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 headlines from local Spanish language newspapers, breaking Mexico news stories, and a couple of upcoming local events you won't want to miss.

Vallarta Celebrates Senior Citizen

From August 26-30th, Puerto Vallarta's System for Integral Family Development (DIF), in coordination with senior citizens' groups, will host a series of creative, artistic and sporting events and demonstrations in which the main participants will be elderly members of our community. Members of various local senior citizens' clubs will participate, demonstrating their capabilities in activities that range from athletic competitions to regional dance and choir contests. On Thursday, August 29th there will be an Expo in the corridors of City Hall, where senior groups will be selling handicrafts, and on Friday, August 30th, there will be a March for Elderly Rights that begins at Hotel Rosita and ends at the Plaza de Armas. To conclude the week's festivities, a "Dancing Fling" will be held in the Real del Oro lounge, where nearly one thousand seniors are expected to dance the night away. Within the same week, DIF authorities will be visiting area nursing homes. As part of this initiative, the popular Danzón will return to the main plazas of Pitillal, Ixtapa, Las Juntas and Las Palmas every Friday, with the participation of the Puerto Vallarta Municipal Band.

Mexico Commemorates Army With New Coin

Banco de México recently announced that a new 20-peso coin commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Mexican Army will enter into circulation. "As we all know, the Mexican Army was forged during the ill-fated days that followed the 'Decena Trágica' and the assassination of the President of the Republic Francisco I. Madero and the Vicepresident José María Pino Suárez," said Banco de México Governor Augustín Carstens in the commemoration ceremony last week. The coin is 3.2 cm in diameter and has a multi-metal design that's similar to most other Mexican coins, The new commemorative coin will join the $20 peso coins dedicated to Octavio Paz that are currently circulating. Editor's note: The "Decena Trágica" was the period from February 9 through 18, 1913, in which those against President Francisco Madero rose up in arms to overthrow his government.

Puerto Vallarta Bomberos Celebrate 20 Years

The Puerto Vallarta Fire Department celebrated the 20th anniversary of its founding on August 22nd, which is also el Día del Bombero (National Firemen's Day), commemorating the opening of Mexico's first fire department in the port of Veracruz in 1873. As for the history of Puerto Vallarta's fire station, one of its founders, Commander Julio Camacho Valbuena, reported that during the city's 1992 - 1994 administration the tourist police were formed. One year later, in 1993, the city opened it's first fire station in Las Gaviotas with one fire truck, one pick up truck, and a dozen police and transit officers performing fire fighting duties. They had no tools, nor training, so they walked into the smoke to extinguish wildfires. It was not until seven years later, in 2000, that donations made it possible to build barracks and initiate formal training which, to this date, continue to improve in many aspects. Currently the Puerto Vallarta Fire Department is 117 members strong, counting firefighters, (including the Department's only female fire fighter, 32 year-old mother of three, Alma Carmina Hernández Medrano,) lifeguards, paramedics, and civil protection elements.

Mexico City Rattled by 6.2 Magnitude Earthquake

A strong earthquake struck near Mexico's Pacific coast resort of Acapulco on Wednesday, causing cracks in some buildings and knocking bricks and plaster off other structures. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake at 7:38 a.m. (8:38 a.m.; 1238 GMT) had a magnitude of 6.2. It was centered near the Pacific coast and about 60 miles (100 kilometers) east of Acapulco. No significant injuries were reported, but a chunk of ornamental plaster work fell off the facade of one hotel on Acapulco's once-glamorous main boulevard. Cracks were found in the walls of a university in Acapulco and a concrete entrance gate at a local military base collapsed, said Victor Torres Ruiz, the spokesman for the state government of Guerrero, where Acapulco is located. Buildings swayed in Mexico City, 170 miles (280 kilometers) to the north, and some people evacuated office buildings as an earthquake alarm sounded. On the city's main boulevard, one man injured his leg as he rushed out of an office building. Mexico City Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera said there were no reports of damage or serious injuries.

Upcoming Events in Puerto Vallarta and around Banderas Bay
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• VBG Rain Forest Environmental and Conservation Festival

• Alas en Libertad Bottle Caps for Cancer Campaign

• Kaiser Maximilian Offers Vallarta a Taste of Greece

• Vallarta Nayarit Gourmet Weekend, October 17-20

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!