The ground beneath our feet has stabilized, but our local English-language print world got a shakeup January 24 when it was announced that the not yet two-year-old weekly, “The Times,” was sold to one of its Nayarit correspondents, Ronnie Barker.

And while I look forward to discovering the new publisher’s editorial direction and tenor, I’m disappointed that Barker’s editorship has displaced tell-it-like-it-is Angela Corelis, who, in my opinion, did an admirable job of packing pages with info not found elsewhere in town – her style raw but brave and I’ll miss it.

I miss “The News” out of Mexico City, too, a daily that folded about a month ago after more than five decades of informing English readers about the nitty gritty of life here. It also put important topics in contexts that made sense to “gringo” culture. I didn’t realize until it was gone how much I’d come to depend on it to get a sense of what was happening beyond Jalisco’s borders. And it served to remind me that Puerto Vallarta actually is not the center of the world – just mine.

Losing that vital source of macrocosmic information about Mexico and the world at large is yet another good reason to do something about my Spanish-reading comprehension. After all my years here, I still mentally fumble over far too many words. I think that what has happened is I’ve accepted my Spanish being ‘bad’ for so long, it has evolved into a bad habit. And we all know how hard habits are to break …

Happily, there’s an exuberant upside to our print scene. The “Tribune” gets better every week, with good contributing writers – most notably columnists Fabio Cupul, who educates with heart and expertise about the astounding wealth of flora and fauna around us, and Jamie Coates, who has an outstanding ability to write about ‘touchy’ subjects in ways that clearly deliver the message without offending anyone.

And in reading the latest “Vallarta Voice” cover to cover, I recognize how dramatically this high season monthly has matured this season under the tutelage of managing editor Paco Ojeda, who somehow also finds the time to write and take photos for it and lay it out.

And if you notice bylines, you realize that the bulk of the publication’s muscle comes from reporter Josef Kandoll, who does an exceptional job of keeping readers informed and entertained. And you can’t help but be cheered by the wacky words written by Ricky Arce, Gil Gevins and Cindy Beare, all of whom deftly elicit humor from difficult situations. Beare doesn’t know it, but she inadvertently freaked out my cats when I cracked up loudly over two concise and punchy sentences in her You’ll Need a Forklift to Pick me up with That Line! “Hi, my name’s Chucky. Wanna get lucky?”

Speaking of getting lucky, playing a key role in the social life of many an expat and tourist here are the regularly scheduled Art Walks both downtown and in Marina Vallarta. Eleven and six galleries respectively hold simultaneous art openings to which everyone’s invited, no invitations necessary, and free cocktails are served.

I truly know of no other experience that matches the stimulation and fun of wandering, drink in hand if you like, between one-of-a-kind galleries tucked into atmospheric streets where you’re welcomed like a long-lost friend and free to just look around. Some hook up with old or new friends at these openings, exploring together to their heart’s content before going on to dinner. As well as providing a forum for viewing and interacting with art of all stripes, it’s one of the best ways I know of to find out who’s in town.

Haven’t been on an Art Walk yet? This high season you have six more opportunities in El Centro and two more in the Marina. I suggest not waiting until the last one, or chances are you’ll kick yourself for missing out.

If you have any comments, questions or suggestions about what you’re reading, you’re encouraged to let me know at heather@mexmags.com.