- Las Conchas historian Marcia Florian
On Saturday, Jan. 19th, 2013, folks from the Las Conchas Vecinos Association recalled memories and shared stories amidst cocktails as part of the 30th Anniversary of the Association’s founding. Actually, as was detailed within a presentation recounting the history of this beachside community stretching to the east of town, the Association’s first official meeting and drawing up of its papers took place in 1980 at “the castle,” which has long since served as the main offices of CEDO. Current Las Conchas Association President Ginger Beuchamp graciously welcomed the more than 200 people gathered at Quinta Ventura for the celebration, and thanked city officials Miguel Guevara, Tourism and International Relations Coordinator, and Mayoral Secretary Eduardo Martínez for being in attendance among the invited guests.
- Arq. Fausto Soto, Ed Prochaska, Rodger Clifton, Charlie Salem
Las Conchas historian Marcia Florian took everyone down memory lane, traveling the breadth and stretch of Las Conchas from the original vision of developer John McChesney and work of Agustin Cortés in the 1960s, to the selling of lots with no water and no electricity, topped off with a 45 minute dune-buggy only road out to one of the most spectacular jewels on the Sea of Cortez.
Memories were further rekindled through stories told by Charlie Salem, the Vecinos’ first Association president in 1980, as well as those from another former Association President, Ed Prochascka, along with architect Fausto Soto who built many of the homes that now hug Las Conchas’ shores including that of the final “story tellers” Rodger and Jeannette Clifton.
Curiously, at the time it was built and at the urging of Architect Soto, the Clifton’s “Casa Blanca” home in Las Conchas was the first to don a magnificent brick boveda dome. Since that time, these boveda domes have become synonymous with many of the beachstyle homes in Puerto Peñasco.
Congratulations Las Conchas Vecinos, por sus 30 primaveras!!
Currently, the Las Conchas community remains active in Puerto Peñasco principally through its Community Relations Committee, supporting a number of local charitable organizations. The Committee holds various events throughout the year, including a mega Yard Sale coming up over Presidents Day Weekend in February. All proceeds from these events go to the Las Conchas Community Relations selected charities: Casa Hogar, Esperanza Children’s Home, Monthly Food Bag program, Escuela Montana, Comunidad de Valores, DIF Children’s Shelter (Amores de Penasco), CEDO, Red & Terri’s Puppy Rescue, and Nancy Phelan’s Animal Shelter.