Protect your noggin’ - Helmets for Isla!

Four on a moto common sight on Isla

It’s always a huge surprise for new visitors to the island when they see multiple members of a family riding scooters or motorcycles – and frequently without helmets to protect their heads.

It’s pretty common to see mom or dad operating the moto with one child balanced in front of the driver, and the other parent tightly gripping one or even two other children in their arms. 

We are so accustomed to the sight that we hardly give it a second thought. 

However, not so with a group of caring individuals who decided to encourage a safer environment for the younger generation.

In June of 2014, long-time visitor Andrea Healey and her daughter Danielle Chesney brought much-needed medical equipment to Giovanny Avalos for the Red Cross. When they delivered the supplies, Andrea asked Giovanny what he saw as the greatest need for the islanders. He replied that it would be his dream to see all youngsters wearing helmets when riding on the family motorcycles.

After their vacation was over, Andrea and Danielle returned home and gave Giovanni’s idea a lot of thought. They wanted to be culturally sensitive and not be the bossy foreigners telling people how to live their lives. 

They started small, asking people to purchase helmets at a local hardware store and leave them at the front desk of Marina Paraiso Hotel. Managers Brad and Tiff Waring had generously volunteered to be the collection point for the helmets. The initial distribution was handled through the schools, with teachers helping to identify the students who urgently needed the safety gear.

The second phase of Helmets for Isla was to collect donations and order in bulk from a Mexican company. Their first order was for 50, then the second was 420, and recently another 400 were ordered. In total, there have been close to 1350 helmets distributed through the schools, through Volunquest, and through the churches.

Every helmet that is handed out comes with a contract of responsibility signed by the parents. These contracts are all about safety, educating both the parents and children about the importance of a well-fitted helmet while riding a motorcycle. But, frequently, the children won’t use the helmets, because it’s just not ‘cool.’ It’s always a slow process to change the habits of a lifetime.

Islander, Jessica Contreras, has recently mobilized a group of volunteers. These locals are not shy about approaching their neighbours, asking why their child is not wearing a helmet, and educating them about the program. 

Her brother’s company, Prisma Golf Cart Rentals, generously sponsored a huge banner to advertise the campaign.

Most recently, Jessica has been to the high schools, and those students are now very motivated to wear head protection since their friend Jorge died in a motorcycle accident on St Patrick's Day. He was not wearing a helmet.

Some of the students do not have helmets, some have helmets that are too small and have had the padding removed so they are large enough to fit on their heads, and some have helmets that are cracked, broken, or damaged. Helmets for Isla now has a waiting list of 250 teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 years old, all of whom have made a written request for a helmet.

As Andrea said, “Our ultimate goal is to have a safe and well-fitting helmet for every child on the island, but our short-term goal right now is to get enough helmets for all of the teenagers who have requested them. We feel that if we can get the adolescents on board, then hopefully they will encourage their younger brothers and sisters to wear the helmets too.”

Helmets for Isla is a worthwhile cause. 

If you would like to help out, below are the links for more information.

Hasta Luego

Lynda and Lawrie

www.helmetsforisla.com
www.facebook.com/helmetsforisla
www.paypal.me/helmetsforisla

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What a Bright Idea! Isla Mujeres Mexico

Local artist Victor Villegas recycles old light bulbs into whimsical plant hangers and jewel-like chandeliers.  

It’s a fascinating use for something that would normally end up in an overcrowded garbage dump or landfill site.  Tiffany Yenawine Wareing clued us in on the artistry of Victor Villegas.  

As for other unwanted items, Mexico’s recycling program is still very much in its infancy, giving me pangs of guilt about what we toss out. 

Items that are still usable, but not needed in our household, go to local friends or are set out on the curb for anyone to pick up and hopefully put to good use.  Things made of copper are highly prized by scrap collectors.  

Aluminum and tin have some scrap value

Aluminum beverage cans have some value.  Tin cans have a much lower scrap value.  I put the cans in a separate bag so the garbage guys can easily add them to their personal stash of good stuff.   Large cardboard boxes, the types used for TVs, computers, and appliances, are flattened and left at the curb for the city trucks for pickup. 

At various locations around the island, there are wire bins for recycling plastic beverage bottles.  The plastic bottle recycling program was originally started by Friends of Isla Contoy, with funding from PEACE and various island businesses. 

I asked a few folks, and it seems that items such as broken plastic patio furniture, plastic bags or yogurt containers are not wanted; they cause a huge problem with sorting and recycling. The bins are a small start at being environmentally responsible. 

Some glass beer bottles are recyclable.  Purchasers pay a hefty deposit for the bottles when buying a complete case from the suppliers. To get a refund, the purchaser must return to the original location with the receipt, all of the beer bottles and the case.  This is the biggest reasons bar operators don’t want their customers walking out with a beer bottle in their hand.  If you want to drive with a beer in your hand, just don’t do it with their expensive, refundable bottles!

Cleaning up veggie and fruit scraps

With compostable items such as fruit and vegetable scraps, our daytime herd of semi-tame iguanas does a good job of cleaning up.  Anything they don’t want, the night-shift of hermit crabs is happy to consume.  Pretty much everything else gets tossed in the waste cans.  It pains me to throw away so much stuff! 

Then I had a middle-of-the-night epiphany: why not ask some of the local charities and service organizations what new or gently-used items would be useful to them?

Recycle to students in need of gym shoes

Tiffany Yenawine Wareing enthusiastically responded with a number of good ideas.  

Gently used sneakers for the students who need them for gym classes would be welcome, even adult sizes, because many of today’s kids have larger feet. Old or mismatched housewares will be recycled for the domestic violence shelter on the mainland – the Continental Zone area of Isla Mujeres. 

Hey, we'd like to go for a walk with you!

Eileen Regn at Isla Animals said they are always looking for used sheets, towels, and stacks of newspaper to help out with their bi-weekly spay and neuter clinics.  Pet cages, carriers, dishes, collars and leashes are welcome.  And there are plans for a larger clinic/shelter, so additional household or office-type items would be gladly accepted.  You can contact Isla Animals via their Facebook page if you have items to donate, or stop by their current location at the entrance to the Mundaca Hacienda Park. You can also donate your time and a bit of love by taking a homeless dog for a much-needed walk.

2014 Diabetes Clinic

Karen Rosenberg, organizer for the annual Diabetes Clinic, said they would happily accept any unopened current-date products for diabetics.  

She also asked that we remind everyone about the upcoming clinic on September 21^st, starting at 9 am, at the Cruz Roja (Red Cross). Diabetes is now the number one cause of death in Mexico, so spread the word to other islanders.

Karen says: “We have 200 glucose meters to distribute and many strips and lancets. No insulin or pills, but the doctor from the Cruz Roja is going to be part of the clinic along with 4 nurses and EMTs who are Islenos!”

Well, my thought processes have wandered from tin cans and bottles to stray dogs and old towels, but you get the drift; just a reminder to put a little thought into what you toss out, and what you recycle. 

It’s a beautiful paradise we live in; let’s keep it pretty.

Hasta luego, Lynda, Lawrie, Sparky, and Thomas the Cat

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Shocking diabetes statistics in Mexico

Fishing economy is changing to tourism. 

Sometimes, in the course of looking for ideas to write about for our weekly blog, we come across information that is surprising or even quite shocking. Part-time resident Karen Rosenberg, LISW, recently emailed me the stats on diabetes in Mexico, and they are awful!

According to Mexico’s Department of Social Health, it is believed that 20% of all Mexican women and more than 25% of men are at risk of developing the disease. It’s the nation’s #1 killer, resulting in about 70,000 deaths a year. Diabetes has also become the main cause of limb loss and blindness in Mexico.

Tourists enjoying North Beach on a Sunday afternoon. 

The economy of Isla Mujeres is gradually shifting from a fishing community to a tourism-based community. 

In the busy season from December to May, workers can conceivably earn more money in tips from restaurant or bar patrons, but on average, most islanders earn around $9.00 USD per day. That does not leave enough money for healthy eating. Inexpensive processed food and high-sugar beverages are commonplace. 

Affordable, Coca-Cola for baby

We shudder every time we see the young construction workers pedal past on their bicycles, clutching their lunch break supplies in one hand. Most days their lunch consists of a two-litre bottle of Coca-Cola and a fifty-cent stack of tortillas.

A few years ago, the Medical Director of the Salud Publica (health clinic on Isla Mujeres) stated that the clinic does not have glucose monitoring devices or meters available. He estimated that up to 80% of the islanders live with undiagnosed diabetes until it is a life-threatening condition. 

Diabetes Clinic 

Karen Rosenberg has been coming to Isla for 18 years, and hosting the Portals to the Self: Isla Mujeres Women's Retreat at the Na Balam Hotel for 15 years. 

Karen said she started the clinics after a friend who worked at the hotel died from complications of undiagnosed diabetes, and another friend at the Women’s Beading Co-op went into a diabetic coma.

The first two free clinics were held at the Women's Beading Cooperative, but they soon outgrew the limited space and moved the next year to the English School premises. The following year, the clinic was so well attended that they relocated again, this time to the even larger space at the Red Cross location in La Gloria.

Diabetes Clinic workers

Another community-minded full-time resident, Kathy Ennis, RN, pitched in to help with the clinics. 

Then Geovanny Avalos from the Cruz Roja Isla Mujeres added his invaluable assistance, helping the health professionals with testing and diabetes education. 

Registration of the walk-ins is handled by members of the Women's Beading Cooperative, so this effort is a collaboration of ex-pats and local Islenos.

Members of Women's Beading Cooperative at art fair

So, what can you do to help? The organizers are in desperate need of donations of test strips and meters, preferably Contour and Contour Next brands. The Fifth Annual Diabetes Clinic will be held on Thursday, October 23^rd, starting at 9:00 a.m., at the Red Cross. The clinic will continue during the day until the supplies run out. They will test blood sugar levels, teach the recipients how to use the meters to monitor their blood glucose, educate them about diabetes, and give replacement supplies when needed.

Karen writes: “If you have any connection with pharmaceutical companies or reps, doctors’ offices or hospitals that can donate these supplies (short-dated or even recently expired), please contact me via private message on Facebook.

“Money donations may be made through PayPal. Supplies will then be purchased in your name and used for the clinic attendees.” If you would like additional information, please contact Karen or Kathy. Hopefully, these shocking numbers will motivate others to help out with the battle against diabetes on our favourite little island in paradise.

Hasta luego,

Lynda, Lawrie, Sparky, and Thomas

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It's a big one, a really big one! Isla Mujeres Artist Fair

Betsy Snider

There is lively music, yummy food, and colourful things to buy; it's the monthly Artist Fair in the Square, showcasing food and any number of beautifully made items. 

Islanders Tiffany Yenawine Wareing and Bard Wareing have consistently promoted local and visiting artists, organizing a monthly fair to showcase handmade wares.  

Kitty Goldberg

Originally situated outside their Bakery and Cafe on Hidalgo Avenue, the idea quickly outgrew its street corner location. Tonight, there were seventy-four vendors scheduled to be in the public square. That's huge!  

Slowly working our way through the crowd, we managed to chat with a few of the artists, purchasing beautiful note cards from photographer Kitty Goldberg, more doggie treats from Bessie Hamaker, and a yummy Moon Pie treat from Rossmery Avila.  Besides being a convenient place to find unique items, the fair is a handy location to chat and socialize with friends.

 

Red Cross crew, and a new doctor

We even had our blood pressure checked by the Red Cross ambulance crew, and met the new doctor who will be working at the Red Cross office.

Other artists that I had not seen before included Timothy Fisher from Cornwall, Vermont, who brought his whimsical acrylic and fabric paintings. 

Photographer Susan Pacek has recently published a book of photographs that I have seen for sale in a few locations on the island.  

Penny D. Burnham - author

Dhante Loyola, a local artist and instructor, displayed several of his colourful paintings. Jan Gerken, a graphic designer, was showcasing an eye-catching collection of note cards and beautiful scarves.  

New author Penny D. Burnham had several copies of her novel Jaded Diamond.  The book is of special interest to islanders as it is set on Isla Mujeres.
   
While we were admiring Betsy Snider's colourful candle holders and jewelry, I asked if Tony was around.  She smiled and pointed to the top of the church.

"Up there!"

Capt Tony perched on church roof

 
Camera in hand, Tony Garcia, affectionately known as Captain Tony, was precariously perched on the roof. By the time I have this article written, he will have any number of photos already posted to his Facebook page. 

Betsy and Tony are getting married next weekend.  Sneaking another peek at her soon-to-be groom, I think she was wondering if he was going to be all in one piece for the wedding.  

In the busy whirl of overseeing the fair, I eventually caught up with Tiffany for a quick chat. I asked her what her biggest challenge was with creating the Isla Mujeres Artist Fair.  

She said it is getting the local population to trust her and believe in the event.  It's a slow process, but it's working.   

Seventy-four vendors! Yep, we agree that whatever you are doing, Tiffany, is working. Congratulations to you and your hard-working helpers.

Dhante Loyola

Hasta luego
Lynda, Lawrie, Thomas, Sparky, and Princess Chica

Murder. Mayhem. Revenge. Romance.

Isla Mujeres Mystery Series

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