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| Puerto Vallarta | | April
6th - April 12th, 2003
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Holiday Closings
The Canadian Consulate Office in
Puerto Vallarta will be closed on April 17-18 for Easter
Thursday & Good Friday.
PV Navy League Takes National Lead
On April 4th and 5th, The Navy League
of Puerto Vallarta will host the first ever conference
involving all active Navy League Councils across Mexico,
together with key leaders from the Navy League of the
United States. This conference will establish the Puerto
Vallarta Council as the clear leader for this important
charitable organization in Mexico.
This achievement has been made possible
by the outstanding leadership of past-president Warren
Johnson and current president, Jerry Lafferty. The first
step leading to holding a national conference here in
Puerto Vallarta was taken last year when a group of
Navy Leaguers from our city attended the annual international
meeting of the Navy League in New York.
Thanks to the contacts achieved during
this meeting, two important decisions emerged. Firstly,
Mexico gained increased recognition in the structure
of the international organization. This was symbolized
by the decision to create a separate regional entity
embracing Mexico and the Caribbean. Secondly, the Puerto
Vallarta Navy League was invited to organize a Mexican-wide
conference with the objective of increasing the links
between NL Councils in Mexico and better cooperation
between the Mexican groups and the organizational headquarters
in the United States.
All this will come together when
Puerto Vallarta Navy League President Jerry Lafferty
and his wife Ann host an opening reception at their
home in Conchas Chinas on the evening of Friday April
4th. Ann also serves as V.P Communications for the Navy
League here in Puerto Vallarta. The following day will
feature discussion groups with the task of mapping out
future activities for the Mexican Navy Leagues.
This part of the agenda will be guided
by the U.S. Navy League’s ambassador to Mexico,
Carl Ann Hackley. This will be followed by a luncheon
at which the key-note speaker will be the U.S. Naval
Attaché from the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City,
Captain Ted Ferriter.
Other distinguished guests participating
will include Bill Waylett from the U.S. Headquarters,
Evan Baker, Howard Backus and the Mexican Admiral for
the West Coast, stationed in Manzanillo.
All the activities on Saturday April
5th., will take place at the Marriott Magna Hotel.
Upcoming Blood Drive
The International Friendship Club
of Puerto Vallarta (IFC) in conjunction with Ambulancias
Global are hosting a blood drive on Wednesday, April
9, 2003 from 9am until 8pm. The Blood Bank of Puerto
Vallarta continues to have critically low supplies,
of all blood types. With Semana Santa (Easter week)
approaching the end of April, all local hospitals and
medical facilities are preparing for the annual influx
of visitors and the increase in hospital demands that
accompanies this busy time period. Puerto Vallarta and
Nuevo Vallarta urgently need blood, especially now.
There is only one blood bank in Vallarta, located at
Hospital San Javier Marina. All medical facilities in
the area depend on this source, which is seriously undersupplied.
Fortunately the word on this issue is spreading and
organizations such as the Friendship Club of La Cruz
have responded, holding a blood drive in February where
28 people donated. The International Friendship Club
of Puerto Vallarta is now responding and hopes to have
a minimum of 100 donors.
During these difficult times with the world in the state
it is in, people can relieve some of their anxieties,
fears and frustrations by shifting focus for a moment
by reaching out, doing acts of kindness and giving to
those in need. If you meet the qualifications below,
please consider going to the IFC Clubhouse on April
9, 2003 for the chance to do something wonderful by
giving the gift of life. This will be an opportunity
to make a positive difference, making a significant
contribution to Puerto Vallarta and surrounding communities
in helping to save lives.
To Donate:
- You must be 18 years or older, 60 years maximum but
exceptions are made if you are in good health.
- Weigh more than 50 kilos.
- Be in good health.
- Have no infectious diseases (hepatitis, AIDS, etc)
A short (and confidential) medical history will be taken.
If you meet the requirements, your blood will be drawn
and tested. Approximately 15 minutes later, if your
blood is OK, the donation process will begin, taking
approximately 45 minutes. You might feel a bit weak
or lightheaded for a short-time afterwards but with
some juice, cookies and rest, you will be fine.
The staff from the Blood Bank is meticulous about meeting
all standards for cleanliness and safety.
The International Friendship ClubHouse is located in
the Edificio Parian del Puente on the corner of Libertad
and Miramar Streets, next to the downtown Bital Bank,
the Fuente del Puente Restaurant and the University
of Guadalajara Language School.
For further information, questions or comments, please
comment Pamela Thompson at 226-1010, Ext. 304, 223-1695,
044 322 294-0650 or pmt@prodigy.net.mx
Press Release
Burro Bar Manager Assaults Tourist
On Monday, March 10 in the morning,
Jeff Musto, a tourist from Minneapolis, was walking
with a friend on the path in front of the entrance to
the Burro Bar when he was suddenly assaulted from behind
by Oscar Brambila, the manager and son of the owner
of the Burro Bar.
This was an unprovoked, surprise
attack with a stick thought to be broom handle. Mr.
Musto fell to his knees in agony as bystanders immediately
came to his rescue and the mayhem began. The police
were called, Mr. Brambila hid in the restaurant kitchen
where the police found him and arrested him. Upon handcuffing
him, another melee began with restaurant employees and
Mr. Brambila pushing police and screaming obscenities
in a demonic rage.
Oscar Brambila claimed that Mr. Musto
had called him an idiot. In fact, no such reference
had been made and certainly, he claimed, no comments
were directed his way. He wasn’t even aware that
Mr. Brambila was in the area. “This is outrageous.
The man must be delusional,” Jeff Musto responded.
He pressed charges and the assailant was taken to jail.
Witnesses commented that this was
just another in a long string of violent acts by
Oscar Brambila. Earlier this year he was seen kicking
and beating a beach vendor in an attempt to keep him
from passing along the beach in front of the restaurant.
The Burro Bar owners have built the restaurant to the
water’s edge in an attempt to thwart beach traffic
in front of them.
Previously Oscar Jr. was well known
for threatening owners and administrators at Plaza Mar.
This latest physical assault follows
a criminal lawsuit filed by the building association
earlier this season. Specific to the lawsuit is that
the Burro Bar constructed a hut next to the building
on Federal land without a city building permit, a Federal
permit or notification and approval.
The construction continued in defiance
of city inspectors instructing them to stop and the
site being sealed. In fact, Mr. Brambila was cited only
a few days earlier for continuing work on the construction
in clear defiance of city inspectors. Yet, no fines
or punishment have been imposed by the city to date.
The criminal lawsuit by the Condominium
Association was filed because government authorities
have refused to act on the continued violations at the
Burro Bar. One witness claimed to have seen city authorities
enjoying free meals and drinks at the restaurant and
stated that as the reason. Another claimed to have actually
seen bribes being given by Mr. Cervantes.
Over the years, numerous complaints
have been lodged by other condominiums on the waterfront
to Semarnat of their activities and plantings to the
extent that the authorities in Mexico City have not
renewed their concession rights for the past two years.
Still, they continue to operate on the site and have
created what residents commonly refer to as the “Blight
on the Beach.”
But until now, no incidence has been
reported of the Burro Bar assaulting a tourist.
“This is a grave escalation
of a problem which no longer can be ignored,”
commented Jim Callan, president of the Plaza Mar Condominium
Association. “Tourism is down in this part of
town and the authorities must see this as one of the
problems. Puerto Vallarta has always had a reputation
for friendliness. The Burro Bar activities stand in
direct contrast to everything the city is promoting.”
Calls have been made by the administrators
of buildings along the beach to boycott the restaurant.
“At least if the authorities won’t take
action, the tourists can,” one said.
Owners of condos along the beach
have watched in dismay as the Burro Bar continued to
expand. After complaints, a forest of palms was planted
to spite the owners by blocking their views up and down
the beach. Now, the restaurant extends to the actual
water line blocking tourists from walking along the
beach without going into the water.
In addition, there have been many
individual complaints in the past few years, as the
bar became a magnet for drunk and disorderliness, underage
drinking and overcharging of patrons.
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