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. Here's a look at some of this week's Mexico headlines, plus Puerto Vallarta news, community announcements and weekend events you won't want to miss.

Seats Available for Dec 9 Purr Project Ranch Tour

There are still seats available for the Wednesday, December 9, Purr Project Ranch Tour! The 10-passenger air-conditioned van will leave Superior Tours' office at Plaza Romy in Old Town at 9:00 am, or VIPS Restaurant by the Marina Walmart at 9:20 am. In addition to meeting all 150 cats and kittens up close and personal, we're now including a short stop in San Juan de Valle, a charming little Mexican town near the ranch. We'll have you back at your pick-up point by 1:30 pm. Reserving your spot is a breeze. Just go to PurrProject.com, and click on 'Shelter Visits' at the top of the page. You'll find all the info you need about visiting the ranch, or you can contact our Tour Director, Bob Doelger, at visit(at)purrproject.com. The cost is only $300 pesos if you pay on the van or $20 USD if you pay on-line by PayPal. Please note that these tours have been completely funded so every peso of your donation goes directly to the care of the cats residing at the ranch. Come out and pet, cuddle, hug, nuzzle, pamper, and snuggle to your heart's content! Can't make this date? There will be tours on December 23; January 6, 13, 20 and 27; February 3, 10, 17 and 24; March 2, 16 and 30. You can sign up now for any of those dates.

International Gang of Credit Card Skimmers Captured

Mexico City prosecutors say they have captured 26 members of a surprisingly multinational gang involved in identity theft. The suspects include 11 Venezuelans, nine Mexicans, two Bulgarians, and one person each from Romania, Colombia, Cuba and Ecuador. Prosecutors said late Tuesday that the suspects were caught in simultaneous raids on a number of ATM machines throughout Mexico City. They had apparently used credit card "skimmers" that surreptitiously read debit and credit card data. The data is then copied onto a blank card, and used to withdraw money from a person's account. Police seized cash, 54 cards and vehicles.

First Annual Sayulita Wine Festival "Viva Vino Mexicano!"

The first annual Sayulita Wine Festival/Viva Vino Mexicano! will take place on Tuesday, December 8 and Wednesday, December 9. The opening party will be held at a gorgeous ocean front private estate on Tuesday, December 8 from 5–10 pm and features tastings with eight boutique wineries (seven from Mexico) as well as artisan mezcal and cerveza. Tastings will be paired with inventive cuisine by guest chef Clark Staub of renowned restaurant Full of Life Flatbread of Los Alamos, California as well as hors d'oeuvres from several local chefs. The night will kick off with musical entertainment provided by a local jazz trio and down tempo DJ. The event will also feature a pop-up boutique with select wines, jewelry and designer crafts and a silent auction to support a selected local charity. On the second evening of the festival, Wednesday, December 9, exclusive winemaker hosted dinners will be held at four local restaurants – Bistro Organico, Don Pedro's, Haramara and Imanta. Seating for each dinner is limited to 25 people as to allow for each attendee to share an intimate meal with friends and learn more about each winemaker's philosophy. Tickets are limited and available at Brown Paper Tickets. For more information, please email info(at)sayulitawineshop.com, or call 329-291-3966 or 311-258-4155.

Mexico Bans Thousands of Christmas Trees from U.S. Due to Blight

Mexico's Profepa federal environmental protection agency returned or seized 11,250 pine trees from the United States last month due to the presence of blight not previously detected in the country, officials said. Profepa inspectors banned sales of the trees under the Christmas Tree Importation Verification and Inspection Program for the 2015 season, which will run for nearly two more weeks, the environmental protection agency said in a statement. Inspection stations on the border with the United States have examined a total of 603,825 Christmas trees, with 61 percent of the inspections done in Baja California state; 24 percent in Sonora; 8 percent in Nuevo Leon; 6 percent in Tamaulipas; and 0.04 percent in Chihuahua. A total of 13 shipments were returned and six others are awaiting the results of tests, Profepa said. Blight was detected during inspections at customs service stations in Mexicali and Tijuana, Baja California; Nogales and San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora; Nuevo Laredo and Reynosa, Tamaulipas; Colombia, Nuevo Leon; and Puente Zaragoza-Isleta, Chihuahua.

Weekend Events in Puerto Vallarta and Around Banderas Bay
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• South Side Shuffle Offers Fun and Friendly Shopping

• Daiquiri Dick's 10th Annual Puerto Vallarta Pet Picnic

• 50 Juried Artists in 2015 River of Art Expo at Oscar's