While we're on the subject of subjects. I have been getting a number of emails asking about the Lukeville border crossing. With so many migrants gathering in Tijuana, people understandably want to know if there is a problem or delay happening at our gateway back and forth. I'm happy to report that it's business as usual. I see people who come and go every day and everyone of them tells me that they have beefed up the security a bit, but there is no problem and no unexpected delay.

Just give me a call or send me an email any time and I will do my very best to help you. If I can't help you myself, I'm sure that I can point you in the right direction and help find you someone who can. 

    

President/Volunteer

Tourist Assistance Unit Advisory Committee

602-774-1777

www.touristassistancerockypoint.org

[email protected]

Rocky Point Rally 2018 Donates Funds to Local Charities

The Convention and Visitors Bureau - OCV, of Puerto Peñasco, is proud to participate as an organizer and promoter of important events that helps keep this growing tourist destination on top and confirm it as the most important City in Sonora for tourism.

Most recently, the Rocky Point Rally 2018 had another stellar annual event, collecting over $416,000 pesos which was donated in full to various local charities.

 

The beneficiaries are: DIF Puerto Peñasco and Sonoyta, Red Cross, Local Fire Department, Jose Dávalos Valdivia - Home for the Elderly, Papanicolau George Association, La Montaña Special Needs School, as well as the Scholarship Programs and the Rocky Point Student House in Mexicali, sponsored by DIF Peñasco.

The coordinator and founder of this annual event, Oscar Palacio, commented that with the 18 annual Rocky Point Rallys since 2000, more than $273,000 US Dollars has been donated to these charitable causes.

 

The City Council of Puerto Peñasco and the municipal offices of Security and Public Services also deserve special recognition for the support during the Rally in preserving peace, as well as their participation in keep the streets and malecon clean.

Más Rock, Más Golf, Más Fun at 2019 January Jam - MLK Weekend

 

 

 

Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers will launch 2019 in Puerto Penasco, Sonora, Mexico MLK Weekend January 18-20, 2019 with their 11th January Jam.  

 

In addition to headlining 3 shows in consecutive days, RCPM will bring several other musical acts, play their Honky Tonk Union album in its entirety and welcome Arizona Diamondbacks legend Luis Gonzalez and friends for a second charity golf tournament.Discounted advance purchase individual day, discounted 3-day Combo and a limited supply of VIP tickets all go on sale Black Friday, November 23rd at www.januaryjam.net .

 

This year nationally touring artists Jason DeVore & The Conviction, Miles Nielsen and Jim Dalton will perform sets throughout the weekend as will regional favorites The Jons, Shawn Johnson & Kyle Owen, Kyle Phelan & Chad Gregory and Morgan Whitney. A complete listing of venues, line ups, schedules and ticket options can be found at www.januaryjam.net .

 

The Mexican Moonshine Tequila Classic makes its return to The Links at Las Palomas Saturday morning January 19th. Most recognized for its fun,11 hole format and expressive golf attire, the tournament also raises money through a Raffle and tournament registration. For those wanting a more competitive format, join Dbacks legend and recent Puerto Penasco advocate, Luis Gonzalez, Sunday January 20th also at The Links at Las Palomas for the inaugural Luis Gonzalez & Friends Charity Golf Tournament. For more information and registration, visit www.laspalomasresort.net . All money raised from both tournaments fund Puerto Penasco based charities.

 

Preferred accommodations while supplies last can be found by contacting RPR Mexico at 866-483-3379 or by visiting www.laspalomasresort.net . Attendees are encouraged to get their advanced purchase tickets Friday, November 23rd through January 17. Tickets purchased after January 17 will go up both online and at the door. Kids 14 and under are free with paying adult.

 

Following a marathon eight-day recording session in Cholla Bay in 2008, RCPM floated an invitation to fans north of the border via "The Watering Hole" online fan lounge announcing an impromptu concert to be held at sunset at JJ's Cantina. Hundreds showed up, the band played the newly recorded songs which became the album Turbo Ochofollowed by another set of classics for good measure. Fun was abundant and made the annual Winter pilgrimage to Puerto Penasco for January Jam a tradition.

 

Questions? Visit www.januaryjam.net and we look forward to seeing you at the beach for January Jam!

If You Think Good People are Hard to Find, Meet Mark and Barb Olszewski

By Joe Houchin

At first blush one could get the idea that our little paradise by the sea is bubbling over with charitable organizations. Taking a closer look, however, reveals that there is very little duplication of effort and a whole lot of cooperative endeavor toward providing for all the needy citizens of this deserving community.

As with any volunteer effort, or any effort for that matter, the effectiveness of reaching goals is directly related to the motivation of those who are willing to take massive, immediate action to get stuff done.

Enter Mark and Barb Olszewski who moved to Rocky Point nearly two decades ago from Tempe, Arizona and who are known and appreciated by dozens of charitable organizations and thousands of local citizens-kids and parents alike.

Their good natured good will is contagious. Their energy is awe-inspiring. Their ability to fulfill the wish lists of myriad charities is downright enviable. Plus they have consistently provided the wide variety of school supplies and equipment for the 10 schools and nearly 2,500 students in the "Adopt a Class Room" charity they personally founded in 2003. ( http://www.rockypointclassroom.com)

Their ingenious approach to solving specific challenges and needs of the various charities is surely what has endeared them to so many worthy organizations in the community. They've secured wheel chairs for La Montaña School for special needs kids; wheel chairs, walkers and canes for the D.I.F. (The official government organization to assist needy families); cash, clothing and toys for Esperanza Para Los Niños home for underprivileged children; and food for the indispensible "2 Fish Ministry" that serves over 70,000 meals to the needy each month.

In 2007, Mark and Barb got involved helping La Esperanza Para Nueva Vida (Hope for New Life) Assistance Center, the all-volunteer neighborhood social assistance organization founded eight years ago by Harold and Kathy Tuttle and Robert and Pamela Martin. ( http://www.laesperanzaparanuevavida.mex.tl )

 

Blanca Estela Soto Ayala, a licensed Physical Therapist in her parallel life, has been the energetic visionary and volunteer Director and President of the organization since the beginning. She's grateful to Mark and Barb for their help in raising thousands of dollars to build the basketball courts and two additional buildings to the center. This has enabled them to provide classes teaching sewing, haircutting and cooking as well as computer skills on computers donated through the efforts of Mark and Barb.

Between the two of them, Mark and Barb have developed dozens of contacts in the U.S. and Mexico such as the Tuttles, Martins and AIM, who have provided truckloads of school supplies to their "Adopt A Class Room" program; as well as 2-4,000 pounds of fresh vegetables that are bagged and distributed through the neighborhoods each month.

They have raised thousands of dollars with creative fundraising activities such as Barb's Rubber Ducky Race where they dumped 1500 numbered rubber duckies into the Sea of Cortez and gave out hundreds of donated prizes as the tide brought them back to the beach.

Mark, an avid swimmer, Certified Dive Master and underwater videographer, once raised several thousand dollars by swimming from the Old Port to The Reef-yes, you read that correctly!

He has also been Santa Claus to literally thousands of kids throughout Puerto Peñasco and known to ride his unique miniature Harley Davidson through the neighborhoods dressed as Santa to the amazement of children all around.

These are but a few of the amazing feats accomplished by this unassuming couple. As if these weren't enough they have just begun another major charitable endeavor to provide food for the thousands of residents here who have been caught in the economic crash from the tourism downturn.

Shortly after relocating to Rocky Point and looking for ways to expend their energies, Mark was helping in the opening of a then newly redecorated Margarita Villa as well as working as Dive Master aboard the popular "Island Explorer". Barb found herself managing the local Dive Shop.

It wasn't long afterward that they launched Rocky Point Boat Charters ( http://www.beachseasun.com ) which led to many long term relationships both locally and throughout Arizona, California and other states.

One of those relationships was established with famed Arizona Republic writer Arthur G. Sloane (red cap in photo) who was just beginning his Rocky Point Tour series to raise money for veterans with special needs. He and Barb hit it off right away and she worked as his destination operator for several years. His tour participants would even bring school supplies with them for the Adopt a Classroom program.

Mark, Barb and Arthur along with Sandy O'Hare of the Rocky Point Times are once again working together, this time to collect food for the needy in our fair town. The food drive began on April 24th and will run through June 8th. Arthur Sloane announced the drive in his column in the Republic on April 25th. If you can possibly contribute to this worthy cause, there are several ways to do so. If you're not planning to be in Rocky Point during the drive, you can call Arthur Sloane at 480-802-6810 and arrange to drop your donation by his home.

If you plan to be in Rocky Point between now and June 8th, you can call Mark and Barb before you leave home on their Phoenix telephone number at 602-324-9529, or from your land line in Rocky Point to 383-4963. If you know where the Rocky Point Times office is, you can always drop your non-perishable food items off there. There should be more drop-off points added in the near future and we will be sure to keep you advised. As always, your generosity is greatly appreciated by everyone involved in this important food drive, especially Mark and Barb Olszewski, who will even come by and pick up any food items you've brought down to Rocky Point with you. Just give them a call.

You're not in a conversation with this pair long before you notice something missing: the absence of negativity. It's made even more obvious by the abundance of enthusiasm with which they approach everything they do, indeed, even their philosophy on life and their faith in humanity.

"Why are we here on God's earth if not to help our fellow man in need." says Mark, who grew up 100 miles south of Chicago in the small town of La Salle-Peru. "My Dad taught me to look at others' needs before my own; to help them until they can help themselves. Then they will know how to help others when they can."

Barb is from the same philosophical mold, raised in a part of Missouri so rural the family mail box was seven miles from home! "We always helped others," Barb confides, "living that far from nowhere, it was second nature!"

If you think good people are hard to find, talk to these folks. They are good people!

New 20 Peso Coin Design Confusing

Is this coin valued at 20 pesos or 50 pesos?

The Bank of Mexico (Banco de México) has recently issued into circulation a 20 peso commemorative coin honoring the 50th anniversary of the implementation of Plan DN-III-E, which recognizes the work of the Secretariat of National Defense in safeguarding the life and property of those affected by natural disasters.

On the reverse side, the center of the field is shown, as its main motif, an equilateral triangle, an internationally accepted element as a symbol of prevention and protection - in its interior the legend "50 years", and behind, two crossed anchors.

The triangle represents the elements of land, air and sea through which the Mexican Navy carries out its functions of support to the civilian population.

Just for your Convenience

Franchise convenience stores have come a long way in Mexico, proliferating over the years to the extent that there are now thousands of them across the country-from the largest cities to smallest towns.

People living in urban areas in Mexico tend do their main shopping at the supermarket-the principal chains are Walmart, Soriana, Mega, and Chedraui.

The local tienditas, which sell everything from pre-packaged cupcakes to soap, eggs and other staples, became the secondary source of groceries-things that people unexpectedly ran out of or forgot to pick up at the supermarket.

The tienditas clearly can't compete with the economies of scale that the supermarket chains employ, and therefore things they sell are generally more expensive, although their location in the heart of residential neighborhoods still gives them an advantage for smaller purchases.

Most of the tienditas are family-run businesses, and the shopkeepers end up working long hours to keep the store well-stocked and make a profit. Some will deliver to your home-more precisely, you can phone them and they send a boy 'round on a bike.

Into this neighborhood terrain came the franchised convenience stores which began to appear in earnest during the 1990s.  The biggest convenience store chain is Oxxo with more than 13,000 outlets; followed by 7-Eleven, Extra, and Circle K. These stores aren't cheaper than the tienditas-some products are more expensive-but many offer 24-hour service, serve fresh coffee, and tend to be cleaner and brighter than most of the local stores.  Customers can also use these convenience stores to pay utility bills, deposit and withdraw money from certain local banks, transfer money to third parties, and buy cell phone airtime.

When you consider the hundreds of millions of dollars that go into expansion and marketing of these franchise chains, what's perhaps astounding is that the tienditas have survived at all. And yet, they remain part of the Mexican retail landscape.

Some of the more astute tiendita owners who have been challenged by an Oxxo or 7-Eleven on their street have continued to attract customers through product diversification.  The franchised stores' stock is mostly limited to pre-packaged products which the franchisees have little control over.  By contrast, local shop-keepers have the option to diversify and some have done so by introducing products that the franchised stores don't offer, including fresh fruit and vegetables, freshly squeezed fruit juices served during morning hours, freshly baked sweet and savory breads, and even meats like fresh poultry and charcuterie.  By offering things that the convenience stores can't by design, the local tienditas have given local customers a reason to visit their stores - where they may also purchase much of what the convenience store offers, with the exception of bill-paying and financial services.

One aspect that is often overlooked in regard to the tienditas' commercial ethos is that they're not really run as profit-centers, but rather intended as a means to sustain the family that runs the store. Their overheads are low, there are no 'salaries' per se, and they run the shop on a subsistence basis.  This perhaps gives an insight into what keeps the old-world tienditas going amidst a torrent of contemporary marketing.

The number of tienditas has, undoubtedly, declined over the last decade and will probably continue to do so in the years ahead. Younger generations growing up tend to have different ideas about commerce and thus less likely to follow in the footsteps of their parents and grandparents.

Bring This With You When You Go

 

Teachers of English frequently find themselves explaining the difference between "bring" and "take," and when to use one and when the other.

The Spanish verbs " traer" (bring), and " llevar" (take), are applied almost in the same way. That is, traer is mostly used when the action is toward the place where the speaker is, and llevar when the action is away from the current location.

For example:

 

Please bring me my coat. Por favor, tráeme mi chamara.

 

Take this book to the library. Lleva este libro a la biblioteca.

 

These are clear-cut examples, where the coat is brought to the place from another place, and the book is taken from the current place to another. As in English, there are cases where different verbs can be used for the same action, depending on the reference point chosen by the speaker. Someone at home could say: llevaré mi computadora al trabajo mañana. I will take my computer to work tomorrow. Or, traeré mi computadora al trabajo mañana. I will will bring my computer to work tomorrow.

In both cases, the computer goes from home to the office, although the speaker's reference varies.

Some people use the word 'bring' when they plan to take something or someone with them whether the action is toward or away from the location of the speaker. This is feasible in Spanish, but not usual. I will bring my umbrella with me when I go to school. Traeré mi paraguas cuando voy a la escuela," although it would be more usual in Spanish to say, llevaré mi paraguas cuando voy a la escuela.

 

The verb traer is irregular in Spanish, with the simple past tense yo traje, tú trajiste, él/ella trajo, nosotros trajimos, ustedes trajeron.

 

Llevar is regular following rules for "ar" verbs.

Also to note: the Spanish verb for take - as in taking something from someone, taking a break, or taking note, is tomar, not llevar. El profesor tomó el libro del librero. The teacher took the book from the shelf. Toma un descanso de cinco minutos. Take a five-minute break.