With this issue we are pleased to celebrate the 14th anniversary of the Pacific Pearl. Since its inception in September 1992, the Pearl has been an active member of our Mazatlán community, not only reporting on news but also energetically participating in, and sometimes spearheading, community events. Over the years, hundreds of readers have visited our office, wrote or emailed us with valuable suggestions and ideas for improving both our paper and general tourist facilities in our city. This prompted us to publish several surveys and hold contests with a view to benefiting the local tourist industry. In the same vein, the Pearl enthusiastically sponsored the first three Sand Sculpture Contests, International Beauty & Bikini Contests in Mazatlán, and the popular and on-going Motorcycle Week attraction. In support of our resident community, we founded a group of North Americans which is now called Hands Across the Borders, installed a free community bulletin board, formed a foreign business-men´s association and held an art show to display and sell paintings by local talented artists. We were involved in the Paisano Program (1994), and regularly sponsor sports tournaments, youth soccer and baseball leagues. We continue to be active in supporting local charities. A drop-off center for donations at our office was set up in 1999, and recently the Pearl began a backpack donation program for school children whose parents cannot afford basic school supplies. The program saw over a 100% increase in donations this year. We are stanch supporters of the Salvation Army Children´s Christmas shows, Amigos de los Animales, Friends of Mexico, the good works of the Vineyard Church, the Lions Club and the Estrella del Mar Educational Golf Benefit tournament. Globalization and mega newspaper corporations have changed the role of community newspapers in small towns. Conglomerate-owned small town papers often answer to a head office miles away from the community the paper was designed to serve. After 14 years and 2.7 million published copies promoting Mazatlán, the Pacific Pearl remains independent and unsubsidized by anyone other than our valued advertisers and readers. We are proud to be a part of the Mazatlán community. For readers and advertisers who wonder what we´ve been up to in the past 14 years, we present a short chronology of the Pacific Pearl: 2006 • published a summer Spanish language edition of the Pacific Pearl for national

tourists • was presented with a Certificate of Recognition for service to the foreign community by the Sinaloa Department of Tourism 2005 • co-sponsored the First Annual Police Benefit Golf Tournament with Estrella del Mar Golf & Beach Resort • set up the Pacific Pearl backpack program for underprivileged school children • facilitated the Mazatlán Charities umbrella organization 2004 • published “Cooking in Mexico” by Pacific Pearl recipe writer Christine Yerbic • donated the design and printing of a brochure for the Mazatlán Orphanage 2003 • published the first annual Official Guide & Directory to Mazatlán, (Edition 4 is currently available) 2002 • recorded a CD of the romantic music of Los Bambinos, a traditional Mexican strings group • designed & published “The Best in Mazatlán” Survey • designed & published the “How Do You Rate Mazatlán?” Survey 2001 • helped organize a Sept. 11, 2001 memorial gathering for the international community in Mazatlán 2000 • set up a charity donation center in the Pearl office for visitors to drop off donations for several charities in the city 1999 • designed & published the “What is Mazatlán?” Contest • designed & published the “Where Do You Go in Time of Need?” Survey • designed & published the “How Was Your Trip Down?” Survey • hosted and helped organize Bert Adams´ First Annual Sand Sculpture Contest in Mazatlán 1998 • supported 10 year old talented gymnast Martin Quintero • the Pacific Pearl Magazine went on-line • installed the free Community Bulletin Board 1996 • introduced John Amrock´s “Wines & Vines” column about locally available wines. 1994-1995 • only paper publishing during the peso devaluation of 1994-95. Moved the office to publisher´s home in order to keep publishing • attempted to bring in the English language paper THE NEWS from Mexico City for local residents • provided free condoms with the Pearl during Spring Break for AIDS awareness • initiated Pacific Pearl´s MAZZI Awards for best tourist service personnel • designed & published the “How is Your Visit to Mazatlán?” Survey • designed & published the “Let´s Play 20 Questions” Survey • supported the Miss International Beauty Contest in Mazatlán • formed the Foreign Connection, which became Hands Across the Borders • formed the Foreigners Business Association • held the La Perla Art Show for local painters outside our office 1993  organized and hosted the Sombrero Blanco Awards for Tourism Employees • published the first Restaurant Guide insert in the Pacific Pearl 1992  September birth of the Pacific Pearl