Chacala Informa: Start the Press!

Yesterday, we sent to the printer the final layout and copy of the first edition of the Chacala Informa.

The Informa is just that: a new regular newsletter printed in Spanish and later on in English as well, with news items of interest for the people of the town of Chacala and to promote for visitors.
Some of the Informa Contributors with the first edition. Thank you to all who were involved.

The first edition is fully sponsored by Chacala businesses and produced by a small group of local residents, all volunteers. It will interesting to see how the project develops, given that there are some on the team who envisage a glossy, up market version which may suit the way the town is heading. The Informa is still a team effort, however, and we welcome ideas from all kinds of sources.

Some if not all of its content can be read in English on the Chacalalife blog. If you would like to contribute to the newsletter, or the blog, or you have any comments, send them to chacalalife@hotmail.com

Get informed!

The New Development Uncovered: The Municipal President Reveals Project Planned for the Palm Grove Area

Due to the enormous outcry and opposition that the sale, relocation and fencing has generated as well as the closure of the Historic Camino Real, the Municipal President, Hector Lopez Santiago, conducted a community meeting in Chacala on October 16th of this year to inform the residents and answer questions from the community. The following is a summary of what he said.
The Palm Grove Area 'El Palmar', as it currently stands

In spite of the worldwide financial crisis, the Riviera Nayarit project is still on course and includes the entire Pacific coast of Nayarit. With reference to the town of Chacala, the Municipal President held talks with the group of investors: two US citizens and one Mexican citizen from Guadalajara. They presented a pre-project including the construction of 3 hotels with 80 rooms each, a golf course, a residential area and a marina. According to the investors, the town of Chacala will be the beneficiary of a new sewer system, road improvements, employment opportunities as well as a water treatment plant.

As high season nears, the town demanded that a parking area be built for buses and cars, as well as public bathrooms, a recreation area as well as over the long term, green areas, and an area for athletics, etc.

View from the Road between Chacala and the Highway

It is worth mentioning that two days after the Municipal President’s visit, construction began for a parking area on land that is designated as a reserve under the municipal land that belongs to the town of Chacala. Construction also began on a new road that will provide additional public access to the town from the paved road.

Lastly, the Municipal president mentioned that the priority of the Governor of Nayarit will be progress for tourism that supports the people of Nayarit with complete adherence to the ecological regulations with minimal impact to the ecosystems, local traditions, customs and rights of the town and its people. As we again face this type of project, we hope that this time promises to the town are kept.
Diggers working on new parking lot on Municipal land, funded, we believe by the new developers.

Town Priorities: a Fancy Plaza or a working Clinic?

At a recent meeting, it was revealed by a local builder that he was attempting to raise funds to be used to build a plaza at a location by the beach. Around 25 people attended the meeting. Most thought the idea had some merit, not at the suggested location but at another also by the beach. The plaza needs to be where it belongs, next to the Church said someone, others agreed. The meeting ended on a positive note. But some are now having second thoughts.

Here's one:

'The idea of building a plaza on the beach may sound like a good idea, but in truth Chacala has far greater needs. Here are just a few. First on my list, would be to complete our new CLINIC, located on the badly-in-need-of-repair road to Chacalilla. The clinic, built with funds supplied by Rotary International, needs a sidewalk, a small garden with stepping stones, benches for people to sit on and public lighting. A request has been made to a U.S Rotary Club for furniture.

Chacala's Medical Clinic: Soon to be opened

Our town has been a leader in the recycling of plastic thanks to our children of EBACH, who in their spare time collect tons of plastic, which is then stored at our recycling center for pick up. We intend to expand our recycling efforts to include glass, paper and cardboard but we need to build a roof over the center to keep things dry.

Of course, we need a place to hang out, that is attractive to tourists and locals alike, but all projects do not necessarily come from good intentions, money should not be wasted. We can't build a plaza in a strategic place that will
become a public bar, when we still have unfinished projects like garbage and health.'

Signed Viky Robelo.

Correction to 'Lifeguards in Action'

Please note.
We wish to correct an error in the previous story.It seems that Edwardo WAS
able to get the life-saving torpedo from the storage box.This according to Karla the Las Brisas Restaurant manager.

Lifeguards in Action - Eduardo's lunchtime rescue

Monday is usually a slow day in Chacala. Eduardo, the senior lifeguard, was off duty. The newly formed lifeguard program hasn’t been able to raise enough funds to pay for a guard seven days a week, but Eduardo was visiting Las Brisas anyway.

Around four o’clock in the afternoon, a cry for help came from the north end of the beach, Eduardo sprung into action, dishes flying everywhere, and without any life saving torpedo, (locked up in storage) he swam out to save the lives of an American/Mexican couple, who were camping on the beach. Assisting in the lifesaving was Adam, a cook from Las Brisas.

Turns out that earlier in the day, about noon, Eduardo pulled from the sea three girls ranging in age from 12 to 18. Their father tried but was unable to swim and watched as Eduardo brought them ashore.

Its ironic that the day we posted our story on the blog regarding the lifeguard program that these events happened.

Along with this story is the picture of Eduardo, center, with the lucky couple. Wanda Valandra of Rapid City S. Dakota and husband Emilio Jimenez Davila of Guadalajara.

More than 50 people have been rescued from drowning at Chacala this summer. Several however have been lost.

Chacala is normally a safe beach for swimmers, but the recent storms and climate change have had a negative effect on the ocean.

Lifeguards - Here to Stay?

The annual loss of life due to drowning at the beach has resulted in the formation of a new organization: The Chacala Beach Lifeguard program.

Organizers have opened a bank account in Las Varas and are in the process of collecting donations to be used solely for lifeguards salaries.

You may have seen these lifeguards operating from a raised platform directly in front of Acela's Restaurant.

Day-to-day operations of providing lifeguards for the beach have been conducted solely by Karla of the Las Brisas Restaurant. She has arranged the schedule, has fed the guards along with other restaurants and has collected from most of the bay restaurants to meet payroll. She has even advanced her own money to keep the program going.

The fundraisers hope to be more involved with Karla in the entire lifeguard program; after all, she does have a business to run.

We have thankfully received private donations, from $5 to $50 USD, from local people and even from Chacalilla and La Penita. All local businesses are being encouraged to give monthly donations to keep and improve the current system. Donors are being presented with a certificate of their participation for posting in their places of business. Look out for these in the local shops, restaurants and other business that you patronise.

Donations of any size will be accepted and can be given straight to Concha from Casa Concha who is the treasurer of the organization. We are also planning to set up donation boxes at several locations including Las Brisas. For any further information, please feel free to contact the following addresses:

Gordon Preston: gpreston27@yahoo.com
Concha Velasquez: guanahani_234@hotmail.com
Emilia & Arturo: chacmoolcafe@hotmail.com

We all want our beach to be safe so let's make sure everyone from local business people, residents and visitors all pull together to keep lifeguards on our beach.

Viva Chacala

Happy Cats & Dogs

THANK YOU

Thank you to all of you that made Chacala’s First Free Spay & Neuter Clinic a success! We spayed and neutered about 60 cats & dogs helping to make Chacala a healthier and happier village for both the animals and the people.

A special THANK YOU to those people that made it happen……

PEACE (Protection•Educate•Animals•Culture•Environment) is a non profit organization that provides veterinarians and staff for Free Spay & Neuter Clinics in Mexico.
Molly, Anthony, Gaby, Zaidy, Humberto, & Lalo

VOLUNTEERS We were fortunate to have an awesome group of volunteers including some very experienced ladies from Lo de Marcos, La Penita and Guayabitos as well as some very dedicated people from Chacala.
Luis, Tobi, Vicki, Tandy, Gustavo, Leo’s Daughter
+ friend, Ana, Celia, Melanie, Sara, Jacque, & Isabel

DONATIONS Chacala restaurant owners and a local chef were very generous in their donations of food for the veterinarians and their assistants. In addition, business owners donated rooms for the PEACE Staff and supplies for the clinic.
Acela’s, Chico’s, Majahua, Mar 3, Mar de Jade,
Gordon, Casa Monarca, & Pepe/Koranay

ORGANIZERS Chacala locals worked together to bring PEACE to Chacala.

Jose Enrique, Luis, Viki, OM, & Tandy

THANK YOU ALL!!

The Beach IS Open!

Here's what to expect when you visit Chacala this year:

You won't be able to drive into town past those ugly shacks that lined the side of the beach road, they are all gone. You will enter town from the paved road either past Koko Bongos restaurant or down the cobbled road past Concha's. Missing will be the motor-homes and camping under the palms, as this is the part of Chacala that has been fenced off for new development.

The rest of Chacala is unchanged, the people friendly as always. Accommodations are plentiful, restaurants are still serving fish, fish, more fish and shrimp,. A new deli style restaurant just opened that doesn't offer seafood, but serves items such as baguettes, quiche, great breakfasts and coffee that is to die for. Taking your laundry to Las Varas will soon be a thing of the past, with the opening of a new laundry-mat located close to the Church. There's even as interest in opening a hair salon for the ladies.



Chacala is open, alive and well. True the run down shanty houses on the beach are gone and el Delphin is no more, but other restaurants from Chico's to Mingo's are open for business. And yes you can still visit the entire beach from any of them, including both Mar de Jade and Majuaha.

There is plenty of good news, come see for yourself!

The Chacala Fence/ or "Don't Fence Us Out"

Our beautiful, unspoiled beach, before the fence. Now the fence closes off the land from just beyond where the foreground palm tree divides the picture , all the way to the south end of the beach. (Photo by Ana Getzoff.)

GORDON PRESTON writes:
As most of you may have heard, a chain-link fence was erected by developers this summer that encloses half of the Chacala beach and also closes the original, historic and until recent years the only road into the pueblo. Residents of Chacala have apparently been unable to find out the intent of the developers or even who the developers are. To that end, a town meeting was held on 24 September 2008 in the church yard and interest was high. Officials from Compostela and the two elected officials of Chacala were present along with a large crowd of interested residents.  Now as a long time resident of Chacala, I have a strong interest in the future of the town and did attend the meeting. However because I don’t speak Spanish, I didn’t understand much of what was said, I have asked several local residents to share their thoughts on what they heard at the meeting. 

GORDON PRESTON has been a part-time resident of Chacala for 16 years, and a full-time resident for one year. He can be contacted at gpreston27@yahoo.com.

The new fence runs alongside Chico's restaurant, from the beach to the old road. (Photo by Viky Robelo)

Running south along the beach, the fence leaves one row of palm trees on the beach side. The others may be destroyed for building. (Photo by Viky Robelo.)

EMILIA ROBINSON writes this about the town meeting:

As a newcomer to the town I found the meeting pretty eye opening. I think most people were confused and disappointed when one of the officials from Compostela explained that they did not know' to whom the land had been sold and they  had no further information for the audience. Apparently, they wanted us to do the talking, so the meeting was turned over to the audience. We heard from a good cross section of the town; restauranteurs, shopkeepers, fishermen,  newcomers and Chacala residents of over 40 years. The main preoccupations of the group were that the new development be more lawful than Marina Chacala-that is that it should not block public access to the beach, it should give 15% of its land to the use of the town and it should not block off the historic road from the main road to the South side of the  beach  (near Mar de Jade) which unfortunately it already has. 

To give a couple of examples, a businessman from Las Varas made an impressive and emotive speech about the importance of the right of the common man to have access to the beaches, which are part of, not only Mexican, but in fact world heritage. There were a minority of speakers who felt it was pointless getting worried or upset when we don't even know what the development will bring, and it may not even  be so bad after all. From a personal perspective, it seems that more than anything, it was a it public airing of opinions, which may only serve as a publicity stunt to the government involved; they will be able to say "you had your chance to speak." The real shame was that they hardly even pretended to listen.

EMILIA ROBINSON and her husband, Arturo have opened a new restaurant in Chacala called “Chac Mool,” Vino deli cafe. (http://chacala-cafe.blogspot.com) Emilia can be contacted at chacmoolcafe@hotmail.com.

Facing north, you can see the partially completed fence dividing the palm grove from the beach. For awhile, the summer activity went on as usual on both sides of the fence. Now the fence runs south all the way to the end of the beach and cuts in blocking the old access road. (Photo by Viky Robelo.)

CONCHA comments on the town meeting:

Greetings to all. I have lived in this community for 30 years and I want to tell you that I am not opposed to developments, but only those that conform to the correct norms and that do not run over in their tracks a single resident.

My plea is that they leave access or windows to the sea and that in these areas there be services for our visitors and that in case of an accident an ambulance and paramedics may be able to enter.

As far as I’m concerned, I am opposed to the fact that a fence has been put up – I feel as if I’m in a zoo! (Translation by Emilia Robinson)

CONCHA is an active member of Chacala, and owner/operator of a four- unit “Techo de Mexico” guest house, “Casa Concha.” Concha can be contacted at Guanahani_234@hotmail.com.

Another view of the fence, facing north. (Photo by Viky Robelo.)

DR. LAURA DEL VALLE submits the following statement:

We, the inhabitants of the Port of Chacala and citizens of the municipality of Compostela, are resentful at the way Fideicomiso Bahia de Banderas have treated us and disrespected us by ignoring totally the needs and customs of the town in the alleged sale of the ‘poligano’ of 38 hectares of Chacala that comprises the greater part of the beach. Aside from this arbitrary closure of the beach of Chacala, access to the beaches of Las Cuevas, Chacalilla and El Naranjo have also been closed.

FACTS:
1. In August, in the style of an ambush and with no prior informative meeting with the town, a team of people began to wall off with chain link fence the greater part of the beach, thus blocking off the main entrance to the town to inhabitants of Chacala, of the region and to our visitors. As one Chacalan woman said, ‘I do not like the idea that fenced off the road that in the 50 years that I have lived here had never been closed.’ They managed this with the collaboration of the president of the Citizen Action Group, Eduardo Bustos, who told the town that the way was being closed in order to repair it; an event that was followed, to his surprise, by the erection of the chain link fence, ‘We feel fenced in like in a zoo’.

2. The approximately 100m2, traditional recreation area, known as ‘El Palmar’, was also walled off; an area that has been the access to the sea for all those of us who live in the Municipality of Compostela for many generations.

3. Besides this, people who used to have stalls at the entrance and families that have lived in front of the beach for many years have been removed and are being removed with pain and bad faith, being tricked by a so-called engineer that claims to be a representative of the buyer. He warned them that they could end up in jail if they did not get out and he promised a sum of money to some of them that has not been handed over. The inhabitants asked for relocation within Chacala itself, which was denied. The said person has shown no document to prove his judicial status as the owner or as representative. Nor has he made any kind of contract that commits him to paying the families once their houses have been destroyed.

CONSEQUENCES:
1. By blocking access to the entrance, to the parking lot and to the beach, vehicles and tourism buses are going right back out of town and we are ending up without customers in our restaurants, our hotels and shops. This sudden and unplanned action affects the daily bread of the majority.
2. The current state of affairs leaves those who live in the Municipality and those that visit us without a decent recreation area by the beach.
3. The displaced people, who make their living from fishing and from tourism, are being brought to live in great poverty since not only is it the intention to take away their houses but also their way of earning a living. With the small amount of money that they are offering (and in any case are not paying), the affected people are not even able to buy a lot in order to remain living in Chacala.

ACTIONS:
1. The intervention of the Judicial Authority of the Municipality was called upon to act immediately to remove the fence at the entrance of the town – it never arrived.
2. Letters were written to the Governor – he never replied.
3. We began to complain through the media and this provoked finally a visit from Jesus Torres Rodrigues, the new district secretary, Mr. Mario Antonio Andarete and Mr. Gabila Rosas, both legal representatives from FIBBA. When asked the name of the buyer responsible for the recent events and to show us his or her project, the confessed that they were not able to bring any information to the meeting which leads us to suppose that they were only coming to see what the size of the resistance was.

CITIZENS’ PLEA:
1. To begin with, we want the access that we used to have to the beach, in the traditional recreation area ‘El Palmar’ and that it may remain open to the public as a municipal green area park. This would become part of the 10% that the buyer is obliged to give up to public use.
2. We ask that the municipal road, which has been in use for generations and whose closure is anti-constitutional, be reopened. This could be done in the most convenient place for both social groups.
3. We ask that an entrance to the sea be made on the South side of the Bay where there are other existing and growing developments.
4. We ask that the land and necessary investment for the growth of commercial, social and civic life of the town of Chacala including the following works: Civic Square, Commercial Zone, Public Parking, Beach Services (WC/Showers).
5. Absolute respect for the docks of the fisherman which is the life and natural character of this town.
6. Relocation with lots in Chacala itself for the families of fishermen that have held possession for more that 30 years and to whom no worthy offer has been made to let them remain living and working in the very own town.
7. Absolute respect for the ecological surroundings, in as much the beach itself as its flora and fauna. We express a resounding rejection to the idea of dredging up a marina.
8. We ask to establish a ‘Free Beach’ program, opening access to all the above mentioned beaches that are illegally closed off at this time.

In essence, we ask that the Governor Ney follow in the footsteps of his father who did look after the needs of the town. Since those who voted for him did so thinking that he had the same humanitarian character as his father. We are not opposed to tourist development but ENOUGH with trampling on the needs of the town. Responsible development and addressing the needs of the town are compatible goals. (Translation by Emilia Robinson)

DR. LAURA DEL VALLE was born in Mexico City and was perhaps the first person to put Chacala on the map. She has operated a hotel retreat, Mar de Jade, at the south end of Chacala for many years. Laura de Valle can be contacted at lauradejade@gmail.com.

Sunset from the hill above town. Land to the left of the palm tree near the beach, is now fenced off.  (Photo by Ana Getzoff)

This entry posted by Ana Getzoff