Puerto Vallarta and Banderas Bay News - Local News

. Municipal Government to Start Integral Reforestation Campaign
. Champions Tour and Clubcorp Announce New Golf Tournament For 2006
. Kaiser Maximilian Restaurant & Café Serves Up Fine Dining for a Cause During DiRoNA Week 2005
. Sister Cities Committee Visits Santa Barbara
. Thirty-Four Thousand New Students at University of Guadalajara
. Coapinole Pond Clean-Up
. Municipality Builds Walkway to the Beach on Los Tules Avenue
. Alaska Airlines Offers Mexico Vacations for Less With "Kids Fly Free" Offer
. Over a Decade of Success: Xiutla Ballet
. Tae Kwon Do International Sub Champion
. Ambitious Reforestation Program to Be Presented by Municipal Ecology Department
. Casamagna Marriot Rewards 23 Associates on 15 Years of Service
. Permanent Program For Integral Beach Clean Up
. Municipal Photo Contest Announced

Municipal Government to Start Integral Reforestation Campaign
Provided By Ambito

One of the administration's priorities is to protect the environment and the ecology

To the purpose of proving that one of the fundamental priorities of the current municipal administration is the ecology and the protection of the environment, Mayor Gustavo Gonzalez Villaseñor sent a letter to the Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources Jose Luis Luege Tamargo, asking for his support to the integral campaign to reforest the municipality.

On the same note, the mayor sppointed Benjamin Baumgarten Macedo, head of the Department of Ecology, to coordinate this important project, which fits within the guidelines and principles of the Municipal Development Plan, where care for natural resources, beaches and rivers of Puerto Vallarta takes a preponderant spot. Under director of Municipal Ecology, said that endemic species of trees to be planted during this campaign will be donated by the nursery of CONAFOR, as well as the municipal nursery, in order to coordinate the aforementioned works for Puerto Vallarta within the Agenda 21 and the guidelines of the Clean Beaches Committees.

Benjamin Baumgarten Macedo invited the citizenry in general to come to the office of the Ecology Department if they want to donate trees of endemic species, or to call 225 9658 or 225 9659.

Champions Tour and Clubcorp Announce New Golf Tournament For 2006
Provided By Ambito

The Champions Tour and ClubCorp announced last Friday 5 of August, that the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at Vista Vallarta Golf Club in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico will be the site of a new Champions Tour event next spring. The announcement was made during a press conference held at the Casa Magna Marriott Puerto Vallarta Hotel and Resort, by Dennis Whitelaw, General Manager of the CasaMagna Marriott; JC Crandall, Manager of the Vista Vallarta and Marina Vallart Golf Clubs; Ludwig Estrada Virgen, Representative of Setujal in Puerto Vallarta; Miguel González, Manager of the Puerto Vallarta Toursim Board and the Convention and Visitors Bureau; as well as Claudia Nava, Casamagna Marriott Marketing and Sales Director and Ana Cecilia Domínguez, PR Manager of the same hotel.

The Puerto Vallarta Championship will be played March 27 - April 2, 2006. The 54-hole stroke-play tournament will feature a 78-player field and official prize money of $1.6 million, with the winner collecting $240,000. The official competition will be preceded by two days of pro-am play sponsored by First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC), a global leader in electronic commerce and payment services.

The Golf Channel will air all three rounds in the United States. Vista Vallarta Golf Club is managed by ClubCorp. It opened for play in 2001 and was the host site of the 2002 World Golf Championships/-EMC World Cup, which was won by the Japanese team of Shigeki Murayama and Toshi Izawa.

"We are excited that Vista Vallarta has been chosen as a site for a Champions Tour event," said ClubCorp CEO and president John Beckert. "Vista Vallarta is a beautiful course and this event should only further ClubCorp's efforts to establish Puerto Vallarta as an international golf destination."

In addition to the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course, Vista Vallarta has an 18-hole Tom Weiskopf-designed course. ClubCorp owns two other properties in Puerto Vallarta, inc1uding Marina Vallarta Club de Golf and The Owners Club at Puerto Vallarta. ClubCorp also owns Cozumel Country Club in Cozumel.

Vista Vallarta is the perfect venue for a Champions Tour stop," said Billy Sitton, managing director of Latin America for ClubCorp. "Not only will the course provide challenging golf for the players, but the surroundings will enhance the viewer experience."

"The selection of Vallarta Golf Club for a new Champions Tour event is another significant milestone for Mexico," said Charlie Fote, chairman and CEO of First Data. "We have a long history of doing business in Mexico. The tournament has the potential to attract other companies to the country and prove that Mexico has the right business environment to accomplish great things for commerce and consumers."

"The Champions Tour continues to have good news to share regarding the 2006 season," said Champions Tour president Rick George. "This is our seventh announcement since January about a new tournament or a title sponsor extension. Puerto Vallarta is one of the great destinations in Mexico. Our players look forward to spending the week at the Puerto Vallarta Championship where they'll compete on a terrific Jack Nicklaus design and enjoy the wonderful hospitality the facility and area have to offer." The Champions Tour currently has 28 tournament agreements in place for the 2006 season, the same number of tournaments that are on this year's schedule.

At the same press conference the announcement was made that any amateur player can enter the tournament by registering for the classifying rounds to take place on Monday and Tuesday previous to the pro-am tournament. However, JC Crandall added, players who register for the tournament will acquire the status of professional player, which indeed, excludes them from participating in future amateur tournaments.

Kaiser Maximilian Restaurant & Café Serves Up Fine Dining for a Cause During DiRoNA Week 2005
Provided By Ambito

Kaiser Maximilian Restaurant & Café is among the hundreds of top restaurants in North America participating in an all-new initiative to help fight childhood hunger. DiRoNA Week 2005, launched by the Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRoNA) and Share Our Strength, will be held August 22-26.

During DiRoNA week, restaurants like Kaiser Maximilian Restaurant & Café that have earned the prestigious DiRoNA Award of Excellence will offer a special prix-fixe menu, donating a portion of proceeds to Share Our Strength, a nonprofit organization that fights childhood hunger on local, national and international levels by awarding grants to nonprofit organizations and offering nutrition-education training. SOS has raised more than $180 million since it was founded in 1984.

DiRoNA Week will give the premier dining establishments in the U.S., Mexico and Canada an opportunity to showcase their unique menus while raising funds for an important cause.

"Currently, no other 'restaurant week' is held across North America," said Larry Work, Chairman of DiRoNA and President of Sam & Harry's Management Company, which owns and operates two DiRoNA Award-winning restaurants-Sam & Harry's and The Caucus Room-in Washington, DC. "We are pleased to partner with a great organization like Share Our Strength to launch this initiative throughout Canada, the United States and Mexico."

Founded in 1990, DiRoNA serves as an independent restaurant-industry authority for recognizing and promoting excellence in dining. Headquartered in New York, NY, DiRoNA is the only organization of its kind to offer a fine dining guarantee in all of North America. To become eligible for the DiRoNA Award, restaurants must be in operation, under the same ownership, for a minimum of three years. Award recipients are chosen based on an anonymous 75-point inspection program, which reviews every detail of the dining establishment including the food, wine, service, physical property and décor. Information about DiRoNA week and participating restaurants can be found on www.dirona.com. "At Kaiser Maximilian Restaurant we strongly believe in giving back to the community. We are proud to be one of the DiRoNA restaurants contributing to such a worthy cause as eliminating childhood hunger." We look forward to welcome you and serve you great contemporary European and Austrian Cuisine. For reservations call (322) 223-0760.

Open from Monday to Saturday for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Kaiser Maximilian Restaurant & Café, Olas Altas380-B, downtown south, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. www.kaisermaximilian.com E-mail: maximili@prodigy.net.mx

During this trip, the sisterhood and the exchange in cultural, social, medical, and security areas between the sister cities of Puerto Vallarta and Santa Barbara were reinforced

A party of 27 traveled to Santa Bárbara, California, from July 29 to August 8. City Hall's Secretary General Antonio Lugo carried the representation of Mayor Gustavo Gonzalez. Also in the delegation were Tourism Councilman Agustín Alvarez Valdivia; Laurel Carrillo, president of the Puerto Vallarta Sister Cities Committee; as well as Director of Public Services Department Martín Vazquez Mendoza.

This trip represented an excellent promotion platform; authorities and Sister Cities Commitees were interviewed on regional television and talked about the beauty and tourist attractions of Puerto Vallarta.

Santa Barbara Mayoress Nancy Bloom, pledged to visit this tourist destination soon to follow up on the agreements reached and to get acquainted with this beautiful Port.

Thirty-Four Thousand New Students at University of Guadalajara
Provided By Ambito

On July 29, the lists of new students accepted by the University of Guadalajara were published, a total of 34,225 new students that will be attending the university network in Jalisco both in bachelor's level and high school.

In the bachelor's level, a total of 10,964 students were accepted, while the number of rejected applicants was 20,108. The head of Academic Control coordination, Roberto Rivas Montiel, said 35% of the applicants were accepted to the university. Communications Director Jose Manuel Jurado Parres said U. de G. surpassed the national average as to demand satisfaction. "Nationwide, universities cover only 22% of the demand as to admission in the superior education level. Today, the University of Guadalajara takes care of 35.29% of the demand, which is 13 points above the national average.

As to the medium superior education level, (high school) said high schools in the metropolitan zone of Guadalajara as well as the rest of the state, admitted 23,261 new students, which represents 55% of the applicants. He explained that from this year on, high school applicants who are not admitted to the August session (Calendar B, 2005) are not obligated to renew their application procedures, because the set up of an annual evaluation exam, (taken on May 28 and June 4) will cause that the admission lists for the first session of 2006 (Calendar A, 2006) will be published on August 29, which means 100% of the applicants will be admitted with no need to renew their application procedure. This means, 18,749 new students will begin classes in January, 2006. The new session begins August 15 in the corresponding high schools and University Centers.

Three hundred students were admitted to the Virtual University System, out of 368 applications. There was an applicant from Peru who was not admitted because he didn't take the evaluation exam. In the next calendar there will be an on-line exam for students from other countries. New students must log on to www.udgvirtual.udg.mx before August 15 to be assigned an account to take courses from September 6.

Parks and Gardens Department, a dependency of the Municipal Public Services Department started sanitation works in and around the Coapinole pond, aiming at maintaining the natural environment, according to the desire of the population in the area around the pond.

Rogelio García, head of Parks and Gardens, said this at a press conference and also said that after receiving reports from citizens about the state of disregard and the garbage that's piled up around the pond; the department has taken actions and started cleaning up the pond.

Last weekend, area personnel performed a thorough cleaning of the pond; Rogelio García remarked that their goal is to completely sanitize the place, while getting neighbors involved to have them look after the environment and contributing to maintaining the area in top condition.

On other matters, Garcia also commented that there are cleaning tasks being carried out along Francisco Medina Ascencio Avenue as well as Mexico Avenue on the way to Mojoneras, by a force of 40 personnel from the Parks and Gardens Department, with the support of the Public Sanitation Department.

The chief of the department also reported that he will maintain constant communication with the president of the neighbors association in order to keep track of future requirements, mainly in regard to the Coapinole Pond, and that a meeting is being scheduled to coordinate the participation of neighbors in the maintenance of the pond.

Municipality Builds Walkway to the Beach on Los Tules Avenue
Provided by Ambito

In response to the demands of a group of beach vendors and tourist service providers, the municipal government through its Public Works Department started rehabilitation works on the banks of Los Tules Avenue channel. On Tuesday, personnel and equipment of the department headed by Remberto Quintero Gurtierrez, proceeded to remove weeds and garbage from the channel banks to habilitate a walkway to the beach from Francisco Medina Ascencio Avenue.

Simultaneously, the channel will also be cleaned up, which will improve the appearance of this area, as informed by the functionary.

Quintero Gutiérrez also said that at the same time the Public Works Department set out to analyze the feasibility of another beach access located near the NH Krystal hotel, which could also be opened to pedestrians, and where construction of a restroom module is expected to be carried out within two months.

He added that within the same period, another restroom module will be built in Las Glorias Hotel zone, on the Frebronio Uribe Street beach access. A footbridge on the Vena Santa Maria channel is also foreseen to be built to connect with Febronio Uribe Street. A meeting was scheduled to be taking place as this edition closes, where the projects of both sanitary modules are to be presented and the mayor is to be briefed as to which beach accesses are feasible to be rehabilitated, to keep the mayor's pledge to the vendors. Remberto Quintero added that in coordination with the Urban Planning Department the blueprints for reconditioning and embellishing existing beach access are being produced, namely those on Venezuela and Panama Streets.

Alaska Airlines Offers Mexico Vacations for Less With "Kids Fly Free" Offer
Provided by Ambito

Family vacations to Mexico will cost fewer pesos thanks to an Alaska Airlines "Kids Fly Free" offer. That's because each adult who purchases an Alaska Airlines Vacation Package to Mexico between July 23 and Oct. 28, 2005, can take their child between the ages of 2 and 11 along for free. Travel is valid Aug. 23 through Nov. 5, 2005.

Vacationers can choose from six Mexico hot spots including Cancun, Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, Loreto, Los Cabos, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta.

"This is the first time we've offered Kids Fly Free to Mexico, and it makes for an extremely affordable family vacation," said Tom Romary, the airline's vice president of marketing. Romary noted that Mexico is fast becoming one of the most desirable choices for family travel due to its affordability, great beaches, resort amenities, cultural richness and ease of access with daily flights from the West Coast.

Vacation packages include round-trip airfare on Alaska Airlines and hotel for the desired number of nights. In addition, members of Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan can receive 1,500 bonus miles for booking their vacation online at alaskaair.com. Puerto Vallarta from: San Francisco, $581; Seattle & Portland, $588

At the celebration of eleven years of artistic life, the Municipal Group Xiutla marked not only one more anniversary, but the tangible translation of hard, constant work.

The celebration was held at the Central Patio of the City Hall, and brought together friends, students and alumni, founders of the ballet and authorities. Enrique Barrios Limon, founder and director of the ballet, received a well-deserved recognition award for his dedication to Xiutla since 1994; children and teenager members of the ballet were also recognized, as well as a number of collaborators and supporters on their achievements.

Mayor Gustavo Gonzalez Villaseñor, upon delivering the award to professor Barrios said this distinction is synonymous with the effort, will and love with which he has directed the ballet, and positioned Puerto Vallarta on the international scene. "This is why as we mark 11 years of Xiutla Ballet, on behalf of the Puerto Vallarta community, present this well-deserved award as token of appreciation for your love of art, culture, dance, the members of the ballet and Puerto Vallarta" the first councilor said.

Also, Gonzalez Villaseñor announced an exciting tour of the European Union, which would be a great present for the children of the ballet.

"We have been studying possible dates for their performances on the best stages of Barcelona and Madrid, Spain; and Milan and Rome, Italy. I spoke with Francisco Ortiz from the National Tourism Council, and asked him to have Sectur organize the tour, and the process is underway" Gonzalez Villaseñor said.

He said that this tour will have intense promotion on the media in those cities, to proudly represent Mexico, Jalisco and Puerto Vallarta. In addition and as a form to recoginize members of the Xiutla marking eleven years, a bronze sculpture of a couple dancing will be placed in the newly remodeled section of the Malecon. In turn, the director of the Xiutla Ballet expressed his satisfaction for this pleasant surprise, and commented that a long-held dream is about to come true: having a proper space for the training of the Xiutla, "The Xiutla Municipal Academy".

Likewise, Enrique Barrios presented awards to those who have contributed to the growth and excellence of the Children of Vallarta, as the ballet is also known. Ramon Quintero, Benito Saldaña, Raquel Rodriguez, as well as Jose Luis Mendoza, now ballet sub director, "all of them part of the gratifying adventure" were rewarded.

Guest instructors Carlos Rodriguez Calvillo and Oswaldo Farias Vazquez received fro Mayor Gonzalez Villaseñor and his wife Gloria Cordova de Gonzalez, as well as from Coulcilman Cesar Abarca and Culture Department Director Manuel Santana, a recognition for their professionalism and the teachings they have brought to the 250 children of the ballet.

The beginnings of the Xiutla ballet were reminisced thanks to the film archives of the municipality. From the very first performances to their Golden Medal in 1999, the essence of the Xiutla Folkloric Ballet was highlighted.

Zenllacy Nauli Dueñas Rivera, a student at Puyng Dang School and the recipient of the 2005 Sport Merit Vallarta Award, recently traveled to Korea with the Mexican Tae Kwon Do Team to participate in the International Championship, and made to the finals, where she fought the representative of Thailand, and obtained a Silver Medal for Mexico.

This international event took place in the city of Chuncheon, South Korea, from June 26 to July 1, 2005.

Ambitious Reforestation Program to Be Presented by Municipal Ecology Department
Provided by Ambito

In order to continue reforestation works carried out permanently in Puerto Vallarta, the Municipal Department of Ecology will announce in upcoming days an important reforestation program for the municipality.

Benjamin Baumgarten Macedo, head of the department, announced that through this program up to 10 thousand trees will be planted throughout the municipality. To select the species of tree to be planted, the study carried out by the Social Security Institute will be taken as reference, since it quotes endemic species of the region.

As to reforestation in Colonias and Delegations in the municipality, this has been a permanent task of the Ecology Dpartment since the beginning of the current administration, and up to date over three thousand trees have been given out to citizens for reforestation of green areas. This work is done in coordination with the departments of Public Services, Pubic Works, and Urban Planning, to respond to requests from citizens.

Recently, 85 trees were delivered at the UNIDIS, to benefit minors in the shelter. Likewise, within the framework of the Environment Week, over 600 plants have been given away to the population.

In the same context, Ecology works with the Natioal Forest Commission (Conafort) and the Environment and Natural Resources Ministry (Semarnat) in order to avoid deforestation of the mountains, and agricultural burnings, thus preserving the natural infrastructure of the municipality and promoting the eco tourist vocation of Puerto Vallarta.

Baumgarten Macedo also announced other actions to be taken soon, to eliminated problems caused by the Ficus, since its growth causes damage to buildings, piping, pavements and curbs, therefore they will be gradually replaced by local species such as arrayan, limoncillo, almond and palms.

He also said that along with Parks and Gardens, there is a follow-up program in progress on recreational spaces and parks, aiming at opening and fit out new recreational areas for the population.

"All of which fits within the mandate given to us by Mayor Gonzalez Villaseñor, in a precise manner, committed to the Vallartan citizenry" said the municipal functionary.

Casamagna Marriot Rewards 23 Associates on 15 Years of Service
Provided by Ambito

Casamagna Marriot Puerto Vallarta Resort rewarded the inestimable labor of 23 associates on their 15 anniversary as Marriot employees, who have worked in the hotel form the very first day it opened its doors back in 1990. The celebration took place at the Presidential Suite of the hotel with all of the Area Directors in attendance, and indeed General Manager Dennis Whitelaw, as well.

In this special event, where old friends met in a fraternal get-together, Dennis Whitelaw recognized all who are part of the first generation of employees at Casa Magna Marriot Puerto Vallarta Resort. They are a role model of commitment and excellence of service, always supportive and being part of every achievement and award the CasaMagna Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort has received along these 15 years.

At the cocktail party General Manager Dennis Whitelaw commented "It is an honor to me to have such committed and professional people in this hotel, all of this is thanks to associates like you, who by example and commitment have every guest leave satisfied, having met their expectations as to quality and service"

Associates marking 15 years are Aurora Castillo, Associates Cafeteria Supervisor; Daphne Roman, Hostess/Cashier; Daniel Perez, Bellboy; Fernando Rendon, Service Director; Fred Ruiz, Executive Chef; Irma Peña, Personnel Dept. Assistant; Jose Aguilar, Night Manager; Jose Maldonado, Restaurant Supervisor; Jose Robles, Kitchen Supervisor; Juan Rodriguez, Waiter; Lita Aguirre, Sales and Marketing Director; Luis Martinez, Event Technology Supervisor; María del Carmen Martínez, Credit and Receivables Assistant; Maria Francisca Cureño, Gift Shop Supervisor; Pablo Arreola, Barman; Patricia Sánchez, Hostess, Cashier; Perla Ledesma, Assistant to the General Manager; Rosa María Guerrero, Maid; Rosa Preciado, Room Service Supervisor; Sergio Moya, Setup Supervisor; Socorro Sandoval, Waitress.

Clean Beaches Culture and Management Group to meet here to organize actions: Vasquez Mendoza

During the most recent meeting of the Jalisco-Nayarit Interstate Clean Beaches Committee it was resolved to develop a permanent program for beach cleaning in each of the five municipalities that make up the committee; a program in which state government agencies such as Semarnat and Profepa will be involved, Public Services Director Martin Vazquez Mendoza told a press conference.

Clean Beach Culture and Management, the functionary said, will be regulated by the guidelines of the clean beaches regulation to reach good management of solid residues in beaches and then move on to better results in monitoring.

Vasquez Mendoza said that a team specializing in beach culture is to meet on August 22 to discuss and organize all the groups and lay out the corresponding program. He added that the program will be fully supported by schools, Public Services inspectors, and garbage pick-up squads; but above all Profepa and Semarnat, so every general-purpose concession being granted is supervised by the corresponding inspector in each municipality, so that it is kept clean.

Another piece of news coming from the meeting held in Nuevo Vallarta, Bahía de Banderas. Is that Yelapa beach, as well as that of Dreams, Velas Vallarta and Mayan Palace Hotels will be the spearhead of the beach certification sought be Puerto Vallarta. As to the certification of public beaches there are three choices: Los Muertos, Malecon and Boca de Tomates on which work is to continue.

Vazquez Mendoza pointed out that the Interstate Committee maintains contact with its Mayan Riviera counterpart to see to the project of beach erosion prevention.

The City of Puerto Vallarta through its Department of Culture is organizing, like every year, the Municipal Photo Contest to take place in September. The contest is an important showcase for local talent.

The bases of the contest will be issued this week, and the invitation is open to artists and photographers, native or residents for at least three years, of Puerto Vallarta. Themes, as well as printing techniques are free and a minimum of three photos can be entered, up to a maximum of six pieces, all within a series or having some conceptual or thematic coherence.

The deadline for entry reception is September 9 at the Cuale Cultural Center (Culture Department Office) on the Cuale River Island, east end. A board of judges will select the best works, which will be apart of an exhibition to open on September 26, which will continue through October 8, at the Bernice Starr Hall of the Public Library. Two prizes will be awarded, the judges award and the public award.