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May 1 was Workers Day over most of the Western World. Things are not so rosy in SMA and Guanajuato, along with the rest of the state and many parts of Mexico. Many areas are experiencing an upturn in the number of workers that are staying at home on this side of the border. There are a number of reasons for this – currently, there are far fewer jobs available in construction in the USA, and the cost of living there has risen sharply with the price of oil products.
There are also a number of Mexicans who are not taking the physical and legal risks for trips home for holidays, because crossing the border is riskier with hundreds of new border agents. ”Coyotes” are costlier – from US$1,300 to as high as US$4,000. About a million of those that stay in the USA are sending less money home, according to the Inter-American Development Bank. The result is that here, as elsewhere in Mexico, there is a tightening of the belt, as income from the “States” dwindles or becomes nothing, and greater numbers of unskilled workers
are staying with their families.
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SMA is to become better connected with Dolores
Hidalgo. For the Mexican bicentennial in 2010, the road between the two cities is to become 4-lane. The wider road is part of President Calderón’s program to expand tourism in Mexico from only beach and sea to other types, such as those of historical interest.
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There is a new Zoning Plan that became official in February of this year.
Rental properties will be the first to be scrutinized for lack of proper registration. An on-line advertisement for a “Dream Castle” at US$10,000 a week was not registered and was closed. The Urban Development Department has a listing 70 illegal bed and breakfasts, guest houses, hotels and rental properties. These properties will receive an inspection order and a notice of hearing. Specified documentation must then be presented within three days. A permit cost about $1000 pesos. Fines can cost from $26,000 to over a million pesos.
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The Villa Jacaranda has had new owners for several months now – Jamie and Spook Stream. As of May 6, they are closing the hotel for major renovations that will take about a year. However, they hope to reopen the bar and restaurant sooner.
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Groups and Meetings
May 4
- The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship will introduce a new type of program, which will take place from time to time. This first “This I Believe, This I Do” will have three members of the fellowship speak about some parts of their belief system and what they do about it. The Fellowship, which welcomes people of all ages, races, religions, sexual orientation, and gender identity, meets each Sunday in La Posada de la
Aldea, Ancha de San Antonio 15 at 10:30 a.m. All are welcome.
May 6
– The Midday Rotary Club’s weekly meeting in the Hotel Real de Minas will have Harold Shand of the new five-star resort community Artesana Rosewood Residences as guest speaker. The group gathers from noon ‘til 12:25. The meeting starts promptly at 12:30. For more information, go to
www.rotarysma.org.
May 6
– Va por San Miguel will have another community meeting at El Sindicato, Recreo 4, at 7:00.
May 9
– St. Paul’s will have a fundraising garden party on the lawn from 10:00 a.m. until noon. Funds will go to the Centro Infantil San Pablo, which gives underprivileged
pre-schoolers an orientation that is modeled after Head Start programs in the USA. Funds are needed for a new building.
May 29
– The SMA International Lions Club will sponsor a trip to Tequisquiapan to take in that city’s annual Cheese and Wine festival.
The tour raises money for the Lions’ weekly eye and diabetes testing clinic. The overnight bus tour is limited to 36 people. For further information and reservations, call Ellen Gary at 152-3406. Payments should be in by May 8.
Hospice San Miguel offers both English and Spanish bereavement support groups each Saturday. Experienced mental health professionals lead the groups. For further information, call 154-4287.
Jovenes Adelante is expanding the number of students in its university scholarship program, and thus its mentoring program, as well. Mentors meet with the students they are mentoring, and then report to the Jovenes Adelante board. Because some of the students are living and studying away from
SMA, only e-mail mentoring is possible. Being a mentor involves being involved with the student, being someone who wants the young person to succeed. Minimally, the mentor meets with students once a month, attends the orientation meeting in July and two other mentor meetings during the year to share experiences and ideas. Mentors should live in SMA full-time. Volunteers are needed as an English or math tutors, helping with the student interviews and screening, fundraising or technical support. Contact
jovenesadelante@gmail.com or Pat Harding at travel@yptd.com.
Members of Phi Beta Kappa Association living in SMA are invited to contact Mireille Grovier at 152-2253 or
mireillegrovier@gmail.com with the idea of taking part in the development of educational opportunities in
SMA. Using the website, put PBK in the Subject line, and in the message list your academic background and the year of becoming
PBK.
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Tours
May 3
– Saturday Adventure Tours usually visits an in-town artisan or artist and then goes out to the country to visit one of the businesses that surround our town. The tour leaves from in front of the Parroquia at 10:30.
May 4
- The House and Garden Tour begins gathering at the Biblioteca Pública at 11:00 a.m. and leaves at noon.
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, a walking tour of historic SMA led by SMA volunteers leaves the Jardín in front of the
Parroquia. The tour lasts a little over two hours and is mostly level walking. Taking part in the tour helps provide medical and dental care for children in need through Patronato Pro Niños.
May 6
– The Tuesday morning tour if the Botanic Garden meets at the main entrance at 9:00 a.m. and lasts about two and a half hours. Bring hat and water. For reservations, call 154-8838.
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Movies
Biblioteca Cinemateca
May 3
– Kids Matinee – Vintage Cartoons – noon – FREE
May 6
– IN SALA QUETZAL – 2:00 – Last of “The New Earth” Oprah Winfrey
Series + discussion
– Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Impassioned Eye, Doc, Fr/Eng – 3:00
– Hukkle, Hung/Eng – 5:00
– Cautiva – Sp/Eng – 7:00
May 7
– Cautiva – Sp/Eng – 3:00
– The Double Life of Veronique – Fr/Eng – 5:30
May 8
– 2012: The Odyssey, Doc, Eng – 3:00
– Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Impassioned Eye, Doc, Fr/Eng – 5:00
– The Double Life of Veronique – Fr/Eng – 7:00
May 10
- Kids Matinee – Vintage Cartoons – noon – FREE
MM Cinemas
– For schedule www.mmcinemas.com or 120-4743
Movie Pocket Theater – El Market Bistro, Hernández Macías 95 – 1:30, 4:00 & 7:00
Homage to Jules Dassin
May 3 – Naked City (1948)
May 4 - The Night and the City (1950)
May 5 – M – dir Fritz Lang (1931)
May 6 – Scarface – dir Howard Hawks (1932)
May 7 – Scarface – dir Brian de Palma (1983) (1:30 & 7:00 only)
May 8 – The Night of the Hunter – dir Charles Laughton (1955)
May 9 – Laura – dir Otto Preminger (1944)
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The Arts - Readings
May 9
– The Author’s Sala will have one of their Works in Progress readings at the Posada de San Francisco, corner of el Jardín and Calle Hidalgo, from 5:00 to 7:00. Narissa Ferrer and William Henderson will read from novels, Cynthia Huntington will try their memoirs, Mary Heslin will read from young adult literature, Al Tirado will read from a short story, and Linda Wolcott Moore from a screenplay.
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Performing Arts
May 3
– Tenor Marcos Esqueda and pianist Elena Shoemaker will present an evening of “Remembering the Past” with songs from both sides of the Rio Bravo (Grande). The show is in the Santa Ana Theater at 7:30. Entrance at Reloj 50A.
May 6
- Sergio Basurto will give another of his Folklore harp and flamenco guitar concerts in the Biblioteca Pública’s Sala Quetzal at 7:30. Entrance at Reloj 50A.
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Exhibitions and Openings
May 3
– Santa Ana Café, Reloj 50A, will have an opening for the photographs of Judith Anderson, taken on visit to village of Cruz del
Palmar, along with numerous other folks from SMA. The opening is from 2:00 to 4:00.
May 3
– The Generator Gallery at Fábrica la Aurora will have an opening from 5:00 to 8:00 for Kelley Vandiver’s Sacred Birds
(Pájaros Sagrados). On May 4, Vandiver will give a talk in the gallery from 11:00 ‘til noon, and on June 12, he will give a demonstration of creating photorealism with watercolor from 9:00 a.m. to noon.
May 3
– Valerie Mejer Galería/Estudio at Fábrica la Aurora will show four Mexican artists – Luis
Camarena, Juan Ezcurdia, Jaime Goded and Valerie Mejer, herself in a show entitled “Imaginary Horses.” The opening begins at 5:00.
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Workshops and Classes
Alan Jordan of Iguana Productions will give private acting classes for awhile. For more information, visit the website www.theatersanmiguel.com or call Jordan at 154-0352.
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