My experience in Chacala & the Petroglyphs of Altavista

A few days ago I visited Chacala for the first time. With friends, I am basking in the warm sun and enjoying the soothing ocean before returning to Alaska and the cold days of December, January and February. --from Marilyn C.

We loved the town of Chacala. People are friendly; the scenery is beautiful; and of course, the ocean beaches are mesmerizing. And ooooh, the espresso cappuccino!


Cappuccino made with organic locally grown coffee at the new terrace cafe Chac Mool

Leaving from La Penita in the morning, we were in search of a fine day of exploration. Our group of four would rent kayaks and take a beachside lunch wherever our whim found us; however, our day’s goal was to locate and see the renowned, but elusive, petroglyphs.

Several people had “heard” of them; few ever had actually been there. Upon sketchy directions, we embarked from Chacala to the main highway.

If you should wish to go, here is the “word map.”

Upon leaving Chacala, and meeting highway 200, turn south. Travel 7.3 Km and take a left, toward Alta Vista. Go 1.6 Km and you will turn left again on a dirt track. This is the tricky spot, easy to miss. A helpful ranchman aided us. There really is no special landmark here. Another 0.8 Km will bring you to a place where you must leave your car parked -- unless you are 4WD equipped. From here on, it’s rough. Captial R on rough! Take the sharp right-hand road and proceed carefully, whether afoot or bouncing along in your 4WD. At times you’ll believe the road is going to vanish, but then it picks up again, always tending more or less to the right. Eventually, you will ford the stream. Shortly after that, you will arrive at a cul de sac. This is the Petroglyph trailhead. It is 1.6 Km from were you left your vehicle. A 15-peso donation to the gentleman at the gate will allow you to enter.


Corn Man at Altavista, 8 km from Chacala

Wear shoes capable of carrying you over rocky ground with poor footing. Sometimes you’ll be walking on river-worn rocks, observing the ‘glyphs to your left and right. Keep a sharp eye. They are many, but they are subtle. If you stay tuned, you’ll “feel” their sacred, ancient power – too sacred for photographs, it would seem, as my usually dependable camera malfunctioned just before this trek. Nevertheless, I shall take home vivid mental images and the satisfaction of having been in the presence of Huichol Indian mythic power.

Chacala Community Meeting with Nayarit Tourism Board

A community meeting with the Nayarit Tourism board, concerning recent developments on the beach, was held at Mar de Jade on November 29^th at 10:00 am.

People interested in Chacala and its growth were invited, although prior notice was brief and many people did not know about the meeting. However, about 50 people did attend the meeting and everyone had a chance to speak. A promise was made that the next meeting will be widely publicized to all with lots of advance notice.

The Nayarit Tourism Board is composed of 40 members, teachers, engineers, a lawyer, people from Las Varas, Zacualpan , Tepic, and Compostella. The purpose of the board is to represent the Nayarit people and their rights to the federal government.

Summary of the meeting:

1. A history of land development since the 1970’s was presented. It seems the federal government’s power supersedes any municipalities. The issues of Ejido land, federal land, and Foreign and Mexican national investors have led to the creation of developments that do not respect the environment nor the rights of the local population. The Mexican government believes and promotes that all North Americans are looking for high rises, hotels, private beaches, golf courses, and lots of shopping. The government wants to make the Nayarit Riviera another Cancun! We of Chacala think differently. It was expressed that many North Americans are interested in nature trails, tranquil beaches, and interaction with the Mexican people. Foreign visitors and residents seek out the peace and tranquility of the Nayarit coast. There will always be the Puerta Vallartas of the world. There is only one Nayarit coast.

2. The different government speakers acknowledged that there is much corruption in the government but emphasized, with persistence and pressure by the people, change can be made. According to committee members, good will from the government can occur when pressure from the local people is applied. We must not let up on the pressure. It is a long road but necessary and necessary to follow the rules of protest. The committee acknowledged that many laws have already been broken by the developers who were identified as the Padillas’, one of the original developers of Chacalilla. One of the major laws broken was the closure of the beach road. Alas, the law says it is too late to rectify quickly.

3. The President of the Municipal Committee says regulations pertaining to development will be honored. He cited some of the regulations pertain to (1) access to beach (2) 15% of land will be given to community and (3)no to the marina.

CONCLUSION

Many locals at the meeting remain skeptical. They have pledged to continue the fight and ask that ALL interested, Foreigners and Mexicans, join them in this journey to protect Chacala and regularize growth. Citizens can demand transparency. The local, state and national protection agencies will set up a meeting with the county, state and federal government agencies. It is the goal of this meeting that all concerned will have the opportunity to convince the government agencies that it is not be in anyone’s best interest to build 1960 type resorts along the pristine Nayarit coast. Stay posted for more details.

IT IS NECESSARY TO CONTINUE THE FIGHT AND KEEP APPLYING PRESSURE ON OFFICIALS AT EVERY LEVEL.

Important Update - Cambiando Vidas

In the next few weeks, part-time residents of Chacala will be arriving to spend the winter and, due to arrive around November 27th, is Mariana Day, President of Cambiando Vidas. Mariana is Chacala's number one fund raise - her efforts have afforded some of Chacala's brightest children the chance of a better future through Cambiando Vidas' Scholarship Program.


Less than 10 years ago Chacala was still a sleepy fishing village that came alive around Christmas/New Year, Easter and several Mexican holidays. In 1996, Dale Reinhardt a Rotarian from No. Carolina enlisted his club and Rotary International to build a library right here in the village.

(Kids on the steps to the Learning Center taking a break from their painting.)

Over the subsequent years, many volunteers have contributed their time, energy and cash to expand the library and bring educational opportunities to the children of Chacala. Most importantly among those are Chacala residents Ana Getzoff and Susana Escobido. To read about the whole history of how the Chacala library grew into the computerized Learning Center it is today, please go to www.chacala.org and click on "History of Rotary in Chacala".


Antonelly leading the monthly EBACH (Scholarship kids) meeting.

Cambiando Vidas (Changing Lives) is the nonprofit organization working in Chacala to give children educational opportunities through a Scholarship Program and providing support for the Learning Center which includes the Book Library, Computer Lab with high-speed Internet access, After-school Enrichment and Head Start programs, School Hot Lunch Program, and a Tool Lending Library.

This year Cambiando Vidas faces a difficult time financially. Due to the financial meltdown in the USA and elsewhere, fund-raising efforts have been seriously affected. Their donors are naturally concerned about their declining retirement funds, and some have dropped out of the program, leaving some students without sponsors. Each year Mariana has tried to expand the scholarship program but this year CV will not be able to take on any new students, as their first priority will be to find funds to support the students that are already in the program. Cutbacks in scholarship support may also be necessary in order to meet the budget.

We are especially challenged now as our first students graduate from high school—most the first in their family to do so—and go on to University. Each and every donation made is vital to their success. Because of our donors, the children are able to pursue their education as well as use and enjoy the Dale Reinhardt Learning Center every day. Together we are indeed changing lives, Cambiando Vidas - we hope you will visit us soon to witness the miracles created by your loving generosity.

CAMBIANDO VIDAS is a charitable organization with United States Internal Revenue Service 501 (c) 3 tax -exempt status. EIN 73-166898 You can make a donation thru our PayPal tab on our website or send a check to Cambiando Vidas, 245 Mt. Hermon Rd., PMB 312, Scotts Valley, Ca. 95066 www.chacala.org

It's all about teeth

"Its like taking a free vacation" was the way Donna from Vancouver Island described her visit to Chacala last winter. She and husband John, regular vacationers to Mexico have discovered, like many others, that killing two birds for with one stone is not a bad idea.

Unrelated photo of a rodeo in a town near Chacala.

The cost of medicine in the U.S. has sky-rocketed in recent years and while most people would not be coming to Mexico for medical treatment, not yet anyway, getting your teeth fixed is another matter.

Hundreds if not thousands of visitors from both the U.S. and Canada are now taking advantage of the low cost dentistry available in Mexico.

Chacala does not have any dentists but Las Varas, six miles away, does. What Chacala has are lots of nice places to stay, some good restaurants and a beautiful beach.

According to the 2007 book on medical tourism, 'Patients Beyond Borders', dentures cost about $2,400 in the U.S. compared to about $1,500 in Mexico and crowns that cost $800 in the U.S. are about $375 in Mexico, and in Las Varas even less.

Picking a dentist is a personal, however we would be happy to share our experience with others on request.

A visit to Chacalilla: Paradise Behind the Gate

Ten years ago a visit to Chacalilla would involve walking around the point past the lighthouse, or entering through the old gate, the original entrance now closed, was located at the west end of Chacala's main street, or you could trek through the jungle. Or you could go by boat, you still can.


One of the cobbled roads put in by the development

Back then it was mostly all jungle; inhabitants were gone and only one family remained soon to be gone. There were no cobbled roads that now connect all parts of the peninsular, only a primitive road that connected the gate to the beach and the lighthouse, and several footpaths. One path connected the lighthouse to the beach and another originated at the beach, meandered past the now filled in lagoon and came out at a place, close to where the main entrance to Chacalilla is now located.



Ten years later a trip to Chacalilla is a trip worth taking. No its not open to the public at large, it is, after all a gated community, but if you get a chance to visit, do. See its pristine beach, it lovely homes, some with views of the Pacific Ocean and the Chacala Bay. Its tennis courts and other recreational facilities are first class, everything is well done.

Chacalilla, was it good for the people of Chacala? Most have never been allowed past the gate, and the beach off limit except by boat. Promises made by the developer have not been kept.

In a future blog we will publish a list of those un fulfilled promises.

It is true that just a few Chacala residents are employed in Chacalilla as housekeepers, cooks and gardeners, Some residents do support the town, but others avoid the town entirely, some would get lost in down town Chacala.

Now there's a new develoment in Chacala's future... Will things it be any different, will the town and its people be part of this new plan. or just shut out again. On the outside looking in.

Chacala Informa: Start the Press!

Yesterday, we sent to the printer the final layout and copy of the first edition of the Chacala Informa.

The Informa is just that: a new regular newsletter printed in Spanish and later on in English as well, with news items of interest for the people of the town of Chacala and to promote for visitors.
Some of the Informa Contributors with the first edition. Thank you to all who were involved.

The first edition is fully sponsored by Chacala businesses and produced by a small group of local residents, all volunteers. It will interesting to see how the project develops, given that there are some on the team who envisage a glossy, up market version which may suit the way the town is heading. The Informa is still a team effort, however, and we welcome ideas from all kinds of sources.

Some if not all of its content can be read in English on the Chacalalife blog. If you would like to contribute to the newsletter, or the blog, or you have any comments, send them to chacalalife@hotmail.com

Get informed!

The New Development Uncovered: The Municipal President Reveals Project Planned for the Palm Grove Area

Due to the enormous outcry and opposition that the sale, relocation and fencing has generated as well as the closure of the Historic Camino Real, the Municipal President, Hector Lopez Santiago, conducted a community meeting in Chacala on October 16th of this year to inform the residents and answer questions from the community. The following is a summary of what he said.
The Palm Grove Area 'El Palmar', as it currently stands

In spite of the worldwide financial crisis, the Riviera Nayarit project is still on course and includes the entire Pacific coast of Nayarit. With reference to the town of Chacala, the Municipal President held talks with the group of investors: two US citizens and one Mexican citizen from Guadalajara. They presented a pre-project including the construction of 3 hotels with 80 rooms each, a golf course, a residential area and a marina. According to the investors, the town of Chacala will be the beneficiary of a new sewer system, road improvements, employment opportunities as well as a water treatment plant.

As high season nears, the town demanded that a parking area be built for buses and cars, as well as public bathrooms, a recreation area as well as over the long term, green areas, and an area for athletics, etc.

View from the Road between Chacala and the Highway

It is worth mentioning that two days after the Municipal President’s visit, construction began for a parking area on land that is designated as a reserve under the municipal land that belongs to the town of Chacala. Construction also began on a new road that will provide additional public access to the town from the paved road.

Lastly, the Municipal president mentioned that the priority of the Governor of Nayarit will be progress for tourism that supports the people of Nayarit with complete adherence to the ecological regulations with minimal impact to the ecosystems, local traditions, customs and rights of the town and its people. As we again face this type of project, we hope that this time promises to the town are kept.
Diggers working on new parking lot on Municipal land, funded, we believe by the new developers.

Town Priorities: a Fancy Plaza or a working Clinic?

At a recent meeting, it was revealed by a local builder that he was attempting to raise funds to be used to build a plaza at a location by the beach. Around 25 people attended the meeting. Most thought the idea had some merit, not at the suggested location but at another also by the beach. The plaza needs to be where it belongs, next to the Church said someone, others agreed. The meeting ended on a positive note. But some are now having second thoughts.

Here's one:

'The idea of building a plaza on the beach may sound like a good idea, but in truth Chacala has far greater needs. Here are just a few. First on my list, would be to complete our new CLINIC, located on the badly-in-need-of-repair road to Chacalilla. The clinic, built with funds supplied by Rotary International, needs a sidewalk, a small garden with stepping stones, benches for people to sit on and public lighting. A request has been made to a U.S Rotary Club for furniture.

Chacala's Medical Clinic: Soon to be opened

Our town has been a leader in the recycling of plastic thanks to our children of EBACH, who in their spare time collect tons of plastic, which is then stored at our recycling center for pick up. We intend to expand our recycling efforts to include glass, paper and cardboard but we need to build a roof over the center to keep things dry.

Of course, we need a place to hang out, that is attractive to tourists and locals alike, but all projects do not necessarily come from good intentions, money should not be wasted. We can't build a plaza in a strategic place that will
become a public bar, when we still have unfinished projects like garbage and health.'

Signed Viky Robelo.

Correction to 'Lifeguards in Action'

Please note.
We wish to correct an error in the previous story.It seems that Edwardo WAS
able to get the life-saving torpedo from the storage box.This according to Karla the Las Brisas Restaurant manager.

Lifeguards in Action - Eduardo's lunchtime rescue

Monday is usually a slow day in Chacala. Eduardo, the senior lifeguard, was off duty. The newly formed lifeguard program hasn’t been able to raise enough funds to pay for a guard seven days a week, but Eduardo was visiting Las Brisas anyway.

Around four o’clock in the afternoon, a cry for help came from the north end of the beach, Eduardo sprung into action, dishes flying everywhere, and without any life saving torpedo, (locked up in storage) he swam out to save the lives of an American/Mexican couple, who were camping on the beach. Assisting in the lifesaving was Adam, a cook from Las Brisas.

Turns out that earlier in the day, about noon, Eduardo pulled from the sea three girls ranging in age from 12 to 18. Their father tried but was unable to swim and watched as Eduardo brought them ashore.

Its ironic that the day we posted our story on the blog regarding the lifeguard program that these events happened.

Along with this story is the picture of Eduardo, center, with the lucky couple. Wanda Valandra of Rapid City S. Dakota and husband Emilio Jimenez Davila of Guadalajara.

More than 50 people have been rescued from drowning at Chacala this summer. Several however have been lost.

Chacala is normally a safe beach for swimmers, but the recent storms and climate change have had a negative effect on the ocean.

Lifeguards - Here to Stay?

The annual loss of life due to drowning at the beach has resulted in the formation of a new organization: The Chacala Beach Lifeguard program.

Organizers have opened a bank account in Las Varas and are in the process of collecting donations to be used solely for lifeguards salaries.

You may have seen these lifeguards operating from a raised platform directly in front of Acela's Restaurant.

Day-to-day operations of providing lifeguards for the beach have been conducted solely by Karla of the Las Brisas Restaurant. She has arranged the schedule, has fed the guards along with other restaurants and has collected from most of the bay restaurants to meet payroll. She has even advanced her own money to keep the program going.

The fundraisers hope to be more involved with Karla in the entire lifeguard program; after all, she does have a business to run.

We have thankfully received private donations, from $5 to $50 USD, from local people and even from Chacalilla and La Penita. All local businesses are being encouraged to give monthly donations to keep and improve the current system. Donors are being presented with a certificate of their participation for posting in their places of business. Look out for these in the local shops, restaurants and other business that you patronise.

Donations of any size will be accepted and can be given straight to Concha from Casa Concha who is the treasurer of the organization. We are also planning to set up donation boxes at several locations including Las Brisas. For any further information, please feel free to contact the following addresses:

Gordon Preston: gpreston27@yahoo.com
Concha Velasquez: guanahani_234@hotmail.com
Emilia & Arturo: chacmoolcafe@hotmail.com

We all want our beach to be safe so let's make sure everyone from local business people, residents and visitors all pull together to keep lifeguards on our beach.

Viva Chacala

Happy Cats & Dogs

THANK YOU

Thank you to all of you that made Chacala’s First Free Spay & Neuter Clinic a success! We spayed and neutered about 60 cats & dogs helping to make Chacala a healthier and happier village for both the animals and the people.

A special THANK YOU to those people that made it happen……

PEACE (Protection•Educate•Animals•Culture•Environment) is a non profit organization that provides veterinarians and staff for Free Spay & Neuter Clinics in Mexico.
Molly, Anthony, Gaby, Zaidy, Humberto, & Lalo

VOLUNTEERS We were fortunate to have an awesome group of volunteers including some very experienced ladies from Lo de Marcos, La Penita and Guayabitos as well as some very dedicated people from Chacala.
Luis, Tobi, Vicki, Tandy, Gustavo, Leo’s Daughter
+ friend, Ana, Celia, Melanie, Sara, Jacque, & Isabel

DONATIONS Chacala restaurant owners and a local chef were very generous in their donations of food for the veterinarians and their assistants. In addition, business owners donated rooms for the PEACE Staff and supplies for the clinic.
Acela’s, Chico’s, Majahua, Mar 3, Mar de Jade,
Gordon, Casa Monarca, & Pepe/Koranay

ORGANIZERS Chacala locals worked together to bring PEACE to Chacala.

Jose Enrique, Luis, Viki, OM, & Tandy

THANK YOU ALL!!

The Beach IS Open!

Here's what to expect when you visit Chacala this year:

You won't be able to drive into town past those ugly shacks that lined the side of the beach road, they are all gone. You will enter town from the paved road either past Koko Bongos restaurant or down the cobbled road past Concha's. Missing will be the motor-homes and camping under the palms, as this is the part of Chacala that has been fenced off for new development.

The rest of Chacala is unchanged, the people friendly as always. Accommodations are plentiful, restaurants are still serving fish, fish, more fish and shrimp,. A new deli style restaurant just opened that doesn't offer seafood, but serves items such as baguettes, quiche, great breakfasts and coffee that is to die for. Taking your laundry to Las Varas will soon be a thing of the past, with the opening of a new laundry-mat located close to the Church. There's even as interest in opening a hair salon for the ladies.



Chacala is open, alive and well. True the run down shanty houses on the beach are gone and el Delphin is no more, but other restaurants from Chico's to Mingo's are open for business. And yes you can still visit the entire beach from any of them, including both Mar de Jade and Majuaha.

There is plenty of good news, come see for yourself!

The Chacala Fence/ or "Don't Fence Us Out"

Our beautiful, unspoiled beach, before the fence. Now the fence closes off the land from just beyond where the foreground palm tree divides the picture , all the way to the south end of the beach. (Photo by Ana Getzoff.)

GORDON PRESTON writes:
As most of you may have heard, a chain-link fence was erected by developers this summer that encloses half of the Chacala beach and also closes the original, historic and until recent years the only road into the pueblo. Residents of Chacala have apparently been unable to find out the intent of the developers or even who the developers are. To that end, a town meeting was held on 24 September 2008 in the church yard and interest was high. Officials from Compostela and the two elected officials of Chacala were present along with a large crowd of interested residents.  Now as a long time resident of Chacala, I have a strong interest in the future of the town and did attend the meeting. However because I don’t speak Spanish, I didn’t understand much of what was said, I have asked several local residents to share their thoughts on what they heard at the meeting. 

GORDON PRESTON has been a part-time resident of Chacala for 16 years, and a full-time resident for one year. He can be contacted at gpreston27@yahoo.com.

The new fence runs alongside Chico's restaurant, from the beach to the old road. (Photo by Viky Robelo)

Running south along the beach, the fence leaves one row of palm trees on the beach side. The others may be destroyed for building. (Photo by Viky Robelo.)

EMILIA ROBINSON writes this about the town meeting:

As a newcomer to the town I found the meeting pretty eye opening. I think most people were confused and disappointed when one of the officials from Compostela explained that they did not know' to whom the land had been sold and they  had no further information for the audience. Apparently, they wanted us to do the talking, so the meeting was turned over to the audience. We heard from a good cross section of the town; restauranteurs, shopkeepers, fishermen,  newcomers and Chacala residents of over 40 years. The main preoccupations of the group were that the new development be more lawful than Marina Chacala-that is that it should not block public access to the beach, it should give 15% of its land to the use of the town and it should not block off the historic road from the main road to the South side of the  beach  (near Mar de Jade) which unfortunately it already has. 

To give a couple of examples, a businessman from Las Varas made an impressive and emotive speech about the importance of the right of the common man to have access to the beaches, which are part of, not only Mexican, but in fact world heritage. There were a minority of speakers who felt it was pointless getting worried or upset when we don't even know what the development will bring, and it may not even  be so bad after all. From a personal perspective, it seems that more than anything, it was a it public airing of opinions, which may only serve as a publicity stunt to the government involved; they will be able to say "you had your chance to speak." The real shame was that they hardly even pretended to listen.

EMILIA ROBINSON and her husband, Arturo have opened a new restaurant in Chacala called “Chac Mool,” Vino deli cafe. (http://chacala-cafe.blogspot.com) Emilia can be contacted at chacmoolcafe@hotmail.com.

Facing north, you can see the partially completed fence dividing the palm grove from the beach. For awhile, the summer activity went on as usual on both sides of the fence. Now the fence runs south all the way to the end of the beach and cuts in blocking the old access road. (Photo by Viky Robelo.)

CONCHA comments on the town meeting:

Greetings to all. I have lived in this community for 30 years and I want to tell you that I am not opposed to developments, but only those that conform to the correct norms and that do not run over in their tracks a single resident.

My plea is that they leave access or windows to the sea and that in these areas there be services for our visitors and that in case of an accident an ambulance and paramedics may be able to enter.

As far as I’m concerned, I am opposed to the fact that a fence has been put up – I feel as if I’m in a zoo! (Translation by Emilia Robinson)

CONCHA is an active member of Chacala, and owner/operator of a four- unit “Techo de Mexico” guest house, “Casa Concha.” Concha can be contacted at Guanahani_234@hotmail.com.

Another view of the fence, facing north. (Photo by Viky Robelo.)

DR. LAURA DEL VALLE submits the following statement:

We, the inhabitants of the Port of Chacala and citizens of the municipality of Compostela, are resentful at the way Fideicomiso Bahia de Banderas have treated us and disrespected us by ignoring totally the needs and customs of the town in the alleged sale of the ‘poligano’ of 38 hectares of Chacala that comprises the greater part of the beach. Aside from this arbitrary closure of the beach of Chacala, access to the beaches of Las Cuevas, Chacalilla and El Naranjo have also been closed.

FACTS:
1. In August, in the style of an ambush and with no prior informative meeting with the town, a team of people began to wall off with chain link fence the greater part of the beach, thus blocking off the main entrance to the town to inhabitants of Chacala, of the region and to our visitors. As one Chacalan woman said, ‘I do not like the idea that fenced off the road that in the 50 years that I have lived here had never been closed.’ They managed this with the collaboration of the president of the Citizen Action Group, Eduardo Bustos, who told the town that the way was being closed in order to repair it; an event that was followed, to his surprise, by the erection of the chain link fence, ‘We feel fenced in like in a zoo’.

2. The approximately 100m2, traditional recreation area, known as ‘El Palmar’, was also walled off; an area that has been the access to the sea for all those of us who live in the Municipality of Compostela for many generations.

3. Besides this, people who used to have stalls at the entrance and families that have lived in front of the beach for many years have been removed and are being removed with pain and bad faith, being tricked by a so-called engineer that claims to be a representative of the buyer. He warned them that they could end up in jail if they did not get out and he promised a sum of money to some of them that has not been handed over. The inhabitants asked for relocation within Chacala itself, which was denied. The said person has shown no document to prove his judicial status as the owner or as representative. Nor has he made any kind of contract that commits him to paying the families once their houses have been destroyed.

CONSEQUENCES:
1. By blocking access to the entrance, to the parking lot and to the beach, vehicles and tourism buses are going right back out of town and we are ending up without customers in our restaurants, our hotels and shops. This sudden and unplanned action affects the daily bread of the majority.
2. The current state of affairs leaves those who live in the Municipality and those that visit us without a decent recreation area by the beach.
3. The displaced people, who make their living from fishing and from tourism, are being brought to live in great poverty since not only is it the intention to take away their houses but also their way of earning a living. With the small amount of money that they are offering (and in any case are not paying), the affected people are not even able to buy a lot in order to remain living in Chacala.

ACTIONS:
1. The intervention of the Judicial Authority of the Municipality was called upon to act immediately to remove the fence at the entrance of the town – it never arrived.
2. Letters were written to the Governor – he never replied.
3. We began to complain through the media and this provoked finally a visit from Jesus Torres Rodrigues, the new district secretary, Mr. Mario Antonio Andarete and Mr. Gabila Rosas, both legal representatives from FIBBA. When asked the name of the buyer responsible for the recent events and to show us his or her project, the confessed that they were not able to bring any information to the meeting which leads us to suppose that they were only coming to see what the size of the resistance was.

CITIZENS’ PLEA:
1. To begin with, we want the access that we used to have to the beach, in the traditional recreation area ‘El Palmar’ and that it may remain open to the public as a municipal green area park. This would become part of the 10% that the buyer is obliged to give up to public use.
2. We ask that the municipal road, which has been in use for generations and whose closure is anti-constitutional, be reopened. This could be done in the most convenient place for both social groups.
3. We ask that an entrance to the sea be made on the South side of the Bay where there are other existing and growing developments.
4. We ask that the land and necessary investment for the growth of commercial, social and civic life of the town of Chacala including the following works: Civic Square, Commercial Zone, Public Parking, Beach Services (WC/Showers).
5. Absolute respect for the docks of the fisherman which is the life and natural character of this town.
6. Relocation with lots in Chacala itself for the families of fishermen that have held possession for more that 30 years and to whom no worthy offer has been made to let them remain living and working in the very own town.
7. Absolute respect for the ecological surroundings, in as much the beach itself as its flora and fauna. We express a resounding rejection to the idea of dredging up a marina.
8. We ask to establish a ‘Free Beach’ program, opening access to all the above mentioned beaches that are illegally closed off at this time.

In essence, we ask that the Governor Ney follow in the footsteps of his father who did look after the needs of the town. Since those who voted for him did so thinking that he had the same humanitarian character as his father. We are not opposed to tourist development but ENOUGH with trampling on the needs of the town. Responsible development and addressing the needs of the town are compatible goals. (Translation by Emilia Robinson)

DR. LAURA DEL VALLE was born in Mexico City and was perhaps the first person to put Chacala on the map. She has operated a hotel retreat, Mar de Jade, at the south end of Chacala for many years. Laura de Valle can be contacted at lauradejade@gmail.com.

Sunset from the hill above town. Land to the left of the palm tree near the beach, is now fenced off.  (Photo by Ana Getzoff)

This entry posted by Ana Getzoff

Summer News from Chacala, July 2008

CAMBIANDO VIDAS NEWSLETTER

We ended the tourist season in March with a delightful fiesta in the school yard to give the visitors in town an opportunity to meet the kids in our program and learn what is happening at the Dale Reinhardt Learning Center. We invited the residents of Marina Chacala by email and flyers, and then distributed flyers to the RVers at the beach. Three of the teens (Alonso, Antonelly, and walked the beach at sunset the night before the party with Ana and talked to about 40 people, inviting them to the program and telling them about Cambiando Vidas. We had a pretty good crowd.

The show was wonderful. The kids sang and danced, both modern dances and Folklorico, complete with costumes. The also performed a few skits. Some refreshments were provided by the parents.

You can see the photos of this event at www.snapfish.com. Sign in under my name “getannie@cablelynx.com”, and enter password “EBACHfotos.” You can order prints as well.

Mary Jane Rintelman, Marina Chacala resident and CV supporter, took some wonderful video which you can see at the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyXvw-fBkSk

You will see several other “related videos” at that site. Two more of the fiesta and some from the beach at Chacala which will remind you how lovely it is there and that you need to return soon.

Ana returned to Chacala for 12 days in June.
“I love Chacala in June. It is very quiet and there are few tourists. I had lots of time to wander around town, visit with Viky in the Learning Center, and visit with Mexican friends. Only one RV was parked in the Palm Grove. The weather was rainy, but beautiful and the water was warm enough to float around or swim for long stretches of time. The sun appeared almost every day, and it was in fact cooler than Arkansas. Mid-eighties in Chacala as compared to mid-nineties in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Very comfortable.

“I was surprised that the kids are still in school. I had forgotten that they don’t get out until July 1, and then only for 3 weeks. The after-school program in the library downstairs is lively, with Isaak supervising. Viky is up in the computer center upstairs all day until 5 pm.

“It is so wonderful to have the computer center as a gathering place for the teens. It is a safe place to hang out and interact with each other, and they have Viky as resident counselor, to talk to about any problems or concerns.”

Ana reports the following news.

EBACH

Our website has been redone, so be sure to go to www.Chacala.org and check out the completely new “Meet the Students,” with new photos and descriptions of all the students. If you have visited the website before, you will need to “refresh” the website on your computer or your computer may automatically pull up pages from the old website.

Our excellent group of 28 students met in May and elected new officers.

Alonso, who has served as the President for 3 years, will begin attending a Saturday program at the University of Tepic in August. He will graduate from High School (a Saturday program in nearby Zacualpan after three years of study there) in July. So he is now past-president, although always there when needed and still very much a part of EBACH.

The new President is Antonelli, and Raul is the new Vice-President. Monica will continue as treasurer, and Olivia as secretary. “Excellent choices,” comments Viky.

Photo

LIMPIA CHACALA
Jose Enrique of Majahua Restaurant, hotel and spa, has helped to develop an expanded “Limpia Chacala” program. There are new signs at the entrance to the village, asking visitors to keep Chacala clean.

Photo

Each week-end three EBACH students and one adult work at the entrace to the Palm Grove, picking up garbage and asking asking all the tourists to please pick up their garbage and take it out in their cars. They even get on the buses coming in to town and talk with the visitors about keeping our beach clean. Besides Jose Enrique, the other adult supporters who take turns helping the kids are Concha of Casa Aurora, Gora of Casa Aurora, and Luis of Casa Monarca. Viky reports that this project has been very effectiive

NINOS GUARDIANOS
Viky commissioned a metal worker to make 7 large receptacles, which are placed around town for the disposal of plastics. Each Sunday, the children and Viky collect about 20 bags of plastic. A truck from Los Ayala picks up the plastic each month for recycling. This program is a model for other programs along the coast.
Photo

Viky is looking for a way to take the kids on a cultural trip to Guadalajara his summer. She is very good at getting the government to donate a bus and driver for these trips. They have money from the plastic recycling, and she will be working on ways to earn the rest of the money for the trip. She is very resourceful and determined to give the kids this reward for their hard work.

DALE REINHARDT MEMORIAL
We announced earlier this year how saddened we were by the passing of Dale Reinhardt, the original founder of the Chacala Library, on December 28th. Dale asked that his ashes be interred in the Dale Reinhardt Learning Center and they have arrived. Later this summer, there will be a ceremony to place his ashes in a niche in the library wall. The winner of the design competition for the niche was Beto U.

MEDICAL/DENTAL CLINIC
Dale’s son, Mark has been working with Viky, our Learning Center Administrator, to carry on his legacy and complete the Medical/Dental Clinic, a project that Dale began a few years ago.   The clinic is looking good, lacking only doors and fixtures, and is scheduled to open in August or September. The governnment will send a doctor, a medical resident to staff the Clinic. The clinic is a wonderful opportunity for visitors, who are in the medical field, to come in to the clinic and volunteer their services.

VICTOR, OUR MEDICAL STUDENT in Hermosillo, writes the following to Mariana:

...I only want that it knows that I am very happy and thank for all the aid that offers me without requesting nothing in return, you are an example of life for me, and if I in the future can do the same for other people I going to do of heart.
 
I write to him [HIS SPONSOR] to talk that already I am going to finish to my 'Internado' in the first week of July her in Hermosillo and I am going away to return to El Capomo [NEAR CHACALA], to probably command me to do a social service in Las Varas one year, but I talked with Viky and she says that they are going to open a hospital in Chacala, I am going to investigate in my school to see if I can be in my social service in this place, I going to be very happy of being able to return a little of which you have given helping me in Chacala.
 
The good thing is that i going to stay closely together of my house and I believe that my expenses you would be smaller, but went the social service finish I want to make an exam to make a residence and to obtain a specialty, is a very heavy exam because they are few seats, for that I am thinking about taking some extra classes while I am in the service.

I want to say thank you very much and am thankful to God for it to have put to you in my way.
... and I hope to see it soon to you
 
PD. In my last vacations I went to the school of chacala and was teaching some things to the children, we amused much very well and I believe that them pleasure. 
and I am sorry for my english, I didn´t learn yet 

ABOUT OUR FINANCES

As a reminder to our donors, costs for the high school students are still $720 USD a year, $360 of which is transportation to and from Las Varas. The balance is for tuition, uniforms and school supplies.  If you sponsor a student studying locally in Chacala, who does not require $720, please know that your donation helps pay for the extra costs of the University students as well as all the programs and expenses in the Learning Center. We count on that extra money as not all donors can pay the entire expense incurred by their student. As you know, all the money donated to Cambiando Vidas must be held in one big pot and distributed according the the needs of the program. It cannot legally be earmarked for a particular student.

For our University Students, Cambiando Vidas contributes $200 a month for 10 months of the year, or about $2,000 for the year, which covers books and tuition. We trust our loyal donors will come through and help us to continue to send our kids to University. We are so grateful for all who have increased their donations.

Any size donation is welcome, of course, as a one time donation, or to sponsor part of a scholarship. Some families divide the scholarship between them, among three or four families. Some Rotary Clubs or other organizations also sponsor a student.

2007 PROFIT AND LOSS SUMMARY

Total donations collected   $34,696
 
Expenses 2007:
Learning Center Salaries $8,463
         Learning Center maintenance $3,874
Misc. Expenses $2,560
  Scholarship Payout $21,045
                
Total Expenses were  $35,940
Loss 2007 $1,244

Your contributions are critical to our survival.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

You can make a contribution to Cambiando Vidas by mailing a check to Cambiando Vidas, 245 Mt. Hermon Rd., PMB 312, Scotts Valley, Ca. 95066 OR by using PayPal on our web site, www.chacala.org. THANKS!

A NOTE TO OUR CANADIAN FRIENDS

You can now take a deduction on your Canadian Income Tax by donating through the Tides Canada Foundation if the donation is over $1000.  

You may send a check to Tides Canada, who will take 5% for handling and forward the remaining monies to Tides San Francisco, who in turn will send us a check in US funds.  Tides Canada will send you a tax receipt for your income taxes as part of the service. You will have to submit a form letter along with your check—Mariana will send this to you upon request. For more information or the form letter write Mariana (madak99@aol.com). Canadian donors can also use PayPal at the website for no cost.

CAMBIANDO VIDAS is a charitable organization with United States Internal Revenue Service 501 (c) 3 tax -exempt status. EIN 73-1668982

Cambiando Vidas Newsletter

A visitors description of Chacala reads,
“We walk down the early morning beach, footprints wiped clean by the tide, pristine. A couple hundred pelicans float the shallow waters, rising and dive-bombing the unsuspecting sardines and other bait fish, packed tight near the shore. A feeding frenzy for three days now. The magnificent frigates shadow the pelicans, looking for a dropped fish, or snatching a piece from a pelican’s immense beak.”


This is an everyday scene on the pristine beach in our beautiful little bay. Up the hill at the Learning Center and elementary classrooms, children run in and out, playing and laughing. They are being educated and enriched as never before. It is seven years since Cambiando Vidas initiated the Scholarship Program and support of the Learning Center. What a miracle of hope that a little help from our friends has brought to the children of Chacala. We are so grateful to all those folks in Chacala, the USA and Canada for all the help in creating a brighter future for these children.


The winter in Chacala was successful and productive. Mariana arrived mid-November and began working with Viky and the scholarship students. Viky left the next week for a well deserved week's vacation to Vera Cruz to visit her family.


Ana was able to come for a couple of short visits, surprised mostly by how big the little kids have gotten, and how mature the teen-agers look and act. She wasn’t able to recognize some of the kids. We were impressed by Viky—she has made great strides in her English and is speaking in English with our visitors. The pueblo is filled with the not always pleasant sounds of construction—everywhere. New homes, condos, restaurants, and motels springing up everywhere. It is a real boon for the local business owners, but a little sad for those of us who have loved Chacala since the days before the road from the highway was paved.

DALE REINHARDT LEARNING CENTER NEWS

Chad Waters, long time supporter and sometime resident, has been financing the town's garbage pick up service for the past several years and has donated funding to Cambiando Vidas to keep the recycling project going as well. Many folks have mentioned that they thought the town was looking cleaner. That is very satisfying—what we have been working toward for years.

We are sad to tell you that June Constant, Susana Escobido’s mother, passed away this year. June, who lived in Ajijic, was a regular donor to Cambiando Vidas. After June’s death, Susana made a lovely donation for maintenance in her name, which allowed us to hire Juan, our favorite local painter, to put a fresh coat of paint on the outside of the Learning Center. It looks wonderful.

Viky has taken the kids on two summer enrichment trips, and this summer she is dreaming of taking the kids to Mexico City. Although these trips provide wonderful enrichment for the kids, they are beyond the mission of Cambiando Vidas, and with all the students entering University the budget doesn’t allow for a summer trip. The government will provide a bus for her, but she also needs $16,000 pesos (about $1500 U.S.) for lodging and meals for about 20 kids and EBACH supervisors. She has received a partial donation from a friend. If you are interested in sponsoring the trip or making a special contribution for this, please let Mariana know (_madak99@aol.com_
(mailto:madak99@aol.com) ).


SPECIAL VOLUNTEERS

We are so pleased to honor Teresa Freeburn as our volunteer of the year. She came to Chacala mid-Jaunuary and immediately began working with the children in the Learning Center. She is originally from Cuba, and thus completely fluent in Spanish. In her “spare time,” Teresa helped Viky with her English.

Teresa lives in Ellensburg, WA where her husband is pursuing a Master's Degree in History. She taught full time for 5 years and has been substituting for 12. Her two sons are in college, which gives her the opportunity to do some traveling. While staying in Sayulita on a previous trip, she visited Chacala and fell in love with it. ”I love the Mexican people, the culture, and especially working with the children,” she says.

About her Learning Center experience, Teresa says, “I really enjoyed working with the kids and it's nice to know that I made a difference in their lives. I worked with them 3 afternoons a week teaching English, creative writing, listening to them read, reading to them, and asking questions to check on their comprehension. We did a little math to reinforce what they were doing in their regular class. I also did a few art projects although I am not the
most artistic person around.”

Teresa invited guest speakers to come to her classroom after school and talk about their jobs or teach a lesson. Rick and Serena Raskin who own a pizza parlor in Hornby Island, B.C. came and taught the kids how to make pizza. Of course the best part was eating it.) She invited musicians, a personal trainer who did a workout with the kids, and two women who did art projects. She had a total of 15 friends come to share with the children. There are so many interesting visitors in Chacala and coordinating them to come into the Learning Center was a stroke of genius.

“I wanted to broaden [the children’s] horizons as the town where they live is so tiny—I wanted to expose them to the outside world. I took lots of pictures of them and made them each a little photo album which I gave them on the last day of class.”

The children loved Teresa and many didn’t miss a day when she was there. The Friday before Teresa left some of the moms gave her a surprise going away party with a three leche cakes (these delicious milk soaked-cakes are aspecialty of the area). The kids had written some very sweet letters for her (assisted by their regular after-school teacher, Isaac.) After the party they all went swimming at one of the student's pool. There were many sad little faces around town when Teresa left, mid-March. “I absolutely love that little town and hope to go back in about two years.”

Thank you, thank you Teresa. Your presence was such a gift and creates a model for how other visiting teachers can help. We would also like to acknowledge Nancy LeHocky Preston, a new winter resident in Chacala. Nancy and her helpers painted the entire inside of thelibrary, went through and organized all the books, and gleaned duplicated andoutdated reference books. She alphabetized the fiction and made an inviting displayfor the younger children, as well as a special place for the after school primary teachers to read. The scholarship students and other volunteers helped make this all happen during the two-week Christmas holiday. Volunteer helpers were Viky, Mariana, Nancy, Sue Vohanka, and Jacob and Clay, beach campers from Seattle. Students who helped included Gustavo Flores, Karina, Carolina, Sofia. According to Nancy Preston and Betty Todd, another librarian living in Chacala, our library now is equal to any in the U.S. Thanks to Nancy for creating a wonderful project and carrying it out. The library looks beautiful and inviting. Isaac, our after school enrichment teacher, was pleasantly surprised when he returned from the Christmas break.

The gleaned books were boxed up and delivered to smaller pueblos who do not have the blessing of tourism and donations of books.

Philip Botwink, friend of a regular donor, has sent us 6 Leggo Sets. They are wonderful toys for the kids. Evelyn Kerber from Canyon Lake, CA took Viky on a couple of shopping trips for school supplies. Tony Davis from New York, a friend of friends, sent us a very generous unexpected donation. It’s amazing how word gets around and the generosity flows.

Most of all, we cherish our regular donors and sponsors. Your commitment is what makes the program run, month after month, year after year. In the fall newsletter we will list all our regular donors. We are so grateful for your commitment and generosity.

NEWS FROM EBACH (Estudiantes Becados Agradecidos de Chacala, or Grateful Scholarship Students of Chacala)

We are happy to announce that we graduated our first University student, Candelario Serrano Gomez from the Universidad Autonoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Coahuila, Mex. with a degree "Ingeniero en Parasitologia.” Candelario has had three job offers in different parts of Mexico and has not yet decided where he will work.

Pablo Arturo will graduate in July 2007 with his degree in tourism. Last summer he did his practical working in a big hotel in Puerto Vallarta—experiencing all parts of the hospitality business. His English has improved as well as his self confidence. We suspect he will start working with his brothers(Cundo and Juan) in their local tourism business and will be able to add his expertise to help them expand and become successful entrepreneurs in Chacala.

Four more students will be starting university in August 2007 (Ulises, Antonelly, Ernesto, and Teresa) bringing the total in University to seven (Carolina will be in her second year, and Gerardo and Gustavo will be in their third year).

This year we have started a mentoring program within the scholarship program. we have inducted two new students this year to fill the spots of the graduating university students using this new system. Roberto Carlos will be mentored by Gerardo and Dalia, who will be mentored by Raul. This program is to help new students integrate into EBACH.

Susana learned about a Toys for Tots program when she met Kelley Trainer, the American Consulate in Puerto Vallarta. So in early January, Alonso and Monica, representing EBACH, went to a meeting in Puerto Vallarta to learn about the program. EBACH agreed to participate and to deliver the toys in our area.

On January 7th, some of the students piled into Mariana’s car and Gerardo’s truck to go to Puerto Vallarta to pick up over 300 toys for the small pueblos in our area. The toys distribution coincided with Three King’s Day, a traditional gift giving time in Mexico. The kids participating in the pickup and in the distribution were Monica, Erika, Gerardo, Chuy, Pedro, Lety, Nena, Gustavo, Alonso and Oscar, They, along with Viky, delivered soccer, volley and basket balls, Barbie dolls, trucks and blocks to nearby barrios, including Las Varas, El Capomo, Divisadero, LaCuata, and Paso de las Palmas. We will stay in touch with Kelley at the Embassy, and are hoping to be invited to do this again next year.

One of our University students, Carolina, is also enrolled in the "Big Learning School" in Tepic which is an accelerated and intense English program. They claim that in one year Carolina will be speaking English fluently. The cost for this program is $1300 US for the 365 days of class. Carolina is getting a special scholarship student rate to introduce this new school to Cambiando Vidas. Carolina, one of our brightest students, wants to study Business Administration with an emphasis on hospitality.

Carolina has been invited to spend a month this summer in Canada for a total immersion in English. This trip is sponsored by Justin and Susan Fryer who are opening their hearts and home to make a dream come true for her.

All of the 29 students in the program are doing really well and we are extremely proud of them! When we reflect back just a few years when only a few of the children in Chacala went to high school and most left school after 6th grade We are so pleased that education has become more important to the kids and their parents.


ABOUT OUR FINANCES

Costs for the high school students are still $720 USD a year, $360 of which is transportation to and from Las Varas and the balance is for tuition, uniforms and school supplies. If you sponsor a student studying locally in Chacala, who does not require $720, please know that your donation helps pay for the extra costs of the University students as well as all the programs and expenses in the Learning Center. We count on that extra money as not all donors can pay the entire expense incurred by their student. As you know, all the money donated to Cambiando Vidas must be held in one big pot and distributed according the the needs of the program. It cannot legally be earmarked for a particular student.

While in university each student requires $200 a month for 10 months of the year, or about $8,000 for the year. We trust our loyal donors will come through and help make this happen. We are so grateful for all who have really stepped up to the plate.

In the 2006 calendar year, total donations collected were $41,550
Our Expenses included:
Salaries of $9,052 (Our only paid staff are local Mexicans)
Learning Center maintenance was $2,491
Bank and Exchange Fees totaled $573
Scholarship Program expenses (including tuition, uniforms, books,
transport, etc.) for 29 students were $26,180
Our Total Expenses were $38,296, leaving us $3,254 to carry forward into
2007.

You can see how critical it is that your donations keep coming in.

OUR ROTARY CLUBS ARE TERRIFIC

Thanks to our devoted Rotary Clubs, our plea for new computers has been answered beyond our expectations. and we have acquired 8 new computers. What would we do without our Rotary supporters? We can always count on them.

George Luna from Berkeley Rotary had taken up a casual collection of his members (our plea was too late for their 2007 budget). Berkeley contributors to this special fund include Bob Randell, Grier Graff, George Hasa, Pamela Doolan, Pate Thompson, Gerry Cote, Mary Alice Rathbun, Jack MacPhail, Allen Leggett, Jackie Hammon, Reg Garcia, George Luna and Scott Garmon from the Garmon Corporation.

Since Berkeley Rotary worked in New Orleans this past winter, the New Orleans Club, in gratitude for the help from Berkeley Rotary, added a very generous donation to the computer fund. This generosity was from people who have lost homes and businesses, everything. The New Orleans contributors, led by Henry Lowentritt, include Gayle Dillenger, Susan Simon, Jane Sumner, Mike & Lisa Ryan, George Hero III, Hilton Bell, Phil Nimmo, Christine Hoffman, Carol Neff, Donald Hoffman, Dick McCarthy lll, James and Susan Peterson, Frank and Leslie Carbon. and Frank Stewart. We are so grateful to you all, who reached into your pockets for our remote little village, when your own needs are monumental. What heart!

George and Reg Garcia came to Chacala in the fall and purchased four new computers at Wal-Mart and delivered them in person to the Learning Center. Buying the computers here gives us Spanish operating systems and local support. We are so blessed. Referring to Berkeley and New Orleans, George wrote, “We are all friends of Chacala.”

BK Barringer & Dale Elks, Rotarians from North Carolina, have put together a plea to their clubs and are working with Compostela (MX) Rotary and Rotary International to obtain a matching grant $10,000 for new computers, desks and supplies for the computer center. Dale also worked with Dale Reinhardt and his son Mark, as well as Compostela (MX) Rotary on a book buying donation. We picked up the donation from Compostela and were able to buy dictionaries for every child in school this year as well as some wonderful reference books for the library.

Art Thompson of the Kalispell Rotary Club sent us a check which enabled us to purchase two more new computers. We put the two working older computers downstairs in the library so the little ones will be able to use the donated interactive games and begin to build their skills and start learning about computers and the internet.

Finally, thanks to Scott Turner and John Melius from North Carolina , who donated laptops.

SPECIAL SPONSOR NEEDED

We have recently found out that Telmex Prodigy DSL is offering a router that can handle the ten workstations for $500 pesos ($46USD) per month. For less than $600 per year, the LC could provide much improved Internet access. The DSL solution sounds perfect for us and could make a difference for allour scholars. We would be so grateful to have a sponsor take on this commitment.

WE NEED YOUR HELP

You can make a contribution to Cambiando Vidas by mailing a check to:
Cambiando Vidas, 245 Mt. Hermon Rd., PMB 312, Scotts Valley, Ca. 95066
OR by using PayPal on our web site. THANKS!


A NOTE TO OUR CANADIAN FRIENDS

Mariana is looking into a way that you can take a deduction on your Canadian Income Tax by donating through the Tides Canada Foundation. The way it would work is that you would send a check to Tides Canada, who will take 5% for handling and forward the remaining monies to Tides San Francisco, who in turn will send us a check in US funds. Tides Canada will send you a tax receipt for your income taxes as part of the service. You will have to submit a form letter along with your check—Mariana will send this to you upon request.


If you are interested in more information or the form letter please contact
Mariana: madak99@aol.com.


CAMBIANDO VIDAS is a charitable organization with United States Internal
Revenue Service 501 (c) 3 tax -exempt status. EIN 73-1668982