11/05/2025
Thank you and Farewell from Alan and Debra
From the May 7th Baja Western Onion Email Edition:
Dear Friends,
It was over 18 years ago with the arrival of Hurricane John that the Baja Western Onion got its start. Debra and I moved to Todos Santos the previous year, and John was our first hurricane.
We were expecting the worst but not knowing what that looked like. By late afternoon [Friday, Sept 1 2006], the power and phones stopped working. Fortunately, we had solar power and satellite Internet so we could stay in touch with the outside world.
Watching the storm track online through the Los Cabos Radar Station, it became clear that John would sidestep Todos Santos and make landfall in the Sea of Cortez.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/msssver2wqihw7hk1g3xf/Hurricane-John-Rendered.gif?rlkey=f0944j3htbovlzres8mt6cbsp&st=tomywmvq
As John passed by La Paz the next morning, we started emailing to let folks know we were safe. In the weeks that followed, we started relaying damage reports and forwarding messages for others. We soon realized that many folks who don’t speak Spanish were eager for a regular source of local Baja information and updates, and not just during storms. This idea became the start of the Baja Western Onion you're reading now.
Emailing every week from the start, we estimate we’ve now published and emailed over 6 million copies of the Baja Western Onion. And 100% of our success and longevity is because of you, our many Subscribers, Supporters and friends.
And now is the time that Debra and I can let new hearts and minds take the Baja Western Onion to the next level. We’ve decided to pass the baton to Brendan Alexander, your new Editor and Publisher. You may know Brendan through his selfless efforts to help promote and sustain the Gastrovino Food and Wine Festival.
Brendan brings tremendous experience and expertise that we’ve been looking for, and we’re delighted he’s able to take the Baja Western Onion in new directions we could only imagine. Brendan will be introducing himself in the next issue, and will be looking forward to receiving your ideas and input on the way forward.
Thank you to all who helped make the Baja Western Onion the success it has become. Your support has made it all possible. We know “our baby” is in good hands and will continue to be a valuable resource for you.
Thank you so much, and mil Gracias a Todos!
Alan and Debra
