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June 3, 2004, ISSUE 47
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:
· NEWS ABOUT TOWN
· PICASSO SETS NEW RECORD
· SUMMER SAILING PROGRAMS
· ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY
· THE ADZINE SCENE
NEWS ABOUT TOWN
We have already had a few light rains to wash the dust off our tropical foliage, and the afternoon clouds are beginning to gather over the mountains, announcing the arrival of our rainy season and with it the incredible rapid growth of every living green thing. Do not let people tell you to avoid Vallarta in the summer because of the rain--it is usually in the late afternoon or night so you can enjoy the beach, golf, shop and go boating during the day. The clouds cause the most fabulous sunsets and the dramatic thunderstorms are brief, exciting and cooling. Our summer temperatures are lower than most stateside locations and although we have high humidity, there are breezes from the ocean and the mountains to refresh you. (Humidity keeps the wrinkles away).
Puerto Vallarta just celebrated another anniversary on May 31 with concerts and fabulous fireworks. The events planned for June are:
Sunday, June 6 - Cuban group Los Guaracheros, Los Arcos outdoor theater 7 p.m. Other musical groups will perform in other areas of the Malecon at 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. on Saturday nights.
Saturday June 12, Flamenco Dance Group, 7 p.m. Auditorium Cultural Rio Cuale, Sunday, June 13, Clark College Concert band, women`s choir, & jazz band, Los Arcos 8 p.m.
Saturday, June 19, Felipe Espinosa Jazz Quintet, 8:30, location not indicated, check with Culture Dept. of City Hall.
Sunday, June 27, Ballet Folklorico Atemoztli, Los Arcos. 8:30 p.m.
Art Appreciation Course, Centro Cultural Cuale, 6-8 p.m. June 2, 4, 7, 9, 11, 14.
Local residents were saddened by the untimely death of Dr. Lanny Dykes, who slipped and fell from a building last week. He was active in many community activities and charitable endeavors, and the family has requested that donations can be made to the Make a Wish Foundation, the Beca scholarship fund or the IFC charity fund in memory of him. A special memorial was held for him at Casa Tortugas on May 31, attended by a large crowd of his friends and neighbors. He will be missed by all who knew him.
The Chamber of Commerce has started holding special meetings of business owners and residents of the downtown area every two weeks for breakfast at Tequila`s for an exchange of ideas on how we can preserve the ambience of central Vallarta and revive the interest of the tourists in exploring the entire area, not just the places they are taken on tours. The new president of CANACO, Luis Topete, is very interested in getting all the organizations to work together to make sure our city center does not turn into a "tourist trap" and to work on internal promotion once the touristsarrive, so they have more information about all the attractions offered in our destination which they can do on their own.
A good way to express your feelings is to write an email letter to the editor of the PV Tribune, editor@vallartatribune.org or pvtribune@hotmail.com. We really appreciate a newspaper who invites opinions from all their readers. Keep up with local news online with the websites of PV Tribune www.vallartatribune.org and Vallarta Today http://www.vallartatoday.com.
The Camino Real Hotel will present it`s final concert on June 11 at 9 p.m. The hotel has been sold and we doubt that the popular concerts which have been offered free to the public for over 20 years will continue. Please ask them to continue this important cultural project. Also a new restaurant, Maria Bonita, offering Mexican and Tex-Mex specialties has opened at the Camino Real. Try it out!
PICASSO SETS NEW RECORD
Sotheby's Picasso's "Boy With the Pipe" set a new world record for the most expensive painting ever sold at auction recently, when it soared to $104,168,000 at Sotheby's. The price, which included the auction house's commission, easily eclipsed the old mark of $82.5 million set by Van Gogh`s "Portrait of Dr. Gachet" which had stood since 1990 when speculation took hold of the art market.
The 1905 oil on canvas, a masterpiece from Picasso´s Blue Period, which depicts a local boy who regularly visited Picasso´s Montmartre studio, generated excitement in the art world in recent weeks with experts predicting it could break the $100 million barrier. Auctioneer Tobias Meyer noted after the sale that the seller had purchased the Picasso in 1950 for about $30,000. Sotheby´s refused to divulge any information on the buyer..
Art continues to be a good investment, not only for the joy it brings to the owner and viewer, but also something that can be passed on to future generations, and who knows who will be the next Picasso. Also art is one of the easiest things to take back when you are on a vacation to Vallarta. You can safely roll canvases or art on paper and carry them in a tube on board the plane, plus original art is duty free. Be sure to visit the Vallarta galleries and encourage your friends to do so. There is always something new and exciting from our creative Mexican artists. You can request photos of paintings by your favorite artists from Galeria Vallarta, WebArt@GaleriaVallarta.com to be put on layaway until you come or shipped directly to you.
SUMMER SAILING PROGRAMS
Our famous author/sailor, Pat Henry is offering sailing classes for children, women and men this summer on our beautiful Banderas Bay. Children´s classes are from June 3 to July 22, women`s classes will start on June 18. and two weekends in July are reserved for the men. Classes run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. with on shore lectures and time spent on the water developing skills...sail handling, trim, knots, boat control, points of sail, safety and rules of the road. For those lacking the time, Pat also offers a one day introductory program with 7 hours of hands-on sailing, instruction and a fun day aboard the Southern Cross, the boat she sailed solo around the world. If you have not read her book "By the Grace of the Sea" which describes her incredible journey, you can call Pat Henry at 222-4119, 222-8771or 01-329-295-5613, and she can also give you more information about the classes.
ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY
This information is not intended as a political endorsement of any party, but since so many of us have paid so much into social security and are receiving or expect to receive benefits for our families, it is important to know the facts. We get so little REAL information during the political campaigns, it is up to us to contact our representatives in Washington and hope they can change things for the better and for our future.
Franklin Roosevelt, a Democrat, introduced the Social Security (FICA) Program. He promised:
1) That participation in the Program would be voluntary,
2) That the participants would only have to pay 1% of the first $1,400 of their annual incomes into the Program,
3) That the money the participants elected to put into the Program would be deductible from their income for tax purposes each year,
4) That the money the participants put into the independent "Trust Fund," rather than into the General operating fund, and therefore, would only be used to fund the Social Security Retirement Program, and no other Government program, and,
5) That the annuity payments to the retirees would never be taxed as income.
Since many of us have paid into FICA for years and are now receiving a Social Security check every month -- and then finding that we are getting taxed on 85% of the money we paid to the Federal government to "put away," you may be interested in the following:
Q: Which Political Party took Social Security from the independent "Trust" fund and put it into the General fund so that Congress could spend it? - A: It was Lyndon Johnson and the democratically controlled House and Senate.
Q: Which Political Party eliminated the income tax deduction for Social Security (FICA) withholding? - A: The Democratic Party.
Q: Which Political Party started taxing Social Security annuities? - A: The Democratic Party, with Al Gore casting the "tie-breaking" deciding vote as President of the Senate, while he was Vice President of the US
Q: Which Political Party decided to start giving annuity payments to immigrants? - A: That is right! Jimmy Carter and the Democratic Party. Immigrants moved into this country, and at age 65, began to receive SSI Social Security payments! The Democratic Party gave these payments to them, even though they never paid a dime into it!
Then, after doing all this lying, thieving, and violation of the original contract (FICA), the Democrats turn around and tell you that the Republicans want to take your Social Security away! In addition, the worst part about it is, uninformed citizens believe it! Perhaps we are asking the wrong questions during this 2004 election year!
If enough people receive this, maybe a seed of awareness will be planted and maybe good changes will evolve. How many people can YOU send this to? Keep this going clear up through the 2004 election!! We need to be heard!
THE ADZINE SCENE
FRAMING SERVICE:
If you live in Vallarta, or plan to leave for the summer, why not have your paintings and posters renovated with new finishing, new mats, or replace faded prints with new ones? Galeria Vallarta offers framing service plus a wide variety of posters and prints, in addition to our great selection of original paintings. Call 222-0290.
LUXURY CONDO FOR RENT:
Beautifully furnished 2 bedroom 2 bath condo on long stretch of sandy beach. Most rooms face the ocean. Located 10 minutes south of downtown Vallarta with buses every 10 minutes. Sleeps 4, no children. $500 a week from June to October. Make reservations now with Barbara at (323) 654-1630 in Los Angeles, Ca.
STAINED GLASS WINDOWS AND REPAIRS:
Call Marcos at 222-0290 for estimates on special glass projects.
SPECIAL ART SALE:
Several artists have reduced their prices on original art to prepare for the next season. Check out the savings of 20 to 50% on selected paintings, jewelry and craft items at Galeria Vallarta, Juarez 263 and Plaza Neptuno Local D 14/15.
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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