Pro Paramedicos

On March 31, the same day BCS registered its first COVID-19 deaths, a group of volunteers comprised of marine biologists and medical personnel began a project they call “Pro Paramedicos.”

The handwriting was on the wall, the crisis was coming and our First Responders were nowhere near being ready. “These Paramedics, young people with big hearts and excellent training, many of whom are volunteers, have little or no equipment,” said Dr. Xchel Palafox, one of the founders of the project.

That same day in March they began to distribute Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the Paramedics in the La Paz Fire Department and Proteccion Civil La Paz. The effort expanded to cover more than 120 Paramedics in 9 different teams.

“The farthest to the north is Las Pocitas,” explained Pablo Ahuja, cofounder of Pro Paramedicos, “They cover 100 kilometers of highway, from marker 50 to marker 150, from Puerto Chale on the Pacific to San Evaristo on the Sea of Cortez. Small towns like Conquista Agraria, El Cien, and Dolores are part of their range. “

Before being supplied by “Pro Paramedicos” this team had no protection against the virus but now they are equipped with Faceshields, Full Body Suits, N95 masks and surgical gloves as well as surgical masks to put on every patient they treat, anyone of whom could be CV19 positive.

“To the south we supply the Bomberos and Paramedicos of Pescadero. This team is led by Comandante Griselda Sotelo, the first female Comandante Firefighter in Mexico. Her adult son Fernando is also in the unit. We stay in constant contact and visit them every few weeks to resupply their PPE,” said Ahuja.

The rest of the teams that are supplied with donations used to purchase PPE include Proteccion Civil in Los Barriles, Grupo Sierra in La Ventana/El Sargento, Los Planes, Todos Santos Bomberos and Grupo Calafia based in Camino Real.

“Calafia is the largest and most active unit and they have transported more Covid-19 cases than the other units. They have 27 Paramedics and five rigs that seem to be constantly on the move,” said Ahuja, “What´s even more amazing is that they are an all-volunteer team.”

While Covid-19 cases increase every day and the death toll mounts in the state we have seen more than 100 hospital personnel become infected and some have even died from the virus. The most recent being a Doctor from the ER at the ISSTE Hospital who died earlier this week.

A testament to the effectiveness of “Pro Paramedicos” and their PPE campaign is that not a single paramedic in the Municipality of La Paz has become infected by the virus despite their ever-increasing caseload in the last three months.

“We know Covid-19 is not going away, that the numbers keep growing and that the virus forced the Government to reverse the reopening as far as access to beaches and the Malecon. We pledge to keep seeking donations and keep buying PPE even though every day the prices go up and the PPE becomes harder to find,” said Ahuja. “On behalf of the Paramedics and their families I would like to thank all the donors.”

You can participate in this lifesaving project by calling Pablo at 612 154 9859 or by making a donation through PayPal to an account set up by Dr. Xchel Palafox https://www.paypal.me/xchelapp.

Journal del Pacifico publisher’s statement

Español abajo.

Journal del Pacifico Spring 2020 cover by Kate Turning The coronavirus (COVID‐19) pandemic is changing how we live‚ work and serve you. Currently, our team is working from home and taking care of themselves and their families.

Global travel and the economy continue to remain in flux as communities both at home and around the world act to slow the spread of COVID-19. During this time of uncertainty, we recognize that it can be challenging to determine what, if any, action to take.

While we never know what the future holds, we do know that over the past nine years, both Journal del Pacifico, and our surrounding area, have changed and come back from adversities such as Hurricane Odile and we shall do it again!

In the meantime, we will continue to distribute the printed version of the Spring / Primavera 2020 issue of Journal del Pacifico in a limited manner until more businesses, hotels, and restaurants reopen.

The Van Wormer resorts in Los Barriles have announced their reopening May 20 and Los Cabos area hotels are now taking reservations for June 2020. We look forward to their arrivals enjoying our Spring/Primavera 2020 issue with the fabulous Kate Turning cover!

The Spring / Primavera 2020 issue, and every issue, are available online at journaldelpacifico.com. We are also updating our blog posts and Facebook page with current advertiser and area information.

Unfortunately, we have decided to adjust our 2019/2020 publishing schedule to cancel the printed Summer/Verano 2020 issue of Journal del Pacifico. We WILL be back, better than ever, in the fall with our Fall/Otoño 2020 issue and look forward to sharing more great stories on how our area will be ready to welcome visitors in this changing world.

In the meantime, please stay safe and stay healthy.

Saludos from the whole Journal del Pacifico team!

—————

La pandemia del coronavirus (COVID-19) está cambiando la forma en que vivimos, trabajamos, y le servimos a usted.  Nuestro equipo se encuentra trabajando desde casa y cuidando su salud y la de sus familiares.

La economía y el turismo global se mantienen en limbo mientras las comunidades locales y en el resto del mundo trabajan arduamente en mitigar la propagación del virus.  Durante estos tiempos de incertidumbre, sabemos que a veces es difícil vislumbrar el camino a seguir.

Aunque no sabemos lo que nos depara el futuro, lo que sí sabemos es que en los últimos nueve años tanto el Journal del Pacifico como nuestra comunidad han pasado por cambios y sobrellevado adversidades. Sobrevivimos el huracán Odile, ¡y volveremos a vencer!

Mientras tanto, seguiremos distribuyendo la versión impresa del número de Primavera 2020 del Journal del Pacifico de manera limitada hasta que reinicien labores más negocios, hoteles y restaurantes.

Los hoteles Van Wormer en Los Barriles anunciaron su reapertura el 20 de mayo, y los hoteles de Los Cabos han empezado a tomar reservaciones para junio. ¡Esperamos que nuestros visitantes disfruten de nuestra revista de primavera con una imagen de Kate Turning en la portada!

Así como todos los demás números, la edición Primavera 2020 de la revista está disponible en journaldelpacifico.com.  También estamos actualizando nuestro blog y página de Facebook con información actualizada de relevancia y anunciantes.

Desafortunadamente nos hemos visto obligados a ajustar nuestro calendario de publicación 2019-20, con lo que se cancela la edición impresa de Verano 2020. Estaremos de vuelta y mejor que nunca con la edición de Otoño 2020 y anticipamos ansiosamente compartir con ustedes las historias del resurgimiento de la economía local en este mundo nuevo y cambiante en que vivimos.

Mientras tanto, por favor manténganse sanos y seguros.

¡Saludos de todo el equipo de Journal del Pacífico!

Winter 2020

Thank you for all the compliments we received for our Holiday issue with the fabulous Mark Gabriel cover, “El Rey.” We hope that you enjoy this issue with its great Baja stories, photos, and art.

Journal del Pacifico Winter 2020 cover by Pablo Marquez, Todos Santos, Baja, MexicoPhotographer Pablo Márquez contributed this issue’s cover photo of La Poza lagoon. You can see more of his fine art prints at Galería Logan in Todos Santos.

Galería Logan is holding an art opening March 14, featuring new works by Lee Mothes and Jill Logan.

The Palapa Society of Todos Santos A.C. has two popular tours coming up—the Artists of Todos Santos Open Studio tour at the beginning of February and the ever popular biannual Todos Santos Historic Home tour. See this issue’s article for more information. And you can still get a copy of the 18-month Artists of Todos Santos calendar! All support The Palapa Society of Todos Santos programs.

Artist Ann Hebebrand has two more workshops coming up, Abstract possibilities and Painting with Neutrals. See events for more information.

In our Winter 2020 issue, Bryan Jáuregui of Todos Santos Eco Adventures shares the story of the Puppo brothers in the “Last Fishermen of Isla Espírtu Santo,” with photos by Keenan Shoal Werner. Trudi Angell of Saddling South also shares with us more background on the making of the film “La Recua, Dario’s Dream.”

Growing old in Baja is a reality for many ex-pats. Now Comfort Care & Assistance is providing options for assisted living, hospice care, and information about death and dying in Mexico. The Asociación de Colonias de Todos Santos’ (ACTS) mission is to help support neighborhood security, communication, preservation, and also publishes a community phone book.

Dylcor Design & Construction in Pescadero is a responsible building company that not only offers high-quality construction but helps the local community and supports the local fire department. See their ad in this issue.

The Boxing Room, Brian McGuffey, Todos Santos, BCS, MexicoThe Boxing Room on the otro lado of Todos Santos is now open. Brian teaches one-on-one professional boxing by appointment. It’s a great workout!

De la Rosa Architecture mixes contemporary design with traditional architecture, creating luminous spaces that connect with the sea, the mountains, and the desert. Check out their ad in this issue or visit: www.delarosaarchitecture.com

LoveLeigh Designs is an ethical fashion collection situated adjacent to Baja Beans Café in Pescadero. They work directly with local (many underprivileged) artisans, helping to generate an income for them and their families. Each piece in their store, and online, is handmade, tells a story, and every purchase helps someone in need. A portion of all sales goes to fund local projects, individuals, and communities in Baja California Sur.

Shut Up Frank's 25th annual St. Paty's Day, Todos Santos, BCS, MexicoYou won’t want to miss the 25th annual St. Paty’s Day celebration with Frank’s famous corned-beef and fixings on March 17th at Shut Up Frank’s in Todos Santos. Then head over to Todos Santos Brewing for a pint of beer and listen to some great music in the beer garden.

Amor d’Vino is located inside La Generala Restaurant in Todos Santos. In addition to stocking great Mexican wines and tequilas, they can make you a beach basket, and gift certificates are available. Contact them for weddings, private events, private tastings, and birthday parties, or stop in on Wednesday for a wine tasting 1 to 5 pm.

Dos Marias Day Spa, in Pescadero, is situated in a lovely garden setting and offers the ultimate in pampering with a variety of facials, body scrubs, massage treatments, and a Temazcal sweat lodge. It is time to treat yourself to some important self-care!

Todos Los Perros, certified professional dog training is now in Todos Santos. Contact them for group or private lessons. They specialize in dog socialization, obedience, and security K9s. My dog, Max, a recent AKC canine good citizen graduate, loves their classes!

Galería La Gitana on calle Hidalgo in downtown Todos Santos, features paintings by Jimena Garcia, unique ceramics, jewelry, and clothing that you won’t find anywhere else. You can also see Jimena’s work at the monthly Baja 100 art walks.

Chez Laura in Todos Santos serves delicious French specialties in an outdoor, romantic atmosphere. Besides their regular menu, they have daily specials and happy hour Wednesday through Friday.

Virginia Moonstone Mazzetti knows that some would find it insane to uproot from a life in Washington state and start over on a plot of land in Mexico. Most people couldn’t imagine doing something so daring, but she’s found others who have done the exact same thing. Through twenty interviews, Mazzetti explores the reasons for their odysseys and the peace, happiness, and adventure they have found in their new homes. You can find her book, Beginning Again in a Foreign Land, at El Tecolote Bookstore in Todos Santos.

We will see you in our next issue, Spring 2020. We’ll have more great stories, photos, art, and information on the GastroVino Baja Food & Wine festival! The deadline is March 10. And don’t forget, you can see every issue online at journaldelpacifico.com

Holiday / Navidad 2019

Thank you for all the compliments on our Day of the Dead fall cover of Ophelia Manik by Kenny Viese. Emmanuel put on an unbelievable show in the plaza for the third annual Día de Muertos Todos Santos event. Kudos to Bésame Mucho Bazaar and the whole team of volunteers who made the event possible. La Paz photographer, Sandra Muñoz covered the concert for Journal del Pacifico.

Mark Gabriel, Galería Militar in Todos Santos and Pez Gordo in San José del Cabo, has shared “El Rey” the humpback whale for our holiday cover. Mark Gabriel is an award-winning multi-media artist who began his career in the underground comics and fanzine world. He is also one of the featured artists in The Palapa Society’s Artists of Todos Santos 2020/2021 calendar.

We have a variety of informative and fun stories for you in the issue. Bryan Jáuregui of Todos Santos Eco Adventures shares the success story of Cabo Pulmo and the Baja Coastal Institute. She also had the pleasure of interviewing a pig for our Life of Colette piece.

Trudi Angell of Saddling South tells the tale of Baja’s first mule pack-trains and their journey to “Alta” California.

Pamela Ambrose interviewed Cate Thomassen, shardArtist. You can see Cate’s mosaic work at her show at the Galería de Todos Santos on January 29.

Palapa Society of Todos Santos 5k run/walk, Todos Santos, Baja, MexicoThis holiday season enjoy the abundant activities, specials, events, workshops, and seminars. There is a whole lot going on! Start the season off with The Palapa Society’s Carrera de Todos Santos 5k walk / run on December 28.

Then, live the red-carpet experience at Colette The Pig’s world premiere of her art film at Panteón 19, which benefits the Padrino Children’s Foundation.

Photographer Pablo Marquez, Galería Logan, will be leading a four-day master class in capturing the soul of landscape photography starting January 12.

Artist Anne Hebebrand is offering classes in abstract painting, painting with neutrals, and cold wax January through March.

The Writing Ranch’s 10th annual “Writing Down the Baja” retreat takes place January 26 through February 2, at Serendipity in Todos Santos.

The Todos Santos Writers’ Workshop, now in its seventh year, takes place February 1 through 8, and have added a second week for those enrolled in the first week, February 10 through 15, for writers who want to continue their work.

Baja Blooms, a five-day pottery, creative journaling, and yoga retreat takes place March 22 through 28 at the Hotelito this season.

And you won’t want to miss the Artists of Todos Santos Open Studio Tour, February 7 to 9, a benefit for The Palapa Society of Todos Santos.

The Pelican Theater Company of La Paz is also back this season with shows January 21 through 25. See our article for more details.

La Palapa del Sabor has monthly mariachi nights with delicious Mexican specialties for dinner. See our events listings for all of these and more!

Mailboxes Todos Santos has added a third location, in Cabo in the Walmart complex, location #69.

Pura Vida Health Food Store & Deli in Todos Santos is celebrating 10 years of serving the local community.

Tortugeros Las Playitas will have hatchling releases every day at 5 pm at the Tortugueros Las Playitas greenhouse in Las Tunas. Releases are open to the public and free of charge. Reservations requested for tour and school groups, info at: Whats App 612-177-8393.

Cross2box has moved to a new location at the entrance to Todos Santos. Cross2box doesn’t have individual classes, every hour there is new session based on their clients’ needs.

You’ve probably been hearing about the new dentist in Todos Santos, Dra. Ana Cortez at Smile Up. In addition to general dentistry, she is a specialist in crowns, implants, and cosmetic dentistry.

Panterra Eco Expeditions, at the Fonatur marina in La Paz, offers land-based and cruising expeditions to Magdalena Bay and the Sea of Cortez. And right now, they’re offering special Christmas discounts!

St. Jude’s Medical Center now has a walk-in clinic in Pescadero, next door to their pharmacy.

Shut Up Franks is back with new specials and some old favorites. They also have happy hour weekdays from 3 to 6 pm.

Happy holidays! We’ll see you in February with our winter issue. Deadline is January 10.