Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - There's always so much going on in Puerto Vallarta and around Banderas Bay, it can be difficult to keep up with it all. So we've put together a brief overview of some of this week's news headlines from local Spanish language publications, breaking news stories, community announcements and a couple of upcoming events.

3,000 Participate in Emergency Simulation

On April 22nd, in commemoration of el Día Estatal para la Prevención de Desastres (State Disaster Prevention Day), South side residents and visitors participated in a simulated fire drill led by Municipal and State Civil Protection Units from a command post in front of Los Muertos Pier. In collaboration with the Puerto Vallarta Hotel and Motel Association and the Amapas, Zona Romántica and Viejo Vallarta Neighborhood Associations, at 12 noon, alarms sounded from buildings all along Olas Altas and Playa Los Muertos, evacuating around 3,000 people from area hotels, condos, restaurants, and shops. Along with the simulated fire drill, mock exercises took place at 40 properties, not to mention participating schools.

PEACE Home Tours End 2012-2013 Season

The PEACE Home Tours have once again ended on a high note this season. Entertaining hundreds of visitors from many corners of the world, local volunteers gave freely of their time to offer weekly three hour tours of beautiful Vallarta homes from December through March. Local realtors, property managers, rental agents and homeowners all graciously opened their doors to allow guests to view the beauty and diversity of area homes both inside and out. Tour funds from ticket donations supported a Food for Families program successfully providing over 6000 meals to needy families in the Vallarta area. As the season winds down, the Tours find themselves already making exciting new plans for the upcoming season. Tours will resume this fall under a new name, "Home Tours Vallarta."

The Modernization of Vallarta's Port Terminal

After the governor of Jalisco, Aristotle Sandoval announced an investment of 2.5 million pesos for the modernization of the infrastructure of the Puerto Vallarta port terminal, local authorities were pleased with the support they had been seeking to modernize the site. Alex Casarrubias García, the director of Puerto Vallarta's Port Authority (API), said that the resources will be used to pay consultant fees to Felipe Ochoa and Associates, the firm that won the public tender API launched for the "Elaboration of a study to identify and develop the modernization project in the port area of Puerto Vallarta." Notably, in 2013 a total of 82 cruise ships arrived in Puerto Vallarta, bringing 162,768 passengers to our city. 11 of these ships berthed in our port overnight.

Yelapa Artists Exhibit at Galería Vallarta

Galería Vallarta will present an exhibition of new works by Yelapa Artists Anton Haardt and Philippo Lo Grande, a visual Tropical display that should stir interest. There will be a reception on April 26th from 6-9 pm to meet the artists. Anton and Philippo will present a menagerie of new art works including an array of exotic life, from women in native attire to animals parading the rural caminos, removing our cares and easing our troubles. This opening reception, with live music, promises to be a refreshing and intriguing experience by two provocative Yelapa artists who will intoxicate you with the world outside your window, so we hope you will attend! Galería Vallarta is located upstairs at Guerrero #187, one block south of the Guadalupe Church in downtown Puerto Vallarta.

Upcoming Events in Puerto Vallarta and Around the Bay
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• 'Viva Puerto Vallarta' Fiesta April 24

• 7th Annual Puerto Vallarta Folkloric Dance Festival

• La Santa Cruz Festivities Begin April 25th

• 9th Altruism Festival for Vallarta Charities

Don't forget to vote for your favorite Puerto Vallarta restaurants in our 2013 Best of Banderas Bay Awards, right HERE on BanderasNews.com. We'll be collecting your votes in categories ranging from 'Best Breakfast' to 'Best Margarita' through December 31st, and the Puerto Vallarta restaurant with the most votes in each category will be named 'The Best of Banderas Bay' at an awards ceremony in early 2014. Click HERE to vote NOW!