Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - There's always so much going on in Puerto Vallarta and around the Republic, it can be difficult to keep up with it all. We've put together a brief overview of some of this week's Mexico headlines, plus Puerto Vallarta news, community announcements and weekend events you won't want to miss.

Pope Plans to Visit Troubled Parts of Mexico

Pope Francis plans to visit Mexico in February 2016 - and the details of his agenda currently leaking out suggest he will be going to states deeply troubled by the country's drug wars, inequality, and the abuse of migrants. According to the tentative itinerary the pope is preparing to visit Ciudad Juarez, once known as the murder capital of the world; the state of Michoacán, where vigilantes acting with the blessing of some local priests grabbed guns to run off a marauding drug cartel; and Chiapas, home to the 1994 indigenous Zapatista uprising and current entry point for Central American migrants fleeing extreme violence at home. Although neither the Mexican bishops' conference nor the Vatican has confirmed any details of the papal tour, Foreign Minister Claudia Ruiz Massieu referred to all three locations when talking to reporters about the papal visit last week. More at Vice.com.

Luna Rumba Concert/Chacala Music Fest Fundraiser

In support of the 2016 Chacala Festival de Musica y Arte, March 10-13, 2016, Luna Rumba, an award winning Latin Fusion band, will be performing for the first of the four planned fund raising events November 28th at the Marina Chacala Club House from 7:30-10:00 pm. Organizers are excited to offer an intimate evening with the band for festival supporters to come and enjoy. A donation of $250 pesos will get you a ticket to the Nov. 28 Luna Rumba concert, or you can buy an Amigo Pass that'll get you into all four of the festival's fund raising events for $1000 pesos. Seating is limited, so contact Karla Lawler at k_lawler(at)yahoo.com to get your tickets today. The Chacala Music and Art Festival offers a range of musical performances within the area annually. It strives to supplement existing musical and art education for the youth of the community, as well as provide an opportunity for local and international artists to exhibit their work.

Mexican Media Storm Erupts Over Marant "Copying"

A media storm is currently swirling in Mexico after local news agencies reported that the French government had issued a patent document to the authority of Santa Maria Tlahuitoltepec, Oaxaca, to prevent the inhabitants of the municipality from selling their indigenous designs. The existence of this document, or its content, has not yet been confirmed by the French authorities, but for its part, the Isabel Marant label has denied any such patent exists. A statement from the company's representatives reads: "Isabel Marant formally denies having sent - or asked any French authority to send or issue - any document to the authority of Santa Maria Tlahuitoltepec, Oaxaca, to prevent the inhabitants of the municipality from selling their indigenous designs. On the contrary, Isabel Marant is fighting before the district court of Paris to set the record straight." The document is said to suggest that Isabel Marant and another French company, Antik Batik, own the patent to the embroidered blouses - and that the Mexican community of Oaxaca will need to pay copyright fees in order to sell them, which understandably has enraged the local people. This follows an initial story in June, in which the two French companies were accused of plagiarism in respect of embroidered blouses which took inspiration from the country's artisanal designs. Read more at vogue.co.uk.

La Cruz Elementary School Children Dental Screenings

The Amigos de La Cruz tell us that Drs. Linda and Darold Brown, Portland, Oregon and formerly Nuevo Vallarta, are giving free dental screenings to the children attending the La Cruz elementary school. The first screenings took place on Tuesday, Nov 24, and will continue on Monday, Nov 30. The children are being screened now in preparation for the Boise, Idaho dental practice staff coming to the La Cruz Senior Center from Jan 18-21. Lina Bureau and Carmen Tapia assisted with their multi-lingual skills by talking to the principals and students, distributing parent permission slips, and giving out cookies and stickers to the students after their exam. Help is needed in January (18-21) to distribute and collect parent permission for appointments; accompany the children between their classroom and the dental program site at the Senior Center; assist the dentists in cleaning instruments; offer lunches and refreshments to the dental staff. Contact Amy Welch amywelchpdx(at)comcast.net to volunteer.

Weekend Events in Puerto Vallarta and Around Banderas Bay
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• Campeonato Nacional de Caballos Bailadores, Nov 27-29

• Last Chance to See 'The Lady Is A Tramp' at The Red Room Cabaret

• 'White Party Puerto Vallarta,' November 27-30, 2015