The Finest Interiors are on Display at Tessoro

Vacation homes bring out our dreams and creativity. A number of talented designers and design studios in Puerto Peñasco have organized to help American and Canadian visitors give voice to their perfect home on the beach. Over the past year, Tessoro at Las Conchas’ residences have become a focal point of local and Arizona design professionals. Join Us recently had the opportunity to tour several of the specially furnished residences on display on the Las Conchas Peninsula and offers this review. Read more…

Event draws enormous participation of residents and visitors

Following the tremendous participation of residents and visitors, which easily surpassed 30,000 spectators across five days, on the evening of Tuesday, February 16th, the successful 2010 Puerto Peñasco carnival entitled “Sea of dreams and fantasies” drew to a close.
During the afternoon of the closing day, thousands of people lined the sidewalks of Blvd. Benito Juárez to view the carnival float parade. The carnival, held from Feb. 11 - 16, brought back a local tradition that had been suspended in 2003.
During the parade, participants included Carnival Queen Tania Elizabeth Vásquez and her royal court, groups from the Casa de la Cultura, Cobach and CMCOP, the musical group from San Luis Río Colorado, puppeteers, cheerleaders from Caborca, and floats representing the child kings and the “Ugly King”.
Similarly, the parades included the enthusiastic participation of the Artisans market, Read more…

Agreement to begin work following Holy Week

Work to improve the urban image in the area of the port is set to begin following the Holy Week vacation period. This was one of the principal agreements reached at a meeting held in order to build a consensus among authorities and neighborhood residents for work to be done in this area of the city.
Just over 100 representatives from the port, and other sectors of the city, participated in this effort. During the meeting a number of ideas and opinions were expressed to assure that the work, duration of which would be for at least six months, has the least effect possible on residents and businesses in the area to be fully remodeled.
In addition to beginning work following Spring break and Holy Week, it was agreed that case by case will include an explanation of what is to be done to homes and businesses within the impacted zone. In addition, there will be careful analysis of alternatives to ease the flow of traffic and availability of parking.
In general, the plan to redesign the urban image of the port, investment of which in the first phase is for 50 million pesos, was well received by local residents and community representatives during this consensus session. Read more…

Station to operate out of “Schuk Toak” visitors center

A new meteorological station has been in operation since January 1st at the “Schuk Toak” visitors center located at the Pinacate and Desert of Altar Biosphere Reserve. This complements the work of climate monitoring they have been doing for over a decade, reported José Antonio Dávila Paulín, deputy director of the protected natural area.
Through a press release, Dávila Paulín indicated the acquirement of this tool, investment amount of which was not stated, allows for the possibility of accessible information in real time to everyone that visits this part of the Reserve.
He detailed they are monitoring and registering climate references thanks to the new equipment, which allows for data including relative humidity (%), rain precipitation (mm), environmental temperature (°C), wind velocity (m/second), wind direction, solar radiation, ultraviolet rays, and barometric pressure (mm).
Dávila Paulín stated the new meteorological station is in addition to the 5 already in existence in this zone of the Pinacate, and the information will complement the climate monitoring work begun 10 years ago. Read more…

Assurance of time to obtain agreements for sustainable fishing

The sea vaquita is not a reason to eliminate fishing in the Upper Gulf of California, affirmed Luis Fuello McDonald, coordinator of the National Program of the Sea Vaquita of Profepa. He argued it solely represents a legitimate interest of the Mexican government that all productive activities, among them fishing, are done in line with protecting and conserving biodiversity.
Fuello McDonald stated that, independently of the ongoing conflict, there is sufficient time to achieve an agreement between authorities and producers to assure sustainable fishing.
The statements of Fuello McDonald were given within the framework of the twelfth ordinary meeting of evaluation and follow-up of the Protection Program of said species, which was held in the city recently.
In an exclusive interview, the federal official noted they had reviewed the progress of the pro Read more…

People respond to collections launched by DIF and the Red Cross

The solidarity and compassion of Puerto Peñasco was once again seen through the collection of more than two tons of help brought to collection centers of the Municipal DIF and Red Cross in support of those displaced by the earthquake in Haiti, where the number of deaths has surpassed 200,000 people.
The office for Integral Family Development (DIF) gathered the collected goods, which surpassed one ton, thanks to the positive response on behalf of the Puerto Peñasco community.
Municipal DIF President, Marcela Albelaiz de Zepeda, supervised the collection, which consisted of 568 bottles of purified water, 3,580 cans of nonperishable food, 28 packages of diapers and 466 bags of pasta, rice, beans, and other products. Read more…

Seeking well defined strategies for tourism sector

Tourism in Puerto Peñasco continues to confront severe difficulties, thus the urgency and need to establish the basis for a well defined path for the tourism industry, both for the short as well as the long-term, affirmed Javier Tapia Camou, head of the State Office for the Coordination of Tourism Promotion.
In his first visit to the city in this role, Tapia Camou stated though they can address the lack of tourism strategies, during the previous six years there was also a lack of order, organization and direction. Read more…

Puerto Peñasco and the city of Maricopa, Arizona are embarking on a new relationship of friendship and collaboration, with the greatest beneficiaries being the residents of both communities. This was agreed upon recently in a gathering of authorities from both communities.
Mayor Alejandro Zepeda Munro underscored the importance of the agreement reached with city authorities from the neighboring U.S. state, with whom he met recently, in establishing the beginning of more constant communication.
Those in attendance at the meeting included Maricopa Mayor Anthony Smith, accompanied by Vincent Abramo and Rusty Akeres, who reaffirmed their interest in strengthening collaborative ties.
“It was a very positive meeting; we can say that this is the beginning of a new and better relationship between Peñasco and Maricopa, which allows us to begin to plan for cultural, athletic and commercial exchanges between the two cities,” noted Zepeda Munro. Read more…

Goal set for clean slate
With priorities set to assure proper care for tourism, while achieving a clean slate in the area of safety, free from unfortunate tragedy, the Public Safety office will once again coordinate with service and emergency groups on a Spring Break prevention and surveillance operation, reported Police Chief Erick Landagary Macías.
The Chief of Police and Municipal Transit indicated they are seeking to once again meet the standards set during the February 2010 Puerto Peñasco Carnaval, where no serious or tragic incidents occurred.
He stressed they have the drive and will to assure things are done well. This determination stretches from the directors to police agents, as well as among the various institutions collaborating together to maintain the safety of Puerto Peñasco.
Once again operations will be supported by corporations to include the State Inv Read more…

Confidence in attracting more tourism for Spring Break

At the beginning of February, actions to promote Puerto Peñasco in the city of Phoenix, Arizona, as a way to attract more tourism through the message that Puerto Peñasco is safe, were met with very positive results, stated Mayor Alejandro Zepeda Munro.
Upon his return from the working promotional tour, done along with the director of the State Commission for the Promotion of Tourism in Sonora, Javier Tapia Camou, the Mayor indicated they are confident there will be more visitors to the city both for the Carnival events as well as for Spring Break in March.
In an interview held at City Hall, Zepeda Munro stated he met with representatives from the press, including the Arizona Republic paper, and Channel 12, among others; he also met with directors from important U.S. universities and tourism promoters.
He stressed that the working tour to Phoenix, along with Javier Tapia and Antonio Proto Elías, stressed Puerto Peñasco as a safe, calm destination, and one with a welcoming environment. Read more…

Cold fronts numbers 25 and 26 in this part of the Desert of Altar caused significant damage in Puerto Peñasco at the end of January. Strong winds and rain knocked down homes, trees and billboards, as well as led to electric outages, nervous breakdowns and other impacts on the community in general. Damages were estimated at 8 million pesos.
Winds, which blew more than 50 kilometers per hour, and rain led the Municipal Unit of Civil Protection to decree the total suspension of classes for one day at the nearly 43 schools that operate in Puerto Peñasco.
Official reports indicate that at least 12 homes were completely destroyed; nearly 100 roofs fell in or were blown away by the wind, there were 8 trees uprooted, 14 fallen billboards, 26 reports of short circuits or fallen cables and at least 20 people were attended to for nervous disorders.
Similarly, 240 people sought shelter at the Fire Department, although there was room to receive more people if needed.
Although it appeared the wind began to ease up on Thursday, January 21, in the end this wasn’t so. That morning there were once again negative effects from the rare meteorological phenomena. Read more…

Results promised

Guaranteeing the safety of those who travel along the Puerto Peñasco-Sonoyta highway is the objective of a joining of efforts established between authorities from the three levels of government, reported inspector Sergio García Ruiz.
The regional director of the Federal Preventive Police highway division stressed they are well aware of their role and principal mission, which is to guarantee the safety of residents and all those who use the highways.
He indicated that all residents, from Puerto Peñasco as well as those from Sonoyta, as well as those that visit this region, must be guaranteed safe travel, which is what they are working on.
The inspector of the Federal Police stated, with respect to assaults registered at the end of 2009 along the Peñasco-Sonoyta highway, they have carried out special and specific operations in order to address this situation and prevent it from happening again, which they have done in other isolated cases in the region. The commitment, he added, is to guarantee public safety. Read more…

Risk of closure dismissed

The economic situation of the local Red Cross office is not currently the best, reflecting the general situation of Puerto Peñasco overall. Yet, it is a well founded institution that remains strong and is not at risk of closing its doors or limiting its services, affirmed Antonio Mendívil García, Red Cross Board President.
Mendívil García acknowledged that in recent days the telephone line to the institution had been disconnected, although this was due more so to bureaucratic error rather than a lack of resources overall.
He argued they have taken respective steps to assure they are not left without a telephone line, as it is one of the principal ways that people of Peñasco seek services from the Red Cross.
The important thing, he added, is that the institution continues operating Read more…

Achieving real and more effective community collaboration in the area of safety is the objective of the recently formed Community Consultation and Participation Committee on Public Safety.
The committee, which is headed up by attorneys Aarón Pérez Núñez, as President, and Sergio Núñez Duarte, as secretary, includes representatives from different sectors of the community and authorities from different levels.
This group, which will work in a coordinated manner with the Municipal Council on Public Safety, will be in charge of organizing the community around all types of activities inherent to prevention and safety, because present and future security is built upon the joint efforts of society and the government.
The president of the newly formed committee, Aarón Pérez Núñez, affirmed that the premise is to do all that is necessary in order to provide follow up with established policies and propose new policies to collaborate with the different security offices from the three levels of government.
Pérez Núñez, who is also the president of the Puerto Peñasco Attorneys Association, stated they will do what is necessary to assure this committee does not solely exist on paper and in photos, but rather that it works and establishes an office to link with the community of Peñasco in order to truly have community participation in the areas of security, which are important to all. Read more…

A Visa Story
This is a blurb I should have written a year ago. I should have, but I couldn’t because at one point during the last 11 years of living in Mexico I was trying to do my visa paperwork on my own. Just as many other non-Mexican residents living in Peñasco, each year I have to gather up my paperwork and submit it to the Immigration office (INM) for another stamp in my Mexican visa. Being bilingual, I always thought this should be an easier process, at least along the lines of communication, but to no avail. Luckily, in recent years I found a consultant to help me - particularly with visits to INM.
I began, as others do, with the FMT visa. This is a tourist visa that is valid for up to 6 months. Generally, when flying into Mexico you will automatically get this paperwork on the plane. However, if you plan to get one for an extended stay in Peñasco (or to go further into Mexico) be sure to stop at the border in Sonoyta as you drive in as they are no longer available here.
Once it became apparent my love for Mexico was going to extend well past 6 months, and I happened to have a job offer, the next step was the FM3 visa. The FM3 is a non-immigrant visa generally used as a work visa for those of us foreigners working in Mexico. Read more…

Through the development of seven workshops focusing on different areas, the Juan Enrique Pestalozzi kindergarten recently implemented a program to promote a permanent open school.
In a ceremony held on the civic plaza of the school, located in the Oriente neighborhood of the city, it was noted that this facility is the only school in the San Luis-Sonoyta-Puerto Peñasco region to adopt this strategy in seeking to improve quality education.
In this manner, children from the Pestalozzi kindergarten, along with teachers and parents, will participate in workshops focused on math, reading, writing, painting, sports, theater, dance and weaving, from 12:30 - 1:30, or rather during an extra hour to the regular school day.
With parents and local authorities on hand, school Principal Juana Rodríguez Araiza stressed this institution is the only one of its kind throughout the entire region to implement the permanent open school program.
She thanked her teaching staff, because through their selfless work and dedication these workshops are now possible, all with the goal of best serving the community through education. Read more…

Seeking to regain business confidence

With the goal of working to regain the confidence of local businesses in the Chamber of Commerce (CANACO), Lorenia Reyna Martínez stepped into the role as CANACO President for Puerto Peñasco.
The incoming CANACO president stated the assembly to elect a new administrative board was held on January 11th, in comparison to previous years when elections were generally done in March.
She acknowledged she had not considered participating in the internal election, yet the decision for her intervention and election was made at the last moment after José Ramón Muñoz declined to head up the platform that was initially presented.
Reyna Martinez indicated to begin with her work plan will focus on three objectives: regain the confidence of businesses in the chamber, recover membership (that has fallen drastically in recent years), and improve the chamber’s finances, which are quite deteriorated.
The CANACO president stated she will personally visit business owners in this city to invite them to join, promoting the benefits in being part of an organization such as this. Read more…

Incentives for trash collectors through gathering and groceries

On February 7th, a gathering and presentation of groceries were part of acknowledgement paid to 42 local trash collectors, known as “tirabichis,” in recognition of the day honoring them, February 2nd.
The festivities, during which grocery support was given out to all the local trash collectors, were held at the building of the Sole Union of City Service Employees located in the López Portillo neighborhood.
Within this framework, union leader Valentín Robles Bañuelos indicated this gathering was held to recognize and acknowledge the valuable task the local “tirabichis” fulfill daily in keeping Puerto Peñasco clean.
He noted the union and local authorities together organized this event to give back a little to those who have done so much for this city.
Mayor Alejandro Zepeda Munro indicated that despite problems and difficulties, such as those brought on by the rain earlier in the month, the city trash collectors have done well in getting their work done. Read more…

María del Rosario Fimbres wins new pick-up

In awarding those who have paid their property taxes during the month of January, on February 3rd the city administration raffled off a new car, which was won by Mrs. María del Rosario Fimbres Miranda who held winning number 6,142.
In an atmosphere filled with tremendous expectation, it took just over 15 minutes to define the winner from among the nearly 15,000 tickets issued to approximately 5,000 taxpayers.
Within the framework of Citizens’ Wednesday, 2010 Carnival Queen Tania Elizabeth Vásquez Ibarra was responsible for pulling out five participating tickets, the last of which was the winner.
With Notary Public number 42, Osvaldo René Ortega Félix, on hand, along with Mayor Alejandro Zepeda, municipal treasurer Marco Antonio Flores Durazo, officials and the public in general, the winning number was called out: six thousand…one hundred…forty…two…belonging to Mrs. María del Rosario Fimbres Miranda.
Mayor Alejandro Zepeda Munro announced that Fimbres Miranda had won the 2010 Ford Courier pick-up. Read more…

Puerto Peñasco played a very important role in the evangelizing and exploration work of Jesuit priest Eusebio Francisco Kino and that is why this region is being sought to be included as part of the Padre Kino missions, remarked father Vicente López.
Father López, who is a representative of the Kino Sonora-Arizona board, stated that while Puerto Peñasco itself does not have a temple or mission founded by this legendary figure, the Pinacate and the entire zone formed an essential part of his travels, particularly the Desert of Altar.
López remarked the Kino Board is a non-profit organization based in Tucson, Arizona, that has been in extensive communication with Sonoran tourism authorities, with an interest of seeing the Mission Route developed. They intend to include Puerto Peñasco as part of this route.
Father Vicente López mentioned there are sufficient reasons for this part of Sonora to be included in retracing the steps of the Jesuit missionary. Kino contributed greatly with his tours to the area, particularly in confirming from atop the Pinacate that Read more…