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COMMUNITY Always Good News! Press
ISSUE 100 FEBRUARY 2021
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Elsa EDC to Collaborate on Military Mural
The nation is on a well-deserved trend of honoring and commemorating its fallen members of the armed forces in many ways. It has named its streets, its parks, its public buildings and very notably, in a more personal approach; that of covering entire walls of buildings and other structures with the facial impressions of those that served, and many who died, in that service to their country with murals. The Elsa VFW Post # 7473, or more specifically known as the Benito Alaniz Post and the city of Elsa EDC have ventured
into a project to paint the entire south wall of their VFW building located at the corner of N. Broadway and 8th street with a memorial military mural. This mural will feature the likeness of twenty former area residents that gave their lives in service to their country during their tours of duty in the armed forces. These individuals and their service affiliations are listed on a plaque sitting at the VFW Memorial Park. Also included on the painting is a commemoration of a young female soldier Pvt Rosa Martinez, that was violent-
ly murdered in a non-combat incident that occurred while completing her life’s dream of becoming a career soldier. The incident that took her life was so drastically similar to the recent occurrence of that of the murder by a fellow soldier of Vanessa Guillen at Fort Hood. The post is planning a separate more detailed homage of her life story in the near future. Other items included in the mural will be numerous depictions of the military branches with their insignias, a battleship, an armed tank and several military aircraft.
INSIDE
Ministry Pg.2 Survival Pg.3 Fashion Boutiquee Pg.4 Pop Art Pg.4 UTRGV Pg.5 E-E ISD Pg.7 35Million DSHS
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E-E ISD Pg.9 Teen Dating
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La Villa ISD
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Classifieds
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$50 “Heart Saver” CT Scan Available
Benito Alaniz Post #7473
See ELSA pg.6
Pope Francis appoints first woman to the Synod of Bishops worked with the synod as a consultant since 2019.
The Pope has appointed a woman as an undersecretary to the Synod of Bishops for the first time. Sister Nathalie Becquart, who is from France, will have voting rights in the body, which advises the pontiff and debates some of the most controversial issues in the Roman Catholic Church. Ms Becquart has
The body's secretary-general, Cardinal Mario Grech, said the appointment showed that "a door has opened". He noted that the decision reflects the Pope's desire "for a greater participation of women in the process of discernment and decision-making in the church". The BBC's John McManus says the move is not a precursor to ordaining women as priests, although some opponents may regard it as a further step in that direction. Luis Marín de San Martín, a priest from Spain, was also named as a new undersecre-
tary of the synod. In recent years, the Synod of Bishops has debated topics of doctrine including the treatment of divorced and married Catholics. The news comes less than a month after Pope Francis formally changed the law in the Church to allow women to administer communion and serve at the altar, although the decree stressed that ordained priesthood would remain open to men only. Last year, meanwhile, the pontiff appointed six women to the council which oversees the Vatican’s finances.
If you have positive news you would like us to publish, email it to tcommunitypress@gmail.com. Please include a title and a picutre. -Thank you!
February is National Heart Month, and Knapp Medical Center in Weslaco is offering a “Heart Saver” CT scan for a special cash price of $50 for Mid-Valley residents who would like to determine if they may be at risk for heart disease. The “HeartSaver” is a CT scan which can indicate calcium or plaque build-up in the coronary arteries. If the patient is at risk for heart disease, they are encouraged to work with their physician on taking steps to reduce the risk, such as healthy eating, exercise as recommended by their doctor, making other lifestyle changes to benefit their health, and taking medication if necessary to control cholesterol and / or high blood pressure. The HeartSaver CT Scan can help disclose heart disease at various stages, making it easier for the physician to treat the disease. The special 64-slice system at Knapp Medical Center helps in “seeing” the arteries and build-ups that could potentially block blood flow going to the heart. Knapp Medical Center is taking all necessary precautions so patients can safely receive these important screenings. Mid-Valley patients are encouraged to work with their doctor during National Heart Month and throughout the year on ways to avoid potentially life-threatening See HEART pg.6
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Trust God in Troubling Times Psalm 46
If you listen to the news, no doubt you’ve heard scary stories of political upheaval, global threats, and natural or man-made catastrophes. Although people around you may be fearful and stressed, there is no reason a child of God should feel this way. For Christians, the Lord is a refuge and very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). While today’s passage describes a variety of disasters, the writer’s intention was certainly not to cause fear. Rather, these words are a reminder of our Father’s supremacy over everything that happens, His protection of His people, and the ultimate victory that results in His kingdom’s rule on earth. In light of this, we are told to let go of worry and efforts to protect ourselves—and instead trust Him. Our comfort and security are found not in frantically running around, trying to make sure we are safe, but in knowing God. Whatever trouble we experience, He is sufficient to help us through it. The key to courageously facing the future is confidence in the Lord. He’s your shelter, strength, and help in trouble. To increase your trust in Him, read through the psalms, looking for words and phrases that affirm His protection, steadfastness, and care.
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Why do we pray? 1. Because Scripture tells us to do so. The witness of Scripture is an integral part of our relationship with God. 2. Because Jesus did. “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” – Luke 5:16
How should I pray? There is no wrong way to pray so long as you are honest with God when you pray. Below is a common structure to our prayers that is a great guide to prayer. Adoration: Offering God our praise for who God is
3. Because the primary purpose of prayer is intimacy with God. It is as simple as a conversation.
Confession: Asking God for forgiveness for the ways that we have fallen short
4. Because it aligns our hearts with God’s will. God will place the right desires in our hearts.
Thanksgiving: Naming all of the ways you are grateful towards God
5. Because prayer is powerful. In ways that we don’t fully understand, God uses prayers to change things.
Supplication: Asking God for what we need and want
6. Because prayer positions us correctly with God. We surrender to God to be a part of his purpose. 7. Because prayer together unites us. It aligns us as a church family with God’s purposes for us.
Using the “ACTS” structure for your prayers will ensure that they are balanced.
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A MATTER OF SURVIVAL
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even local shops and businesses giving away whatever they have to help people enjoy a hot meal for the night. And yes, this has also meant people seeking out whatever provisions they might need, such as food and gas, oftentimes, I truly believe, so that they can share with others. There is an incredible beauty in all this, a collective of caring in the community where people are driven in hard times to gather up whatever they can to make sure those around them are taken care of.
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I’ve seen people lamenting the long lines at gas stations and the empty food shelves at grocery stores, accusing people of “hoarding” more than they need, and while it may be true that a small fraction of people are buying in excess, I think there are some things to keep in mind about what is actually happening.
The first is an issue of survival. The hearty, resilient people of the www.thecommunitypress.org Rio Grande Valley are long used to adapting and finding ways to If you have positive news you survive amidst tragedy, and this would like us to publish, email instinct has been fully awakened it to tcommunitypress@gmail. in the past week. This tendency in us has led to all kinds of innocom. Please include a title and vation, from people using their a picture. barbecue pits to heat food and water; people opening up their powered homes to let neighbors -Thank you! and friends enjoy a hot shower;
The second issue concerns where this instinct developed from: the Valley has had to learn how to care for and often fend for itself because too often we have been the neglected and underserved area of the state, overlooked by those in charge when it comes to resources, support, and funding. We are acting out of a history of trauma, where we have learned that no one in power is going to come to our aid, our leadership is not going to stand up for us, and so we must do what we can for ourselves. If people here are buying up gas, or taking a couple of extra loaves of bread - one for the house, and one for their
suegro who lives by himself - it’s because we’ve become accustomed to a broken system that has historically shown that it will not care for us in times of need. The lack of acknowledgment we have been given, the lack of relief we have received after hurricanes, pandemics, and now winter storms have taught us here in our sequestered little four-county bubble on the border that we will have to provide for ourselves, and many times that means snatching up whatever necessities we need because there might not be more coming. So if you’re upset that there are long lines at the gas station or empty shelves at the grocery store, remember your RGV compassion, and don’t be mad at the people in line with you. Be mad at the system that created this. We are all just trying to survive right now, and we’re doing it in the only way we’ve ever known: to quickly gather up whatever we can and share it with those we love. Remember to take care of those you love, and stay warm, my friends.
Do These 5 Things to Strengthen Your Immune System
In 2020, we focused more on protecting our immune systems than ever before. We learned the importance of washing our hands regularly, not touching our faces and wearing masks in order to protect ourselves and especially others from COVID-19. Luckily, all of these habits also help shield us from wintertime threats like the flu and the common cold. But in addition to practicing all of the above, it’s important to take big-picture actions to strengthen your immune system. Let’s discuss. What is the immune system? Your immune system is a highly organized and mobile unit
designed to fight for you. The immune system can be difficult to visualize. You know what the heart looks like and how it beats. But your immune system is just that—a system. It involves a variety of cells (and messages between them) that patrol your entire body on a microscopic level. How does the immune system work? When your body faces an outside threat, like a bacteria or virus, this defense system acts. When you have a cold, for example, your immune system sends in cells to fight. The result of that fight is what you see or feel—coughing, a runny nose, inflammation, fever. See STRENGTHEN on page 6
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La Villa best Friends open fashion boutique When Casandra Altamirano and Julie Gonzalez became friends 20 years ago in Elementary at La Villa ISD, they had no idea they would also one day own a business together. But that dream became a reality when they opened up “Come and Take it”, a fashion boutique in Edcouch Texas in February. The boutique offers a mixture of both western and modern looks of fashion along with apparel. These best friends’ class of 2010 are both moms and wives and wear many hats that come with being a business owner. “The concept of opening up a boutique was to make fashion and apparel more affordable and still look amazing, what makes our boutique unique is that we welcome everyone in and treat them as if they were family. When customers come in, we see them as
a friend, someone we can build a relationship with”, says Cassandra. Another unique component is fashion consulting. These owners are on top of their customer service and will help you put together an outfit along with its apparel. The advice these two owners have for anyone that want to start up a business is “Just do it, set a goal, reach it and continue setting more goals and meeting them”. Come and Take it is located in Hwy 107 in Edcouch. They offer sizes small- 2XL. Hours of operation are 11am-6pm. You can take advantage of purchasing on facebook live. To get updates on sales and givaways,follow them on facebook: Come and Take it.
Pop Art
Alexander Gonzalez can be found spending his entire night making murals. At night he avoids the heat and there are fewer people around him, he says. Besides, the bright colors he creates pop out more under the cover of darkness. Currently, Gonzalez is working on a mural across from Mayfield Park in San Juan that will be painted with photos of first responders working on the frontlines of the pandemic — and who have died during it. “It can take me seven hours to do each frame, or sometimes 24 hours for a big mural stretched out into several nights,” Gonzalez said. The mural currently has three people painted on it: Itzel Lea, a pharmacist who owns the property where the mural is painted, Jesse de la Garza, an EMT from Weslaco who died from COVID-19 in Weslaco, and Pedro Angel Duran, a McAllen registered nurse. The mural will soon be decorated with other paintings of other local heroes. “I call it pop art, but I’m not an artist.
I just create what I envision,” Gonzalez said when asked to describe his murals. “I don’t know if it’s graffiti or pop art but it’s a mix of everything I’ve gathered throughout the years. I want to make a statement saying I’m here and my art exists.” Gonzalez, who signs his mural with his Instagram handle, started on his most recent mural in early November 2020 and has created over a dozen others since February 2020. His murals depict fallen celebrities and political figures such as U.S. Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris, former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, “Black Panther” star Chadwick Boseman, and NBA superstar Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna. Gonzalez has also drawn murals in honor of fallen heroes such as Fort Hood soldiers Vanessa Guillen and Elder Fernandez and fallen law enforcement officers including Texas Department of See ART pg. 10
SBA extends COVID-19 economic injury disaster loan application deadline The U.S. Small Business Administration today announced that the deadline to apply for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program for the COVID-19 Pandemic disaster declaration is extended to Dec. 31, 2021. The deadline extension comes as a result of the recent bipartisan COVID-19 relief bill passed by Congress and enacted by President Trump on Dec. 27, 2020. To date, the SBA has approved
$197 billion in low-interest loans which provides working capital funds to small businesses, non-profits and agricultural businesses make it through this challenging time. “Following the President’s declaration of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the SBA has approved over 3.6 million loans through our Economic Injury Disaster Loan program nationwide,” Administrator Jovita Carranza said. “The EIDL program has assisted
millions of small businesses, including non-profit organizations, sole proprietors and independent contractors, from a wide array of industries and business sectors, to survive this very difficult economic environment.”
terest rate for nonprofit organizations, a 30-year maturity, and an automatic deferment of one year before monthly payments begin. Every eligible small business and nonprofit are encouraged to apply to get the resources they need.
EIDL loan applications will continue to be accepted through December 2021, pending the availability of funds. Loans are offered at very affordable terms, with a 3.75% interest rate for small businesses and 2.75% in-
About the U.S. SBA
The only go-to resource and voice for small businesses. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
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Congratulations
LVECHS student Anfernie Hinojosa
Vice President for TX DECA Dist.1 State Qualifyer in Apparel and Accessories Marketing
Victoria Hernandez and Aliyah Cerda advance to state in UIL debate The road to state on any side of UIL is tough, especially when it comes to debate. However, two Edcouch-Elsa students proved that you could overcome any challenge with hard work and dedication. Aliyah Cerda and Victoria Hernandez, who have been in congressional debate for two and three years respectively, overcame the odds by securing a spot at the state meet. The two of them have travelled a long and exciting journey alongside their coach Ms. Marissa Marmolejo. However, there were still quite a few challenges that stood in front of Victoria and Aliyah. Hernandez, UIL Student Congress captain and member, expressed her feelings with debate and how she has never given up after each debate, despite the challenges she has faced.
Dedicated and working hard exemplifies Anfernie Hinojosa, a sophomore at La Villa ISD Early college high school. For the second year in a row, he was selected Vice President for Texas DECA District 1. Anfernie was introduced to DECA at a young age thanks to his brother, Mathew Hinojosa a past district officer. This influenced him to take a great interest in DECA. Anfernie joined DECA as a freshman, and feeling excited from what his brother had accomplished, he was encouraged to run for district officer his first year and was succuss. He continued his vice presidential this year and is already excited to serve next year. Hinojosa also qualified for state in the CDC Deca Apparel and accessories marketing series. Hinojosa keeps busy with schoolwork, congress & debate, being President in FFA, show swine and doing wood projects. When it comes to future goals, he plans to be an Anesthesiologist. Hinojosa is the son of Suzie and Manual Hinojosa from La Villa. His message to other students is “As long as you put in the work, it will benefit you in the long run” “Anfernie is a motivated individual who always strives to do the best and makes the best out of every situation”, says Principal Dr. Layton.
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“Debating for congressional debate
scares me but thrills me because of the adrenaline that comes from the process. I love the challenges that come from student congress. This honestly makes the top of the list when I describe the challenges in my lifetime. Every time I have competing, I start breathing hard because I feel I cannot do it. And although I am scared, I will always try to do my best.” No one can really warn you of what happens in a debate. Sometimes you are competing in the same room with your teammates and sometimes you are not. The competitions can range from six to eight hours and by the time it is done, I have no energy left in me. The debate from experience is not as hard as preparing for 15-20 speeches for the event. What goes into preparing for such debate is much more rigorous than the debate itself. Arguing with the same people for countless hours over a range of topics can be tough. My specialty in debate is being tough with my argument whenever people try to discredit me, and my statement will remain persistent and I will not give in to them. I am happy that our hard work led us to be invited to compete at state. I also thank our amazing coach Ms. Marmolejo because we would not be a team without her!” See DEBATE on page 6
UTRGV students help local business improve productivity Rio Grande Valley is abundant with a superfood that can be used as a natural sweetener – important in an area with high rates of obesity and diabetes. So, UTRGV students worked on a project to help a local business improve productivity and identify potential markets for this superfood – the mesquite bean. Cappadona Ranch has sold mesquite bean products, such as jellies, tea, coffee and flour, since 2013. But picking beans by hand limits how much they can produce. "Honestly, without a mechanical harvest, this business cannot grow. And we cannot get it to others in a mass quantity because we don't have the harvesters,” said Victoria Barrera Cappadona, owner of the mesquite bean company. To help with that problem, UTRGV students from the College of Engineering and Computer Science and the Robert C. Vackar College of Business & Entrepreneurship got involved.
Engineering students in Dr. Noe Vargas Hernandez's senior design class partnered with a team of business students under the supervision of Dr. Sylvia Robles to create and market a device that could harvest mesquite beans. Robles, a lecturer in the Vackar CoBE, said students tend to feel the responsibility of helping an existing business. “I think they learn a lot more that way, than by being in a regular classroom and just solving one side of the problem,” she said. Alexandra Salinas, a UTRGV senior from Mission majoring in mechanical engineering, was team leader for the engineering group, which included: Victoria Garza, senior majoring in mechanical engineering, from Edinburg. Stephanie Ramos, senior majoring see UTRGV pg.8
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STRENGTHEN
ELSA continued from pg.1
continued from pg.3
Oftentimes, your immune cells have a memory of their encounter with an invader that can stay in the body for years. The cells’ memories call forth a response that can vanquish the virus whenever it appears. This is why you can only get some infections (like mononucleosis or the measles) once. How do vaccines work? Vaccines are designed to stimulate your body’s built-in defenses without exposing you to the full-blown disease. The Benito Alaniz Post was established in 1968 and is named after one of the early casualties of the Vietnam War. It is headed by Commander Rosendo Castaneda, a two-tour veteran of the Vietnam War and a retired valley police officer, as well as immediate past commander Lupita M. Perez, one of a very few number of female VFW commanders and a member of the initial group of females `permitted into active combat during the Iraq conflict. This post has been selected to receive numerous meritorious state and national awards during their
leadership, to include all-state and all-American honors, as well as the prestigious National Community Service award that recognizes the individual membership for their community service contributions. The mural itself is being drawn and painted by Ben and Anna Varela, a husband and wife team of local artists that have a number of mural works and paintings in the valley. Anna is a local product and Ben comes from a New York Puerto Rican military family that traveled extensively during his youth…
training in the mural art trade in the process. The mural is anticipated to be completed by mid-May. This type of project is the first of its kind for Elsa, but EDC director Jessica Garza is enthusiastic about having future mural works. “This is a long-overdue recognition of our veterans. Our residents are very excited over it. We’re going to try to touch base with our history, our schools and many other aspects of our community that need to be highlighted. This is just step one. We’re not done yet” she stated.
DEBATE continued from pg.5 Cerda, also a UIL Student Congress captain, expressed her feelings with debate and how she gave it her all.
“When going into congress meets, my heart beats a little faster and the adrenaline kicks in. I never know what is going to happen. My own teammates, who I practice with, could become my competitors. This year marked my second year in congressional debate and my fellow co-cap-
tain, Victoria Hernandez’s, third year. “Our entire team, including our amazing coach Ms. Marmolejo, spends days writing and memorizing our speeches, says Cerda. But the thing with congressional debate is you can never prepare too much. We spend at most eight hours competing. However, being recognized by UIL in state two years in a row makes all the hard work worth it and I hope to continue this streak.” Ms. Marmolejo, coach of the Edcouch-Elsa debate team, expresses her feelings about the situation and explains why her students cannot attend state, despite having been recognized by UIL to qualify for state for the second year in a row. “It's an honor to be a part of a team that is willing to place so much time and effort into such
a difficult event and it means even more when others see the caliber of work, they do and recognize it by having them place at an event. It is unfortunate that they are recognized during this difficult time because they will be unable to attend.” “Their parents felt that competing at the state meet was placing them in an unnecessary situation where they would be an enclosed area for a long period of time, and I support their decision. Our team is young, and we have next year to accomplish the same goals. It is better to have them healthy and safe and continuing to represent EEHS and the Yellowjackets academically again.” These girls and their coach have done a tremendous and has made the Edcouch-Elsa community very proud.
They do this by introducing an altered version of the virus—one that makes your immune system think you are being attacked by a fully active virus when you are not. This revs up your immune system to produce neutralizing antibodies that stop the virus from attaching to your cells. How can I improve my immune system? Get quality sleep. Poor sleep is associated with decreased immune function and decreased rates of vaccine efficacy. Manage your stress. Chronic stress can cause a cascade of hormonal responses that weaken your immune function over time. Eat well. It’s no secret that fruits and vegetables are nature’s best protective medicine. Exercise. Movement has the unique power to boost your immune function. Kick bad habits to the curb. Avoid smoking and only drink alcohol in moderation.
HEART continued from pg.1 heart attacks and stroke. For patients who need to see a specialist, several cardiologists are now seeing patients in the Mid-Valley, at the South Heart Clinic’s Weslaco office at 902 S. Airport Drive, Suite 5B. These cardiologists include Dr. Michael Balderas and Dr. Mohammad Alasaad, who are well versed in all aspects of general cardiology and interventional cardiology. To schedule an appointment for the $50 Heart Saver CT scan during the month of February, please call the Knapp Medical Center Imaging Services Department at (956) 969-5176 or (956) 969-5335.
If you have positive news you would like us to publish, email it to tcommunitypress@gmail.com. Please include a title and a picture. -Thank you!
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Contract awarded for vegetation removal and restoration of the Arroyo Colorado in Harlingen The United States Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC) awarded a contract for removal and restoration of vegetation in the Arroyo Colorado to Swift Operating Partners, LLC, of Boulder, Colorado. The project will begin by spring and is expected to be completed within a year. Work under this $1.2 million contract will address vegetation maintenance required over a 6.3mile segment between Business 77 to Cemetery Road in Harlingen and Cameron County, Texas. The project consists of removing problem vegetation along the arroyo overbanks and replacing it with native vegetation to restore the riparian corridor. Over time, increases in vegetation and sediment caused the Arroyo Colorado to lose more than 50 percent of its capacity to carry floodwaters, which increases flood risk. In recent years, removal of vegetation and sediment has restored some of the Arroyo Colorado’s flood conveyance capacity. USIBWC has considered a range of alternatives to restore the Arroyo
Colorado’s flood conveyance capacity. Vegetation management, together with sediment dredging, are required to restore the full flood conveyance capacity to the Arroyo Colorado in this area. The USIBWC will advertise for a separate dredging contract in the future. “We can’t prevent natural disasters, but we can prepare for them,” said Senator John Cornyn. “I’m pleased to help deliver the funding needed to restore the Arroyo Colorado’s native vegetation and with it, peace of mind for residents of the Rio Grande Valley that their community will be safer from unwanted flooding.” Congressman Filemon Vela also welcomed the awarding of the contract. “For several years, we have been working with IBWC on a strategy to return the Arroyo Colorado to its original design capacity and decrease the threat of flooding to the residents of Harlingen and surrounding communities,” Congressman Vela said. “I appreciated IBWC’s initial work last year to begin the cleanup of sediment
UTRGV continued from pg.5 in mechanical engineering, from McAllen. Carlos Guzmán, senior majoring in mechanical engineering, from Houston. Salinas said they were excited when they first heard about the project. “This is a really cool opportunity to apply what we know, but also to help someone out, to help build up a business,” she said. “Because, keep in mind, this hard-working family – the Cappadona family – they have the interest of H-E-B and other markets, so they need to basically build up their harvesting." The team visited Cappadona Ranch, where they tried product samples, and measured mesquite trees and even the beans. With the information gathered, they started on their designs. “We basically created 3-D models of mesquite beans, which was really, really interesting,” Salinas said.
Seeing the engineering design process was a new experience for business team leader Yasena Cantú, a UTRGV senior from Rio Grande City majoring in business administration and marketing.
in the Arroyo, which helps dissipate some of the flood threat, and I am pleased the IBWC is taking another important step forward today with this contract for removal of much more vegetation. I will continue to offer my full support and work with local and federal entities to ensure that this project is completed.” USIBWC oversees the Lower Rio Grande Flood Control Project (LRGFCP), which controls floodwater in the Lower Rio Grande and interior floodways in the tri-county region (Hidalgo, Cameron, and Willacy Counties). During river flooding, Anzalduas Dam south of Mission, Texas is used to divert floodwater from the Rio Grande into the interior floodway system to control flooding along the river. A portion of this water eventually flows into the Arroyo Colorado, a natural channel confined by high banks in most areas. The USIBWC maintains the LRGFCP and its levee systems and removes obstructions from the floodways to maintain conveyance capacity.
$35 Million for Texas DSHS in the 15th District of Texas Congressman Vicente Gonzalez announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is awarding $35,014,168.04 in federal grants for the State of Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) associated with COVID-19. The grant will cover contracts to provide management, control, and reduction of immediate threats to public health and safety. It includes providing medical administrative staffing support for healthcare facilities as subject matter experts to manage and maintain all aspects for patient care and funeral management with local hospitals, funeral directors and the Hidalgo County Forensic Office. “Our community has been one of the hardest hit by the coronavirus and this grant money is a large infusion to help us face this disease headon,” said Congressman Gonzalez. “I intend to pursue every avenue to ensure that our district is taken care of and no stone is left unturned. We will need to continue to work together at every level of government to beat this virus.” These federal funds will also cover costs to disseminate public information regarding the health and safety measures utilized and to provide warnings about risks and hazards in attempt to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. This includes a dedicated call center hotline and email inbox, staffed by registered nurses, to provide timely and appropriate responses to general inquires submitted to DSHS. It will provide equipment, materials and supplies to support a wide range of emergency response activities for medical care, specimen collection, laboratory testing, tents, and other public health emergency priority functions such as, but not limited to; PPE, hospital vital sign monitors, ventilators, thermometers, specimen collection kits, filters for respiratory equipment, human remains bags, stretchers and hospital beds.
Moises Dávila, junior majoring in nursing, from Brownsville. Fernando Ramírez, senior majoring in political science, from Matamoros, Tamps., Mexico. Gerardo Reina, senior majoring in International Business, from Matamoros, Tamps., Mexico. “It was a lot of trial and error for They interviewed customers and them, so I got to actually see how managers at stores like Home v they did it and what they had to Depot and Lowe's to gauge do to fix it. And, 'OK, what's the interest in a product to harvest alternative?' That was really inter- mesquite beans and spoke to esting to see,” she said. ranchers in South Texas and northern Mexico. The informaAt the same time, the business tion they gathered benefited the team was busy gathering data overall project, Cantú said. and conducting interviews. In addition to Cantú, the team included:
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Career & Technical Education
On Febuary 22th, 10 Edcouch Elsa CTE Students began their training to obtain the Remote Pilot Certification through SOARD Solutions. These students are currently following the Agriculture, Business & Marketing, and Law Enforcement/Fire Fighter pathways. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be prepared to test for a Remote Pilot Certificate through the Federal Aviation Administration. Upon passage of the FAA test, students will be issued a remote pilot certificate from the FAA. As certificated pilots, students will have the legal authority to conduct drone flights for governmental or commercial purposes in national airspace.
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National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention UNITED Youth Group, a youth coalition that is a branch of UNIDAD Coalition in Hidalgo County, wants our communities to understand the impact this issue can have on – not only youth – but their families and those that surround them. Awareness and prevention are key. How can our youth understand what a healthy relationship is if we, as a community, do not educate them? According to the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System data, about 1 in 10 students report having been physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend in the past 12 months. Another statistic by The National Council on Crime and Delinquency Focus shows that 1 in 3 girls in the United States is a victim of physical, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner. This figure far exceeds rates of other types of youth violence. Lastly, according to the CDC, teens who suffer dating
abuse are subject to long-term consequences like alcoholism, thoughts of suicide, and violent behavior. This issue is very real and needs to be addressed. Communication and education are effective forms of prevention. Loveisrespect.org is a resource for teens to reach out to for themselves or someone they know. UNITED Youth Group of Hidalgo County invites youth in the area to join their efforts in creating positive change and support for their peers. The youth group meets bi-monthly to discuss and strategize creative ways to spread awareness on substance use prevention and related topics, including promoting healthy relationships. To learn about UNITED Youth Group you can reach out to Vianca Vieyra, Coalition Coordinator at (956) 7837897 Ext. 224. You can also visit our website www.bhsst.org
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ART continued from pg.4 Public Safety Trooper Moises Sanchez, McAllen policemen Edelmiro Garza Jr. and Ismael Chavez Jr., and Mission policeman Jose “Speedy” Espericueta. The murals are spread out in multiple cities throughout the Valley. For some of the murals, people reach out to Gonzalez to request he build a mural. For a lot of them, such as the murals of Vanessa Guillen, Gonzalez approaches property owners for it. He’s made multiple murals of her in Donna, Pharr, Weslaco, and San Juan for the same reason he’s made murals of people who have died from tragedy. “They don’t have a voice and they need it,” Gonzalez said. “Gloria, Vanessa’s sister, was doing the outcry for people to find Vanessa and give her the justice she needed, so I wanted to help her. People who are still here are the ones who can provide a voice for them.” Gonzalez’s need to make a statement with his figures also scratches what he calls a “creative itch.” He has been painting since he was a high school student and found inspiration from his art teacher, Gerardo “Jerry” Gorena. “He and my mom had the most faith in me when I started painting 13 years ago, but I never knew their worth,” Gonzalez said. “Even with that, I knew I wanted to create something that would reach people.”
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With nearly 4,000 followers on
Instagram and two new murals from Gonzalez to commemorate missing soldier Vanessa Guillen in Donna and San Juan making the news, Gonzalez’s artwork has indeed reached more than a few people. “I’ve gotten a lot of messages of support from people across the Valley and even outside the U.S. requesting a mural, it’s unbelievable,” Gonzalez said. “At the beginning, I painted on canvas in my room and kept them to myself. I didn’t think it was worth going public with them. Now I have a lot of support across the country.” Gonzalez has made painting his full-time job as he accepts commissions from businesses and donations to support his artwork. Gonzales said he hopes his murals will inspire others. He’s currently mentoring a young artist who has painted Pebbles, a character on “The Flintstones,” alongside his mural of first responders. “I don’t want to be the only one in the Valley doing art — I want others to do this, too,” Gonzalez said. “I could be the best guitar player but are you really contributing to anything if you’re not helping others? By contributing with other artists, sooner or later they could go to their own paths and create more color. We need it. I’ve been seeing more murals pop out and want to challenge other people to be creative. It’s an amazing feeling to influence more people.”
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FEBRUARY 2021 ISSUE 100
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La Villa I.S.D. Career & Technical Education
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