One of the big money raisers at the Ajijic Chili Cookoff is the raffle. Items donated by local businesses are raffled off every hour during the three-day event.

Volunteers with the Lakeside School for the Deaf and Children with Special needs have garnered some spectacular door prizes for their upcoming “Thousand and One Nights” benefit spectacular scheduled for Thursday, March 11.

On Sunday, February 21, anyone who is interested will have the opportunity to meet the 60-some children living at the Love in Action Children’s Center in Chapala. That’s the date volunteers Michael Schaible and Bonnie Newman have set for a garden party to take place on the shelter’s extensive and beautiful grounds.

The 32nd Annual Ajijic Chili Cook-off is set for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, February 26, 27 and 28. As usual, the event requires lots of volunteers. Sadly, Tom Johnson, who had been a stalwart volunteer for several years, passed away some weeks ago (see page four), so organizers are really scrambling to fill the gap.

Moving pets across international borders can be a harrowing undertaking in the best of circumstances, but the true-life nightmare experienced at the Guadalajara airport by new arrival Sally Wilson and her beloved canine Harry really takes the dog biscuit.