July 2010

We begin July with a highly anticipated weekend, that of the 4th of July celebrations marking U.S. Independence Day. Generally, our friends from Arizona and beyond take advantage of this date to head to our beaches for a relaxing weekend. We hope this year will once again bring a number of visitors to our area, looking to take in Rocky Point hospitality.
In Mexico, as across the globe, TV viewers have had their eyes set on the 2010 World Cup taking place in South Africa. Although there have been a number of suprises among many of the favorites, the U.S. and Mexico were unable to move past the group of 16. As in World Cups past, though both the U.S. and Mexico made it out of their respective groups, our hopes to watch them move on through the cup standings were dashed. Among my favorites to take the cup (though I should first say I am not a big soccer fan so don’t put your eggs in my “soccer” basket), I believe will be Germany in first, followed by Brazil or Argentina. Those I believe are the strongest candidates to take the Cup, so let’s see who wins!
In looking into our articles this month, we report on an event that really made Peñasco shine as it had not done in some time. This of course was the 2010 Miss Sonora pageant, which crowned Erika Bernal of Hermosillo from among the 12 beautiful contestants. In addition to highlighting the professionalism of pageant organizers, the event once again put Peñasco on the radar, boosting promotion even beyond publicity already in effect. The pageant was also a complementary part of the Marine Fest activities, which took place from June 1-20, honoring Marine day which is a very traditional date in this port. Marine Fest 2010 was another demonstration of the local administration’s intent to promote port traditions and culture, drawing together numerous artists and thousands of families who took part in the accessibly priced event. This shows us that despite the economic crisis that can still be felt across the city, people are responding positively to these types of activities. Along these same lines, we were also pleased to be host for the recent National Basketball Championship, to the delight of many spectators. The best basketball players from Mexico came to Peñasco to participate in the tournament, which was won by Sonora after they trampled second place finisher Baja California.
It is really interesting to see that beyond traditional events, we are beginning to have new and varied types of promotion and the local community is really turning out, be it for a musical or athletic event. We are also seeing a steady increase in the number of visitors. The national promotion Peñasco received from the filming of the soap opera “Niña de mi corazón” was unprecedented. During a span of two weeks, the Televisa cast from Mexico City filmed a number of scenes that were broadcast across the country for a period of 15 days, showcasing the natural beauty of this region. In the words of producer Pedro Damián, the type of lighting this area provides is unmatched and reflects tones not seen in any other part of Mexico. That is why this was the fourth time Damián chose to film in Peñasco!
All of the above notes highlight some of the exciting things going on here locally. Yet, now I am going to address a topic I am obliged to discuss given my role as a communicator that, while it may not be pleasant, is our responsibility to talk about. Although our letters from the editor promote all the positive aspects our community has to offer, underscoring the qualities that surround us to help motivate investors and visitors, it is also our obligation to acknowledge recent events that have disturbed the peace and calm we have grown accustomed to here in Peñasco. Police Chief Erick Landagaray was the target of a recent attack, though we still do not know by whom. This attack has drawn tremendous concern and attention from various authorities. The city is currently bursting with different police organizations including local, state, and federal, trying to locate those responsible for this disgraceful act, as well as to guarantee the safety both for those who live here as well as visitors. It is still worth underscoring the crime index for Peñasco is well below that of our neighboring cities, including Mexicali, Phoenix, or Hermosillo. With this in mind, we want to invite everyone to continue visiting our beaches and assure you these have been isolated incidences. Calm still prevails for all of us lucky enough to live here, as well as for those who choose to visit.

Well my friends, I hope you enjoy our July issue. Please remember to share with us your own experiences from the area. As always, please remember the children in our community who need our support, among these are those at the “Esperanza para los niños” shelter.

For those of you on Facebook, be sure to become a fan of “JoinUs in Rocky Point.” Until next time!