March 2018 for issuu

Pick us up at Long John Silver, Drug Emporium & Los Arcos Mex Rest | COMMUNITY | 3

MARCH 2018

Volume 8, Issue 11

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 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.

Spring time is here, get those closets and garages cleaned out! Get outside, pick out some nice brightly colored flowers and plant them in your yard, Spring is in the air.

Many of us do Spring cleaning during this time which is great, don’t forget that someone’s trash is some else’s treasure. Pay it forward and be a blessing to others.

Here in the Big Country we have many different types of ministries & facilities that would greatly appreciate your donations.

Enjoy the nice weather, take a walk in the park, visit our zoo or just enjoy time outdoors.

Too many of us get distracted with television; not to mention those sneaky little devices in our hands that we can’t seem to put down. Let us not allow our phones steal the joy of quality family time and enjoying the ones we care about most.

If you and your family are going on a Spring Break trip, be safe, buckle up and please, ‘NO’ texting and driving.

Life is too short for a phone to cut it that much sooner.

Have a great month and as always….First God, then Family and finally Friends….

David & Amy Hernández & the girls and all the staff here at HispanicLife

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.

2018 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 19th

4 | COMMUNITY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry

Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country

CALF 2018 registration is open Children’s festival will bring Oliver Jeffers characters to life

By Abilene Cultural Affairs Council

A moose named Marcel. A penguin that is lost and found.

And a whole box of crayons on strike.

These are a few of the colorful characters of best-selling artist and author Oliver Jeffers that will be brought to life for the 7th Annual Children’s Art & Literacy Festival this summer.

Meet Jeffers himself and see his artwork at the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature. Experience three days of fun starting with a Storybook Parade, costume contest, artist’s talk and book signing Thursday night, June 7. See the unveiling of a new addition to the Storybook Sculpture Project. All day Friday and Saturday, June 8-9, enjoy dramatic readings, Paramount movies, live animals, crafts, balloons, magic shows, train rides and more.

The CALF 2018 website is now live and registration is open! Early registration prices in effect until midnight May 15. Festival passes get you into all activities except the workshops, which are an extra charge with limited seating. Sign up for workshops when you register.

Go to www.abilenecalf.com to register and see a complete list of activities!

All events Thursday night are free. Festival pass required for all events Friday and Saturday.

Nonprofit groups of 10 or more, such as day cares, may purchase discounted passes and attend a tailored schedule of events during the day on Thursday. Group Day is for nonprofit groups ONLY and the deadline to register your group is June 1. Email info@abilenecac.org to get details or to register your group.

Not Just the Right Car. The Right Car Loan.

It’s just what you wanted, and needed. A new car – reliable and problem-free, loaded with all of the latest bells and whistles.

One of its best features? The new car loan you got at First Financial.

There was no minimum to borrow, and you got a competitive rate and fast approval. Not to mention friendly, personal service right in your neighborhood. It’s enough to drive you happy!

Whether for a new car or pre-owned, the auto finance experts at First Financial will put you first.

YOU FIRST | 325-627-7200 Member FDIC

FFIN.com

COMMUNITY

LOCAL PEOPLE AND EVENTS

FIESTA is Coming!

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHT

CALL US TO ADVERTISE (325) 701-9505 209 S. Danville, Suite B-10 Email: info@hispaniclifemedia 3 .com

If you enjoy great dancing, exciting music and cultural insights, mark your calendar for April 21.

By Sandy Lowe | HispanicLife Magazine

adults as well as our community, to a true form of artistry in Mexico: textile painting.

Each aguascalientes costume that will be debuted at the Fiesta has 6 delicately hand painted panel scenes representing the customs and culture of Aguascalientes. These amazing Aguascalientes costumes are the first of their kind in the Big Country.

Community Foundation of Abilene made these costumes possible as well as a grant from the Abilene Cultural Affairs Council HeARTS for the ARTS, the Abilene ARTs Alliance and the City of Abilene.

“Our amigos from Palette of Purpose Incorporated have partnered with us to add LARGER THAN LIFE pinatas to FIESTA 2018,” says Joyce. “You don’t want to miss this and more!”

Ballet Folklorico del Big Country: Alma de Nuestras Raices started with eighteen members. Now forty-three members from ages five to forty-three are divided into three groups: Littles-ages five to eight, middles-ages nine to thirteen and adults-ages eighteen and up.

“Fiesta at the Paramount on Saturday, April 21 at 1 pm is a time for our dancers to shine,” says Director Joyce Sledge. “It is at this event that we kick off our 2018 performing season with new songs, dances and dancers.

This year, we will be debuting performances from Tabasco, Guerrero and Augascalientes.

Some of the community’s favorites will also be showcased that afternoon. We consider it a blessing to be able to represent each region that we perform in the best possible way we can. We are thankful to our award winning mentoring folklorico dance group from Grand Prairie, Almas Unidas.”

Along with Ballet Folklorico del Big Country:ADNR, an award winning mariachi group, Sol Azteca from Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy will perform. They had a phenomenal year in 2016-17 beginning with winning Mariachi Nationals of Jose Hernandez. They competed in Mariachi Vargas, where they were in the top five of that event. Mariachi Sol Azteca placed 2nd in the TAME (Texas Association of Mariachi Edu-

Tickets for Fiesta at the Paramount can be purchased at La Voz 93.3, the Hispanic Life office and Chelsea’s on South 14th. You can also call Joyce at (325) 665-9880.

This project is supported by a grant from the Abilene Cultural Affairs Council and the City of Abilene.

cators Mariachi) State Finals, and received a 1st division at the UIL State Mariachi Festival. This May, they are scheduled to travel to Hawaii and perform at the Pearl Harbor, USS Arizona monument, bringing the joy of mariachi music to locals.

“We want to share with the community what is at the heart of Latin American/Mexican culture,” Joyce says “and celebrate the art of Ballet Folklorico as well as Mariachi.”

This year, working with Pura and SantaVelia Flores will connect our children, youth,

On October 27 Ballet Folklorico del Big Country will perform with the Abilene Philharmonic at the Dia de Los Muertos or Day of the Dead concert. A select group from the adult class will dance while the Philharmonic plays pieces from Mexican and Spaniard Composers. The younger dancers will perform in the lobby before the concert.

Registration for new dancers begins at the end of May. Practice starts in August and the new group debuts in April.

If you are interested in joining you can visit the group’s Facebook page at Ballet Folklorico del Big Country:Alma de Nuestras Raices.

6 | COMMUNITY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry

HispanicLife Media

Mockingbird Movies: “Wreck-It Ralph” March 12 at 6:30PM

Mockingbird Branch Library. Movie Summary: A video game villain wants to be a hero and sets out to fulfill his dream, but his quest brings havoc to the whole arcade where he lives.

Family Flix: “The LEGO Ninjago Movie”

March 17 at 3:00PM, Main Library. Movie Summary: Shunned by everyone for being the son of an evil warlord, a teen seeks to defeat him with the help of his fellow ninjas.

Classic Cinema: “Big Business”

March 23 at 10:30AM, Mockingbird Branch Library. Movie Summary: In the 1940s in Jupiter Hollow, two sets of twins are born in the same hospital on the same night. One set to a poor local family and the other to a rich family passing through. The nurse accidentally mixes the twins, then the story flashes forward to the 1980s where the mismatched sets of twins are about to cross paths following a big business deal.

Family Flix: “Zathura: A Space Adventure”

March 24 at 11:00AM, South Branch Library, Movie Summary: Two young brothers are drawn into an intergalactic adventure when their house is hurled through the depths of space by the magical board game they are playing.

Saturday Matinee: “Justice League”

March 24 at 2:00PM, South Branch Library. Movie Summary: Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman’s selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy.

Weekend Walk-In Flix: “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle”

March 25 at 3:00PM, South Branch Library. Movie Summary: Four teenagers are sucked into a magical video game, and the only way they can escape is to work together to finish the game.

Family Flix: “Up”

Food Protection Management Training Course Available to Food Service Establishments

By Tammie Belyeu | Texas AgriLife Extension

A two-day Food Protection Management training for food service managers in the Big Country area will be held March 26 and March 27, 2018. It will be held at the Taylor County Extension Office located on the Taylor County Expo grounds in Abilene from 8:15 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. both days.

The training will allow food establishments to meet their certification requirements if they pass the exam. The exam being used is the Prometric exam. The class covers twelve food safety concepts related to personal hygiene, cross contamination, time and temperature, sanitation, pest management, foodborne illness and related areas. The course is sponsored by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension in Taylor, Jones and Haskell Counties.

Cost for the class is $125, which includes the course book and exam. Registration information is available by calling the Taylor County Extension Office at 325-672-6048. You may also access a downloadable registration form at http:// taylor.agrilife.org.

April 14 at 11:00AM, South Branch Library. Movie Summary:Seventyeight year old Carl Fredricksen travels to Paradise Falls in his home equipped with balloons, inadvertently taking a young stowaway.

CALL US TO ADVERT (325) 701-9505 ISE

MARCH 2018

Meals on Wheels Volunteers of the Month RICHARD & JANE MELTON

Richard and Jane Melton have been a part of Meals on Wheels, Plus since the early 80’s when we moved into the new building. They have one son, Paul who is a school teacher in Rockwall, TX. The Melton’s moved to Abilene in 1985 when he was transferred here with Sears where he worked for 23 years, then retired from First Southwest Insurance after 21 years. Jane was a school teacher and worked at Herald of Truth for over 20 years. Both retired in 2001.

Richard is active in Kiwanis and Jane volunteers at the Grace Museum. Both are members of Southern Hill Church of Christ and the Abilene Philharmonic.They enjoy gardening, reading, traveling and walking their Golden Retriever, Daisy Belle.

The Melton’s both want to serve the community and love older people. “MOW makes it easy to minister to those who are in need.”

. Advertise Today! Call (325) 518-7091

Pick us up at Law Enforcement Office & Cisco College | COMMUNITY | 7

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.

SPOTLIGHT

United Way of Abilene Announces Dates for Rhythm & Blues Festival

By Bethany Ashlock | United Way of Abilene

Abilene will welcome award winning blues musicians to the 4th annual Key City Rhythm & Blues Festival on April 27 and 28, 2018 at the Nelson Park Festival Gardens, E.S. 11th and Loop 322. The two day event benefits the Community Partners of United Way of Abilene. Over the past 3 years, the event has raised $113,000.

Event tickets will go on sale Tuesday, February 20 at keycityblues.com and Eventbrite.com. Ticket buyers using code EARLY can receive a 25% discount on General Admission ticket purchases through March 10. A variety of ticket packages, ranging in price from $25 to $250, are available.

Lieutenant Jarrod Crockett joined the Abilene Fire Department in March of 2011.

He is certified as a Basic Firefighter and EMTParamedic. He currently is assigned to Station 1 on A shift.

On both Friday and Saturday nights, nationally recognized and award-winning blues musicians including Marcia Ball, Tommy Castro, Damon Fowler, Ruthie Foster, and Jimmy D. Lane. Local artists will also share the stage. A Saturday morning Gospel Brunch will also occur.

“We were delighted with the success of the Key City Rhythm & Blues Festival over the last 3 years,” said Cathy Ashby, United Way of Abilene president/CEO. “Proceeds from this unique event will help our partners continue to focus on their work in education, income, and health – the building blocks for strong families and thriving communities.”

Firefighter Joshua Horelica joined

the Abilene Fire Department in April of 2017. He is certified as a Basic Firefighter and EMT-Paramedic. He currently is assigned to Station 7 on B shift.

The Day Nursery of Abilene will host its 25th Annual Mexican Dinner fundraiser on Saturday March 24, 2018 at the Abilene High School West Cafeteria. Enchiladas, rice, beans, salad, (from Taco Bueno) and ice tea will be served from 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm. Tickets are $7.00 in advance and $8.00 at the door.

Children’s tickets are $5.00 each and will be sold only at the door.

Entertainment will be provided by the Ballet Folklorico at 5:30 pm. Dessert and takeout meals will also be available. Event volunteer oppor-

tunities are also available. If interested, please sign up at: http://signup.com/go/KRyboUy. For tickets and more information, please visit the website www.daynurseryabilene. org, or contact the Day Nursery Administrator office at (325) 673-1100.

Support Day Nursery of Abilene by shopping Amazon Smile. You Shop. Amazon Gives.

8 | COMMUNITY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry

Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country

Medal of Valor awarded to Big Spring Highway Patrol Officer

PRE-OWNED

U O T W O L !

B SALE

A Big Spring woman received the Department of Public Safety’s top honor last week at an awards ceremony in Austin.

Texas Highway Patrol Cpl. Hope Hohertz was awarded the Medal of Valor, stemming from an incident that occurred Dec. 26, 2016, according to a DPS news release.

6,999 5,999 $ 6,999 $ 7,999 $ 8,399 $ 6,999 $ 3,999 $ 11,999 $ 6,999 $ 5,599 $ 3,999 $ 3,999 $ 6,999 $ 7,999 $

$

*Mention this ad and get a 20% Discount on In Stock Motorcycle Apparel, when you buy a used motorcycle.

KENT’S

Hohertz overheard a Big Spring Police Department dispatch report of a person with a gun at a local business and responded to assist the police department in a traffic stop of a suspect armed with a handgun and rifle, the release states.

10400633

2009 Yamaha XVS19 Stratoliner, Maroon, 11,000 miles 2015 Yamaha XVS95 Bolt, Silver, 5,500 Miles 2014 Yamaha XVS95T Red/Black, 6,800 Miles 2013 Yamaha XVS1700, Blue, 35,000 Miles 2014 Yamaha XVS1300T, Silver, 5,300 Miles 2015 Kawasaki VN900, White, Low Miles 2009 Suzuki VZ8002K, Orange, 7,800 Miles 2015 Ducati Diavel Dark, Black, 7,000 Miles 2016 Suzuki GSX-S100AL6, Blue/White, 100 Miles 2011 Suzuki AN650, Silver, 1,000 Miles 2001 Harley-Davidson XL1200C, Silver, 25,000 Miles 2005 Harley-Davidson XL1200C, Gray, Customized 2009 Harley-Davidson XL1200C, Black, 16,000 Miles 2013 Harley Davidson XL1200C, Black, 4,000 Miles ALL PRICES +T,T, &L

By Sabrina Roberts | San Angelo Standard-Times

HARLEY-DAVIDSON • HONDA • SUZUKI 3106 S. CLACK • ABILENE, TEXAS Lots More to Choose From!

Give Us a Call! 325-673-7103 • 866-673-7103 Toll Free

WWW.KENTSCYCLES.COM

In addition to Hohertz’s award, DPS Director Steven McCraw presented two Lifesaving Awards, three Director’s Awards and 64 Director’s Citations “All of our award recipients have demonstrated the type of commitment to duty and courage that makes Texans feel so fortunate to live in this great state,” said McCraw. “We are proud of these men and women who ex-

The suspect pointed a handgun with a silencer at Hohertz, according to the release, and Hohertz responded by firing at the suspect, who fled in his vehicle as more officers arrived.

Hohertz located the man as he left his vehicle with the semi-automatic rifle. He fired 28 rounds Cpl. Hope Hohertz, Texas Highway Patrol-Big Spring, received a Medal of at authorities, injuring a Valor from Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw and Big Spring police officer. the Texas Public Safety Commission. (Photo: Contributed photo) When the suspect tried to reload his weapon, the release states, Hohertz opened fire with her emplify the finest attributes of public service shotgun, wounding the suspect and bringing the in their everyday duties and in the critical moments when their selflessness and quick acstandoff to an end. tion saved lives and protected Texans.”

Multiple loaded handgun and semi-automatic rifle magazines were found in the vehicle. The Information about the other awards can be suspect was later convicted and sentenced to 20 found at www.dps.texas.gov/director_staff/ media_and_communications/pr/2018/0227a. years in prison.

Pick us up at Alfonso Hernandez Bakery, Mr. Jiffy & Daniela’s Tex-Mex Rest | COMMUNITY | 9

Heaven ◘ ‘El Cielo’

By Billy Graham

If you have never given your life to Jesus Christ, of if you are unsure of your eternal destiny, I invite you to turn to Him now. By a simple prayer of repentance and faith, you can give your life to Him today. Perhaps the folThe Bible has much to say about the brevity lowing prayer will help you make your comof life and the necessity of preparing for eter- mitment: nity. Someday this life will come to an end – but what then? The Bible is clear: Ahead O God, I know I am a sinner. I am sorry for of us is eternity, either with God in Heaven my sins, and I want to turn from them. I trust or in that place of utter loneliness and despair Jesus Christ alone as my Savior, and I conthe Bible calls Hell. But we do not need to fess Him as my Lord. From this moment on, fear the future, because God has provided the I want to serve Him and follow Him in the way for us to be saved and to be with Him fellowship of his church. In Christ’s Name I throughout eternity. That way is Jesus Christ, pray, amen. who gave His life for us on the cross and then conquered sin and Hell by His resurrection If you sincerely prayed that prayer, God heard you and you are now part of His family forfrom the dead. ever. Your sins have been forgiven, and His I am convinced that we will never be prepared Spirit now lives within you to help you live a to live until we are prepared to die. God has new life. And someday He will welcome you a plan for us right now, and life’s greatest joy into Heaven – your final home. comes from knowing Him and living for Him From The Heaven Answer Book by Billy Graham each day.

If you and I could sit together for a few minutes to talk about the subject of heaven, I would very much want to share the following thought with you.

10 | COMMUNITY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry

South Branch Library Introduces Busy Bags

By Alyssa Crow | South Branch Library Manager

The South Branch Library would like to introduce Busy Bags - a new collection of activities offered for use while in the library. These bags are currently available and are located in the Children’s Area next to the puzzles. But just what is a Busy Bag? Busy Bags are an excellent way to keep toddlers and preschoolers quietly occupied with simple learning tasks while in the library. The main idea behind a busy bag is to participate in independent learning.

Busy Bags contain simple activities for toddlers or preschoolers that are always ready to go.

Each bag includes one engaging activity that a child can do on their own, and they are great for playing during quiet time, or to keep them busy either before and after storytime, or while mom or dad look for books or complete a task on the computer. Each bag uses simple, inexpensive materials like pom poms, craft sticks, and/or printables which are then stored in a plastic hanging bag children to decide which to do. Some children can complete a bag quickly, while others will find them a bit more challenging.

lize recycled goods. The bags are also fun and meaningful in that they teach something or reinforce a skill - like counting, identifying letters and colors, completing puzzles, practicing gross motor skills, matching, etc. The bags have a clear theme and purpose, so a child will be able to understand how to complete it and take ownership of their learning and how they choose to spend their time in the library.

There are currently 32 Busy Bags ready for use at the South Branch Library with plans to expand the offerings after a few months of use and a positive response from patrons. Please come into the library and see this new collection for yourself.

Some Busy Bags examples include: • Match the front and back of each animal.

• Choose the correct upper and lowercase letter.

• Sort the buttons.

• Lace around the shapes.

• Build the butterfly

• Finish the patterns.

• Sort by fruit or vegetable.

• Complete the puzzle.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Alyssa Crow at the Each Busy Bag has only a few items so that South Branch Library in the Mall of Abilene, they are not difficult to clean up when finished 325-698-7565. and all items are easily replaceable and uti-

HispanicLife Media

. Advertise Today! Call (325) 701-9505

Pick us up at Taqueria Riojas & Texas Workforce Center | COMMUNITY | 11

“Let’s Make a Business Deal!”

Abilene Chamber of Commerce to host 34th Business Expo on March 28

By Kim Bosher | Director of Events, Abilene Chamber of Commerce

The Abilene Business Council of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce invites you to join them as they host a game show themed Business EXPO Wednesday, March 28 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Abilene Convention Center.

Sponsored by Arrow Ford, Pest Patrol and Black Plumbing, this year’s event will feature over 220 exhibitors, game shows on the Coca Cola Southwest Beverage Stage featuring Chamber committee members.

work with people who can help you grow your business.

After visiting exhibitors, make plans to attend Business After Hours and the Live Auction from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the upstairs conference room where booth awards will be presented . There will be a cash bar and complimentary hors d’oeuvres thanks to our Business After Hours sponsors – First Bank Texas, United Market Street, and a Live Auction sponsored by LMB Real Estate Group.

Tickets can be purchased by non-members at the Chamber for $5.00 or at the door for $10.00. Chamber members get free tickets.

The Taylor Electric Food truck Court will feature local Abilene food trucks such as Stillwater BBQ, the Toasted Traveller, 5C Smokehouse BBQ and Selections from Ja- For more events and a detailed schedule, son’s Deli. Come grab a bite to eat and net- please visit http://abilenechamber.com

12 | COMMUNITY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry

Abilene boy becomes Airman for a day

By Airman 1st Class Emily Copeland, 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

Caleb Sanders, center, takes a group photo with family and Dyess members in front of the B-1B Lancer and C-130J Super Hercules at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, Feb. 28, 2018. Sanders is a 13-year-old boy who was recently diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, a highly aggressive and difficult to treat brain tumor found at the base of the brain. After his diagnosis, Sanders was given the opportunity to tour Dyess and its two airframes, the B-1B Lancer and C-130J Super Hercules. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Emily Copeland)

Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country

Pick us up at Drug Emporium, Monterrey Mex Rest & Lytle Land & Cattle | COMMUNITY | 13

Homeschoolers Renovate Butterfly Garden at Abilene Zoo

By Abilene Zoo

We are a group of 5th - 8th grade homeschool students that are part of a Roots & Shoots class that is based at the Abilene Zoo. Roots and Shoots is a program started by Jane Goodall, where kids like us design a service project that benefits our local community, animals, and the environment.

For our project, we have chosen to renovate a butterfly garden within the Abilene Zoo. In the space we have chosen, we will relocate the current plants and replace them with native butterfly and pollinator friendly plants. We think the updated butterfly garden will be a great addition to the zoo. It will be a good place for the butterflies and other pollinators to eat, lay eggs, and find shelter.

It will also be a beautiful place for zoo guests to enjoy.

There is a lot that goes into creating our butterfly garden. Our group isn’t just focused on

We hope to bring more butterflies to the Abilene Zoo and educate people about how to make their own butterfly gardens at home. We hope you come see it soon!

Here are some tips on how to make your own butterfly garden at home:

1. Research some of the native

plants in your area that attract butterflies. Be sure to have some host plants which provide a place for the butterfly to lay their eggs and food for the caterpillar. You will also need planting our garden, we are doing all of our plants that provide food for adult butterflies. own fundraising, researching local plants and Butterfly friendly plants include Butterfly local butterfly species, creating educational weed, Parsley, Bluebonnets, and Marigolds. materials to help teach people about the importance of butterflies, and doing all of our Choose a variety colors. Butterflies are own PR (like writing this newsletter!). We usually attracted to bright colors. get to work with zoo staff to help us along the way, including some awesome horticulturists It is very important to water the plants and our zoo class teacher, Ms. Paige. regularly, and follow the directions on how to care for your individual plants.

2.

3.

New Art Gallery To Have Grand Opening

By Abilene Reporter-News Calypso Gallery, at 1133 N. Second St., will conduct a grand opening celebration from 6-8:30 p.m. March 24. Artists will be present to meet with guests. The gallery will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.

14 | COMMUNITY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry

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

Samuel Lopez, 66, of Abilene, passed away Thursday, February 22, 2018.

Mr. Lopez was born September 22, 1951, in Munday, Texas to Secundino Lopez and Josefa Araujo Lopez. Samuel was the youngest of ten Children.

He grew up and graduated high school in Munday and on October 21, 1974 he decided to join the service. Samuel served honorably in the U.S. Army. He was a person that liked to travel from city to city. Samuel had different jobs in his lifetime, but landscaping was what he enjoyed the most. He spent his last few years in Dallas before coming back to Abilene. Samuel will be missed by his sisters, brothers, nephews, nieces, friends and all who knew and loved him.

Survivors include five sisters, Carmen Yruegas, Celia Sanchez, both of Munday, Esperanza Mendoza (Bernabe), Consuelo Gonzalez (Tomas), both of Abilene and Carolina Soto of Amarillo; three brothers, Modesto Lopez (Lucila) of Ft. Worth, Felipe Lopez (Elva) of Abilene and Pete Lopez (Rosa) of Amarillo Mr. Lopez was preceded in death by his parents and a brother.

Honored to be pallbearers include Fabian Lopez, Bernabe Mendoza, Johnny Lopez, Noe Lopez, Joe Yruegas Jr. and Johnny Gutierrez. Honorary pallbearer will be Gabriel Lopez.

Edward Douglas Underwood, 84, passed away Wednesday, February 21, 2018.

Mr. Underwood was born July 14, 1933, in Abilene, Texas to Alonzo and Isabel Underwood. Douglas had recently accepted Jesus as his Savior. He was a good man who believed in protecting family and country. He retired honorably serving in both the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force from 1951 through 1973. Mr. Underwood was in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars, receiving service metals, conduct metals and an expert as a helicopter gunner, expert with the M-14 and M-16. He was military police, aircraft mechanic and flight engineer during his military career.

Douglas enjoyed family gatherings, dancing, fishing, ranching and watching western movies. He was a great man that deserves recognition for all the things he accomplished.

Left to cherish his memories include three sons, Ruben Underwood, Ricky Underwood and George Underwood; four sisters, Betty Jo Sherrell, Laverne Staton, Sharon Reeves and Darla “Pepper” Thompson; numerous grandchildren nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Mr. Underwood was preceded in death by his loving wife, Betty Underwood; his parents; a daughter, Angie

HispanicLife Media

Underwood; one sister, Sue Henley; and three brothers, A.W. Underwood, Calvin Underwood and Tex Underwood.

Martha “Rachel” Moncibais, 61, of Abilene, passed away Wednesday, February 21, 2018 at a local hospital.

Mrs. Moncibais was born July 29, 1956, in Abilene, Texas to Richard Aguirre and Lucia Barrera Aguirre. Rachel was a first grade teacher 29 years for the Abilene Independent School District. She enjoyed going to garage sales, loved watching movies, old family shows like “Family Feud” and most of all just taking road trips. It did not have to be anywhere specific, just get in her car and go. Rachel loved watching her family members participate in live sporting events. We will miss the impact she had in everyone’s life.

Survivors include her husband, David R. Moncibais of Abilene; three sons, Marcus Moncibais (Lisa) of Abilene, Marty Moncibais (Sharon) of Lewisville, Texas and Matthew Moncibais of Abilene; four brothers, Ruben Aguirre of Abilene, Richard Aguirre (Shari) of El Paso, Gilbert Aguirre (Dominique) and David Aguirre (Carmen), both of Abilene; two sisters, Zulema Santiago and Elsa Rivas (Manuel), both of Abilene; two grandchildren, Jalen and Dylan Moncibais of Abilene; and her three adorable pets, “Missy”, “Mocha” and “Sandy”. Mrs. Moncibais was preceded in death by her parents.

Reverend Basilio B. Esquivel, 84, of Abilene, passed away Sunday, March 04, 2018 at a local Hospital. Rev. Esquivel was born November 14, 1933, in Del Rio, Texas to Zaragosa Esquivel and Bertha Balderas Esquivel. He spent most of his life teaching the words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ where ever he went. Basilio had years of missionary work in Mexico around the Rio Grand and Big Bend Areas. There were no strangers to Basilio, he would pour his life’s experiences and bible knowledge into anyone that was willing to listen. Rev. Esquivel enjoyed riding motorcycles, so much that he became a Christian Organization Chaplain for many of the riders. His last teachings in Abilene were with Templo Bautista Church and some in Ballinger, Texas. Two things that were always with him and never changed was the love he had for the Lord and the love he had for his adorable wife of 56 years, Pauline.

Survivors include his wife, Pauline of Abilene; three sons, Joel Esquivel (Irene), Gabriel Esquivel (Sally) and Abel Esquivel (Diana Lisa), all of Abilene; two brothers, Manuel Esquivel (Gloria) of Ft. Worth, Texas and Zaragosa Esquivel Jr. (Amparo) of Eldorado, Texas; one sister, Cecilia Benavides of Lubbock, Texas; twelve grandchildren; twenty-eight great grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Mr. Esquivel was preceded in death by his parents, Zaragosa and Bertha Esquivel, a son, Ismael Esquivel and two sisters, Olivia Mata and Ester Soto.

Honored to be pallbearers will be his grandsons.

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

. Advertise Today! Call (325) 701-9505

Pick us up at Alfredo’s, Gloria’s Grill and Kentucky Fried Chicken | COMMUNITY | 15

City of Abilene to Offer 1,000 $20 Spay/Neuter Vouchers

By Erica Garner | BigCountryHomePage.com

The City of Abilene will be offering $20 spay/ make spay and neuter operations the followneuter vouchers for 1,000 pets with the aid of a ing costs: $33,000 grant from PetSmart Charities.

Dog Neuter less than 60lbs - $40.00 Pet owners can apply for the vouchers by Dog Neuter greater than 60lbs - $60.00 email: abilene.animalservices@abilenetx.gov. Dog Spay less than 20lbs - $50.00 Dog Spay 20-40lbs - $60.00 “We are very excited to receive a $33,000 Dog Spay 41-60lbs - $70.00 grant from PetSmart Charities. Abilene Ani- Dog Spay greater than 60lbs - $80.00 mal Services has never before been able to of- Cat Neuter - $30 fer this opportunity to the public. Our goal is Cat Spay - $40 that by helping the public spay/neuter their pet it will result in fewer unwanted pets that make In addition to the PetSmart grant, Animal their way to the Shelter,” said Animal Services Services and the Community Foundation of Director Mirenda Walden.

Abilene have raised a collective $30,000 to fund the low-cost spay/neuter vouchers, and During Thursday’s City Council meeting, additional donations are expected. Rescue the members also discussed the possibility of Animals has also agreed to make a generous changing the current City of Abilene animal matching donation . ordinance to allow for permanent low-cost spay/neuter options.

The proposed ordinance changes have to finish making their way through the City Council The proposed ordinance change would al- process before anything official is instated. low the City to give out vouchers the would

16 | COMMUNITY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry

Abilene Public Library Receives Statewide Award

By Lori Grumet | Library Director, Abilene Public Library

Abilene Public Library has been recognized by the Texas Municipal Library Directors Association with the 2017 Texas Achievement in Library Excellence Award.

Libraries awarded this honor are required to meet a high level of excellence in their programming and services. To be considered, recipients are required to demonstrate quality services across ten criteria.

This year, only 52 libraries out of 548 Texas public library systems have been awarded this honor. This means Abilene Public Library is in the top 10% of public libraries in the entire state of Texas. APL last received this honor in 2012.

City Library Director Lori Grumet says “This is indeed an honor that reflects on the entire staff of APL, and the city which values and provides quality library services and programs for the continued education and personal enrichment of its residents.�

Grumet will accept the award on behalf of the Library and the city in April at the annual Texas Library Association Annual Conference in Dallas.

Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country

EDUCATION

LOCAL SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY NEWS

Cloudy Day

by Ivan Martinez

Award-Winning CHS Artists’ Works in Full Bloom This Spring

By Abilene Independent School District

Students in Cooper High School’s Art and Photography classes have been learning about the elements and principles of design. Portraits, sculptures, still life, and digital art and media have been exhibited in recent shows and competitions.

On Feb. 3, art and photography students traveled to Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls to participate in 27th Annual High School Art Competition. A total of 44 works from CHS students were exhibited in the show along with works from students throughout the state.

The work of AISD Advanced Placement art and photography students will be exhibited in the Abilene Education Foundation’s Young Masters Juried Art Exhibition March 30 – April 14th at The Grace Museum. The scholarship and awards reception will be March 29 at 5:30 pm.

Recognitions for Cooper students included one first place, three second places, and seven honorable mention awards in a variety of categories.

In addition, photography students were recognized with three Silver Key awards and two honorable mention awards in the January Scholastic Art and Writing Competition.

There are two upcoming opportunities to view the work of these talented young artists.

Abilene ISD students will have work included in the Youth Art Month celebration February 22- March 22 at The Grace Museum. The opening reception will be will be on February 22 from 5:30 pm to 7 pm.

Lacy Dodson

Ivan Martinez

18 | EDUCATION | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry

10 Things Your Kids Won’t Learn in College

By AllProDad.com

I’ll never forget when I received the news. A teenager I had befriended while he was in high school had been arrested in his college town for selling drugs. It didn’t make sense to me. He always struck me as such a good kid. He was rarely in trouble at all, let alone the trouble he was now facing with the law. I wondered how this kid, who seemed so great, could go off to college and start selling drugs. Somehow during the preparation for life, he missed something.

What did he miss while growing up?

College teaches a lot of things, but there is plenty it won’t teach you. There are things we need to prepare kids for before they go to give them the framework they need to thrive, not only in college but beyond. Here are 10 important ones.

5. Making and Keeping Friends - The

most important part is to be yourself and expect the same from your friend. If you are not being accepted for who you are, or vice versa, then the friendship is not real. They are an acquaintance.

Friends come in all sizes, shapes, and colors. An open mind is needed to find them and a loving heart is needed to keep them.

6. Developing Self-Discipline - Later in

life, will your son or daughter have the ability to say no under pressure because it’s the right thing to do? Eventually, each person becomes solely responsible for their own actions, successes, and failures. Self-discipline and the ability to apply it will largely determine how well it all goes. As is usually the case, leading by example as a parent will set the tone for your child.

1. Strong Morals and Common Decency - It is imperative to our future that we 7. Courage and Faith - Most times, the give our children the most basic understanding of right and wrong. That we apply the Golden Rule to our own lives and instill it in our children as well. Our kids need to know that without honesty and integrity they have nothing.

2. Perseverance and Stamina - One of

the most difficult things to teach a young person is that disappointment is not the end of the road.

Their limited experience makes it hard for them to understand that something new and amazing is potentially around the corner. Troubles will always come and go. Perseverance to never give up sees us through the most difficult times.

There always has been and always will be a light at the end of the tunnel. Teach them how to find it.

3. Developing Self-Confidence - Every-

one has insecurities. If we allow our feelings of insecurity to dominate our lives, we will miss great opportunities. Confidence grows when we understand our limitations, while also determining and developing what our strengths are. Even our weaknesses can become strengths when we are able to see them clearly. Make sure your child feels worthy of love and belonging.

easiest way out is the wrong way. The right way is usually a lonely, dark, bumpy road that leaves us unsure and afraid at first sight. Courage and faith allow us to place our feet on that narrow path and only then do we realize that we took the right road. Teaching a child to be courageous and faithful is a long process of example, discussion, and experience.

8. Generosity and Loyalty - If you want

your child to think only of himself, then just sit back and let culture do the work. However, if you want to raise the bar, then take every opportunity to teach the opposite. Generosity is the ability to sacrifice for the happiness or benefit of another. As for loyalty, it is summed up well in a quote from Bobby Bowden, “The starting point for any great relationship is loyalty.” No loyalty, no great relationships.

9. Unique Identity - If not for unique,

free-thinking individuals throughout history, we would have never moved past the cave. We all have gifts that are special and needed in the world. Discovering those talents and developing them are essential not only for our own fulfillment but for society as a whole.

4. Money Management - The simplest 10. Finding and Keeping a Spouse way to teach this is having them learn the true value of their dollars. Put them on a budget and force them to live within it. Without a true appreciation of how difficult it is to earn and keep wealth, they may wind up in debt. Give them chores around the house to earn money and then teach them to share, save, and spend.

Respect plays an extremely important role in a successful marriage. Teach your children to choose a spouse that they not only love but respect as a human being. Someone of common values that they enjoy spending time with. With a foundation of respect and love, they will be able to weather the storms of life together.

www.facebook.com/HispanicLifeMagazine

. Advertise Today! Call (325) 518-7091

MAKING

A+ DIFFERENCE

KRISTA MILLER MEET

DEPARTMENT/CAMPUS: School

Clack

Middle

WHERE ARE YOU FROM? WHAT SCHOOL DID YOU ATTEND? I was born in Amarillo but moved to Abilene during elementary school. I do consider Abilene my home. I received my Bachelor of Behavioral Science degree in Psychology from Hardin-Simmons University and received my Master of Science degree in Psychology from Abilene Christian University.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB? My favorite part of my job is

By Abilene Independent School District

Sophomore Nathaniel Morris and freshman Dillon Otero accompanied CHS Information Technology teacher Roger Hall for the event, which featured lectures, lessons in parliamentary procedures, mock debates and meetings with legislators.

YEARS WITH AISD: 8 years

TELL US SOMETHING INTERESTING ABOUT YOURSELF: I began teaching at 40 years old! I always said I would never be a teacher because I grew up with a teacher mother and witnessed her long hours, weekends changing out bulletin boards, and constant grading of papers. However, due to an unexpected life change, I decided to obtain my teaching certificate, and my only regret is I didn’t do it sooner! I can’t imagine doing anything else!

CHS Students Participate In SkillsUSA Legislative Day Two Cooper High School students joined Students also toured the state capitol and visCareer & Technical Education students from ited with legislators from their home district across the state for the SkillsUSA Texas Leg- about CTE issues. islative Day held Feb. 11-12 in Austin.

TITLE: Leveled Literacy Intervention (LLI)/ Reading Improvement Teacher

TELLS US ABOUT YOUR FAMILY: My police officer husband, Jeff, and I have been married for six years and have six children between the two of us. My oldest son, Adam, is a Reservist in the United States Marine Corps, works, and attends Cisco College. My youngest son, Nathan, is a freshman at Cooper High School and plays soccer.

Pick us up at First Financial Bank inside both WalMart’s | EDUCATION | 19

building relationships with my students. I love getting to know my students’ quirks, interests, and what makes them tick. I enjoy that every day is a different day in the classroom. I enjoy the students’ curiosity, laughter and honesty.

Most of all, I enjoy getting to be a part of my students’ journey through life, and hopefully, making some small impact or memory that might make a difference.

WHAT THE BOSS SAYS ABOUT HER: “Krista Miller is the perfect teammate. Rarely absent, versatile, focused, positive, and fearless in every situation. She is the teacher that will take the most challenging situation and turn it into a cakewalk. More than likely she is a ninja in her spare time.” – Todd Bramwell, Principal, Clack Middle School

The highlighting the educational trip came Monday morning when students debated two issues on the floor of the Texas House of Representatives. After researching topics, two mock bills about lowering the age to receive a driv- For more information about the SkillsUSA er’s license and free college tuition for high- Texas Legislative Day, go to http://www. demand occupations were presented and de- skillsusatx.org/skillsusa-day/. bated by the attendees.

20 | EDUCATION | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry

Sports Alliance Scholarship Applications Available

By Marty Martinez | Abilene Sports Alliance The Abilene Sports Alliance will award $10,000 in scholarships to graduating student athletes this spring. One male and one female athlete from Abilene Christian, Abilene, Cooper, and Wylie high schools will receive this award.

Applications may be picked up in the high school Counselor’s office, from the Athletic Coordinator/Director at each campus or downloaded from http://www.abilenevisitors.com/Sports-Alliance-Scholarships.

The completed application must be turned in to the campus Athletic Coordinator/Director by April 6.

The hugely successful Champions Classic held annually has allowed the Sports Alliance to distribute these scholarships; to date $110,000 has been awarded to local graduates. Football season is kicked off West Texas Style with this exciting weekend, generating enthusiasm, not only locally, but at the state and national level.

The Sports Alliance is a committee under the Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau an affiliate of the Chamber of Commerce.

The Sports Alliance was created to generate revenue to the local economy through sporting events. The goals are to increase existing tournaments and create new ones, have an enthusiastic volunteer base and offer scholarships.

Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country

TSTC Student Receives Guitar Once Used by Famous Rock Band

Pick us up at Monterrey Mexican Restaurant, H.E.B. & CISCO College | EDUCATION | 21

By Debra Gonzalez | Texas State Technical College

In the wake of the Bluebonnet Inn dorm fire at Texas State Technical College in Sweetwater, one student had a special request. Isaiah Ornelaz, an Automotive Technology student and avid guitar player, just wanted his guitar replaced.

talking about it, and then they showed up with a guitar.”

When TSTC employees heard of the request, Rene Ralston, TSTC’s director of Dual Enrollment programs, made a post on her personal Facebook page, asking if anyone might have a guitar they would be willing to donate.

She soon had a response.

“I played it all last night. It’s awesome,” he said.

“I looked up some songs [by America.] They’re pretty good. I’ll listen to them quite a bit now.”

Maggie Dickey, owner of Sweetwater Performing Arts Center and wife of the late David Dickey, bassist of the band America, told Ralston she might have a guitar for Ornelaz.

He wasted no time in playing and even looked up music by America, whose music he hadn’t previously heard.

David Dickey, a Sweetwater resident since 1996, joined America in 1972. The band produced hits like “A Horse with No Name,” “Ventura Highway,” “Hat Trick” and “Sister Golden Hair.”

“When we asked Maggie if she was sure she wanted to do this, her answer was, ‘electric or acoustic?,’” Ralston said. “Maggie took the guitar to Abilene on Saturday, had new strings put on it, had it tuned and bought Isaiah a new guitar case.”

Ornelaz said he mentioned the guitar in conversation with TSTC employees he talks to often.

“I talk to them a lot, so they knew I play the guitar,” he said. “When the fire happened, I was like, ‘Aw, I lost my guitar,’ and later they asked me if I had an electric or acoustic.”

The guitar was presented to Ornelaz on Monday at a gathering TSTC Chancellor Mike Reeser held to speak to the students affected by the fire.

TSTC Dual Enrollment Director Rene Ralston presents Auto“I’m a guitar player, too, and I want motive student Isaiah Ornelaz with a guitar formerly owned you to know that if I lost one of my by David Dickey. guitars in a fire, I would really be upset,” Reeser told Ornelaz. “I happened to hear this morning that there are some em- In all, 28 students were left without their belongployees trying to make sure you get your ings because of the dorm fire. The college and the guitar. I knew David Dickey, and he’s quite community have rallied together to recoup the stuliterally a rock star. He’s the real deal.” dents’ lost items and necessities like clothing and books.

Ornelaz was shocked to receive the gift.

Those interested in donating to the students can “I was pretty surprised,” he said. “I just give to the Sweetwater Fire Emergency Relief thought he knew I played guitar and was Fund at foundation.tstc.edu.

McMurry University now offers online degrees in business, nursing and criminal justice that fit your life and goals. The online degree programs are transfer-friendly, convenient and affordable.

McMurry University is your community to flourish academically, personally and professionally.

For more information contact your online enrollment counselor Caroline Park at 325-793-4710 or park.caroline@mcm.edu and begin your path to success.

online.mcm.edu

22 | EDUCATION | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry

TSTC Names Rick Denbow Provost

By Debra Gonzalez | Texas State Technical College

Texas State Technical College has named pus in West Texas is unique and one of my goals Rick Denbow as the Provost over its four West is to make sure we grow at each of our four camTexas campuses. Denbow served as Interim puses.”

Provost for the campuses since May. TSTC Vice Chancellor & Chief Marketing OfAlong with functioning as Interim Provost, ficer Jeff Kilgore said he is excited to welcome Denbow was also the Senior Field Develop- Denbow in the role. ment Officer for The TSTC Foundation, an instrumental role in supporting the efforts of “Through his experiences, Rick has a really good TSTC’s new technology center in Abilene. sense of the communities and needs of industry Denbow began working in the West Texas Refor TSTC in 2009 as the gion,” Kilgore said. director of the Welding and Transportation TechDenbow graduated with nology Division. a bachelor’s degree in business administraDenbow said he is hontion from University of ored to have been selectTexas at Austin. ed.

“I come from the busi“It’s a lot of responsibilness world,” Denbow ity, but I’m very excited said. “With Chancellor also,” he said. “In my tenReeser’s focus on makure with TSTC, I’ve spent ing TSTC a little more my time in West Texas entrepreneurial, a little working with the four more business-like, that campuses and I’ve come fits very well with my to know the programs background. I think I and the faculty and staff. can add value to the I’m really excited about West Texas campuses going forward. Some of in the provost role.” the things the college has done, like the most recent Denbow added that reorganization, have re- TSTC has named Rick Denbow the provost over TSTC’s new Industrial four West Texas campuses. Denbow will be Technology Center in ally positioned us to be its housed in Abilene. successful.”

Abilene is ahead of the construction schedule.

The West Texas community is one of Den- They hope to start moving employees in on Aug. bow’s favorite things about his job.

1, and classes will begin in the building in the fall. Denbow says the campus signifies a new be“The communities at each of the four loca- ginning for TSTC in Abilene. tions are very supportive of TSTC and what we’re trying to do, and that makes our job a “That campus, the design and how it’s laid out, little bit easier,” he said. “Also, the faculty and the Abilene community has never seen anything staff are just awesome. They’re always willing like that from TSTC,” he said. “The Abilene to go that extra mile and I’m honored to be campus has been housed in an old hospital and able to work with them.” we didn’t really have an opportunity to put any heavy equipment and industrial trades in there.

Denbow has lofty goals for TSTC in West This is a new start.”

Texas.

For more information on Texas State Technical “As the Chancellor stated in an email to em- College, visit tstc.edu. ployees a few weeks back, there’s one word and that’s growth,” Denbow said. “That can have different meanings depending on the campus. Is it growing enrollment? Is it growing capacity? Is it growing placement? I would submit it’s all of the above. Each cam-

www.facebook.com/HispanicLifeMagazine

. Advertise Today! Call (325) 518-7091

Pick us up at H.E.B., CISCO College & China Star | EDUCATION | 23

Abilene Automotive Education Alliance Brings Abilene High Up To Date

By Nathan Greve | BigCountryHomePage.com

Even though schools are training students for their futures, there are sometimes parts of their education that might get overlooked. For a while, that was the Abilene High auto shop.

It was run-down and needed a bit of care to bring things up to date.

Arrow Ford general manager Seaton Higginbotham is involved in technical education in addition to auto sales. Helping students to prepare for careers in the technical realm, automotive or otherwise, is important to him.

Higginbotham says,”The purpose is to create a pathway that takes a student from Abilene High, Cooper, Wylie, or one of the independent school districts, and get them into a career path that takes them all the way to Cisco or TSTC.” That’s what the Abilene Automotive Education Alliance is all about. When they looked at the Abilene High auto shop, it became apparent that it might not be able to fully prep students for a job.

Paul Bounds started the AAEA, and he says, “They didn’t have the equipment.”

However, the AAEA was able to turn that around. “We were fortunate enough to get them laptops, computers, we were able to redo their base system of tools.”

Eric Kuhns serves at Dyess, and helped organize the manpower necessary to take on the renovation job. He remembers his first experience seeing the shop. “As we walked through, we realized we could help the local high school and the teacher to set up the shop to look professional.”

For students, that change to a professional appearance has been a big boost for their futures.

Shop instructor Will Kirby says, “The stu-

improvement. It’s organized.” Mones says things are easier for today’s students after the renovation. “You need a tool, you can find your tools now. You don’t have to go digging. You can find everything right in the toolbox, where it’s supposed to be.”

dents who have been here for a couple of years, everything is clicking better for them.

Everything is in order. Having a place for everything and everything in its place.”

Mikli Mones graduated in 2014, but he was taking a look around the renovated shop, excited to see the changes. “Oh, man, it was a total

Abilene High senior Jesus Romero enjoys the new look, and how it’s closer to what he’ll be experiencing in the future. “Being in a more professional environment, Mr. Kirby wanted us to act professional and be professional.” Romero adds, “I think that really helped out a lot.”

The work still isn’t finished, with even more equipment on the way. Work isn’t finished for the AAEA, either. They hope to expand across the state, and possibly the nation, bringing a high level of professionalism to other schools.

24 | EDUCATION | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry

Wylie Student Proclaimed Abilene Hero After Putting Out Fire

By Lindsey Ragas | KTXS

“All of a sudden I heard screaming and yelling. I looked up in the air, saw smoke, and saw a man run to the side of the fence where the smoke was coming from,” Davis said. “I figured at first that nobody could get to the fire so our best chance was me jumping over. I used my shirt for a while to prevent the fire from spreading any further on the fence and then a nice lady eventually did get me a hose and that is what eventually stopped the fire.”

Without his quick thinking, firefighters said the fire would have spread and threatened four homes. That’s why the Abilene Fire Department, Mayor Anthony Williams and Townsquare Media felt the need to recognize Davis at a ceremony in front of his classmates.

“As mayor, I salute him for his quick thinking and express my sincere appreciation for his unselfish act of bravery in an extreme dangerous situation. It is my honor A Wylie High School student is being honored to proclaim Cody Davis an Abilene hero,” Wilfor his heroic efforts after putting out a fire in liams said. his neighborhood.

Davis was presented with a plaque from the “It was just the right thing to do,” said Wylie mayor and a passport front from the Abilene Fire student Cody Davis.

Department. He received a year supply of pizza from Black Box Pizza because the pizza he was On Jan. 31, a fence at Indian Wells caught fire eating at the time of the fire had been stepped on. after kids were playing with matches. David Davis’s shirt was ruined in the fire as well, so was walking in his neighborhood when he Townsquare Media gave him a gift card to buy saw the smoke and took matters into his own new ones. hands.

Fire Chief Larry Bell congratulates hero student Cody Davis.

Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country

Pick us up at China Star, Abilene Public Library & Martinez Barber Shop | EDUCATION | 25

Wylie High Entrepreneur Program Teaching All The Right Lessons With The Right Help

By Timothy Chipp | Abilene Reporter-News

“Our first idea was to do a recycling business,” Duncan Bacon, a member of group BEDASH, Wylie High School is seeing a trend develop- said. “We learned that didn’t fit the guidelines ing among its students, and Junior Achieve- of the program. So we switched to calendars. ment of Abilene is hoping to turn it into a full- But no one really uses calendars anymore. Fiblown epidemic. nally, we settled on coloring books.”

While many schools are battling the combination of influenza and streptococcus, Wylie is creating a plethora of young potential entrepreneurs.

Making the coloring books was part of the fun for Bacon and his fellow company members.

They took pictures of popular landmarks and buildings in Abilene, imported those pictures into a program and converted them into colorBig words to say that the school’s business ing book versions of the real thing. program is enjoying success. And for the past three months, they’ve been teamed with Junior Their creations turned slightly lucrative despite Achievement of Abilene to expand the grow- the company’s modest beginnings, pulling in ing program even further. about $300 profit after accounting for startup

Myka Montes’s group, called MADBAR Design Co., started simple with creating wood signs with calligraphy writing. But as they worked to build the company through getting into the community — especially after operating a booth at the Wylie Christmas Market this past fall — they expanded their products.

UPDATE:

“Two years ago when we created the (entrepreneurship) program, I contacted (Junior Achievement of Abilene Executive Director) Evan Simmons,” instructor Reagan Berry said. “We kept the program as an after-school program last year. But this year, we restructured the program so it’s more focused on the business aspect. We thought it was doable with two sections instead of three last year.”

The JA program takes book learning and merges it with hands-on experience. Each group of five or six students in Berry’s two entrepreneurship classes received a $200 investment to begin a small business of their choosing.

The field trip was one of Berry’s favorite parts of teaching the two sections this year.

In the same vein, Berry said the two advisers from Junior Achievement, Sam Vinson and Taylor Sturgis, had a positive impact on the class simply through their presence and also through their words and experiences, which they lent to the students freely.

“Sometimes they had different advice,” she said. “They’re in it every day, they’re living off their businesses. So they have the experience. It’s great for the students to hear that from them, so they’re not just reiterating what their teacher says to them.”

Students in Wylie High Schools business program recently cashed out their businesses and determined their profits.

It was lucrative for some, while others experienced the value of a hands-on education.

Final results for the eight companies sponsored by Junior Achievement of Abilene were:

e and Rema Weriwoh From left, students are: Rachel Whit ly of High School display their products.

MADBAR Design Co.; Jack Blake of es Mont Student entrepreneurs from Wylie Myka and e Keese gim of BEDASH; Rylee . of Sonora Jewels; Elizabeth Fillin Today re Inspi of Covin Custom; and Malcolm King’s Cases; Chance Rains of ABI

Similar programs are also happening at both Eula High School and Abilene Independent School District’s Academy of Technology, Engineering, Math and costs and materials. They’re hoping to take the Science. concept out of the Junior Achievement program and enter the Springboard Competition Once the “companies” have their start up mon- at Abilene Christian University. ey, they work with Junior Achievement volunteers to execute business plans to learn how to Tyler Spears, whose group created a consignrun a business in real-world situations. ment shop-like business, said his group learned more than a simulation could ever teach.

This means they have to deliver weekly reports to their advisers, interact with customers and He said he’d like to someday get into business maintain quality control. for himself, possibly owning a franchise business, and the lessons learned will have a direct When they’re done, it’s time to liquidate their impact on him as he moves forward. assets. For Wylie, this happens Tuesday, as the program comes to an end. So, how did they do? “The experience we gained, we wouldn’t gain Many of the companies learned some valuable in a classroom,” Spears said. “We’re truly lessons while taking chances and finding out, gaining real-world experiences that I think I’m sometimes the hard way, what it takes to be going to use some day.” successful in the real world.

They also sold chalkboards and blankets.

Montes and fellow classmate Jack Blakely, whose group King’s Cases created cellphone protection with customizable backs, both attended a recent Abilene Chamber of Commerce breakfast event, where they met with current business owners and heard their own experiences.

Junior Achievement of Abilene board members Taylor Sturgis, left, and Sam Vinson offer advice to Wylie High School entrepreneur students Thursday. The two business owners spent the past 13 weeks guiding the Wylie students through the creation, execution and results of business plans, which helped the young hopefuls understand the ins and outs of owning a business.

BEDASH Coloring Books : $356.98 TBL-TX: $12.75 Steals & Deals Consignment Shop: $872.62 ABI Customs: -$35.03 King’s Cases: $1.82 Sonora Jewels: $541.19 Inspire Today: $30.43 MADBAR Design Company: $1,052.92

According to teacher Reagan Berry, these dollar amounts represent the profits of the businesses beyond the $200 investment made by Junior Achievement. Taxes and other subtractions are also taken out of the final reported figure.

“So this is the amount the students will actually take home,” Berry said.

ISE CALL US TO ADVERT (325) 701-9505 B-103 209 S. Danville, Suiteedia.com fem icli pan his @ info ail: Em

www.facebook.com/HispanicLifeMagazine

26 | EDUCATION | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry

Come in for a test save.

Total average savings of

$827*

when you combine home and auto policies.

Call my office for a quote 24/7.

Risha Sanders, Agent 3228 North 10th Abilene, TX 79603 Bus: 325-673-4229 risha.sanders.nv0v@statefarm.com

*Average annual household savings on *Average annual perper household savings basedbased on a 2016 a 2016survey national survey of new policyholders national of new policyholders who reported who savings by switching to State Farm. reported savings by switching to State Farm.

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, State Farm State FarmCompany, Mutual Automobile Indemnity State Farm Fire Insurance and CasualtyCompany, Company, State Indemnity Company, Farm Fire StateFarm Farm General Insurance Company,State Bloomington, IL and Casualty Company, State Farm General Insurance P097187.1 06/09 Company, Bloomington, IL. P097187.1 06/09

magazine

www.facebook.com/hispaniclife

. Advertise Today! Call (325) 518-7091

‘Community’ Takes On Special Meaning For Student Diagnosed With Cancer

By Loretta Fulton | ACU Today, Abilene Christian University

DANIEL TAPIA

enrolled at ACU as a junior in the fall of 2015 after spending two years at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, California, his home state.

When it came time to move on to a four-year university, Tapia didn’t have to think about where to go. Two sisters, Nora (Tapia ’04) Perez and Rebecca Tapia (’10), a cousin and his grandmother all had attended Abilene Christian University. Daniel had visited the campus growing up.

“It’s kind of in the family,” he said.

But it was more than a family connection that attracted Daniel. He wasn’t involved with campus life at Mt. San Antonio and didn’t feel a sense of community.

“I wanted a Christian college for the community,” he said.

At the time, Daniel had no idea just how important the Christian college community would be in his life. Maybe he didn’t even realize just how deep the bond among Christian brothers could be. But he would soon find out.

Daniel transferred to ACU in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in fine art. His focus is on graphic design, with a concentration in branding and illustration.

“There’s kind of a growing market for that,” he said.

Daniel also pledged Frater Sodalis, a social club for men that was formed in 1943. Life was rolling along like it was supposed to for a college junior with nothing but blue skies ahead. He was on track to graduate in December 2017.

Then came July 2016.

Daniel went to his doctor in California for a checkup before returning to ACU for the fall semester.

What he expected to be a routine exam ultimately turned into a diagnosis of cancer. After surgery in California, he returned to campus expecting to finish the semester. Daniel was living with the president of Frater Sodalis at the time, Joel Childers, who informed other club members that their “brother,” as Frater Sodalis means, had cancer.

About a third of the way into the fall 2016 semester, Daniel had to go back to California for chemotherapy treatments.

“The direction my life was going had to stop for a while,” he said.

Back in California, Daniel underwent two rounds of chemo, each lasting 13 weeks. They left him drained and unable to do anything but rest on the couch at his parents’ home. It was then that the true sense of the word “community” hit Daniel, and he was thankful he had made the decision to attend ACU. During his stay in California, Frater Sodalis brothers used FaceTime to keep Daniel upto-date on what was going on at ACU. One of the sponsors offered to contact alumni in California about flying Daniel to Houston for

treatment, but he chose to stay in California.

Daniel’s ACU brothers even shaved their heads in support as Daniel went through chemotherapy. Now, a-yearand-a-half after Daniel went to his doctor for that initial checkup, the skies are looking blue again. Daniel’s hair has grown back, he is president of Frater Sodalis, he is scheduled to graduate in May 2018, and best of all he is cancer-free.

“Every blood test I’ve done,” he said, “has come out negative.”

That would be a happy ending by itself for Daniel, but life is just getting better. On the first day of Daniel’s chemo treatments, he was contacted by a reporter for the ACU student newspaper, The Optimist. Her name is Lauren Franco and she is scheduled to graduate in May 2019.

That first interview went well. Lauren liked Daniel’s artwork and he made something especially for her. They connected on a personal level.

“Now,” Daniel said, “we’re dating.”

RTISE CALL US TO ADVE (325) 701-9505 3 209 S. Danville, Suite B-10.com Email: info@hispaniclifemedia

Pick us up at La Familia Mexican Restaurant & YMCA on State St. | EDUCATION | 27

Lights, Camera, Free Ride Winners Announced

By Grace Mitchell | Staff Writer, Hardin-Simmons University

Winter Preview became a day to remember for Kelsie Roberts when she learned she had won HSU’s “Lights. Camera. Free Ride!” video contest. Her video submission earned her free tuition, room, and meals for her freshman year.

A senior at Krum High School, Kelsie accepted the check for $37,070 surrounded by her family. Her video explained how HSU’s “Education Enlightened by Faith” impacted her decision to attend HSU. “God’s light is God’s people. The students at Hardin-Simmons are the light,” Kelsie said.

“At HSU, I will be a part of the light of this world, honoring his name and serving his people.”

Winning second place was Blair Ingram of Spring Creek, Nevada. Ingram’s video shared the story of how he learned to walk after three foot surgeries. Inspired by his physical therapist, Ingram shared his desire to attend HSU and become a PT as well.

Kelsie Roberts accepts her check after winning HSU’s “Lights. Camera.

Free Ride!” video contest.

“God’s plan for me to become a physical therapist is to tell my patients that I know what they’re going through and to help put a smile on their face,” he said.

The contest showcased incoming freshman who created 30to 60-second videos celebrating their “#going2hsu” decision. Students talked about their dreams and expectations, and how HSU will help make those dreams and goals a reality.

The first place winner received free tuition, room and meals

for 2018-2019 academic year. Second place received free on-campus room and meal expenses for the 2018-2019 school year, valued at of $10,000. 5 Honorable Mention winners received a $1,000 one-time scholarship.

Making higher education more affordable is a priority for HSU. In addition to the “Lights. Camera. Free Ride!” contest, HSU offers a wide range of scholarships to qualified students. Overall, 98 percent of the HSU student body receives financial aid.

28 | EDUCATION | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry

FAITH&FAMILY 8 Creative Ways To Celebrate Easter

SPIRITUAL AND FAMILY ADVICE

How To Make Easter More Meaningful

By Mary May Larmoyeux | Family Life

What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of Easter?

I really want to answer this question by saying, “the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

But in reality, my thoughts usually drift to the beautiful Easter baskets that my grandmother gave me as a child. They were filled with an assortment of colored eggs, wrapped chocolates, and sometimes even a doll.

As parents, though, we want Easter to be more than Easter baskets—much more! Here are 10 ideas that will help you celebrate its real meaning:

4. Read 1 John 4:14-15 with your children: “We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.” Then complete the following craft to help your children understand that Jesus’ death on the cross provides the only way they can have a relationship with God: Cut out a cardboard cross for each child. Ex-

1. Ask your family the following questions: “What is Easter? Why does it matter whether or not Jesus Christ rose from the dead?” Then read and discuss John 20 as a family.

2. Take some time to consider what Jesus’ death on the cross means to you. Encourage other family members to do the same. On a sheet of paper write down the ways that you have sinned against God. Thank Him for sending His Son to die on the cross for your sins. After spending some time in prayer, destroy the paper—knowing that Jesus’ death on the cross paid for your sins in full.

3. We are told in Luke 7:47, “... her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” As you approach Easter, are you harboring unforgiveness for anyone? By faith, release any bitterness to God and let Him be the judge.

You may want to read one of the following books: Growing Together in Forgiveness by Barbara Rainey, Choosing Forgiveness by Nancy Leigh DeMoss, or Forgiveness: Healing the Harbored Hurts by Bill Elliff.

plain that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and that He wants us to accept Him as our Lord and Savior. Help the children write some examples of their sins on their crosses. Then cut them into puzzle pieces. Discuss how Jesus’ death on the cross totally paid for our sins, and put the puzzles together—as an illustration of how Jesus wants to put our lives together again.

5. Ask your children to pretend that they are news reporters witnessing the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. They can either present a “live broadcast” to the family, or write a news article about their observations. If you have older children, as a family read and discuss Lee Strobel’s book The Case for Easter.

6. Have a family or neighborhood Easter egg hunt using Resurrection Eggs®. Each set includes a dozen plastic eggs that contain symbols of Jesus’ journey to the cross.

7. Discuss ways your family can share the hope of Jesus Christ with others. Do you have an elderly neighbor whose day would be brightened by a batch of ‘Resurrection’ Cookies? Is there someone who you could pick up for church or include in your Easter dinner?

8. Hold an Easter Sunrise Service for your family (if possible, outside). Start just before the sun begins to rise—talk with the children about the darkness. As rays of sunlight appear, explain that light permeates darkness—that the Light overcame the darkness when Jesus rose from the dead. Assign every family member a part in the service. Someone could give a brief Easter message, others could read Scriptures, sing, prepare a special handout for the family sunrise service, seat family members on special chairs, etc.

Long after we have celebrated Easter Sunday, may we continue to bring the joy of the Resurrection into everyday life. When you and your family members see the sun rise throughout the year, you may want to remind one another, “He is risen … risen, indeed! He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said” (Matthew 28:6).

CALL US TO ADVERTISE (325) 701-9505 209 S. Danville, Suite B-103 Email: info@hispaniclifemedia.com

30 | FAITH & FAMILY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry

Teamwork

www.facebook.com/HispanicLifeMagazine

. Advertise Today! Call (325) 518-7091

By Kristie Carpenter | Blended Mom Moments

As my husband, Dan, and I spend time coaching married couples in crisis, a common theme arises from the ashes - and that is selfishness. We see a ‘my way or the highway’ approach to the marriage. Therefore, when conflict happens, resolution is about as likely to happen as a snowball surviving in Yuma, Arizona.

Couples so quickly draw battle lines and gather weapons to use against each other. It is a shame they have forgotten that instead of enemies - their spouse is their teammate. They have forgotten that as they tear down this person, they are tearing down their own marriage, family and home.

draw the battle lines and fully engage in war - or I could be the team player and follow the instructions for the next ‘play.’ I decided to support my teammate.

At least we were going to see the kids. It was still a nice getaway for Dan and me. And …it would not be my last opportunity ever to see the kids again. I decided to not have my “house be divided and fall.”

Jesus tells us in Luke 11:17, “A house divided against itself will fall.” Boy have we seen that happen over and over again.

Look for ways to get to the goal line - and there may be many different ways to do that - but help each other by utilizing each other’s gifts and talents to make sure your team wins!

A team consists of players with different skills. Not everyone on a football team can be a quarterback.

That is a formula for disaster and loss.

Same with a marriage. A husband and wife both bring assets to the marriage team. A smart couple will encourage each other to use their strongest gifts and talents in the marriage to be a ‘winning team’. No, each team player will not always see ‘eye to eye’. No, each player may not agree with the next play that has been called to be executed. But … there is a singleness of purpose on a strong team - in other words - unity.

In the book, Finding Ever After, by Dr. Robert Paul, he shares that he and his wife adopted a “no-losers policy.” He says, “In other words, we agreed that it was unacceptable for either of us to walk away from any situation with one or both of us feeling defeated.

Adopting a no-losers policy requires a willingness to find enough faith to walk into adventure of an uncertain outcome and trust that God will see you through successfully.”

Dan and I do not have this figured out totally, but we did experience this ‘no-loser’ situation not long ago. We were planning a trip to Colorado to see our kids - wanting to spend about three days with them.

Schedules got changed and the trip was moved. Not only was the trip moved, but the time was shortened as well.

Dan made the decision to not reschedule the trip again - but to enjoy the day and a half instead. I was not happy about that. Here is where I had the choice to

I know we all want our own way. However, a team that goes many directions will lose. Look for your marriage’s purpose - you and your spouse’s unity.

Then adopt the ‘no-loser policy’.

Remember; don’t burn down your own house to win the war!

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).

Mark Your Calendar for Abilene Education Foundation’s Cajun Festival The Cajun Festival is Saturday, Aprtil 14th at the Taylor County Fairgrounds.

The serving line will be open all day from 11 am – 7:30 pm or until we sell out.

FREE GATE ADMISSION! There is NO CHARGE this year to enter the festival. Meal, 5K and other ticket prices are listed below. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

• Crawfish and Shrimp Boil Ticket: Adult Crawfish and Shrimp Plate $20 at the door or $17 in advance. Child Crawfish and Shrimp Boil Plate $10 at the door or $8 in advance.

(Available for purchase online or at AEF office.)

• Family Bundle: BEST DEAL: (Available for purchase online or at AEF office and in advance only.) Purchase for only $100.

Two adult crawfish tickets and two children meal tickets.

Two all-you-care-to-ride inflatable park/children’s activities wristbands.

Family 5K race entry. Coupons for four additional water or soda beverage.

• Crawfish Crawl 5K Run/Walk – $30 event day or $25 in advance per entry. Includes bib, t-shirt, registration fee and goodie bag. (Register online.)

• All-You-Care-to-Ride Inflatables/Children’s Activities Wristband: (includes a ticket for a free water) $20.00. (Available for purchase on event day only.)

• Individual ride/drink tickets: 20 tickets for $10 or 10 tickets for $5. The number of tickets varies per ride/drink. (Available for purchase on event day only.)

Pick us up at Wal-Mart, Enterprise Bldg. & Armando’s Mexican Restaurant | FAITH & FAMILY | 31

4 Helpful Alternatives to “If There’s Anything We Can Do to Help…”

By Mark Merrill | Helping Families Love Well

A recent job loss. A long stretch of unemployment. A sudden illness. The loss of a family member. A medical procedure or hospitalization. Whenever people experience such difficulty or loss, we often hear or say: “If there’s anything we can do to help, please let us know.”

If you’ve heard that from someone, how many times have you actually called that person to ask for help? And if you’ve said that to someone, how many times has that person or family going through a rough time actually reached out to you to ask for some help? It’s kind to offer help. But it’s even better to actually help. So, next time, instead of saying “If there’s anything we can do…” why not actually do one of these things with your spouse or children?

1. Food. “We have

some groceries (or homecooked food) we’d like to bring over…when would be a good time?” Just grabbing some staple items like milk, produce, bread, or lunch meat on your next grocery run can boost someone who might lack the time or resources to get groceries.

Making a little extra of that next dinner or dessert is a great way to share something special with others as well.

2. Gift Cards. So many stores have kiosks with gift cards

for groceries, gas, restaurants, and clothing. Grab one for someone who might need some encouragement or help. And they don’t have to know it’s from you. Make it anonymous by mailing it or slipping it under their door.

3. Tag-On Errands. “I’m running by the store today. What

can I pick up for you? And when would be a good time to bring it by?” This is often a really practical and low-pressure offer, particularly if someone needs a prescription picked up, or sees that the milk or bread is gone. It also lets them know you are willing to go out of your way to help if they have a need at another time.

4. Personal (but Brief) Visit. “We’d like to stop by for

a few minutes to say hello…is that okay? And when would be a good time?” It’s easy to remain distant from people who are struggling through a hard time. When you don’t know what to say, or how to say something helpful, you may be tempted to say or do nothing. But your willingness to stop by, even if turned down, tells them that you care. And if you are welcomed for a brief visit, the best thing to do is to listen.

Your relationships are designed to thrive. Discover the key today!

By Steven Furtick | Waking Faith

You might be surprised by the distinction I’m about to share with you.

It’s one of my favorite scriptures on marriage and relationships and contains one of the most important relationship principles I’ve ever discovered.

Just take a look...

“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.

She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.

But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made... “ (Luke 10:38-40) Look at the distinction in that verse, “distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.” In other words, the conflict we’re about to see wasn’t because of what Martha was doing. It was her approach... “... She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’” (Luke 10:40) You see, Martha’s problem wasn’t what she was doing; the preparations HAD to be made. Dishes had to be cleaned, bills had to be paid, the kids had to be picked up from soccer practice...

Her problem was her approach. The details became a distraction from the priority. And that’s exactly what Jesus speaks to...

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed — or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42) Do you see what Jesus was trying to show her? He didn’t tell her, “Martha, you’re being ridiculous! Those things you’re doing don’t matter!” No, He revealed how, while there are always many things that have to be taken care of...

There’s a right approach to doing it all.

Jesus was showing us then, as He is now, that it’s not just about putting Jesus first on our list; it’s about making Jesus the center of our lives.

Our approach to life — and relationships — has to start with Him.

CALL US TO ADVERTISE (325) 701-9505 209 S. Danville, Suite B-103 Email: info@hispaniclifemedia.com

32 | FAITH & FAMILY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry

Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country

8 Reasons Your Kids Are Misbehaving

Pick us up at Kentucky Fried Chicken, First Financial Banks & SBDC | FAITH & FAMILY | 33

By Andrew Linder | AllProDad.com

®

Every parent deals with kids misbehaving from time to time. I can remember a time in particular when one of our boys seemed to be repeatedly pushing his siblings and hitting them with whatever he happened to have in his hand at the moment. What we came to realize was that he was actually playing out in real life what he had been recently exposed to through some action-packed video games and movies.

Sometimes, as parents, we’re guilty of thinking that our kids are just being bad when there may be more going on underneath the surface that we need to be paying attention to. So what are some of the reasons why kids misbehave?

While there may be many reasons for kids misbehaving, here are 8 that every parent must consider.

1. They have an irregular/unhealthy diet.

Bottom line: What kids eat has an effect on how they behave. Doctors have been saying it for years, but it’s true – healthy eating encourages better behavior.

2. They have a lack of consistent discipline. Yes, good old-fashioned discipline still works and is a cornerstone of practical and successful parenting. Discipline may take on different forms for different families, but nonetheless, it’s needed, and consistency is the key.

3. They are manipulating you. I’ve seen it more times than I care to count – parents being controlled by their little ones, rather than the other way around. Sadly, it’s usually obvious to everyone else, except the parents.

Kids know how to push buttons to test us and see what will happen and what they can and can’t get away with.

This is often especially true when in a public setting or when others outside of the family are present. A wise parent will take notice and unapologetically win these

small battles, by dealing with the situation, regardless of the inconvenience.

4. They are being negatively influenced. This could be from the things they watch, the games they play, or the friends they spend time with. Kids are great imitators of what they see and hear.

5. They have too much screen time. Kids are spending more time in front of screens and less time in actual physical activity, and sadly, it can affect both their health and their behavior. According to the Mayo Clinic, elementary children spending more than two hours a day on screen time are more likely to struggle with obesity and behavioral problems, among other things. Never feel bad for requiring your kids to play outside or use their imagination to have fun.

6. They’re not getting enough of your attention. Kids will knowingly misbehave if they find that it gets them the attention they crave but are lacking.

7. They are under stress or are angry. Kids have struggles and problems too.

It may be family problems, school problems, or relationship problems. All of this can have a negative effect on the way that they behave.

F! O O P

ZAP!

Calling all superheroes!

Lace up your running shoes and grab your capes...

Saturday, May 5, 2018

Big Country CASA’s 2nd Annual Superhero 5k/1k Fun Run (Walk, Run, or Fly!) Big Country CASA is excited to announce that we are once again lacing up our running shoes and putting on our capes! Last year, we had over 450 runners. Our second annual CASA Superhero 5k/1k Fun Run (Walk, Run, or Fly!) will be held the morning of Saturday, May 5, 2018, at Abilene Christian University’s Williams Performing Arts Center.

The goal of our event is to increase awareness of CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), to recruit more volunteer advocates for children and to raise funds to support our mission. All proceeds from our race will directly benefit Big Country CASA in our efforts to recruit and train CASA volunteers as they give a “voice” to abused and neglected children in court and in the Taylor County foster care system.

For more information, call or email Rebel Taylor: 325-677-6448 or rebeltaylor@bigcountrycasa.org *Registration information will be available soon through BigCountryCASA.org.

BigCountryCASA.org | 325-677-6448

Thank you to our generous donors for making this ad possible: Gary G. Linn DDS, Abilene Teachers Federal Credit Union, Wesley Court, Cardiology Consultants and Hendrick Medical Systems.

Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s isn’t easy.

Reaching us is.

8. They’re just being kids. Let’s face it… kids misbehave. Sometimes it’s because they’re bored or tired, and sometimes it’s because they’re just simply choosing to be bad. Kids misbehave because they’re kids… they need our direction. Sometimes they need our discipline. They always need our unconditional love.

If you care for someone with Alzheimer’s disease, memory loss or dementia, you are not alone. We’re here day or night — whenever you need us — offering reliable information and support.

Free 24/7 Helpline: 800.272.3900 Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregiver Center: alz.org/care

34 | FAITH & FAMILY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry

www.facebook.com/HispanicLifeMagazine

The Habits of Emotionally Healthy Couples

. Advertise Today! Call (325) 518-7091

By Jimmy Evans | Marriage Today

No marriage is successful because you and your spouse have chemistry, or are each other’s soul mates, or because you have good luck. Your marriage will be successful when you put in the effort. A marriage works when you work at it.

In other words, you have to make good habits and disciplines central to your relationship. These things you do on a regular basis are going to predict the future of your marriage. I believe emotionally healthy couples exhibit four crucial habits: The first is praying together and trusting God. It was several years into our marriage when Karen and I first prayed together. Before this happened, our relationship was filled with conflict and anxiety.

But today we refuse to let anxiety into our home.

Instead of worrying, we hold hands and pray.

We’ll sit on the back porch at night and talk, and if there’s anything going on in our relationship or our family, we’ll pray about it. We make time for it, and this habit has changed our marriage. You can’t help but change when you’re in God’s presence.

Second, resolve negative feelings daily. Negative feelings like anger aren’t sinful in themselves. The Bible says Jesus got angry, but when you hold onto these feelings and let them simmer inside you, they can become toxic. Today’s anger isn’t a problem.

But yesterday’s anger is definitely a problem.

In a good marriage, you have to be able to process negative feelings. Talk about your anger. Give your spouse the right to complain and share what has up-

set them or hurt their feelings. In years of marriage counseling, I’ve found that the worst marriages are the ones where the couple doesn’t talk.

Third, have fun together and become best friends.

Enjoying each other’s company is how you fell in love in the first place. You talked and talked.

You laughed. You spent time enjoying each other.

When couples stop doing these things, that’s when they fall out of love.

One of the best ways for couples to have fun together is to enter each other’s worlds. Does your husband like to golf or hunt? Then offer to join him, whether you’re interested in the activity or not. Does your wife like exercise or travel? Then make time to do those things with her. And definitely schedule a regular date night.

Finally, build close relationships with believers, individually and as a couple. Your friends are your future. If you want to know what your marriage will look like in a few years, take a look at your friends’ marriages. I’ve found that both healthy relationships and bad marriages run in packs.

Love everyone, but make sure your closest relationships are with strong believers who will challenge you to be a better Christian, and with couples who will inspire you to start healthy habits in your marriage.

Research says it takes around 60 days for a new habit to rewire your brain and become an almost involuntary behavior. Which of these habits do you and your spouse need to add to your relationship?

• Full Service Medical & Surgical Facilities • State-of-the-Art Laser Surgery & Monitoring Equipment • Small Animal Hospital Facilities • Video Ear Scope • Geriatric Health Screening Available • Dental Care • Full In-House Lab For 1-Hour and 24-Hour Coggins Testing • K Laser Therapy (Laser Treatment) • Pain Management • Wound Healing • Rehabilitation

7550 Hwy. 83-84 South Monday-Friday 8-12:30, 2-6pm

7 Signs of Selfishness in Marriage

By Mark Merrill | Helping Families Love Well

It’s the greatest enemy of every marriage: selfishness.

And sometimes it tends to sneak up on us.

Most couples start out doing all they can to serve and make each other happy. But somewhere along the way, a willingness to go to the end of the world for the other person gets overtaken by a reluctance to even cross the room— to get them something or move towards them.

Selfishness is about more than just refusing to share the last piece of your candy bar, however. It’s an attitude that subtly permeates many of the ways we can think and act.

Take a closer look at these seven signs of selfishness and see where they may be becoming an issue in your life and relationship.

2. My expectations. Many couples each

have an unspoken list of how they think life should be, with their quiet resentment building each time things don’t go their way. But if you don’t tell your spouse what your expectations are and discuss together how reasonable they are, you can’t blame them for not meeting them. Maybe once you’ve talked together you’ll realize you need to adjust.

Keeping Your Expectations Flexible in Marriage is a must.

SET YOUR SIGHTS ON FAST, EASY ACCESS WITH NEW

EYEPRINT ID

TM

3. My feelings. Hurt and anger cloud our

abilities to hear what other people are saying; we tend to get either aggressive or defensive, or sometimes just shut down. And what about your spouse: how are they feeling about that situation or conversation? If you really want to know, ask them.

4. My opinions. We don’t have to agree on

everything, but agreeing to differ means more than just not thinking alike—it means hearing the other person out and being comfortable with that. Does your spouse feel free to share what they think, even if you disagree, or do you shut them down when they share what they are thinking?

5. My agenda. We don’t have to do every-

thing I want when I want, and the way I want.

It’s amazing how little things—what you want for dinner, the way you load the dishwasher, what temperature to run the AC at—can become big sources of conflict.

6. My career. It’s easy to hide behind “work 1. My needs. It’s very easy for us to focus demands” to avoid important issues and situamore on what we want or think we are due than our spouse’s side of things—whether that’s a desire for more frequent physical intimacy or greater understanding about the challenges I am facing at work. But what about them? It’s important to remember that we are wired differently and have different needs; listen in on this podcast exploring Needs of Women Vs Needs of Men.

Pick us up at Taqueria La Ranchera, Abilene Funeral Home & Abilene ISD | FAITH & FAMILY | 35

tions in your marriage. It’s also easy to focus on what we want in our career without really considering what our spouse wants. Sometimes we need to turn down opportunities for career advancement to protect our most important relationships.

7. My family. Family dynamics can be challenging. Indeed, in-law issues are one of 5 Big Marital Issues that need to be addressed. Do you get along with each other’s relatives? Is it “my family” and “your family” or “OUR family?”

Eyeprint ID For Mobile Devices -

The Ultimate Selfie!

The eyes have it...when you want quick, easy and highly secure access to your account using ATFCU’s mobile apps. No more passwords to remember or juggling your phone to enter your thumbprint. Use the camera on your mobile device to scan your eyes and future logins will be simpler than a selfie.

• Haven’t heard of this before? That’s because ATFCU is the first in the area to offer this state-of-the-art, biometric technology.

• Eyes a little blurry this morning? Not a problem for Eyeprint ID. • Wear glasses? That's not a problem either. Eyeprint ID will recognize your eyes with or without glasses.

Can't you Just See Yourself Using This?

Go to our website for more details or to set up your Eyeprint ID log-in. It will only take the blink of an eye... but don't blink!

PMS 280 (Blue) - C=100 M=72 Y=0 K-18

Selfishness is all about getting. Selflessness is all about giving. Are you giving to and serving your spouse?

PMS 341 (Green) - C=93 M=26 Y=77 K-12 PMS 186 (Red) - C=22 M=100 Y=67 K-8

FONT: Lithos Pro Bold & Lithos Pro Regular

325-677-2274 800-677-6770 abileneteachersfcu.org

ATFCU Eye-D Ad 4-16.indd 1

• 3849 Antilley Road • 2801 N. 6th Street • 2555 Buffalo Gap Road • 1181 E. N. 10th Street • 349 N. Mockingbird (drive-thru only)

4/29/16 3:35 PM

36 | FAITH & FAMILY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry

Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country

HEALTH&FITNESS

Hispanics and Kidney Disease

By National Kidney Foundation

Hispanics are at greater risk for kidney disease and kidney failure than White Americans.

In fact, Hispanics are 1½ times more likely to have kidney failure compared to other Americans. In 2010, 13% of new kidney failure patients were Hispanic.

stop the kidney damage from getting worse.

What to do? Not all Hispanics will get kidney disease.

And not everyone who has diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, older age, or a family history of kidney disease will get it. But if you have any of these risk factors you should:

Researchers do not fully understand why Hispanics are at a higher risk for kidney disease. However, 10% of Hispanic Americans have diabetes, which is the leading cause of kidney disease. High blood pressure, diet, obesity, and access to healthcare may also play a role.

• Get tested for kidney disease. There are two simple tests for kidney disease: - A simple urine test checks to see if you have protein in your urine. Your body needs protein. But it should be in the blood, not the urine. Having a small amount of protein in your urine may mean that your kidneys are not filtering your blood well enough. This can be an early sign of kidney disease.

- A simple blood test for GFR, which stands for glomerular filtration rate. Your GFR number tells you how well your kidneys are working. The lab estimates your GFR using a simple blood test called creatinine (a waste product), along with your age, race, and gender.

What is kidney disease?

Healthy kidneys have many important jobs. They remove waste products and extra water from your body, help make red blood cells, help keep your bones healthy and help control blood pressure. When you have kidney disease, kidney damage keeps the kidneys from doing these important jobs the way they should. Kidney damage may be due to a physical injury or a disease like diabetes, high blood pressure, or other health problems.

If you have kidney disease, you may need to take medicines, limit salt and certain foods in your diet, get regular exercise, and more.

Finding and treating your kidney disease early can help slow or even stop kidney disease from getting worse. But if your kidney disease gets worse, it can lead to kidney failure. If your kidneys fail, you will need dialysis or a kidney transplant to stay alive.

Can anyone get kidney disease?

Yes. Anyone can get kidney disease at any age.

But some people are more likely than others to get it, including Hispanics. Your chances of getting kidney disease are greater if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, a family history of chronic kidney disease, are obese, or 60 years or older. Being Hispanic also means you are at greater risk. The more risk factors you have, the greater your chances of getting kidney disease.

Why are Hispanics at greater risk for kidney

disease? Hispanics are almost twice as likely to have diabetes as white Americans; in fact 10% of Hispanic Americans have diabetes. In older Hispanics diabetes is even more common—about 1 in 4 Hispanics over 45 years has diabetes. Having diabetes can lead to kidney disease and kidney failure, and diabetes causes kidney failure more often in Hispanics than in white Americans.

High blood pressure is also a serious problem for Hispanics. Nearly 1 in 4 Hispanics has high blood pressure and do not recognize the relationship between high blood pressure and kidney disease.

How does access to healthcare play a role?

Hispanics may have less access to healthcare than other Americans. For example, nearly 2 in 5 Hispanics are uninsured. Many Hispanics do not even know they have kidney disease until it’s in the latest stages. By then it is too late to slow or

to find out.

• Get tested for diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. If you don’t know whether you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease, it’s important for you

• Live a healthy lifestyle. Be sure to exercise, eat a healthy diet, lose weight if needed, avoid smoking, and limit alcohol. A healthy lifestyle can keep you from getting kidney disease, and it can also help slow or stop kidney disease from getting worse.

CALL US TO ADVERTISE (325) 701-9505 03 209 S. Danville, Suite B-1 edia.com Email: info@hispaniclifem

38 | HEALTH | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry

Signs of ADHD Can Be Different In Girls

By Meadow Schroeder | CNN Health

When asked to describe a typical child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), most people would describe a young boy who climbs on things, is impatient and does not do what he is told.

Few people would describe a bubbly young girl with lots of friends, who works hard to get good grades.

It may be, however, that the girl does experience ADHD symptoms that interfere with her daily life -- and that these symptoms are overlooked by the adults around her.

There are many symptoms of ADHD shared by both boys and girls. The following are examples of how they can manifest in girls: In contrast, a hyperactive girl may be out of her seat but have taken on the role of classroom helper, wandering around to different desks. A teacher completing a rating scale might rate the boy higher on hyperactive questions than the girl because the second example is not seen as disruptive. Thus, girls do not score as high as boys on these scales and are underrepresented because they do not meet criteria for a diagnosis.

Not only do symptoms of ADHD

Undiagnosed ADHD has long-term consequences including an increased likelihood of engaging in risky behaviours -such as unprotected sex and substance use -- as well as academic underachievement and low self-esteem. Perhaps most alarmingly, girls who struggle with ADHD for a long period of time can suffer from mental health problems.

As a psychologist in clinical practice, I used to see many older girls and adult women with ADHD who had already been prescribed medication to treat anxiety and depression. Early diagnosis then is vital.

Individuals with ADHD exhibit three main clusters of symptoms: hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention. Although three times as many boys are diagnosed with ADHD in childhood than girls, the diagnostic rates in adults are more equally divided between males and females. This suggests girls go unnoticed when they are younger.

As a disorder traditionally seen as affecting males, and with males referred more often for a diagnosis, research to assess ADHD has been based on samples largely consisting of boys. It has been argued that the rating scales developed to assess ADHD have been based on the behaviours observed in the mainly male research samples.

ADHD can look different in girls than boys.

A boy who is hyperactive might have trouble sitting in his seat in the classroom -- so he sits with one knee on the seat and one foot on the floor. It is likely, given his constant shifting and unequal balance on the seat, that the back legs of the chair will eventually lift up and the chair pitch forward causing the boy to fall to the floor.

Signs that your daughter might have ADHD

look different in boys but boys also have a tendency to be more hyperactive and impulsive than girls.

Because hyperactive and impulsive behaviours are more disruptive in the classroom, teachers are more likely to notice boys as a problem and refer them for attention challenges.

Lastly, symptoms of ADHD in girls are sometimes masked because they work hard to meet adult expectations. Without meaning to, adults have different expectations of girls than boys.

Adults expect girls to be tidy and organized, achieve good grades and to be easygoing. In turn, girls are more likely to want to obey social norms and not cause trouble. They will work extra hard to achieve success by staying up late to finish homework or tidying their rooms when asked.

Sometimes, when adults encounter girls who have difficulty meeting their expectations but the girls are agreeable, they excuse the behaviours by describing the girls as “ditzy,” “dramatic” or “artsy.”

• Homework takes longer than it should.

She forgets about it or is distracted by surfing the internet or texting her friends and ends up staying up late the night before an assignment is due to finish it.

• She is an inefficient student. While she appears to study for tests, her performance does not seem to match the time spent studying.

• She has weak reading comprehension.

She can get facts from a text but does not make links between the ideas she reads.

She misses details in instructions on assignments/tests.

• She struggles with friendships because she does not read social cues or follow conversations. Peers start to reject and isolate her or make fun of her.

• She forgets things she needs (e.g. dance shoes or soccer cleats). This is a classic sign but agreeable girls with ADHD will often have friends or adults who compensate for them (for example sharing a pen because she doesn’t have one).

• She misplaces her things regularly (for example her phone, keys or bank card).

• She talks, and talks and talks.

• She does not run and climb about like boys but is the classroom helper and is social and chatty in class.

• She has lots of friends because she is fun to be around but when she tries to organize activities she seems anxious and indecisive.

Her friends help her make decisions, find her things and keep her organized.

• She has great ideas and wants to start acting on them right away but does not finish projects or follow through.

• She is chronically late or is not ready when she needs to be.

• She channels hyperactivity by being involved in many extracurricular activities like swimming, school clubs and soccer.

• She does not seem to learn from consequences.

• She has wide swings in mood. One moment she is on top of the world and the next moment she is crushed because of a casual comment that is taken as harsh criticism.

If you think your daughter might have ADHD, you should consult with a psychologist or pediatrician who is familiar with ADHD and can provide an in-depth assessment.

Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country

Starting Kids’ Healthy Dental Habits Early

By Health Advocate Solutions

While you may dread the dentist and be a little lacking in the flossing department, it’s important to help the kids in your life get off to the best possible start for a great smile.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 20 percent of kids from ages 5 to 11 have at least one untreated cavity, which can not only cause discomfort and pain, but can also have repercussions on development and future dental health as an adult.

However, tooth decay is preventable.

Here are a few tips to help set up your kids for a lifetime of healthy teeth – Visit the dentist early and often – Kids can start seeing a pediatric dentist once their first tooth appears, but should visit no later than their first birthday. Not only is it helpful to make sure those new teeth are as healthy as they should be, but it can help kids develop a relationship with the dentist and avoid future anxiety (as you may be all too familiar with!). From that point on, it’s recommended that kids see the dentist for check-ups every six months, but talk to your children’s dentist to discuss the best plan for them.

Consider dropping the pacifier – Getting rid of the “binky” may be many parents’ worst nightmare, but long-term pacifier use past age 2 can have a negative impact on kids’ dental development. Along the same lines, try to avoid giving younger babies and toddlers a bottle at bedtime or in bed. The sugars that occur naturally in some beverages can contribute to decay if babies’ teeth are exposed overnight.

Try to clean their teeth after their last bottle or nursing session of the day and stick to water if baby needs a bottle to fall asleep.

Watch sugar intake – To help avoid tooth decay, help your kids choose healthy food and drink options that do not have high amounts of sugar in them, since sugar can lead to cavi-

ties. This is important even for young babies, as drinking juice and other sweet drinks through a bottle and even a sippy cup can contribute to early dental issues. Talk to your kid’s doctor or dentist if they are regularly taking flavored medicines that are high in sugar. You may need to take extra steps to help protect their new teeth from decay.

Eat a healthy diet – In addition to minimizing sugar, incorporating plenty of fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods into your family’s meals and snacks can contribute to healthier teeth and gums, as well as overall well-being.

Encourage healthy habits – Start a routine early on by brushing your kids’ teeth twice a day with a small amount of fluoride toothpaste.

Help them start to take more responsibility for this habit as they get older, but work with them to make sure they are cleaning their teeth effectively. This can be started as soon as a baby’s first tooth appears, but before then, it’s recommended to clean baby’s gums with a clean, moist cloth.

Be a role model – Kids learn by watching you!

If your children see you brush and floss regularly, they are more likely to do the same. And you should also consider visiting the dentist regularly for cleanings and check-ups!

Check for fluoride – The mineral fluoride is critical to strengthening tooth enamel and helping prevent tooth decay, especially for kids as their teeth are developing. Contact your local health department to confirm if fluoride is added to your area’s tap water. If not, talk with your children’s dentist about other ways to ensure your child is getting enough fluoride.

Establishing healthy dental habits when kids are young will go a long way to helping them maintain a healthy smile as they continue to grow.

Pick us up at China Star, Abilene Public Library & Martinez Barber Shop | HEALTH | 39

40 | HEALTH | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry

Thursday, April 5 7:00 pm, Doors 6:00 pm Abilene Convention Center 1100 N 6th Street

Abilene, Texas

Tickets: All Seats Reserved: liveshowevents.net or rushconcerts.com

BUSINESS&CAREER

Join a Growing Company Cooperative Response Center, Inc. may be Abilene’s best kept secret, but not for long.

By Sandy Lowe | HispanicLife Magazine

Michelle Rodriguez didn’t expect to become a Contact Center Manager for Cooperative Response Center, Inc. In fact, she started as a part-time Customer Service Representative-1 at the company’s headquarters in Austin, Minnesota. Now she manages fifty-nine employees at the center here in Abilene and couldn’t be happier about that.

Cooperative Response Center (CRC), founded in 1992, provides service to electrical utilities and cooperatives, including billing, outage and customer care. Three centers in Minnesota; Dunlap, Tennessee and Abilene provide 24/7, 365 day service.

“The company looked at several cities for a new location,” Michelle says. “I wasn’t involved in that process, but I know Abilene welcomed them and was excited about having them here.”

Michelle, her husband Jerry and their four children were open to a move from the mid-west to Texas.

Jerry was born in Lubbock and raised in Eagle Pass. Michelle is a native of Wisconsin. She had moved from her part-time position into dispatch service.

“It’s a lot fun,” she says.

“You get to interact with the linemen and they’re fun people.”

When Michelle heard about the Abilene center she applied for a team lead position. A few months later she took over as a supervisor and in November of 2011 became the local Contact Center Manager. In addition to Customer Service Representatives Abilene center employees include four Supervisors, one Service Excellence Representative, a Help Desk position and a part-time Office Assistant. In April Michelle will celebrate ten years with CRC. “I went through some culture adjustment,” Michelle says. “I thought it was weird that none of the houses here had basements. I giggled every time I heard ‘ya’ll.’ But I love it here. I got here as fast as I could, as they say.

I miss my family in Wisconsin, but they get to come visit me and be warm.”

other way.

With an office full of employees and four children, three of them teenagers, attending school in Merkel and playing sports, Michelle has her hands full, but says she wouldn’t have it any

“My favorite thing about my job is the people,” she says. “I enjoy CRC’s focus on people and the development of employees. We try to make it a family environment with a company picnic and holiday parties—all family focused. I try to maintain a family culture but, as fast as we’re growing, it can be challenging.”

The Abilene center recently added one shift of dispatch service, where CRC employees call out crews and manage them in the field. The service will soon be expanded to two additional shifts with twenty-four hour coverage.

The Abilene CRC center is actively recruiting.

Training for a new class of employees will be

held in April. A high school diploma or GED and strong typing skills are required. Customer service and/or call service experience are a plus. There are also bilingual positions with an added financial incentive.

Training doesn’t stop when a new job starts. For Co-op Camp employees travel to visit an electrical co-op in the area where they meet the people they serve face-to-face and see exactly how processes work.

The Abilene center started with about thirty employees and has expanded into additional space on the fifth floor at 2 Village Drive with more room to grow.

“The progress we’re making is amazing,” Michelle says. “There are lots of changes happening right now.”

Michelle is proud of that progress but she’s also proud that former employees often say, “You should try there. It’s a really great place to work.”

If you’d like to be a part of CRC’s Abilene team, visit the website at www.crc.coop.

CALL US TO ADVERTISE (325) 701-9505 209 S. Danville, Suite B-103 Email: info@hispaniclifemedia.com

42 | BUSINESS | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry

HispanicLife Media

. Advertise Today! Call (325) 701-9505

Pick us up at Abilene ISD, La Familia Mex Rest & Lytle Land & Cattle | BUSINESS | 43

8 Financial Tips For Young Adults

By Amy Fontinelle | Investopedia

Unfortunately, personal finance has not yet become a required subject in high school or college, so you might be fairly clueless about how to manage your money when you’re out in the real world for the first time.

To help you get started, we’ll take a look at eight of the most important things to understand about money if you want to live a comfortable and prosperous life.

In addition, keeping your recurring monthly expenses as low as possible will also save you big bucks over time. If you don’t waste your money on a posh apartment now, you might be able to afford a nice condo or a house before you know it.

Learn Self-Control - If you’re lucky, your parents Start an Emergency Fund - One of personal fi- to meet your financial goals and obligations. Fortaught you this skill when you were a kid. If not, keep in mind that the sooner you learn the fine art of delaying gratification, the sooner you’ll find it easy to keep your finances in order. Although you can effortlessly purchase an item on credit the minute you want it, it’s better to wait until you’ve actually saved up the money. Do you really want to pay interest on a pair of jeans or a box of cereal?

If you make a habit of putting all your purchases on credit cards, regardless of whether you can pay your bill in full at the end of the month, you might still be paying for those items in 10 years. If you want to keep your credit cards for the convenience factor or the rewards they offer, make sure to always pay your balance in full when the bill arrives, and don’t carry more cards than you can keep track of.

Take Control of Your Own Financial Future -

If you don’t learn to manage your own money, other people will find ways to (mis)manage it for you.

Some of these people may be ill-intentioned, like unscrupulous commission-based financial planners.

Others may be well-meaning, but may not know what they’re doing, like Grandma Betty who really wants you to buy a house even though you can only afford a treacherous adjustable-rate mortgage.

Instead of relying on others for advice, take charge and read a few basic books on personal finance.

Once you’re armed with personal finance knowledge, don’t let anyone catch you off guard - whether it’s a significant other that slowly siphons your bank account or friends who want you to go out and blow tons of money with them every weekend.

Know Where Your Money Goes - Once you’ve

gone through a few personal finance books, you’ll realize how important it is to make sure your expenses aren’t exceeding your income. The best way to do this is by budgeting. Once you see how your morning java adds up over the course of a month, you’ll realize that making small, manageable changes in your everyday expenses can have just as big of an impact on your financial situation as getting a raise.

nance’s oft-repeated mantras is “pay yourself first.”

No matter how much you owe in student loans or credit card debt, and no matter how low your salary may seem, it’s wise to find some amount - any amount - of money in your budget to save in an emergency fund every month.

Having money in savings to use for emergencies can really keep you out of trouble financially and help you sleep better at night. Also, if you get into the habit of saving money and treating it as a non-negotiable monthly “expense,” pretty soon you’ll have more than just emergency money saved up: you’ll have retirement money, vacation money and even money for a home down payment.

Don’t just sock away this money under your mattress; put it in a high-interest online savings account, a certificate of deposit or a money market account.

Otherwise, inflation will erode the value of your savings.

tunately, there are plenty of online calculators that have taken the dirty work out of determining your own payroll taxes, such as Paycheck City.

Guard Your Health - If meeting monthly health

insurance premiums seems impossible, what will you do if you have to go to the emergency room, where a single visit for a minor injury like a broken bone can cost thousands of dollars? If you’re uninsured, don’t wait another day to apply for health insurance; it’s easier than you think to wind up in a car accident or trip down the stairs. You can save money by getting quotes from different insurance providers to find the lowest rates. Also, by taking daily steps now to keep yourself healthy, like eating fruits and vegetables, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, not smoking, not consuming alcohol in excess, and even driving defensively, you’ll thank yourself down the road when you aren’t paying exorbitant medical bills.

Guard Your Wealth - If you want to make sure Start Saving for Retirement Now - Just as you that all of your hard-earned money doesn’t vanish, headed off to kindergarten with your parents’ hope to prepare you for success in a world that seemed eons away, you need to prepare for your retirement well in advance. Because of the way compound interest works, the sooner you start saving, the less principal you’ll have to invest to end up with the amount you need to retire and the sooner you’ll be able to call working an “option” rather than a “necessity.”

Company-sponsored retirement plans are a particularly great choice because you get to put in pre-tax dollars and the contribution limits tend to be high (much more than you can contribute to an individual retirement plan). Also, companies will often match part of your contribution, which is like getting free money.

Get a Grip on Taxes - It’s important to understand how income taxes work even before you get your first paycheck. When a company offers you a starting salary, you need to know how to calculate whether that salary will give you enough money after taxes

you’ll need to take steps to protect it. If you rent, get renter’s insurance to protect the contents of your place from events like burglary or fire. Disabilityincome insurance protects your greatest asset - the ability to earn an income - by providing you with a steady income if you ever become unable to work for an extended period of time due to illness or injury. If you want help managing your money, find a fee-only financial planner to provide unbiased advice that’s in your best interest, rather than a commission-based financial advisor, who earns money when you sign up with the investments his or her company backs.

The Bottom Line - Remember, you don’t need any

fancy degrees or special background to become an expert at managing your finances. If you use these eight financial rules for your life, you can be as personally prosperous as the guy with the hard-won MBA. CALL US TO ADVERTISE (325) 701-9505

44 | BUSINESS | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry

Get Smarter and Jump-Start Your Career (Without Going Back to School)

By Jean Chatzky | The Balance

Maybe you’ve hit a wall in your career, and can’t quite seem to land that promotion. Or your real-world experience has shown you another career path you’d like to pursue, but you don’t yet feel qualified to take the leap.

says that as a career coach, she regularly sees people forget about certain qualifications and accomplishments.

For some, sharpening the pencils and heading back to school is the go-to solution, but it shouldn’t necessarily be your default. “Sometimes [your best move] can be circumventing school altogether,” says Jenny Blake, author of Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One.

• CreativeLive, which broadcasts free live classes to people all over the world, ranging from topics like “How to Write a Blog Post That Drives Traffic” to “Build an Etsy Storefront That Sells.”

• Khan Academy, which offers free courses and practice sessions on everything from engineering and the humanities to computing and finance.

• General Assembly, which offers paid skillbuilding workshops (online or at brick-and-mortar campuses) in areas like design, marketing, coding and data. The company also offers regular networking events by skill area and location.

• Coursera, an education-focused technology company, which offers free and paid online courses in areas like data science, computer science, business and machine learning from top schools like Stanford, Yale, Duke and Johns Hopkins — and financial aid is available for those who qualify.

• Itunes and Audible, which can open the door to audiobooks and podcasts when it comes to learning the ins and outs of new topics. Most podcasts are free, and a subscription to audiobook platform Audible is $14.95 per month after the 30-day free trial.

School will always be there if you decide you want to invest in it. But spending a boatload of money (and potentially loading yourself up with debt) to get yourself to the next level may not be necessary. Here’s a game plan to follow instead.

Start With the Outcome - Outcome-

oriented investing is all the rage in the finances world these days, and you’ll be best off if you can do the same thing with your career.

Instead of first looking at what you’re lacking, or getting stuck on feeling behind, focus on what success looks like a year from now. If you’re not sure what you’re aiming for, take some time to think about what you’re best at, what you most enjoy, when you’re most “in the zone” and what people come to you about most often for advice. Use those strengths as clues to propel you toward related learning or research.

Explore Skill-Building Platforms

Seal the Deal With Some Experience - There’s a reason “learn by doing” is such a

Hone Your Mission - Take those per- popular piece of advice — it builds your skills sonal strengths and set them to paper. Then, make a concrete list of what you actually need to learn.

You want to focus on the right skills — ones that are worth your time and may help break down any career walls you might be facing.

Then conduct a sanity check to be sure the skills on your list are ones that are valued by people who would want to hire you. You can do this by asking a “native” — someone already doing what you’d like to do — to coffee and asking about the top strengths required to be successful in their role.

“Then, find your own gap,” says Pamela Mitchell, founder and CEO of The Reinvention Institute. And, before you jump on filling in the blanks, take a good look at your background and make sure you haven’t already done something similar in the past. Mitchell

and your resume at the same time. “Get miles on you!” says career and executive coach Maggie Mistal. Once you’ve gained the skills and put them into practice, you can list them in both the “skills” and “experience” sections of your resume. In the beginning, you may need to offer your assistance cheap or pro bono, so reach out to local startups and offer them this deal.

Sites like TaprootFoundation.org, VolunteerMatch.org and Idealist.org are also great places to start, if you’d like to gain skills working with a nonprofit. (It’ll likely be easier to get your foot in the door and put the skills you’ve learned to use.)

Another option is Catchafire.org, a website that matches talented people to causes they’re passionate about. You input a topic you care about, as well as what you’re good at, and the site helps you find a project to contribute to that incorporates both. You’ll be contributing to a good cause — and beefing up your resume while you’re at it.

Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country

Pick us up at China Star, Abilene Public Library & Martinez Barber Shop | BUSINESS | 45

How Small Business Owners Can Keep Customers Loyal and Coming Back for More

By Stephen Robert Morse | SmallBiz Ahead, The Hartford

When you own a small business, it can be challenging to differentiate your business from your competitors. For example, in many cities and towns, there may be a dozen Chinese restaurants, a dozen bakeries, or a dozen photocopy stores to choose from.

Training your employees to service your customers well should not be undervalued. Yes, your customers may have started coming to your business because of you and you alone, but the reality is that in most businesses, the owner cannot always be present. This means that you must invest in your employees so they can deliver great service.

How do you convince your customers to choose your place of business, every single time?

Yes, training takes time. Yes, training costs money. But training has many rewards that will benefit you financially in both the shortand long-term, because if you don’t train your employees, you risk losing a customer for life, and that can translate to losing that customer’s friends and family.

You do this by going above and beyond.

You must offer an everyday customer service experience that is so much better than that of your peers that your customers won’t think twice about where they will spend their hard-earned money again and again.

To protect yourself against network effects, it is very important to treat all of your customers well, and to make sure that your employees do they same.

Here are five tips that you can use to retain your business’s customers:

For example, if you own a food truck that sells falafel, cut up your product into bite -sized pieces, and stick a toothpick in each piece.

Have them ready for potential customers to try. Then, they will be more likely to eat at your truck instead of at your competitors’.

Melissa McCoy, the founder and CEO of ConnectMed, a service that matches doctors with patients for e-consultations says,”We give customers a free health dashboard where they can enter and visualize personal information like their weight, BMI, sleep, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels, with easy integration with the most common wearable devices.”

This helps McCoy ensure that ConnectMed is top-of-mind at all times and promotes loyalty. In addition, she offers “a simple loyalty program where the 10th physician consult is free.”

2. Differentiate your service by thinking like your customers. There

is a barber down the street from where I live

5. Never say no–and tell your employees not to say no either. Earlier this

year, I heard a talk by Vernon Hill, Chairman and founder of England’s Metro Bank. Hill was thought by many to be the best innovator in the American banking world, as he founded Commerce Bank in Philadelphia that he was able to turn into a $50 billion enterprise. Afterward, Hill moved to the United Kingdom to build Metro Bank, one of the fastest-growing businesses in the country.

Hill’s philosophy at his bank is that “yes” should be the default answer given by his staff when they are asked questions by customers.

This even extends to his customers dogs, who are treated to doggie treats and bandanas when they visit the bank with their owners.

Subscribing to these philosophies is likely to

4. Segment your customers. Greg lead to more lasting relationships with your

1. Give your customers freebies. In Dr. Robert Cialdini’s ground-

breaking work, Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, he writes about the reciprocity principle. In short, Cialdini’s theory, which he has substantiated again and again through his research, is that if you offer something to your customers for free, they will likely feel indebted to you, and thus spend more time and money at your business.

items are on sale.

named Jimmy who is very talented with a pair of scissors. I feel like a million bucks after Jimmy cuts my hair. However, there is a major problem with Jimmy’s level of service: His shop is only open from 10am to 5pm on Monday through Friday. I once walked into Jimmy’s shop at 4:55pm and there was another guy waiting ahead of me. Jimmy told me to come back another day. He wouldn’t cut my hair.

Now, I’m not sure if profit is Jimmy’s motivation, but one way to retain customers is to differentiate your service. For example, if I were Jimmy, I would open my shop from, say, 6am on Mondays, and I would stay open until 9pm on Wednesdays. This would give Jimmy many more opportunities to service people in the community whose working hours are from 10am to 5pm. If other barbers don’t think this way, then this would give Jimmy a clear advantage by matching his service to his customers’ needs.

3. Train your employees well, as you can’t only rely on yourself. There is a

meme that has been floating around the Internet for a couple of years now that talks about the importance of training your employees: CFO: What happens if we train them and they leave?

CEO: What happens if we don’t and they stay?

Moran, the founder and CEO of Zoomcar, a car-sharing company, says, “Personalisation is absolutely key since this will convince customers that the company is making an attempt to understand the pain point or use case in a much deeper, more intimate fashion.”

For example, in Moran’s business, some customers want to drive expensive sports cars, others require SUVs for family outings, and still others just need to get from point A to point B and don’t particularly care which type of car they drive, as long as it is reliable.

When Moran markets to his customers, he makes sure that he doesn’t dangle a sports car in front of a 40-something mother with children, or offer a boring compact car to a wealthy banker. When you market, having the right data to understand your customer segments can go a long way in retaining them.

One way to take control of your customer segmentation is by utilizing Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software. There are dozens of CRM software options out there to choose from, including Salesforce, Pipedrive, and HubSpot, to name a few of the more popular ones. This software easily helps you bucket your customers so you won’t have to worry about sending the wrong email to the wrong type of customer. For example, if you own a clothing store that caters to both men and women, simply creating two customer segments, men and women, will help you advertise to the right people when specific clothing

customers, which will likely increase your customer loyalty. And customer loyalty is what keeps customers coming back for more.

46 | BUSINESS | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry

www.facebook.com/HispanicLifeMagazine

How To Overcome Burnout

By Health Advocate™, Inc.

Feeling blah, frustrated or cynical about your job that you once loved? Snapping at family members or coworkers? Does every day feel like an uphill trudge and no amount of caffeine or sleep seems to help?

Feeling mentally and physically exhausted, unmotivated, pessimistic, and frustrated are classic signs of burnout—which can occur from the ongoing stress of having too many demands placed on your time or attention and too few resources to deal with it. If it’s not addressed, burnout can seriously harm your health, happiness, relationships and job performance.

The good news is that you can make changes to restore the balance you need. Even better, you don’t have to completely overhaul your life—small changes can shift your outlook and your energy. When you’re stretched thin, here are a few tips to help take the pressure off and reinvigorate you: Take time to make an inventory. List all of the situations that cause you to feel stressed, depleted, anxious, worried, frustrated, and/or helpless. Rank them in order of most to least stressful–this will give you an idea of where to initially focus your efforts on making changes.

Reset your priorities. Spend quiet time figuring out what’s really important to you. It’s a great way to whittle down that overwhelming to-do list and establish a healthier work/life balance. For example, do your kids really need to be shuttled to several organized activities every weekend? Do you really need to head up one more committee? Paring things down to what’s essential—and saying “no” to all the rest– can help you carve out more unstructured, restorative activities, like exploring a nearby trail at a leisurely pace with family or friends, for example.

Tune into your true interests and skills. You may need a job that’s less demanding (or perhaps more stimulating) and that is a better match for you. For starters, explore changing positions within your company. Switching from accounting to product development, for example, might provide new stimulation to reinvigorate you.

Request support. At work, you could ask for a flexible work schedule. Or see if you can swap certain aspects of your job with a coworker. At home, make

sure the family calendar reflects the division of daily chores right down to who folds the laundry so it doesn’t always fall on you!

Recharge your batteries. Make self-care a priority.

Take short breaks throughout the day to just sit quietly or step outside—even just a few minutes in nature can be restorative. Make space for those activities and people that boost, rather than drain, your spirits.

And get regular exercise!

Hang out with like-minded people. Sharing humor and venting frustrations with people you trust helps lighten the load when you feel overwhelmed.

Change your scenery. Feeling stuck in a rut can be de-motivating! Some ideas: Walk through a completely different neighborhood, shop at a specialty foods grocery store, or browse an unexplored section of the bookstore. Fresh input can help shift your perspective and counteract emotional exhaustion.

Learn something new. Sign up for an online or community course to improve your tech skills, learn a new language, or how to cook a new cuisine. Mastering something new can reignite your confidence–and your outlook.

Disconnect from digital devices. As much as possible, turn off your iPad, computer, and smartphone— or set a time limit for their use. Put your phone in a drawer when you get home so it’s out of sight, out of mind. And remember, not every text message has to be answered on the spot. Take a pause and postpone your response.

Unplug from work by engaging in activities. Resist the temptation to sit on the couch and snack your way through a TV series all evening. Cooking with your partner or playing a game of Scrabble with your teen, for example, can get your mind off work and increase your energy.

If, despite your efforts to make changes, you have lingering exhaustion or a feeling of hopelessness, your burnout may be something more serious, like depression. See your doctor for an evaluation.

. Advertise Today! Call (325) 518-7091

Pick us up at Armando’s Mex Rest, Communities of Abilene FCU & Los Arcos Mex Rest | BUSINESS | 47

Clever Ways To Get Rid Of

By DaveRamsey.com

So you’ve made the decision to declare independence from your debt. That’s awesome!

Now that you’re ready to kick your debt snowball into gear, it’s time figure out a plan for getting some extra cash. There are always the surefire ways of selling stuff and picking up an extra job. But let’s think outside the box; let’s get creative with some ideas of how to get rid of your debt.

It’s always inspiring to hear stories of how others paid off their debt. Plus, you can pick up a clever idea or two along the way. We asked Dave’s Facebook friends to help us out with innovative ways to dump the debt.

One way to get your debt snowball rolling is by making sacrifices. Em-

$800 extra per month that went straight to two months! It was a fun project and a great learning experience.” Eva also discovered debt.” that her four kids enjoyed the bike project, Another way to make some extra which created great memories for the whole cash is to use your talents. Steve got family. super creative with his talents. “I wrote an iPhone app that is currently being sold on the Find something you love and figure Apple store.” Heather also got imaginative out a way to make some money with with her sewing machine by making aprons your passion. Ed started driving a limo and teaching motorcycle classes to bring in and selling them on a craft website. extra money to go toward his debt snowball.

Think about a skill you could teach Not only is he making money, he’s having a yourself and then offer it as a ser- blast while doing it! vice to others. Matt learned about auto mechanics and saved thousands of dollars by Don’t be afraid of hard work. Joe teaching himself how to take care of his car. didn’t let a little work deter him from trying And Michael figured out how to make web to become debt-free. “I offered my landlord pages and started selling his talents as much to strip and repaint all the doors and windows of the four-unit apartment building in lieu as possible. He’s now almost debt-free! of rent. I was able to use my rent money for Others have decided to buy things debt.”

when I’m debt-free.” And Melanie sold her homeschool curriculum on eBay once she didn’t need it anymore.

Talking with other people who are going through the same things you may be facing will give you ideas for getting “gazelle intense” to tackle your debt!

ily, a stay-at-home mom, knows all too well what that entails. “I took a job delivering newspapers from 3 a.m. to 5 a.m.! Since I’m an at-home mom with a husband who can for cheap, fix them up, and turn Sell your stuff. This one’s a given, but we sometimes work 12- to 16-hour days, it was around and sell them for a profit. impossible to take a part-time gig any other Eva did this with bikes. “I bought old bikes at can’t stress it enough. Jim sold 14 of the 17 time but when the rest of the world goes to auctions and thrift stores, fixed them up, and guitars he had in his collection. “I have no resleep. A daily paper route earned us about sold them on craigslist. I made over $2,700 in grets. It’s just stuff, and I can always get more

KEY PROPERTY

MANAGEMENT & REAL ESTATE 325-690-0123 www.WeSellAndRentAbilene.com

HOUSES, APARTMENTS, DUPLEXES, CONDOS, INVESTMENT PROPERTIES

- Little Elm Condo’s -

- Jefferson Square Apts -

5450 S. 7th at Ruidosa • 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath .......................$499 • 2 Bedrooms, 1 Bath ......................$579 • 2 Bedrooms, 2 Baths.....................$679

1 & 2 Bedroom Apts.

Cute Floor Plan, Stove & Fridge, Enclosed Patios 1 Bedrooms: Starting at $389 2 Bedrooms: $559/Month Washer & Dryer Connections, Dishwashers & Disposals Pets Welcomed!

• Water Paid • Close To Dyess • Stove, Fridge, Dishwashers • Fireplace • W/D Connections 1 BEDROOM

2 BEDROOM

602 North Jefferson $389 161 S. Pioneer $ 5451 Laguna 499 5451 Laguna 200 North Jefferson

575

$

579

$

559

$

3 BEDROOM

718 High 599/$300 $ 650 310A CR 133 2965 Sunlake, 2/2 $559/$300 $

1110 Roma, 3/2

699/$450

$

10390343

Close to DYESS AFB