This is the final installment in a 4-part story on Puerto Peñasco’s compelling new beachfront project and the surrounding Las Conchas neighborhood. In this edition, Join Us reviews the events of 2009 and takes a look ahead to 2010 as Las Conchas enters is sixth decade.

Past, Present and Future

Driving down the main road of Las Conchas towards Tessoro, it is easy to imagine what the beaches were like before the tourist boom came to Rocky Point.

The smooth caliche boulevard is wide and there is little to obscure your view. The dunes extend inland over the vast landscape towards the Pinacate Volcano. To your right, sandy roads and winding trails slope down toward the sea, which you can follow in windows of blue for much of the drive. The houses are arranged in an organic fashion, somewhat like Paradise Valley. You understand exactly why the owners do not allow paving in Las Conchas. It feels like you are on an island or in an old beach town. Read more…

On December 19th, Laguna Shores held its 5th bicycle bash gifting 166 bicycles to children in Peñasco ranging in age from 4 to 13. Hundreds of happy faces gathered at the main offices of this tourist development, located at Blvd. Benito Juárez #152-B in the center of town, where they received gleaming bicycles from event organizers.
Michael Kline, Director of Laguna Shores and principal organizer of the gifting, along with his team of collaborators personally presented the bikes to children who had previously been selected and given tickets for the event. The selection process was quite simple; part of the team visited neighborhoods on the outskirts of town and identified children who, given their economic characteristics, appeared to be those most in need. Their names, addresses, and other info were taken and they were awarded tickets, earning them a new bicycle for the holidays.
Michael Kline and his team expressed appreciation to the sponsors who helpe Read more…

Efforts launched to draw in aerial tourism

Efforts to begin to draw in more aerial tourism have begun with promotional work aimed at attracting charter flights to the area in a coordinated manner with tourist resorts in this port, informed Alonso Domínguez Ruiz, airport administrator.
Weeks following the beginning of operations of the Sea of Cortez airport, Domínguez Ruiz indicated that general airport operations are stable, yet the intent is to increase aerial traffic gradually.
Therefore, he stated, as currently there is the capacity and infrastructure to bring in planes carrying 50 passengers or more, the intent is to establish contacts principally in Arizona and California in order to begin to bring in charter flights to Peñasco.
He stressed this means the first step in bringing aerial tourism to the area. Given the current conditions, particularly in terms of the economy, it is not really possible to being direct flights with commercial airlines. Read more…

Celebrating Disabilities Day

With a call to integrate those with disabilities fully into society through respect and without discrimination, on December 1st a civic-artistic festival was held at the municipal civic auditorium to mark Disabilities Day.
The event, third of its type to be held in the city, drew in tremendous participation under the theme of “Disability does not make life difficult, but rather the thoughts and actions of others.”
Children’s nursery rhymes, songs, mimes, dances and other demonstrations were presented with the message of not letting International Disabilities Day go by without special notice. Parents, students and the general public were on hand for the celebration.
Gerardo Badilla Galaz, from Francisco Urrea elementary school, opened up the program with a simple, emphatic and overwhelming message. He remarked how his parents and teachers had told him there are children who are born with different a Read more…

Missing found safe and sound

Two men who had gone missing in the desert were found safe and sound following an intense search and rescue effort that rendered positive results, reported Rubén Salido Martínez, Director of Civil Protection.
Salido Martínez indicated that with the participation of at least 20 rescue people, it was possible to locate Sergio Batiz León, 23, and Raúl Coronado Núñez, 33, both residents of this city.
He explained the report of the missing persons was presented at around 5:00 p.m. on November 20th, after apparently they had not returned from a hunting trip in the desert.
Given the situation, he noted, an operation was mounted to cover the zone of the desert and sand dunes between Sierra Pinta and San Francisco.
Salido Martínez explained at least 20 people, six cars, eight horses and a helicopter were involved in the rescue effort.
He detailed that the first missing individual, Sergio Ba Read more…

600,000 pesos invested in project

In order to provide care to hundreds of families that require a place to enjoy recreation, handcrafts and various artistic and academic activities, the renovated Community Center in the neighborhood of Nueva Esperanza was recently re-inaugurated.
Mayor Alejandro Zepeda Munro cut the inaugural ribbon for the project, which was completed through an investment of approximately 600,000 pesos with resources from the office of Social Development. The Mayor was accompanied by federal representative Leonardo Guillén Medina and local representative Enrique Reyna Lizárraga.
Municipal authorities and legislators were welcomed by dozens of families from the neighborhood of Nueva Esperanza who all enjoyed a festive afternoon marking the renovation of the Community Center.
The project, topping just over half a million pesos, includes the renovation of a computer room with new computers, the construction of new restrooms and the renovation of spaces for basketball and soccer, as well as Read more…

The body of one of the five local fishermen who went missing on October 27th after their shrimp vessel, the Carranza II, sank, was recently found near Puerto Libertad, according to official sources.
The body of Jesús Gallegos Adame, 56, who was known as “The Hommy” or “El Compirri” was found 25 days after the boat, on which he served as the engine man, was overcome by a cold front.
According to a bulletin released by the State Investigative Police, around 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 21, they became aware of the finding of a lifeless body floating in the waters near Puerto Libertad.
The body was found by individuals who were fishing at sea and who advised authorities.
On board a boat, personnel from the Public Ministry and the police department made their way through the waters in order to pick up the body and bring it to shore. Read more…

Dismissal of plans to increase water, trash collection and property taxes

The City Council, meeting in full session, unanimously approved an initiative of the Income Law for the 2010 fiscal year to reduce income by 7.8% in relation to the current year without increasing the cost of basic services.
Mayor Alejandro Zepeda Munro reported that in addition to a decrease in resources, within the proposal sent to the State Congress they did not modify fees for the payment of water, trash collection or property taxes, which will remain at the same levels as this past year.
During a press conference, the City Leader detailed the projection for Municipal Income for 2010 is along the lines of $288,712,447 pesos, implying a 7.8% reduction, which is in contrast to other municipalities where there have been increases among the majority of them.
He explained for the current year, there was an approved amount of $308,062,299 pesos, which is nearly 20 million pesos more than that approved for 2010. Read more…

Health workers and pregnant women among first recipients

In Puerto Peñasco, 150 doses were given out in the first phase of vaccines against the AH1N1 flu. The vaccine program started in early December and is aimed at slowing down the growth in the number of local cases, reported Manuel Guillermo Flores Durazo, director of the city’s General Hospital.
Flores Durazo indicated the work of giving out vaccines began initially with health workers and pregnant women, given the high risks within these groups of the population.
He explained that 250 doses of the vaccine against AH1N1 flu were sent to this region, with 150 remaining here in Peñasco and an additional 100 sent on to Sonoyta. He noted this amount was sufficient to cover health personnel and to begin giving out the vaccine to pregnant women.
He stated following phases of the vaccination would be geared towards children under 5, adults over 65 and those with chronic illnesses including diabetes, hypertension, and obesity.
Flores Durazo reiterated the vaccine is no Read more…

Presentation of protective equipment and home improvement incentives

Protective equipment to help make the work of local police officers safer, as well as incentives for home improvements for officers within the corporation, were recently presented at the Public Safety Auditorium.
Before a group of just over 20 local police, Mayor Alejandro Zepeda Munro, accompanied by Police Chief Erick Landagaray Macías, symbolically presented the equipment and economic incentives.
After expressing gratitude for the efforts carried out, and calling on local officers to continually improve their performance, the City Leader detailed in all they are presenting 6 bullet-proof vests, 12 ballistic impact sheets, 40 rowlocks, 40 canisters of tear gas, and 30 anti tear gas masks.
Zepeda Munro reiterated that soon they will also be presenting the department with new police cars, among them one that includes cutting edge technology, as the objective is to assure the local police can carry out their work in both a protected and secure manner. He underscored the current situation of violence is one that cannot be confronted lightly. Read more…

Authorities visit Peñasco

Strengthening ties of friendship in order to work on an exchange of projects in the future was the objective of a working tour that recently made its way to Puerto Peñasco and which included the Mayor of San Luis, Arizona, Juan Carlos Escamilla, along with authorities from the cities of Somerton and Yuma, Arizona.
Mayor Alejandro Zepeda Munro received the visit of the US authorities at City Hall, where discussions focused on concerns of promoting a tourism corridor for the area.
The City Leader appeared satisfied with the meeting, as this could bring benefits for residents of the border communities.
He stated the invitation was not only for residents of San Luis, Yuma and Somerton to come to Peñasco, being able to now enjoy the advantages of the coastal highway, but rather also so that the people of Peñasco travel to these neighboring communities through an exchange program of tourism, as well as athletic and cultural activities held on both sides of the border. Read more…

Proposal sent to State Congress

The plan that Puerto Peñasco be the “brightest” city in the state has taken one more step towards this goal after the City Council, meeting in full session, unanimously approved an ambitious Comprehensive Project for Public Lighting in order to Save Electricity, with the intent of lighting more than 90% of the city.
The proposal, once presented and approved by members of the City body, will be sent to the State Congress for corresponding review and approval, as appropriate.
During the third ordinary session of the City Council, headed up by Mayor Alejandro Zepeda Munro, the council members authorized the project presented by the director of Planning and Economic Development, Víctor Mazón Muñoz, which contemplates the placement of 7,000 lights on an energy saving system.
If this is authorized by the local legislators, the next step will be to begin the tendering process in order to select the best company, with financing negotiations through Banobras. Read more…

Sharing and promoting conservation efforts and successes

With the objective of sharing and promoting conservation efforts and successes among the population in general, both with civil society as well as at the government level, the Pinacate Reserve recently hosted the IX National Conservation Week, remarked José Antonio Dávila Paulín, Deputy Director of the Pinacate and Grand Altar Desert Biosphere Reserve.
Dávila Paulín indicated that from November 23rd – 27th the different sectors of society recognized and highlighted the value of protected areas, including priority regions and endangered species.
He explained the National Conservation Week is a national event, directed by the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP). The activities invite everyone, regardless of age, religion or social position, to mobilize and spread messages in favor of conservation in their own areas.
Public diversity is quite broad, he added, as this could include non-gov Read more…

Vessels come through clear

Ecology inspectors from the United States recently evaluated 13 shrimp boats from Puerto Peñasco in order to verify the use of fish excluding devices. They found no anomalies during the assessment, which was considered normal by the state authority for the fishing sector.
Through this verification, it was fully demonstrated that the shrimp fleet in the State has a program to guarantee the protection of sea turtles and prevent their accidental capture, reported Daniel Hiram Villarreal Guadiana, Deputy Director for the Secretary of Agriculture, Ranching, Rural Development, Fishing and Feed for Mexico (SAGARPA).
Villarreal Guadiana stressed the audit of shrimp fishing operations in the Northern region of the country has shown there is compliance with regulations.
“These verifications form an important part in strengthening the commercial relationship of the country with the U.S. market, which is one of the countries where Sonoran shrimp is exported,” he mentioned. Read more…

Representatives from Arizona, Sonora, and the Tohono O’odham Nation join efforts

Through joint efforts working towards a healthier population, the Tri-National Health Board was recently put together in Puerto Peñasco, made up of Arizona, the Tohono O’odham Nation and Sonora.
For Mexico, members of this committee include Manuel Guillermo Flores Durazo as co-President, Oscar López Barraza as Vice President, and Noemí Valdez Castolo as Secretary. Andrew Lorentine from the U.S. was designated as co-President while remaining appointments are yet to be made.
With the objective of once again taking up and strengthening efforts of cooperation in the area of health, representatives from Arizona, U.S., the Tohono O’odham Nation and Sonora, Mexico, participated in this gathering, which provided follow-up to the last tri-national meeting held in September.
Robert Guerrero, representative from the Arizona Health Department, stressed that this region is unique given the diversity of its communities. Therefore, he explained, the principal objective is first to assure all members of this tri-national board meet in order to attain trust and the strengthening of coordinated efforts concerning health problems.
He acknowledged the efforts that h Read more…

International promotional campaign suspended

There was at least a 20% drop during 2009 in collections from the 2% tax on accommodations, leading to the suspension of the international promotional campaign for Puerto Peñasco programmed for this year, remarked Rafael González Valenzuela, director of the city’s Convention and Visitors Bureau (OCV).
The OCV Director indicated the decrease of funds in the Trust from said tax meant they could not meet the goal of $120,000 dollars that had been contemplated for promotion in Arizona and California, with $60,000 from the OCV and $60,000 from the Mexican Board of Tourism Promotion.
He indicated the national promotional campaign wrapped up last September and, given commitments assumed at that time, the decision was made to not apply resources towards an international campaign. The reasoning behind this is that given the drop in funds from the 2% accommodation tax, further promotion expenses would complicate the situation extremely.
González Valenzuela believed that resources from the 2 Read more…

20 students receive degrees as University Technicians in Gastronomy

In an emotional ceremony, and as part of the academic tourism studies put into effect nearly two years ago, the first class recently graduated from the Puerto Peñasco branch of the Hermosillo Technological University (UTH).
Twenty young Puerto Peñasco students achieved their goals of becoming University Technicians in Gastronomy, and becoming part of the labor market in this city, particularly for the tourism sector.
With parents, family members, friends and educational and municipal authorities on hand, the event was held marking the graduation of the 2007-2009 class, the first to graduate from the local UTH. Read more…

Seizure of assets dismissed as collection method

Tending to the public with open doors, while offering all possible manners to ensure fulfillment of tax payments, are the instructions to follow at the State Fiscal Agency, affirmed Jesús Soto Mendívil, director of the State collections office.
The recently appointed official indicated as part of this openness, they have dismissed the idea of seizing assets as a means to recover outstanding state tax collections for the time being.
He indicated that although he received the official appointment from the Secretary of the Treasury, Alejandro López Caballero, on November 6th, he had begun work at the beginning of the month in order to become familiarized with the operations of the Fiscal Agency. Read more…