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Feb. 4, 2006 - Issue #67
News and Features about Puerto Vallarta on Mexico´s Gold Coast
Tips and Topics on Living in Your Own Dream Location
[Go to the Archives]
CONTENTS:
• FEBRUARY AND UPCOMING EVENTS
• PREVENT IDENTITY THEFT
• THE ART SCENE
FEBRUARY AND UPCOMING EVENTS
Puerto Vallarta is in the midst of the tourist season and our weather is just perfect. The yellow primavera trees are starting to bloom and the bougainvillas are in their glory of pinks, fuschias and reds. Everywhere you look you see bright flowers against our blue skies. The whales are cavorting in the bay and there are so many activities to entertain you, including live music in the Plaza and at many restaurants.
Our first Art Walk of the month hosted a huge crowd of art lovers in all our central galleries. On Feb. 3 Los Mangos Library held an auction for benefit of the library, attended by a large crowd. Maria Jose Zorilla did a great job as auctioneer, but unfortunately many of the great art bargains went without bids. There was also a style show and delicious tamales and snacks were served.
Mark your calendars for Feb. 18 for the RISE annual fundraiser to be held at the Marina Vallarta Club de Golf. This benefits the local home for abandoned children. Tickets are $450 pesos and includes food, beverages and entertainment, available at
Peyote People, 222 Juarez or the IFC -222-5466.
The Great Dog Show to help neuter stray pets will be held on Feb. 25 and 26 at the Agustin Flores municipal baseball field, with contests and trained dog shows from Hollywood and Guadalajara. Information at the local veterinarians offices.
Get your unwanted items ready to donate to the International Friendship Club's annual bazaar to be held on Feb. 26 at Parque Caloso, starting at 9 a.m. Call the IFC office at 222-5466 for information about where to take your donations.
Don't forget to tell your friends who plan to visit Puerto Vallarta about the Home Tours sponsored by the International Friendship Club for benefit of local charities. Every Wed. and Thurs. at 10 a.m. Meet at the Rio Cuale Hotel, 242 Aquiles Serdan for your tickets.
On March 3 there will be a homage to recently deceased Vallarta historian, Carlos Munguia at Los Mangos Public Library at 6 p.m. He served as president of the patronato for the library and former municipal cultural director.
Since the Beca Ball, which raises money for scholarships to further the education of our local deserving students, is coming up on March 4th, be sure to buy your tickets and reserve your tables now. Tickets are available at Galeria Vallarta, Juarez 265 and at Plaza Marina, Local E-6, (near McDonald's), and at Galeria Dante on Basilio Badillo. Enjoy a gourmet dinner, dancing to a live band and a silent auction at the Westin Regina Resort.
March 5 marks the date of the Fiesta Charra/Mexicana/ Americana/ Canadian, for benefit of Vallarta children with cancer. This event brings together the Asociacion Femenil Vallartense and the International Friendship Club who are jointly sponsoring the event to be held from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Rodeo Bullring in front of the University UNIVA on the road to Al Rastro-Mojoneras at the continuation of Ave. Francisco Villa. Mexican food and beer will be served and there will be an exhibition of the best Charros from Mexico as well as people dressed in the costumes of every state of Mexico. Tickets are $350 pesos and there will be buses to take you to the bullring. Meet at the Posada Rio Cuale (Le Gourmet Restaurant) on Aquiles Serdan at noon.
PREVENT IDENTITY THEFT
When you are traveling or even in your home town, you may lose your wallet, your purse, or forget your credit card in an ATM machine, so here are some tips to protect you from someone using your credit card or checks.
The next time you order checks have only your initials (instead of first name) and last name put on them. If someone takes your checkbook, they will not know if you sign your checks with just your initials or your first name, but your bank will know how you sign your checks.
Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put "PHOTO ID REQUIRED"...
When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the "For" line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it.
Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a PO Box, use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address. Never have your SS# printed on your checks. You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have it printed, anyone can get it.
Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. Also carry a photocopy of your passport when you travel either here or abroad.
We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed on us in stealing a name, address, Social Security number, credit cards, etc. We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.
File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one.)
But here's what is perhaps most important of all:
Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security number. [advice by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over the Internet in my name.] The alert means any
company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.
Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet, etc., has been stolen:
1.) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
3.) Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289
4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271
If you have a copy machine, do it now. Don’t forget!
THE ART SCENE
Claudia Nery's exhibition "Mystical Experiences", which opened Feb. 1 and will continue through Feb. 14 at Galeria Vallarta, revealed once again her incredible talent as an artist. Every painting, whether oil, acrylic or watercolor, exhibits her unique, recognizable style and her dedication to details and perfection. She incorporates symbols of Mexico's historical culture with contemporary profiles, suns, moons, and mystical figures in brilliant and harmonious colors. Her works are collected all over the world and she is emerging as one of Mexico's finest woman artists. To see photos of her new works, go to www.galeriavallarta.com or send an email to webart@prodigy.net.mx requesting photos. She also has an current exhibit in the lobby of the Hotel Premiere in Puerto Vallarta.
Carlos Cuevas will present "Indigenous Insights" at Galeria Vallarta's Art Walk on Feb. 15. This fine artist from San Luis Potosi paints realistic portraits and still lifes in the style of the old masters.
March 1 will be the inauguration of new works by Javier Zaragoza at Galeria Vallarta, 265 Juarez. He is acclaimed as the best portrait painter of older people, revealing all the details of their character and expressions.
Galeria AL will present another show by Marta Gilbert on Feb. 15. Galeria Portus, one of the Art Walk galleries, has closed due to unforseen circumstances, so we now have 16 galleries participating every Wednesday night from 6 to 10 p.m.
Bill Megrail and Yvan Genest are showing at Galeria Dante, and sculptures by Miguel Noyola are on display at the Centro Cultural on the Isla Rio Cuale.
Ron Berg's Arte en Metal was shown at the Plaza Marina shopping center kiosko during the past week. Examples of his unique metal sculptures are on display at Galeria Vallarta, Plaza Marina, Local E-6. He also creates unique tables, pedestals, clocks, mirrors and outdoor sculptures.
SUBSCRIBE AND UNSUBSCRIBE INFORMATION:
About Living Your Dream is by free subscription to our own mailing list. To subscribe or unsubscribe, please send an email to WebArt@GaleriaVallarta.com with "subscribe or unsubscribe to Dream" in the subject line. If you would like to place an ad or submit an article, please contact Barbara Peters, Galeria Vallarta, Juarez 263, (322) 222-0290 or at WebArt@GaleriaVallarta.com
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