better served learning to acclimate naturally. Here are some of my tips for surviving summer in Puerto Vallarta. 1. Fans Fans are your finest friend. Not only do they move the air around effectively, they are much cheaper than running air conditioning, and you can strategically place portable ones all around the area where you live, work and sleep. 2. Cool Down Quickly A wet cloth on the back of your neck is a fabulous and easy way to cool down fast. Too, putting ice on your wrists can work magic within seconds. Even dipping your ankles and feet in the water will refresh you substantially. 3. DIY Air Conditioning Make a DIY air conditioner by positioning a shallow pan or bowl (a roasting pan works nicely) full of ice in front of a fan. The breeze will pick up cold water from the ice’s surface as it melts, creating a cooling mist. 4. Take a Walk. Sure, it sounds crazy, but walking in the heat can make you acclimate faster. Sweating is great for your health and is a natural way of cooling your body down. Just be sure to carry some water. 5. The Trusty Hand Towel Shed your pride and carry a hand towel with you. You’ll see many of the locals toting them around. They’re great for wiping sweat from your brow. Dip it into cool water, and drape the towel around your neck for some temporary heat relief. 6. Rest and Sleep in a Hammock Set a hammock up in a cool shady spot. You’ll be amazed what a difference having all of the surface airflow around your body will make. 7. Rehydrate!!! Drink lots of water, and intermingle your water consumption with something to restore the electrolytes. During the summer locals drink gallons of sueros (Pedialyte or comparable products). Also, fresh coconut water will work wonders. Not only restoring electrolytes, but also helping your tummy fight-off any unwelcome visitors (parasites or amoebas.) Many local stores now carry bottled coconut water, though, I believe that fresh is best. 8. Eat Salty Foods You are losing a lot of salt in your sweat, so, if you don’t have issues with water retention, or other health concerns, be sure to make salty foods party of your daily diet. 9. Cold Showers I must take at least 4, sometimes 5 a day during the hot weather. It makes a world of difference. 10. Take it Easy Most importantly, realize that during hot summer month you need to SLOW DOWN. Take frequent breaks. Sit by a window or door. Find some shade. Go to an air-conditioned café and treat yourself to a cold beverage. Have an ice cream and sit by the ocean. Make a siesta part of your daily routine. You are in Mexico, after all! If you have real estate questions, or want to know more about local properties, contact Fabien anytime at G3MEX Real Estate Group email: Fabien@g3mex.com. Or visit us at our office in Old Town on Calle Amapas, right near the Hotel Emperador.

Visit the Marsol Hotel Summer Market by t

the Pier every Friday 9:30 am to 1:30 pm

riviera nayarit

June 23 - 29, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Fun on the Riviera Nayarit Cat Morgan www.rivieranayaritfun.com Cat@RivieraNayaritFun.com

ey Everybody, the Land Crabs are here! The crabs, (Gecarcinus Quadratus), means “square land crab” and they live along the Pacific coast from Mexico to Peru, and on the East from Florida to Guyana, living up to 10 years. The females are more rounded with smaller claws and the males bodies are pointed. The first rain after dry season is when they begin mating and then the land crabs emerge and head towards the oceans to lay their eggs, sometimes mating on the journey! The adults mate in the rainy season and migrate to the ocean where the females deposit millions of fertilized eggs in the out-going tides over the course of a few weeks. They will crawl over and up everything to get to their destination. They are very similar to other crabs; however, these land crabs have a unique adaptive quality; they have an inflatable organ covering their gills which acts as a lung. They have the ability to extract oxygen from the air and environment, such as the soil they burrow into, and only return to the sea for reproduction. They are so much land creatures that they can drown in water. They often sit in their caves for days and are herbivores in nature, but will also eat meat depending on the food sources available. They are brightly colored and you will see crabs that are red,

purple, yellow and blues, about four inches from claw to claw and are very abundant, covering roads and getting into everything, including your garden and home as they seek out the ocean. They can be very hard on the garden as they burrow and destroy the roots. However, their tunneling system and process also aids in the other forestations as they produce a lot of

leaf litter, bringing it into their caves and tunnels providing nutrients for the trees and other plants, as well as aerating the soil. There are a few different varieties and their

Do you know someone who should not live alone or who needs loving care? CASA de la PAZ is an Assisted Living Home in Bucerias, Nayarit This 10-bed assisted living facility is in a quiet neighbourhood close to all amenities. It boasts a homelike atmosphere with a large secure yard, lots of room to enjoy. WE OFFER: 24/7/365 care with trained staff Physical Therapy Occupational Therapy Dietary care Adult day care Doctors and dentist on call For further information call Jim 322-100-7544 or Bruno 322-231-6994 BUCERIAS TERCERA EDAD AC a Mexican Charity

common names are the Mexican Land Crab, Mouthless Crab, Harlequin Land Crab and the Halloween Crab. When they are molting they burrow down for several weeks, inactive and not eating. They then eat the empty exuvia, (their old shell), which supplies them with the calcium they need to form a new carapace. Like other creatures

that molt, their new carapace is very soft and needs time to harden, which is why they hide in their caves. And like all crustaceans, they can replace lost or amputated limbs. These crabs are an important part of our ecosystem, supplying nutrients and decomposition to the soil for plant growth and the regenerations of disturbed forests. They minimize the compe-

tition between a dominant species by reducing the number of seeds, which allows for other rare species to survive. So, please take care not to destroy these creatures and allow them their cycle of regeneration. They can get a bit lost, like when they come into your home. Simply get the broom and dustpan and put them back outside headed in the right direction. And just to say, they are quite awful to kill, are very squishy and make a huge mess…so please put them back outside where they belong. A Reminder for the First Annual Nayarit Ocean Fest at B Nayar Village Resort in Bucerias on the Sunday, June 26th. B Nayar Resort is located off the 200 road just north of the Terralta light. What an amazing resort right on the playa. It’s the perfect location to enjoy the Ocean Fest. This nonprofit event is to celebrate the ocean and collaborate on how to protect the beautiful Bay of Banderas. All proceeds will go to set up an education fund for La Cruz with Fundacion Punta de Mita, a community development foundation covering the Bay. SURF MEXICO continues to add the fun; this will be the First Nayarit SUP Polo State Championship Competition! Other fun events include an ocean biology talk with Cait Barnum, Stand UP Paddleboard (SUP) races, SUP Polo, Starship races, Yoga on the Beach, DJ Nick Challed, Performance by Cirque graduates Prana Colectivo, Kids Art Tent with Mike Danielson, Sand Sculpture fun, local business exhibitors, tasty local food, prizes and

more. It’s only $100 pesos per adult and $50 pesos per child. Tickets can be purchased at: Gecko Car Rental Bucerias, B Nayar Village Resort Discovery Centre, Marina Riviera Nayarit, Aequilibrium Bikes, Versailes, in Puerto Vallarta, Timothy Real Estate Group Puerto Vallarta, and Revolucion del Sueno in Sayulita. So get your tickets now! For more information please contact Penny Isabel at: penny@ timothyrealestategroup.com Thank you. :D North Bay Got Talent Show is already looking for local talent for next season’s event. It’s time to practice what your talent is and prepare for next season’s event. They are asking for talented people from the pueblos of Nuevo Vallarta, Mezcales, Bucerias, La Cruz and Punta de Mita to step up and enter. Do you have talent or know someone that does? They are looking for 60 acts to compete for the 10,000 peso 1st prize for this event next season. It’s been changed up a bit as there will be four live elimination heats held at two different venues, Britannia in La Cruz and Sonora a la Parrilla Restaurant in Bucerias. The four winning contestants will move forward to the Grand Final; venue to be announced. This is a nonprofit event with all proceeds going towards John Ozzello Memorial Food Bank and Humanitarian Aid. Let’s help feed the hungry! For more information on the entry forms please contact Sandi Nystrom or Keith Montgomery Ashwood on Facebook. Last year’s event was super fun. I am looking forward to this season’s event! Thanks so much for tuning in. The rain is here…the heat and humidity is coming on! Enjoy the summer mornings and evenings…. and those great afternoon siestas! Tune into the Riviera Nayarit Fun Facebook page for updates and other events going on around the north Banderas Bay. For any comments or questions please email me directly at Cat@RivieraNayaritFun.com AHO!

riviera nayarit

Bucerias Art

June 23 - 29, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Vallarta Nayarit among most successful campaigns

District Beat By Gordon Mayer

By Johanna Jainchill

R Introductions

ife has a rhythm, measured in time and tempo in the instant and the constant. At times it is steady and slow, pacing us through the days, other times racing, whisking us away from danger or , if we are fortunate, driving us to new heights, new experiences, fantastic sights and sounds. Life can set the cadence, or we can choose to bring things that will bring interest and complexity that sets our lives dancing. Art is one of those things, bringing to us the gamut of rhythm, a wealth of experience to move us and sway us. ome have said art is life and life itself is art. I agree and so, having found a vestige of art in a town called Bucerias, I want to share the rhythm and bring those moments that move us to any and all. Welcome then, to the Bucerias Art District Beat. Take a walk with me from your

comfortable accommodations into the artistic heart of Bucerias, the Bucerias Art District. Here you will find a warm welcome as tourist, nationals and artists interact along **Lazaro Cardenas** the backbone of the BAD. Choose your tempo as you pick up on the excitement of the artists eager to share their works or find a relaxing patio in one of the many restaurants dotting the BAD landscape. Sip something hot or gulp at a refreshing cool drink as you sample some of the best cuisine in Riviera Nayarit and enjoy the feeling of belonging, of community. Community, the dance of people nodding and greeting, introducing and talking makes the BAD a place of peace. Rhythms abound for you to taste and test as you wander at your tempo through the BAD. Press on down the **L.C.** towards Centro and find colours leaping out and vendors step-

ping into your rhythm hoping to catch your eye with a souvenir or memento. Cross the “Kissing Bridge” and pause for a romantic ‘dip’ with your partner or take a moment and let the romance gently swing you. Across the bridge you’ll find the market with its pulse and push and the Centro beat. Returning as you linger into the evening, the soft light of the galleries and restaurants will draw you to their warmth as the tempo slows and the community seems to join hands around the stimulating art and effervescing conversation. Let the illumination of the colours and shapes the artists and artisans have created fill your eyes. Speak to the creators and feel the inspiration flow between you. You are dancing now to unique and fascinating rhythms as individual as you are and as universal as the heartbeat we all share. Come along and feel the rhythms as we explore and dance in the BAD. About Gordon: Always happy to support anything to do with creativity and community, Gordon has enjoyed many tempos and rhythms as a classically trained percussionist, writer and successful businessman. Born and raised in Windsor, Ontario Canada and being fortunate enough to have travelled extensively, he has seen many cultures and communities. But none has gripped his heart as much as the Riviera Nayarit and Bucerias. Now dancing to the beat of love and laughter with his partner Teri, Gordon loves to share how remarkable and beautiful life can be by any means available to whomever will listen.

odolfo Lopez Negrete, the longest-serving CEO of the Mexico Tourism Board (MTB), will retire July 1. His six-year tenure saw unprecedented growth in tourist arrivals and spending even as Mexico faced a series of challenges. Lopez Negrete spoke to news editor Johanna Jainchill about the strategy behind the success.

Q: What distinguished your tenure from previous ones? Rodolfo Lopez Negrete A: In the past, the MTB focused on having a generic campaign about Mexico as a whole. We took a different direction. We focused on individual destinations, accompanied by a very robust country-brand initiative. Also, we put together important partnerships with blue-chip brands such as Formula One, Cirque du Soleil, the NFL. Q: Mexico performed particularly well with American travelers. What do you attribute that to? A: We outpaced the overall market and our competitors because we were always very keen to water the garden. So in difficult times for the U.S. economy, we continued to invest important MTB resources side by side with our travel partners through the "Mexico: Live It To Believe It" campaign." When the markets in the U.S. rebounded, we were able to satisfy the demand for Americans to travel abroad, which grew 48.5%. Q: How did you manage to keep your post under three tourism ministers and two presidents? A: It is a bit unusual. When you're in government in any country in the world, there is always a temptation to change people when you change the government and the [political] party. Excessive turnover in any organization is not the heal-

thiest way to run an organization. Consistency is how you are able to get results. The three [ministers] were all excellent and had very different styles. ... They allowed me to implement the strategies that I thought worked the best for the country to compete. ... I enjoyed excellent relationships with all three of them. What I guess my superiors saw was the MTB delivering results and no need to make a change. Q: What was the strategy behind handling the viruses, hurricanes and cartel violence during your tenure? A: The principle has always been, when you have a challenge before you, come out right away, explain the challenge, inform and educate the market so it isn't put out of context and then work to resolve it. With Zika most recently, we came forward right away and continue to inform the public and our partners on the realities, and with full transparency about actions being taken to resolve it. We were able to overcome our challenges. Otherwise we wouldn't enjoy the numbers we have. That is the proof the strategy worked. Q: Which campaigns that you worked on were most effective? A: Combining the marketing of Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit was interesting because traditionally they were neighboring destinations that always marketed separately and competed with each other. A few years ago, we said we have to take advantage of the strengths of each destination and market them as one without losing the identity of either, because the travel experience in those destinations is different, and [they] complement each other. It was a massive campaign. ... Now Vallarta Nayarit is not only seeing additional investment in new hotels, but the occupancy and average rates and number of flights is increasing at a very nice pace. Original: www.travelweekly.com

VALLARTA SHOPPI

Three Hens & a Rooster Market News P

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP CLUB

Investing in Puerto Vallarta

Members of IFC raise hundreds of thousands of pesos each year from Home Tours, lectures and social events. The club invests part of that money in the community of Puerto Vallarta by supporting many local charities including the library, orphanages, a daycare for disabled kids and schools in poor areas of the city. www.ifcvallarta.com 322-222-5466

ay attention (please!): Gloria Sue, our Jewish-Mama-in-residence, is making matzoth ball soup for this Saturday’s Market. It’s a long – over four hour – process of standing over a hot stove, something she declines to do in the blazing summer heat; however, she has been overwhelmed with requests and whining. Yes, it can be frozen… Corazon de Niña Mercado right at the very front door to our Market is making outrageously good granola; it contains so many ingredients that the label should simply read: EAT ME! This is the kind of granola to keep handy when you have the munchies and would ordinarily reach for a bag of potato chips; it’s that yummy. Their gluten-free scones are very good and the different varieties of tortillas will have you eating them as is. Most importantly, supporting the C de N’s Mercado, you are helping this organization feed, clothe, house, educate, and love the 50-plus girls and boys that live together under one (big) roof. Every centavo earned at the Mercado gets ploughed back into the business of living, learning and loving. The kids are making this food, packaging it; in between classes running the store, cleaning it and learning, learning, learning. You have

to get your tortillas somewhere; might as well be super fresh, hand made and help a worthy cause all at the same time. Our brilliant musician – The Harmonica Man – Oliver Moreira, is playing his last Saturday for us this week until the fall. Please try and catch him at Market. Failing that or in addition to – the OliBlues Band will be playing their last gig this Thursday, the 23rd at the great Jazz Foundation on the Malecon. Have a little chat with Ticker the Mage. He makes some interesting jewellery and is a highly trained occult scientist. If you ever wondered about past life regression or even having your cards read, talk with him; he’s extremely open and kind. The energy of our Market sparkles with fun so come on by; doesn’t matter if it’s raining – we are all under cover. Don’t forget to find Mimi; she is the most glamorous in attendance… Three Hens & a Rooster Market is held every Saturday 9 am to 1 pm on upper Venustiano Carranza 466 between Jacaranda Street and El Brujo Restaurant, across from the ice factory. Like us on Facebook: Tres Gallinas y un Gallo – Three Hens and a Rooster.

Flower of the Week Chinese Rose Obelisco Chino (Spanish) Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

hinese Hibiscus. This bushy, evergreen ornamental shrub can grow to 16 feet. Flowers are typically 4 inches in diameter and come in many colors. It has a long history including a number of medical uses in Chinese herbology. Research indicates some potential in cosmetic skin care. Flowers are edible and used in salads while flower extract may act as an anti-solar agent by absorbing UV radiation. This plant is one of over 200 found in Sandra’s color-coded guidebook, Tropical Plants and Walks of Puerto Vallarta. Available at the Vallarta Botanical Gardens’ gift shop www.vbgardens.org, Page in the Sun Bookstore, and from Sandra at the Marsol Farmer’s Market on Fridays. Information on her many area walks can be found at: www.escaperoutevallarta.com.

Wheeling Vallarta Segway Tours

Located across from McDonald’s

322-223-8014 Fine Art and Furniture

MEXICO

31 de Octubre 107 Col. Centro Puerto Vallarta Malecon

ING AND SERVICES

www.vallartatribune.com

Marsol Summer Market by the Pier

by Sandra Cesca

irst words in last week’s column were about Ricardo Mazcal’s amazing “magic bags of herbs”, and mentioning their tremendous value nutritionally- and financially-speaking. Last Market, a lovely couple from Ajiic, were so impressed with the difference in taking the mixture daily, they came back and bought a two-month supply to take home! They left with Ricardo’s email address, phone numbers and product information to pass on to their friends and neighbours that live around the Lake Chapala area. So, that being said, come early to Market on Friday mornings or Ricardo could be sold out! David and Elizabeth Ruesga had an old friend/client come to visit their display table laden with David’s exquisite sterling silver jewellery. And she brought friends! David is actually a goldsmith by trade but has turned his designing hands into more affordable silver. He is knowledgeable about semi- and precious stones and all aspects of creating fine silver work to go around them. Ask – his English is perfect as is his wife’s, Elizabeth! Marcia is creating new Mixtos, her new line of earrings…most were sold last week and headed to San Miguel de Allende but she’s working on replacements. New silk collars are being made this week as well. While looking for something else in her studio, she came upon some broken earrings that turned out to be clay and hand-painted. They are singles, mostly but she was able to match two. Come and see them! The Marsol Summer Market by the Pier is open every Friday from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm. Feel free to bring your dogs.

Happy Hour 6-9pm all pizzas are only $89! Special not available for take-out.

Open from 6-11pm Wednesday - Saturday Venustiano Carranza 276 Zona Romántica 223 2267

“Remodeling and Renovations”

Juarez 599 El Centro 322 222 1383, 322 111 6359 www.colibridesignvallarta.com galeriacolibri@gmail.com

local

June 23 - 29, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com

Jack Nicholson – Actor By Fred Jacobs

ack was born in April, 1937 in New York. His early life was full of mystery and could almost be a movie in itself. Jack was born to an 18 year old showgirl named June. She got married the year before Jack was born, to Donald Furcillo, but soon found out that he was already married and June’s marriage was annulled. June’s manager at the time, Eddie King, is rumored to also possibly be Jack’s biological father. Neither was ever proven to be the father. With June being barely 18 years old, unmarried and uncertain of the father's identity when Jack was born, June’s parents decided to raise Jack as their own child, and June would act as his sister. The family secret was kept until 1974, when a Time Magazine researcher dug up the family’s secret. The magazine informed Jack that his “sister” June was actually his mother and that his “sister” Lorraine, was actually his aunt. Jack took learning of the 37 year old secret in stride. By the time Jack was in high school, the family lived in New Jersey. Jack was voted the class clown and had many friends. Classroom structure was not Jack’s strong suit. A below average student, Jack was always rebellious and even spent

every day in detention, for a whole school year. College would not be a place for Jack and at the age of 17, Jack went out to California. He got an office job working in the MGM Animation studio, for renowned cartoonists Hanna and Barbera. They even offered Jack a job as an animation artist, but Jack wanted to be an actor by that point. Jack trained to be an actor with a group called the Players Ring Theater, and got a few small parts on the stage and in TV soap operas. Jack made his film debut in a low-budget teen drama, “The Cry Baby Killer” (1958), but it did not lead to much more work. Jack spent most of the 1960’s struggling to get work in front of the cameras and found himself writing screenplays to make ends meet. One of Jack’s first screenplay successes was “The Trip” (1967) starring Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper. This relationship, would lead Jack finally get his big break on screen in “Easy Rider” (1969) costarring with Fonda and Hopper. “Easy Rider” was a box office hit, making $40 million (A LOT in those days) and even earned Jack an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. 1970 saw Jack onscreen in “Five Easy Pieces” starring opposite Karen Black. The role earned Jack

another Oscar nomination, for Best Actor. The film was a blockbuster hit and made Jack a “leading man” while remaining an “anti-hero”. Critics began whispering that Jack may become another Marlon Brando or James Dean. 1975 saw Jack in Roman Polanski’s thriller “Chinatown” costarring with Faye Dunaway and earning Jack another Best Actor Oscar nomination. Jack had been personal friends with Polanski for years and Jack helped Polanski get through the horrific Manson Family murder of Polanski’s actress wife, Sharon Tate in 1969. 1976 saw one of Jack’s biggest onscreen successes in “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest”. Costarring with Louise Fletcher, a young Danny

DeVito, and directed by Michael Douglas, the film was a smash hit and swept the Oscars awards that year. Jack finally won his first Oscar for Best Actor for the role of an anti-authoritarian patient at a mental hospital where he became an inspiring leader for the other patients. Many commented on how the role was perfect for Jack. Jack put so much of himself into the role and the director and writer even allowed Jack to improvise a lot of the dialogue and scenes. Jack continued to search out off beat roles. “The Last Tycoon” (1976) Jack costarred with Robert De Niro and took a part in “The Missouri Breaks” (1976), just to work opposite Marlon Brando. 1980 we saw (and feared) Jack

Saving A Million Turtles… One Egg At A Time By John Warren

efore 1900 there were over ten million Olive Ridley turtles nesting on the Pacific coast of Mexico. Since then the numbers have fallen to desperately low levels and now the turtles are rated as “endangered” by International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. They are considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction, which, considering that they have been on planet Earth for about 200 million years, is a dreadful reflection on the cause of their destruction - Humans! But on the beaches of San Pancho, Frank Smith and his band of unpaid volunteers are winning small, annual battles by recovering and hatching eggs and then releasing thousands of hatchlings back to the ocean every year. Frank has been the Director of Grupo Ecolólogico de la Costa Verde since 1992 and, in 2015, he expects to release the project’s millionth hatchling back to ocean. So there is hope for the Olive Ridleys in this area.

There is strong demand for turtle eggs in Mexico. Bakers and pastry chefs say that the eggs are much richer than chicken’s eggs and that they make much better cakes and pastries, so these people are willing to pay exorbitant prices for them. The eggs are also believed to improve a man’s virility because the male and female turtles copulate for between 24 and 72 hours and some people think that trait is transferable. If it is, then Viagra just doesn’t cut it by comparison! As a result, Olive

Ridley eggs sell for up to $1.00USD each on the streets of Guadalajara and Mexico City. A night’s work of poaching perhaps five nests with 100 eggs in each, means a street price of $100 to $500USD. Very rewarding! Although Olive Ridleys are protected, there is fierce competition for the eggs between the poachers and the protectors from this conservation program. Each night from early June to mid-December there is a chance that

turtles will come ashore to lay their eggs, so every night the volunteers patrol the beaches between 9:00pm and 8:00am and scoop up the 100 or so eggs that each female has laid and take all of them back to the turtle hatchery. Here they are kept, covered in sand, in temperature and moisture controlled conditions for about 45 days. Then they hatch. On release nights the hatchlings start their fight for survival but the chances are slim. It is estimated that for every six hundred that are released only one will make it to sexual maturity. Hatchlings start life with a hundred yard dash (waddle) across the sand to the ocean. Before they reach the sea they must open their tiny lungs before getting to the water; otherwise they will drown. During this first stage they are on the menu of gulls, crabs, wild animals and dogs. Once they reach the Pacific they have a journey of about 25 Kms ahead of them to the kelp beds that will be their home for the next ten years or so. The journey is fraught with danger from gulls, frigates and pelicans above

on screen in Stephen King’s “The Shining”. Director Stanley Kubrick encouraged Jack to improvise and “go off script” in the movie. Jack even came up with the movie’s most memorable line “here’s Johnny”. The rest of the 80’s/90’s we saw Jack entertain us in “Reds” (1982), “Terms of Endearments” (1984), “Prizzi’s Honor” (1986), “A Few Good Men” (1993), “As Good as it Gets” (1998) and “About Schmidt” (2003). All earned him Oscar nominations and 2 more wins. But Jack has slowed down his onscreen work in recent years. His last 3 films were “The Departed” (2006), “The Bucket List” (2007) and “How do You Know“ (2010), leave us hoping there is still more to come from Jack. In the meantime, Jack is leading the happy “bachelor” life, have married only once for a brief 6 years in the 1960’s and has 6 children in all. Jack Nicholson is one of only two actors to be nominated for an Academy Award for acting in every decade from the 1960s to the 2000s, and his 12 Academy Award total nominations make him the most nominated male actor in the Academy's history. We hope to see you on screen again soon Jack!

Fred Jacobs is a full time resident of Puerto Vallarta and the author of 3 books.

and from tuna, dorado and sailfish below. If they reach the kelp they’ll feed on the algae, crabs, shrimp and mollusks there and will grow to between 45kgs and 60kgs. The life of the male turtles is a mystery, but we do know that female Olive Ridleys reach sexual maturity between eleven and fifteen years of age and they decide to mate only when all their environmental cues, such as fat, strength and general health, align. They mate with one or more males and can hold the male’s sperm for three to five years before allowing it to fertilize her eggs. At that time she hauls herself up on the beach close to where she was born, digs a nest in the sand and starts the life cycle all over again. Grupo Ecológico de la Costa Verde and its great work of protecting this fascinating neighbour of ours depends entirely on public donations. If you would like to help please visit www.project-tortuga. org/contribute.html and make a donation or, if you have a few weeks to help, volunteer. With our combined help perhaps we can save this extraordinary animal from extinction. Original: Published June 2015

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9 Promotion on a website 10 Cold one, slangily 11 Rowlands of "The Notebook" 12 Manipulative person 13 Oenophile's interest

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June 23 - 29, 2016 www.vallartatribune.com