Last month, Join Us revealed that Tessoro at Las Conchas had been invited to participate in a major international architecture and design competition. This month, we are happy to share that Tessoro has brought two international recognitions to Puerto Peñasco.
The CNBC Arabia International Property Awards announced in London that it has named Tessoro at Las Conchas the recipient of two esteemed honors in the residential competition: “Best Development” and “Best Interior Design – Mexico Category.”
The International Property Awards are the most prestigious in the development, design and architecture industry every year – it is a world-renowned mark of excellence. The awards are split into six regions covering the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe & Africa, Arabia and the UK. Tessoro’s “Best Development” award is all the more impressive, coming in the highly competitive “Americas” region. Read more…

Seeking to improve safety of Puerto Peñasco
In order to improve the safety of Puerto Peñasco in all areas, the Executive Secretary of State Public Security called the sectors of this municipality to become part of the Municipal Committee of Community Consultation and Participation.
In a session led by the State director of this office, Ernesto Munro Palacio, and Mayor Alejandro Zepeda Munro, before members from the Business Coordinating Board and private, education, and health sectors, this mechanism for co-participation between the society and the government was made known.
After listening to the principal problems confronting Peñasco in the area of safety, the Coordinator of Municipal Connections of the Executive Secretary of Public Safety, Luis Alberto Campa Lastra, detailed the new work scheme that will offer periodic results and constant follow-up. Read more…

Despite the current crisis particularly in the area of tourism, just over three years after it began operation, the nautical stopover of Fonatur (National Fund for the Promotion of Tourism) in Puerto Peñasco has met the objectives for which it was conceived, remarked Víctor Manuel Martínez Parra, Deputy Director of the city’s Port Fonatur Office.
Martínez Parra stressed that even though some rental spaces are not currently occupied, they have been able to forge ahead with the task of providing supplies for primarily tourist vessels.
He stated the entire infrastructure plans to offer a platform to house up to 11 thirty foot vessels, a fueling station, restaurant, convenience store, restrooms, showers, a computer and internet system, and other services. Read more…

strong>Peñasco hosts third workshop concerning variability and climate change
Researchers and officials from Sonora and Arizona recently met in Peñasco to discuss and analyze climate change and its impact, as part of work encompassing the third workshop on Variability and Climate Change on the West Coast of North America.
Mayor Alejandro Zepeda Munro inaugurated the environmental forum for the attendees, which included Nicolás Pineda, researcher from the Colegio de Sonora, Robert Varady from the University of Arizona, and the Director from the Superior Technological Institute of Puerto Peñasco, Enrique Carrión Contreras.
Dr. Nicolás Pineda from the Colegio de Sonora remarked the objective of the roundtables is to analyze demographic growth and climate changes, as well as to remain informed about the frequency and impact of extreme phenomena including hurricanes and droughts. Read more…

Project to cost at least 120 million dollars
Researchers and officials from Sonora and Arizona recently met in Peñasco to discuss and analyze climate change and its impact, as part of work encompassing the third workshop on Variability and Climate Change on the West Coast of North America.
Mayor Alejandro Zepeda Munro inaugurated the environmental forum for the attendees, which included Nicolás Pineda, researcher from the Colegio de Sonora, Robert Varady from the University of Arizona, and the Director from the Superior Technological Institute of Puerto Peñasco, Enrique Carrión Contreras.
Dr. Nicolás Pineda from the Colegio de Sonora remarked the objective of the roundtables is to analyze demographic growth and climate changes, as well as to remain informed about the frequency and impact of extreme phenomena including hurricanes and droughts. Read more…

Preparations have gotten underway for what will be the ninth annual Rocky Point Rally, with the expected arrival of a similar number of bikers as last year given the economic recession affecting the U.S., reports Rafael González Valenzuela, Director of the Peñasco Convention and Visitors Bureau (OCV).
The OCV Director stated that given the current situation, they are expecting about 7,000 bikers, at the most, for the event.
He noted they were polishing up logistics in order to guarantee the success of this now traditional city event, which will be held this year from Nov. 5 – 8 with the Founder’s Boardwalk area in the old port serving as the launching point. Read more…

Witch hunt crackdown dismissed
Starting now, the work of Public Safety will focus on combating internal problems, establishing stricter discipline and achieving the trust of the community, affirmed Erick Landagaray Macías, Chief of Police and Municipal Transit.
Chief Landagaray stressed they are not currently considering the possibility of a clean-up by laying off staff, as they do not intend to start a “witch hunt.” Nevertheless, he noted, those who do not adhere to the new work ethics will have to pack their bags.
With respect to drug drop-offs and trafficking, Landagaray Macías stated the department will strictly do their work in the area of prevention, without stepping on the toes of other security departments’ operations in Peñasco. Read more…

U.S. consul from Nogales visits Puerto Peñasco
With the objective of opening up collaborative ties to benefit residents of Mexico and the U.S., particularly those of Sonora and Mexico, and specifically Puerto Peñasco, directives from the U.S. Consulate in Nogales recently paid a visit to this city.
A brief press release stated that Mayor Alejandro Zepeda Munro met with Consul John Dinkelman and Deputy Consul Rees Fischer at City Hall, during a meeting that lasted nearly an hour.
The U.S. consul officials discussed their interest in maintaining broad ties with the administration of Puerto Peñasco and to be able, in the future, offer services from the Consulate of Nogales to residents of this municipality.
They highlighted the calm and security that can be observed in the streets of Puerto Peñasco, which is an incentive in attracting vacation goers, guaranteeing hospitable and respectful treatment. Read more…

Intent to prevent abuses against visitors
In order to strengthen security and attention to tourism, both national and those from abroad, the municipal administration will once again put together the Tourist Police that will work under the auspices of the Office of Public Safety, announced Mayor Alejandro Zepeda Munro.
Mayor Zepeda reported that in light of what he saw during his campaign, and in order to prevent abuses against visitors to the area, the new police force will be dedicated to patrolling tourism areas and those with the greatest influx of visitors as a complement to the work of the City’s Municipal Police.
He stated they are still in the planning phase concerning the number of officials and units to be set aside for the Tourist Police, but this is one of the efforts they are doing to assure a safe Peñasco. Read more…

By Sami Rivero

There’s more than one way to get caught up in a wave here in Peñasco. There’s the luxurious calming waves that lap at the shores, or the undulating waves that stroke the sides of a kayak skirting across the water. Yet, these cannot compare to the rush of the wave that recently took over the crowd gathered at the Francisco León García baseball stadium on the evening of Friday, September 25th.
Watching baseball has only in the past few years become one of my fervent hobbies. Read more…

Taking advantage of funds from the Federal Maritime Land Zone
An investment of just over 6 million pesos was authorized to go towards the cleaning and safety of the beaches of Puerto Peñasco, according to an agreement reached by the Technical Financial Committee of the Federal Maritime Land Zone, made up by representatives of the federal, state and municipal governments.
In a session held recently, a total of 10 projects were green-lighted for the acquisition of equipment that will be used precisely for tasks including monitoring, safety and clean up of the coastal areas of this city and port.
In this manner, part of the money coming from the payment of Federal Zone rights from 2008 will be put towards a type of double-traction pick-up, two 4×4 vehicles, an all terrain vehicle for security, a dump truck, trailer, three four-wheeler Yamaha patrols, three Ford Lobo pick ups, two trash collector units, a beach cleaning machine and a tractor. Read more…

He warns those that fail to do so will not last long
In swearing in members of his extended cabinet in front of City Hall, Mayor Alejandro Zepeda Munro called on them to give the best of themselves and serve the community of Puerto Peñasco as their principal task.
During a simple ceremony held on the morning of Thursday, September 17th, the Mayor warned the 29 officials who assumed their new public roles that whoever fails to put forth their best efforts will not last within his administration.
Accompanied by his wife, Marcela Albelays de Zepeda, who will serve as President of the Office for Integral Family Development (DIF), Mayor Zepeda Munro invited each of his collaborators to work together for the people of Puerto Peñasco who chose their leaders to guide the future of this city.
“Now is the time to respond to the trust of the community, to begin with strength and not let our guard down in order to maintain an excellent administration from the onset,” emphasized the City Leader to the new municipal officials before representatives from the 20th City Council. Read more…

Expectations for regular season yet problems with commercialization
With the expectation of achieving a regular rate of production, similar to that from last year, though with problems of commercialization, the majority of the shrimp boats that make up the local fleet recently left port to seek out shrimp, reported Salvador Cabrales Noriega, President of the local delegation of the National Chamber of the Fishing Industry (Canainpes).
The Canainpes president indicated that of the 100 boats that make up the local fleet, 90% made their way to Topolobampo and Yavaros, ports where the season opened up on September 26th.
He remarked that shrimp vessels had left at least a week early due to rumors running around indicating the start up of the shrimp season, thereby preventing being caught off guard as had happened in other years. Read more…

Pilot plan in Sonora at cost of 6 million pesos
Such has been the success of the geoduck clam (pronounced “gooey duck”), also known as panopea abrupta, for local producers, that a plant specializing in the production of this valuable fishing resource is currently being constructed, remarked Lázaro Espinosa Mendívil, President of the Regional Unit of Fishing Concessionaires and Cooperatives.
Espinosa Mendívil indicated this involves a pilot plan here within the state of Sonora, as the intent is to build an infrastructure with six tanks to hold 4,000 clams each, in preparation for what is to come in the future.
He explained this involves a project requiring an investment of nearly 6 million pesos, noting they had already begun the first phase with funds from the federal government totaling 750,000 pesos to launch this ambitious program to improve the use of the geoduck clam. Read more…

Six productive projects to be carried out
Resources amounting to nearly 500,000 pesos for the development of six productive projects to assist the local primary sector were recently presented to local producers. A total of just over 743,000 pesos is expected to be invested in this effort.
During a ceremony held at City Hall, Mayor Alejandro Zepeda Munro presented the first packets of support for the fishing sector, marking his first steps towards fulfilling the commitments made by his administration, which promises to reactivate the local economy.
In all, designation letters for the carrying out of three sport fishing projects were presented along with one for a service micro-business and two for the development of eco-tourism services.
A total investment of 743,390 pesos is foreseen for the program, of which the federal and state government each have allocated 479,313 pesos, with an additional 264,077 pesos coming from those to benefit from the projects. Read more…

Mayor commits to support culture
The first 128,000 pesos from a fund totaling 300,000, authorized as economic support for 17 cultural projects, were recently presented at the municipal civil auditorium.
During a ceremony in which the director of the Counsel of Municipal Cultural Development presented his resignation, and Mayor Alejandro Zepeda Munro committed the support of his administration towards culture, the resources were presented to the first nine projects to be recognized through the Sonora Program of Municipal Cultural Development, 2009-2010.
Oscar Malagón Contreras, who until the ceremony was the coordinator for the Counsel of Municipal Cultural Development, stated that with matching funds from the National Council for Culture and the Arts (CONACULTA) and the Sonoran Institute of Culture (ISC) they will be able to support projects through a total of 300,000 pesos. Read more…

The production of flying, or queen, clam for coastal fishermen in Puerto Peñasco has tripled with respect to captures from last year, which is undoubtedly very positive, remarked César Alejandro Villaescusa Fontes, head of the Federal Fishing Office.
Villaescusa Fontes indicated that so far they have registered yields of 370 tons of this clam, which last year raked in 120 tons at the most, representing a nearly 200% increase in production.
Currently, he noted, there are around 30 smaller vessels in the port dedicated to fishing the flying clam, with an approximate yield of up to one ton per boat daily.
The federal official stressed that the rise in production of this resource is due to the discovery of an abundant bank of this product in this region, same which is being cared for to assure rational and sustainable use. Read more…

300% increase in care
Despite the severe economic crisis that has impacted Puerto Peñasco, the city’s home for the elderly continues to be strong with programs caring for the disabled elderly, reported Rubén Rodríguez Rico, president of the board for the José Dávalos Valdivia home for the elderly.
The board president remarked that in just over a year, the care for the elderly has increased by 300%, or rather they have gone from 6 residents to 18.
He indicated it is difficult to confront operation costs of the home, as during the warmer months electricity expenses can run up to 25,000 pesos monthly.
The home for the elderly has an average operation cost of 45,000 pesos monthly, he explained, which has been confronted and taken care of, although some donors have had to limit or cancel their contributions due to problems from the crisis. Read more…

Firefighters also receive equipment
Stemming from the good relationship of Puerto Peñasco with the state of Arizona, a recent donation of equipment for the local Fire Department was welcomed in an effort to improve the services provided.
The new tools for the department include an American Lafrance 100-foot ladder equipped diesel fire truck, as well as new uniforms and medical supplies.
Scott Channon Benbow, representative from Buckeye Valley, AZ, presented Mayor Alejandro Zepeda Munro with the equipment, who in turn symbolically paid a fee of $2 US for the tools made possible through bi-national negotiations and friendly ties between Sonora and Arizona.
The donations were presented at the facilities of the Fire Department, with the coordinator of the Municipal Unit of Civil Protection, Rubén Salido Martínez, on hand as well as Fire Chief Jesús Cruz Yánez and members of the fire department themselves. Read more…

Peñasco hosts 23rd State Congress of Federation of Sonoran Dentists
A call for continued growth, while not looking back, and assuring a valuable federation that does not confront or divide, was made during the inaugural ceremonies of the 23rd State Congress of the Federation of Dental Surgeons of Sonora, recently hosted in Puerto Peñasco.
Under the motto “The marvelous thing about learning something, is that no one can take it away from us,” the three day gathering was held from October 8-10, with the attendance of oral health professionals from practically the entire state.
At the inaugural event, the president of the Federation of Dental Surgeons in Sonora, Ramón García Moroyoqui, stressed to the more than 300 dentists in attendance that in the two years this organization has been in operation they have been able to achieve an environment of camaraderie and continual betterment.
He stated they have formed a valuable group and worked to strengthen the field of dentistry with a federation that does not confront or divide; to the contrary, it promotes continual growth and doesn’t look back.
Similarly, there on behalf of Sonora Governor Guillermo Padrés Read more…

Reaffirming message of recovery for those that struggle with drinking problems
With the reaffirmation of the message of recovery for those with drinking problems, the local Alcoholics Anonymous chapter recently celebrated their 25 years in Puerto Peñasco.
Municipal Civic Auditorium Gerardo Portugal was the setting for the public informational meeting, highlighting the 25th anniversary of the organization which belongs to the Central Mexican General Services of Alcoholics Anonymous.
The gathering took place with nearly 200 people in attendance, as well as Mayor Alejandro Zepeda and first lady Marcela Albendays on hand. It included live testimonies that stressed the rehabilitation work of those that suffer from alcoholism. Read more…