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| Puerto Vallarta |
| December, 2006 |
Sanitary Landfill to BecomeEcological Park
Provided By Ambito
It is established that after the first year of operations it will seek the ISO 9000 norm certification that endorses environmental management systems and processes
 In a press conference presided over by the director of Municipal Services Martin Vazquez Menoza, who was joined by council members Yolandaa Cuevas Cortez Edelmira Orizaga Rodríguez and Victor Hugo Fernandez Flores, as well as the persons in charge of the new sanitary landfill executive project, Luis Eduardo de Avila Rueda, from ETEISA consulting; and Ramon Aguirre from ENVIR EAU de Mexico, which will be responsible for construction and operation of the space.
During this encounter with the local press, it was made known that said work will be a great ecological park on a 48-hectare land plot in Santa Cruz de Quelitan; out of which 15 hectares will be used for final disposition of residues. Vazquez Mendoza said that once the acquisition of the land is materialized, reforestation and improvement of flora and fauna will begin in what will be the “cushioning” zone and ecological park, and the first 2-hectare macrocell will begin operating.
He also pointed out that threre will be a specialized bio-furnace for biogas and lixiviates management, thus favoring recycling and proper management which will result in production of compost and other materials, thus avoiding these substances to settle as one more contaminant to the environment.
Puerto Vallarta is to become a role model of waste management on a national level.
The executive said that once the notice of tender wasissued, five companies recommended by SEDESOL were invited to bid. Proposals were submitted  to the Public Works Committee, and the company ENVIR EAU was chosen as the most viable to carry out the project.
On the choosing of the land, Luis Eduardo de Avila explained that since two years ago, different tasks as to soil analysis, feasibility and hydrological studies were carried out on several locations across the municipality. “It was not a decision made on the spur of the moment, but one that was pondered and analyzed”.
He emphasized that as one of the guidelines that ensure the proper management systems for the project, it was established that within the first year of operations of the landfill, certification will be sought by an international organization to meet the ISO 9000 norm, thus guaranteeing the correct application of regulations sin the area.
By opening the Ecological Park – Sanitary Landfill, environmental problems caused by the current city dump will be solved, since the new one will be built according to advanced, specialized technologies to control and properly manage lixiviates and vapors.
It is foreseen that on December 31st. the new landfill will begin operations, and the current municipal dump will be definitely closed.
Source: Ambito Puerto Vallarta Weekly Newspaper
Marriott's Global Appreciation Day Cocktail
Provided By Ambito
The Marriott CasaMagna Puerto Vallarta Resort recently offered a cocktail party to customers and the media on the occasion of its Global Customer Appreciation Day. Theevent took place at the newly renovated Casitas  restaurant by the beach, and guests were presented with a sampler of the new flavors to be offered by the restaurant starting November 3.
A very lively event, the cocktail gave the Marriott’s sales and public relations staff the opportunity to share good news and good times with loyal customers and friends.
Dennis Withelaw, Marriott CasaMagna’s General Manager, addressed the audience with words of appreciation, and underlined the great work everybody at the resort is doing to achieve the levels of excellence today’s customers demand.
 The executive body of the resort was introduced to the guests, and they all were given a very well deserved ovation.
Later in the evening, prizes ranging from resort stays to dinners and spa sessions were raffled among the guests. A very special prize, consisting of an I-pod signed by the members of the internationally renowned band U2 went to Tourist Secretariat Delegate Ludwig Estrada.
Source: Ambito Puerto Vallarta Weekly Newspaper
Puerto Vallarta to Become Part of the Municipal Strengthening Program
Provided By Ambito
The program’s core objective is to incentive public and private investments, according to the destination’s needs
Jalisco Finance Secretary Ignacio Novoa Lopez and the representatives from the Inter-American Development Bank and the National Bank of Works and Services  (BANOBRAS) met Mayor Gustavo Gonzalez Villaseñor and some of the members of the municipal administration last Wednesday to present the results of the Municipal Development Support Program, regarding Puerto Vallarta.
Through the program, which is endorsed by the Inter American Development Bank and BANOBRAS, jointly with Jalisco’s state government, it is sought to establish the tools that will stimulate the municipalities finance managing abilities through a pilot municipal strengthening program.
After the meeting, Jose Chibbaro, IADB’s representative, and coordinator of Municipal development for Mexico and Central America, announced that the integration of such a project is aimed at establishing an integral development plan for Puerto Vallarta and the municipalities in the Costa Alegre of Jalisco, which will determine the type of investment required to boost the economic sector in the region.
He pointed out that an information package will be put together to identify executive projects that each of the selected entities requires over the long term; thus encouraging the funding that will back up the strengthening of the Jaliscan municipalities.
He said that under this scheme access will be granted to financial resources both public and private, after it is determined how much of each is needed. It is foreseen that this kind of program will have a 30% public funding participation, hence the importance of the ability to lobby for funds on the different levels of government.
On a second phase, it is worth noting, a territorial regulation and investment plan will be integrated, to reactivate the region according to its growth and development needs.
Source: Ambito Puerto Vallarta Weekly Newspaper
VirtualVallarta Readers' Choice Winners Received Awards
Provided By Ambito
Puerto Vallarta's finest establishments shared an intimate and festive evening at the gardens of Café des Artistes on November 1st to receive this year's VirtualVallarta.com Readers' Choice awards. Organized by Producciones Viva since 2002, this yearly poll allows Puerto Vallarta residents and visitors to cast their vote for what they consider to be Puerto Vallarta's finest restaurants, art galleries and artists in over forty different categories, such as Best Italian Restaurant or Best Wine List. The event, which originally focused only on restaurants, now also incorporates art and music, both being important elements of the Puerto Vallarta experience.
 Producciones Viva director John Youden emphasized that winners are selected by the people who regularly attend these restaurants or galleries. "Their votes cannot be bought, they have to be earned, and we take special care and precautions to ensure that the results are fair to all," he commented. People in the United States, and specially in Europe, are very familiar with these type of polls and awards. They look for logos such as that of Readers' Choice when they travel to different cities because it is a mark of quality. These awards also help build a healthy, vibrant, competitive restaurant industry and arts community. The well-attended event also included local government representatives, such as Luis Cerda, Director of Municipal Tourism, Agustín Alvarez Valdivia, and Puerto Vallarta Tourism Director Ludwig Estrada.
Youden also introduced the latest issue of Vallarta Lifestyles, the company's flagship publication, and encouraged everyone to begin voting for next year's award. To cast your vote please visit: http://www.virtualvallarta.com/readerschoice
Source: Ambito Puerto Vallarta Weekly Newspaper
Vallartan Firefighters Reach Training Agreement
Provided By Ambito
Mission, Texas Fire Chief to train firefighters on handling of hazardous materials and arson investigation
 Based on the agreements reached by the cities of Puerto Vallarta and Mission Texas, as to tactic and training exchange for security bodies, members of the fire department began taking a special training course on handling of hazardous materials and arson investigation.
Previously, Mayour Gustavo Gonzalez Villaseñor met with members of the sister cities committee from Mission, Texas, with the presence of Committee Secretary Aida Lerma, Fire Chief Ricardo Saldaña and First Officer Oscar Alanis.
At the meeting were also the Sister Cities President Antonio Lugo Morales, and representatives of Puerto Vallarta Security Corps Miguel Santana and Cain Espino and Fire Commander Braulio Ramirez García.
Commander Ricardo Saldaña said that throughout the week, the firefighters will be trained in control of fire by hazardous materials, and will also receive a basic course on fire analysis and arson investigation.
He said that the training will be continuous, therefore in the upcoming months of March and April, a second training session will take place, and it will be sought that ten personnel of the fire department travel to Mission to attend a training campus for anti-fire tactics, rescue, scuba diving and rescue in high waters.
In turn Braulio Ramirez Garcia underlined the importance of this visit, which will bring about an improvement in the performance of the Municipal Fire Department, being as it is, “the first time a Fire Chief comes to collaborate and be brothers with us”.
Source: Ambito Puerto Vallarta Weekly Newspaper
Vallarta Film Festival Announced
Provided By Ambito
Formerly known as the Puerto Vallarta Film Festival, it now becomes the Vallarta Film Festival, and includes the participation of the Government of Nayarit, the Visitors and Conventions Bureau of Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit; and the Autonomous University of Nayarit.
The Vallarta Film Festival will be held on November 28 to December 3, and will include a wide selection of environmental films, documentaries, and lectures by renowned environmentalists. It will also include a section of Latin American films, Canadian movies, short films of the Americas, American independent films and Hollywood m ovies.
Parallel to the events of the festival, the Autonomous University of Nayarit will show two movies by Emilio Indio Fernandez; “Abandonadas,” and “Macario” as well as the movie “In the Hole”, from Mexican filmmaker Juan Carlos Rulfo. The films will be shown at the university campus in Tepic, on November 27 and 28. Also the University has organized a short film contest, with the accepted films being shown at the festival.
Cinemark will be the venue for the festival, and the open air shows at Los Arcos are returning to the festival with feature film by John Huston “The Night of the Iguana” this time being shown with Spanish subtitles, being presented as part of the celebration of Huston’s 100th birthday.
Lectures will be given at Cinemark, by Juan Carlos Rulfo, Gabriel Beristain, Billy Rovzar and Robert Green, on different aspects of filmmaking, from directing to financing and distribution.
 It is worth noting that the objectives of the festival are not only tourist promotion, but to create a bond between the Mexican film industry and Hollywood, the new generations of filmmakers looking for a space in the industry, and to raise awareness on environment preservation.
Vallarta Film Festival has new and important support from the private sector and the extraordinary efforts of Governor Ney Gonzalez. It is also commendable the effort of The Visitor and Conventions Bureau of Vallarta Nayarit.
As part of the festival activities, a jazz and blues concert will be performed by singer Maria Muldaur at Flamingos Playa del Sol Grand on November 30, at 19:30 hours.
Awards will be given by the festival. The Indio Fernandez award will go to the overall winning entry of the Short Film contest. At the closing ceremonies in Paradise Village El Tigre Golf Club, the Blockbuster Award, the audience award will go to the best film of the festival. The Elizabeth Taylor Award will go to the best environmental film; the Richard Burton award to best actor and actress, and the John Huston Award for a lifetime achievement in film directing will also be handed out at the closing ceremonies.
The Film Festival is also paying homage to Maria Conchita Alonso, for her remarkable achievements in the Hollywood scene and for blazing the trail for a new generation of Latin Americans coming to Hollywood.
The program is to be announced soon, for further information log on to http://www.vallartafilmfestival.com
Source: Ambito Puerto Vallarta Weekly Newspaper
Xiutla Folkloric Ballet Performs in China
Provided By Ambito
 Puerto Vallarta’s Xiutla Folkoloric Ballet received a warm welcome upon arriving in China, and had its first performance in China to a sold out theater. Before the ambassadors from Mexico, Argentina, Bangladesh, Australia, Spain, Arabia, Poland and England, and an audience of over 400, the ballet performed extraordinary dances, representative of the many regions of Mexico, among them, and most importantly, the folklore of the State of Jalisco.
Gloria Córdova de Gonzalez, DIF President, addressed the audience on behalf of Mayor Gustavo Gonzalez Villaseñor, and expressed her appreciation for such a warm welcome and the contact established by both cultures thanks to this tour the ballet is taking in several cities of China.
As token of appreciation and friendship, Mrs. Cordova presented Mrs. Lu Hong Chen, Secretary General of the Cultural Exchange Center with a Huichol art piece.
Mexico’s Ambassador in China, Sergio Ley Lopez, expressed recognition to the Vallartan delegation, for bringing to the Chinese public a taste of what Mexico can offer as to its culture and tradition.
Source: Ambito Puerto Vallarta Weekly Newspaper
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