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.

Puerto Vallarta Garden Club October Meeting

The next Puerto Vallarta Garden Club meeting will be held on Thursday, October 17th, at 11 am at the Paradise Community Center. Bob Price will be our guest speaker. His topic will be 'Beautification in the Current Political Climate of Puerto Vallarta.' As we begin our fourth year as a club, we are stretching ourselves to renew and review our mission. I visited with the leadership of the San Miguel Garden Club this summer. Their mission encompasses all beautification, including graffitti reduction. We will talk about this at our meeting, and we need to elect a new Vice President too... Invite your friends to join us on the 17th. We're going to have a great year! - Suzanne Kirkpatrick, Puerto Vallarta Garden Club President

Mexico Storms Kill 130, More Rain Coming

The death toll rose to 130 on September 24th, after more heavy rains hit Mexico. Authorities from the national weather office warned that more heavy rains could soak the areas that have already suffered the ravages from the previous storms. Miguel Angel Osorio Chong, Mexico’s Interior Minister, said that more dead bodies were recovered from the mud slide that buried 40 homes in the mountain region near the village of La Pintada in southern Guerrero state. Dozens are still missing and are feared to be dead. Some of the worst hit by Tropical Storm Ingrid and Hurricane Manuel last week are the Pacific resort of Acapulco, as well as some of the country’s poorest rural communities. Mexico meteorological service declared that the new low pressure zone is going to bring some moderate rainfall next Tuesday. The dams and the rivers in Guerrero are brimming with water and are on the verge of spilling over.

Vallarta Joins International Coastal Cleanup Day Effort

On the third Saturday of September each year, volunteers around the world take part in the world's biggest coastal cleanup known as International Coastal Cleanup Day. The event has been held internationally for over 20 years, when people head to the beaches and begin removing debris and rubbish from shorelines, waterways and oceans. Here in Vallarta, more than 545 volunteers joined this noble cause, collecting 439 bags of trash and removing debris on nine beaches from Mismaloya to Playa de Oro. More than 13,000 kilos of waste, ranging from cigarette butts, bottle caps, Styrofoam, plastic, aluminum and glass containers, to tires and hazardous materials, were picked up during the four hour clean-up effort coordinated by the Municipal Department of Environment and Ecology. Along with volunteers from Puerto Vallarta schools and the private sector, municipal lifeguards and tourist police, six divers performed underwater cleaning at several beaches, where they collected fishing lines, spark plugs, tires and other items that harm wildlife and pollute Banderas Bay.

Puerto Vallarta Men's Choir 2014 Welcome Back & Welcome All Party!

On Sunday, September 29th from 4-8 pm, the Puerto Vallarta Men's Chorus will host a 'Welcome Back and Welcome All' Party at CC Slaughters Lounge, located at 254 Lázaro Cárdenas on PV's South side. Everyone is welcome to come out and meet, or learn more about, the chorus, while enjoying a large food buffet provided by the PVMC, along with Karaoke, and Happy Hour prices on all non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks from 6 to 8 pm. The Puerto Vallarta Men's Chorus is Mexico's only all-male chorus and is comprised of approximately 50 to 100 gay Mexican and ex-pat members. PVMC's goal is to entertain, enlighten and unify their audiences by using the power of music to recognize the value of the gay community, which helps build bridges of greater acceptance to their members' families, the city of Puerto Vallarta, and the country of Mexico. PVMC presents their musical selections in both English and Spanish. To learn more about PVMC's upcoming season, please visit PVMensChorus.org.

Upcoming Events in Puerto Vallarta and around Banderas Bay
Click on titles for more information

• Free Introduction to Opera at Teatro Vallarta

• SETAC 'Hair Spray Night' at SKY Mandala

• Encuentros to Host 2014 Heroes Calendar Launch Party

• 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!