Cozumel News December 5th, 2016: Cozumel Beer Festival, Mandatory State Wide New Vehicle Plates, New Taxi Rates in Effect in Cozumel, Cozumel’s Buccanos at Night Open for The Season, Cozumel Ladies Breakfast, Year-End Financial Checklist, Repercussions of Lack of Financial Planning, Extortion Call Chart and Neighborhood Watch Update.
Cozumel Beer Festival
“Festival de la Cerveza Isla Cozumel” will be held during the holiday season on December 16th and 17th in Benito Juarez Park.
According to information posted on social network, the event, will offer more than 200 beers from different countries that can be enjoyed on both days of the festival.
The event will feature various activities, such as conferences, competitions, tastings, live music, workshops and microbreweries.
The sale of tickets began on November 28, and will end on December 15th. The cost is $100 pesos, which includes access to the two – day festival, a commemorative glass, a complimentary beer, an express line and unlimited entry to the Festival. The day of the event, the price will be $130 pesos per day.
Mandatory State Wide New Vehicle Plates
The State Government of Quintana Roo is preparing its first vehicle new license plate distribution. The State hopes to raise about 560 million pesos for this concept, expecting to charge an average $1,250 pesos per taxpayer.
Juan Vergara Fernández, State Secretary of Finance and Planning, stated they are on schedule and in the process of receiving proposals and bids from companies that will produce the new plates. “The bidding process will be completed in two weeks,” he said.
The new plates will cost $1,250 which includes the payment for the “Tarjeta de Circulación.” It is estimated that there are 450 thousand vehicles throughout the state, including motorcycles, trucks, buses, public transport, private cars, leased vehicles, etc. Revenue from vehicle. I will provide more information on the new plates and accompanying changes in a few weeks.
Albatros Charters Fishing – Diving- Cruising Cozumel Call Toll Free from the U.S. or Canada:888-333-4643 Local Telephone in Cozumel:872-7904 Email: info@cozumel-fishing.com http://albatroscharters.com/
Cozumel Ladies Breakfast
This week we are meeting on Wednesday December 7th at 9 a.m. at La Choza on Av 10 between Calle 3 & Salas. It is on the west side of the street. The menu is quite reasonable.
The Cozumel Women’s Breakfast Club meets every Wednesday at a designated restaurant in Cozumel. In the spirit of helping support local merchants, the group patronizes as many restaurants as possible throughout the year. Normally, there are a minimum of three visits to each restaurant.
In addition to meeting wonderful Ladies from all over the world, the breakfast club is an excellent source of information gathering and networking. Breakfasts are informative and FUN! All Women are welcome to join us, even if you are just visiting our beautiful Island.
If you wish to be placed on the mailing list, contact: Betty Li at cozumel.ladies.breakfast@gmail.com.
Cozumel’s Buccanos at Night Open for The Season!
Multi-ethnic, multi-sensory dining experience where flavors clash on purpose. Contemporary seafood, fresh fish & premium quality ingredients that change with the season. Ocean view dining terrace with a panoramic view of the mainland skyline enhanced by torches & candlelight. A more relaxed and social approach to dining awaits you at ‘Buccanos at Night’ An Enchanting Location for Fine Dining on Friday and Saturday nights from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Openings fill up fast, so make your reservations: 01 987 872 0100 or Email buccanos@yahoo.com. Buccanos is located in Hotel zone north of Cozumel at Private San Juan Beach Costera Norte Km 4.5.
Year-End Financial Checklist
It is Time for the Year-End Financial Checklist. There is much to do this time of year before year end:
Review your benefits during your employer’s open enrollment season, and make any necessary changes before your employer’s deadline.
Use up any contributions to your flexible spending account (FSA) before the use-it-or-lose-it deadline. (U.S.)
(This may be the end of the year; check with your employer.)
Update estate planning documents such as wills, trusts, and health care directives to account for life changes. One of each for homeland and Mexico!
Review and update beneficiaries for your financial accounts and insurance policies.
Make year-end donations to charity. If you itemize, these may help reduce your taxable income for 2016 in the U.S.
Consider gifts to family members. For 2016, you may give up to $14,000 to each individual without owing gift taxes. (U.S.)
Begin organizing your financial records for tax time.
Check your Social Security statement at www.ssa.gov to find out about future benefits.
Do you have an emergency savings account? Generally, you should aim to set aside at least three to six months’ worth of living expenses.
Do you have an adequate amount of insurance? Your insurance needs may change over time, so it’s a good idea to review your coverage at least once a year to make sure it still meets your needs.
Sergio’s Silver from Taxco
Sergio’s Silver from Taxco is a fourth generation, family-owned and operated silver jewelry business that began in Taxco, a town in the state of Guerrero known worldwide as the “Silver Capital of Mexico”. They are ranked #1 in Trip Advisors.
My family has personally purchased from Sergio’s as well as trusted them to design create new jewelry from family heirlooms. Others living in Cozumel have also praised their work. You are guaranteed personal attention from the Hernandez family members, who have over forty years of experience in the business. “Our goal is to earn the trust and loyalty of our customer. We strive to provide outstanding customer service so your shopping experience will be enjoyable and you will look forward to visiting us again soon.
” They are located at the Town Square Park on Juárez Ave. #117 x 5th Ave. They are open Mon- Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 8 p.m. Phone: 01 987 872 7632 Email: sergiosilver@live.com.mx Website: http://www.sergiosilver.com
Aurita’s Cozumel Corner
We lost another friend of the family last week in Cozumel. As always, it revives the horrible memories of how I almost lost my husband Charles to a stroke in 2005. Charles defied all odds to live and over the years regained the ability to walk short distances, talk, and has regained most of his memory.
Lack of proper financial planning and lack of communication cost both of us everything we had worked so hard to attain over the course of our 55 years.
Our medical insurance did not cover over $70,000 in care and prescriptions over the first year alone. Neither our home nor charge accounts have coverage that would have made the payments in the event of disability. Since my husband had not paid into Social Security the immediate five years prior to the incident, he did not qualify.
The main problem was this was our second marriage. We came together with our own assets, we both had homes, great jobs, and good credits. Charles was in Law Enforcement, in the Homicide Division of the City of Minneapolis, a Hostage Negotiator and member of SWAT. He was also active in the Coast Guard Auxiliary. I was Executive Director of a Non-Profit with my own Internet Business that I would eventually leave my job to work full time.
Charles taught me there was more to life than work. We boated on the St. Croix during the summer months, and traveled regularly the rest of the year to enjoy his favorite sport diving. We sold my home and used part of the proceeds to build a small home in Cozumel, our favorite place to dive.
Charles handled the mortgages, I paid for the utilities, we both had his and her credit cards and accounts. On more than one occasion he mentioned all his passwords were in the computer in a special program. He paid everything electronically. I pointed to the file box I kept all my information in, making a mental note to someday go over everything with him. That day never came.
We were out of town when the stroke hit, ironically, the very same day Hurricane Wilma hit Cozumel. Charles was unconscious fighting for his life in Jacksonville Florida, some 3,000 miles from home in Woodbury, Minnesota. I was by his side, unable to work my internet business. His income, our only source of money at this point, was direct deposit into his checking account that I had absolutely no access to.
The total results of our lack of financial planning was devastating, we lost our home, boat, marina, belongings, credit, but most important our ability to live and visit our family and friends for years. Our small home in Cozumel saved us as had we stayed in the Unites States on our pittance of income we would have been on the streets. For a number of years, we lived off a little over $500 U.S. per month and most of that went to Charles’s mediations.
Take it from the voice of experience:
Review your medical policies and set aside funds in your savings account to cover a year of co-pays and deductibles should the unthinkable happen.
Have home and other insurance policies all in one place with a clear knowledge of what is covered.
Have a listing of all your income, make note if they terminate at your death or if they are passed on, who the beneficiary is. Inform the beneficiary of the process including what documents they will need to produce in the event of your death.
Example: My Mother passed away the afternoon of July 31st three years ago. Her Social security was paid the first of every month. Social Security Administration took back the July payment, even though she was alive all but a few hours of July.
Have all your important documents organized in a safe and use copies for your transactions when ever allowed. (This is Wills, birth certificates, passports, visas, etc.).
Make certain you have a Last Will and Testament and a Living Will in both your Country of Citizenship and Mexico. Let your spouse and beneficiary know what you want to happen upon your death. Include the beneficiary in the event you and your spouse should meet an accidental death together.
In your Will be very specific to the last detail. I have seen so many families broken over disputes that never would have happened. Do not leave surprises that can cause conflicts and disputes after your death.
It might seem gruesome, but plan for your funeral. Prepay for your funeral expenses if possible. If not possible, set aside a portion of the money in that savings account, specifically to be interred as per your instructions. Do not put your family in the difficult position of making these decisions and finding the funding at their time of grief.
Sit down with your spouse and share all the information he or she will need in the event of an emergency. You should do this annually, things change. Make copies of all your policies and other official documents and leave with your beneficiary.
Blue Angel Restaurant A Great place to watch the Sunset! Hours: Daily 7:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Happy Hour: 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. 2 for 1 Drinks and Appetizers Live Music: Abraham Ramirez and Salvador Formento Every Night Starting at 8 p.m. www.blueangelresort.com info@blueangelresort.com
Cozumel Neighborhood Watch Update
As I reported earlier this month, the dismissal of a large number of police in Cozumel in addition to the already shortage of law enforcement has caused an increase in thefts in businesses and residential homes on the island. Recent articles estimate out of 250 Municipal Police in Cozumel to watch over 90,000 residents in 24 Colonies, only 50 are actually available to patrol each of the two shifts.
Seven businesses in Puerta Maya were hit by thieves last week, thousands of pesos, dollars, and merchandise was taken. The tourist areas that were formerly the only ones being protected are now also vulnerable.
Citizens are grouping together to watch for and catch the thieves in the act. They are posting pictures and videos of the capture of these individuals that have thus far been turned over to the police.
One video that was posted Friday December 2nd, revealed that the thief in the custody of the citizens had been previously caught in the act and turned over to the police. The police had in turn, deported him to Playa del Carmen, were he promptly returned to try to steal again. The anger and frustration of the citizens was understandable. The threats of crushing hands, and lynching was scary.
Over the past year there have been articles in Mexican newspapers of vigilante actions across the mainland that involved lynching, cutting off hands, and even burning alive. Unlike our island, the mainland has a much higher crime rate riddled with much more serious crimes spiked with police corruption and the presence of drug cartels. Cozumel’s petty thefts are a result of thieves coming over from the mainland and some juvenile delinquency.
I have trust in the good people of Cozumel that they will continue to protect their property while remaining civil. I trust that the government is moving quickly to correct the problem that can result in the loss of the main source of income, tourism.
Suggestions for Residents of Cozumel:
Get that dog from the Humane Society to protect your home. Speak to your neighbors and join in watching out for each other’s property. Call and report any and all suspicious activity. Follow any other “common sense” rules that you would follow in your own hometown! Despite it all, Cozumel is still the safest place I know!
Extortion Call Guide
Here an Excellent Guide on how to answer the telephone to prevent extortion calls. The bottom line is not to give the caller any personal information. Sorry, it is in Spanish (the language they will be calling in more than likely). However, if anyone wants me to translate it, let me know!
New Taxi Rates in Effect in Cozumel
Here are the new Taxi Rates for in Town. They look confusing, but the charts are very easy to read!
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