PROLOGUE

This issue of The Akumalian has been delayed from "going to press" on time because of serious problems connecting to the Internet and server.  Fortunately,  Eric Adamson of AkuComp www.akucomp.akumal.us was able to come down to Akumal from Puerto Aventuras and get the system back up and functioning, thus allowing The Akumalian to get out on Monday, February 4, a few days later than was scheduled.

Thanks Eric.

INTRODUCTION

The first week of the month is going to be one absolutely spectacular event after another, as Friday, February 1st, the regular Happy Hour is going to the kick-off of February Party Time in Akumal with "Best Shirt Award".  On the 2nd we celebrate Groundhog Day, and Akumal's Groundhog Day Inner Circle is planning a MMMaaahh-vellllousss celebration.  Then, there is Candlemas Day (a predecessor to Groundhog Day), which is also on February 2nd.  And, if all that is not enough, Sunday, February 3rd is Super Bowl Party time at the Beach Bar, and this year the game will be viewed on the large Lol Ha flat screen TVs.

The week continues with "Super Tuesday", February 5^th, when there are lots primaries being held in the US, and there are HUGE plans for some celebration and betting pool being arranged and set up.  The 5^th is also Mexico's Constitution Day.

And then, it's back to New Year's Eve, albeit Chinese, on Thursday, February 7^th, and who knows what is in store for the Lol Ha Beach bar and/or La Buena Vida on the beginning of 'The Year of the Dog'.

And, if you want more, mid-month brings Valentine's Day (14th), President's Day (19th), Carnaval (January 31 – February 5), and later in the month there is the CEA Annual Festival (Feb. 20-21) followed by the Big Beach Bar Bash –something like the 4B Club – as Akumal celebrates the Academy Awards on Feb. 25th.

IMPORTANT FEBRUARY FACTS

Aquarius:  January 20 - February 18

Pisces:  February 19 - March 20

 February Birthstone:  Amethyst
Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz and is a popular gemstone.  If it were not for its widespread availability, amethyst would be very expensive.  The name "amethyst" comes from the Greek and means "not drunken."  This was maybe due to a belief that amethyst would ward off the effects of alcohol, but most likely the Greeks were referring to the almost wine-like color of some stones that they may have encountered.  Its color is unparalleled, and even other, more expensive purple gemstones are often compared to its color and beauty.  Although it must always be purple to be amethyst, it can and does have a wide range of purple shades.

Amethyst can occur as long prismatic crystals that have a six sided pyramid at either end or can form as druzes that are crystalline crusts that only show the pointed terminations.  As a mineral specimen, amethyst is popular for its color and nice crystal shapes that produce a handsome, purple, sparkling cluster.

 February Flower:  Violet
Viola species typically have heart-shaped, scalloped leaves, though a number have palmate leaves or other shapes.  The vast majority of Viola species are herbaceous, however a substantial number are acaulescent in habit without any noticeable stems, while the others have short stems with flowers produced in the axils of the leaves.  The simple leaves of plants with either habit are arranged alternately; the acaulescent species produce basal rosettes.  Plants always have leaves with stipules that are often leaf-like.

FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS

Birthdays and Anniversaries
1          Bill Barb
5          Sam Nejame
5          Bill McClendon; it’s a BIGGIE this year
7          Hugo (Miramar chef)
9          Terry Turner
10        Gary Ness
11        Karen Kantor
15        George Alvarado
22        Hagen Clements
23        Bob Anders
23        Chris McCasland
27        Shelley Cope
28        Judy Baxter

There must be more than this.  Let’s hear about YOUR birthday before it happens.

 Missed January Birthdays / Anniversary

ROBIN'S BEST SHIRT AWARD, FEBRUARY 1

Come one, come all, to the Beach Bar, where we’ll have a ball.

It’s time for another "Best Shirt Award", which is held on the first Friday of each month during Happy Hour at the Lol Ha Beach Bar. 

This award is based on Robin's penchant for good, classy Beach Bar shirts, and his sister, Mary, is ready to once again be the judge and jury as she selects the "Best Shirt" for February. 

The January competition was won by Didiere Jackson, and the photos for the January competition are located at January Best Shirt Award.

As this is a "late" issue, let it be known that Leroy Wiedman won the contest for February, and those photos are at February Best Shirt.

GROUNDHOG DAY, FEBRUARY 2

Groundhog Day is always on February 2, and it is a traditional festival celebrated in the United States and Canada on this date.  It is a cross-quarter day, midway between the Winter Solstice and the Vernal Equinox.

Punxsutawney Phil is a groundhog and the most famous resident of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.  On Groundhog Day of each year, the town of Punxsutawney celebrates the beloved groundhog with a festive atmosphere of music and food.  During the ceremony, which begins well before the winter sunrise, Phil emerges from his temporary home on Gobbler's Knob, located in a rural area about 2 miles east of town.  According to the tradition, if Phil sees his shadow and returns to his hole, the United States will suffer six more weeks of winter.  If Phil does not see his shadow, spring will arrive early.  During the rest of the year, Phil lives in the town library with his "wife" Phyllis.

A club of Phil enthusiasts, known as the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, take care of the famed rodent year-round.  A select group called the Inner Circle plan the annual ceremony.  Members of the Inner Circle are recognizable by their top hats and tuxedos.

            Here in Akumal, we have our own Akumal Groundhog Club Inner Circle, comprised on Bud & Alice Blatner, and they too should be recognizable by their top hats and tuxedos, but due to the conflict with the Best Shirt Award on the previous day, there may be some variations.  The Inner Circle is preparing the groundhog jerky appetizers, and in preparation for the big day.

Again a "late" issue, and because of a social calendar conflict, this Event was way under attended.  Here's a photo of the attendees.

DIA DE LA CANDELARIA, FEBRUARY 2

Candlemas Day has numerous origins and meanings.

In modern life many people may not be aware that on February 2 we celebrate an ancient feast, common to the Church of both East and West, which is mentioned clearly in Leviticus and Luke.  February 2 is "Candlemas" in many churches and is the day for observing the ritual purification of Mary, forty days after the birth of Jesus, as well as the presentation of Jesus in the Temple in Jerusalem.  The day has pagan roots and was a Christian adaptation of the older practices for this midwinter festivity from which we get our "Groundhog Day."  Since the presentation was also the purification of Mary, the church developed ritual practices known as the "Churching of Women" or "Thanksgiving of Women after Childbirth."  The following is an explanation:

·        Seven days after Christmas, January 1, is the feast of our Lord's circumcision

·        Thirty three days after that, February 2 is the feast of his being offered in the Temple, the purification of the Virgin Mary.  So Candlemass is forty days after the birth of Jesus.

 This day also used to have great significance in the rural calendar, because the date lies half way between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, so it marks the day upon which winter is half over!  It is a time of the year which naturally forms a transition period in winter - there is a sense in which thank God we are moving on into brighter and better days.

Like many Christians festivals, including Christmas itself, Candlemas has roots which lie deep in pagan roots and an understanding of nature.

Imbolc was an important day in the Celtic calendar. (pronounced 'im'olk' also known as Oimelc) comes from an Irish word that was originally thought to mean 'in the belly' although many people translate it as 'ewe's milk' (oi-melc).  As winter stores of food were getting low, Imbolc rituals were performed to harness divine energy that would ensure a steady supply of food until the harvest six months later.

Like many Celtic festivals, the Imbolc celebrations centered around the lighting of fires.  Fire was perhaps more important for this festival than others, as it was also the holy day of Brigid (also known as Bride, Brigit, Brid), the Goddess of fire, healing and fertility.  The lighting of fires celebrated the increasing power of the Sun over the coming months.  For the Christian calendar, this holiday was reformed and renamed 'Candlemas' when candles are lit to remember the purification of the Virgin Mary.

As Candlemas traditions evolved, many people embraced the legend that if the sun shone on the second day of February, an animal would see its shadow and there would be at least six more weeks of winter.  Bears or badgers are watched in some European countries, but the German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania found an abundance of groundhogs, and late in the 19th century a few residents in Punxsutawney began celebrating the groundhog as weather prophet.  So we have Groundhog Day.

You may know the rhyme:
If Candlemas day be sunny and bright,
Winter again will show its might.
If Candlemas day be cloudy and grey,
Winter soon will pass away. (Fox version)

 or

If Candlemas day be fair and bright,
Winter will have another flight.
If Candlemas day be shower and rain,
Winter is gone and will not come again. (Traditional)

 In Mexico, Candlemas (Spanish: Día de La Candelaria) is celebrated with Tamales.  Tradition indicates that on January 5, the night before Three Kings Day (the Epiphany), whoever gets one or more of the few plastic or metal dolls (originally coins) buried within the Rosca de Reyes must throw a party on Candlemas.  In certain regions of Mexico, this is the day in which the baby Jesus of each household is taken up from the nativity scene and dressed up in various colorful, whimsical outfits.
 

SUPER BOWL XLII "PARTY", FEBRUARY 3

Site: Lol Ha Beach Bar, Akumal Central, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Date: February 3, 2008
Kick-off: 5:30 p.m. AST
Network: FOX
Home Team:  New England Patriots
Away Team:  New York Giants
Halftime Performance:  Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Referee:  Mike Carey

 The 2008 Super Bowl will be played at a new stadium that has been built in Glendale, Arizona, just west of Phoenix.  It is the new home of the Arizona Cardinals, and it is a state-of-the-art facility.  It is the first stadium in North America to feature a retractable roof and a roll-out grass field.  The new stadium holds about 73,000 people, all N.E. Patriots' fans.

Unfortunately, the NY Giants defeated the NE Patriots by the score of 17 – 14.  What a difference a field goal makes.

CARNIVAL, JANUARY 31 – FEBRUARY 5

Carnaval is an official Mexican holiday that kicks off a five-day celebration of the libido before the Catholic lent.  Beginning the weekend before Lent, Carnaval is celebrated exuberantly with parades, floats and dancing in the streets.  Port towns such as Ensenada, La Paz, Mazatlan, Veracruz Campeche, and Merida are excellent places to watch Carnaval festivities.  

Hosting an array of parades, parties, concerts, culinary festivals, cultural programs and beauty pageants, Mexican coastal cities offer Mardi Gras celebrations comparable to New Orleans and Rio de Janeiro.  Carnival in México has a long tradition dating back to the nineteenth century. Coming from the Latin word Carnavale meaning "goodbye to the flesh", Carnival refers to the week before Lent (Cuaresma), where carefree abandonment and indulgence are encouraged.

Kick-off begins with the burning of El Mal Humor (Bad Mood), in which an effigy, usually modeled after an unpopular politician of the day, is hung and burned, followed by a flurry of confetti and fireworks. 

Host cities celebrate all sorts of parades daily, depending on the local carnival’s theme, which differs from region to region.  Parades display an array of floats, known as allegorical cars, decoratively inspired by Mexican scenery and normally featuring bright flowers and live entertainment.  Some parades require an entrance fee, and visitors are advised to get tickets to the parade as soon as they arrive via the local tourist office or hotel.

 No carnival is complete without pageantry.  Included in the festivities are two major pageants: the crowning of the Reina del Carnaval (Carnival Queen); and the selection of the Rey del Carnaval (Carnival King), who may take on different names, including Rey Feo (Ugly King) and Rey de Alegría (King of Happiness), depending on the city.  Hopefuls compete amongst a handful of contestants in a grand ceremony for the coveted titles, followed by a massive party, featuring performances by regional groups.

Winners are crowned by a local government official and earn the privilege of being part of the major parades, normally held on Sunday and Tuesday during Carnival week.  To culminate the week of festivities, there is yet another symbolic burning.  This time, it's of "Juan Carnaval", another doll symbolizing all that is impure.  The burning and burial of this character gives a fresh and new beginning to the period of Lent and the spring.
  

DAY OF THE CONSTITUTION, FEBRUARY 5

Dia de la Constitucion, February 5, is an official holiday that commemorates Mexico's Constitution.

The Political Constitution of the United Mexican States of 1917 is the present constitution of Mexico.  It was drafted in Santiago de Queretaro by a Constitutional Convention during the Mexican Revolution.  It was approved by the Constitutional Congress on February 5, 1917, with Venustiano Carranza serving as the first president under its terms.

The Constitution of 1917 came to be the crystallization of the revolutionary ideals that were elevated to the category of constitutional norms.  On it, were included advanced principles of social reforms and rights in favor of peasants and workers, in addition, it was formulated to govern all the Mexicans without distinction of race, creed, social or political condition, since in it were elevated to the rank of constitutional norms the freedom of thought and of belief.

Nevertheless, many years were spent before consolidating a Constitution according to the times and circumstances of the Mexicans.  Throughout history, different fundamental laws were emanated of a Constituent Congress.

SUPER TUESDAY PRIMARIES, FEBRUARY 5

Akumal celebrates Super Tuesday at the Lol Ha Beach Bar where the results of the primaries will be closely watched, and a Super (Betting) Pool will highlight the evening.

Super Tuesday (2008), Super Duper Tuesday, Giga Tuesday, Tsunami Tuesday, and The Tuesday of Destiny are names for February 5, 2008, the day on which the largest-ever simultaneous number of state U.S. presidential primary elections will be held.  Twenty-two states, plus American Samoa and the Democrats Abroad, are scheduled to hold either caucuses or primary elections for one or both parties on this date.

The large number of states holding elections on February 5 could shorten the period between the first caucus in Iowa, on January 3, 2008, and the de facto selection of a party's nominee to just a few weeks.  By comparison, only about 1 percent of nominating convention delegates had been selected by early February in the 2000 election cycle, whereas Super Tuesday 2008 will see 52 percent of the Democratic and 41 percent of the Republican delegates awarded.

 Come to the Beach Bar and cast your ballot(s). Choose who you think will win in each State!  There are ballots for voting - $10 USD (or 100 Mexican pesos), and they will be at the Beach Bar on Tuesday at 6 PM.

You must choose who you think will win in 43 elections and place your bet by 7 PM.  You have 43 votes - both Republicans and Democrats

The person who guesses the most winners correctly collects 50% of the bets, and the other 50% will go to the Akumal Library

Spread the Word  - - - Everyone is welcome!

See you at the Beach Bar!

CHINESE NEW YEAR, FEBRUARY 7

Chinese New Year is the longest and most important celebration in the Chinese calendar. The Chinese year 4706 begins on February 7, 2008. This is The Year of the Rat.

Chinese months are reckoned by the lunar calendar, with each month beginning on the darkest day.  New Year festivities traditionally start on the first day of the month and continue until the fifteenth, when the moon is brightest.  In China, people may take weeks of holiday from work to prepare for and celebrate the New Year.

Legend has it that in ancient times, Buddha asked all the animals to meet him on Chinese New Year.  Twelve came, and Buddha named a year after each one.  He announced that the people born in each animal's year would have some of that animal's personality.  Those born in rat years tend to be leaders, pioneers, and conquerors.  They are charming, passionate, charismatic, practical and hardworking.  Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Affleck, Samuel L. Jackson, William Shakespeare, and Mozart were all born in the year of the rat.

At Chinese New Year celebrations people wear red clothes, decorate with poems on red paper, and give children "lucky money" in red envelopes.  Red symbolizes fire, which according to legend can drive away bad luck.  The fireworks that shower the festivities are rooted in a similar ancient custom.  Long ago, people in China lit bamboo stalks, believing that the crackling flames would frighten evil spirits.

In China, the New Year is a time of family reunion.  Family members gather at each other's homes for visits and shared meals, most significantly a feast on New Year's Eve.  In the United States, however, many early Chinese immigrants arrived without their families, and found a sense of community through neighborhood associations instead.  Today, many Chinese-American neighborhood associations host banquets and other New Year events.

Chinese New Year ends with the lantern festival on the fifteenth day of the month.  Some of the lanterns may be works of art, painted with birds, animals, flowers, zodiac signs, and scenes from legend and history.  People hang glowing lanterns in temples, and carry lanterns to an evening parade under the light of the full moon.

In many areas the highlight of the lantern festival is the dragon dance. The dragon, which might stretch a hundred feet long, is typically made of silk, paper, and bamboo.  Traditionally the dragon is held aloft by young men who dance as they guide the colorful beast through the streets.  In the United States, where the New Year is celebrated with a shortened schedule, the dragon dance always takes place on a weekend.  In addition, many Chinese-American communities have added American parade elements such as marching bands and floats.

Will there be a Dragon Dance in Akumal?

VALENTINE'S DAY, FEBRUARY 14

Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine.  But who is this mysterious saint, and why do we celebrate this holiday?  The history of Valentine's Day -- and its patron saint -- is shrouded in mystery.  But we do know that February has long been a month of romance.  St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition.  So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite?  Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred.

One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome.  When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men -- his crop of potential soldiers.  Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret.  When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.

According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself.  While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl -- who may have been his jailor's daughter -- who visited him during his confinement.  Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today.  Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure.  It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France.
 

VALENTINES DAY  - DID YOU KNOW?

192 million Valentine's Day cards are exchanged annually, making Valentine's Day the second-most popular greeting-card-giving occasion.  (This total excludes packaged kids valentines for classroom exchanges.)

Nearly 60 percent of all Valentine's Day cards are purchased in the six days prior to the observance, making Valentine’s Day a procrastinator's delight.
 

PRESIDENT'S DAY, FEBRUARY 18

President's Day is the 3rd Monday in February, and this year it is the 18th.  This also is Washington's Birthday (observed).

The original version of the holiday was in commemoration of George Washington's birthday in 1796 (the last full year of his presidency).  Washington, according to the calendar that has been used since at least the mid-18th century, was born on February 22, 1732.  According to the old style calendar in use back then, however, he was born on February 11.  At least in 1796, many Americans celebrated his birthday on the 22nd while others marked the occasion on the 11th instead.

By the early 19th century, Washington's Birthday had taken firm root in the American experience as a bona fide national holiday.  Its traditions included Birthnight Balls in various regions, speeches and receptions given by prominent public figures, and a lot of revelry in taverns throughout the land.  Then along came Abraham Lincoln, another revered president and fellow February baby (born on the 12th of the month).  The first formal observance of his birthday took place in 1865, the year after his assassination, when both houses of Congress gathered for a memorial address.  While Lincoln's Birthday did not become a federal holiday like George Washington's, it did become a legal holiday in several states.

In 1968, legislation was enacted that affected several federal holidays.  One of these was Washington's Birthday, the observation of which was shifted to the third Monday in February each year, whether or not it fell on the 22nd.  This act, which took effect in 1971, was designed to simplify the yearly calendar of holidays and give federal employees some standard three-day weekends in the process. 

Apparently, while the holiday in February is still officially known as Washington's Birthday (at least according to the Office of Personnel Management), it has become popularly (and, perhaps in some cases at the state level, legally) known as "President's Day."  This has made the third Monday in February a day for honoring both Washington and Lincoln, as well as all the other men who have served as president.
 

PGA GOLF AT MAYAKOBA, FEBRUARY 20 & 21

The PGA TOUR returns to México for the second Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya-Cancun, the PGA TOUR's only official event to be held outside of the United States and Canada.  To be held February 20-21, 2008, the Mayakoba Golf Classic will be conducted in Playa del Carmen at the Greg Norman designed El Camaleon Golf Club at Mayakoba, just 45 minutes north of Akumal. 
 

CEA “SAVE OUR SEAS FESTIVAL”, FEB. 20 & 21

In 2008, CEA will celebrate 15 years of research, education and advocacy in Akumal, working to understand better the natural elements that make this place so beautiful, to raise awareness about how to protect it, and to invite others to join them in their efforts. CEA will have lots to celebrate, and they would love to count on your participation throughout the year of events, especially in the Third Annual Save Our Seas Festival, on February 20 & 21.  CEA will offer activities designed to connect more information about reefs and their inhabitants to people from all over the world.  CEA is blessed literally to have the ocean at its doorstep, and it is grateful to be able to plan an exciting fundraising experience.  CEA will close the Festival with its Third Annual Gala Event which will include amazing talent, entertainment and surprises for those who attend.  It will be held at the CEA Center this year. Make your reservations online now.

This year's Silent Auction is already showing great promise.  Ron and his partners have donated a wonderful item for the auction—a stay at their slice of paradise, Xamach Dos, located on the pristine beach of Sian Ka'an. Last year, many people who could not attend the Festival in Akumal expressed their disappointment in not being able to participate in the Silent Auction.  This year CEA hopes to include an online auction to coincide with our Silent Auction; the items will be different but just as wonderful.  If you would like to donate an item or participate in the online, silent and live auctions, check back periodically for updates.

 If you would like to participate in this year's CEA Festival, please contact Alma or Lydia. They are always looking for volunteers, entertainers, craft demonstrations and, of course, items for our Silent Auction.  Or, if you would like to sponsor part of the event, please let CEA know.  In the past, they have focused mainly on vacation rentals in and around Akumal, but this year they hope to expand and offer unique experiences from many locations.

 See Agenda at
 http://www.ceakumal.org/3rd_annual_cea_festival_save_our_seas1.html

MEXICAN FLAG DAY, FEBRUARY 24th

February 24 is Mexican Flag Day, a national holiday that honors the Mexican flag

The national Dia de la Bandera (Flag Day) celebration occurs on February 24.  On this day in 1821, all the factions fighting in the War of Independence joined together to form the Army of the Three Guarantees in response to the Plan de Iguala, which was signed by Vicente Guerrero and Agustin de Iturbide, officially declaring Mexico an independent country.  General Vicente Guerrero was the first military official who swore allegiance to the national flag.  Another flag tradition is that before every Olympics in which Mexico is a participant, the President hands a flag over to the flag bearer, chosen by their peers, to carry with them to the host city.

The Flag of Mexico is a vertical tricolor of green, white, and red with the national coat of arms charged in the center of the white stripe.  While the meaning of the colors has changed over time, these three colors were adopted by Mexico following independence from Spain during the country's War of Independence.  The current flag was adopted in 1968, but the overall design has been used since 1821 when the First National Flag was created.  The current law of national symbols that governs the use of the national flag has been in place since 1984.

Throughout history, the flag has changed eight times, as the design of the coat of arms and the length-width ratios of the flag have been modified.  However, the coat of arms has had the same features throughout: an eagle, holding a serpent in its talon, is perched on top of a prickly pear cactus; the cactus is situated on a rock that rises above a lake.  The coat of arms is derived from an Aztec legend that their gods told them to build a city where they spot an eagle and a serpent, which is now Mexico City.  The current national flag, the Fourth National Flag, is also used as the Mexican naval ensign by ships registered in Mexico.
 

ACADEMY AWARDS AKUMAL STYLE, FEBRUARY 24

The 80th Academy Awards ceremony, honoring outstanding achievements in film for 2007, is scheduled for Sunday, February 24, 2008, at Akumal's Lol Ha Beach Bar and the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California.  It will be the third time that the Beach Bar has hosted the ceremonies.  Jon Stewart is scheduled to host the awards in Hollywood, his second time after previously presiding over the 78th Academy Awards, and Laura Bush will once again be the hostess in Akumal.

There will be the usual Betting Pool administrated by Charlene, and the nominees in the major categories include:

Performance by an actor in a leading role
George Clooney in 'Michael Clayton'
Daniel Day-Lewis in "There Will Be Blood"
Johnny Depp in "Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
Tommy Lee Jones in "In the Valley of Elah"
Viggo Mortensen in "Eastern Promises"

  Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Casey Affleck in "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"
Javier Bardem in 'No Country for Old Men"
Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Charlie Wilson’s War"
Hal Holbrook in "Into the Wild"
Tom Wilkinson in "Michael Clayton" 

Performance by an actress in a leading role 
Cate Blanchett in "Elizabeth: The Golden Age"
Julie Christie in "Away from Her"
Marion Cotillard in "La Vie en Rose"
Laura Linney in "The Savages"
Ellen Page in "Juno" 

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Cate Blanchett in "I’m Not There"
Ruby Dee in "American Gangster"
Saoirse Ronan in "Atonement"
Amy Ryan in "Gone Baby Gone"
Tilda Swinton in "Michael Clayton"  

Achievement in directing
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" Julian Schnabel
"Juno" Jason Reitman
"Michael Clayton" Tony Gilroy
"No Country for Old Men" Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
"There Will Be Blood" Paul Thomas Anderson  

PABLO BUSH ROMERO SCHOLARSHIP FUND

The kids attending the government run school in Akumal, have limited choices for continuing their education beyond Elementary level. 

Lol-Ha has teamed up with CEA, Akumal's Ecological Association, to establish a scholarship fund for kids with limited means and good grades, to continue with their schooling and finish their Middle School education. (SECUNDARIA) Hopefully extending the scholarship fund to High School level education also!

CEA is involved with education, and we feel that this well established nonprofit organization will be able to act as Administrator of the fund.

To kick off the scholarship fund, they will donate the proceeds of these fund raisers: the Valentine's Day Raffle, Superbowl, and The Academy Awards Fundraiser.

This scholarship fund has been established in memory of Pablo Bush Romero, pioneer of Akumal.  In its infancy, Akumal had no schools, except a few people who moved to Akumal or came on vacation, that took it upon themselves to teach the kids of the staff working at the time.

Today, in spite of all the mega developments around us, some kids still don’t have the luxury of continuing with school after the 6th grade!  Although government schools have no fees, there are costs involved like uniforms, books and supplies that make it prohibitive for some families.

Please give generously to the Pablo Bush Romero Scholarship Fund. Leave us your email address. We will send you pictures of the kids that are awarded the scholarships, and give you progress reports on their pursuit of a good education to prepare them for a better life! If you want to become a benefactor for one child, we can pair you with someone and when you visit Akumal, you will be able to visit with the child and hear about his or her progress and gratitude personally!

COMINGS AND GOINGS

            Comings:

·        South Akumal had a number of visitors in January, many who were here for the Vecinos Meeting:
o       Hollis Hines; George arrived later
o       Terry & Lisa Turner
o       Gene & Mary Ellen Langan
o       Michael & Lunda Schwartz
o       Susan & Macon Gravlee
o       Ovetta & Gary Vardell
o       Steve & Kathleen Cole
o       Bobby & Mary
o       Tom & Judy Baxter

·        In North Akumal, visitors included:
o       Hugh Maynard
o       Larry & Karen Kantor
o       Roger & Denise Burton
o       Richard Dooley and Kelly
o       Bud Blatner’s sister, Nan Miller and her husband, Malcolm Gordon
o       Mike & Linda, Denny & Diane’s friends from the Lake House Harbor Club
o       Barbara Miller and Shotsie Forsythe

·        Jade Bay saw the return of :
o       Paul & Gayle Rasmussen

·        Aventuras Akumal had a flock of snowbirds, who came down for their Condo Association Meeting, including:
o       Bob & Gayle Doebert
o       Joe & Kathy Volpolocello
o       Lynn Chase and Rick Thompson
o       Ray & Barbara Armstrong
o       Wally & Jan Koenst
o       Wendell & Linda Day
o       Hirley Vincent and Jan Browning
o       Brian O’Regan

·        Puerto Aventuras visitors included:
o       Don Papa
o       Bob Flynn

·        Betty McElhattan arrived in town on Jan 29 for a month’s stay.

·        Hurley Hackler returned after a three week trip to the northeast.

·        Dave Bliss arrives on Feruary 5^th, and Michelle follows on the 7^th.

·        Laura Bush arrives on February 8^th for the February Events

·        David & Francesca McElhatten arrive with the kids on the 8^th.

• Lydia Pontius arrives on the 12, and Mike follows on the 19

·        Greg & Karen Goudy return to Aventuras Akumal on February 21^st for a month. 

Goings:

Mary Henderson has gone off to California?

Phobe Barriett has returned to Colorado

Lisa and Phill Combs departed Tankah after an extended stay over the holidays.
 

REMEMBERING MARGARET RICHARDS

From David Richards

 MARGARET RICHARDS, Noted Pyscho-Therapist

 Margaret (Margie) Richards (nee Patrick) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania passed away on January 20th at the age of 55.  She is survived by her beloved husband, David Richards, Sr., and her son David Richards, Jr. (age 15).  She was stepmother to four children and had eight grandchildren.  She had six living sisters and one brother.

Margaret began her psycho-analytic training in 1979 at the Philadelphia School of Psycho-analysis (PSP).  After completing her training, she was asked to begin teaching at the Institute because of her knowledge of theory and clinical practice.  She completed her Master’s degree at Temple University in the department of psycho-educational processes in the College of Education.  Margaret maintained a very active practice with a special interest in children and families.  She continued her involvement with PSP through teaching, chairing clinical seminars, and for a period, administering PSP.

Margaret was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1994.  She handled this with great courage, tenacity, determination and dignity, and she succeeded against all odds.  Her physicians, Dr. Casey and Dr. Mason (Pennsylvania Hospital), supported her throughout her illness with high medical competence and compassion.

One of Margaret's hobbies was wine, and she was working towards her Master of Wine Certification, having already achieved levels of certification in this subject.  She led wine groups informally known as WWW, the Worldly Women of Wine, which were both instructional and entertaining.

In recent years, she became an ardent supporter of the Penn Charter School, holding several posts which she approached with enthusiasm, energy and efficiency.  She was co-chair of the community at the time of her passing.

Margaret loved Philadelphia and all its cultural activities – the orchestra, the theatre and opera.

She also loved Mexico, where the family maintained a home in Akumal on the Riviera Maya, where friends and family were always welcome.

Funeral arrangements are private.  A memorial service will be held at the Penn Charter School on February 9th at 10:30am.  Contributions, in lieu of flowers, should be made to the St. Peters Church choir fund.
 

WHAT'S NEW AROUND TOWN?

AKUMAL

Tulum – Coba Road

The "new" wide road (from 6 to 12 meters) is complete all the way from Tulum to the rotary at Coba, and it is a major improvement over the "older" road.  Now, where's the Airport?
  

FULL MOON, FEBRUARY 21

The Full Snow Moon will be on Thursday, February 21 03:32am.  Since the heaviest snow usually falls during this month, native tribes of north and west (hilly area) Akumal most often called February's full Moon the Full Snow Moon.  Some tribes also referred to this Moon as the Full Hunger Moon, since harsh weather conditions in their areas made hunting and fishing very difficult.
 

EVENTS

Once again, Robin’s "Best Shirt Award", was the only recorded "Event" for January,  but February is bursting at the seams.