July 2009  Issue 79

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INTRODUCTION

Summer and the hurricane season are here, and the tourists are still here too.  And, there is a fair amount of “Came & Went” as well.

Interestingly enough, there are no Mexico holidays in July to report.

MESSAGES FROM THE STAFF

SURVEY and FORMAT
    Last month The Akumalian distributed a Survey with regards to abbreviating some of the sections within The Akumalian, and the results were published in a Special Edition that went out last week.  The results of the Survey can be seen in that Special Issue.

The results of the Survey were reflected in an interim issue of The Akumalian that was distributed a few days ago.  However, The Staff was overwhelmed by e-mails, telephone calls, telegrams, and faxes (we don’t take tweets) from the silent majority, so this issue brings The Akumalian back to some sense of normalcy.  So, there is a fair amount of duplicity with this issue and what was distributed earlier in the month, and this is the format you can expect to see in the future.  The Staff hopes you enjoy this format of The Akumalian.

 AKUMAL TELEPHONE BOOK(S)
    The Akumal Telephone books have been updated.  Check to see if your information is correct.

 BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES
     This has also been updated.  Check to see if your information is correct.

         UNSUBSCRIBE
    For some unknown reason, the distribution program being used apparently sends UNSUBSCRIBE messages to many people, and it also seems like many people also inadvertently hit the UNSUBSCRIBE link by mistake.  Whatever the case or reason,

You do not have to send a message to The Akumalian!!  There is a SUBSCRIBE box up there in the top left hand corner of this page – go look for it before reading on – and you, yes YOU, can use that to re-subscribe yourself, and you can use it to subscribe additional friends and family members.  Please, there is really no need to call the Subscription Office.

IMPORTANT JULY FACTS

It was the month in which Julius Caesar was born,  The month Julius replaced Quintilis (quintus = five)—the fifth month in the early Roman calendar, which began with March before the Julian calendar instituted January as the start of the year.  Unfortunately, Caesar himself was only able to enjoy one July during his life—the very first July, in 45 B.C.  The following year he was murdered on the Ides of March.

 Cancer   June 22 – July 22
Leo - July 23 -August 21

 July Birthstone:  Ruby
July's birthstone is among the most highly prized of gems throughout history.  The word Ruby comes from the Latin "ruber," meaning red.  It is a variety of the mineral Corundum, and is found as crystals within metamorphic rock.  Corundum is the second hardest mineral, after Diamond.  It comes in a variety of colors, and is considered a Sapphire in any color except red, which is designated as a Ruby.  Rubies range in hue from an orangey red to a purplish red, but the most prized gems are a true red in color.  Large sized Rubies are very rare and valuable. 

 July Flower:  Larkspur
The larkspur, or Delphinium, is named for the shape of their flowers.  The flower resembles the bottle - like nose of a dolphin. 

AKUMAL COUNCIL GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING

The summer Akumal Council General Assembly Meeting was held on Wednesday, June 24^th at the Lol Ha Restaurant, and, considering the time of year, there was a very interested and enthusiastic attendance.  The Akumal Council has published the minutes on its web site at http://www.akumalcouncil.com/ACcontent/archives.html  Check it out.

THE AKUMALIAN’S PERCEPTION OF “LEGALIZED”

The Akumal Council General Meeting of June 24 dedicated much of its time to the current issue of “Regularization” or “Legalization”.  These are the two terms that were used interchangeably during the meeting and in subsequent e-mails, but they, especially “Legalization” might really not be an appropriate definition for what is going on.  Paul Sanchez-Navarro gives a good clarification from his perspective after THE PERCEPTIONS OF THE AKUMALIAN.

 Please understand that what follows is exactly what it says, “The Perceptions of The Akumalian”, and these do not, in any way, express the position of the Akumal Council.  It is quite possible that the Akumal Council will express its PERCEPTIONS when the minutes of the meeting are posted to their web site. 

THE PERCEPTIONS OF THE AKUMALIAN

While “apparently” is used a number of above, here is a partial list of what The Akumalian sees as really open questions. 

 ·         Who really can provide a definitive answer on ALL the required documentation for the different classifications (business, rental property, resident, etc)?

 ·         Once one has all the required documentation, where does one take it, and to whom does one present it to in order to be officially “Legalized”?  Do you have to?

 ·         Who can really provide a definitive answer that all the paper work is in order and one is “Legalized”?

 ·         Once one has been deemed to be “Legalized”, what kind of proof does one have for future references?

 ·         When, where, how and why might one be required to prove one is “Legalized”?

 ·         How do owners with older houses with no original paperwork for “Construction License” go about getting whatever is required to satisfy this piece of the puzzle?

 ·         What kind of fines and penalties are we looking at if not “Legalized” by November 15, and are they ‘One Time’ or annual?

 Some of those may seem elementary and trivial, but they still seem to go unanswered.  

PERCEPTIONS OF PAUL SANCHEZ-NAVARRO
I just have my doubts about using words like "Legalized" when we are not clear on what that means for each inhabitant of Akumal.  There must be a better way to report this in The Akumalian - perhaps that: ...”the Akumal Council has been asked to facilitate a process of making sure each property owner has its municipal registrations and requirements in order, helping to ensure sound relations between Akumal the Municipal government.  The Council will provide information on the details of this process and offer potential tools to address any needs.  The Municipal government has a programmed calendar of work to ensure that every lot, building and business is operating within municipal legal guidelines by November 15th of this year.”

 There are some businesses and residences in Akumal (as well as the rest of the state, but we are in Akumal), that have been built, and have been operating without complying with certain legal requirements for construction or operation.  In each step of the way, as a land buyer to builder of one's home or business, and then even to becoming an operator of a business, one has to acquire permits, pay fees and taxes to the Municipal government (as in the US and most any other country). 

 Many people did this in Akumal as they went through each step, and others did not.  Some businesses are operating (earning money in Mexico) without having been registered correctly as a business.  Some houses were built without getting the proper permits for construction.  The processes, from what I understand, were not always easy, as we experience quite a lot in Mexico.  So, many ex-pats may have overlooked the details of all these requirements, and they may not have paid the fees or taxes when they should have, as it is quite confusing. 

 Now today, Akumal, like many settlements along the Caribbean coast, is now in a new Municipality, one that must begin to operate and run the area, making sure all the municipal laws are enforced.  So, we get to a situation of checking just how these regulations are being complied with by every business in the Municipality.  A rental house in Akumal is a business, and a small hotel or condo for rent is a business, and they therefore must operate as a Mexican business.

 UPDATE ON THE JULY 8 MEETING IN AKUMAL=
This apparently – there we go again – was a lightly attended “meeting” with a number of Property Managers and Gabriella Herbert at 11:00 or so.  It was not a series of 1-on-1 meetings as The Staff was led to believe, but a group meeting, and The Staff has heard some verbal reports about the meeting, but does not have the details to report here; nobody wants to step up and document the way they and their lawyers see things. 

The Municipality representative was a sub-delegato, and he is reported to have said something to the effect – being paraphrased here – “I don’t know the answers. I need to find out.  Don’t hold me to anything I say here today.”

Steve Clouther was told the sub-delagato would be at the Akumal Council’s office from 11:00 to 4:00, but when he arrived with his pile of papers at 2:30, he was then told that the sub-delagato left at 1:00.
 

JULY BIRTHDAYS

Birthdays and Anniversaries
2          Gerardo Dominguez
2          Isabel Schober
4          Amy Blatner
9          John Chiosso
14        Ellie Humphrey
17        Joan Gonzalez
18        Gary & Oveta Vardell Anniversary
20        Hurley Hackler
21        Priscilla Batting
22        Bud Blatner
26        RC Castro
26        Paula Humphreys
28        Gustavo Guerra
31        Gonzalo Arcila

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

 Missed May Birthdays and Anniversaries

INDEPENDENCE DAY (U.S.), JULY 4th

Independence Day is the national holiday of the United States of America, commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  For more information, go to July 4^th.

ROBIN’S BEST SHIRT AWARD, JULY 3rd

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 is one to celebrate, because it’s on Friday, July 3^rd, the eve of July 4^th.

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” worn by a male for July.  And, as we go to print the criteria are still somewhat nebulous, but it looks like “coolest”, “neatest”, and “most colorful” might garner a lot of brownie points.

 The June award for “best Shirt” went to Steve Clouther, who was “hot” with his birthday shirt, not suit.  See June Best Shirt for more photos.

 The July Best Shirt Award has been posted as well.

WHAT’S NEW AROUND TOWN?

AKUMAL

 Lol Ha Summer Hours
The Lol Ha restaurant closed on June 14, and it will remain closed until November, probably opening for Thanksgiving.  In the meantime, the beach bar gets transformed into the restaurant in the evening (from 5:00 to 9:30), along with tablecloths, cloth napkins, and candle light on the tables.  Plus, there is a page from the Restaurant Menu in the beach bar menu, and there are “Chef’s Specials” each night.

            Other new features include Cappuccino, espresso and special iced frapuccinos, and on Sunday there is a gourmet all-you-can-eat dessert bar.

            And if that is not enough, there is live entertainment.  Wednesday is Flamenco dancing, and on Friday, after Happy Hour, is the Blues & Jazz Band.

 Lol Ha Happy Hour Goes Digital
The Lol Ha Beach Bar has gone digital.  There are electronic registers around the Beach Bar for all the waiters to use when ringing up your order.  These have been programmed to electronically control Happy Hour pricing, based on the time on the register.  They have been programmed to have Happy Hour prices start at 5:30pm sharp, and Happy Hour prices are automatically eliminated when the register/computer hits 6:35.  The Happy Hours prices are determined by when the waiter enters the order into the register, not when he takes the order, and definitely not by the traditional bell, which the Lol Ha staff has been told to ring at 6:25 as “fair warning”.

 Florist in the Pueblo?
There have been reports of a florist being located in the pueblo.  Needs to be confirmed.

 CAPA
You now can pay your CAPA bill in Akumal, at the CAPA building on the right hand side of the road just after the bridge, as you enter Akumal.

Highway Signs
The highway department has gone bonkers with putting signs all over the area.  Here’s just a couple.

Cheutmal Sign
Have you noticed this sign just outside the southbound entrance to Akumal pueblo.  How can they misspell the capital of the state??  I think this might have since been replaced with a correct one.

SPORTING EVENTS IN JULY

Henley Royal Regatta –
Henley Royal Regatta is one of the major events of the British Summer Season. Wednesday 1st - Sunday 5^th, July 2009

Wimbledon Finals:
July 4, Women
July 5, Men

Tour de France 2009
Running from Saturday July 4th to Sunday July 26th 2009, the 96th Tour de France will be made up of 21 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,500 kilometers.

Festival of San Fermin
The festival of San Fermin, or the Pamplona bull running as it's more commonly known outside Spain, officially begins at midday on July 6th every year.

MLB All-Star Game
On July 14th, the 2009 MLB All-Star Game will take place in St. Louis.

All-American Soap Box Derby
72nd All-American Soap Box Derby World Championship, July 25 in Akron, Ohio

COMINGS AND GOINGS

            The pace continues unabated as we head into July.

 Comings:

• Bill & Oteka Brab were back in South Akumal.
• Michael Schwartz was in town early in the month with his son.
• Alexa Schwartz was here with her mom, Lunda, and a gaggle of girl friends celebrating their high school graduation.
• Didier Jackson returned to Akumal for the June 6 Fiesta wedding.
• David & Nancy Poor have been back in town for awhile
• Pat & Cheryl Reagan were back in early June for the Best Shirt Award.
• Zoe Pargot was visiting her parents in mid-June.
• Ron & Sheri Stern were back in their La Bahia condo.
• Dave & Michelle Bliss returned in mid-June.
• Patricia Murray was back in Casa San Francisco with her son TJ, daughter in law Dena, and their 3 year old daughter, Jamie, on June 18-23.  She had some friends there too.
• Hugh Maynard is back for the summer.
• Roger & Denise Burton were back for the July Best Shirt Award.
• Wickie Rimell is also back with her two sons.
• Richard & Arlene Pargot had their friend, Barbara, over from Merida for the weekend.
• Bruce & Ellen Eanet are back in Lol Ka'naab
• Kabot & Sonnta are also back in Lol Ka'naab for a brief stay
• Bill & Cheryl McClendon are back in Luna Azul.
• Allyson & John Sheffield returned on July 7 and stay until August 18.
• Terry Turner and Gary Vardell here for a short visit
• Michael & Lunda Schwartz return to South Akumal with the kids on July 19.
• Paula, Neil, Ellie and Katie Humphreys return to their condo in Mi Casa del Mar on July 21, and they are here until August 14

 Goings:
·         Wendell Day returned to the US.  Did he take the Marlin?  Motorcycle?
·         Charlene made another trip back to Las Vegas in early June.·         Lucy James was off on another European adventure, and she is back.
·         Bart & Jen Smith returned to Kentucky for a week or so in early June.
·         Maimo & Marcy Essy have returned to Iowa for a couple of months.
·         Kirsten & Horacio were out of town for a short spell in July.

FULL MOON, JULY 7th

Full Buck Moon was on July 7th at 4:21am AST.

July is normally the month when the new antlers of buck deer push out of their foreheads in coatings of velvety fur.  

It was also often called the Full Thunder Moon, thunderstorms being now most frequent.  Sometimes this is also called the Full Hay Moon.  Since the moon arrives at apogee less than 13 hours later, this will also be smallest full moon of 2009.  In terms of apparent size, it will appear 12-percent smaller than the full moon of Jan. 10.
  

BASTILLE DAY, JULY 14th

Bastille Day is the French national holiday, celebrated on 14 July each year.  In France, it is called Fête Nationale ("National Celebration") in official parlance, or more commonly le quatorze juillet ("14 July"). 

To see “the rest of the story” go to Bastille Day.

METEOR SHOWERS

Did you know Meteor Showers recur each year, in some cases for hundreds or even thousands of years?  Technically speaking, Meteor Showers are bursts of cosmic debris entering Earth's atmosphere at extremely high speed and thus vaporizing, leaving a streak of light that quickly disappears.  Normally named after the constellation from which they originate these bursts are the result of interactions between a planet and a comet in which a number of meteors are observed.  As they all travel in parallel paths and at the same velocity, to their viewer Meteor showers appear to radiate away from a single point in the sky.  This is called the "radiant" of the shower.

So, as we know you don't like spending your early mornings outside at the beach or up the roof, but still love fantastic meteor showers, there are two this month, and they are a “must see”.
 

DELTA AQUARIDS METEOR SHOWER, JULY 28-29th

The Delta Aquarids usually produce about 20 meteors per hour at their peak.  The shower will peak this year on July 28 & 29, but meteors can usually be seen from July 18 - August 18.  The near first quarter moon will set early, providing an excellent viewing experience after midnight.  The radiant point for this shower will be in the constellation Aquarius.  Best viewing is usually to the east after midnight.  Because these meteors nearly broadside the Earth, their speed is a moderate 25.5 miles per second.
 

CAPRICORNIDS METEOR SHOWER, JULY 29-30th

Though you can expect only 15 meteors per hour at best under dark sky conditions, the Capricornids are noted for producing brilliant fireballs.  Today astronomers generally seem to agree that two or three distinct maximums occur during the time the Alpha Capricornids are active.  The shower is created from the debris in the meteor stream, which becomes visible on the earth when the earth passes through the stream.  Astronomers have not identified the object responsible for producing the Alpha Capricornids.  Yet, the discovery of this meteor shower is attributed to a very cool Hungarian astronomer named Miklós von Konkoly Thege, who first plotted several meteors emanating from the region of the star Alpha Capricorni on the nights of July 28 and 29, 1871!

EVENTS

The only Akumal “Event” was the Best Shirt Award, and that has been reported.