The Cozumel Sun News December 7th, 2018

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In this issue State Sends Cozumel Fifteen New Patrols, Cozumel Caleta Marina – There is still Hope, Our Lady of Guadalupe Holiday December 12, Aurita’s Cozumel Corner, Reminder Author Paul J. Mila Book Signing in Cozumel, Cozumel 2018 Early Payment Tax Discounts, and more!

State Sends Cozumel Fifteen New Patrols

The State of Quintana Roo’s State Preventive Police (PEP) have assigned Cozumel 15 new patrols to help combat the wave of petty crimes that have been committed by Juvenile delinquents over the past year. Around eight o’clock at night on December 4th, a caravan of State Police vehicles descended from one of the ferries in Punta Venado.

The caravan of fifteen squad cars proceeded through the streets of Cozumel with lights flashing until they reached what will be their operational base located on the 45th avenue between Juarez and First South of the colony Adolfo López Mateos.The building that was previously abandoned now looks completely remodeled and is reported to have air conditioning in each of its rooms.

I was unable to get the impressive picture of the caravan, but I did drive by the new building and take the pictures of the building. Sadly, daily reports of home burglaries have become commonplace. We recommend neighborhood watches, adopting a dog or two from the Humane Society and reinforcing other home security measures.

Cozumel Caleta Marina – There is still Hope

I reported on December 2^nd, that an article in one of the newspapers stated the corporation Presidente Intercontinental that operates the Hotel Presidente in Cozumel, has in its possession the marina known as La Caleta. I am happy to report that I have spoken to a representative of the 100 boat owners who contrary to the article have not given up the fight to keep Caleta a public Marina. My understanding is that the contract given to Intercontinental is not legally binding. I will be at Caleta this Saturday to  interview  the boat owners and will have a full report for readers next week.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Holiday – December 12th

Cozumel celebrates Our Lady of Guadalupe Holiday on December 12th. Mexico and Central America celebrate this holiday in honor of Dia de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe (Our Lady of Guadalupe). Our Lady of Guadalupe is a tradition that started in the 1600′s.  She is also known as the Virgin Mary and is the most popular religious and cultural image in Mexico with titles such as “Queen of Mexico”, “Empress of the Americas” and the “Patroness of the Americas”. “Guadalupe Day” is the  most important religious holiday for many,  as it honors the Virgin of Guadalupe, the patron saint of Mexico.

In Cozumel, as in all of Mexico, you will see processions on their way to Our Lady of Guadalupe Church to pray from every colony in the island. Our Lady of Guadalupe Church goes all out for her on her day. Named after her, you will see a big Statue of her out front. Our Lady of Guadalupe is located on 65th Avenida and Calle 8. Norte. It is a beautiful sight to behold. Many pin Milagros or “miracles” and paper or real roses near the statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe to pay homage. These Milagros are small silver or tin objects in the shape of hearts, arms or legs that symbolize the givers’ thanks for the cure of those articles. Festivals include eating along with praying. Mexican television will broadcast the event that takes place in the Basilica of Guadalupe live. Thousands of people travel from all over Mexico to attend the beautiful Service.

How It Started: On the morning of December 9, 1531, Juan Diego, a simple peasant, saw a vision of a young woman in the early morning while walking home on the hill of Tepeyac near Mexico City, Mexico. The young woman was surrounded by light and told Diego that she wanted a church built in her honor at that site.  Diego recognized that she was the Virgin Mary. When he told a bishop of his vision the bishop asked Diego to return to the Lady and ask her to show a miraculous sign for proof. Diego returned to the Lady and she told him to gather flowers from the hill. It was winter and the flowers had not bloomed.  Yet, that day Diego found flowers of every sort. Upon returning the Virgin fashioned the flowers into a peasant cloak. Three days later the when Diego opened the cloak for the bishop the flowers fell to the floor and imprint of  the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe showed miraculously on Diego’s cloak. Today the cloak is displayed in the Basilica of Guadalupe.

In December of 2010 my family and I happened to be driving from the United States to Cozumel. On December 12th we drove from the early morning way into the night.  We had missed our normal stop and drove until three or four in the morning until we found a hotel. Amazingly, we passed young people running with their torches in the dark over mountains. The entire experience from morning to-night was beautiful and magical. I was very scared at first, you are told not to drive after dark in many areas of Mexico. However, passing the procession of worshipers at regular intervals during that night felt like we had guardian angels protecting us  and the fear disappeared.

Author Paul J. Mila Book Signing in Cozumel

Author and diver Paul J. Mila will hold a book signing on December 10^th for his two Cozumel Novels “Killer in Paradise” and “Harry Hawksbill Helps His Friends.”  Just in time for Christmas, you can get your books autographed for gifts or for yourself! The Signing will take place at La Cocay located at Calle 8 Norte. entre 10 y 15 Avenida #208 Centro, Cozumel at 6:30 pm.

Aurita’s Cozumel  Corner

Update on Brandon’s Eye Surgery:

Cozumel Sun 2017 Community Projects you Can Still Help Accomplish:

Christmas Toy Drive: Five Families nine children need Cash Donations, as I purchased gifts during Buen Fin Sale.

Fireman’s Family:  A neighbor is a Cozumel Fireman. When I first wrote about the family, Mom was at home  (hospice), after months of hospitalization that failed to restore her health.   I am sorry to announce that the Mom passed away yesterday morning from complications of her Diabetes. We purchased the only flowers that I saw at the funeral home, and donated cash towards the funeral expenses. The two children are included in my toy drive (girls ages 4 years and 12 years). A correction, Grandma does not live with them, she lives in a small house directly behind their small home. This has enabled her to help care for her dying daughter and granddaughters. The family is really in a bad financial situation. I need a food basket for family of five.

Fincas Family: Material for Roofing and Flooring, Food Basket for Family of Four need cash or materials/food stuff. Both children are included in my Toy Drive.

Bartolo Martines Martines: In a recent article I wrote that I was going to put a roof on our small front porch that I use for the Cozumel Sun garage sales.  I work the garage Sales alone and the  heat and sun  is unbearable at my age. Many times sales are hindered by rain, and just the task of dragging everything in and out of the house is strenuous. So I decided to remodel the front porch, put on a roof with a ceiling fan, and add additional security so that I could keep the items stored in the porch. After pricing everything, to fit our budget and save money my adopted son Bartolo took on the task. It took us a few months to scrape up the money for the material, but we did it. Everything went smoothly, except we had problems with rain leaking in around the edges once it was finished. After a number of failed products, we found a cement form that worked.

Then the unthinkable happened, last week the ladder fell apart under Bartolo while sealing the roof. He fell from the second floor  and fractured his wrist and elbow in multiple places. His insured hospital (Issste) could not perform the surgery needed and we had no alternative but to move him to a private hospital for the surgeries. The good news is if he does not move it for the next month he is expected to make a full recovery. I borrowed the resulting $55, 850 pesos for the hospital stay and surgery. This does not include medicines and follow up visits. Bartolo will be out of work for at least three months.  He has been working maintenance at an elementary school Monday through Friday from 5:30 am to 12:30 pm, then Neighborhood store until ten at night, and a third job part time until two in the morning. The inability to work is driving him crazy and in the meantime I have lost my right hand man and main supporter and backup.

Sun Garage Sale: Now collecting for after the Holidays Distribution and Sales: Please keep donating the items you do not need, drop it off anytime day or night, or call and we will pick up! 

Our Neighborhood Store: Need Office Supplies, copies, printing, laminating, internet access? Give Papeleria Mama Lilly your business!  Store proceeds go towards helping a local family become self-sufficient.  Located with The Cozumel Sun Offices in my home at 35 Avenida Sur Entre Calles 17 & 15 Bis Colonia Independencia.

Again, our home houses The Cozumel Sun Office, Papeleria Mama Lilly Store, our Collection Center and Garage Sales. We are located at #1081 35 Avenida Sur between Calles 17 and 15 Bis. Colonia Independencia.  Anyone outside of the island can donate to any of our projects through The Cozumel Sun  via PayPal.

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Cozumel 2018 Early Payment Tax Discounts

2018 Predial Taxes (Property Taxes)

20% Discount if paid anytime this month (December).
15% Discount if paid January 2^nd – January 31^st
10% Discount if Paid February 1^st through the 28^th

Contributors (owners) that are disabled, retired, pensioned, or hold INSEN or INAPAM credentials (Senior Card) a qualify for a 50% discount. Some restrictions and limits apply.

 City of Cozumel 2018 Basura (Trash) Fees

The Discount for residential and commercial trash pickup charges for 2018 is 10% if paid between December 2017 and February 28, 2018.

Where to make Payments:

You can pay your 2018 Taxes and Trash at the Municipal Palace payment module, The Proteccion Civil Office (Firehouse by the Shell), or Biblioteca Publica Office located on 30^th by Soriana.

Municipal Palace Cashier Hours:
Monday through Friday 8:00 am – 9:00 pm
Saturdays   9:00 am – 9:00 pm

Proteccion Civil Office Hours:
Monday through Friday 8:00 am – 3:00 pm

Biblioteca Publica Office Hours:
Monday through Friday 8:00 am – 3:00 pm

Allocate your Business Taxes to a Cozumel Youth Athlete! The donation is tax deductible for businesses! If you have a business, you may deduct 100% of the donation from your city of Cozumel taxes. Here is a description of Cozumel’s Adopt a Champion Program. For more information on City of Cozumel volunteer opportunities: https://www.thecozumelsun.com/volunteer-opportunities/city-of-cozumel/