Colegio Costa Verde is a private, international school here in Sayulita. It is having its annual fundraiser with the theme of “Havana Nights” in order to raise funds for the school’s scholarship program. Parent and lead organizer Niki Bhattacharya tells me more about the school and the importance of this fundraiser for our local children of Sayulita.

Arriba la mujer. This seems to be the signature phrase for Sayulita’s newest all female environmental action group, “Movimiento de la Mujer por el Medio Ambiente”. The group was created on Facebook by founding member and long-time Sayulita resident Tracie Willis. Because Tracie has lived in Sayulita for 29 years, she has easily seen the way the pueblo has changed and the way the environment has negatively been impacted. Tracie says, “I’ve been waiting many years for this generation of local women to come of age…this is a big movement, the first of its kind.” So what exactly is this group’s purpose and mission?

For many, the New Year is a holiday centered around self-reflection of the year that has passed, and thinking ahead to the new year to come. For many people, setting goals for the new year is a common practice, whether they be personal goals for self-improvement, health, and growth, or goals for improving/fostering relationships with family, friends, loved ones, or even academic or work related goals. For some, the new year is also about letting go of the past--- past mistakes, hurt, losses, or failures, and moving forward in pursuit of success and happiness. In Mexican culture here in Sayulita, our community is full of traditions and rituals believed to help move us into the New Year of 2019 with good luck and fortune.