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| Puerto Vallarta |
| November, 2005 |
. Baby Turtles Released on the Westin Puerto Vallarta Resort’s Beach
. Mexican Night at the Biblioteca Publica Los Mangos
. Collective Exhibition Brings 40 Artists Together
. H Certification Awarded to Hotels and Restaurants
. Photo Exhibition at Public Library, a Success
. Maestro Alberto Fabian Commended by Mayor
. Working Together for Puerto Vallarta’s Downtown
. Dreadnought Capri 37 ONE CLASS Racing Sailboat
. Crewmembers of USS JARRETT Visit Orphanage in Puerto Vallarta
Baby Turtles Released on the Westin Puerto Vallarta Resort’s Beach
Provided By Ambito
 On October 4, at dusk, about 1500 leatherback turtle hatchlings were released into the ocean from the beach of the Westin Puerto Vallarta Resort, an event that attracted a crowd of Puerto Vallarta residents and hotel guests, who gathered to wish the baby turtles good luck on their journey into high seas. The females will return to the same beach within ten years to renew the cycle of life; the males will remain in the ocean for the rest of their lives, never to set foot on firm land again.
“This is without doubt the result of the efforts made in Puerto Vallarta regarding sea turtle preservation, through all these years. Westin has been part of these efforts from the beginning, thirteen years ago” Public Relations Manager Maripepa Gonzalez Prendes-Pando commented.
Last month, almost 1900 baby turtles were released into the ocean from this beach. They hatched out from eggs protected in the resort’s nestling corral, in an effort to preserve the species.
Source: Ambito Puerto Vallarta Weekly Newspaper
Mexican Night at the Biblioteca Publica Los Mangos
Provided By Ambito
 The first Mexican Night at the Biblioteca Publica Los Mangos took place on Friday, September 30, aiming at presenting the library's folk ballet and to raise funds to support the library's operation. The assembled audience was very pleased by the performance of the little kids who gave all of themselves on stage.
During the fiesta, in tune with September festivities, Los Mangos Library saw a crowd of nearly 100 people who shared a good time and supported the library with their donations in the charity fair.
The Public Library relies heavily on the support of the community to fund its everyday operations, and donations are managed by the non-profit organization Pro-Biblioteca de Vallarta, A.C.
 Minutes before the announced time, parents and guests filled every seat in the auditorium to welcome the show put on by the group of children and teenagers. Maestra Gabriela Raigosa, director of the folkloric dance workshop, supervised every last detail to ensure everything run smoothly. The library staff also worked efficiently, setting up the stage for the different numbers in the show, as well as the fair stands, games and raffles, the justice of the peace and other attractions. Moms also participated by cooking delicious snacks and Mexican food that made the delights of the guests.
Once the show started, the talented dancers brought about the most representative dances from different states, wearing the traditional attire according to each dance they performed. Among the dances stand out the traditional "hat dance" from Jalisco, "El Jarabe Tapatío"; as well as the machete dance, a mestizo dance from the West region of Mexico; dances from Oaxaca also impressed the audience. The Mexican Night pleased everyone. The little ones had the opportunity to display their talent, and the audience learned a little about the customs and traditional dances while spending time together with their family.
This is only one of many activities Los Mangos Public Library has in store for all of us this year, aiming at bringing families closer to the workshops, the activities, the staff and everything about the public library, while raising the necessary funds to continue to operate independently.
Source: Ambito Puerto Vallarta Weekly Newspaper
Collective Exhibition Brings 40 Artists Together
Provided By Ambito
The exhibition "Latin Visions, a Tour of Erotic, Sensual Art" (Visiones Latinas, Tour de Arte Erótico y Sensual) took place simultaneously in the City Hall's Central Patio and in six of the most prestigious galleries in town last weekend.
 Lifestyle and the City of Puerto Vallarta, through its Department of Culture and Recreation, organized this exhibition, opening the doors to the public of Puerto Vallarta to view this important art collection.
Councilman Cesar Abarca, representing Mayor Gustavo Gonzalez, marked the official opening of the exhibition, accompanied by Director of Culture and Recreation Manuel Santana Encarnación, Municipal Treasurer Manuel Galindo Nolasco and other functionaries, as well as Pageant Queen Mariana Meza.
The exhibition gathers the work of forty talented Mexican artists. This exhibition of erotic, sensual art took place at the City Hall's Central Patio as well as in galleries Omar Alonso, Portus, Arte Contemporáneo, Galería Pacífico, Galería Uno, Galería Gradiva and Galería Dante.
Source: Ambito Puerto Vallarta Weekly Newspaper
H Certification Awarded to Hotels and Restaurants
Provided By Ambito
 Last Tuesday, hygienic handling of food was rewarded with the "H" certification; the prestigious certification was handed to hotel and restaurant representatives in a ceremony that attracted municipal and state authorities, as well as representatives of important hospitality sector companies.
The H certification's purpose is to reduce the incidence of illnesses caused by food among national and foreign tourists, while improving the image of the city and the country as to prevention and control of diseases caused by food.
The ceremonies were presided over by Agustin Alvarez Valdivia, Council member for Tourism, in representation of Mayor Gustavo Gonzalez; State Director of Tourist Education and Culture Luis Manuel Zamora Rivera, representing State Tourist Secretary Horacio Gonzalez Pardo; and Regional Tourism Director Ludwig Estrada Virgen; Alina Quintero Ramirez, Sanitary Regulation Coordinator as representative of the 8th Sanitary Jurisdiction Rafael Nuñez Gomez; Alejandro Torres Magaña from the Hotel and Motel Association, Hector Perez García, president of the Restaurant Chamber; Alejandra Cornejo, member of the board and representative of the President of the Chamber of Commerce; Carolina Barrera, Director of Café des Artistes; Luis Angarita, general manager of Velas Vallarta Hotel and Armando Ortiz Navarro, general manager of Melia Hotel.
 Councilman Avarez Valdivia said that culture of quality and service must become icons that identify Puerto Vallarta both on a national and an international level, friendliness and good service is widely recognized, and this is due to training and programs implemented both by public and private sectors.
Velas Vallarta hotel was awarded five H certifications for its restaurant, bar, lobby bar, aqua bar and staff. Angarita Mayorga thanked everyone in the staff for a great effort.
Likewise, Carolina Barrera received the H certification from the hands of health and tourism officials, and said to Café des Artistes this certification represents a stimulus to keep up the good work on the part of everyone, because it is required to raise awareness as to hygiene inside and outside the working environment. Melia Hotel was awarded 10 certifications; it was one of the establishments with the most awards. Each of them represents a restaurant or bar inside the hotel. Manager Ortiz Navarro commented that the certification is not only a need for health, competition or tourist promotion; it is a way of life, at work as well as at home and in the social interaction. culture of quality must be a part of each person in their everyday life and bring about a difference.
Luis Manuel Zamora Rivera as head of Tourist Education and Culture remarked on the importance of attaining the certification since it requires passing 122 inspection points, 22 of which are critical. He cited the commitment of the Tourism Secretariat to create a culture in which the tourist gets quality services.
Finally, he commended Puerto Vallarta on occupying an outstanding position by obtaining 65 out of 93 H certifications awarded on a regional level.
Source: Ambito Puerto Vallarta Weekly Newspaper
Photo Exhibition at Public Library, a Success
Provided By Ambito
 The Municipal Photo Contest last Monday held its opening and award ceremonies at Los Mangos Public Library's Bernice Starr Hall.
Manuel Santana Encarnación, head of the Culture and Recreation Department, Council Member Cesar Abarca Gutierrez, Municipal Treasurer Manuel Galindo Nolasco, Culture Council Member Javier Niño, Public Library Director Ricardo Murrieta and Vallartan Beauty Queens Mariana Meza, Miss Our Beauty; and Liberia Viridiana Anaya, Queen of the Patriotic Festivities, were guests of honor.
Fifty-six photographic art pieces from sixteen participants were admitted to the exhibition and contest, and the board of judges awarded two first prizes and two honor mentions.
Santana Encarnación thanked the participants and invited Vallartan artists to show that in this city there is culture in different disciplines, which is necessary to show to the public, to plant the seed of cultivate oneself and to learn about artistic expressions in the cultural environment.
Laura Castañeda and Marcela Villaseñor were judges to the contest; they both have an extense career in visual arts and selected the series EMP by Pedro Nuño and MZ31 by Sergio Martinez as the winners of the first prize in the contest's two categories. The series "She" by Paola Pacheco with avant-garde process and "A tiny bit of a portion of death" by Ruth Alvarez were rewarded with special awards to photographic creativity and talent.
The works remain on exhibition to the public through October 7, a great opportunity for all to admire local talent.
Source: Ambito Puerto Vallarta Weekly Newspaper
Maestro Alberto Fabian Commended by Mayor
Provided By Ambito
Maestro Alberto Fabian Sahagun, director of the Municipal Theater Company, visited Mayor Gustavo Gonzalez Villaseñor last week on the occasion of receiving the National Theater Award "Wilberto Canton" in the Literature Biennial held in Merida, Yucatan.
Alberto wanted to share the award with the mayor upon his return from the Yucatan peninsula. This award represents the effort to create more and better opportunities to promote culture, and above all, the staging of plays that recreate passages of everyday life.
After congratulating Maestro Fabian on this award that dresses Puerto Vallarta not only as a tourist destination but as a people with talent, Gonzalez Villaseñor said that it is a motivation to continue to promote our culture and traditions.
"I was overwhelmed; writing is a lonely task, and suddenly I saw this play that I had written in the privacy of my home, performed by two actresses in Merida" playwright and director Fabian said.
He added that this is an act of faith to continue to write and to continue to participate in these contests.
Talking about "Memories of Paradise" as the play is titled, Albert Fabian said that it talks of love and nostalgia for the land, something he claims most writers have lost.
"I believe this play portrays nostalgia for our land and our roots. We can see in Carmen and Antonia, two old ladies, the memories of youth; they are two women who enjoy life and have projects, who stand undefeated by age" he says.
A date has not been announced for the premiere of Memories of Paradise, but Fabian estimates rehearsals will commence in one month.
Source: Ambito Puerto Vallarta Weekly Newspape
Working Together for Puerto Vallarta's Downtown
Provided by Ambito
Downtown is the heart of this tourist destination, hence the importance of promoting involvement of its inhabitants in issues and decisions of great importance to Puerto Vallarta. The first Downtown Neighbors Board was sworn in by Mayor Gustavo Gonzalez last Monday.
 In attendance at the sear-in ceremony were Municipal Attorney Miguel Angel Yerena Ruiz and Councilwomen Eva Cotreras Sandoval and Maria Concepción Arechiga Haro, as well as Director of Social Development Juan Carlos Castro Almaguer, and Chief of Citizen Participation Department Aldo Gomez Perez.
The first downtown neighbors board is made up of President Salvador Peña Chávez, Secretary Cipriano Ibarra Cevallos and Treasurer Julia Rosa Baumgarten, who expressed their willingness to work for the rescue and identity of the historic center of Puerto Vallarta.
During the ceremony, the mayor reminded the new neighbors association their fundamental role as link between the citizens and the government, in order to promptly tend to each of the needs and requirements of the area, emphasizing that each board of neighbors participates as an arm of the government, in order to maintain timely contact with the citizenry.
Likewise Gonzalez Villaseñor pointed out that the development of Puerto Vallarta requires joint participation of the government and the citizens to draw real benefits for the destination, since the city's crucial decisions require involvement of the social sector, that come to enrich with suggestions and to orient each of the actions of the Municipal authority in this regard.
"There are many projects for the center of Puerto Vallarta, many actions being carried out, but it is necessary the participation of all of you; your support, the citizen's support for those actions to be the best, so everyone through their views can enrich what the municipal authority itself is trying to accomplish" the mayor emphasized in his address.
At the ceremony, the newly elected board pledged to always serve the social wellbeing and above all, to work for a better Vallarta.
The head of Citizen Participation, Aldo Gómez, handed the neighbors associations' bylaws to the new board, and the ID cards that identify them as neighborhood representatives, thus formalizing the inception of the board of the neighbors association, who in turn delivered some work proposals to the mayor.
Source: Ambito Puerto Vallarta Weekly Newspaper
Dreadnought Capri 37 ONE CLASS Racing Sailboat
By Captain Guillermo SEMEYN Cross. S/V L'ESCAPADA - Provided by Ambito
On October 12 at Opequimar a hurried press conference was called to announce two things of great importance to the sailboat racing enthusiasts in Banderas Bay. The first was to confirm that indeed the trip was 'on' for the thirteen all female crew of Dreadnought to travel to Long Beach today to partake in the 15th Annual Linda Elias Memorial Women's ONE Design Challenge to be held October 15th and 16th inclusive. Family deaths in two of the crew members families had precluded participation but the decision was reversed yesterday.
The second announcement was to herald the sponsorship of Dreadnought and her crew for a period of one year to include travel etc in this and other races by Grand Venetian - Bay View Grand Puerto Vallarta.
 This latter is a wise choice on their part as Dreadnought which is one of eight CAPRI 37's based here at OPEQUIMAR has been a consistent winner in the monthly races held here in Banderas Bay. A remark by the skipper Laura at the conference claiming that they had first place sewed up for this year; cut to the quick of this sailor, who has been crewing for a good part of this season on BELAT, one of the 'other' eight, and a contender for that first place.
Her remark however is accurate as BELAT (I wasn't aboard) broke a mast in the last match race held last month and will be out for the balance of the year at least. The crew is made up of thirteen girls ranging in age from 16 to 36?... and they still manage to remain below the weight restriction of 850 kilos aggregate weight while us winch-monkeys can muster maybe eight crew and be nudging the weight limit. The team was formed 11 years ago by Laura M. de Legorreta. This is the only all women's team in Mexico but they will be up against some stiff competition in Long Beach
Beating us once-a- month sailors is one thing, but listen to these pedigrees:
Colleen COOKE - Southwester yacht Club - She started sailing with her father at the age of three. This isn't her first time at this race indeed she won 2nd place in 2003.
 Claudia Wainer - Long Beach Yacht Club - she has be named champion three times in the WOMEN"S ONE-Design Challenge and her skill as helmsman are legendary. Christine Roberston - Balboa yacht Club - Christine has competed in every one of the 15 races; four of them as Captain. Sandy Vissman - San Diego Yacht Club - a new Captain in this regatta but the club has been represented several times in the past. Carla Thorson - Women's Sailing Association of Santa Monica Bay - This association has competed five times in this race. Jenny Nelson - DANA Point Yacht Club - Jenny started racing in the Barnegat Bay, NJ. This will her first race here but her crew is very experienced. Our girls have competed in this race on four occasions with mixed success. This time however they have an ace up their sleeve. They usually have BRYRON as tactician but neither his gender nor his weight allow him to qualify so their tactician will be Tania Elias Calles, the third place World Champion Europe in LASERS. She is from MEXICO City.
The Dreadnought crew is as follows:
Laura Legorreta - Captain
Tania Elias Calles - Tactician
Karla Moreno0- Helmsman
Vanesa Manzano - Mainsail
Laura Robles - Genoa and Spinnaker Pole
Olivia Reyes - Genoa and Foresail
Fernanda Wulf - Winches
Alejandra de la Puente - Winches
Ariadna Velásquez - Winches
Virginia Acosta - Winches
Laura Barajas - Halyards
Alejandra Wulf - Mast
Nora Covarrubias - Foredeck
We all wish you good luck girls...come home with a trophy.
Source: Ambito Puerto Vallarta Weekly Newspaper
Crewmembers of USS JARRETT Visit Orphanage in Puerto Vallarta
Photos Provided by Ambito
The beautiful Mexican city of Puerto Vallarta is a popular destination for cruise ships and U.S. Navy ships. Few visitors, however, experience the local community like Sailors from USS JARRETT (FFG 33) did on Thursday, October 6. During USS JARRETT's recent port visit to Puerto Vallarta, fifteen crewmembers forwent a day at the beach in order to volunteer at a local orphanage, Casa Hogar Maximo Cornejo.
 The fifteen volunteers spent the morning painting the orphanage's exterior walls and distributing toys to children. Occasionally work was interrupted when crewmembers were lured away by children eager to play soccer, throw a ball, or Frisbee. "I taught a five year old how to throw an American football," said Petty Officer Second Class Nicholas Farrens. "Once he learned how to hold it correctly, he threw it across the entire courtyard. The guys were amazed."
For the past thirteen years Casa Hogar has provided a home for children ages infant to teenager. Initially founded by a local hotel proprietor, the orphanage relies strictly on private donations and charity organizations. The orphanage has received numerous visits from U.S. Navy ships in the past. A plaque with USS JARRETT's ship crest dated 1995 hangs in the entrance office, marking the last time members of USS JARRETT volunteered at the site.
For several Mexican-American crewmembers the visit had personal significance. Petty Officer First Class Rogelio Ortega was born and raised in Mexico and at age fourteen moved to the United States. Having served seventeen years in the U.S. Navy, Ortega reflected and said, "I volunteered because it gave me a chance to share what I have gained in life and bring back to my country of origin what I have accomplished."
Petty Officer Third Class Charlie Simental of Victorville, California, has participated in three community service projects during the ship's deployment. "I do it for the children," said the father of two, "It reminds me of my own children." He said he volunteers because, "Serving the community, giving back to them, or providing them with a service that they can benefit from makes efforts like these well worth the time and effort."
 "Look at the children," said orphanage caretaker, Rocio Rodriguez Rivas, "They are so happy. Your visit has more meaning to the children than you can imagine. It may be just one day for you, but this is their home and they will remember your visit for a long time."
The community relations project was supported by the local chapter of the Navy League, an organization that regularly hosts members of all visiting navies and promotes goodwill and joint projects with the Armada of Mexico. Upon completion of the service project, Navy League members gave JARRETT volunteers a taste of Mexican culture and cuisine at Mauricios Restaurant.
Source: Peter Gray
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