It was a treat to learn that Juan Carlos would be calling Bingo, assisted by the lovely Lina of PVRPV. Carole, our capable 50/50 raffle chica was working the room, but she wasn’t as exuberant as usual. No matter, everyone bought tickets. San Juan is such a worthy cause and everyone involved was determined to raise as much money as possible.

A gentleman from New Zealand carried in the cutest little dog. He was hoping to adopt the poor thing out as he was unable to return to New Zealand with an animal. I don’t know if our friend was successful. I hope so. Another dog was present in the room, though I doubt the owner would have given this beautiful Samoyed up for all the tortillas in Mexico. What an amazingly well trained animal. The brightest white fur and the sweetest face I’ve ever seen on a Samoyed. What a treat. Yes, folks. One can bring one’s well-behaved dog into many restaurants in Mexico.

Enough about dogs. Last week I promised to tell you the history of Bingo. I went to Wikipedia for the information. It’s pretty boring so I’m not going to expound on it much except to say Bingo is usually played as a gambling game or as a way to raise funds for worthy causes, churches, etc … just like we’re doing … and has been around, in the US, at least, since 1920. It actually originated as a lottery game in Italy around 1530. So, that’s kind of interesting but I think it’s the players who make our games exciting. There are very serious Bingo players out there, some playing as many as 30 cards at a time! This usually occurs in Casino Bingo where the players use daubers, not beads. Anyway, I’m never bored at our Bingo nights and I like using beads. Oh my gosh! Can you imagine using beads on 30 cards? One bump of the table and …

Robin was selling the Big Raffle tickets. What an exciting gift this time. A “Romance Basket.” Oooo, lah, lah. My whole table bought tickets…the basket contained a bottle of fine champagne and two flutes compliments of Trattoria Michel, a gift certificate for a visit for two to Metamorfosis Day Spa, delicious chocolates compliments of  Xocodiva Artisan Chocolates and a gift of 2 dozen roses from Eden Flores. Many thanks to those businesses who donated their products to this beautiful prize package.

Well, after purchasing our cards, 50/50 raffle tickets, Big Raffle tickets, food and beverages we were ready to get underway. When Juan Carlos had the group’s attention (90 in number!), he called the first letter/number…N-41. Suddenly, a parade started up the street. Music, noise-makers, marchers all in bright pink shirts. The march was to bring awareness to breast cancer. The small group only took around 60 seconds to get past us and we were able to continue. The first game was won by a rather shy person…Laarle Spiess, who raised his hand to signify his bingo. Tim almost missed it. Liz Miller won game 2 and shared the win of game 3 with Lili Velazquez. Game 4 was won by Larry Wright. Once underway, the first half went very quickly. Before we knew it, it was half-time. We all know the drill: more food and drink orders, the other break, the stretch and walk outside to check out the sunset, final raffle ticket purchases.

We began anew with game 5, won by Toby Morris. Game 6 was won by a professional Bingo player … Cheryl Sellers brought her own buttons to use as markers. That raised the discussion about our colorful beads. Over the months, they’ve gotten sticky. Yours truly volunteered to take them home and give them a good bath. I’ll probably just stick them in the pool and swoosh them around a bit. One of my table mates suggested that I grind them into squares so they won’t roll. I had another suggestion for him. Anyway, the beads are currently in my possession. Don’t worry. They’ll be back for our first game on November 8th.

The 50/50 raffle jackpot came in at $3,900 pesos with $1,950 going to Wendy Feldman, the holder of the winning ticket. Congratulations Wendy! Thank you for making the trip from Xtapa to join us. Dennis Smith was the lucky winner of the Big Raffle “Romance Basket”, valued at $4,500 pesos. Congratulations to you, Dennis! Enjoy.

Game 7 was won by Pierre Paquette and game 8, Blackout, was won by Drew Baldridge.

Congratulations to all our game winners and thank you for coming out and helping to make the event a success. Your generosity helped to raise a whopping $11,240 pesos, bringing the combined total to $22,287 for Asilo San Juan Diego. Give yourselves a big round of applause!

Don’t forget that in November we will play Bingo for Casa Hogar, the local children’s orphanage. A wish list will be published soon. Donations for all of our causes can be made anytime at the PVRPV office, Pino Suarez #210 in Old Town, but, if you bring something from the wish list on Bingo night, you qualify for an extra card, FREE! Doesn’t get much better than that.

See you Tuesday, November 8 at 6:30 for another exciting evening of Charity Bingo!

Come help us support Casa Hogar Maximo Cornejo Quiroz A.C. this Tuesday, November 08^th and November 22nd at Nacho Daddy’s, located at 180 Basilio Badillo in Old Town.

BRING AN ITEM FROM THE WISH LIST AND GET A FREE CARD TO PLAY !!!

We look forward to seeing you at B-I-N-G-O!

Tuesday, October 18^th, 2011

Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco

Old Town Farmer’s Market has a New Home

By Kathleen Harris

On Saturday October 8^th the Old Town Farmer’s Market–Tianguis Cultural began a new and exciting relationship with El Jardin de Ninos Emiliano Zapata.  The school, located on the west side of Pino Suarez between V. Carranza and B. Badillio, will be part of the Market’s new home when it opens in November 5th!

When Market founder, Charlotte Semple, learned recently that the school might have to stay closed due to the theft of all its’ copper water pipes, her immediate reaction was, “We can’t let that happen!”  Within a matter of days the Market had purchased new pipes, they were installed, and it was back to business for the 176 students who attend kindergarten there. Morning principal, Olga Elvira Quintero, said that she and afternoon principal, Maria Concepcion Banuelos-Macias, could not be happier.

On Saturday volunteers, including Fast Eddie from Casa Isabel, Mark Rome from the Palm, Brenda de Retzlaff, Sylvie Scopazzo, Robin Spencer, Jae Palsce and Pamela Beltran, showed up to assist with the building of a new bodega to protect the schools treasured supplies.  Previously supplies were stored in a classroom that was then rendered un-usable for other purposes.

The Market has hired a professional bricklayer, and architect Roberto Alvaro-Llamas is donating his expertise to ensure that the bodega is well built. When it is finished, the school would like to turn the old storage area into a library.

Everyone was very enthusiastic on Saturday, fueled by coffee and yummy muffins donated by Dee’s Coffee.  Refreshments brought later, compliments of Apache’s Martini Bar were so appreciated after a hard, hot day moving bricks and breaking concrete.

Additional projects to aid the school were quickly identified.  In the coming weeks and months Market volunteers will clean and re-paint walls and fixtures, repair and paint the school yard pool and outside walls, collect books for the new library and musical instruments for a proposed music room, and gather general school supplies for the students.

There are also plans to collaborate on building a raised-bed garden to teach the children about gardening, nutrition, and entrepreneurship, as Charlotte envisions the children selling their produce at the market.  Won’t that be a popular booth!

Located in the heart of Emiliano Zapata, also known as the Romantic Zone of Puerto Vallarta, the Old Town Farmers Market- Tianguis Cultural is about to open its 3rd season of providing local fresh farm produce, artisan foods, handmade crafts, jewelry, clothing, and inspiring services and community education to locals and tourists from the entire Bay of Banderas Region.

So keep your eye out for more news coming soon and the opening of the Old Town Farmers Market- Tianguis Cultural on November 5th.  The Market will be located in the Romantic Zone of Puerto Vallarta on calle Pino Suarez between V. Carranza and B. Badillo and inside the kindergarten school El Jardin de Ninos Emiliano Zapata.  Market hours are every Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm.  For more information visit the Market website at http://www.oldtownfm.com, or its Facebook page: Old Town Farmer’s Market Puerto Vallarta.

Come help us support Discapacitados Visuales de la Bahia A.C. this Tuesday, December 06^th and December 20th at Nacho Daddy’s, located at 180 Basilio Badillo in Old Town.

BRING AN ITEM FROM THE WISH LIST AND GET A FREE CARD TO PLAY !!!

We look forward to seeing you at B-I-N-G-O!

The dishes, mugs and glasses are used for the workshops and daily activities.

Bond paper, rulers and punches are used to teach Braille.

Memory Sticks and Black CD’s are used for the computer classes.

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