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| Puerto Vallarta | | January
26th - February 1st, 2003 | Wal-Mart
Mexico & Red Cross Set Up Collection Centers In
consideration of the precarious and emergency situations in which the people affected
by the earthquake last week find themselves, Wal-Mart de México and La
Cruz Roja Mexicana (the Red Cross of Mexico) have set up 26 collection centers
in the states of Sinaloa, Jalisco, Nayarit and Colima. As
of last week, people wishing to help those in need in the hardest hit areas, may
go to Sam's Club and the Wal-Mart Supercenter here in Vallarta to drop off whatever
goods they can. The products required are: oil, rice,
jam, sugar, lentils, powdered milk, instant coffee, canned sardines, cocoa powder,
cookies, evaporated milk, Salt, canned vegetables, instant soups, baby food, juices,
powdered soap, can openers, toilet paper and cloth hand towels. Everything
collected will be handed over directly to the Mexican Red Cross to be distributed
in those localities that were the hardest hit in the states of Colima and Jalisco. Wal-Mart
de Mexico issued a call to the solidarity of all in the hope that the response
will be warm and immediate as it has been in the past.
Bus
Permit Anarchy to End Plagued by the problems caused
by the granting of permits and licenses to city buses that race at top speeds,
the Program of Modernization & Integration of the system of Public Transportation
for Puerto Vallarta, realized by the State Center of Investigation into Roads
& Transport (Ceit) last year, proposed the restructuring of services and definition
of 18 routes in the city.
Illegal Buses
To Be Withdrawn From Circulation An inefficient structure
of transportation, excessive competition for passengers, disorganized growth of
the system, excessive number of bus stops, lack of coordination among the transport
companies, lack of user information, human resource problems and an inadequate
infrastructure for buses, bus stops and stations strategically designed were just
some of the problems reported in the study made by the Centro Estatal de Investigación
de la Vialidad.
Number of Rooms to
Double in 25 Years The program of investment in public
works foresees the investment of $1.47 Billion Pesos by the year 2025, $1.378
Billion of which would be invested within the short term, i.e. by the year 2006.
Alternative sources of financing must be found in order to execute each and every
action included in the document presented by FONATUR.
PROFEPA
to Regulate Hotel Constructions As of last week, there
were 15 illegal constructions taking place in the Federal Maritime Zone. Consequently,
the Federal Office of Environmental Protection will initiate administrative procedures
to set responsibility boundaries and issue monetary fines and the demolition of
the constructions as the case may be. The Jalisco State PROFEPA delegate stated
that this is just the beginning of an administrative process by virtue of which
it is willing to hear the side of the accused party.
Master
Plan to Be "Spearhead" in Mexico According
to the Director of FONATUR (the National Fund for the Promotion of Tourism), the
urban and tourist development proposal to promote the region of the Bay of Banderas
as a single destination would be the "spearhead" of tourism in this
country. However, in order to put it in motion, the organization still has to
define the mechanisms needed to finance the project. FONATUR Director John McCarthy
stated that he was sure that the Master Plan, covering the next 25 years, would
contribute to tourist activity in the whole country as it involves a vision for
the long term. The Plan involves various measures that
would improve the quality of life of inhabitants of the Bahía de Banderas
community in Nayarit, as well as those of Cabo Corrientes and Puerto Vallarta.
It includes environmental, urban and tourism policies that would generate an integral
and diversified focal point for tourism. Among topics of priority that involve
all three municipalities and the three levels of government along with the private
sector, are the supply of drinking water and the construction of twelve water
treatment plants, eight of which would be in Bahía de Bandera, two in Cabo
Corrientes and two more in Puerto Vallarta. These would imply building an additional
43 kilometers of marginal collectors, especially parallel to the Ameca River.
There is also the construction of four radial wells and four deep wells that would
allow for the supply of water to the entire tourism corridor. In
order to find alternate sources of financing and investment that would permit
the execution of the measures listed in the Master Plan, Federal Secretary of
Tourism Leticia Navarro said that each of the procedures that exist for the acquisition
of sufficient funds will have to be exhausted. In this sense, she pointed out
that there will be contributions from foreign foundations, various levels of government,
and international credits in addition to business investors.
Stricter
Surveillance Over Whale Watching With the involvement
of the Mexican Navy in the inspection and surveillance activities, the Department
of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) in Jalisco is guaranteeing
orderly Humpback Whale Watching operations within the Bay Banderas. In
an official ceremony held last week in the presence of tourism service providers,
the authorities delivered 50 permits and flags that will distinguish the boats
allowed to offer and operate such activities. Tourists and visitors are urged
to make sure that the boats on which they intend to go whale watching in the Bay
do indeed have their permits.
Chili
Cook-Off a Big Success A big thanks to Doug &
Cathy Tiedeman and Lynnda Lucas for makng the Chili Cook-off at the Restaurant
Oasis such a big success. Thanks to those who brought in such delicious chili
and thanks to all those wonderful people and organizations that made contributions
for the raffle prizes. A special thanks to Leo for donating
the 1st, 2nd & 3rd place spoons to the winners. Three Amigos got 1st place,
Doug & Cathy Tiedeman got 2nd place and John Brown got 3rd place. Lots of
good eating and lots of fun was had by all and the Refugio Infantil Santa Esperanza
(R.I.S.E.) will receive $14,626. pesos!
New
Kid on the South Side Block Brigitte Coussard is a
very talented clothes designer. She came down to Puerto Vallarta from "La
Belle Province", Québec, Canada, five years ago. Ever since then,
she's been creating beautiful, casual clothes designed to be worn both in resorts
such as this, as well as in the summertime in the big city. Her creations are
intended for both men and women, young and old, slim and not so slim. They can
be airy and open or conservative. Whatever the customer wants, Brigitte can supply.
Everything from tops and pants, skirts and dresses, shirts and she's even created
wedding gowns for some very important people. This slim
young lady of boundless energy originally shared premises with another talented
Canadian designer, Catherine Bouysson, operating a boutique called "Lolita"
on Basilio Badillo Street. Brigitte is extremely grateful to Catherine for the
chance the latter gave her to develop her creative talents and for the opportunity
to share the space in the boutique. Now Brigitte has gone
out on her own, opening her own boutique called CousArt (meaning "sewing
art" in French) in the famous Olas Altas part of what is called the Romantic
Zone on the south side of town. Due to the high demand she's received for her
creations, she now employs a number of seamstresses to execute them, working mostly
with that delightfully light, comfortable and sometimes extremely sensual white
or cream-colored gauze-type of crinkled cotton so popular in this part of the
world. She will have colors soon as well. Her creations
were featured in a number of the very successful fashion shows that attracted
so many last spring. Now, she intends to put on her own shows, that will feature
exclusively her own designs. We know that the first will take place at the Oasis
/ Full O' Bull restaurant-bar in a very near future, and we will give you the
exact dates as soon as they are confirmed. Until then,
you can drop in to CousArt to pick out your own favorite item. Prices are more
than reasonable, considering Brigitte has never raised them over the last years.
The shop is located at 246 Olas Altas, between the entrance to the "Plaza
Dorada" condos and the Banorte bank.
The
Power of a Wish The MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION-MEXICO
just received a "rush" wish from the Oklahoma chapter for Jesus, an
8 year old boy with an advanced brain tumor who "wanted to get anything from
the Mexican TV show "Cero En Conducta". Bob
Mandel, the Foundation President in Vallarta immediately called Tatiana, the foundation's
spokesperson and asked if there was any way to fulfill the child's wish.
The
thank you letter below demonstrates THE POWER OF A WISH. Once
again... super mucho thanks to Tatiana!
Bob Mandel, President, MAKE-A-WISH
FOUNDATION, MEXICO
onsiesta@pvnet.com.mx "Just
to let you know... Jesus' wish was granted last night
by way of a telephone call from Jorge Ortiz de Pinedo. Jorge is the primary star
on "Cero en Conducta", a Spanish television show produced in Mexico
City. Jesus (who can barely speak) listened to Jorge speak
to him on the telephone in his hospital room. Upon hearing the voice of his favorite
television personality, Jesus' eyes lit up as he smiled from ear to ear. Jesus'
parents were in tears as they watched their son during the telephone call. This
was the first time they had seen their son smile in such a long time and they
are truly thankful for what the Foundation has done on behalf of Jesus. A
very special THANK YOU to Bob Mandel and his wish team for making this happen
so quickly. Jesus will be going in for more surgery soon, and Jorge promised to
give him another call next week just to talk. Have a great
day.
Mike Gamble
Make-A-Wish Foundation® International
3550 North
Central Avenue, Suite 300
Phoenix, AZ USA 85012-2127 +1
(602) 279-9474 phone, +1 (602) 241-0024 fax, Visit www.worldwish.org to find out
about the Make-A-Wish® World Wide Workout* -- Log on. Work out.* Help out! Archives
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