Pick us up at Long John Silver, Drug Emporium & Los Arcos Mex Rest | COMMUNITY | 3
APRIL 2017
Volume 7, Issue 12
Office Park West 209 S. Danville, Suite B-103 Abilene, Texas 79605 (325) 701-9505 www.HispanicLifeMedia.com [currently under construction]
PUBLISHER David A. Hernandez EDITOR HispanicLife Magazine editorial@hispaniclifemedia.com ADVISING EDITOR AND ACCEPTOR OF PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS Amy Hernández info@hispaniclifemedia.com (325) 701-9505 Office
ADVERTISING SALES Melissa Vinson (325) 201-6303 melissa@hispaniclifemedia.com
David Hernandez (325) 518-7091 sales@hispaniclifemedia.com
GRAPHIC DESIGN/LAYOUT Debbie Heep info@hispaniclifemedia.com
About Us
We are dedicated to serving the Abilene and the Big Country by providing up-to-date information and resources that promote healthy families and homes. We also promote our clients businesses by increasing their customer bases and enhancing their public images within the Hispanic community. HispanicLife Magazine is published on a monthly basis and is owned & operated locally. Advertising rates are available upon request. While we use great care in creating our display ads, mistakes can happen. HispanicLife and the publisher are not liable for any damages arising from any typographical or mechanical errors beyond the cost of the ad. HispanicLife does not necessarily endorse any of the advertisers, products or services listed in this publication. 2017 HispanicLIfe Media
All rights reserved. No reproduction of any portion of this issue is allowed without permission from the publisher. www.facebook.com/HispanicLifeMagazine
April showers brings May flowers, everyone hears that phrase this time of year. For many the phrase may get them excited ,others nervous and some really it doesn’t phase them at all. Brings flowers, when we think flowers we usually think, bright colors, pretty, nice smelling, flowers just brighten up your mood. For those who are into farming, have livestock, grow gardens, the showers are needed for you to be successful, therefore the saying means something positive for you. For others, who are in “tornado alley” or who have been in horrific storms this time of season may bring you fear and may get your nerves moving in all different directions. Showers, what does that really mean? If you google the word as a noun: a brief fall of rain or sometimes of hail or snow, a bath which water is sprayed on the body, a large supply or quantity. The word as a verb: to bestow lavishly, to deluge (a person) with gifts, favors. In the spring of each year we celebrate Easter. Easter is A time to think about the “new life” that we have in Jesus. Every family celebrates Easter several different ways, many call it Resurrection Sunday as well. Without a doubt, the resurrection of Jesus the Messiah is of great importance to the history of mankind. Whichever way you celebrate Easter, just stand back for a moment and think about all the Lord has “showered”on you. I like the meaning of shower as a verb, it makes me realize how on Good Friday the good Lord allowed them to crucify his one and only son Jesus on the cross for us, yes you, but then He rose from the dead on Easter Sunday, how amazing is that? Do you know why He did all that? He did that because we matter to Him, because He loves us, because He wanted to “shower” us with His love! Do any of us have a perfect life? Absolutely not, but we all have things to be grateful for. How many times has God’s “showers” fallen upon you? Take the time to realize that His “showers” upon us are His way of wanting us to spring up a new life in Him. Just like the phrase goes, April showers bring May flowers, think God’s showers bring me new life, a new start, you are able to plant a new seed in you to bloom healthier, kinder, more responsible, whatever it is that needs to be renewed in you. This is the season for us all to step back and look at all we have been “showered” in our lives with and allow that to spring up good things in us. Have a blessed Easter. First God, then Family and finally Friends…. David & Amy Hernández & the girls & all the staff here at HispanicLife
4 | COMMUNITY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country
4th Annual ¡Fiesta de Arte Espana! April 27th Thursday, April 27, 2017 6:30-9:30 p.m. Center for Contemporary Arts 220 Cypress St. The Fourth annual street party de España enefiting the Center for Contemporary Arts! Enjoy Spanish-inspired fare, and wash it down with sangria, beer, and wine. Dance Flamenco in the streets to live music. Bid on a selection of “little masterpieces” original art and other exciting silent auction items. Tickets and tables available for purchase at:
www.center-arts.com call 325.677.8389 for info.
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Maroney New Medical Director
Seven years of work has gone into the opening of Abilene Regional Medical Center’s Orthopedic Center. By Sandy Lowe | HispanicLife Magazine
Dr. Samuel Maroney can help change the course of your life. He says that’s his favorite thing about his work as an orthopedic surgeon, much the same as his father’s work as a pastor. “I want to help people improve their health and function so they can resume their active lives,” he says. “It’s meeting people in a tough spot and helping them. My dad is my role model.” Dr. Maroney’s parents, Gary and Darlene, moved the family around some, as pastors normally do. He was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana and lived in Portland, Oregon until age sixteen. He graduated from high school in San Marcos and played basketball at Howard College in Big Spring for two years. Up until then, he hadn’t even considered medicine as a career. “[Dr.] Robbie Cooksey was one of my adopted parents when I was living in Big Spring,” Dr. Maroney says. “He started talking to me about medicine. And in my biology class I was fascinated with how God made the human body.” He went on to graduate from Abilene Christian University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, play semiprofessional basketball for a season and then worked for a year in marketing before he entered medical school at the University of
North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth. He married Karol in August of 2000 and they started their family while he was in medical school at UNTHSC. He then completed his orthopedic surgery residency at St. Anthony’s Bone and Joint Hospital in Oklahoma City. He and Karol are now the parents of four girls, ages thirteen, eleven, nine and two. He calls her an
avid, homeschooling mother. “Abilene was not initially on our radar when we were choosing a place to practice,” Dr. Maroney says. “Dr. Dale Funk and I met in 1998 as he took care of one of my basketball teammates from ACU.” He also spent a month rotation with Dr. Funk as a medical student in 2004. “During my fifth year of residency, Dr. Funk reached out to me as they were looking to add a new partner to their practice. Karol and I prayed about it and felt like this is where the Lord was bringing us. We’ll be here seven years in August.” He joined Dr. Dale Funk and Dr. Clif-
ford DePrang at Abilene Sports Medicine and Orthopedics. During the past seven years of helping the people of Abilene change their lives and health for the better, Dr. Maroney has also been working behind the scenes at Abilene Regional Medical Center. He has been the driving force behind the opening of the new Orthopedic Center at ARMC and will serve as the unit’s Medical Director. “If you’ve had a knee or hip replacement, we want to focus on a rapid and functional recovery that is patient centered where you can recover quickly and get back to your active life.” he says. “Studies show that a shorter hospital stay can actually mean a quicker recovery for these patients, and that’s what we want to do. Getting patients moving in a functional way rapidly shortens their recovery and improves their prognosis.” Dr. Maroney will function as the Center’s physician champion, working as a team leader with hospital staff including nurses, physical therapists and pharmacists as well as other physicians to streamline the patient experience. Patients will also attend a class before surgery to help them understand their procedure and recovery. “Knowing what to expect always helps people,” Dr. Maroney says. “It means less anxiety and peace of mind going into a joint replacement surgery.” Now you know what to expect if you see Dr. Samuel Maroney: a physician who trusts God to lead him and an orthopedic surgeon who will do his part to help improve the patient’s quality of life and function.
CALL US TO ADVERTISE (325) 701-9505
WHEN: Second Weekend of the Month WHERE: 2501 E. Highway 80, Abilene, TX 79601 (Corner of Loop 322/Highway 80, SW Corner) TIME: Saturday, 9-6 • Sunday, 11-4 Email Contact: info@tradedaysofwesttexas.com Phone Contact: 214-850-7566
6 | COMMUNITY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Rhythm & Blues Festival April 28th - 30th
Samantha Fish and Albert Cummings will return to Abilene for encore performances at the 2017 Key City Rhythm & Blues Festival
HispanicLife Media
. Advertise Today! Call (325) 518-7091
Hondo Henderson. Firefighter Henderson joined the Abilene Fire Department in December of 1999. He is certifed as an EMT-Paramedic, Master Firefighter, Fire Instructor I, and Hazardous Materials Technician. He is currently assigned to Engine 6, A shift. Congratulations to Firefighter Henderson.
Last year, the Rhythm & Blues Festival raised $50,000 for the United Way of Abilene’s 25 community partners. Now, there are 27 community groups that will benefit. New to the Abilene stage this year are Malina Moye, a top female guitarist who combines rock and soul; Jimmy D. Lane, who has played with Eric Clapton, Mick Jagger, B.B. King, Van Morrison, guitarist Jonny Lang and more; and Damon Fowler, a Louisiana musician who blends roots rock with blues. Fish grew up in Kansas City, Missouri, “where jazz meets the blues,” and was introduced to Abilene at the 2016 festival. Cummings, who also performed last year, cites Stevie Ray Vaughan as an early influence on his music. Lane, Cummings and Moye will perform April 28; Fowler, Lane and Fish will play April 29; and the New Light Baptist Church Choir will sing on April 30. Local artists will play both nights, but names have not yet been announced. Last year, the festival moved from Frontier Texas! to the Festival Gardens in Nelson Park to accommodate a larger crowd. Another new thing last year was the addition of the Gospel Brunch on Sunday. The changes were well-received, with festival proceeds nearly doubling the $26,000 raised at the inaugural event in 2014. All events take place at the Festival Gardens (across from The Abilene Zoo)
General admission tickets cost $25 for oneday attendance; $40 for April 28 and 29; and $60 for all three days; receive a 25 percent discount on general admission tickets if purchased by using the code “early” through March 10. Weekend VIP admission, which includes access to the VIP tent with food, beverages and soft seating on Friday and Saturday, costs $250. A child’s brunch ticket costs $15. Tickets may be purchased at keycityblues.com at 325-677-1841 or at the United Way office
Firefighter Leon Herrera joined the Abilene Fire Department in May of 2007. He is currently certified as an EMT-Intermediate, Firefighter Intermediate, and holds his AARF certification for airport firefighting. Firefighter Herrera is currently assigned to station 7 on C shift.
Firefighter Mike Degering began his career with the Abilene Fire Department in May of 2007. He is currently certified as a firefighter advanced, fire instructor I, fire officer I, and an EMT-Intermediate. He also holds his certification as an airport rescue firefighter. Firefighter Degering is currently assigned to station 6 on B shift.
Abilene Zoo Selected to Launch Guanaco Conservation Program By Denise Ibarra | Animal Care Supervisor – Mammals, Abilene Zoo
As animal populations dwindle in the wild, zoos have accepted the responsibility of preserving animals for future generations. We must join with other animal stewards to contribute to a sustainable genetic future for the species within our care. Without this oversight, the few remaining animals in any species or subgroup risk inbreeding and all the accompanying health complications that result from a smaller gene pool. It can wipe them out.
ert scrublands in South America and can be found in Peru, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay.
The Abilene Zoo partners with other Association of Zoos & Aquarium members to maintain diverse genetic animal populations, both for animals that may return to the wild and their cousins living in human care.
Guests can watch them display this behavior as the animals Supervisor – Mammals frequently spit at each other out in their exhibit.
The AZA is the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation. Today’s zoos strive to manage selected species or sub-species through several AZA Animal Programs, including these levels: • Taxon Advisory Groups (TAGs) • Species Survival Plan® (SSP) Programs • AZA Regional Studbooks These management programs vary in roles and goals, but the common theme is to maintain a healthy, genetically diverse and demographically stable population for the long-term future. Each animal program is typically headquartered and managed by teams who work at various AZA facilities – zoos and sanctuaries across the continent. At the Abilene Zoo, we are putting together a new management program for guanacos that may become an AZA SSP overseen by our zoo. The scientists who comprise the AZA’s ungulate taxon advisory group think guanaco caretakers would be wise to explore managing genetic populations for the animals living in AZAaccredited zoos. We’re in the gathering data stage and expect an official program to be determined by in coming years. I am currently the candidate program leader for this effort. Guanacos, a camelid native to South America, reside at the zoo in our South American Pampas Exhibit, along with our Greater Rhea and Patagonian Mara. These animals are native to montane grasslands and des-
Guanaco are wild ungulates and the forefathers of domesticated llamas, which are the result of selective breeding by South American farmers. They have tan, wooly coats with grey faces and pointy ears. They are known for spitting regurgitated stomach contents when threatened.
To prepare for my role spearheading this effort, I attended a lengthy training through AZA learning special software designed for comprehensive population management. Zoos do not typically collect animals from the wild, so mate selections are limited to those living in human care. It’s important to give genetic scientists a good picture of kinship among the animals living in AZA facilities. My tasks as a leader include publishing an AZA Regional “ Studbook” for Guanaco. I must gather multitudes of current and historical population information for all guanacos living within North American – those in AZA facilities, non-accredited facilities, as well as private collections. I’ll put it all together and create a family tree for all of guanaco living on this continent. It’s a vast list and requires extensive research. Finally, I’ll incorporate all the population information into an AZA Regional Studbook. At that point, all the data I gather will be evaluated by the genetic scientists at AZA’s Population Management Center. That group will decide if AZA zoos need to initiate a full Species Survival Program for these little spitfires. It’s all designed to help create a hardy, sustainable guanaco population for future generations, and we’re honored that the Abilene Zoo is entrusted with this important work! Denise Ibarra is the Animal Care Supervisor for the Mammal Department at the Abilene Zoo, where she has worked for 15 years. She is originally from Virginia and has a bachelor’s in science from Old Dominion University, in Norfolk, Virginia.
Pick us up at Law Enforcement Office & Cisco College | COMMUNITY | 7
8 | COMMUNITY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country
APRIL 28 - 30 • NELSON PARK FESTIVAL GARDENS
New Exhibits Open at Center for Contemporary Arts By Allison Britten | Interim Gallery Manager, The Center for Contemporary Arts
The Center for Contemporary Arts at 220 Cypress is featuring four Artist members, Mary K Huff and April Rifenburgh whose exhibit, “HumanEssence – Two Views”, delves into the experiential vision of what it is to live the “human experience”; Jack Harkins “Images of the West”, a reflection of West Texas; and “Textile” by Kathy Robinson. April Rifenburgh grew up in a small town near Springfield, Illinois. She was afforded the opportunity to get dirty, draw, go for walks and just live. April’s German heritage taught her to be resilient, yet goal oriented. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Illinois State University, moved to Delaware and pursued a career in retail management. After gaining teaching credentials, April settled in Abilene, Texas where she could practice her craft and help mold young humans. “The most miraculous and magical part of being alive is the ability to create and care for your children. As a woman presented with a diagnosis of “unexplained infertility” I began to question my value to the human race and my worth as a woman. I used jars to explore the thoughts and feelings that have haunted me on my journey from infertility into motherhood. Now, as a working mom, I cherish my time with my son, and the toys that make him happy bring me joy. Creating and holding these memories is what “humanness” is all about for me.” Mary K Kiel Huff received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Midwestern University in Wichita
Falls, Texas where she met her life mate, Anthony. After a New York experience, the call of Texas was too strong. Settling in the MetroPlex, Mary K created jewelry of unique design to feed her creative muse. She also delved into painting and collage. In 1999 Mary K moved back to Abilene. “As a retired Art teacher and primary caregiver for my son I spend a lot of time at home. I love to wander around our pastures with my dogs and soak in the West Texas landscape. The sky, the grasses, the mesquites and prickly pear all nourish my soul. Everything out there will stick, sting or bite you but it is so beautiful to me. Women’s issues are also very important to me, from equal rights, body image perception, world issues such as a right to an education...these are Human issues.” “Textile” by Kathy Robinson will be opening in Gallery 4. “I wanted to make art that was interesting visually and that could say more about the process and the day it was created than the end product. I painted each of these on Sundays, during that sleepy afternoon time, when the sun is thinking about setting and the house is quiet, but I can hear my children’s little voices mixed with dogs barking outside. Just like the weaving of cloth, textile, we see the end product but don’t give much thought to those little spaces between. Consider the energy, spark, and activity all happening in the little spaces, little moments, between all things and (more interesting) between people.”
Just as the dry wind bursts forth from a sky so blue it has no end, the images that Jack Harkins has created in his exhibition, “Images of the West”, reach deep into that secret place for all who call this dramatic land home and touch that elusive soul. Jack Harkins graduated from Stamford High School in 1967 and studied Architecture at Texas Tech University. After a successful career and with retirement in sight, and artistic endeavors fulfilling his creative desires, Jack paints and explores 3D designs of jewelry and metal sculpture. “I find inspiration in historic photos of Native Americans and their environs, geologic formations of the southwest, indigenous structures, animals, and the landscapes as well as the beautiful sunsets that are frequently provided by our Maker. Technique, style, and color are used to translate what the eye sees into something similar, but hopefully better that than the original image. I hope to find new ways to interpret the things that surround us in our environment in a way that pleases the viewer and makes them want to say “I have seen that before, but not quite in that way”. These artists will show their works at the Center for Contemporary Arts in Abilene, Texas, from March 22nd through May 20th. For more information, contact the Gallery Assistant at 325-677-8389 or visit www.center-arts.com The Center for Contemporary Arts is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. All donations are tax-deductible. Visit www.center-arts.com for information and to become a member today.
Featuring: Malina Moye Samantha Fish Jimmy D. Lane Damon Albert Fowler Cummings Vendors Food Trucks and more! Info and tickets at keycityblues.com
Retired U.S.Air Force Master Sergeant Receives Silver Star Medal
Pick us up at Hernandez Bakery, Mr. Jiffy & Daniela’s Tex-Mex Rest | COMMUNITY | 9
By Airman 1st Class Emily Copeland | 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs, Dyess AFB
Retired U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Kristopher Parker, an explosive ordnance disposal technician, received the Silver Star medal March 17, at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas for his courageous actions while deployed to Afghanistan in May of 2014. Parker distinguished himself by bravery and devotion to duty in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United States as an EOD team leader. During the deployment, then-Tech. Sgt. Kristopher Parker was partnered with members of different branches of service and fellow EOD Airmen with a mission to provide enemy suppression while descending into the Mazghary Mountain range and clear a factory that was believed to produce improvised explosive devices. While descending the mountain, Parker’s Afghanistan Border Police comrades encountered enemy combatants who were holed up in the entrance of a cave. After the approach to the cave, Parker’s team found themselves in the middle of an extended fire fight with rounds striking within one meter. While pushing into the cave with follow-on approaches, the team came under attack by small arms fire, rocket propelled grenades, and hand-thrown IEDs. With no means of communication, Parker braved enemy fire while sweeping the engaged area for explosive devices and pulling troops to cover, ensuring timely evacuation of wounded personnel.
As Parker continued to provide cover fire, he also engaged in clearing the route of IEDs for his team and marking additional cache sites for later destruction by air strike. After nearly 20 hours spent in the mountain range, the operation ended with 18 dead insurgents and more than 200 pounds of homemade explosives destroyed and cleared. “Kris saved the lives of so many Soldiers, Marines and Airmen,” said Gen. Robin Rand, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command. “He put their lives first and took care of them and that is so honorable.” For Parker’s courage, valor and selfless sacrifice in the face of danger, the Air Force bestowed upon him the Silver Star, the U.S. Air Force’s third-highest decoration. The Silver Star is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States. “We are so lucky to be here with this true hero,” Rand said. “A hero who has deployed several times in harm’s way. A hero that saved lives. I’m so humbled and appreciative of his incredible service. It’s a great time to be an Airman.”
High-quality, low-cost immigration services.
The IRC in Abilene. 1) Green card services
2) Citizenship 3) Family petitions
Se habla español Call +1 325 675 5643 for appointments 3305 N. 3rd St. ♦ Suite 320 ♦ Abilene, TX 79603 Recognized by the Board of Immigration Appeals
10 | COMMUNITY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
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Hope Mommies West Texas Chapter 5K/1 mile fun run | Saturday: April 22nd
9:45 Opening Ceremony/Announcements/Special music 10:00 5K runners start (5k walkers in the back) 10:05 1 mile runners/walkers start 11:00 Race Winners announced 11-12 Food, Live music, T-shirt sales, Bounce houses, Vendor shopping Register TODAY! 11:30 Silent Auction closes You can go to active.com and search Hope 11:40 Silent Auction winners announced and item Mommies or click the link below to register: pick-up http://www.active.com/abilene-tx/running/ 12:15 Closing Statements distance-running-races/hope-mommies-west- 12:30 Special music, Balloons passed out, & Notes texas-chapter-5k-1-mile-fun-run-2017 We have now added a children’s registration written option! • Early-bird price... Now until March 12:45 Balloon Release To follow: Clean up
The Hope Mommies West Texas Chapter invites you to join us for our first 5K/1 mile fun run that will be both a fundraiser for our local chapter as well as a memorial to all our babies gone too soon!
22nd- $30 per person ($20 kids) • March 22-April 21st- $35 ($25 kids) • Walk up registration- $40 ($30 kids) - Group registrations are possible/available with an added discount **Please be sure to bring a photo-ID to the race for registration**
* Our event will be taking place on the ACU campus in Abilene, TX near the Hunter Welcome Center. Maps with driving directions will be posted soon! This is a family friendly event including bounce houses for the kids! EVENT SCHEDULE: * We will not have any early packet pickup 8:30a.m. Walk-up Registration opens, Packet/T- location options. All registration packets with tshirt pickup shirts in addition to swag bags can be picked up Silent Auction begins before the race from 8:30-9:30 a.m, so come pre9:30 Registration/Check-in closes pared to change your shirt if you want to wear
the 5k shirt. Please be sure to bring your photo ID if you have registered online to pick up your packet/bag. * An adult registration includes a t-shirt, swag bag, and race bib to participate. A child’s registration includes a t-shirt, race bib, and some extra goodies. Extra t-shirts will be available to purchase on a first come, first serve basis. You can also pre-order extra shirts on the registration website. * A special hope baby memorial is being prepared for our event. Please let us know on the registration website your baby in heaven’s name (or the baby you are participating in honor of) so we can include them in our memorial. A keepsake will be available to take home. * Lunch will be graciously provided by the Second Chance Cowboy Church out of Clyde, TX from 11-12pm. Purchase is not required, but a small donation benefiting our chapter is greatly appreciated! * A Silent Auction will be going on from 8:30-
11:30. Winners will be announced at 11:30. You MUST be present to win and will need to pick up your items at the event. Cash, check, and credit card will be accepted. We will be accepting donations for our silent auction up until race week. Email tonya.brewer78@yahoo.com if you would like to donate. * A special evening of “Light in the Darkness” for Hope Moms will be happening the night before the race April 22nd at 7pm in Abilene. This will be a time for moms to come together to be encouraged with a meal and guest speaker. RSVP through the registration website or email westtexas@hopemommies.org for more information. Hotels will be available at a discounted rate. More info on that coming soon! If you can only come on Friday, you can RSVP with FRIDAY FELLOWSHIP in the subject line to westtexas@hopemommies. org. If you or someone you know would like to help in volunteering for this event, please email westtexas@hopemommies.org
Pick us up at Taqueria Riojas & Texas Workforce Center | COMMUNITY | 11
Global Samaritan Resources Brings Nobel Peace Prize Nominee Nadia Murad to Abilene April 13, 2017 | 7:00 PM
The Paramount Theatre, Abilene, Texas FREE tickets available at : Global Samaritan Resources, Casa Authentique, and The Paramount Theatre
BIG HEARTS:
Albany Photographer Focuses on Autism
“I’ve seen so much progress. It used to be that it was hard for him to meet new people and be around lots of people. He’s just gotten so much better with making new friends, interacting, and learning new things. It’s just been such a blessing,” Sutton adds.
By Brittany Pelletz | BigCountry Homepage
When you live in a picturesque town like Albany, the photo opportunities are endless.
Nadia Murad was born and raised in the small village of Kocho, Iraq. A member of the Yazidi community, an ancient religion that predates Islam, she and her many siblings lived a happy life. Nadia’s peaceful existence ended on August 3, 2014, when ISIS began its savage genocidal campaign against the Yazidi people. Nadia’s mother and most of her family members were executed. Nadia, along with her sisters and thousands of others were taken captive and subjected to unspeakable crimes. Nadia was only 21 years old. She was raped and tortured on a daily basis. After facing these unimaginable atrocities, she was able to escape ISIS control. With help, she fled to Germany where she received medical attention and reunited with other survivors. In total, Nadia lost 18 family members. Today she bravely tells her story on the world stage, forcing world leaders to listen to the horrors of the on-going genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Nadia is coming to Abilene to specifically speak about justice and standing against ISIS. Global Samaritan Resources is sending help directly to the Yazidi people.
Sutton’s younger brother also has autism, “I guess God has just blessed me with so many people in my life that have autism, that I’ve learned how to help deal with those people who have the different spectrums.”
“I’m just an amateur photographer who has a small business,” says Kat Sutton, a resident of Albany. Sutton loves to capture precious moments for families. While KTAB met with Sutton, 5-yearold, Mason volunteered to model. Sutton watches Mason after school. He’s a good friend of her son’s.
With every click of the camera, she aims to raise awareness, “I knew what it was like to grow up with my family not doing family pictures; not getting pictures of us done because the medical bills were just racking up.”
Mason says, “I love to wrestle.” He is referring to wrestling with his brother. But ,when it comes to the wrestling between the flag and the flag pole or the trucks whizzing by on Main Street, they’re noises that can be overwhelming to Mason and others with Autism. Sutton adds, “It’s basically not being able to deal with situations that you’re in. Not like a normal-person anxiety. Not being able to have loud noises around.”
Sutton knows how to reel in Mason’s attention,”He’s on the lower end of the spectrum for autism.” She makes him feel at ease.
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This small town girl doesn’t want others to sacrifice a family portrait. That’s why she is offering to take free pictures for families in the Big Country who are impacted by autism. You could say, her heart provides the frame while the families will provide the memories. If you’re interested in the photography shoots offered by Sutton. You can contact her on the Cotton and Twine Photography Facebook page or by cell phone at (325) 236-1087.
12 | COMMUNITY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Anthony Williams:
Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country
“I want to see an improved Abilene, a community that is for all Abilenians”
1. What made you decide to run for Mayor? I have served this community for over 25 years. I didn’t decide to run and then start serving; rather, I served and then my service evolved. My service to Abilene led me to run for Mayor. I’m running because I want to be part of a team that will lead by serving and that will grow Abilene. I know we can, and when I’m Mayor we will show what we can do, together. I want to see an improved Abilene, a community that is for all Abilenians. I believe that if service is beneath you, then leadership is beyond you. I am from and for the people Abilene. 2. What do you believe is the role of the Mayor? What unique qualities would you bring to that role? The technical role of the Mayor is defined by our city charter. Abilene has a city-manager style of government- we employ a professional whose role is similar to that of a CEO in the private sector, along with two assistant city managers. You, the Abilene community, invest about $500,000 annually for those 3 salaries and benefits. The mayor and city council are volunteers who lead efforts to set priorities, policy, strategic objectives, and cast vision. As mayor, it would be my responsibility to lead those discussions. It would be my unique priority as Mayor to make sure those discussions are then followed through with actions. There has been conversation about a full-time mayor, but that is not the form of government we have adopted as citizens of Abilene. We have never had a full-time politician as Mayor. Instead, our mayors are citizens who volunteer their time to make Abilene a better place. Here in Abilene, we need the mayor to be of the people and for the people. We are not electing a president of Abilene, or anointing a king. The mayor should have humility, and the priority should never be about him or her, but rather about the people of our community.
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to challenge the way things are and who have a constructive vision for the way things can be. I am passionate about Abilene because I believe we can be better. 4. How long have you lived in Abilene, and how would you characterize the city’s quality of life? How should it be improved? I was born and raised here. I attended McMurry University, and I have served our city council for 15 years. Abilene has a great quality of life, and Abilene could have a much better quality of life. Often we forget that quality of life is defined as the standard of health, comfort AND happiness experienced by an individual or group. Not or, and. In elections issues are often pitted against each other to make a point, but to achieve the highest quality of life for our citizens we must work together in all sectors
to accomplish health, comfort and happiness for all Abilenians. 5. Who have been your biggest influences in life? My mother, my grandfather, Dr. Tony Roach, and a number of members at the Highland church.
3. Why do you have such passion for Abilene? I have lived here all my life, and I love this community. We have had some great leaders who have been aggressive and creative; that’s part of our proud history. We were the very first city to have a tax increment financing district (TIF); we used it to transform our downtown. We were the first city in the state to have a development corporation when we established the Development Corporation of Abilene (DCOA).
6. What separates you from the other candidates? The other candidates are good men who also love this community, but we’re not electing someone because they’re a good guy. Instead, we are choosing someone who has vision. Someone who can lead. I am the most qualified candidate, but that’s not really the most significant attribute that separates me from the others. What really distinguish me from my opponents are my proven track record of leadership with results, an earned understanding of the challenges of the average Abilenian, and the courage and enthusiasm to do something about these challenges.
But in recent years, it seems to me that we’ve settled for the status quo. In my personal and professional experience, there is no gain without risk. For that reason, I am passionate about working with those in our community who dare
7. Abilene is considered a “conservative” town – how does this affect change for the future? I think we often confuse conservativism with stagnation because politics has positioned it that way. Yes, Abilene is conservative and I am conserva-
tive, but that does not mean we don’t dream. Conservative speaks to my belief in individual rights. As Abilenians, we need to stop throwing this word, conservative, around like it’s a death sentence for progress and instead we must show the world exactly who Abilene is and what we can do. We suffer when those who lead have no clear vision. 8. What is the most important issue being addressed for our city at this time? Some would say streets and few would argue. Others may say water, securing the future of Dyess AFB,or economic development, and those are all good responses. But I would suggest that all of these issues are as fundamental as a coach emphasizing blocking and tackling. Of course these are important issues, but these are matters that we must attend to consistently, year in and year out. Not just when running for the office of Mayor. Given that, I would argue that the most important issue that needs to be addressed is the long-term vision for Abilene. Streets, water and Dyess are all crucial to our future, I will continue to work to secure and grow these areas, but I will also focus on revitalization and opportunities for our future leaders so that they will stay in Abilene and create our future. My election as Mayor of Abilene will ensure that we move forward toward a long-term vision for a better, more vibrant Abilene. 9. What else would you like the public to know about you? I have called for more diversity, and to be clear, I define diversity in a way that goes beyond gender or ethnicity. When I say diversity, I mean diversity of thought, of ideas, of opinions. For decades, decisions have been made in our city around small tables by the select few. We need larger tables, and those who occupy the seats need to be diverse in gender, ethnicity, thought, ideas, and opinions. 10. How can we support and follow your campaign? Like, follow, share my social media pages! My team and I are creating a conversation that we want everyone to be a part of. Facebook: Anthony Williams for Mayor Instagram: AnthonyForAbilene Visit my website: Anthonyforabilene.com
Get out and vote! Talk to your friends, fam-
ily and co-workers, and encourage them to vote! Decisions are made by those who show up. Voter registration ends April 6, early voting begins April 24, and on May 6, 2017 elect Anthony for Abilene!
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ROTARY CLUB OF ABILENE’S
Abilene
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TUESDAY, APRIL 18th, 6pm - 8pm Abilene Convention Center
TICKETS $35 $40 at the door
Tickets at
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Tickets available at:
Chick-fil-A (North), Bogie’s Downtown, Hashi Teppan Grill (Both Locations), IN-Focus Digital, Texas Cowboy BBQ, from a member of the Rotary Club of Abilene.
The Path to Citizenship
14 | COMMUNITY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
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U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Alicia “Alice” Contreras gains U.S. citizenship Feb. 7, 2017 By Airman 1st Class Rebecca Van Syoc | 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs, Dyess Air Force Base
It’s three in the morning and sunlight a normal part of Contreras’ daily routine during won’t break the horizon for another sevher elementary school years, having to catch several hours. While most people are still eral buses and walk a long distance to both to and sleeping soundly, for one family living from school, always accompanied by her mother. in a Mexican town near the U.S. border, “The biggest challenge I really had was beit’s time to wake up and get ready for ing tired—and homework,” Contreras said. “The school. An elementary-school-aged girl same way I’d get to school would be the same named Alicia “Alice” Contreras, along way I’d get home, so it was just as long, just with her three younger siblings, are used as much walking and just as many bus rides. I to this early morning ritual. Over the would be exhausted all the time.” course of four hours, Contreras and her On top of these daily treks, Contreras also siblings will take an array of buses and had to juggle learning English. walk several miles to attend a school in “When I was in kindergarten, my mother was El Paso, Texas. This was just one of the still married to the military member, so I was in challenging experiences she would face a bilingual class, which was still largely Spanwhile growing up. ish-speaking. My mom quickly noticed I wasn’t Fast forward more than a decade latpicking up any English—at home, all I spoke er, the now paralegal for the 7th Bomb was Spanish—so she did a 360 and put me in an Wing Legal Office, Airman 1st Class all-English class for first grade. Contreras recalls the many difficulties “Having homework in English was hard, and she and her family had to overcome, my mom would try really hard to help me; she with the very first challenging her as an even bought a Spanish-English dictionary to help infant. me with homework.” “When I was born, a muscle in my Eventually, Contreras and her family were hip and leg wasn’t developed,” Contreable to move once more, maintaining a oneras said. “I couldn’t walk on that leg, so bedroom apartment closer to the doctors thought I would have to be the school district to ensure in a wheelchair. When babies would northat she could keep attending mally start walking at one or two years the school. Though it proved old, I couldn’t. I was in physical therapy easier in some respects, such for about a year.” as being closer, the new To support the physical therapy that home came with its own set Contreras received to overcome the of difficulties. medical issue, her single mother worked “We would get the cushthree jobs, one of them in the same clinions from the sofas and then ic that provided the treatment. Things cover them with a bedsheet, seemed to get better when Contreras’ U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class and that’s where we would mother met a U.S. Army Soldier through Alicia “Alice” Contreras, 7th Bomb all sleep,” Contreras said. paralegal, finds pride in her a mutual friend, and later got married. Wing “It was hard to live on top job within the legal office. “It’s The family moved to Fort Bliss in El definitely a challenge,” Contreras of one another, but we made Paso, Texas, allowing Contreras and her said. “There’s a lot of work that it work. My mom was very future younger siblings the ability to at- goes into doing what we do—it’s good at making things look someone’s career, life experience or tend a school within the United States. better than what they were.” it’s a victim of something, so The hopeful outlook for Contreras maybe When she turned 14, you have to get it right.” U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Alicia “Alice” Contreras, Contreras’ mother remarried, and her family was short-lived howev7th Bomb Wing paralegal, recites the oath of citier, when her mother and father were divorced, “My siblings right, zenship at the department of citizenship and immigra- leading to the family movforcing the family back to Mexico. The move were all citizens tion services in Dallas, Texas, Feb. 7, 2017. After almost ing once more—this time wasn’t going to dissuade Contreras’ mother from after all, except for two years since joining the U.S. Air Force, Contreras was to New Jersey. The move ensuring her children received a good education me, so my mom de- finally able to achieve one of her biggest goals: obtaining promised an increase in inhowever, and she kept them enrolled in a Texas cided it wasn’t fair American citizenship. come for Contreras’ step-faschool in El Paso. ther, but at the cost of having that her children “The schools in America are far better than would get to lose out on the benefits of their edu- to sell or leave almost everything behind outside the schools in Mexico,” Contreras said. “The cation because she couldn’t afford to live in the of a few sets of clothes. education is better, the benefits are better, and in states. The move to New Jersey also proved to be a Mexico you have to pay for everything: classes, “She pushed herself really hard to bring me trial all its own. books, uniforms, report cards, certificates… “We sold everything, taking a little U-Haul and my siblings to the United States, because “Basically, anyone who finishes high school she saw what it could offer us. She had went to with only our clothes. On our way there we expein Mexico is met with surprise, something like, school in Mexico, and she didn’t want the same rienced everything; snow, blizzards, a flat tire...it ‘Wow, you actually finished?’ And then college? for us; she wanted better.” was a hot mess,” Contreras said. “We didn’t have That’s even worse. Getting up so early in the morning became a place of our own either right away, so we had
Family Flix: “Moana” • April 15 at 3:00PM, Main Library Movie Summary: In Ancient Polynesia, when a terrible curse incurred by the Demigod Maui reaches an impetuous Chieftain’s daughter’s island, she answers the Ocean’s call to seek out the Demigod to set things right. Teen Flix: “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” April 18 at 4:30PM, Main Library • Movie Summary: Three decades after the defeat of the Galactic Empire, a new threat arises. The First Order attempts to rule the galaxy and only a ragtag group of heroes can stop them, along with the help of the Resistance. Night Flix: “Sully” • April 20 at 6:00PM, South Branch Library • Movie Summary: The story of Chesley Sullenberger, an American pilot who became a hero after landing his damaged plan on the Hudson River in order to save the flight’s passengers and crew. Teen Flix After Hours: “Guardians of the Galaxy” | April 21 at 5:45PM, South Branch Library • Movie Summary: A group of intergalactic criminals are forced to work together to stop a fanatical warrior from taking control of the universe. The sequel will be released in theaters in May. Saturday Matinee: “Suicide Squad” | April 22 at 2:00PM, South Branch Library • Movie Summary: A secret government agency recruits some of the most dangerous incarcerated supervillains to form a defensive task force. Their first mission Mockingbird Movies: “Dirty Dancing” | April 22 at 2:30PM • Mockingbird Branch Library Movie Summary: Spending the summer at a Catskills resort with her family, Frances “Baby” Houseman falls in love with the camp’s dance instructor, Johnny Castle. Book-to-Flix: “The Mist” | April 23 at 3:00PM. South Branch Library • Movie Summary: A freak storm unleashes a species of bloodthirsty on a small town, where a small band of citizens hole up in a supermarket and fight for their lives.
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to bounce around with my step-father’s family out of it. place and half a day at the other. Paychecks members. “It became a battle to try and find out would go straight to my mom to help pay med“When we did eventually find an apart- where he was. We went to the police depart- ical bills and everything else.” ment, it didn’t have heat or electricity because ment and they said, ‘he’s not here anymore,’ Her stepfather eventually recovered and it was so old. And that winter, the first win- so we went to the immigration department and began to work again, which helped the famter, was the worst on record in years for New they said, ‘he’s not here anymore.’ It was a ily out. Even after he began to work, Contreras Jersey, and for most of it we didn’t even have stressful cycle, but we eventually found him wasn’t able to consider something that she had working heat. We managed to get through it and he was released. It was hard enough for wanted for a long time: American citizenship. with lots of blankets and layering up.” me, and I spoke English. I can’t imagine how “Out of my siblings, I was the only nonWinter was only the first challenge in Con- hard it would be for families who would have citizen,” Contreras said. “Applying for cititreras’ new home. With a new country came an even harder time communicating.” zenship is like a grant you have to pay, and new experiences, and she was not without a Shortly after getting Contreras’ step-father you’re not even guaranteed you’d get it or be fair share of them durapproved after the ing her years in high lengthy process. school. Fast-paced city It was money that life and an unfamiliar I couldn’t spend culture was a lot for because my famContreras to get used ily needed it. I’d to. always think about “I came from El it and brush it off; Paso—everyone felt maybe next time.” friendly there, whereas But then, the in New Jersey everypossibility to gain one seemed to be more, citizenship changed ‘get out of my way, or when the idea of I’ll run you over.’ joining the U.S. Air “I was also in a reForce came to her. ally bad school. Peo“My boyfriend ple got stabbed, there at the time, his siswere canine units evter was in the Air erywhere sniffing for Force,” Contreras drugs or weapons; U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Bryant Simmons, left, 7th Security said. “I remember when you entered the Forces Squadron member, and U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class seeing her after school you even had Alicia “Alice” Contreras, 7th Bomb Wing paralegal, with their she’d graduated, U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Alicia “Alice” to go through a metal dog, Zoey. Contreras says that Simmons and Zoey are the biggest Contreras, center, 7th Bomb Wing paralegal, and she had her unidetector. I remember supporters in gaining her citizenship with her siblings while she was in the second form all tailored— grade. During her early elementary years, Con- she looked sharp. I telling my mom after getting there, ‘mom this isn’t the right school, back, he was involved in a car treras and her siblings had to regularly get ready remember thinking, school at 3 a.m. so they could take an array this is a correctional facility.’ Unfortunately, accident that left him unable for she looks good, I of buses to continue to attend school in the U.S. though, that was the only school in the whole to provide for the family for after her family was forced to move to Mexico want to wear that town. Riots, gangs and drugs were common nearly a year. “We were told following her mother’s divorce. uniform too. She there.” he wouldn’t be able to work, talked me into joinSo what did Contreras do to combat these but he wouldn’t get disability ing, and told me that negative influences? because he didn’t have papers—just a working I could get my citizenship for free.” “I just focused on playing sports,” Contre- permit,” Contreras said. Contreras graduated basic military trainras said. “I played basketball and softball; they With him being the family’s only source of ing July 19, 2015, continued onto her techniwere my outlets.” income, Contreras stepped up to support her cal school, but still had to wait to finish her With already enough for a young woman to family when she was a senior in high school. citizenship process due to some complications worry about, life wasn’t done throwing chal- “In my senior year, me and my mom were during BMT. After several tries to get the palenges her way—and the next one came as a working so hard,” Contreras said. “My moth- perwork through and several months of waitknock on the door. Two police officers arrested er got a job at a gas station working 12-hour ing, Contreras finally gained her U.S. citizenContreras’ step-father without any explanation shifts. I would go to school from 7 a.m. to 1 ship Feb. 7, 2017. as to why or where he was being taken. p.m., since I was a senior and would get out Now a citizen and proud member of the It left the family confused and devastated. early. I would have sports practice at 4 p.m., so military, Contreras serves as an inspiration for “They came and took him on allegations I’d have a couple hours to take a nap. her younger siblings, one of which who is also of abuse from his ex-wife, which he had been joining the U.S. Air Force. going through a child custody battle with. She “I would have practice until 6 or 6:30 p.m., “My sister is joining too, and already has a lived in Florida and he with us during the time and then my coach would drive me to the mall date for basic training: March 28th,” Contreras she had made the accusations, so it didn’t even so I could work until 12 or 1 a.m. On the week- said. “She’s going to be a personnel specialmake sense - she just wanted to get something ends I would work two jobs; half a day at one ist.”
Contreras’ dreams don’t stop in simply being the average Airmen either; she has farreaching goals. “I want to serve 20 years and do something meaningful, so people won’t just say, ‘Airman who?’ when they hear my name,” Contreras said. “Not so much for me, but for my mom. I want her to see that what she went through and how hard she worked has paid off. When I told her how I got to tell my story to Gen. [Robin] Rand, the commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, she started crying; she never thought everything she did would be worth it.” For Contreras, her mother is important in her life, and hopes to support her just as she has supported Contreras. For someone who had gone through so many difficulties and challenges in life, Contreras has a simple, but deep motivation to live by. “I want to be able to make my mom proud,” Contreras said. “She’s what motivates me to be a good Airman, to do my job right and go home to say, ‘Hey mom, look what I achieved,’ because it makes her so happy!”
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Courtesy of: HispanicLife Magazine
To place your loved ones obituary or to honor them with a special message, please contact our offices at: (325) 701-9505 Email: info@hispaniclifemedia.com
Maria Elena Vasquez, 81, of Abilene, passed away Wednesday, March 15, 2017. Mrs. Vasquez was born June 15, 1935, in Mexico to Santiago Vasquez and Manuela Puentes. She was a hard working, giving, caring and loving person. You would find her working on her yard most of the time or playing with her devoted pet dog “Baby”. Maria was very close to her grandchildren, she would not hesitate to do anything for them or anyone else. Mrs. Vasquez believed in God our Savior, there was not a day that went by without prayer. She will be remembered as a great mother, grandmother and friend. Survivors include one daughter, Guadalupe Oralia Alvarado; two granddaughters, Nora Jacobo (Caesar Montoya) and Dulce Alejandra Jacobo; five great grandchildren, Enrique Beltran (Esmeralda Hernandez), Juan Rodriguez Jr. (Griselda Torres), Jose David
a Moment in our arms... a Lifetime in our hearts... Rodriguez, Miya Jacobo and Miranda Dominguez; one great-great grandchild, Armando Rodriguez; and another great-great grandchild on the way. Mrs. Vasquez was preceded in death by her parents, Santiago Vasquez and Manuela Puentes; her husband, Pedro Puentes; a daughter, Maria de Jesus Alvarado; and all ten of her brothers. Danny Ramirez, 54, of Abilene, passed away Saturday, March 25, 2017, at a local hospital with his family by his side. Danny was born on August 23, 1962, in Abilene, Texas to Jesse Ramirez and Maria Luisa Jimenez Ramirez. He graduated from Abilene High School in 1981 and worked as a truck driver. Danny enjoyed fishing, grilling and spending time with his children and grandchildren. He was deeply loved and will be greatly missed. Danny is survived by his daughter, Amy Ramirez (Stephen Wright); sons, Matthew Ramirez, Nathan (Letty) Ramirez of Shreveport, Louisiana, and Jesus Ramirez; sisters, Dolores Sanchez, Mary Ann (Melvin) Martin; brothers, Daniel Ramirez of Chicago, Illinois and Jesse Ramirez Jr. of Little Rock, Arkansas; four grandchildren, Stephen and Kamden Wright, Alaunna Ramirez and Lilah Ramirez. Mr. Ramirez is preceded in death by his mother, Maria Ramirez and son, Josh Ramirez.
Gloria Ortiz passed into the gates of heaven on Saturday, March 25, 2017 at 6:20PM. She is now reunited with her husband for all eternity. Gloria was born on July 19, 1941 in Eastland, Texas to Cresencio and Benita Sigala. She moved to Abilene at an early age. She married Moises Ortiz in the chapel of First Baptist Church of Abilene on August 13, 1960. They lived in Abilene all of their married life. She was a homemaker. Gloria was the best mom and grandma anyone could ask for. She loved her kids and enjoyed spoiling her grandkids. Gloria enjoyed cooking and could make some very delicious meals! It was always special to go eat at “Momo’s house”. We will definitely miss the wonderful meals she would make for us. Gloria took great care of her family and always made sure she was there for her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed attending their school assemblies, sporting events and church programs. She was always very proud of their accomplishments. Gloria was an avid fan of the Texas Ranger Baseball team. She would stay up to watch their games into the late hours and was always sad when their season was over. Gloria and Moises enjoyed traveling and were able to do a lot of traveling all over the world in their later years. Gloria and Moises were married for over
Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country
56 years. They went everywhere together. It seems only fitting that they would leave this world so close together. Although we are saddened by the loss of our Mother, we know in our hearts that our parents are together again. Gloria is survived by her daughter, Janell Pena and husband, Jaime; her son, Robert Ortiz and wife, Melissa; her four grandchildren, Alexandria Ortiz and Anthony Ortiz of Fort Worth and Sarah Pena and Nicolas Pena of Abilene. She is also survived by a sister, Esperanza Martinez of Visalia, CA and a brother, Manuel Sigala of Irving, TX. Also, surviving Gloria are her sisters-in-law and her brothers-in-law from the Ortiz family. They were all very dear to her. As well as many nieces and nephews. Those that preceded her in death are her parents; three sisters, three brothers and her husband, Moises Ortiz, who passed away thirty seven days before her. We would like to thank the Hendrick Hospice nurses for taking such wonderful care of our mother. We would also like to thank the Ortiz Family for their love and support. We could not have made it through without you all walking this journey with us. We are forever grateful. Gloria will live in our hearts forever. There will not be a day that we won’t think of her. She was the best, and we could not have been more proud to call her our Mom. Heaven has become a sweeter place, and we look forward to the day when we see our Mom and Dad again. We love you both so much!
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18 | COMMUNITY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Douglas ‘Doug’ Kent Hodel 1952 - 2017 • ‘You Will Be Dearly Missed’
Douglas Kent Hodel of Abilene, Texas passed ber of Commerce where he served on their away on Sunday, March 26th in Tuscola, do- Board of Directors, Marketing Committee and most recently the Red Coats. He gave his time ing what he loved best, taking photographs. and services to many charitable organizations in Funeral services to honor Doug’s life were the city such as the Hispanic Business Council, held on Friday, March 31, 2017 at 10:30AM the Abilene Zoo and Keep Abilene Beautiful. at First Baptist Church, Doug was honored countless times with awards 1333 North 3rd St. Buri- and accolades throughout his life, however his al immediately followed biggest reward was his beloved daughter and at Elliott-Hamil Garden granddaughter, whom filled him with so much of Memories Cemetery. pride. Doug was born in Plainview, Texas to Verner John Hodel and Martha Helen Hodel. He graduated from Lockney High School in 1970. His started his career in Lubbock, Texas at the local Television station, KLBK, and then began a long profession in Advertising and Public Relations notably at Webster Harris, Covenant Hospital and the American Heart Association. Doug moved to Abilene in the late 1990’s to work for Associated Publishing and then became the President and CEO of Goodwill West Texas in 2006. He resigned in 2008 to pursue his longtime dream and started his own photography business. He recently retired from Creative Graphic Solutions to focus solely on his photography and spend more time with family. Doug gave to his community abundantly. He worked closely with the Abilene Cham-
After his daughter and granddaughter, Photography was the love of his life and Abilene was his canvas. Doug was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his daughter, Heather Espina and son-in-law Denis Espina; his sister, Dinah Kay McCulloch and brother-in-law Keith McCulloch; his granddaughter, Stella Espina; nieces, Marcy Bryan and Shannon Blackwood; one grand-niece; four grand-nephews; and his adored dogs, Sir Chauncy and Cindy Lou Hoo.
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EDUCATION
LOCAL SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY NEWS
ATEMS Student Headed to NASA for Summer Aerospace Scholars Program
ArtWalk: Cosmic Car
Walk
Thursday, April 13, 2017 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Downtown - Cypress St.
By Phil Ashby | Director for Communications, Abilene Independent School District
Jaimalee Cordova, a junior at the Academy of Technology, Engineering, Math & Science (ATEMS), has been selected to travel to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston this summer to participate in an onsite experience for students.
This month’s ArtWalk is a fundraising event for The Center and celebrates all makes and models of motorized vehicles, as well as Cosplay costumes. Mingle with superheroes among hundreds of cars on display along Cypress Street including antiques, classics, muscle cars, supercars, hotrods.
More than 800 high school juniors from the state of Texas were chosen to participate in the online program during the fall and winter, with about 175 students qualifying for the trip to the Johnson Space Center.
Currently, Jaimalee is the only female student in the Aerospace Engineering class at ATEMS. Her residential summer experience will include team projects and briefings directed by NASA en• Interactive lessons on NASA gineers and scientists, activities related to space explohands-on design challenges ration, earth science, technology and and engineering activities to plan a mission to Mars and aeronautics • Design challenges such as a 3D drawing, tours of NASA facilities. video creation and interactive poster design • Virtual chats with NASA engineers and sci- The High School Aerospace Scholars program offers a one-of-a-kind experience for Texas high school students to explore the possibilities of a STEM related career in the aerospace entists industry. Jaimalee was selected because of her excellent work in completing the following components of the High School Aerospace Scholars (HAS) program over the last four months:
Abilene Senior Citizen Loves Foster Grandparenting By Brittany Pelletz | BigCoutnryHomePage.com
An Abilene Senior Citizen has a lot of love to give. Cruz Jimenez is a great-grandmother but she’s also a foster grandparent too. “You’re my baby, huh? I got lots of babies now. I’m not lonely no more,” Jimenez says as she hugs a child at Sears Park. Jimenez shares a unique bond with a group of Abilene children. “We just enjoy being around kids and we need to get out of the house,” says Jimenez. She loves every second spent volunteering, “At the end of the day, it just gives me a big satisfaction that I was here helping the kids while their mothers are working.” She’s not the one supervising, but she’s an extra set of eyes looking out for these youngsters.
“I’m a hugger,” Jimenez says. It’s a warm embrace that means the world to Jimenez and the children. “Oh the children. They inspired me. They’re so lovable and they need a hug every day. They need somebody to tell them they love them. They really get a good attitude,” adds Jimenez. Although years may separate them, it’s something special that connects them. Jimenez says, “ They socialize with me. That’s what they need. That’s what I need.” Jimenez is part of the Foster Grandparent program run by the Health and Human Service Commission. They are always looking for more volunteers to be part of the Foster Grandparent program. You can learn more by contacting the local office at (325) 695-5750.
20 | EDUCATION | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
3 DI teams qualify for state tourney By Abilene Independent School District
Three Abilene ISD teams have qualified to compete in the Texas Destination Imagination state affiliate tournament April 7-8 in Lubbock. To earn the right to advance, AISD teams representing all three levels — High School, Middle School and Elementary — finished at the top in their events at the Greater Fort Worth regional competion Feb. 25 in Red Oak. • The “Phenomenal Forensics” team advanced in the Science Challenge competion at the High School level, although the team is made up primarily of Madison Middle School students and is managed by Madison teacher Matt Vela. One Cooper High student, freshman Kennedy Carmichael of Cooper High, is joined on the team by Madison 7th graders Hallie Stone and Shashiska KC, and 8th graders Miller Bannister, Andrew Brokovich, Tyler Cluck and Grace Pacatie. • The team “Conundrum” from Madison Middle School won regionals in the Fine Arts Challenge and is sponsored by Carol Burson, the Jackson Elementary guidance counselor who began working with these students in DI at elementary school. Team members are Meredith Clancy, Sky Barrera, Lillianna Chaong, Brandon Jones, Trevor Cox, Caryse Morrison and Paige Underwood. • The qualifying team from Austin Elementary, “It’s A Secret,” is made up members Jacob Castillo, Cynthia Grace Darby, Caven Dooley, Chandler Dooley, Cora Hack, Marin Murray and Mason Murray. The team is managed by 4th grade teacher Greg Zietlow.
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Cooper Students A+ DIFFERENCE Three Heading to National BRANDON Speech, Debate Tourney OSBORNE
MAKING
MEET
By Abilene Independent School District
NAME: Brandon Osborne CAMPUS: Lee Elementary School TITLE: Physical Education teacher TIME WITH AISD: 11 years WHERE ARE YOU FROM? WHAT SCHOOL DID YOU ATTEND?: I am from Fort Worth and attended Abilene Christian University TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAMILY: My awesome wife, Kim, is a Social Media Consultant and former teacher. Myles, my son, is a 3rd grader at Lee Elementary. Go Lions! He is a smart, considerate and athletic little guy. My daughter, Karsyn, is in Head Start at Locust. She is a soccer-kicking , gymnasticflipping little princess! TELL US SOMETHING INTERESTING ABOUT YOURSELF: My faith, family and basketball are what life revolves around. I thrive off and seek out all of them when possible. I run basketball clinics, workshops and get to speak to groups all over the southern region in my non-school time. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB? I have never been to work yet. Someone told me when you find something you like, do it the rest of your life and you’ll never work again. But the most rewarding part is being able to change the future of the world starting with 5-year-olds!
Kate Miller qualified in Original Oratory and Congressional Debate. She choose to compete in Original Oratory. Nate Harden qualified in Foreign Extemporaneous speaking, and Hayden Naizer qualified in World Schools Debate and is the alternate in Lincoln-DougTo qualify, students had to finish in the top las Debate and Congressional Debate. two in their event at a qualifying tournament. Each student can only go to nationals in one The students are coached by Seth Pietsek. event. Three Cooper High students have qualified for the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) national tournament which will take place June 18-24 in Birmingham, Alabama.
WHAT THE BOSS SAYS ABOUT HIM: “Brandon Osborne (aka “Coach O” to the kids) is our physical education teacher, and he is an icon at Lee. Kids love him because he knows how to relate and connect with them. He incorporates technology that helps capture their interest. He will also do crazy things such as play the guitar and make up songs to sing to the kids as they enter the school (he only knows two cords on the guitar). Complimenting that is his heart-felt passion to teach kids about healthy lifestyles and life-long physical fitness. However, his greatest contribution is his calling to ingrain in students the character and decision-making skills needed to be successful, moral, and productive citizens. We all love Coach O. We are blessed and privileged to have him on the Lee team.” ~ Andy Blessing, Principal, Lee Elementary
22 | EDUCATION | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
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AHS senior earns Merit Semifinalist distinction
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By Abilene Independent School District
Abilene High School senior Mark Curnutt was honored at the March 20 meeting of the Abilene ISD Board of Trus-tees for recently being named a 2017 National Merit Finalist. Curnutt is among approximately 15,000 Finalists in the U.S. to be considered for National Merit Scholarships offered in 2017. The finalists were named out of more than 1.6 million U.S. students who took the Preliminary SAT exam as juniors.
Currently ranked first in his class, Cur-nutt is an AP Scholar with Distinction and earned a perfect score on the ACT exam. He has been extremely active on his campus – a three-year letterman on the Eagle golf team, a three-year member of Student Council (president for two years) and an officer in the National Honor Society. In addition, he has been involved with the Key Club and UIL
Math team while also participating in the Abilene Commu-nity Foundation’s Future Philanthropists youth organization and his church’s youth group. He was named an Abilene Reporter-News Star Student with Gold Distinction during his junior year. Curnutt, son of Casey and Mindi Curnutt, said he has plans to study mechanical engineering with a minor in business in college. He is still considering Texas A&M, the University of Oklahoma and Georgia Tech.
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Finding a way:
Treviño continues pursuit of MLB dreams at ACU By Trevor Wyatt | The Optimist, Abilene Christian University
Before the school year started, there was word of a late signing- a C/IF junior college transfer. When senior Russell Crippen found out, he didn’t know what to expect. “Coach Bonneau was excited, but I had never met him,” Crippen said. “Nobody had. It was a really late signing, he was supposed to go to Houston but it didn’t pan out. So we got him.” But all doubt was shattered in the mind of the players, coaches and fans when Luis Trevino showed up to practice and shocked everyone with his talent. “He was incredible,” Crippen said. “By the end of the first practice, I was thinking, ‘Alright, this kid can really play.’ I was excited to see him in action.” It showed in the beginning of the season when Luis got a hitting streak going in Michigan State’s sweep of ACU. However, nobody expected the streak to last 13 games and Treviño said it could have lasted longer. “I was at 13 games and was 0-3 at the plate, then walked and was hit by a pitch. They wouldn’t pitch to me. But we won that game so I wasn’t upset,” Treviño said. Baseball has been Treviño’s passion since he was a child in Mexico. Born in America, he moved to Reynosa, Mexico, about 20 minutes from the Mexican-American border. There, he started playing baseball at the young age of three, and played in Mexico until he was 15. In fact, he was selected to represent Mexico in the Little League World Series in 2009, where they won third place in the international bracket. Shortly before his 16th birthday his family moved back to America to the town of McAllen. There, Luis graduated from Sharyland High School in 3 years, despite knowing absolutely no English. His ability to play
was apparent in high school, as he hit .389 as a sophomore, .448 as a junior and .382 as a senior. Although he was sought after by universities, as a top-200 prospect in Texas, he decided to go to Navarro College, a junior col-
that he was the right guy to put there,” Crippen said. “And he proved it throughout the season, and he’s still proving it. I mean he’s been injured since the start and he’s still playing at another level.” Indeed Trevino, who is usually a catcher, was injured in the first series of the year. He’s been nursing his injury and plans on catching on Tuesday against UTPB, but says he wants to do whatever gets the team higher in the win column. “If playing DH gets us wins that’s fine,” Trevino said. “But if catching and playing the field gets us more, that’s even better.” Over the 13-game hitting streak, Trevino hit .420 with 21 hits and 15 RBI. Now, Trevino is hitting .382 with 29 hits and 24 RBI, 5 more than Crippen had all last season as the leader for the Wildcats. (Photo by Maggie Farias) Crippen isn’t bitter though, he lege in Corsicana. It was there that Trevino actually welcomes the RBI. said he experienced the growth to get him to “He’s in that three spot for a reason. Our onethe next level. two punch usually gets guys into scoring posi“Those Juco guys, they’re not just there tion and he brings them in, usually with an extra because they can’t play baseball,” Trevino base,” Crippen said. “And that’s when our team said. “They’re there to get drafted. They play has his back, with myself or another person in just as well, or sometimes better than people the four and five spots. He just makes this team in four-year schools.” better.” Trevino had many accolades to his name Although Trevino is playing well here at at Navarro, including 2015 All-East Freshman ACU, he has his mind set on further aspirations, of the Year, 2016 All-East Player of the Year, one that he has in his reach after playing with the 2015-16 All-East Conference, and 2016 All- La Crosse Loggers in both 2015 and 2016. The Region XIV. Loggers are a summer league team in Wisconsin When he came to ACU, Head Coach Britt for collegiate players, and it’s there he said his Bonneau had nothing but positive things to aspirations became clearer. say about Trevino’s fielding and hitting abili“I want to be a pro,” Trevino said. “On the ties. His teammates now say the same thing. way there, I want to help this team win as much Trevino started in the three-hole in the first as I can, but that’s the final goal.” game, but his teammates weren’t upset about Trevino and the Wildcats continue conferthat. ence play this weekend against Stephen F. Aus“He proved in practices and scrimmages tin.
24 | EDUCATION | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country
Sharp shooters wanted for Abilene’s Zoo spring photo contest Deadline for entries is June 1st Every day, guests snap visual keepsakes of their time at the Abilene Zoo. Some use fancy equipment. Some use their phones. Catching a rare moment, when an animal does something interesting, funny, or instinctual, can be a thrill. Photos of children, grandparents and family time together are always treasures. People love to document their trip by posing their group in front of the zoo sign. Photos at the zoo are a must! Keep that in mind this spring when you visit. We want to see and share your best photos in the Abilene Zoo’s Spring Photo Contest. Watch for more details via abilenezoo.org and the zoo’s social media. We’ll announce prizes and recog-
nition. We’ll start taking digital photo entries in April – when the plants are in bloom. High resolution format photos must be shot on the zoo grounds during 2017, and we’re looking for composition that fits these three categories: animal humor, animal action, animal portrait, plants and landscapes, and people with animals. Contestants can enter one photo per category.The deadline for entries will be June 1, and we’ll honor the winners at a Sunset Safari reception in July. Have questions? Need answers? Email abilene.zoo@abilenetx. com. Picture yourself with the animals at the Abilene Zoo.
Get Ready to Run in Mayor’s Race 2017 in Downtown Abilene Mayor’s 2017 5K & 10K Saturday, April 22, 2017 This annual event is always open to the public, and because the race route follows the downtown streets of Abilene, the course is flat, fast and family-friendly! The race will begin and end at the Abilene Convention Center, 1100 N. 6th St. Both 5K & 10K races will be chip timed and we will be limited to 2 hours. Race packet pick-up will be Friday, April 21 at Abilene Running Co., 2654 Industrial Blvd between noon and 6:00 P.M., and at the Convention Center Saturday morning, beginning at 7:00 A.M. To register: Go to active.com (closes 4/20/17) OR print your registration form and mail to: MCPF, Attn: Cindy Chitwood, P.O. Box 60, Ste. 101, Abilene, TX 79604 The first 200 paid registrants will receive a t-shirt!
Your
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FRIENDLY • CONVENIENT • AFFORDABLE Contact Caroline at 325-793-4710 | online.mcm.edu
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Spotlight on Holland Medical School
Preparing Today for Tomorrow By Abilene Independent School District
Students who attend Holland Medical High School have a variety of goals and aspirations. Some will earn a certification at Holland and immediately join the workforce after graduation. Others have aspirations of becoming nurses, physical therapists, dentists, pharmacists and doctors. Their post-graduation and post-secondary plans vary, but we take great pride in knowing that students are prepared for their next step, no matter what it might be. Holland courses are relevant to all types and levels of learners, and our students feel their efforts toward reaching their goals are worthwhile. Each Holland course allows students the opportunity to spend time in the clinical settng. This includes significant hours spent in nursing homes, pharmacies, dental and doctors’ offices, clinics, and at Hendrick Medical Center. The experience our students are gaining from this time is invaluable to their success while at Holland and beyond. They are able to get an early peek at what a future in healthcare really looks like and feel confident that their choice to continue into healthcare careers is right for them. Holland students have the opportunity to
earn numerous certifications and licenses recognized by the healthcare industry. These certifications include First Aid, Healthcare Provider CPR, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Pharmacy Technician, Registered Dental Assistant (RDA), Certified Electrocardiograph Technician (CET), Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and Industry Phlebotomy Technician. Training speThe Holland programs are thriving as cific to Healthcare. • 31 students more students than ever are taking advantage are working toward taking the National Health Science Assessment. of the opportunities available to them. • 74 students are on track to earn a CNA certification. Testing will take place at the end of March. • 27 students earned a CET certification in December. • 27 students are on track to earn a CCMA certification in May. • 14 students are working toward earning an RDA certification in May. • 16 students are preparing to earn a Pharmacy Technician certification. • Almost 100% of juniors and seniors are Healthcare Provider CPR and First Aid certified. • 10 students earned a Phlebotomy Technician certification in the Fall and 11 more are on track to earn the certification in March. • 45 students are working toward completing the OSHA 10-Hour General
The future of Holland is looking bright! There are currently more applicants for the 20172018 school year than ever before. Healthcare is one of the largest and fastest growing career fields, and Holland is able to provide our students a valuable launching pad into healthcare careers. At Holland Medical High School, we are truly “Preparing healthcare professionals today for the medical workplace tomorrow.”
Become a Texas Teacher with McMurry’s FasTrack Program Registration is now open for McMurry University’s FasTrack program. FasTrack presents an exciting opportunity for anyone who has a bachelor’s degree and is seeking Texas teacher certification. Coursework begins May 15 and can be completed during the summer. Additional options are available for fall and spring semesters. Prerequisites for the program including a 2.75 GPA and passing a content test, The state of Texas requires a meningitis shots for those under the age of 30 or a booster shot within the past five years. Applicants will need to present a transcript for evaluation at the time of initial meeting with the director of the FasTrack. Once coursework is completed, students will be eligible for a teaching internship or for student teaching. For more information or to schedule a meeting, contact the FasTrack director Dr. Gae Lynn McInroe at mcinroe.gae@mcm.edu or 325-793-4960 or certification officer Mike Thomesen at thomesem@mcm.edu or 325793-4863.
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Local College Saves Over $41,000 Annually After Switching to LED Bulbs
AHS Creative Writing Students Win Awards
By Amber Treybig | BigCountryHomePage.com
Megan Wren, Marie Hutton, Paige Worrell and Miller Devanney
After making the switch to LED bulbs tify and implement projects that reduce energy throughout the entire campus, Cisco College usage. is now seeing things in a new light. Chris Pasch the Program Manager for AEP According to Cisco College, Beverly Massey, SCORE said as soon as Cisco was ready to make Director of Purchasing and Payment Services the change, they came out to the campus and for the college, organized the effort to engage helped them make an informed decision that with the Texas AEP SCORE program in the would best suite the school. After pulling the trigfall of 2016. ger, the College officially upgraded to LED lights, which according to the college, will result in Dr. Thad Anglin, the President, told KRBC 98,702 kilowatt-hours of energy saved annually. that since last fall, the Board Members According to the US EPA, this is equivalent to thought long and hard about how LED lights reducing the carbon dioxide emissions of 31,529 could help save their school money. “We fi- gallons of gasoline into the environment. nally made the decision with the help of Texas AEP SCORE, and they were all LED by De- Cisco College was presented with an incentive cember 31st.” Said Dr. Anglin. check for $19,894.09 for participating in an energy efficiency program sponsored by AEP Texas. The AEP Texas SCORE Program is a no-cost The energy saving improvements will save the program that provides technical and financial college an estimated $41,133 in electricity costs support to help schools and universities iden- annually.
Four Abilene High school students were recently honored for their creative writing prowess at a pair of writing contests. The students are members of Seth Pace’s Creative Writing class who entered works in the Angelo State University Annual Writers Conference competition, which was open to high schools in a 25-county area, and a nationwide contest sponsored by the Abilene Writers Guild. Marie Hutton won first place in Short Story at the Angelo State conference with her story “Fog.” Megan Wren’s piece “Savage Sea,” was judged as the second place entry in the Flash Fiction category in the Abilene Writers Guild Contest. Two other AHS students earned Honorable Mention at the Abilene Writers Guild Contest — Paige Worrell’s “Imaginative Lobe” in Flash Fiction and Miller Devanney’s poem, “Sod,” in Unrhymed Poetry.
26 | EDUCATION | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
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What are we all so busy actually doing? By Allison Brown | The Optimist, Abilene Christian University
I am a victim of a problem – more of an epidemic actually. You hear it every time you ask someone how they are doing. Picture this, a typical interaction between two humans who run into each other, perhaps in passing in the library: Human 1: “Hey how are you?” Human 2: “Hey, you know, I’m so busy, but I’m good.” Human 1: “Oh yes, same here! Let’s get lunch sometime!” Lunch? Yeah right, let’s grab lunch when we are all not busy in some alternate universe that involves Spring Break year round. We are all busy people, living busy lives being busy doing something. But I’ve started asking: what are we actually doing? Some nights, I lay awake haunted by the fact that yeah, I filled every hour of the day, but am
left with an empty feeling that I accomplished nothing worthwhile. I wear my busyness like a welldeserved medal of honor as I emerge from the trenches of my four-year university experience at my nice little school.
mester. But maybe, it’s time to stop wasting our breath saying the same thing as everyone else and use those breaths work hard and rest well. Maybe it’s time to stop tweeting out our scheduled complaints one-upping our friends We seem to have because obviously, we’re each more busy than just accepted the everyone who’s ever tried to balance school, way things are, work, sleep and a social life. and now even pine after the word to If you’ve seen me lately, I’ll go out of my way pepper into our daily to tell you I’m not busy. Because for the first conversations. Busy- time ever, I’m actually not. I’m in one class ness is so widespread a week. I graduate in seven weeks. And then I read an essay about busythat a new academic research I’m off to the races again at graduate school. ness by Tim Kreider, an auproject has determined it to be a new While it takes nearly everything in me to rethor and cartoonist, and I’ve been symbol of social status. Saying we are busy sist filling every waking hour with some sort thinking about it for a while. It’s made m e leads to affirmation, and has become the new of task or appointment, I’m really glad I’m stop and wonder what exactly I’m doing with cool thing. I’m just as guilty of subconscious- learning to remove the word “busy” from my my time, and it’s made me want to stop saying ly wanting this kind of affirmation as anyone, vocabulary. I’m busy. but does it really have to be this way? Tim says, “It’s not as if any of us wants to live like this, any more than any one person wants to be part of a traffic jam or stadium trampling or the hierarchy of cruelty in high school; it’s something we collectively force one another to do. It may not be a problem that’s soluble
through any social reform or self-help regimen; maybe it’s just how things are.”
Maybe you’re in 18 hours and working a part time job, maybe you’re entering a new relationship and can’t figure out how to balance your time, maybe you’re still behind on sleep from Sing Song, or you just haven’t found your groove even eight weeks into the se-
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Pick us up at La Familia Mexican Restaurant & YMCA on State St. | EDUCATION | 27
Garcia Named Principal of Abilene High School By Phil Ashby | Director for Communications, Abilene Independent School District
Longtime Abilene ISD administrator Michael over the next couple of months to facilitate a Garcia is returning to Abilene High School, smooth transition for students, staff and parthis time as the campus principal. ents. While Mr. Garcia will remain principal at Martinez Elementary through Garcia, a former Abilene High the end of the school year, the assistant principal and currentprocess to determine his succesly the principal at Martinez Elsor will begin immediately.” ementary School, will take the reins at AHS at the conclusion A native of Anson, Garcia began of the 2016-17 school year. his AISD career 27 years ago Current Abilene High principal as a computer literacy teacher Robert Morrison will complete and coach at Franklin Middle the school year as AHS prinSchool. He entered administracipal and then assume another tion as an assistant principal at administrative role in AISD to AHS in 2003 and was named in be announced at a later date. 2009 as the Region 14 Outstanding Principal by “We believe Mr. Garcia is a the Texas Assogreat fit as principal at Abilene ciation of SecHigh School,” Superintendent Dr. David ondary School Young said in making the announcement. Principals “As campus principal at both Jane Long (TASSP). His and Martinez elementary schools and in his first head princitime as an assistant at Abilene High, he has pal opportunity came later in 2009 when he shown exemplary leadership skills on a daily was named to lead Jane Long Elementary. basis. He is a wonderful motivator of both stu- After Long closed as an elementary campus dents and staff and builds effective relation- in 2015, he became principal at Martinez. ships with parents and community members. Garcia is a 1990 graduate of Abilene Chris“We appreciate Mr. Morrison’s leadership tian University and earned a Master’s of Eduthis year at Abilene High School,” added Dr. cation from Tarleton State University in 1997. Young, “and I know that his talent and abili- He and his wife, Maribel, have three sons curties will continue to add value to the students rently attending AISD schools, including one and staff of our district in his new position. at AHS. He will be working closely with Mr. Garcia
28 | EDUCATION | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Registration Available for Early Childhood Programs in 2017-18 School Year By Phil Ashby | Director for Communications, Abilene Independent School District
Parents of Early Childhood students can register for the 2017-2018 school year beginning April 4-5 at the Abilene Convention Center. Eligible families may register for the upcoming school year from 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. in Conference Room 3 at the Convention Center.
Another opportunity for early registration will be held May 2-3, also at the Convention Center in the Upstairs Conference Room.
with them at the time of registration: • Driver’s license or military ID of the parent registering. • Proof of income for all in the household, including child support, SSI benefits and grant award letters. • Proof of residency. • Child’s current shot record, social security card and birth certificate.
Programs under the umbrella of Early Childhood are: • Head Start (20 classrooms; 16 four-year-old classes and 4 three-year-old classes) • Pre-K (17 classes) • PPCD (Preschool for Children with Disabilities) It is helpful for a parent to bring special education information if they are registering a child with special needs. • Dual Language (2 classes where children receive English and Spanish language instruction) • Regional School for the Deaf
Only legal guardians can register a child. If the person registering is not listed on the child’s With the opening of the new Long Early birth certificate, he or she must have paperFor more information, call the Woodson office Learning Center at the beginning of the ’17- work stating legal guardianship. of ECC at 671-4594. 18 school year, Early Childhood centers at Locust, Woodson and Reagan will be closed. Families qualifying for Head Start will know With the exception of Crocket Early Head at the beginning of June whether or not their Start (birth to 3-year-olds), all other Early child has been placed in a classroom or on a Childhood programs will be housed at Long waiting list. The waiting list will be re-evaluEarly Learning Center, 3600 Sherry Lane, ated at the end of summer, and any open slots will be filled from the waiting list. Families starting next year. qualifying for Pre-K will receive a letter conParents must bring the following items to reg- firming their acceptance into the program or if ister, but their children are not required to be they have been placed on a waiting list.
New Beginnings Big Country Annual Fundraiser Garage Sale
April 18-22 1818 Sayles • 7am-6pm
We are still accepting donations. Call or text (325) 665-5538
Pick us up at Texas Cosmetology School, Mr. Gatti’s & La Popular Bakery | EDUCATION | 29
McMurry Model UN Wins Award at 2017 National Model United Nations Conference By Gary Ellison | Associate Director of Communications, McMurry University
McMurry University’s Model United Nations team won an award at the 2017 National Model United Nations Conference in New York City March 19-23. Representing the diplomatic delegation of Kyrgyzstan, the Model UN team was rewarded for their conference preparation for a committee Position Paper Award crafted by Tony Phan, a sophomore political science major. Model UN faculty sponsor Dr. Joel Olufowote stresses how difficult earning recognition at
the New York conference can be, especially for smaller schools with smaller delegations. “Position paper excellence is awarded to a maximum of three papers out of committee sizes with as many as 150 competing papers. The odds of winning a position paper award, particularly in a General Assembly committee where we did, is extremely difficult, especially when only 2% of participants in that committee has a shot,” said Olufowote. “We were selected as one of the recognized 2% for conference preparation and given the international and domestic competition present at the conference, I cannot be any more proud of the group!”
30 | EDUCATION | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Pulitzer Prize Finalist Poet to Present at Lawrence Clayton Poets and Writers Speakers Series By Grace Mitchell | Staff Writer/Intern, Hardin-Simmons University
Pulitzer Prize Finalist Ellen Bryant Voigt will read her poetry at the annual Lawrence Clayton Poets & Writers Speaker Series on Friday, April 21, 2017 in the Johnson Multi-Purpose Room. There will be a question and answer session from 3:30-4:30 p.m., a poetry reading from 7:30-8:30 p.m., and a book signing reception at 8:30 p.m. Ellen Bryant Voigt is a highly recognized and honored poet. She was named a MacArthur Foundation Fellow in 2015. She has also been awarded the O. B. Hardison, Jr. Prize from the Folger Shakespeare Library. Voigt is a member of the Merrill Fellowship from the Academy of American Poets and the Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship. She served as chancellor of the Academy of American Poets from 2003-2009 and was named Vermont State Poet from 1999-2003.
Voigt lives in Cabot, Vermont where she teaches in the low-residency Master of Fine Arts program for writers at Warren Wilson College, which she created in 1976. From childhood, she was trained in classical piano, turning to poetry in college. Her B. A. (1964) is from Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina. She received her M.F.A. in 1966 from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop at the University of Iowa. Voigt has also taught at Iowa Wesleyan College (1966-1969), Goddard College (1970- 1978), and at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1979-1982).
The Lawrence Clayton Poets and Writers Speaker Series, presented by The McIntyreWest Endowment of the HSU Academic Foundation, was started 39 years ago by Dr. Lawrence Clayton, chair of the English department. Clayton played an instrumental role in securing funding to bring nationally-recognized poets and fiction writers to HSU, providing creative writing students access Her book, “Shadow of Heaven: Poems” was to publishing poets and fiction writers. Clayton’s a finalist for the National Book Award. “Mes- name was added to the series after his death. senger: New and Selected Poems 1976-2006” was also a finalist for the National Book “At the piano, the girl, as if rowing upAward and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. stream, is driving triplets against the
duple meter, one hand for repetition,
Dr. Robert Fink, Professor of English and Di- one hand for variation and for song. rector of Creative Writing, described Voigt’s She knows nothing, but Bach knows evpoetic style.
erything.”
“All of her poems are love poems that do not look away from the risks of loving, of holding from “At The Piano” (lines 1-5) on to faith, trying to hold on to faith, to truth, Voigt, Ellen Bryant. “At The Piano.” Messenger: New and to God,” he said. Selected Poems , 1976-2006, W. W. Norton, 2007, pp. 8687.
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10 Signs Your Child Might be Getting Bullied By AllProDad.com
I was in sixth grade sitting in class when I looked up at the clock. Three more minutes until the bell would ring and I’d be out in the hallway heading to my next class. I hated that hallway because he was out there. Two minutes. The teacher was still talking, but I hadn’t heard a word for the last fifteen minutes. My mind raced. What was he going to do to me today? What humiliating torment was I going to be subjected to today? My heart raced and I felt nauseous. One minute. Was he going to beat on me? Make fun of me? Is he ever going to just leave me alone? Bell. That was my story every day for an entire year. I felt terrorized, anxious, and depressed. School was an unsafe place where I had no control. My only hope was that my bully would get bored of me and move on to something else. He never did. My parents saw the signs and eventually were able to help me. It’s critical that we learn to understand the signs of bullying and be completely aware on behalf of our children. Here are 10 (of many) signs that your child might be getting bullied.
1. Comes home with torn, damaged, or missing pieces of clothing, books, or other belongings. The less reasonable your child’s explanation, the more likely bullying is involved.
thing else when anxiety is working in the background.
6. Loss of friends or avoidance of social situations. Victims often lose the few friends they have. Other kids don’t want to be associated 2. Frequent headaches or stomach aches, with victims or they’re afraid it’s “catching.” feeling sick, or faking illness, especially in Victims seldom become “loners” by choice. the mornings. This could either be to avoid the bullying or as a result of the bullying. Typ- 7. Feelings of helplessness or decreased ically, it’s both. self-esteem. This may include anxiety-based behavior and self-destructive behaviors such 3. Changes in eating habits. Skipping meals, as running away from home, harming themunable to eat meals, or binge eating. Kids may selves, or talking about hurting themselves. come home from school hungry because they did not eat lunch. 8. Generalized fear. Your child may seem afraid of going to school, walking to and from 4. Difficulty sleeping, frequent nightmares, school, riding the school bus, or taking part in or complaints of headaches. organized activities with peers (such as clubs). Processing the abuse can take a toll even when sleep should provide rest and healing. 9. Appears sad. Not just sad, but moody, teary, or depressed when he or she comes 5.Declining grades, loss of interest in home. A huge part of this is that he or she schoolwork, or not wanting to go to school. won’t talk about what’s wrong. Simply put, it’s tough to concentrate on any-
10. Begins to bully other children. This is a disturbing sign that’s often a natural consequence of being bullied. Victims may begin to take it out on siblings or weaker friends and become aggressive and uncooperative with their parents.
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32 | EDUCATION | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
First Financial Branch Moving to New Location By Abilene Reporter-News
First Financial Bank is relocating its branch current site after the bank moves. near the Mall of Abilene to a former CitiBank location eight blocks away. Butler said there is about the same amount of space in each facility, but the bank is able The move should take place in May, Ron to build the new one out as state-of-the-art. Butler, First Financial’s Abilene Region Chairman and CEO, said Wednesday. Re- The current services will move with the modeling work is underway. bank, including its mortgage operation, he said. “We purchased the building about a year and a half ago,” he said. “We were tenants at the The bank purchased the property in the 4400 (Buffalo Gap Road) location.” 5200 block of Buffalo Gap Road, “as a way to be in the path of the growth (in First Financial moved into the Buffalo Gap Abilene),” Butler said. It is across the street Road location in 1987, after purchasing from the new Hendrick Medical Center American National Bank, which was located clinic and emergency room. there, he said. First Financial Bankshares is the holding The new location has six drive-through teller company for First Financial Bank. It has 69 lanes, and First Financial will continue to locations from the Texas Panhandle to the also operate the drive-through lanes at its southeast tip of the state.
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How to Deal with Anger in Marriage By Mark Merrill | Helping Families Love Well
The famous American humorist and actor Will Rogers once said, “People who fly into a rage always make a bad landing.” It’s hard to deal with an angry person and it’s even harder when the angry person is your spouse. Anger, only one letter away from “danger,” is poison to the soul and corrosive to the bonds of marriage. You may have heard the idea, often associated with Alcoholics Anonymous, that holding on to anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. The Bible says that anger is foolish (Ecclesiastes 7:9), destructive, cannot produce right (James 1:20), and should be abandoned and avoided (Psalm 37:8-9). And with good reason. But what can you do when your spouse is an angry person? Thankfully, the answer is not “nothing.”
a deeper problem, but it’s so damaging that it too often covers up that deeper problem. And it can lead to long-term bitterness that requires extra work. The roots of anger can be recent or historically deep. Anger can stem from selfishness, self-loathing, disappointment, unmet expectations, abuse, injustice, offenses real and perceived, jealousy, frustrated or unreachable dreams and goals…the sources seem endless.
ment in other family members too. And on top of that, in people who struggle with anger, there is often a general self-awareness of the destructive effects, making them angrier at themselves which only intensifies the anger. Do not sweep the damage under the rug. Be honest with yourself and, as you have the opportunity, with your spouse about the harm that anger is doing. It’s best to have those conversations when emotions aren’t high in the heat of the moment. A gentle approach, one that communicates “I’m trying to help you and us,” is more effective than an angrily shouted checklist of hurts.
Deal Patiently with the Anger in Others and Yourself. A friend of mine shared some of the best advice I’ve heard for dealing with anger, and it applies for when I’m angry or I’m dealing with someone else’s anger. He first noted that responding quickly…trying to move FAST to a resolution, usually leads to a bad outcome. And I couldn’t agree more. Patience is an essential tool when dealing with anger.
But let me be clear about one thing: I’m not talking about being merely “prickly” about things. That’s when you’re dealing with someone suffering from short-term annoyances, frustrations, and bad temperament. The best way to handle a “prickly” spouse is by avoiding these common trigger points. What I’m talking about is full-on anger.
And that’s why wrestling with the real root is important. If you can help your spouse with When you’ve realized that your marriage has that wrestling, all the better. If they are resissome ongoing, regular patterns of anger that tant to your help, you should encourage them need to be dealt with, I recommend wrestling to do some solo soul-searching or get some with these three things: counseling help to figure it out. But it is a critical step.
Some wise scripture in the book of James says that we should be slow to speak and slow to become angry. Whether we are the angry one or on the receiving end, patience allows us to deal with it more objectively, more introspectively, more honestly, and more effectively.
flict. But to deal with anger in self or others requires understanding the root of the anger. Author Joyce Meyer says that “Anger is the fruit of rotten roots.” Anger is a symptom of
steps and making even small moves can give you hope in your journey when you’re dealing with an angry person in your family.
Wrestle Realistically with the Roots Anger is not always solved overnight, but you of Anger. Too often, the anger itself is the Express Honestly the Effects of An- should still not let it linger, either. Reconciliation focal point of our energy, reaction, and con- ger. Anger creates a lot of collateral damage. does not always occur quickly. But taking these An angry person never just makes themselves miserable. Anger in a marriage and family can create feelings of bitterness, hostility, fear, resentment, revenge, and complete abandon-
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Choose Love! By Kristie Carpenter | Blended Mom Moments Blended families. When you really think about it, we are all a part of a blended family. For instance, my parents got married and then had a baby boy. They had to ‘blend’ him into their daily lives - routines, extra financial expenses, as well as the added responsibility of a child. They ‘blended’ again when my brother was 15 years old and they adopted me. Now the blending affected four people the rearranging of lives to make room for this new one. It changed life for my brother, my parents, and I’m forever thankful - even me! A lot has changed over the last 50 plus years. I married and had two children. He died. I was a widow seven years. I then met Dan and we married and attempted the blending of me and my two kids and him and his two kids and two grandkids. As you may know, God has used that story and that is how The Blended Family Mom came about as well as two books. Then the kids all moved out and shortly thereafter, we moved my 86-year-old dad in with us. A new kind of blend. Odd. Complex. Sad. My whole life I watched this man lead his family - not only by financially providing, but also leading spiritually, teaching a strong work ethic, and then my favorite part - teaching me to be creative and a “southern engineer!” There were many days that ‘blending’ was fun. We played dominoes, went to movies, went out to dinner. Other days I found myself coming home from work and slipping quietly in my room - to avoid talking to him. It was almost as if I felt he was an intruder in my home - even though I was the one that invited him. He passed away on February 17 after living with us three and a half years. He was here in my home and I am very thankful that Dan and I were able to care for him during this part of his life. I am also very thankful that Dan and I were able to learn to make choices to spend time with him and serve him rather than pull away and become resentful and bitter. Oh, those thoughts came up … but somehow we settled our minds and hearts with the fact that he was our family - our responsibility. Blending took extra effort and care. Blending meant that we now had a two year old in a 90 year old body and that meant changing diapers and spoon feeding. Blending most importantly came from Dan and I turning our hearts to God and asking for strength, wisdom, and the ability to choose love - choose to serve with a glad heart.
The last opportunity I had to choose love was his last day. I was laying in bed and already thinking about dad’s decline in health. A nurse had told us he had about two weeks left of life - and we were at that two-week point. I struggled between staying in bed until I had to get ready to leave or going to my dad’s room and greeting the day with him. By God’s help, I chose love. I went to dad’s room. His face beamed up at me … so glad to see me. I chose love. I later sat on his bed and gently rubbed his arms and legs and sang his favorite old song, “Moon River,” to him. I also sang “Holy Holy Holy” over him something that I had heard him saying over and over in the previous days. I chose love. He died later that day. I can’t imagine how I would have felt if I had just gone about my day and not given him time, attention and love. You’ve got some blending going on yourself! You will have 1,000 choices every day of whether to love and serve or walk away … say something harsh or stop and respond gently … go the extra mile for a family member or decide to not be available to help. John 15:13 says, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” I believe you are going to find that when you give up the selfish desires that flood your mind and you choose love - choose to serve - choose to stay - choose to forgive - you will receive the greatest blessing of knowing that when it counted, you were the one others counted on! Choose love! Blessings in Your Blending! ____________________________________ Editor’s note: Women’s author, speaker and mentor Kristie Carpenter, aka The Blended Family Mom, has been a blended family/step mom since 2004; her blended family currently includes four children and four grandchildren. Follow Kristie on Facebook (facebook.com/ theblendedfamilymom), Twitter (@BlendedFamilyM), and Instagram (theblendedfamilymom). Her books - “The Blended Family Mom,” and “Blended Mom Moments,” are both available on her website at www.theblendedfamilymom.com).
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Voice of Faith:
Like a Child By Erik Masci | The Abilene Post
I’m part of a small group of Christians that gather on the weekend to pray, hang out, and support each other. We meet in each other’s houses, cook each other meals, and do our best to take part in each other’s lives. We’ve been blessed to have a few of the couples in our group have healthy kids. It’s an adventure to manage several small children and a couple infants running around, making noise, crying, and interrupting prayer. Often times we have to work around them. This can be especially hard on the parents, who may leave early if the kids are tired or cranky, or they end up spending a lot of energy keeping track of them during service. We all attempt to pitch in with the kids while we spend time together. It’s part of sharing this time. This week was the first time my wife and I had been able to attend in quite some time, and we wanted to host it in our home. Not everyone was able to make it, but we had an infant, a toddler, and a small child in the mix while we mingled and ate. Our dog was particularly keen on following the child around and eating the food she left in her wake. After we ate we checked in with everyone, and then we started communion. During check in, she sat next to me. Well, actually she asked if she could have my seat, and after we practiced the use of “please” she sat on a stool that was perhaps too tall for her. She would ask questions during check in, paying no mind to who was talking. Toward the end of check in I felt a tug on my shirt from the direction of the stool, and a whisper “are we going to pray now?”. I told her that we were going to pray in a minute, and I went to grab communion. I had everyone bow before prayer, and before I began, we all heard a very small voice begin to pray. “Dear God, thank you for the bread, and the communion, and Daddy and…” She went on and recounted nearly all of our names (there were around a dozen of us, it was impressive, especially for a three-year-old). She was nervous but ready
to participate. After her prayer, I blessed the elements and distributed communion. I won’t attempt to totally explain what it is about a child’s prayer that is so powerful. I won’t attempt to make claims on whether or not she was prepared to take communion, or understood what that meant when she did. But I will say that her prayer was deeply lifegiving. It was simple. It was innocent. It was humble and yet strong. It’s clear that she was echoing prayers that she’d heard before, but that didn’t make it any less her’s. Some of us in that room were stressed, down, and tired. Her prayer was a welcomed bit of light for those of us in dark places. At the beginning of Matthew 18, there are a small few verses where Jesus speaks to his disciples about being like children. There’s something important about the way children approach life to successfully practicing the life of faith. Matthew mentions humility. Though children aren’t all known for being terribly humble, the nature of children begs a kind of dependency on others. A humility in a different sense. We’re approaching the church season of Lent, a solemn time when Christians fast and dwell on some of the darker things in our lives. We anticipate the coming of Easter, but we humble ourselves in the acknowledgment that not all is well. We turn to God, not unlike a child, powerless, but trusting. For those participating, I pray that we learn to be like children in our faith, that God may prove himself a loving Father.
This article originally appeared on The Abilene Post website - www.the abilenepost.com
36 | FAITH & FAMILY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Step Out to Find Out By Steven Furtick Ministries
“Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. ‘It’s a ghost,’ they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’ ‘Lord, if it’s you,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’ ‘Come,’ he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’” (Matthew 14:25-30) When making a decision about something, it feels good to be certain — to know beyond the shadow of a doubt that the decision you’re making is the right one, the godly one. The only problem is that walking by faith rarely feels certain. The Bible doesn’t contain many neatly arranged “how-to” sections. In one of the most iconic Bible stories, Peter has a decision to make — step out or stay in. He and the disciples had been fighting a storm for hours, and when Jesus comes walking by, Peter still isn’t sure what to do. At first he is even convinced he was seeing a ghost, but eventually he decides to step out. I don’t know how certain Peter was of his decision. I’m not sure you can be certain when your decision involves walking on water. But that’s often the way you have to discover God’s will — not through the certainty of an outcome, but through confidence in God regardless of the outcome. If you’re struggling with making a big decision right now, or if you’re in a season of trying to determine God’s voice, many times you have to step out to find out. Stepping out doesn’t guarantee success. It didn’t for Peter, because within just a few steps, he was sinking and had to be pulled from the waves by Jesus. But as long as you step in the right direction, towards Jesus, you’ll be close enough for Him to catch you regardless of what happens.
Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country
Saturday, April 22 • 6:30 AM - 12 PM Abilene Christian University
The Hope Mommies West Texas Chapter invites you to join us for our first 5K/1 mile fun run that will be both a fundraiser for our local chapter as well as a memorial to all our babies gone to soon! Register TODAY! You can go to active.com and search Hope Mommies or click the link below to register: http://www.active.com/abilene-tx/running/distance-running-races/hope-mommieswest-texas-chapter-5k-1-mile-fun-run-2017 **** Early-bird Price: Now until March 22nd- $30 per person / March 22-April 21st- $35 • Walk up registration- $40 ------ Group registrations are possible/available with an added discount **Please be sure to bring a photo-ID to the race for registration** There will be a silent auction. If you know anyone willing to donate a silent auction item, please have the donor send an email to tonya.brewer78@yahoo.com ----- We are also looking for race sponsors. If you or your company is interested in becoming a sponsor, please email krushing@ktwireless.net
We will be having a Friday Fellowship Dinner on April 21st, the evening before the race for Hope Moms to have a chance to come together to meet and visit. You will have the option to let us know if you can attend when filling out the race registration. If you can only come on Friday, you can RSVP with FRIDAY FELLOWSHIP in the subject line to krushing@ktwireless.net. More details will be posted as plans are made for this event. If you would or someone you know would like to help in volunteering for this event, please email westtexas@hopemommies.org
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6 Steps to Control Your Crazy Busy Life By Mark Merrill | Helping Families Love Well
In so many meetings and on phone calls I’ve had recently, I’ll ask the other person, “So, how you doing?” Most of the time I get a similar answer, something like, “Doin’ fine, just crazy busy!”
sarily easy. But, like people dealing with addictions, you have got to come to a place of being sick and tired of being sick and tired. Acknowledge the problem and make a choice to change. No one is going to come and rescue you; you have to determine that your curNow some people are stretched to the max rent lifestyle is not working for you or those through no fault of their own—maybe they you love. Draw a line in the sand. are a single parent, or their spouse is sick or some other challenge is making them really 2. Make a list - If you are going to go busy. They’re not choosing the pressure, and to war, you have to know your enemy. Take they need all the help and support the rest of some time to identify why, where, and how us can give them to keep going. you are so busy. Keep a timeline for a week, detailing all that you do, from work to comBut it seems to me that, for many people, muting to family commitments and hobbies. their crazy busy life is a choice. Yes, a Chances are that at first glance, all that you choice. Somehow they appear to get some list will seem to be good things. But somesense of significance or satisfaction, or per- thing has to go. Separate that list into two haps an adrenaline rush from having so much columns: the first, important/non-negotiable to do. Now, I’ve been guilty of being crazy and the second, negotiable. Now you are gobusy and saying it too. But I’m learning that ing to have to make some hard choices about busyness is not a badge of honor. eliminating items from column two. That golf game on Saturday with your friends may be Busyness can be a sign of impending trou- fun, but can you find another way and time to ble. Having too much on your plate compro- meet with your friends that doesn’t swallow mises your health, robs you of your joy, and up so much time? over time damages your relationships. But it doesn’t have to be that way. If you want to 3. Involve the family - Crazy-busyness swap crazy busy for a sane, well-paced life, is typically a team sport! That means you here are six things you can do. aren’t going to solve things by going solo. Consider How to Be a Team Player in Your 1. Decide to change - Yes, it’s really as Own Home. Ask your spouse to make their basic as that. Remember though, as they say own list and compare notes. See how your in recovery circles, that simple isn’t neces- two schedules clash, intersect, and overlap.
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to be entertained and stimulated by one organized activity after another.
4. Put it on the calendar - Only by put-
ting everything on a calendar can you really get an idea of what demands are being made on your time. I made a point of recording not just my own work and other activities on my calendar but also children’s activities too. I also included all the things that Susan and I do together, such as our date nights. That way I always know what everyone is doing. Some families find it helpful to write everyone’s schedules on the same “command central” calendar that all can refer to.
5. Create “white space” on your schedule - On my calendar, I also inten-
Don’t forget to include the children’s activities which can eat up a huge amount of time. When our children were young, Susan and I limited their extracurricular activity to one sport per semester. Apart from anything, it’s important for children to learn to be still and enjoy the simple things of life without having
tionally create white space. That is the time when absolutely nothing is on my schedule. I try to create 15-30 minutes of white space between appointments, so I’m not rushing from one to another, especially if a meeting is running late. As our kids were growing up, I made extra white space on my calendar at night and on the weekends so I could always be available to them.
6. Get some help - Going against our cul-
ture’s busy-busy stream can feel a bit lonely but reach out for some help. For example, maybe you can swap babysitting sessions with friends who have children the same age to make date night with your spouse possible.
38 | FAITH & FAMILY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country
ON LIFE AFTER DEATH:
Would You Know My Name If I Saw You in Heaven? By Chris DeLuna | Church of Grace
“If the Spirit of him who raised Je- heaven? Would it be the same if sus from the dead dwells in you, he I saw you in heaven? Would you who raised Christ Jesus from the hold my hand if I saw you in heavdead will also give life en?” What Clapto your mortal bodies ton longs for is through his Spirit who the restoration dwells in you.” (Roof a relationship mans 8:11) interrupted by death. I’m reMany people wonder minded of King about “the other side,” David’s words that is, they wonder if at the death of there is life after death. his own son. There is something inHe asked and nate in each of us that answers in answered his own rhetorical questhe affirmative, “Yes, I will expe- tion, “Can I bring him back again? rience self-concious existence af- I shall go to him, but he will not ter the death of my body.” But if return to me” (2 Sam. 12:23). there is conscious existence after death, what will it be like? Will we The universal human experience is be aware of our past earthly lives? that when people die, they die. And What about others? Will we inter- they stay that way. No one comes act with them? Will we even recog- back from death. nize and meet with people we once Except Jesus. knew from this life? We all long for this. The Bible tells us that God had promised Jesus that he would not For the sake of brevity I am refrain- abandon him to the grave (See ing from addressing the common, Acts 2:27). God raised him from but false assumptions people make the dead, yet when he was risen in such questions particularly the he was no longer the same. How false assumption that “heaven” so? For starters, “Being raised will be some kind of disembodied from the dead, [he] will never die immaterial experience. again; death no longer has dominion over him” (Romans 6:9). When While grieving the loss of his he appeared to his closest friends young son, Eric Clapton penned he assured them that it really was his famous song Tears in Heaven. him and invited them to physically Contemplating, but perhaps more examine him for their own assurso speculating, he asks his de- ance; “See my hands and my feet, ceased loved one, “Would you that it is I myself. Touch me, and know my name if I saw you in see. For a spirit does not have flesh
and bones as you see that I have” (Luke 24:39). They thought they were seeing a ghost, a disembodied entity. Jesus assured them that they were not hallucinating, but that it really was him. This is my point. Jesus lived, he died, then lived again. Physically. And what of his relationships? He picked up where he’d left off. The last thing Peter did before Jesus died was deny him. He betrayed Christ in that respect. When Jesus came back from the dead, he made it a point to restore Peter. He reassured Peter of his love and forgiveness. So the Bible promises that “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” (Romans 8:11). So about your departed loved ones or soon-to-be departed because of terminal illness. If they die/died in Christ and if you too are in Christ, you’ll see them again. In the flesh. Like the father with the prodigal son you will run and fall upon their necks hugging and kissing them. You’ll pick up where you left off and the old things will have passed away. You’ll remember and they’ll remember. How do I know this? Because He is risen.
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LDS Church Hosts Film Screening of Meet the Mormons By Celeste Caballero | Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints welcomes the Abilene community to a film screening of Meet the Mormons on Saturday April 29th from 6pm to 9pm at the LDS Chapel located at 3325 N. 12th Street. Admission is free. Refreshments will be served. For the first time in its history, the LDS Church released a featurelength documentary commercially in October of 2014. The featurelength film, Meet the Mormons, highlights the lives of six Latterday Saints who live across the globe—in areas spanning from the Himalayan mountains of Nepal to the rain forests of Costa Rica to the Salt Lake Valley. The ordinary individuals tell extraordinary stories that are authentic—that will uplift and inspire, said producer Jeff Roberts.
“The intent of the film is to help people understand what our members are really like,” said Jeff Roberts. From the movie, he said, audiences will get a sense of what motivates Mormons. “They will get a sense of ways someone’s life is enhanced by living the gospel of Jesus Christ.” He said the film conveys the Mormon faith in terms of the impact it has on the lives of its members. “It does so in a way that is entertaining, uplifting, and engaging. It is not preaching in any way. We are not trying to convert anyone; we are just trying to inform.” Opening the weekend of October 10th–12th of 2014, Meet the Mormons, directed by Blair Treu, was the number 1 film in 100 of 317 theater locations. Shows sold out in various locations in California and major cities like Las Vegas, Phoenix, Dallas, New York City, Detroit, Miami, and Salt Lake City. All net proceeds from the original film showing was donated to the American Red Cross. For more information on the movie, visit: www. meetthemormons.com
Raising Great Children
40 | FAITH & FAMILY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
By Jimmy Evans | MarraigeToday
How can children succeed in life if they don’t see you succeed? That’s a question every parent needs to ask—especially as it relates to their marriage. Raising great children is much more likely if you have also built a healthy marriage.
physical health and their psychological well-being. Get your marriage on track first. Secondly, you have to be unified in parenting. Jesus said a house divided against itself can’t stand, which means you and your spouse must present a united front in raising your kids. You don’t have to agree on everything, but don’t disagree in front of the kids. Dad can’t say one thing while Mom says another.
Here are three principles I believe can lead to success as you raise your This means you must discipline kids: in the same ways. You both need to show the same amount of afFirst, your marriage should precede fection and concern. And should your children in priority. Have you you reach an impasse on decisionever heard a married person say, making or parenting styles, don’t “Nothing is more important to me hesitate to go outside your marthan my children?” riage to get help. I hear people say that pretty often, and I think these parents—though well-meaning—need to shift the order of their priorities. Your first priority is God. Period. Your second priority should be your marriage. Your children come third.
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Happiness and security in a marriage are essential for raising healthy, responsible children. When your child sees that you are happy and secure, it makes him or her happy and secure. Why? Because children see everything. They pick up tension in your relationship, even if you’re not fighting in front of them. They internalize that tension, which can damage their
Karen and I did that with a certain parenting issue—we encountered a problem we couldn’t solve on our own—and the outside help was absolutely critical to the success of our marriage.
they are mature they won’t depart from the way we have trained them. We have to trust Him that this will be true. We also have to know that training doesn’t mean talking. It means showing. We train our children by the way we live our lives. It’s the full process of transferring values, character, spirituality, and purpose. You can’t talk your way through this process. You have to live it. Our children learn to respond to certain situations, to deal with pressure, to love their spouses by watching us. Prioritize your marriage. Present a united front. Train up your children by doing the right thing, and trust God that they will follow your example. You may encounter challenges along the way, but that’s how you raise successful kids.
Finally, understand that parenting requires faith. This means faithfulness to God and trusting His promises. Proverbs 22:6 tells parents, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” This is a powerful promise. God says that if we “train up” our children correctly, when
Leaders of Abilene tour Dyess Air Force Base
Leadership Abilene Class of 2017 toured Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, March 17, 2017. During the tour, the local leaders had the opportunity to learn about the base’s mission and capabilities and the historical connection and continued partnership with the city of Abilene. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Rebecca Van Syoc)
HEALTH&FITNESS
5 Caffeine-Free Ways to Fight Exhaustion at Work By J. B Glossinger
It was pouring rain as I ran from my Jeep and hurriedly sprinted for my front door of home. As I stepped into the foyer, my gaze hit an unusually large, wrapped gift box with my wife standing by its side and staring at me. It wasn’t my birthday or Christmas, so I was confused as to what was going on. “Come on! Hurry up and open it!” she said to me. I bent down to pull at the wrapping and noticed delicate round holes that had been punched around the box. All of a sudden I heard some sort of rustling inside. I opened the lid in astonishment as I looked down on our new puppy. I immediately flew up onto cloud nine. “This is another ‘best day of my life’ to add in my books,” I thought to myself. I showed Neo around his new home, loaded him into my Jeep and off we went for a trip to the pet store for supplies and toys. For the rest of the evening, the three of us played and played and played. Little did I know I would not be sleeping that night. It took us several months to get Neo adjusted to his new home and routine, so for quite some time my sleep was very irregular. Although I wouldn’t trade this experience for the world, I quickly learned some tips, tricks and techniques that helped me survive all of the days I felt I could keel over from lack of sleep.
1. Wake up 15 minutes early • I know
this sounds contradictory to the situation at hand, but when you allow yourself the 15 minutes of freedom to rise at your own pace and then mentally prepare yourself for the day ahead, you have found the sweet spot. It’s vital to mentally prepare for your day ahead. The days when you are running low on mental fuel are the days that are literally going to be a battle of the mind. If you prefer running your day, rather than the day running you, then mentally preparing for your day is a key element to accomplishing that. Trust me.
2. Eat, eat, eat • Your body and your brain
must be fed in order to perform as you need them to. Do not skip your breakfast any longer. Have a small morning meal to kick-start your metabolism. Pro tip: A snack as simple as an apple, raw nuts and a bit of cheese will help you stay energized — protein and calcium are key. Throughout the day, avoid snacking on refined carbs like pretzels or cookies; even though they provide an initial rush, your body burns them quickly and your energy soon is left deflated.
For me, personally, I like the injectable B12 shots, and find they work even better than the vitamins. Speak with your primary physician first and find a physician who can administer it to you.
4. Stretch • Stretching helps your body stay
alert and can definitely re-invigorate you during that famous 3 p.m. crash time. Stretching causes you to breath deeper than you may normally, and this extra supply of oxygen is essential to keeping you awake. Stretching your body also activates your lymphatic system, which is responsible for clearing your body of toxins and pollutants. Stay awake and healthy! Test out a few stretches over the course of a week. Find which ones rejuvenate you and start incorporating those into your work day. Do them at your desk if you have to; it only takes a minute. You could do some neck rolls, shoulder shrugs and circle your feet to keep blood circulating. The more active you are, the better your circulation will be. And good circulation is essential for energy.
5. Take a quick nap • Nap-
If you crave something sweet, try a bit of dark chocolate. It contains the chemical phenyl ethylamine, which increases energy by improving mood and attention span.
3. Get yourself some Vitamin B12 •
B12 is famous in the vitamin aisle; it contains energy-enhancing properties that make it a great candidate for a good kick start. Vitamin B12 also plays an important role in melatonin production (which allows you to have better sleep, resulting in a source of energy for the next day as well).
ping between meetings and/or classes is an excellent way to give yourself a mental and physical break from a busy schedule. There are two important tips to remember about naps: Do not take more than one, and don’t take a nap if it is too close to your bedtime. Keep your naps between five and 25 minutes. Whether you have a new puppy, maybe even a new baby, a new schedule or you just plain flat out partied too hard on a week night, there will come a day when you feel tired. And that’s okay, because you’ve got some tricks that will help you get through your day and keep you on the road to success.
42 | HEALTH | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
HispanicLife Media
19th Annual Sporting Clays Classic & Auction April 21 & 22, 2017
Come Friday Night (April 21st) for a fun filled evening of live entertainment, dinner & drinks, along with a fantastic selection of Silent Auction items and exciting Live Auction! We will also be giving away guns! You don’t want to miss this! Friday Night: Silent & Live Auction, live entertainment, dinner and drinks! Catering by: Sharon’s BBQ Doors open at: 5:30pm Dinner at: 6:30pm Location: Taylor County Expo Center Round Building • 1700 State Hwy 39
Saturday: Shoot & Lunch Flight #1 7:00am Check-in 7:30 Safety Briefing 8:00 Shotgun Start
Flight #2 9:30am Check-in 10:00 Safety Briefing 10:30 Shotgun Start
Exercise: The Cellular ‘Fountain of Youth’ Intense interval training seems to boost older cells, even reversing some of aging’s effects, study finds By Amy Norton | HealthDay Reporter
High-intensity exercise may help older adults reverse certain aspects of the “cellular” aging process, a new study suggests. It’s no secret that regular exercise is healthy for young and old alike. But researchers said the new findings point to particular benefits from “high-intensity interval training” for older adults.
Saturday events include 3 flights for you to choose from, fantastic lunch, fun shooting games to do in down time (with great prizes), gun give aways and much more! What Clay Shooter doesn’t want in on this? Flight #3 12:00pm Check-in 12:30 Safety Briefing 1:00 Shotgun Start
Location: Camp Tonkawa • 4117 FM 89, Tuscola, TX 79562
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That’s the type of workout that combines brief bursts of vigorous exercise with periods of moderate activity: A person might, for example, go all-out on a stationary bike for a few minutes, ease up for the next few, and then start again. In this study, older adults who performed that type of exercise showed greater changes at the cellular level, compared to those who worked out more moderately. Specifically, interval training gave a bigger boost to mitochondrial function in the muscle. Mitochondria are the “powerhouses” within body cells that break down nutrients to be used for energy. The training also revved up activity in more genes related to mitochondrial function and muscle growth.
What does it all mean? • The study findings suggest that interval training can turn back the clock in ways that moderate aerobic exercise and strength training do not, according to lead researcher Dr. K. Sreekumaran Nair. But, he stressed, the findings do not mean older adults should jump into a vigorous exercise regimen. “If you’re sedentary, you should talk to your doctor before you start exercising,” said Nair. He’s an endocrinologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. “And then,” he said, “you can start with walking, and build yourself up to a fast pace.” For older adults who want to progress to a more-intense regimen, Nair said, it’s best to start with supervision. But he also stressed that intense exercise is not a must. “Any regular exercise will bring health benefits -- absolutely,” he added. This study demonstrated that, he pointed out. Even though interval training had the biggest effects on aspects of cellular aging, other types of exercise boosted older adults’ fitness levels and muscle strength.
ROTA RY CLU B O F A BI LENE’S
Abilene
PRESENTED BY
TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 6pm - 8pm Abilene Convention Center
TICKETS $35 $40 at the door
Tickets at TASTEOFABILENE.COM
Pick us up at Abilene ISD, La Familia Mex Rest & Lytle Land & Cattle | HEALTH | 43
HSU’s Physician Assistant Program Granted Provisional Accreditation By Staff Reports | Hardin-Simmons University
Hardin-Simmons University is proud to announce that its Physician Assistant (PA) Program has been officially granted provisional accreditation by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). All new Physician Assistant programs must go through the multi-year Provisional Accreditation pathway to be eligible for on-
going/continuing accreditation long-term. Achieving this status means that the ARC-PA has certified that the program is approved to enroll the first cohort of students and begin this fall. The program is planning for a class size of 30 students per year. Program Director Dr. Jennifer Eames said the provisional accreditation status is the next step forward for the program. “To prepare for this endeavor, HSU began planning over five years ago with prayer, development of an advisory committee, and building acquisition and renovation to house the program,” she said. PA jobs are in demand. They were named by US News & World Report as one of the top five jobs of 2017 and by Bloomberg in March as one of the top 25 best-paying jobs in the US. HSU’s PA program fills a big need in Texas. There are currently only eight other PA programs in the state of Texas and approximately 210 programs nationally. “This is the first new PA program in the state of Texas in 18 years,” said Eames. The last new PA program in Texas to gain accreditation was the Texas Tech program in the 1990s.
Additionally, in the state of Texas, no developing program has been founded with a woman director to date, making this a historic move for Hardin-Simmons University. Dr. Christopher McNair, dean of the Holland School of Sciences and Mathematics, said the program will be an asset to the school. “The Holland School of Sciences and Mathematics is excited about the addition of a physician’s assistant program to our school,” he said. “The success in developing this program is a reflection of the commitment of HSU faculty, staff, alumni, and administrators to providing excellence in Christian higher education. We look forward to preparing future clinicians on our campus to serve Abilene and the Big Country, Texas, and beyond.” Eames said achieving the Accreditation-Provisional status from the ARC-PA required years of planning, financial resources, and completion of a rigorous screening process. The HardinSimmons University PA Program accreditation is pending approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. A full staff has been hired by the program to teach students including experienced educators and outstanding clinicians. An open house for the PA program is planned for May. Learn more about PA program at Hardin-Simmons here: https://www.hsutx.edu/academics/holland/graduate/physician-assistant/.
44 | HEALTH | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country
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Bodies in Balance:
10 Tips to Make Healthy Eating Simple By Sara Lindberg | Paste Magazine
It never fails. You’ve settled in for the evening to watch your favorite movie or read a book and you happen to glance towards the kitchen. Your body has already told you it’s full—there’s no need to add any more fuel. But your mind taunts you with the delicious, rich and oh so smooth ice cream that’s hiding out in the freezer. Come to think of it, there’s also the leftover pizza and even a bag of M & M’s waiting to be devoured. You find yourself asking one simple question: How do I stay on track with my health and fitness goals for 2017? The answer is actually quite simple— your kitchen needs a makeover. The kitchen poses one of the biggest challenges for people on their health and weight loss journey and in order to make new habits stick and old ones disappear, your cooking and eating space must match your new lifestyle. But why can’t I just exercise to lose weight? There’s no denying that exercise will boost your metabolism, strengthen your bones and muscles, and generally just make you feel good, but unfortunately that is not enough in the battle to lose weight. Fitness and health experts have been debating the age old question of what leads to quicker and longer lasting weight loss for years, and what both sides seem to always agree on is that you can’t out-exercise a bad diet. And research from the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics suggest just that. Researchers found that the addition of diet to a physical activity intervention leads to more weight loss than the addition of physical activity to a dietary program. This hints at the relative importance of dietary change as the key component of weightloss programs. Should I just focus on my diet instead?
All of this leaves many health conscious people asking one question: Should I abandon my workouts and just eat heathy instead? That answer is still a clear no, and here’s why: Regular exercise has been called the best medicine for health and longevity because of its long list of physical and mental health benefits. And it’s still widely known that the most effective way for most people to lose weight and experience long-term improved health and wellness is to pair a calorie-conscious healthy eating plan with adequate exercise. Phillip Stanforth, a professor of exercise science at the University of Texas and the executive director of the Fitness Institute of Texas, explains that in the short-term, diet is far more important for shedding pounds, but over the long-term, regular workouts are critical to keeping that weight off and staying fit. So in your quest to improve your fitness, lose a few pounds, and boost your overall health, it’s important to look at your home environment—and specifically your kitchen—as your first priority towards making long-lasting changes. The following tips will help get you started on overhauling your kitchen and creating a space that is more heath conscious and supportive of your weight loss and fitness goals. 1. Clean the Clutter---Take an afternoon to clean out and arrange all of your food, storage, and cooking items so that they are easier to access. This will help make it easier to cook and will help motivate you to spend more time in the kitchen.
2 . Remove Food From the Counter (unless it is fruit)---
7.
Have
Find a place for your food in drawers, cabiPre-Cooked Food nets, and glass containers and place them out Available in Your Refrigeraof sight. tor---Lean sources of protein (chicken, ground beef, turkey, salmon, eggs, etc), rice, 3. Get the Electronics Out quinoa, pre-soaked beans, mason jar salads, of the Kitchen---You are more likely low-fat dairy, and sweet potatoes cut up into to graze on food and not even realize it if you fries. have a television or iPad turned on. 8. Hide the Snacks---You are 4. Have Your Kitchen Uten- more likely to reach for the food that you see sils Handy---Put measuring spoons and first, so make sure the healthy choices are the containers where you can first ones you see. If you live alone or have a easily access them until partner that is making lifestyle changes with you are comfortable eye- you, resist buying snack foods. However, if balling portion sizes. you have a family, skipping out on the snack foods altogether might be difficult. After 5. Invest in shopping, place these items on top shelves Good Cooking and only buy deserts once a week.
Utensils and Cookware--- Mea-
suring cups, vegetable peeler, non-stick muffin pan, vegetable steamer, slow cooker, mini food processor, rice cooker, blender, 12” skillet pan, 2-quart sauce pot, chopping and cutting knives, cutting board, glass storage containers, mixing and serving bowls, are all good investments for your kitchen.
6. Have Clean, Cut-Up Fruit and Vegetables Ready--- Clean
and cut up half of your produce and place into ziplock bags or containers for easy grab and go. If you do this twice a week, you will have fresh fruit and vegetables available all week long.
9. Use Smaller-Sized Plates--- By downsizing, you may find that your portions automatically decrease and you eat less.
10. Keep Water with Lemon on the Counter or in the Fridge---Drinking water between meals
and during food prep can help eliminate snacking.
46 | HEALTH | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Wow! How to Make Naturally-Dyed Easter Eggs Wow! The custom of dyeing eggs goes back to ancient times and cuts across many cultures as a symbol of Earth’s renewal after winter. Back then, onion skins, red cabbage, beets, seeds, flowers, herbs, and spices were used to tint and imprint designs on eggshells. Those simple, natural materials continue to be one of the most beautiful ways to decorate spring’s most iconic food. Set an egg at each place at the brunch table, or pile them in a basket for a conversation-starting centerpiece— they’ll make a delightful impression.
cabbage. Combine cabbage with 4 cups cold water in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes. Strain liquid into a bowl; discard solids. Cool dye to room temperature. For each 1 cup of dye, add 1 tablespoon distilled vinegar and 1 tablespoon Fruit Fresh Produce Protector. Add eggs (make sure the dye fully covers the eggs), and refrigerate. Turn eggs occasionally to dye evenly. Let eggs stand 1 hour or up to overnight depending on desired hue. Blot eggs dry with paper towel.
How to Naturally Dye Easter Eggs
For Red Dye: Roughly chop 3 washed medi-
For hard-cooked eggs:
Add water to a large saucepan to a depth of 1 inch; set a large vegetable steamer in pan. Add 8 to 12 eggs to steamer. Bring water to a boil over medium-high heat. Steam eggs, covered, 16 minutes. Remove from heat. Place eggs in a large ice
um beets. Combine beets and 4 cups cold water in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes. Strain liquid into a bowl; reserve beets for another use. Cool dye to room temperature. For each 1 cup of dye, add 1 tablespoon distilled vinegar and 1 tablespoon Fruit Fresh Produce Protector. Add eggs (make sure the dye fully covers the eggs), and refrigerate. Turn eggs occasionally to dye evenly. Let eggs stand 1 hour or up to overnight depending on desired hue. Blot eggs dry with paper towel.
For Orange Dye: Combine the skins of 5
water–filled bowl for 3 minutes or until cooled. To imprint an herb leaf silhouette onto the egg: Place a leaf directly on the shell (you can use a little egg white to adhere into place). Wrap egg tightly in a single layer of hosiery (knee-highs work great) or cheesecloth, gather the ends, and secure tightly with a rubber band. Dye as directed. Blot as much dye as possible from the cloth before unwrapping the eggs.
to 6 medium onions and 4 cups cold water in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes. Strain liquid into a bowl; discard skins. Cool dye to room temperature. For each 1 cup of dye, add 1 tablespoon distilled vinegar. Add eggs (make sure the dye fully covers the eggs), and refrigerate. Turn eggs occasionally to dye evenly. Let eggs stand 20 minutes or up to overnight depending on desired hue. Blot eggs dry with paper towel.
For Yellow Dye: Combine 1/4 cup turmeric
and 4 cups cold water in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes. Cool dye to room temperature. For each 1 cup of dye, add 1 tablespoon distilled vinegar. Add eggs (make sure the dye fully covers the eggs), and refrigerate. Turn eggs occasionally to dye evenly. Let eggs stand 30 minutes or up to overnight depending on desired hue. Blot eggs For Blue Dye: Roughly chop 1/2 head red dry with paper towel.
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BUSINESS&CAREER
Taking It To The ‘Next Level’ By Caitlin Richards | HispanicLife Magazine
Little Joe Movers and Storage has been in Abilene for 54 years, but has recently taken the business to the next level. The full-service moving agency can do everything from packing and moving an entire house or a single china cabinet, to moving only a couch. The women of the Leal family have come together to rebrand and reorganize the business their husband, father, and grandfather, Joe Leal, started in 1963. Joe started the business after retiring from the Army, where he worked on the construction of Atlas missile silos in the area.
are men who are members of the moving team guys he hired needed a second chance, and he and crew, but the Leal ladies are the ones call- would always give anybody a chance.” ing the shots. Joe would help his employees get back on their “We are a local family-owned business,” Syl- feet no matter their circumstance. Today, Little via said. “We have a great team of movers, Joe Movers has worked with a couple of nonprofand want a chance to earn your business.” its, like Christian Service Center, 180 House, and Love and Care Ministries, to help continue that part of Joe’s legacy.
Joe learned to drive a truck and haul while in the Army. It then translated into his very own business. Something else that also carried over from Joe’s Army days was his nickname ‘Little Joe.’ It stuck and also became the name of the business. Joe passed away six years ago but his legacy lives on through the work his wife, daughters and granddaughters are doing. His oldest daughter Sylvia Leal is leading the way. “This last year we have totally remodeled our offices and revamped the business to bring it back to life again,” Sylvia said. “I am very hands on with making sure we are doing a good job with what we are doing.” Nearly everything at Little Joe Movers has gotten a facelift. They have a new website, phone system, trucks, logo and way of doing things. However, Little Joe Movers’ foundation of hard work remains.
Just like Joe did, the customer continues to come first at Little Joe Movers. The services Little Joe Movers offers are flexible in order to meet the needs of each customer’s move. However, one of their most notable services is their packing service. “Our packing team is something I don’t think people realize that we do,” Sylvia said. “We have an awesome team of women who will go in and do all of the packing. We have had a lot of compliments on our packers.” No matter what service a customer needs from Little Joe Movers they can be sure it will be delivered with the highest standard of quality. Little Joe Movers’ team has certified moving consultants through the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, which is their regulating agency. As members of the Southwest Movers Association, Little Joe Movers also stays at the forefront of the industry with best practices and products for moving.
“We have really taken Little Joe Movers to the next level” “My dad was always a hard Sylvia said. “I hope that imworker,” Sylvia said. “We were all girls grow- Something Joe started doing when he first age is clear. We want to earn everyone’s business ing up so we never worked in the business but started the business was hiring people who again and hope they will give us a call.” saw it from a distance. But now we are on the needed a second chance in life. This is still business side of it and very hands on.” something that continues today. Visit littlejoemoversinc.com to learn Besides Little Joe Movers’ deep Abilene roots, “The business was kind of his ministry,” Sylsomething else that makes the business unique via said. “He ministered to a lot of the guys is being completely owned by women. There who worked for him. A lot of the times the
more about their services or give them a call at 325-673-4498.
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In Race for Abilene Mayor, Briley’s Fundraising Eclipses Opponents’ By Veronica Soto | KTXS
Campaign finance reports show that Robert Briley has raised tens of thousands of dollars more in campaign contributions than his two opponents in the race for Abilene mayor. Briley has $67,642 in campaign contributions gathered since Jan. 1. Briley selffunded $20,000 of that total. McMurry University Political Science professor Paul Fabrizio, who co-hosts a political AM radio show that airs on Fridays, said campaign finances are a ‘good indicator’ of how an election is going to end. However, he believes there is never any guarantee it determines the outcome. “It’s not a one-to-one correlation between money and winning, but it certainly is an indicator of how things are going to turn out,” Fabrizio said. Still the amount raised by Briley is striking to Fabrizio. “How has Mr. Briley been able to do that? You recall when he ran the last time, he ran against the mayor, against the establishment. Now it seems like the establishment is supporting him. Why is that? Why the change?” Fabrizio said. Reports show approximately 15 couples donated $1,000 to Briley’s campaign. Fabrizio also says it’s people with large contributions who are more likely to vote. Nonetheless, one of Briley’s opponents, Anthony Williams, has raised less than half of what Briley raised -- with campaign contri-
butions totaling $25,319. “These numbers are going to be scruti“It is a really important indicator, but it’s nized by potential donors. People -- especially not a guarantee of how the election is going at the end of a race -- they want to give to the to be. Anybody has a chance,” Fabrizio said. winner,” Fabrizio said.
Richard Kennedy falls far behind in donaThe election will be held May 6. KTXS tions, with a little less than $1,000 in political will host a debate with the candidates on Apr. contributions. 20th. Fabrizio said that if you’re Briley’s opponent, you don’t want potential donors to look at contributions.
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How to Save 15% for Retirement Without Cramping Your Style By DaveRamsey.com
A recently published survey shows yet again how unprepared Americans are for retirement. Ramsey Research found that 54% of Baby Boomers (people ages 53–71) still in the workforce have less than $25,000 saved for retirement. Even more alarming is the fact that more than half of that group have no nest egg at all. That sounds pretty hopeless, but it could be easier than you think to turn that trend on its ear. By working with an investing pro to contribute $300 a month—about 6% of the median income—for just five years, you could retire with $260,000 in your nest egg in 30 years. That may not provide a four-star retirement, but at least it’s a start! That means with a little planning and a morethan-average dose of motivation, nearly everyone can retire with at least enough money to cover their bills. Save Without the Sacrifice Don’t get confused. We’re not saying you should invest $300 a month for the next five years and call it a day. To get the kind of retirement we all dream of, you need to consistently put away 15% of your income. But for right now, let’s just focus on that first $300. Where can you find $300 a month in your budget to get started on your nest egg?
without feeling the pinch in your paycheck. No More Loans for Uncle Sam: The average income tax refund was $2,860 for the 2016 tax season, according to the IRS. That’s a hefty sum to loan to Uncle Sam for a year. It just takes a few minutes to reduce your withholding amounts and start sending $238 more to your 401(k) every month. Rake In Cash With a Yard Sale: People spend more than $4.2 million at yard sales each week in the U.S., according to Statistic Brain. Get in on that action and sell some stuff! Put the profits toward retirement, where even $100 can turn into thousands of dollars in your nest egg. Miscellaneous Moolah: Don’t forget about small expenses that can add up. - Cell phone bills can be pricey these days, and with unlimited plans making a comeback, it’s easy to overpay for services, features and data that you don’t really use. If you only use 3 GB of data, why pay for 16 GB? By switching carriers or opting for a plan with less data, you could have an additional $50 a month to put toward your future wealth. - According to Consumer Reports, those who cut cable save $104 on average. Switch to a streaming service for less than $10 a month and add $90 to your monthly retirement investing.
Utilizing just a couple of these options has the potential to put you above your $300-a-month retirement investing goal—and those are just a few of the possibilities. Get creative and see what else you can come up with. Keep in mind that this isn’t just a penny-pinching exercise. Every dollar you add to your monthly retirement investing means a more secure retirement But you may not have to completely sacrifice for you! your time and your small luxuries. Here are a few painless but effective options you can Make Your Money Work for You consider to help you kick-start your retirement After all that work finding money to invest for plan: retirement, the last thing you want to do is put it in a bad investment. A 401(k) with a matchRoll In That Raise: Any time you get a bump ing contribution from your employer is a good in pay, it’s cause for celebration—not because place to start since it gives you an instant—and you can buy more stuff, but because you can guaranteed—return on your money. roll that money right into your retirement account! According to Aon Hewitt, employ- But don’t stop there. Add a Roth IRA for taxers project the average raise to be 3% this free withdrawals in retirement and a wider year. With the median household income at selection of good growth stock mutual funds. $56,500, as reported by the Census Bureau, Don’t follow in the footsteps of the majority that 3% raise could be worth nearly $1,700 of Americans who keep putting off their retirethis year. That works out to $140 a month! ment savings. Getting a bonus? Shift that into your 401(k) or Roth IRA for an easy way to reach your goal Your first thought might be to slash your restaurant or entertainment budget or to get a second job. Obviously, if you’re overspending in those categories, cutting back is a wise choice. And extra income from a side job makes reaching any financial goal much easier.
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50 | BUSINESS | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
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Mi Gente: LLegó a Estados Unidos como refugiado y ahora es propietario de 2 restaurantes By Brenda Gonzalez | BigCountryHomePage.com
Procedente de Cuba Jorge Luis Labrador llegó como refugiado a los Estados Unidos desde la edad de quince años, él llego como refugiado.
Después de la muerte de su abuelo, su familia decidió aceptar la ayuda del gobierno americano y mudarse a los Estados Unidos.
“Mi abuelo fue preso político en Cuba. Es decir en el tiempo en que Estados Unidos estuvo en Cuba mi abuelo ayudo al gobierno de Estados Unidos a radicar
La transición para Jorge no fue fácil y nos dice, “es muy difícil por que yo crecí en Cuba y venir para acá son nuevas costumbres, nuevo idioma, nueva escuela. Es bien difícil. En especial cuando llegamos aquí no había nadie cubano. Todo era en ingles y no conocíamos a nadie.” Desde entonces el se integro a la comunidad de Abilene y hoy en día tiene dos locaciones de su restaurante familiar conocido como Don Luis Café. Un sueño que comenzó a dar frutos poco a poco. Pero sus sueños son aún más grandes. La meta de Jorge es “estar en todo Texas un día. Poco a poco, nos estamos tomando nuestro tiempo para abrir bastantes restaurantes pero mantener la misma calidad de la comida. Y la misma calidad del servicio. Y poquito a poquito ya nuestra próxima meta es irnos fuera.
al gobierno cubano. Y después que los Estados Unidos se fueron de Cuba, mi abuelo fue preso político.”
Los triunfos para Jorge continúan creciendo. Cada vez esta mas cerca a su meta, en tan solo unas semanas el abrirá una tercera locación al norte de Abilene.
Pick us up at Golden Corral, MCM Elegante and Long John Silvers | BUSINESS | 51
8 Easy Tips to Get More Done During Your Work Day By J. B Glossinger
Warm sunlight spilled through the blinds and poured over me as I lay in my bed. Immediately my eyes flashed open and I felt a deep sinking in my tummy: I must have overslept — it’s never sunny when I wake up.
One of the tricks to keeping a successful to-do list is to knock the hardest ones out of the way first. Once you can cross one off, move to the next. Don’t start anything else until you have accomplished the one you are on.
Adrenaline spilled throughout my body as I leapt out of bed, making my way hastily down the stairs to let my dog out to pee. I glanced at the clock and, yep, I was late.
4. Learn to schedule your time in chunks • To
Every one of us has definitely experienced those times when we wished there were just a few more hours in the day. Time truly is the #1 most important commodity, because you can never get any of it back. The good news is you can control your productivity. Being aware of how you spend your time and making the most out of every minute is crucial to getting more accomplished throughout your day. If you would like to be more productive during your day, these simple tricks will help get you on your way.
Small Business Development
Small Business Development Center
SEMINARS
April 18, 2017 Topic: SBA Financing and Programs Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm The Small Business Administration (SBA) Staff will be here to explain SBA financing and the program and how to apply for SBA loans. April 20, 2017 Topic: How to Start a Business Mockingbird Library Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm
5. Take a social media break • Give yourself a short
hiatus from all the commotion that takes place hourly on Facebook, Twitter, or any of the other sites you follow; they will only distract you. If you handle social media for work, then make sure you stay logged out of your personal accounts so you don’t get sidetracked.
6. Put on those headphones • Some people find
1. Wake up one hour earlier and have your own power hour • Rushing around
music soothing and relaxing while they work, but even more important is the fact that other people are much less likely to disrupt you if they see you working with headphones on. This is an excellent trick for the office, so make sure you always have a pair handy.
Read an inspirational text or listen to a motivational podcast. Feed your mind something positive. Write a short gratitude list. Stop waking up and immediately reaching for your phone. All those work emails / texts can wait. This is your hour of power.
7. Keep your emails organized • Seeing 500
in the morning only brings stress. Make it a priority to wake up a bit earlier to have some “me” time. This will set the foundation for a successful day.
2. Meditate before you leave for work • Set aside a few minutes of your power hour to meditate.
Please call and reserve your spot today.
Some people like to take 10-15 minutes right when they wake up to clear their mind and meditate. Morning meditation is particularly powerful because it recharges and prepares you for the challenges that lie ahead. Once you do this for 30 days you will really begin to notice a difference in your stress levels.
Workshop will be held at the Texas Tech SBDC Abilene, Training Room. 749 Gateway Street, Ste. #301 Building C. Seating is Limited.
3. Keep a daily to-do list and do the hardest items first • Each day, make list of realistic tasks that
325.670.0300
be more productive, you must stay focused. One way to do this is to set aside a specific amount of uninterrupted time where you can focus 100 percent on the task at hand. This could mean putting your phone on silent, shutting your office door, or putting on headphones. Whatever it takes for you to work uninterrupted is what you need to do. If you are constantly being interrupted, it’s going to take you a lot longer to get your work done.
need to get done. Remember to KISS it too: Keep It Super Simple. Whether you need to make a dentist appointment or mail off a utility bill, write it down. Don’t try to keep everything in your mind because that causes unnecessary stress.
unread messages in your inbox just causes anxiety, so each day make sure you keep your inbox clean. With a massive amount of emails, it’s easy to miss the important ones. When you go through your emails each day make sure you immediately delete them, reply to them or file them. Once you get in the habit of doing this, it’s easy breezy.
8. Learn to make 60-second decisions • To re-
ally be more productive during your day, you need to work and think quickly. Start by cutting down the amount of time it takes you to make a decision. For some people, decision-making can be one of the most time-consuming tasks they do on a daily basis. By cutting down on the time it takes you to make a decision, it will free up some other time. You’ll likely make the same decision you would have made in 30 minutes’ time. Getting up a bit earlier and preparing yourself to slay your day is critical to your success. Become aware of how you are spending your time and commit to making any necessary changes. The time is now to be your most productive self.
52 | BUSINESS | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country
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10:00-11:00 a.m. Educational Booths Health Fair
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Pick us up at The Whitten Inn, China Star, Wholly Cow Burgers & H.E.B. | BUSINESS | 53
Ed Eats:
Five Best Tips for a Successful Yard Sale
Craving a Burger By Edward Morrell | The Abilene Post
By Sandra J Hastings | Hastings Professional Business Services, Hastingspbs.com
So you’re driving around town and all of sudden it happens, you are struck with a massive craving for a burger. What do you do? Let’s be honest, this is Abilene so there is no shortage of Fast Food options, but you want a real home made burger that will truly satisfy that craving. Look no further than Lucy’s Big Burgers located at 3110 South 27th (locals will know it as the old Fuji restaurant).
1.Think big ticket first. Draw people to
your sale by positioning your big-ticket items (sofas, furniture, power tools, lawn equipment, and bicycles) close to the sidewalk. These items show shoppers that you’re selling quality pieces. But beware the Catch-22: while you want these items to sell, you don’t want to lose their welcoming power too early in the sale. Overprice them at first or ask shoppers to come to you with a price. If a piece doesn’t seem to generate much interest, slash the price sooner than later.
From the outside it is pretty nondescript, but inside is a total different story. From the decor to the servers clothes you definitely get that rockabilly feel. All this adds to the experience when you eat here. When a local place puts that much effort into your surroundings you know the food is going to be great, and Lucy’s does not disappoint. Let’s talk about the food, for starters they offer several appetizers, my favorite being the Jalapeño Poppers. They are your traditional Texas popper with Jalapeños, cheese and bacon, served with a ranch dipping sauce. For an appetizer they give you large portion. Other appetizers being offered are tater tots, chili cheese fries and cheese fries. Now when your restaurant has the name Big in it you have to live up to that and with a ½ pound burger that they do. The burgers are handmade daily and you can taste the freshness in every bite. There are variety of Burgers to choose from, including your traditional burger, a Bleu Cheese burger and a
2.Take out a ton of change. Many shoppers will want to pay with $20 bills, so make sure you’ve got a hefty supply of fives and tens. Price all of your items in 25-cent increments. That way, you’ll only need to stock up on quarters (take out at least two $10 rolls from the bank). Keep incoming change organized in your moneybox using a disposable muffin tin (use the other tins to display small knickknacks like jewelry).
Swiss Mushroom burger. If you like Green Chile then you have to try their version, one of the best I have had. They also have signature burgers, The Texan Burner and the Hawaiian, both of which are on my to try list. Depending on your appetite you could order your burger with a smaller ¼ pound patty or if you are extra hungry you can add a patty. If a burger is not the mood of the day they have chicken breast sandwiches, jumbo chili cheese dogs and a savory frito pie. If all this is not enough and you still have room for dessert, they have their own delectable homemade ice cream. Trust me even if you didn’t have the room, you will be happy you had the ice cream.
3.Make pricing a science. Each item at Chili pie
This article originally appeared on The Abilene Post website
www.the abilenepost.com
your sale should have a price tag with a reasonable price. If you’re unsure what certain items should sell for, visit your local Goodwill or Salvation Army and browse the prices of similar items. Expect most clothes to sell between $2 and $12, books and DVDs to sell between 50 cents and $1, and furniture to sell between $15 and $50. Bigger ticket items should be priced around one-third of their original price.
4.Keep your items organized. Your
yard sale should have a natural flow. Big-ticket items should be front and center and similar items should be grouped together. Hang clothes and organize them by size (baby, toddler, child, adult) and style (casual and formal). If you don’t have clothes racks, get creative: Try running a string from the porch to a tree out front.
5.Get the word out. Post your yard sale
on Craigslist and make it an event on Facebook. As for signs, hang them the night before. Check Pinterest for creative, eye-catching designs. Hang them at your local grocery store, gym, and other community centers.
www.brileyformayor.com Pol. Adv. Paid for by Friends of Robert O. Briley; Mark Hudson, Treasurer; 3102 S. Clack, Abilene, Texas 79606.
54 | BUSINESS | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Big Brothers Big Sisters Announces New Director of Public Relations & Recruiting Megan Tolle is the new Director of Public Relations & Recruiting for Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) in Abilene. She joined the team on February 28 after spending four years working with Connecting Caring Communities. Megan has previous experience in youth ministry, children’s ministry and working in mental health. “I am so excited to have Megan on board. She will do great things in advancing our mission and allowing us to help more kids in West Central Texas. She has a lot of great non-profit experience and a heart for improving the lives of people around her,” said Mark Rogers, Abilene Market President of BBBS. Megan was raised in Colorado City. She moved to Abilene in 2007 to attend Hardin-Simmons University where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in youth ministry then a Master’s degree in family ministry at Logsdon Seminary. Megan has always loved the Abilene community and is happy to have called it home for 10 years. Megan is already enjoying her work with BBBS and is looking forward to getting out in the community to meet and engage with those interested in making a difference through involvement with BBBS. Megan explains, “I am passionate about helping people discover their potential and purpose in life and BBBS gives both its volunteers and the children it serves that opportunity. I am excited to engage more Abilenians in the mission of BBBS.” For more information about Big Brothers Big Sisters, please visit bbbstx.org.
Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country
Nana’s Boutique Goes The Extra Mile for Customers
Pick us up at Dairy Queen, First Financial Bank & Daniela’s Tex Mex | BUSINESS | 55
By Caitlin Richards | HispanicLife Magazine
After stepping through the pink doors at Nana’s Boutique, customers will find not only sweet deals but the sweetest shop owner, Virginia Tollett. What started as a second career in her 60’s for Virginia has turned into something more. “We strive really hard to give that extra service and to go the extra mile,” Virginia said. “Nana’s Boutique is a different kind of shop. We take care of our customers.” Of course, Virginia takes care of her customers from a retail standpoint. No lady who comes in will leave without a fabulous outfit. It is truly a shopping experience for Nana’s customers. “I want my ladies to look cute everywhere they go,” Virginia said. “I want them to feel good in what they have on.”
new clothes. “I gathered up a bunch of stuff and took it to her,” Virginia said. “She chose two or three outfits. I gave her the bill. She wrote me a check and asked why I hadn’t charged for delivery. I told her that’s just what Nana’s does.” Similarly, Virginia hopes to expand her shop by bringing her shop to the ladies at retirement communities and assisted livings.
Each lady receives personal attention from Virgina. She will tell the ladies what looks fabulous and what looks horrible to make sure they find something like feel and look good in.
didn’t call the cops but showed her grace. “I told her I wanted to pray for her,” Virginia said. “If you would of told me that is the way I would of handled that I would of said you are crazy. But I knew she needed the Gospel, and the Heavenly Father put me there to share it with her.”
“It is just a totally different kind of shop,” Virginia said. “I want my ladies to not feel obligated to buy something when they come in. I want them to get something because they can’t live without it.”
Prior to opening Nana’s Boutique, Virginia was a hairdresser and in the insurance business. However, when she was diagnosed with lung cancer she let both of her trades go because she wasn’t expected to live. Obviously, there was a greater plan for Virginia and she believes it was to open Nana’s Boutique.
Virginia has even had friends of customers come in asking for her help to look as cute as their friends. “Just because you are shut in doesn’t mean you However, Virginia does much more for her can’t wear some of the latest styles,” Virginia ladies than give them fabulous style. said. “All you have to do is call Nana’s.”
“I truly believe I am where I am supposed to be,” Virginia said. “So I can share the Gospel with those that need it, listen to the ladies that don’t have anybody else to cry or complain to, and to help cloth those who need clothing.”
“I asked myself one day what are you doing here at your age,” Virginia said. “But there are so many women who come through the door that aren’t really here to buy something.” Some of Nana’s customers just need a listening ear, like one lady who came in after recently losing her husband. Virginia spent over an hour and a half visiting with her.
To visit Nana’s Boutique and meet Virginia head to 5777 East Hwy 80 Abilene, TX 79601. Starting in April Nana’s Boutique’s hours will be Wednesday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Check out Nana’s Boutique on Facebook for more information.
Then there was the time one of her past customers called her up asking for her to bring her some outfits. She had been in a rehab center for three months and was in need of some
In the past, Virginia has also given gift certificates to churches to share with ladies who might need a new outfit, because they can’t afford it or just simply need a pick-me-up. “I truly believe what you share multiplies,” Virginia said. “I hope someday to be able to do that with several churches and not just one.” The most generous thing Virginia perhaps ever did though was to her first shoplifter. After the shoplifter attempted to steal a necklace from Nana’s and Virginia caught her, she