Translation Team
Translators:
Amy Esperanto– Lives in Ajijic and has always worked on “the newspaper,” from high school to the local town newspaper to corporate newsletters. “Volunteering for Semanario Laguna allows me to use my skills and experience to make Spanish news accessible to Expats here.”
Ann Taylor- A former U.S. journalist and copy editor, Ann Taylor moved to Lakeside two years ago with her husband Steve, a former journalist. She enjoys writing, editing, and volunteering with Ninos Incapacitados.
Barbara Reid – Barbara has lived in Lakeside for five years and traveled extensively throughout Mexico. A published writer for over 25 years, she has also been a yacht chef, a food stylist, and a high school teacher. Since retiring, she has enjoyed learning about the Lakeside community through translating and editing.
Bruce Bernhart– Bruce and his wife have lived in Ajijic since January 2020. He volunteers to translate for Lakeside News to learn more about life in Ajijic and enjoys the team’s camaraderie.
Craig Walker -Craig is a retired oil & gas engineer and manager. He is adept at problem-solving and cross-cultural negotiation. He is passionate about attaining fluency in Spanish and honing his writing skills.
Dana Davis-Dana finds joy in her work translating and editing, likening it to solving a word puzzle. A retired elementary school librarian and technology technician, she enjoys dancing, shopping, and spending time with friends. After 45 years in the picturesque Pacific Northwest, she moved to Mexico with her husband a year ago. Dana has three daughters and six grandchildren spread across the U.S., whom she loves to visit whenever possible.
Deb Fairbanks – Previously of the Land of Lincoln and America’s Dairyland, Debbie is a two-year resident of Mexico. She is spending her golden years forgetting about past careers in printing and publishing, seriously learning Spanish and communing with her Morgan horse, Harry, in San Antonio.
Kerry Watson—Kerry loves Spanish and is retired in Mexico. When she moved to Mexico in 2005, she was a technical writer, publishing a dozen books. Kerry has contributed to several anthologies about Mexico. She lives in Chapala and volunteers for numerous projects.
Mags Petela- Mags is a retired publisher and editorial professional who has lived in Mexico since 2005.
Mark Bailey– Hailing from the Houston, Texas area, Mark spent the past 14 years in Austin before embracing retirement and settling into beautiful Ajijic in 2023. A self-proclaimed news junkie, he thrives on staying informed about current events – no matter the location. His passion for news ideally aligns with my volunteer work at Lakeside News, where he can contribute meaningfully and stay on top of the local happenings
Rose Avila– Rose is a seasoned bookkeeper, English/ Spanish interpreter, document translator, and bilingual safety trainer with over 30 years of experience working in the agriculture industry, 20 of those years in Napa Valley at vineyards and wineries. She and her husband moved to Lake Chapala in 2021 and now live the nomad lifestyle, enjoying Mexico and working from “I find myself at the time.” She loves cooking, gardening, long walks, traveling, photography, reading, and volunteering.
Nita Rudy– Nita is a former Executive director for an education non-profit, a program manager, and a grant and curriculum writer who can’t retire and wants to know what’s happening in Lakeside.
Tiffany Berkovitz – Tiffany is a dyslexia therapist and has been an educator for many years. Her family came to Lake Chapala in 2007, and they all love the area. Her hobbies include learning Spanish, long-arm quilting, embroidery, reading, and travel.
Writers:
Alan Ferguson – Alan spent 24 years with the Toronto Star, Canada’s largest daily newspaper, most of it as assistant managing editor.
Emily Alison – Emily, a champion of multicultural communication with degrees in Anthropology and Spanish Literature, is using her Spanish, English, and EAL teaching skills to learn about her new home. She is the mother of two adult children and has recently arrived in the Chapala area.
Executive Editor
Patrick O’Heffernan. Patrick O’Heffernan has served as reporter in California, a correspondent in Asia, a newspaper assistant editor in California, a magazine editor in Singapore, a radio host and a podcaster. He has published 5 books and numerous articles. He is a retired Professor of Media and International Relations at Georgia Tech. He has a PhD. In Political Science from MIT and has been awarded an Emmy, A Webby, several Addys and many other awards. He is very happy volunteering for Semanario Laguna in his “retirement”.