OUTSTANDING. EXCITING. AISD.
$69 MILLION FROM THE 2018 AISD BOND ELECTION WILL BENEFIT MANY OF OUR YOUNGEST STUDENTS VERY SOON. New buildings for Austin, Dyess and Taylor elementary schools will open in the 2020 - 2022 school years, complete with new security features, modern playgrounds, state-of-the-art technology, and creative spaces for today’s learners. Raiders, Trojans and Jets, get ready for a whole new experience!
www.abileneisd.org
$69 MILLION
dedicated to 3 new elementary school buildings
Pick us up at Long John Silver, Drug Emporium & Los Arcos Mex Rest | COMMUNITY | 3
MARCH 2020
Volume 10, 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 • Terri Collum (325) 439-1214 terri@hispaniclifemedia.com
• Donna Lee (325) 518-8994 donna.lee@amclassabilene.com
• David Hernandez (325) 518-7091 sales@hispaniclifemedia.com
GRAPHIC DESIGN/LAYOUT Debbie Heep info@hispaniclifemedia.com
About Us
We are dedicated to serving the Abilene and the Big Country by providing up-to-date information and resources that promote healthy families and homes. We also promote our clients businesses by increasing their customer bases and enhancing their public images within the Hispanic community. HispanicLife Magazine is published on a monthly basis and is owned & operated locally. Advertising rates are available upon request. While we use great care in creating our display ads, mistakes can happen. HispanicLife and the publisher are not liable for any damages arising from any typographical or mechanical errors beyond the cost of the ad. HispanicLife does not necessarily endorse any of the advertisers, products or services listed in this publication. 2019 HispanicLIfe Media
All rights reserved. No reproduction of any portion of this issue is allowed without permission from the publisher. www.facebook.com/HispanicLifeMagazine
Here recently, there seems to be a lot of fear in America right now, especially in the light of COVID-19. Listen up, the promises of God are still true! God is bigger than the Coronavirus! As any wise man would do, take the necessary time to listen to the medical experts and take appropriate measures (wash your hands, use good hygeine, etc.). But we need to replace our fear with faith and pray for our nation, that God would protect us all. Phil. 4 reminds us, ‘Don’t worry about anything and pray about everything! “Lord, you are bigger than this virus, and we are praying that these numbers will start going down. We are praying that anyone that has it will be healed. And we are praying, Lord, that we will not live in fear but we will live in faith!” We are also called to pray for our leaders as well. Pray that God would give wisdom to President Trump, Vice President Pence, his team, as they deal with this. Help them to know what to do, when to do it, the steps to take, the practical. But know that we do not rely only on that. We are prayerful, looking to our Heavenly Father, knowing that God loves us.” Now is the time to unite; to come together as a nation, a state, a community. If you have ever felt a time to help your fellow man, this is a great time to do it. If it has sprung up in your heart to help an elderly neighbor, a single mom, or someone who is living in fear, now is the time to act. Let us put away our political differences, and come together as One Nation Under God. Let us be doers of His word, and not only hearers, for the greatest in the Kingdom shall be the servant. Be practical, take precautions, don’t panic, but be diligent in serving others for the Glory of the Father. Have a great month and as always…. “First God, then Family and finally Friends” Amy Hernández & the girls and all the staff here at HispanicLife
4 | COMMUNITY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Abilene Public Library and Chick-fil-A Team Up For Run4Reading Fundraiser By Abilene Public Library
The Abilene Public Library and Chick-fil-A have had a great and growing partnership over the past few years. We’ve conducted regular storytimes at their restaurants while they’ve provided children with treats and incentives for reading, their mascot has attended many of our special library events and likewise library staff has attended special events hosted at Chick-fil-A. With a passion for supporting literacy in communities, Abilene Chick-fil-A restaurants have come together to create a fundraiser to benefit the Abilene Public Library and literacy. On Saturday, March 28 at Shotwell Stadium, Chick-fil-A will host
the first annual Run4Reading event where youth can register to participate in a 1-mile fun run and adults can participate in a 4-mile run through the Lytle area of the city. Information on registration can be found online at www.active.com/abilene-tx/ running/distance-runningraces/run4reading-2020 for all whom are interested. In addition to the run, Chick-filA will provide additional family-friendly activities including face painting, bounce houses, maybe a petting zoo, and more. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Abilene Public Library and we couldn’t be more thrilled to be the first recipient of of this new community event.
Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country
COMMUNITY
LOCAL PEOPLE AND EVENTS
All Women Mariachi Band Hoping to Break Gender Stereotypes By BigCountryHomePage
An all-female mariachi band in El Paso said it wants to break mariachi gender stereotypes. The group is called Mariachi Femenil Flores Mexicanas. “It’s a male-dominated genre, so everybody looks at you like you can’t be as good as an allmale group,” said Lilly Sanchez the Owner and Director of Mariachi Femenil Flores Mexicanas. For the past almost 20 years the group has been playing mariachi in El Paso. One of the biggest struggles for the all-female group is singing songs that were traditionally sung by men. “Sometimes the chorus do suffer cause you need that low bottom base, but we make it work,” said Sanchez. “Especially like learning the keys and stuff for a female voice is very different from learning keys and stuff from male voices,” said Yesenia Rodriguez a Member of Mariachi Femenil Flores Mexicanas.
The band has played throughout the Southwest and recently went on tour with international singer Lila Downs proving that women mariachi bands can be successful in a male dominate industry.
“They either don’t take you seriously or they just However, the ladies said they don’t want to be think that you can’t accomplish anything so it’s the same as other mariachi groups. nice to prove them wrong,” said Rodriguez. Standing out with their turquoise, pink and royal blue outfits. “I think color choice helps us stand out a lot. I hadn’t really seen, well until I joined this group, I never really saw like a turquoise traje,” said Karyme Perea a Member of Mariachi Femenil Flores Mexicanas.
CALL US TO ADVERTISE (325) 701-9505
6 | COMMUNITY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
She’s a beauty, she’s grace and she’s up for adoption! Everyone meet Vega, a 7 years young, terrier mix. Vega is one of those hidden gems, that has been at our shelter since early January. Although Vega might look big, she’s actually pretty small - she is weighing in at 36 pounds! Vega’s favorite thing to do is cuddle up under a blanket, preferably with a human. Vega is very gentle and would be best with a family who enjoys cuddling on the couch. Vega knows how to sit, and walks well on a leash, but will stop every chance she gets to try and get one more belly rub in. Human love is her weakness and she will do anything to get you to love on her. She is quiet and doesn’t cause much noise. Her adoption fee is currently only $15 thanks to all the donations towards her adoption fee. If you or someone you know is interested in Vega, swing by Animal Services today! We are located at 925 South 25th Street in Abilene, Texas. Be sure to mention her animal ID 43545472. If you would like more information, call at (325) 698-0085.
HispanicLife Media
Why Are H-E-B’s Flour Tortillas So Dang Good?
Texans know:These chewy, buttery beauties are a state treasure. But where did they come from? By Alex Beggs | Bon Appétit
Like you, the H-E-B flour tortilla has accepted the fact that it is imperfect. It’s okay with that. That’s part of the reason everyone loves it so much. Its little quirks. Like the lumpy, bumpy, not-quite-circular shape. Some air bubbles here and there. An edge that’s folded over a bit, like a teenage ear awaiting a piercing. These are signs that the precious H-E-B tortilla is homemade. Or as close to homemade as you can get in a 68,000-square-foot grocery store along the Houston interstate. My half-Mexican, very Tex-Mex mom used to make flour tortillas with an electric press. She’d roll balls of dough made with flour, salt, baking powder, warm water, and Crisco and let them proof into silky balloons under a towel. Then she’d set up an assembly line where my siblings and I would stand to the side while she pressed out the tortilla and then passed it to us. Well, it would have been an assembly line if we’d put them in the kitchen towel instead of eating them one by one. Sometimes we’d slather them with butter and chew them in front of the TV, not knowing how this stupid greasy moment would be one of life’s best.
Mi Ranchito
Virginia’s Plate
Named after our owner. Arrachera steak topped with salsa verde served with frijoles charros, calabacitas and our homemade potato chips. Come try it today at our new Buffalo Gap Rd. location! 6442 Buffalo Gap Rd Suite C, Abilene, Texas
. Advertise Today! Call (325) 518-7091
When there wasn’t time for that cute glowing family portrait type of cooking, we bought similarly chewy flour tortillas at H-E-B. Our local store had people pressing them out—live! IRL!—right there in the aisle, surrounded by display tables of tortillas. They’d package the tortillas and stack them high in what Little Me thought was a tortilla fort. When you picked up a package, it would be warm and steamy. I’d clutch it to my chest like a heating pad. H-E-B had it all figured out. In fact, they’d figured it out decades before I even got
there. Jorge Elizondo, H-E-B’s VP of Customer Insights, grew up in South Texas with a tortilleria three blocks away. “You would go there to find your flour or corn tortillas and then you’d go to H-E-B to do your grocery shopping,” he said. It was around 40 years ago that some savvy exec noticed the chance to fulfill two customer needs in one store. Now nearly every location—350 throughout the state of Texas and nowhere else—has an in-store tortilleria. (In 2006 H-E-B took it a step further by launching Mi Tienda, a Mexican grocery store with huge piles of dried chiles in the produce department and in-store taquerias. Catch me happily wandering the aisles with an XL foam cup of horchata whenever I’m back in Houston.) Elizondo’s parents are from Monterey, Mexico, where flour tortillas are a treat, corn tortillas the norm. He was eating an H-E-B tortilla with melted butter moments before I called him. “The first bite you take, you can smell the butter, you can taste the butter,” he said. “I was having it with a cup of coffee and the combination was reminiscent of many years ago with my parents.” I told him he was killing me. At 4 a.m. every morning, the bakers at H-E-B’s in-store tortillerias start pulling and pressing from a huge ball of dough delivered to the store from some place mysterious and, I assume, very sanitary. (Okay, it’s a bakery plant in San Antonio.) For the regular flour tortillas, it’s a mix of wheat flour, palm oil, salt, and leaveners. Depending on the store and its customer base, there might be three shifts of tortilla bakers to meet demand. Tortillas are pressed out by the thousands and packaged in bags of 10 or 20, separated with squares of tissue-like wax paper. If you ask a baker kindly for a sample, they’ll hand one over and you’ll say a quick prayer of thanks
Pick us up at Law Enforcement Office & Cisco College | COMMUNITY | 7
H-E-B’s Flour Tortillas continued from page 6. for your grocery store communion. Each store makes its tortillas a little differently. Some are thicker, thinner, smaller—or more haphazard, with those folded-over-ear edges customers write cantankerous Facebook reviews about. People, do you want carbon copy factory tortillas that taste like preservatives and plastic wrap?! I do not! All are slightly underbaked and on the pale side because the idea is you will go home and reheat them in a hot cast-iron pan or directly over the stovetop flame. Reality is, you will snack on a few in the car home because Houston traffic is ridiculous and they’re WARM (kept so in what looks like gas station ice cream coolers but are actually warm tortilla incubators). They’re floury and chewy and bendy. The regular flour tortillas are the top seller. (They cost between $2–$4.) Whole wheat is the second most popular because people think they’re healthier. The ones made with butter are No. 3, but those are the inarguable best. They taste of butter. It’s one note, but the note is butter.
tastes—especially in areas of Texas with populations upward of 90 percent Mexican—and feedback from employees, some of whom come from Mexican families that have made tortillas for generations. As Elizondo puts it: “You have to have a great tortilla or you’re just not going to stay in business.” That’s why there are no longer artificial ingredients or preservatives in H-E-B’s tortillas. The problem is, H-E-B doesn’t sell any of its tortillas online. So the greatness, the mystique, the glory of the HE-B flour tortilla has only grown in my memory the longer I’ve been away from Texas, in the way nostalgia can delude us. (I used to think my mom’s enchiladas were some gourmet shit—they’re just corn tortillas dipped in Old El Paso canned sauce.)
And sure, there are hoity-toity flour tortillas out there, like Vista Hermosa’s, which could probably take H-E-B’s in a duel, if it came to that kind of carb-on-carb violence. But the H-E-B flour tortilla is still the best supermarket-brand tortilla After I moved to New York, I’d visit my sister in out there, easy. My love for them has not faded. Houston and we’d hit up the H-E-B in Montrose so I could stock up on tortillas. I’d ask for them Recently a friend went to Houston and asked for Christmas, so my dad would mail them to if he could bring anything back for me. “H-Eme along with Bob’s Texas-style jalapeño kettle B flour tortillas! This is not a drill!” I replied. chips, paying more in express shipping than the He brought back two bags of 20, but one was cost of the contents within, unless you can put a down to 16 because he couldn’t resist snacking price on nostalgia (it’s $26.84). on a few on the plane. “Ughhhhh they’re sooo goooood,” he groaned in apology. I know, I The H-E-B flour tortilla is more Texas style than know, I know. traditionally Mexican, but the recipe has changed in small ways over the years to reflect customer PHOTOS BY HAYDEN SPEARS
8 | COMMUNITY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country
H
MARC
25
“ Star Quality Service”
Abilene Chamber of Commerce Presents
EVERY MOVIE HAS A SCRIPT EVERY BUSINESS HAS A STORY LIVE AUCTION | BUSINESS AFTER HOURS | 220 + EXHIBITORS FREE FOR CHAMBER MEMBERS | $5 IN ADVANCE | $10 AT DOOR
325.677.7241 | cdfi
ABILENE CONVENTION CENTER|10:00A-3:30P
ABILENECHAMBER.COM
Pick us up at Communities of Abilene FCU, SBDC & Lytle Land & Cattle | COMMUNITY | 9
Abilene Public Library Offers Free Tax Assistance By Adam Singleton BigCountryHomePage.com
Filing your own taxes? The Abilene Public Library tells us how they can help for free.
Free Tax Assistance NOW thru – April 11th 10:00 am – 3:00 pm Main Library- 202 Cedar Wednesdays and Thursdays (325) 676-6025 Mockingbird Branch 1326 N Mockingbird Fridays and Saturdays (325) 437-7323
Open Mic Night 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM South Branch Library Mall of Abilene
Calling local performers of all shapes, sizes, and skill levels. Whether you play an instrument, sing songs, or recite poetry, join us at the Abilene Public Library for an Open Mic Night so you can share your talent with the community. Space is limited so register online to reserve your place on our stage!
Magali Delarosa Shares Details on Next Album By Romeo | Tejano Nation
Magali Delarosa is one of the rising
stars in Tejano music. She signed with Zurdo Records, the record label owned by Michael Salgado, in 2018 after the success of her two independent albums. Her debut album, Esta Vez, was released in 2015 with a follow-up album, Amor Barato, released in 2017. The singer released her Zurdo Records debut album, Mis Sueños, in March 2019 and she spoke about the positive reactions to her music and performances in an interview with “Domingo Live” on Feb. 9. “I’m relatively new, but the reaction is so great,” she told “Domingo Live” host Rudy Treviño. “They’re like, ‘We loved you, you’re music is so interesting, it’s so great.’ I think that the people now are starting to accept the younger sound, the newer generation and what we’re bringing to the industry. I think it’s a very exciting time and I think there is so much talent out there.” There’s no doubt Delarosa is part of the new generation of artists adding her exciting sound and vibe the future of Tejano music. The Rio Grande Valley native is already working on her next album and shared details
on what fans can expect from the upcoming project. “It’s totally amped up,” she said. “We have some really great textures and flavors to the music. A lot of cumbia fusions and some beautiful mariachi ballads in there. I’m so excited those, I love that style of music and of course performing it.”
The upcoming album from Delarosa is expected to be released this summer from Zurdo Records. The singer also performed a few songs from her latest album and including her most recent single “Amor Gigante.”
Each performer will be given a fiveminute slot for their performance. There are no limitations as to what genres and styles can and can’t be premiered, but no additional setup time can be guaranteed outside that five-minute window. Free creative expression is encouraged, but be mindful of the family-friendly atmosphere of the library. Only performers need to register. It is a free and open event for any non-performing audience members. Walk-ins will only be taken after registered performers as time allows. Please visit abilenetx.gov/ apl to reserve your place on our stage. For more information contact: Marnie Boyers, (325) 698-7565 marnie.boyers@abilenetx.gov
Brownwood
S AV E T H E DAT E
OPEN HOUSE
Thursday, March 19 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Main Campus
Sweetwater Friday, March 27 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Student Center
To register, go to tstc.edu/openhouse.
10 | COMMUNITY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Regional Victim Crisis Center Awards Outstanding Citizens for Their Work Helping Victims of Domestic Violence
HispanicLife Media
By BigCountryHomePage.com
The Regional Victim Crisis Center held its annual Men of Strength and Style Show fundraiser. The committee chose two outstanding citizens to bestow two of their top honors for their part in helping our community and more importantly, the work they do to help victims of domestic violence. APD Chief Stan Standridge and Melinda Beard were honored for their work in the community. Chief Stan Standridge was honored by receiving the Jay Hatcher award for 2020. Chief Standridge has been instrumental in helping victims of domestic abuse. In 2019 under Chief Standridge’s leadership, the Department began the Lethality Assessment Program designed to help victims who have been abused by their partner. He began with the Department in 1994. He served in Patrol and SWAT before being appointed Chief of Police in 2009. He is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Mississippi State University, holding a bachelor’s degree, and a Summa Cum Laude Graduate of Sam
Award from the Interested Citizen’s of Abilene North (I-CAN). Melinda Beard was honored by receiving the Shirley Glandon Award for 2020. Melinda and her staff at the Abilene/Taylor County Child Advocacy Center (CAC) go above and beyond in helping families, and especially children, of domestic violence. Each year they handle hundreds of calls related to domesChief Stan Standridge Melinda Beard tic abuse. Prior to her career at the CAC, she served in the Pregnant Houston State University, holding his master’s degree in Public Administration. He is a gradu- and Parenting Teens program at Abilene ISD, ate of the Texas Leadership Command College, she was the Executive Director of Abilene Hope Class 59, The FBI National Academy, session Haven, and was a Child Protective Services in226 and the FBI’s Law Enforcement Executive vestigator for several years where she became a Development Seminar. Chief Standridge also Forensic Interviewer. Melinda is the coordinator served in the United States Air Force as a Secu- for the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT), which rity Specialist. He will succeed the current Texas is comprised of agency stakeholders involved in Police Chief’s Association President in April child abuse cases. She also serves as a member 2020. In 2019, he received the Association’s of the teaching faculty at the Child Advocacy Innovation Award, and he received the HERO Centers of Texas in Austin.
. Advertise Today! Call (325) 701-9505
Abilene Leaders Working to Educate Community About 2020 Census
Pick us up at Taqueria Riojas & Texas Workforce Center | COMMUNITY | 11
2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
6 YEARS IN A ROW
By Daniela Ibarra | KTXS
Starting in mid-March, households across the which Garcia said is predominantly Hispanic. country will get mail inviting them to fill out a questionnaire for the 2020 Census. “A lot of times, people have fears,” said Garcia. “They’re apprehensive about it. They’re thinkOn April 1, known as Census Day, every single ing, well somebody’s going to use the informaperson living in the 50 states, D.C. and five U.S. tion against me which is not true. The Census is territories will be counted. private information that can never be dispersed to any other organization.” The answers you fill out affects the amount of If you live in Abilene on April 1, federal funding and the Garcia said it’s essential you take number of seats in the the Census to make sure the City U.S. House of Represengets its fair share of federal funds. tatives your state gets. “You’re driving on the streets, “This literally could turn you’re using all the police and into millions of dollars fire and all the services that we if we don’t get the best get from the federal government count that we can get for the citizens of Abilene,” — they’re here using them,” said Garcia. said Samuel Garcia, President of the Hispanic Leadership Coalition. Garcia, along with other There are several grants the City could be members of the Hispanic Leadership Council, awarded by the federal government, which is are working to make sure everyone understands why Garcia urges everyone to make sure they how to fill out the Census questionnaire. are counted accurately.
Abilene
Making
HAPPY
“This is huge,” said Garcia. “These are the num- “This can turn into a lot of money for our combers that the federal government will use for the munity,” said Garcia. “This is all about making next 10 years on how to allocate resources.” sure our community gets what it deserves.” The Hispanic Leadership Coalition have formed There are three ways you can respond to the a committee to target and educate what they Census: by phone, mail, or online. refer to as low count areas in north Abilene --
Big Country Walk for Autism April 25th By BigCountryHomePage
The Big Country Walk for Autism (BCWA 2020) is an annual fundraiser for REACH for a Difference, your local resource for Autism in Abilene and the Big Country. Our goal is to raise $25,000 so we can continue providing resources, education, advocacy, community events, and hope to individuals and families impacted by Autism.
has helped numerous churches, families, and schools with sensory items for their children that can’t be covered by insurance. Your gift will help us continue to keep our children safe by teaching swim lessons and water safety. Your gift will help our support groups and trainings so the community has awareness and is educated. Your gift will go to resource booklets for schools and families to connect to needed The walk will be Saturday, April 25. Regis- therapies. tration begins at 9 am and the Walk is from 10 am to 1 pm at Shelton Stadium at Hardin- Most importantly, this year we’d like to support Simmons University. There will be resources, programs like Social Groups and Lunch Buddy games, local vendors, and more. In order programs that need our help with funding, so to register your team or to become a spon- that they can begin helping our children that are sor for the event, go to the website at: www. struggling in middle school and high schools. reachforadifference.org. These are a few examples of the amazing things REACH does and can do with your help. Please By giving you will help REACH continue show up and be a “Difference Maker” in our providing services like Phoebe’s Closet that community and for others.
One Village Drive, Suite 100 (325) 698-BANK
happybank.com
Member FDIC
12 | COMMUNITY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Screenings are the Best Way to Protect Yourself from Colon Cancer
Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country
By Caitlin Richards | HispanicLife Magazine
This month marks 20 years of Colorectal Cancer Awareness. In February of 2000, President Bill Clinton officially dedicated March as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Over the past 20 years, the movement has grown to be a rallying point for the colorectal cancer community. Thousands of patients, survivors, caregivers and advocates throughout the country have spread colorectal cancer awareness by wearing blue, holding fundraising and education events, talking to friends and family about screening and so much more. Abilene Regional Medical Center Gastroenterologist Sandip Mathur, M.D. shares how everyone can do their part in spreading awareness by knowing the signs and encouraging screenings. “When you meet friends, family and others you love and care for, it is important to ask one question beyond how are you,” says Dr. Mathur. “Go beyond the first question, and ask have you done anything to protect your health.” Colorectal cancer, also known as colon cancer, is among three most common cancers for men and women. In men, the top three are prostate, lung and colon. While for women, the top three are breast, lung and colon. Dr. Mathur says the best way to protect yourself from colon cancer is to be screened. “For some reason, we have seen more colon cancer in younger people – in the age group of 35 to 50 – instead of when we usually see it in the above 50 age group,” says Dr. Mathur. “So even young people, if they have any inkling or concerns that something is not okay, they should take it seriously and see their primary physician.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), regular screening, beginning at age 50, is the key to preventing colon cancer. The CDC suggests if you are 50 to 75 years old to get screened regularly and if you are younger than 50 and think you may be at high risk you should ask your doctor if you should be screened. “The screening can be done with a test called a colonoscopy,” says Dr. Mathur. “A colonoscopy is done by inserting a tube into the
With a negative colonoscopy test, Dr. Mathur says you are considered safe for ten years - if there is no family history of cancer. A primary care doctor or specialists, like Dr. Mathur, can request a screening. Dr. Mathur encourages everyone to either speak with their primary care doctor about being screened or calling their office directly at 325-692-3777 to set up a screening. “The other big thing everyone should know is almost every insurance has to cover a colonoscopy,” says Dr. Mathur. “It is mandated. So, it could not cost you anything extra or very little. You just have to schedule the time and have the determination to look after your health.” Dr. Mathur has even taught himself Spanish so he can easily converse with patients about their health. He knows some will bring a family member to help translate, but he wants the Hispanic community to know bringing a translator is not essential to be screened and take care of your health. “The best thing people can do is encourage their family and friends to take care of their health,” says Dr. Mathur. “Sometimes getting encouragement from a friend or family member, makes you do the thing you have been thinking about and putting off.” or cancer, and you can still feel fine. “You can feel completely normal and have colon cancer,” says Dr. Mathur. “So, that is the scary thing. Usually, by the time you feel bad is when the cancer is very advanced. The only way to find out before it starts bothering you is to be screened.”
The colonoscopy, Dr. Mathur says, is considered the best screening test. There are other options out there, like Cologuard, an in-home screening service, which is a stool test. He rectum and then into the colon to look for can- suggests to at least do something rather than cer. During the test, if the doctor sees signs of nothing to be screened. Especially, if colon pre-cancer, they can also remove it before it cancer is in your family. becomes cancer.” Dr. Mathur explains colon cancer is a lot like “If you have a family history of colon cancer skin cancer. With skin cancer, there are small it puts you at higher risk,” says Dr. Mathur. “If spots on the skin that have turned into pre-can- your parents, siblings, or even your children cer or cancer, but you still feel fine. The same have colon cancer, then it puts you at very is true with colon cancer. There are small spots high risk of colon cancer. And the more the on the colon that have turned into pre-cancer family members with colon cancer the greater the risk.”
For more information about Dr. Mathur and Abilene Regional Medical Center Gastroenterology visit abileneregional.com or call 325692-3777.
Pick us up at Drug Emporium, Monterrey Mex Rest & Lytle Land & Cattle | COMMUNITY | 13
with Chukwuemeka Ezeoke, M.D. Gastroenterology
1. Tell us about yourself and your family! I am married with 3 children,
now at age 45, not 50 years old
2. How long have you been doing Gastroenterology? Less than 2 years.
I spend time with my wife and kids. I take my daughters out on weekly dates to the movies (which is our thing now). I exercise 5-6 days a week by swimming 1-3 miles a day, or running 3-5 miles daily, and weightlifting. I enjoy reading medical journals on the treadmill to keep up with changes in medical practice.
ages: 6, 3, and 9 months old, and expecting a fourth child in July. My wife is a pharmacist.
3.What made you decide to get into this specific type of Medicine? I enjoy the area of internal medi-
cine, and specifically the physiology of the internal organs.
4.What exactly are the “services” that you provide with Abilene Regional Medical Center? I perform
clinical diagnosis and treatment ~ 2.5 days a week of diseases such as Barrett’s esophagus, reflux, IBS, Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis, ulcers, diarrhea, constipation, rectal pain or bleeding, liver diseases. The remaining 2 days a week, I perform interventional or diagnostic endoscopies and colonoscopies including screening colonoscopies. We recommend screening for colon cancer
5. Besides working hard taking care of patients, what else keeps you busy? Any Hobbies? Kiddos’ activities?
6. What inspires you to get up every morning? Providing for my family
and knowing I will be saving a life (lives) that day.
7. If someone is in need of information about the services you provide at Abilene Regional Medical Center how do they make an appointment with you? Phone: (325) 428-5710 Website: http://abilenegi.com/
SAME-DAY APPOINTMENTS FOR PRIMARY CARE.
Whether it’s for a checkup or something more serious, you and your family want convenient, accessible healthcare. At Abilene Physicians Group, we make it easier than ever to get primary care. Go to ARMCOnlineScheduling.com or call 325-428-5500 to schedule a same-day appointment. Most insurance plans are accepted, including Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE. Most calls will result in a same-day appointment with a physician or a nurse practitioner.
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
Albina Salas Celaya DeLa Paz, 90, passed away February 18, 2020. Albina was born March 01, 1929, in San Vicente, Texas to Manuel and Isabel Celaya. Left to cherish her memory include son: Manuel “Manny” Garcia and wife Sarah of Abilene, Texas; daughter: Delia Fields of Hereford, Texas; brothers: Frank Celaya, Jesus Celaya and wife Maria and Thacho Celaya all of Hereford; Texas; sister: Isabel Diaz and husband Alex of Amarillo, Texas; eight grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren. Albina was preceded in death by her parents; husbands: Epifano Garcia and Gilberto DeLa Paz; son: Raul Garcia and great grandson: Evan Garcia. Henry Faye Centers Morgan, 83, departed this life on February 18, 2020. Henry Faye Centers Morgan was born in Henderson, Texas to the late John Henry and Annie B. Centers on July 29,1936. She joined the Antioch Baptist Church at an early age. She graduated from Henderson High School in 1955. She worked for Grissom’s department store. She graduated from Texas State Institute as a Licensed Vocational Nurse. She worked for Hendrick Medical Center, Sears Retirement Center, Disability Resource Inc, and retired from the Abilene State School after 27 years. She was a longtime devoted member of Mt. Zion First Baptist Church. She enjoyed shopping ,wearing beautiful hats and watching the Cowboys play. Mrs. Morgan was preceded in death by her father John Henry Centers, her mother Annie B. Centers, a sister Varrie Jones- Tinsley, a brother T.C. Centers, a son Glenn Morgan, and a great grandson Cory Young. A woman of great joy, laughter and love she leaves to cherish her memory her sons: Rodney “Pee Wee” Morgan and Michael Morgan, both of Abilene, daughter Renee Morgan- Russ and husband Charles of Haltom City, Texas; niece: Jacquelyn Mitchell and husband Alfreddie of Houston, Texas; grandchildren: Brandon Morgan, LaToya Morgan, Corey Morgan, and Justin Morgan, as well as twelve great grandchildren and a host of extended family members and friends.
HispanicLife Media
Erasmo Martinez Jr “Raz””Mito” “Martinez”, entered into Heaven on February 6th of 2020.
Erasmo Jr was sent to us on July 11, 1973 to Erasmo Martinez Sr. and Isabel Jimenez. The family quickly nicknamed him Casper because he was light complected with blonde hair, reminiscent of this friendly character. He was the apple of his mother’s eye, and the two were inseparable. Growing up he was smiling, happy, and joyful. He was one of the oldest, so the cousins looked up to him. He was cool, and they followed him around, he was the leader of the pack. He learned break dancing, beatboxing, and to love fast and loud cars and music. He also entered many eating contests, never backed down from a challenge, and even at a young age, once ate a jalapeno wrapped inside a tortilla for a prize. Raz’s first car was a 1976 bright orange Pontiac Trans Am, a former racecar. For his enjoyment, that car could be heard from blocks away. He was the first one of his cousins to drive, so they enjoyed cruising together and going out to Bandera Rd. He also enjoyed video games and playing the bass with his cousins in their own “garage” band. He graduated from Abilene High School in 1991, and also attended Cisco Junior College. Later on, he would work at Skinny’s and Allsup’s convenience stores. He was promoted to management positions, because he was a hard and loyal worker. Martinez enjoyed encouraging and praying for his coworkers and customers. Some of his regular customers were family members who loved being able to visit him there. It was during this time he met the love of his life, Rachel Trevino. Rachel and Mito were married May 13, 2005 in Abilene. They lived on Fannin Street and had three dogs: Mollie, Brownie, and Chiquita. They endured battles together through Rachel’s illness, and thankfully, she was healed. Mito was also close to his brother-inlaw, Junior. Mito suffered some illnesses and became disabled for some time, as well. These challenges never broke his spirit, though. He would pray and believe that his miracle was coming, that one day he would see and walk again. We rejoice now knowing he received his miracle and is able to see and walk again in Heaven. He would want us to know that the most important thing to do while on earth here is to find and accept our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. That we will face difficult times, but by holding on to faith, nothing is impossible. As Mito showed us in his life to never back down from a challenge, remember him and his smiling face, and when life gets too tough to handle, know that he would always want us to trust and believe for the good. Mito was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife Rachel Martinez of Abilene. His brother Michael Flores and wife Courtney of Austin. His sister Delia Castillo and husband Chuckie of Waco. Nieces and nephews. Cousins who were like brothers; Jorge Solis Jr, Jason Solis, Tony Carrillo, and Michael Martinez. And many extended family members whom he loved and cherished dearly.
a Moment in our arms... a Lifetime
in our hearts...
. Advertise Today! Call (325) 701-9505
Brownwood Resident Wins Car on ‘The Price is Right’
Pick us up at Alfredo’s, Gloria’s Grill and Kentucky Fried Chicken | COMMUNITY | 15
By Derrick Stuckly | Brownwood Bulletin
On Thursday morning, viewers of The Price is Right on CBS witnessed Brownwood resident Teresa Vazquez, clad in a Brownwood Lions Tshirt, sink a putt during the Hole in One game to win a Chevrolet Sonic.
“I was really scared because I used to play miniature golf as a kid and I haven’t done it since,” she said. “It wasn’t on the show, but when Drew (Carey) gave me the putter, I asked him, ‘How do you hold this thing again?’ He showed me how and then to relax I started doing my little “It was the best experience I’ve ever had,” dance and started to relax and I just couldn’t beVasquez said in Thursday afternoon phone in- lieve that ball went straight in.” terview. “Even if I didn’t get called up I wanted to see it, I wanted to experience it live. I just The episode that aired Thursday was filmed in never dreamed they would pick my name, and late November, but Vasquez was not allowed to to win a car of all things. share the news. “I’ve always wanted to go to the Price is Right, always. I just wish my mother (Trinidad Villarreal) was here to see that. That was her favorite show, she would always watch that. I’m just sad she’s not here to see it, but it was very exciting. I could not believe it when they called my name. When they did my husband shook me and said, ‘that’s you, that’s you.’ I saw this big white sign with black letters that said ‘Teresa Vasquez’ and I just got up and took off running.”
“We went to California for Thanksgiving, which was a Thursday, and that Monday is when we went to the Price is Right,” Vasquez said. “They tell you not post it and keep it quiet. I couldn’t say anything, nothing when I got out of there. A lot of people were asking if I won, but I couldn’t respond to anyone. You can tell people the day before it airs, so I posted it on Facebook and said that some of you know we went to the Price is Right and everybody was asking me if I had won and I haven’t said anything, but Vasquez’s confidence of sinking her putt on the the show is going to air Feb. 13 at 10 o’clock, Hole in One game was not very high. watch me. It got around social media and ev-
erybody watched it. I posted two pictures (Wednesday) of my husband and I standing next to the wheel and us heading home on the plane with our Price is Right shirts on. All I said was we had an awesome time.”
knew we were going to be there seven days. I As of Thursday afternoon, Vasquez was expect- was thinking of what we could do besides go to Hollywood. I told him I wanted to go the ing her new vehicle at any time. Price is Right, I’ve never been there and I al“They told me they would deliver it to my ways wanted to go. house after the show airs, so I’m thinking if not today, tomorrow,” she said. As for the experience itself, Vazquez wanted to thank her husband, Robert, for making it all happen. “I want to thank my husband, Robert, because he made this possible for me,” Vasquez said. “I never, ever thought this would happen. We were going to see his family in California and I
16 | COMMUNITY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country
The Regional Victims Crisis Center to Create “Community Coalition” By Katherine Garcia | BigCountryHomePage.com
The Regional Victims Crisis Center is looking to form a “Community Coalition” through a $400,000 grant awarded by the attorney general’s office. At the RVCC, employees are well aware that Abilene faces a presence of violent crime and sexual assaults. For many years, the non-profit organization has conducted educational programs in Abilene ISD schools to teach children about signs of violence. Chasity Williams is the primary prevention and outreach director. “So, we’ve done a lot of work with youth individually and in classroom settings, just educating them on how to keep themselves safe,” said Williams. But, as Williams puts it, for many people in Abilene, the presence of such gruesome acts is a hard pill to swallow.
Help is a Phone Call Away...
24/7 Victim Crisis Hotline
“People, especially when there’s like a new, fresh news story, the first [reaction] is like shock and awe like, ‘Oh my gosh. There’s no way this happened here,’” said Williams. Through the coalition, a collection of members from the community will meet to learn about the ongoings of violence and sex crimes that affect Abilene. The non-profit will soon conduct its first meeting to gather input on these issues, inviting everyone from Abilene to attend. The RVCC has conducted focus groups with Abilene teens to get their insight on violent crimes. One major reason for their knowledge in this area is social media. “They are over-exposed on social media, and I think that they are really see-
325.677.7895
ing the effects of not un-plugging ever,” Williams said. “Whether you know it or not, they’re walking around and they’re hyper-vigilant about their safety. They’re looking at things that when we were growing up that we were never worried about. They’re scared to walk down the street. They’re scared to go to school. They’re scared to do the things that we did without thinking.” She added that these teens also have little to do on the weekend, leading to some to get into trouble and many stay plugged into their phones. But, the risks for these violent crimes are not limited to young people. Williams said the goal of this grant is to reduce and eliminate the risks of violence everywhere. “I would really encourage anyone that has any interaction with people within your business, within your personal life to come down and at least just voice your opinion and hear what’s going on in your community,” said Williams. “And then, slowly but surely, we can start looking at what’s causing this victimization.”
Pick us up at Communities of Abilene FCU, SBDC & Lytle Land & Cattle | COMMUNITY | 17
The Odis Dolton Good Neighbor Award:
Remembering a Man Who Loved Family, His Community By AJ Gersh | KTXS
The City of Abilene is honoring a man who spent his life trying to help his neighbors. Odis Dolton passed away on Oct. 11.
“We always knew he was great and we always knew that he was endearing and loving and [the award] just solidifies it,” Dee said. “For
As Mayor Anthony Williams announced during his State of the City address on Monday, Dolton’s life is now being remembered through “The Odis Dolton Good Neighbor Award.” “Odis, for a lot of us, was a friend, a mentor, but more importantly an example,” Williams said. “We have more men and women like Odis Dolton. Abilene is better because Odis Dolton was one of our own.” “His legacy is just loving without limits,” said Dee Dolton, Odis’ daughter-in-law. Odis had a passion for Abilene, his neighbors and community. He moved from Mississippi to the Big Country in 1974 to attend Abilene Christian College on a basketball scholarship. He was a public servant, working for Texas Department of Family & Protective Services before taking a position with the City of Abilene, where he was employed for 19 years. “You know his passion was for Abilene, for the community, even though he wasn’t born and raised here,” Dee said. “It was in him. It was ultimately a purpose that he had in his heart for the community. Whether it was serving on the board or sitting at a little league field. That was just him.” Odis’ biggest passion was his family. He and his wife of 42 years, Pamela, have four children, 18 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Dee told KTXS that everybody called him “Papa,” even his grandchildren’s friends and people in the community.
the City to make that honor, it’s like, ‘Yes, our Papa!’ Because that’s what he was to us, our Papa, he was great!” Odis lived and preached a saying: it’s all about baby steps. “He always said, ‘Don’t rush it. Just baby steps when you’re trying to accomplish something,’ and it didn’t have to be big,” Dee said. He took baby steps. It wasn’t about just sitting on the board. He mentored college students, he would bring students into his home and help prepare them for their first job interview. He would go out and do garage sales to help replace appliances for people. He would pay a portion of peoples water bill. Those are the things that most people don’t know. They all knew that he sat on committees, that he was a great board member. But those were the things that he did that were just baby steps. - Dee Dolton The inaugural “Odis Dolton Good Neighbor Award” was given to his family. “For our family to be recognized, it just tells us that through the heartache, we weren’t the only people that lost someone,” Dee said. The City will begin accepting award nominations for the 2021 Odis Dolton Good Neighbor Award this fall.
18 | COMMUNITY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
www.facebook.com/HispanicLifeMagazine
. Advertise Today! Call (325) 518-7091
EDUCATION
LOCAL SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY NEWS
Leadership Studies Program Travels to Seattle and Bikes Across Texas By Macee Hall | Staff Writer, Hardin-Simmons University
Each semester, students from Hardin-Simmons University’s Leadership Studies program participate in travel opportunities around the globe. Two recent trips allowed students to experience the culture and art of Seattle, WA, and complete a 560-mile bike ride to raise money for cancer research.
students the opportunity to plan, organize, and execute complex projects. The team began riding at the Red River near
Seattle Over the 2019 Thanksgiving holiday, leadership students taking the Organization Builders course visited organizations and important sites in Seattle. In the class, students researched the history of the Puget Sound region, the establishment and development of Seattle, and individuals who affected popular culture, politics, and business. The week-long trip allowed the students to visit the locations they studied. Students experienced a vast array of businesses, including the original Starbucks, Amazon, Microsoft, Boeing, REI, Pike Place Fish Market, and the Columbia Center. They also visited several notable locations around the area, including Mount Rainier National Park, the Washington State Capitol, the Supreme Court Building in Olympia, the Space Needle, the Museum of History and Industry, the Museum of Pop Culture, the University of Washington, and many other notable attractions and historical sites. “Going to Seattle was incredible! After spending a whole semester studying people and organizations that influenced the city and helped me learn so much more just through the handson experience,” said senior Abigale Kendall. “I love the leadership studies program because it has allowed me to experience things like the trip to Seattle and learn in ways that most people never get the chance to experience.” Bike Ride Across Texas Before HSU classes resumed in January, 13 leadership students and alumni participated in the program’s ninth long-distance Bike Ride Across Texas (BRAT). The BRAT is a staple of the Leadership Studies Program and allows
rides have inspired me to new levels. The year before last, we rode for a young man named Cooper, who was killed in an ATV accident, and this year we rode for those who are fighting or who have fought against cancer. These rides have given me a new perspective on life and have shown me that you don’t know when your last day will be. I have had to learn to stop dwelling on the bad things and live in the moment.” Krueger continued, “these rides have taught me a lot about planning, organizing, and teamwork. It is a great way to see the state and the country from a new perspective. When you ride at 15 mph, you notice a lot more about the state.”
Quanah, TX and completed their ride at the Rio Grande in Big Bend National Park. In total, leadership students have covered 8,100 miles across Texas and seven other states during the nine trips. The ride also served as a fundraiser for cancer research, as team members collected donations and shared the story of Officer Abigail Arias, who maintained her strong faith and concern for others during her battle with cancer. During the ride, team members also carried wooden blocks decorated with the names of friends and family members affected by cancer. The blocks will be arranged into a mosaic that will be displayed on the HSU campus. “Every year we do these rides, and every year we do it for a different cause,” said senior and BRAT veteran Ryanne Krueger. “The last two
Along the way, several churches hosted and provided meals for the team, including First Baptist Church of Quanah, First Baptist Church of Hamlin, First Baptist Church of Sterling City, Eastside Baptist Church in McCamey, and Marathon Baptist Church in Marathon. For more information about the Leadership Studies Program, visit the Leadership Studies page on the HSU website.
20 | EDUCATION | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country
AISD To Host Hiring Fair On March 21 By Abilene Independent School District
The Abilene ISD is hiring, and those interested in going to work for one of the city’s largest employers can explore employment opportunities within the district at the AISD Hiring Fair, set for Saturday, March 21, at Johnston Elementary School. With approximately 75 positions throughout the district available, AISD officials will be interviewing for teachers, bus drivers and other potential employees at the event, which will start and 10 a.m. and go through noon. Each participant will be eligible for door prizes and coffee and light snacks will be provided.
Cost Effective Advertising CALL Terri Collum at 1-325-439-1214
Interviews for certain positions will be conducted on site and offers will be made to teachers for the 2020-21 school year. Last August, the AISD Board of Trustees approved a $47,000 first-year teacher salary, the largest in the Big Country. The board also approved as much as an 8-percent pay raise for teachers, librarians, counselors and nurses (RNs), one of the largest raises by percentage in the state. The district will also be handing out signing bonuses to new teachers in high-need areas. Those teachers will find a class-size reduction plan in place at the elementary school level of 18:1 (kindergarten),
20:1 (first grade) and 21:1 (second grade). Those first-year teachers will also be involved in a firstyear mentoring program. The AISD is opening two new elementary campuses in 2020-21 (Austin Elementary in August 2020 and Taylor Elementary in January 2021) and a third (Dyess Elementary) in August 2021. The
LIFT — which will house ATEMS High School and the district’s CTE programs — is set to open in August 2021 as well.
CALL US TO ADVERTISE (325) 701-9505
Pick us up at Monterrey Mexican Restaurant, H.E.B. & CISCO College | EDUCATION | 21
Cisco College Launches Plan To Improve Student Experiences in Online Courses By Colton Wedeking | Director of Marketing & Public Relations, Cisco College
Cisco College recently passed its onsite accreditation inspection by SACSCOC (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges) with only one recommendation, according to Dr. Thad Anglin, president of the college.
volved the completion of a comprehensive Compliance Certification audit which required an assessment of all programs and courses offered both on-campus and off-campus, and those delivered via distance learning,” Dr. Anglin stated.
That one recommendation was to improve the student experience in online classes.
“This critical set was followed up by the SACSCOC Off-Site Committee Review and subsequently a Focus Report response,” he said, “The Quality Enhancement Plan that was presented to the on-site committee was found to align with the college’s Mission and was accepted to move forward with several productive suggestions from the QEP Reviewer.”
As a result, Cisco College has already launched its Quality Enhancement Plan 2020 (QEP) aimed at improving the student experience in online courses. The five-year plan includes two major goals: (1) To connect students to resources that help them succeed in their online courses, such as 24-hour online tutoring and online instruction videos, and to use consistent course design standards. (2) To connect faculty to professional development opportunities that help them enhance their online courses, and also to utilize new resources to enhance the courses. The expected results are to increase the online course success rate and to decrease the annual withdrawal rate. “The SACSCOC reaffirmation process in-
The SACSCOC preparation by the institution consists of two major components: Compliance Certification and a Quality Enhancement plan. Once submitted, they are then reviewed by the Commission on Colleges. This consists of an off-site review, an on-site reaffirmation review, and then a review of the report by the SACSCOC Board of Trustees. The entire process is something that institutions that award associate, baccalaureate, master’s, or doctoral degrees undergo every ten years to gain approval by the SACSCOC Board of Trustees.
CALL US TO ADVERTISE (325) 701-9505
22 | EDUCATION | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
www.facebook.com/HispanicLifeMagazine
. Advertise Today! Call (325) 518-7091
Pick us up at H.E.B., CISCO College & China Star | EDUCATION | 23
Recent ACU Grad Starts Local Enneagram Business
10 Ways to Keep Students Engaged in School
Kendall Castillo, a recent ACU graduate from Plano, started Gospel Centered Enneagram, an Enneagram coaching business, earlier this month.
Seven-year-old May is curious, intelligent, and generous. She is full of life and gets along well with her friends. Kindergarten was a breeze, first grade could not have gone better. Then, around the first week of second grade, she started to wake up with a stomachache. “I don’t like school,” she said, “and I don’t want to go anymore.”
short-term get involved in PTA as a volunteer, encourage your child’s teacher to be imaginative, and be a positive part of the solution. In the long-term, invest yourself in the ongoing conversation around what education may possibly look like going forward.
Jake is a 7th grader who often stays up too late playing video games and then moves so slowly in the morning he misses the bus. “I don’t like school!” he told his dad. “It’s like going to prison!”
child may need to be challenged and motivated. As parents, it is important we understand our child’s capacity to learn and take responsibility for engaging that potential – both at school and at home.
By Derek Maul | AllProDad
By Alyssa High | The Optimist
“I wanted to be a change almost and bring [the Enneagram] back to its roots because it is biblical,” Castillo said. “So I just came up with the simple name of Gospel Centered Enneagram because I wanted it to be pretty straightforward and blunt and centered around the gospel.”
Rafael is on the verge of dropping out of high school. “I’m bored, and it feels like a huge waste of time,” he said. “Nothing they teach has anything to do with my life and besides, I need to start earning money to help my family.”
A type 2 wing 1 herself, Castillo said her forthcoming personality is an inspiration for getting into the Enneagram. “It’s an ancient tool that has come to fruition but people aren’t using it as a tool for relationships, they are using it to define who they are which takes away from their iden-
Students in every age group struggle with disliking school and it’s not just one thing. Check out the following 10 common reasons kids dislike school and plug in with student engagement interventions that can help:
1. Create opportunities to connect with peers. There is a lot we can do to equip our chil-
tity and who the Lord wants them to be,” Castillo said. “They say “Oh, I’m a type 2 wing 1, but really the first thing is that they are a daughter or son of the King.” Castillo started by interviewing people and getting to know more about each type before teaching a class at The Well, a local non-denominational church. Using the first class as a way to get her brand out there, Castillo taught a multi-generational group of locals, including many students, about how each Enneagram type is an example of who God is through their characteristics. “Each type is a characteristic of who the Lord is, so a Two shows the love of God and a Three shows the persistence of God,” Castillo said. “There’s just so many characteristics of each type but no one really knows that.” Kendall has several tentative events with several ACU groups on campus. She can be reached with any questions at gospelcenteredenneagram@gmail.com or on Instagram and Facebook at gospelcenterenneagram. “It’s kind of been this side-gig thing that has turned into a lot of ways to connect with people which has been really awesome,” Castillo said.
dren for relationships. “Kid-pool” with other dads and moms, coach a team, sponsor class activities, get to know the other parents and encourage alliances to avoid isolation. When children feel isolated school is neither nurturing nor safe.
2. Make sleep a priority. A recent National
FREE Notary Public Services at all three locations, during regular work
hours of 8-5.
202 Cedar St. Mall-4310 Buffalo Gap Rd. 1326 N. Mockingbird Ln.
Health study in the United Kingdom labeled lack of sleep “A hidden health crisis.” Staying up late with unsupervised screen time affects attendance, concentration, performance, and behavior. Kids who get enough sleep tend to like school more.
3. Provide reading support. Reading im-
pacts everything. Once a child falls behind in reading, grades and confidence suffer. Tutoring, encouragement, and practice at home are critical from the early grades.
4. Engaged children feel less restricted.
Most students feel “hemmed in” at some time or other. “Joyful learning,” Peter Gray argues in Psychology Today, “requires freedom.” Children crave freedom, they are kids and they don’t like to be restricted, hedged in, and told what to do. In the
5. School doesn’t have to be boring. Your
6. Increased engagement makes school more relevant. Teens need to feel a connection
between school and the next step of college or career. As parents, we need to make sure not only that our kids remain engaged, but also that schools meet our child’s individual needs in terms of preparation for what comes next.
7. Support for family challenges. When
home life is unsettled children often lose focus at school. When a student loses focus it is hard to enjoy learning. Your child may well struggle at school because of something that is happening at home. Rather than allow home challenges to interfere with school, focus on helping your child stay engaged.
8. Improved self-image. Every child is unique.
But life can be difficult when a child stands out for any reason. With the rise in childhood obesity, many young people feel rejected, out of place, or isolated by their peers. A positive school experience can help here by promoting a healthy lifestyle. School can be a place where children are taught confidence.
9. School staff. Teachers and other school staff
often provide encouragement support, motivation, counsel, coaching and other critically important interventions. Young people can access these support systems to their potential only when they are engaged in an active learning community.
10. Learning Focus and Tenacity. School
takes all day long and lasts all week, and then there is homework. Make it clear you understand how your kids feel. At the same time remind them that a little investment in homework today translates into better grades, clearer comprehension, and a portfolio more likely to open doors of opportunity down the road.
A+MEETDIFFERENCE Hardin-Simmons
24 | EDUCATION | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
MAKING
DAWN STEARNS DEPARTMENT/CAMPUS: Jefferson (office) Title: Certified Teacher of the Visually Impaired Years with AISD: 15 Where are You From? Abilene What School Did You Attend? Elementary: Jackson Middle School: St. John’s High School: Cooper Tell Us About Your Family: I have two beautiful daughters: Hannah and Cherokee. Hannah and her boyfriend, Kolby, live here in Abilene and have my awesome little grandson, Kolby Jr. (1). Cherokee and her husband, Josh, live in Colorado and have my sweet, amazing granddaughters: Lynlee (6) and Adelyn (2). I am very close with my mom, Kathy, and my brother, Daniel, who both live in the metroplex.
What Is Your Favorite Part of Your Job: I love teaching Braille. I love figuring out how to make activities & concepts accessible to my students. I also love that in the field of visual impairments, you can never Dream Vacation Spot and Why?: I would learn it all. I’m always learning and growing love to go hiking in Yellowstone or Glacier as a professional and a person. National Parks. I love being in nature and seeing beautiful sights & animals. What AISD Executive Director of Special Education Teri Reece says: Dawn is What Do You Enjoy Away From Work: an exceptional teacher in every way and I enjoy spending time with my family & works diligently to ensure that her visually friends, reading, walking, & hiking. impaired students learn the skills they need to be successful now and in the future. In Tell Us Something Interesting About You: addition, she involves them in activities I am going to school to be an Orientation and outside of their school day to broaden their Mobility Specialist so I’ll be able to teach experiences. We are very fortunate that she people with visual impairments to navigate is a part of AISD. their environments safely.
Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country
Social Work Club Hosts Prom Party By Felicity Neptune | Staff Writer, Hardin-Simmons University
Every spring, the Hardin-Simmons Social Work Club hosts its annual “Prom Party” by welcoming Abilene foster youth to campus for a day to pick out a prom dress and learn about life at HSU.
Amanda Ramsey, President of the Social Work Club, said the goal for the party is to give the ladies in foster care the opportunity to pick out their own dress, have fun, and feel beautiful for their spring formal or prom.
Mrs. Melissa Milliorn, professor and head of the Social Work Program at HSU, has volunteered with the Preparation for Adult Living (PAL) program since before 2004 with camps, conferences, college days and other events. Milliorn was contacted by a PAL coordinator in 2005 in hopes of hosting a Prom Party at HSU.
“It is an opportunity for our club to celebrate these ladies for who they are and to let them shine for a day,” said Ramsey. “At the end of the day, our goal is to make sure that they feel seen, beautiful, and celebrated simply for who they are.”
What began as a small party of 10 foster youth has now doubled in size and new experiences have been included in the party. In recent years, the party has included activities such as limo rides, fashion shows, and visiting the Six White Horses.
Milliorn looks forward to working with the young girls each year. “We have lots of fun with the girls, hoping to give them a day where they feel seen, heard, and loved unconditionally, where they feel valued and important, and where they can see their potential and dream big,” she said. “It is a special day just for them in which, hopefully for a moment, the worries and stressors of their young lives can dissipate, and they can just be happy young girls.”
The Social Work Club pose for in front of the donated dresses.
Milliorn is licensed by the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners as a Licensed Master Social Worker with independent non-clinical practice recognition. She has had direct practice in medical social work as a social worker and case manager at Abilene Regional Medical Center.
Pick us up at China Star, Abilene Public Library & Martinez Barber Shop | EDUCATION | 25
Cisco College Agriculture Department to Host Career Developmental Events Contest
Abilene Public Library Hosts OverDrive Bookmobile Tour March 17, 2020 | 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
By Colton Wedeking | Director of Marketing & Public Relations, Cisco College
Mall parking lot near the Abilene Public Library Enjoy learning about Abilene Public Library South Branch’s digital collection of ebooks, audiobooks and magazines at this free community event! This is a great opportunity to see the high-tech traveling exhibit in person, learn tips and tricks about digital content and experience the fastest way to reading happiness. For more information on this event, please contact the Abilene Public Library South Branch at 325-698-7565.
On Tuesday, March 24, over one thousand students from FFA Chapters across Texas will meet at the Cisco College campus to participate in the 6th annual Cisco College Invitational Career Development Events (CDE) Contest. The event is organized by Brandi Terry, Agriculture Professor and meat judging team director of Cisco College. Students will participate in 14 events including Ag Technology and Mechanical Systems, Cotton, Entomology, Farm Business Management, Land, Homesite Evaluation, Milk Quality and Products, Range Plant Identification, Range, Horse, Poultry, Veterinary Science, Wildlife, and Wool. The events will take place at various locations in Cisco including the Cisco College campus, The Cisco College Rodeo Arena, and the Cisco High School agriculture building. Check-in will be from 6:15 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. at the Student Life Building on the Cisco Campus. Events will begin at the respective locations at 9:00 a.m. with the exception of the cotton and veterinary science contests. Cotton will begin at 8:00 a.m. and veterinary science will begin at 8:30 a.m.
THE Free Tour of Historic Paramount Theatre March 18, 2020 | 1-1:30 pm 352 Cypress St.,Abilene FREE tour of the historic Paramount Theatre. Come have a seat in our 1,200 seat theatre and see a short film about the history. Then we’ll pull back the curtains and take you behind the scenes of the theatre and it’s amazing restoration! No ticket or reservation needed. Tours last approximately 30 minutes.
spirit Taylor Electric Cooperative 81st Annual Meeting Thursday, April 16 - 10 a.m. Abilene Convention Center 1100 N. Sixth St., Abilene
The awards ceremony will begin at 2:00 p.m. in the Auditorium at Cisco College. The high individual for each contest will receive a $2,000 scholarship ($500 per semester, given over 4 semesters), a duffel bag, and an agriculture department hat. The high team for each event will receive a Cisco College Invitational CDE banner. All students participating in the contest will get a complimentary t-shirt and one lucky agriculture teacher will win a YETI cooler. For more information on this event or the Cisco College Agriculture Department, call 325-7944455 or email bradi.terry@cisco.edu.
www.facebook.com/HispanicLifeMagazine
26 | EDUCATION | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Click, Clack, Moo sponsored by
2020
OWS! H S G N I R SP
. Advertise Today! Call (325) 518-7091
First D-I Basketball Player with Autism Speaks at 16th Autism Extravaganza in Abilene By AJ Gersh | KTXS
Anthony Ianni is the first Division I basketball player with autism. He played on two Big 10 championship winning Michigan State basketball teams.
sponsored by
On Tuesday, Ianni was the keynote speaker at Region 14’s 16th annual Autism Extravaganza in Abilene. The event is held each year to educate students, teachers and families learn and understand more about autism.
Click, Clack, Moo SUNDAY 16 FEBRUARY
Peter Rabbit Tales SUNDAY 22 MARCH Dog Man: The Musical SUNDAY 26 APRIL All shows are approximately one hour in length, without an intermission.
PRESENTING
Professional Touring Theater Companies
PARAMOUNT THEATRE 352 Cypress Street ALL SHOWS AT 2 P.M. BUY TICKETS ONLINE AT: cpasabilene.org or call (325) 677-1161 3-SHOW SEASON TICKET PACKAGES: Patron level - $30 Military level - $27 SINGLE SHOWS $10 EACH
s sell Showuickly out qy early! so bu This project is supported by awards from both the National Endowment for the Arts and the Texas Commission on the Arts.
Ianni first began public speaking 7-years ago, after he realized that he couldn’t think of anyone other than Dr. Temple Grandin (the 2019 keynote speaker) as a role model for young people with autism to look up to. “I’m going to be that guy then,” Ianni told his wife. “I’m going to go be that hero, that role model, that inspiration that those individuals and those families can go to if they ever need help, advice and guidance.” His main goal in public speaking - to stop bullying. “I want them to see what an actual individual with autism looks like and what an actual individual with autism has gone through in life because there are some students out there that don’t understand that,” Ianni said. “They hear my stories of why I was bullied. There are some things that I said that were different than everybody else and they didn’t understand that.”
He learned about that conversation at age 14. “That kinda became my motivation to prove those doctors, individuals that I had in my life wrong,” Ianni said. From that point on, Ianni was on a mission.
Ianni was diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) when he was four years old.
He graduated high school in 2007 and spent two years at Grand Valley State University on a full basketball scholarship before transferring to Michigan State University. There, he walked-on to the men’s basketball team and won two Big Ten championships playing alongside three-time NBA Champion Draymond Green.
“A year later, when I was five years old, a group of doctors and professionals told my parents in a private meeting that, because I have autism, that I was not gonna succeed or achieve anything in life.”
“Not only did I graduate and get my bachelors degree in sociology from Michigan State, but I also became the first Division I basketball player in NCAA history with an autism diagnosis,” he said.
Autism is not a disability • It’s A Different Ability
Pick us up at La Familia Mexican Restaurant & YMCA on State St. | EDUCATION | 27
DESIGNED TO INSPIRE LEARN MORE AT: tstc.edu/programs/DigitalMediaDesign
28 | EDUCATION | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Cisco College Respiratory Care Program Grows By Colton Wedeking | Director of Marketing & Public Relations, Cisco College For many students, deciding what they want to do after graduating from high school can be a difficult task, especially for medical students. Some graduates know they want to enter the medical field but don’t want to commit the amount of time it takes to become doctors. The Cisco College Respiratory Care program offers these high school graduates an option that takes only 6 semesters but gives them solid career opportunities as well as choices at the end of their training.
ing here already hold jobs at one of our clinical sites,” Talley said. “Over the past 3 years our numbers have grown significantly. The Respiratory profession as a whole is projected to see an increase in growth due to the special skills that the profession offers the healthcare field.”
Respiratory therapists work in a wide variety of clinical settings to evaluate, treat, and manage patients of all ages with respiratory illnesses and other cardiopulmonary disorders.
As a member of the Texas state system of publicly supported institutions of higher education, Cisco College maintains an opendoor admissions policy and provides an array of learning, skill development and life experiences to motivate and challenge students. Classes are offered at two primary locations, Cisco and Abilene, in addition to several other off-campus sites. The College strives to maintain a student/faculty ratio which facilitates close interaction between faculty and students.
For more information about the Respiratory Care program at Cisco College, visit the Abilene campus or www.cisco.edu, or contact Tracy Talley via email at tracy.talley@ “Back in my teenage years I had a few family cisco.edu. members that were very sick and I got to see the role that Respiratory Therapists played in About Cisco College saving their lives,” said Brittany McPherson, Since first admitting students in 1940, Cisco Respiratory Care student at Cisco College. College has offered programs and activities “After that, I started researching the programs intended to encourage lifelong learning and in this area. My interest was piqued by the enhance the quality of life in the communiprogram at Cisco College.” ties it serves.
The Respiratory Care program at Cisco College is growing, from 12 students in August 2019 to 25 students set to graduate this coming August, according to Tracy Talley, Director of Respiratory Care at the college.
Of the 12 who graduated in 2019, ten of those students work locally. On average, about 95% of Cisco College Respiratory Care graduates Cisco College is accredited by the Southern stay in the Big Country area. Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award Associate level “A majority of the students planning on stay- degrees.
-Pick us up at Central Finance, Mr. Gatti’s & La Popular Bakery | EDUCATION | 29
Abilene ISD IMPACT Award Winner GEORGE OROSCO Sweeps Spirit, Smiles Through Halls of AHS By Jessica Ranck | BigCountryHomePage.com
An airman, a firefighter and now a custodial supervisor, it seems like George D. Orosco Jr. does it all. Now named Abilene ISD’s IMPACT Award winner, we’re getting a closer look what he does on a day-to-day basis. Before he opens up and does a sweep of the school, there’s one piece of business George has to tend to first. “Music it makes it fun for me,” said Orosco. “The feel of it, from the heart and just harmony and unity, it just combines instantly.” It’s that unity in creating a universal language that has George turning up the dial. “When we’re sweeping it’s like we’re dancing and they go, ‘oh,’ and they start laughing and this is what? Again, communication,” said Orosco. George’s team is compromised of people from all over the world and each day the convene at this table, Orosco calling it his own United Nations. “Overseas I was working with international employees, I mean from India, from Africa, and so forth, so coming here and then gaining
new employees with background like that, it was cool,” said Orosco. Together the team doesn’t just help keep the school clean, but from time to time they learn a little bit about each other. “‘How do you say this in Swahili?’ First they look at me like, ‘why do you want to know?’ But I just say ‘lápiz en Español, pencil in English, now how about your language?” said Orosco. At the head of the table is a man who’s spent 8 years at the school making a difference with the positive attitude he sweeps across campus. “What I call it is the Eagle spirit, and he exudes that day in and day out,” said Abilene High School principal Michael Garcia. “When I say to you, ‘Feliz Navidad, Merry Christmas,’ I mean that because everyday to me is a happy day,” said Orosco.
30 | EDUCATION | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
www.facebook.com/HispanicLifeMagazine
. Advertise Today! Call (325) 518-7091
‘Hello, High School’ Event Huge Success in First Year
Pick us up at Wal-Mart, Enterprise Bldg. & Armando’s Mexican Restaurant | EDUCATION | 31
By Abilene Independent School District
Monday at the Abilene Convention Center, more than 1,200 8th-graders from all four Abilene ISD middle schools were introduced to the next chapter of their educational careers as the district hosted its first “Hello, High School” event. Partnering with more than 30 local businesses, several local and regional universities and using counselors and students from Abilene and Cooper high schools, the 8th-grade students were exposed to Career and Technical Education programs the district offers. They were also able to hear from local business leaders in those fields, and they met with counselors from each high school to start thinking about their freshman-year schedules. Along with those opportunities, the students were face-to-face with some high school students who were on hand to offer some advice on how to handle the transition to high school. The event was the brainchild of Dr. Ketta Garduno, the AISD’s Executive Director of Career
early learning, electrical trades, emergency services (Abilene Fire Department), engineering, family and community services, graphic design and multimedia arts, healthcare, information technology support and services, law enforcement, programming and software development, teaching and training, and welding.
and Technical Education, who spent months putting the program together, organizing with the help of her staff, and getting buses, lunch, presentations and other details put together for the event. “Our eighth graders are about to take a big step,” Garduno said. “They’re going to have several new opportunities in front of them, and we wanted to give them a chance to see and hear about many of them in one spot. Our goal
was to give them a chance to seek out those different opportunities and see what might interest them as they think about their lives posthigh school.”
The businesses that co-presented sessions along with AISD personnel included the Abilene Fire Department, Abilene Police Department, Abilene ISD, Abilene Youth Sports Authority, ADM Animal Nutrition, Arrow Ford, Condley and Company, Datroo Technologies, Hartmann’s Inc., Hendrick Medical Center, Jon B. Marie Salon, IntelliHome Solutions, The Flipping Egg, KTAB-TV, Rentech Boiler Services, and Zachry Associate Inc.
Students were able to hear from local professionals in sessions about accounting and financial services, animal sciences, applied agricultural engineering, automotive repair, business management, carpentry, cosmetology, culinary arts, cybersecurity, digital communications,
The post-secondary institutions that participated in the event were Angelo State, Cisco College, Hardin-Simmons University, McMurry University, Texas State Technical College, and the Texas Tech University Healthy Sciences Center.
32 | EDUCATION | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country
FAITH&FAMILY
SPIRITUAL AND FAMILY ADVICE
Why Kids Need Boundaries Establishing limits that will help your children succeed. By Dr. John Townsend | Focus on the Family
We love our kids, but parenting them is a com- over-compliant children, whose plex and often confusing task! only concern is pleasing their parents, often struggle greatly in their To simplify things, it’s helpful to understand that adult relationships. Help your kids we can reduce the job of parenting to one guid- have their own minds, even though ing principle: to equip our children to meet the they must also obey and follow the demands of reality. house rules. • Self-control - Children are by nature impulsive and controlled by their whims. If you’ve ever taken your kid to a mall and given them lots of sugar, you have experienced this. Parents who help their kids have boundaries also teach them to control their impulses and focus on what needs to be done, such as homework and chores. This is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians In other words, God’s plans for parenting are de- 5:23) and will help them the rest of their lives. signed to take a small person, who is helpless and dependent, and over time, produce an adult who • Great relationships - Children need to know can make great choices and decisions: “Train up how to make friends with the right a child in the way he should go; even when he is kinds of kids and to say no to the old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). wrong kinds of kids. Boundaries help them know how to play apOne of the most valuable tools you can use to propriately, instead of intruding help your kids develop, no matter what age they on others’ space. They also help are, is that of healthy limits, also called bound- them say no to those wrong kinds aries. Research shows that children who experi- of kids and habits that aren’t good ence a household of clear and appropriate bound- for them. aries, delivered with love and warmth, are much better equipped to meet the demands of reality How to set healthy boundaries over their lifespan. Why is this important and 1. Love - Convey to your children, with warmth how do we set boundaries? and words, that you love them unconditionally. Kids embrace boundaries in an atmosphere of How boundaries help love rather than in one of emotional detachment Here are three key results that kids with boundar- or anger. ies learn: • A sense of self - Kids need to know that their 2. Truth - Give your kids clear ground rules for thoughts, feelings and choices are theirs, so they their behavior in your home, such as obeying can take responsibility for them. They flourish parents, treating others respectfully and doing when they can know where they end and others, chores and homework. Put these on a simple list including parents, begin. This allows them to on your fridge so your kids can easily see them. guard and take ownership over their lives: “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow 3. Freedom - Tell your kids they can choose the springs of life” (Proverbs 4:23). That is why whether to obey the ground rules — that it’s up to One day your children will need to face reality and handle it without your guidance. On their own, they will need to make mature choices to follow Christ; find great relationships to support their growth; set their core values and morals; handle romance, dating, marriage and family paths; and craft their passions and career.
them (except in common-sense urgent situations, such as a small child running into the street). 4. Reality - Let them know the consequences for following the ground rules and the consequences for not following them. Following means great times and freedom for your children. Not following can result in a range of outcomes, such as time outs, loss of playdates, losing cellphone privileges, digital devices or stricter curfews. That is, they are free to choose, and through their choices, they are also choosing the outcome. As you move forward, resign from nagging. It’s tempting to remind our kids over and over to behave. But nagging without a consequence is useless. It simply trains them to ignore you until you give up or blow up. When you take them through the four steps, follow through with the consequence — and don’t give empty threats. Then hang around boundary-friendly parents. Our culture tends to move toward loving their kids without the hard work of helping them develop boundaries. So connect with other parents who believe in these principles. Share tips, wins and losses, and pray for each other. This will help fuel you for the ongoing task of raising kids with boundaries.
CALL US TO ADVERTISE (325) 701-9505
I don’t just see a customer. I see you. While other insurance companies just see a customer, I see a neighbor in my community. I’m here to get to know who you really are so I can help life go right. LET’S TALK TODAY.
Risha Sanders, Agent 3228 North 10th St Abilene, TX 79603 Bus: 325-673-4229 www.rishasanders.net
1706838
State Farm Bloomington, IL
34 | FAITH & FAMILY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
www.facebook.com/HispanicLifeMagazine
. Advertise Today! Call (325) 518-7091
The Truth About Quitting My Job By Madison Bloker | boundblessings A couple of weeks ago I made a big decision.
3. I wasn’t using all of my gifts and strengths.
I went up to my boss and told her I wanted to put my two weeks in.
4. I was lacking passion.
Through a few tears and some painful conversations, I eventually stared down my last day this past Friday. I went back and forth on whether or not I wanted to share this at this point… because honestly, it’s terrifying to step outside of the norm and also tell a bunch of strangers on the internet how scary and unknown some certain aspects of your life are.
But I want to be real. I want to tell the truth. I want to be open. And while it was also equally as terrifying trying to explain this to all my coworkers and team members, I know that ultimately in my heart it was the right decision. Although I had some questions, I also knew I had peace. So what led me to this decision? Well… a few things… 1. I went home at night with my bucket feeling more empty than filled up. 2. I didn’t feel like I was serving anybody.
Because can I just be real with you? I don’t want to live a life that is surrounded by a paycheck. I don’t want to live a life that isn’t focused on serving others. I don’t want to live a life that doesn’t involve me using every drop of talent and gift that I have. I don’t want to live a life where I dread the start of the work week. I don’t want to get caught up in a cycle of repeating my day and counting down the hours until it’s over. I want to live with passion. I want to take some risks. I want to be able to look back on my life and declare that I gave it everything I had. Some will call it stupidity. Some will call it being naive. Some will shake their head and say they’ll see me back at work in six months. But I refuse to live a life that doesn’t fill up my bucket. I refuse to live a life where I’m not serving anyone. I refuse to count down the days until the weekend or my next vacation.
I’m stopping the cycle. Are there a lot of unknowns in this next step for me? Absolutely. But I know it’s worth the risk. And if I fail… well… now you know… and a few hundred more people ;) but I’m going to do all I can to live a life that fills me up and actually makes me feel like I’m living. I don’t know what all God has in store for this next season… Do I have some plans? Yes. Do I know how they will all unfold? No. But I’m believing and trusting that this next season is going to be a great one. I hope this encourages you to not just settle. Don’t just be comfortable. If you have a dream, go take steps to make it happen. You’ll never learn to fly if you don’t take a leap. So here I am. Exposed. Called out. Slightly scared. But at peace. And full of hope. And so excited for what’s in store.
CALL US TO ADVERTISE (325) 701-9505 209 S. Danville, Suite B-103 Abilene, Texas Email us at: info@hispaniclifemedia.com
Pick us up at Taqueria La Ranchera, Abilene Funeral Home & Abilene ISD | FAITH & FAMILY | 35
Keepin’ It Real By Melissa Sharlett Vinson | Christian Business Women’s Network
As we go through life, there comes a time when we have to make a decision about how we react to, and what we can learn from hardship and crisis. I choose to be a Victor rather than a Victim! Yes, I have been victimized in many ways ever since I was a little girl, but what happened TO me is not WHO I am -it does not define me!
This is the call to women in the Christian Business Women’s Network – to encourage and help other women succeed in business and in life. To walk beside them, hold their hand and remind them of who they are on a regular basis. Life is hard. That is true, but it is harder alone than with support. And the sad truth is that we often CHOOSE to do it alone. Sometimes we allow our pride to keep We sometimes don’t realize that we are still act- us from asking for help, and sometimes we just ing like victims, even as don’t feel worthy of reChristians...How can we ceiving help. Either know? A victim thinks way, you need to know like this: “I am justithat there is a support fied. I have a right. They system available that owe me.” The victim does not judge or conconstantly feels entitled, demn. Don’t stay stuck looks inwardly and lives in a victim mentality. on the defensive. They Reach out and let other are always looking back, women who have lived reliving their painful exthrough some difficult periences and blaming situations and are livothers for their problems. ing joyful, fulfilling They are easily offended lives help you. and refuse to forgive. Join us weekly for our talk show “Women KeeA Victor has a different perspective: “I forgive. I pin’ it Real” where we will have a conversation am grateful. I will succeed and help others suc- with women from around the world who have ceed.” The victor has learned to find the positives suffered and survived very hard things. You will in negative situations and use them to move for- hear their stories of how they not only survived, ward. They look outwardly and are optimistic. but are now victorious over their pasts. The victor says “this is who I am now and I have a great life ahead of me”. They make a choice to Women Keepin’ It Real airs on kasnradio.com on take responsibility for their actions and to live Wednesdays at 3:00 pm and again on kairradio. with purpose. com on Sundays at 3:00 pm. Log on, listen and be inspired! We have a society full of people with victim mentalities who are victimizing others out of their own pain. And I believe that until they know CALL US TO ADVERTISE their identity in Christ - who they really are and (325) 701-9505 how very loved they are, they will not change. My prayer today is that I will love others without 209 S. Danville, Suite B-103 conditions, encourage without enabling and offer Email: info@hispaniclifemedia.com hope to those who are struggling.
NOW HIRING:
COSMETOLOGIST UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT
FAMILY CUTS
If you left us to go to the competition that promised you the moon, you have now realized that you are working late nights and Sundays. Come back to Family Cuts and enjoy your Family Life again. No Late hours. Closed on Sunday.
3398 N. 1st Suite A 325-672-7706 • Apply at 1073 N. Judge Ely Blvd 325-676-9717
36 | FAITH & FAMILY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country
Start Off Singing By Kristie Carpenter | Blended Mom Moments
We all know how easy it is to find something to complain about. I find myself being critical of one thing and that usually leads to finding fault with numerous other things.
thoughts to positive ones. I’ve sought the Lord in faith knowing He has my todays and always. But I have not been consistent in singing before the Lord and praising Him before the “war.”
For instance, my husband Dan. We have an extraordinary marriage - he is an awesome husband, friend, mentor, dad and provider. But, you know, there are some days when I get up on the wrong side of the bed and immediately find something that rubs me wrong about him. Then as minutes go by, I’m irritated by the way he beats the spatula against the skillet on the stove - as he is making my breakfast! By the time he leaves for work, I’m in a bad mental place about who he is and what he brings to my life.
Some of you may be living in your very own war - in your very own home. I’ve experienced some battles myself.
The point is, where your focus lies, you’ll find the faults. I’ve worked hard to retrain my brain to go to a place of gratitude. I have a gratitude journal. I sit and quiet myself to make a list of the blessings God has given me. That practice has helped me take captive those negative thoughts and turn them around to praises. Let’s go a bit further though. In the devotional book, “Before You Go” by Jack Hempfling, he states, “A complaint is really a statement that somehow God has failed you.” He goes on to say, “Every inconvenience that comes your way will be an opportunity to grow, be changed, get stronger, and see God in a way you’ve never known Him before.” Hempfling then reminds us about King Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles, chapter 20. King Jehoshaphat did well in the eyes of the Lord. This king sought God’s counsel. He led his people to honor God. Things were great. But then armies of the Moabites, Ammonites and some other “-ites” came to make war on the king (2 Chron 20:1). The king was alarmed, and he quickly resolved to seek God for help. The king prayed. He reminded his people of the great things God had already done. He prayed in faith that God would hear their prayer and guide them. Then, King Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise Him for the splendor of His holiness. Then they went out at the head of the army saying, “Give thanks to the Lord, for His love endures forever.” I share this with you because I’ve turned negative
I want to challenge you to not run straight into the battle. Verse 15 of chapter 20 tells us, “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
the right mindset.
Your blended family may feel like a war zone. It’s not your battle. Your blended family may look like it will never be whole. That’s not your job. Your blended family may seem impossible. That’s not
King Jehoshaphat can teach us stepmoms some new tricks. First, go directly to God. Phoning a friend will not unleash God’s power from heaven to save you. Second, trust in God’s plan. The king told God, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.” Lastly, go sing. Go praise. Even before the storm rages or the battle begins. In Hempfling’s book, he says, “This act of faith (choosing to praise as a response to hardship) released the power of God to bring ultimate victory to God’s people. I believe I’m gonna go start singing! ~ 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).
Pick us up at Alliance For Women & Children, Mary’s Paleteria & H.E.B. | FAITH & FAMILY | 37
Cost Effective Advertising 1-325-701-9505 or email us at: info@hispaniclifemedia.com
A Harvest Daily Devotion
God is Bigger Than The Coronavirus By Greg Laurie | Senior pastor, Harvest Christian Fellowship
Greg Laurie, pastor and founder of the Harvest churches in California and Hawaii and of Harvest Crusades, issued a call to prayer to American pastors ahead of Sunday, calling them to pray against not only the spread of the new coronavirus but the spread of fear of the virus. “There seems to be a lot of fear in America right now, especially in the light of COVID-19,” Laurie wrote Friday in an Instagram post. “Listen, the promises of God are still true! God is bigger than the Coronavirus!” “Listen to the medical experts and take appropriate measures (wash your hands, etc.) But we need to replace our fear with faith and pray for our nation, that God would protect us. Phil. 4 reminds us, ‘Don’t worry about anything and pray about everything!’” The post contains a video of Laurie speaking about the coronavirus during a sermon last Sunday. “In some ways I think the viral fear about it may be worse than the virus itself,” Laurie says in the video. Laurie called his congregation to do three things regarding COVID-19: 1. Be practical about hygiene and safety 2. Be prayerful for God’s protection 3. Be proclaiming the gospel
Laurie closed his message by praying for protection for America from COVID-19 and for Vice President Mike Pence’s efforts to contain the spread of the virus: “Lord, you are bigger than this virus, and we are praying that these numbers will start going down. We are praying that anyone that has it will be healed. And we are praying, Lord, that we will not live in fear but we will live in faith “Give wisdom to Vice President Pence, his team, as they deal with this. Help them to know what to do, when to do it, the steps to take, the practical. But Lord we do not rely only on that. We are prayerful, looking to you, knowing that you are God and you love us.” Visit this link to download the video posted on Greg Laurie’s Instagram account. To learn more about Greg and Harvest visit www.harvest.org. ____________________________________ Greg Laurie is an American author and evangelist who serves as the senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California, Harvest Church at Kumulani in Kapalua, Hawaii, and Harvest Orange County in Irvine, California. Laurie’s latest book, “Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon,” releases in August. You can learn more about Greg Laurie and Harvest at harvest. org
38 | FAITH & FAMILY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
St. James UMC Announces the Living Last Supper Performances April 4, 5 & 9, 2020 The Living Last supper performances begin this Season of Lent at Saint James United Methodist Church. Free and open to the entire community!
Positive Community Impact
In 1998, thirteen men committed to putting on a drama at St. James UMC. That same drama has touched lives around our community for more than 20 years as they continue to portray Christ and his apostles. We pray you are as blessed by attending as we are by performing this worship drama. Guests have attended from many denominations, age groups and spiritual experiences. All are welcome to join us! “Experiencing this live performance has brought an awareness and authenticity to the Last Supper and has changed my life,” said guest Cindy Smith.
Performance Schedule
The Living Last Supper Performances are free to the public and scheduled during the Season of Lent 2020. The first performance is Saturday, April 4 at 7:00 p.m.; Sunday, April 5th at 7:00 p.m.; Thursday, April 9th at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary located at 3100 Barrow Street, Abilene, TX 79605. Free to the public and nursery provided at each performance. From Director Mike Stephens, “What fascinates me about this presentation is how it reaches into the familiar and gives a deeper view of “characters”, giving them a “voice”. We see foul-able people like you and me, able to betray someone who had cared for them, and many believed to be the living fulfillment of Jehovah Yahweh’s prophecy!”
St. James United Methodist Church
3100 Barrow St., Abilene, TX 79605 | (325) 692-0263
www.sjumc.com
Messianic M oment by Hope 4 Life Church ‘Price of Forgiveness’ Jesus (Yeshua) said, “If you forgive others the wrongs they have done to you, your Father in heaven will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive the wrongs you have done.” How can WE, who have been forgiven so GREAT a weight of sin, dare to hold unforgiveness in our own hearts? If you owed more money than you could ever repay in your lifetime, and that loan was forgiven you, how could you NOT forgive those who owed you but a small, insignificant amount, in comparison? Jesus (Yeshua) does not suggest that we forgive but commands it. A believer’s sins are thrown as far as East is from West, to be remembered no more. We ALSO must forgive from the heart, and cast hurts from OUR hearts forever. (Scripture References used:Matthew 6:14-15, Psalm 103:12, Isaiah 43:25
Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country
10 Hardships in Marriage and How to Overcome Them By Mark Merrill | Helping Families Love Well
Every marriage faces hardship. It’s a given. This list covers most of the common troubles, but your situation is unique. The key point here is to face the difficulty – whatever kind of marriage trouble it is – together with your wife. Do you remember your marriage vows? “For better, for worse…” “In sickness and in health…” “For richer, for poorer…”
careers several times. That often means moving across the state or across the world. Moving is a huge stress. Regardless if it’s because of your job or if it’s hers, make the decision to be 100% supportive and flat out refuse to whine. Do what it takes to get invested in the new community quickly. Find a church. Get involved. Live forward.
6. Sickness • We forget how much we rely on
one another until someone breaks down physically. If you’re the one still standing, do everything These promises presuppose tough times. We went in your power to be a servant to your spouse. Sure into our marriage with our eyes open, so there’s it’s tough to do everything, but your attempt with really no excuse for not bringing everything we an obvious willing spirit is going to make all the have to the table when things – difference. once in a while – get dicey. Here are 10 marital hardships and how 7. Depression • Everyto overcome them. one goes through the blues at times in their lives. Here 1. Financial Struggle • The again, it’s about having the stress associated with money heart of a servant, about goproblems can be overwhelming. ing the extra mile, and about But in the end, it’s only money. putting the needs of your wife And money has no power over ahead of your own. Look to your commitment to your relaGod for your source of haptionship. piness. Be a conduit of that • Commit to a plan • Live simjoy to your spouse. And seek ply • Never keep financial semedical attention if necessary. crets from your wife 8. Disinterest • Some2. Challenging Children • times it happens the first year. Even the best behaved children Sometimes it takes a decade in the world present challenges, or so. Regardless of where we and the number one casualty is are on the time spectrum, disalways the relationship between interest or boredom can easmom and dad. So remember ily set in. Not feeling special this: The marriage comes first. Not the kids, but about the relationship is a hardship for everyone, the marriage. Nurture your relationship with your but it doesn’t have to be. Our job is to be intenwife and you will be better equipped to deal with tional about the relationship. She didn’t fall for whatever the kids dish out. For single dads, it’s in- you in the first place without any effort on your creasingly important to stay connected with your part – so why stop now? child’s mother as hard as that might be. •When was the last time you took her out on a date? 3. Immaturity • Great relationships are sup- •Have you told her lately how stunning posed to mature over time. If you still relate to one she looks? another the same way you did when you first mar•What about a day off devoted to her? ried, then it’s past time for the marriage to grow up. Get involved in a couples group at your faith 9. Career • We have already talked about movcommunity. Love one another ‘out loud.’ Invest ing, but career issues can cause hardship without a in the marriage as if your life depends on it—be- change of location. Keep her in the loop. Ask her cause it does. opinion about what you’re up to. Do everything in your power to protect family time and to promote 4. Unfaithfulness • Marriages run into this a work culture that respects family values. hardship often. We may not sleep with other women, but we’re all guilty of being unfaithful when 10. Empty Nest • We invest a lot in the kids. If it comes to time, attention, priorities, the way we we’re not careful, our relationship with our spouse use our resources, and so much more. One way to gets neglected. Guard against that day by investdeal with this is to recommit yourself to your wife. ing in your wife now. Rather than mourn the chilWoo her all over again. Make it clear where your dren after they leave, try celebrating the freedom priorities steer your time and attention. you now have to invest more time and interest in your marriage. Again, it’s all about being inten5. Moving • It’s a fact. Most Americans change tional.
Pick us up at China Star, Abilene Public Library & Martinez Barber Shop | FAITH & FAMILY | 39
TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR VEHICLE PURCHASE WITH
AUTO-CHECK
Fighting Back Against The Forces Of High Loan Rates & All The Hassles Of Car Shopping & Buying!
Now there's a way for YOU to take control of buying and financing a new car, truck, SUV, van or other vehicle. It's call Auto-Check and it's only at ATFCU. Here's what Auto-Check can do for you: • No stress or worry at the dealership. • Finance with someone you trust - ATFCU! We'll help you each step of the way through the buying and financing process. • We'll pre-qualify you for your maximum loan amount; then had you an actual check. • Spend your check at any franchised dealership in Texas for both new and used vehicles. PMS 280 (Blue) - C=100 M=72 Y=0 K-18
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
• Bilingual assistance available at all branches For more details stop by one of our locations, call 677.2274, or visit our website abileneteachersfcu.org. 325-677-2274 800-677-6770 abileneteachersfcu.org
• 2801 N. 6th Street • 2555 Buffalo Gap Road • 1181 E. N. 10th Street • 3849 Antilley Road • 349 N. Mockingbird (drive-thru only)
40 | FAITH & FAMILY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
HEALTH&FITNESS
Maintaining Appearances
M A R C H I S N AT I O N A L K I D N E Y M O N T H
Keep Your Kidneys Healthy with These Five Simple Steps
It’s recommended you clean your carpet every 6 to 12 months before you start to notice the spots and traffic lanes to keep it looking like new and to have it last a long time. Soil left in the carpet for too long can actually work its way into the fibers, making it almost impossible to remove.
By National Kidney Foundation
March is National Kidney Month and the disease. Reduce your regular use of NSAIDs National Kidney Foundation is calling on all and never go over the recommended dosage. Americans to take five healthy steps for their kidneys. 3. Cut the Processed Foods. Processed foods can be significant sources of sodium, niThe kidneys are the body’s chemical factories, trates and phosphates, and have been linked to filtering waste and performing vital functions cancer, heart disease and kidney disease. Try that control things like red blood cell produc- adopting the DASH diet to guide your healthy tion and blood pressure. But over time, the eating habits. kidneys can become damaged with little or no physical symptoms to warn you that your kidneys are in trouble.
tional Kidney Foundation is offering free kidney health screenings through the KEEP Healthy program. To locate a KEEP Healthy screening near you, or to learn more about the kidneys and risk factors for kidney disease, visit www.kidney.org/KEEPHealthy.
Kidney Facts:
adults is at high risk for de• 1 in 3 American veloping kidney disease today. High
blood pressure, diabetes, a family history of kidney failure and being over 60 are major risk factors for “Of the 26 million American adults esdeveloping kidney disease. 1 in 9 timated to have kidney disease, most American adults has kidney disease don’t know they have it. That’s why -- and most don’t know it. Early taking care of your kidneys, especially detection and treatment can slow or if you are at risk for kidney disease, is prevent the progression of kidney vital,” said Joseph Vassalotti, MD, Nadisease. Kidney disease risk can tional Kidney Foundation Chief Medibe reduced by controlling blood prescal Officer. “There are a few simple sure and blood sugar, quitting smokthings people can do to keep their kiding, regular exercise, maintaining a neys healthy and strong.” healthy weight, and avoiding exces4. Exercise Regularly. Your kidneys like sive use of pain medications. Take 5 for Your Kidneys it when you exercise. Regular exercise will All Americans can do 5 simple things to pro- keep your bones, muscles, blood vessels, heart The National Kidney Foundation is the leading tect their kidneys: and kidneys healthy. Getting active for at least organization in the U.S. dedicated to the aware30 minutes a day can also help you control ness, prevention and treatment of kidney dis1. Get Tested! Ask your doctor for an ACR blood pressure and lower blood sugar, which is ease. For more information, visit www.kidney. urine test or a GFR blood test annually if you vital to kidney health. org. have diabetes, high blood pressure, are over age 60, or have a family history of kidney fail- 5. Control Blood Pressure and Diaure. Get screened for free through the National betes. High blood pressure and diabetes are Kidney Foundation’s KEEP Healthy program the leading causes of kidney disease and kidby visiting www.kidney.org/KEEPHealthy. ney failure. Managing high blood pressure and strict control of blood sugar levels can slow the 2. Reduce NSAIDs. Over the counter progression of kidney disease. Speak with your pain medicines, such as NSAIDs (nonsteroi- doctor if you are having trouble managing diadal anti-inflammatory drugs), may alleviate betes or high blood pressure. your aches and pains, but they can harm the kidneys, especially if you already have kidney Throughout National Kidney Month, the Na-
• •
•
CALL US TO ADVERTISE (325) 701-9505
HispanicLife Media
. Advertise Today! Call (325) 701-9505
Alfonso Hernandez Bakery “Best Burritos in Town!” 325-670-0024 Menudo & Caldo Friday, Saturday, & Sunday Open daily from 6:30am to 3:00pm
601 Butternut • Abilene, TX Drive Thru Open
GO ABILENE HIGH EAGLES!
10413857
42 | HEALTH | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Pick us up at Abilene ISD, La Familia Mex Rest & Lytle Land & Cattle | HEALTH | 43
CALL US TO ADVERTISE (325) 701-9505 209 S. Danville, Suite B-103
Email: info@hispaniclifemedia.com
What Is The Coronavirus? Here’s What We Know About It. By Erika Edwards and Sara G. Miller | NBC News
A newly identified respiratory virus that causes pneumonia was discovered in December in China. Cases of the virus, a type of coronavirus that causes a disease called COVID-19, have spread rapidly in China, and have also been reported in at least 40 other countries, including the United States. Here’s what to know about the coronavirus.
What is a coronavirus? Coronaviruses
are a group of viruses that can cause a range of symptoms including a runny nose, cough, sore throat and fever. Some are mild, such as the common cold, while others are more likely to lead to pneumonia. They’re usually spread through direct contact with an infected person. The coronavirus gets its name from the crownlike spikes on its surface, according to the CDC. (Corona is Latin for crown.) Including the newly identified form of the virus, there are a total of seven coronaviruses that can infect humans, the CDC says. Other well-known coronaviruses include SARS and MERS.
close contact — a range of about 3 to 6 feet. Is there a coronavirus treatment? The virus is primarily spread through a sick per- There is currently no treatment for the coronason coughing or sneezing on someone, said Dr. virus. Patients are helped by what’s called supKathy Lofy, a health officer in Washington state. portive care, for example, to help them breathe. A person could also become infected through contact with the virus particles on a surface, though it’s unknown how long the new coronavirus can survive on surfaces outside of the body. If an infected person sneezes or coughs onto a surface, such as a countertop or doorknob, and another person touches that surface and then rubs his or her eyes or nose, for example, the latter may get sick.
A group of coronavirus patients in Nebraska are taking part in a clinical trial for a possible treatment with an antiviral drug called remdesivir. Originally developed for possible treatment for Ebola, the drug has previously shown promise in treating other coronaviruses, such as SARS.
Other clinical trials of remdesivir are ongoing in China to test its effects on both severe and mild cases of the disease, according to Dr. Anthony How long does it take for someone to Fauci, director of the National Institute of Alget sick? The new coronavirus’s incubation lergy and Infectious Disease. period — meaning the time it takes from a person being infected with the virus to when they Do disinfectants kill the coronavirus? start showing symptoms — is still unknown. Yes, they can. The CDC suggests that anyone exposed to an infected patient clean all “highHowever, public health experts are working un- touch” surfaces, such as counters, tabletops, der the assumption that the incubation period is doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, about 14 days. The World Health Organization keyboards, tablets and bedside tables. says that the incubation period, on average, is about five days. It’s unclear whether a person is Cleaning agents can include a household disincontagious during the incubation period. fectant with a label that says “EPA-approved,” according to the CDC. A homemade version can How can I prevent coronavirus? One be made, using one tablespoon of bleach to one of the simplest prevention measures a person quart of water. can take is proper hand-washing.
The new virus caused a disease called COVID-19, which stands for coronavirus disease 2019, the year it was discovered. It’s unclear how easily it spreads from person to person, but the CDC recommends that anyone who may have been exposed to the illness monitor themselves for 14 days after close contact with Can coronavirus be spread through an infected person. The CDC recommends washing hands with the mail or through goods imported soap and water before eating, after using the from China? It’s extremely unlikely. While Symptoms to watch for include fever, cough, bathroom, and after blowing your nose, cough- more needs to be learned about how this particshortness of breath, trouble breathing, body ing or sneezing, and before and after caring for ular virus works, coronaviruses typically don’t aches, sore throat or vomiting and diarrhea. a sick friend or a family member. live very long on surfaces, and are very unlikely to survive over a period of days or weeks when How does the coronavirus spread? The most effective way to clean hands is to an item is being shipped. Researchers are still learning precisely how the wet them with clean water, then apply soap and new virus spreads from person to person. scrub for at least 20 seconds, before rinsing and “There is no evidence to support transmission drying with a clean towel. of [COVID-19] associated with imported goods “While we do not know all of the mechanisms and there have not been any cases of [COof spread of the epidemic so far, there is likely Is there a coronavirus vaccine? There VID-19] in the United States associated with spread by droplets and contaminated surfac- is currently no vaccine to prevent the corona- imported goods,” said Dr. Nancy Messonnier, es, and possible airborne [spread], similar to virus. director of the CDC’s National Center for ImSARS,” Dr. Mark Denison, a virologist at the munization and Respiratory Diseases, during a Vanderbilt University Medical Center, said. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious call with journalists. Diseases may begin clinical trials on a vaccine Coronaviruses in general are spread through within weeks, though the vaccine would not be available for at least another year.
44 | HEALTH | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country
How to Get Fit and Healthy on a Budget By DaveRamsey.com
When it comes to getting healthy, it’s easy to make excuses: But I don’t have the time. But I’m just too tired. But I just don’t have the willpower. But I’m on first-name basis with the donut guy. But I just can’t afford it! Well, go ahead and scratch that last one off the list, because you 100% can get fit and healthy on a budget. And while you’re at it, cross off not having the willpower either. You can totally make the life changes you need to live the best life for your body and your budget. It’s time to stop bringing up those “buts” and start busting yours. Yeah, it’s work. But it’s worth it. So try out one—or all 10—of these tips and get moving (literally).
1. Set empowering (and realistic) goals. Guess what? “I’m going to get healthy” isn’t a goal. It’s too vague. And “I’m going to run every day for two hours” when you’re crazy busy and have never run a day in your life isn’t doable. You need to set measurable goals, and they need to be the perfect balance of empowering and realistic.
Then you need to write them down. Why? Because goals are dreams in action. And the first step to putting those goals into action is writing them down. When you put goals into words and keep them in front of your face as both a reminder and a motivation, you’re beginning to bring them to life. So give them breath. Write them down.
2. Exercise outside. Sometimes we
believe we need fancy machines or hours in the gym to get fit. But think about this—exercising outside is way more cost-effective than equipment, classes or memberships. Bonus: Fresh air is free. So take a hike (for real), go on a walk, or get running—outside. Nature’s gym is cheaper than man’s. Also, research shows spending just 20 minutes outside reduces stress.1 Strengthen your body and lower your stress—exercise outside.
3. Try fitness apps or free videos. There are plenty of free fitness
apps and online videos. Even Instagram is full of free workout posts. These are great if you don’t know where to start to make your fitness goals come true. You can test out different apps and programs to see what works best for your current lifestyle, workout preferences and ath-
letic abilities. And don’t be afraid to push yourself. That’s how you grow.
You don’t want things gathering dust and waiting on your next garage sale.
Even some paid apps offer a free trial. This is a fantastic way to try before you buy. Just be careful—if it’s not the app for you, don’t forget to cancel on time. But if it’s just what you always wanted, make sure your budget is ready for it when the free trial ends!
7. Meal plan. Eating healthy on a
4. Look for gym deals or free classes. If you love the gym because the classes and group atmosphere motivate you to work out on the regular, then look for deals and free classes. Some studios will offer one free class a week or a free short-term class pass so you can try out a program before you pay to join. They’re hoping to get you to buy a membership or package, but you can enjoy the free classes and skip the sign-up.
If you do want a gym membership, look online for coupons and discounts—especially to new places opening up in the area. But remember, if you’re crushing those money goals and don’t have room in the budget for a gym membership, that doesn’t mean you can’t still crush your fitness goals too. Just exercise somewhere else (like outside or at home)!
budget is possible. You just have to be intentional. And one way to be intentional is to meal plan. Meal planning is deciding up front—and on purpose—what you’ll eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks throughout the week. Plan out all those healthy meals. Make a list of ingredients you need. (Pro tip: Think about what you already have in your pantry, fridge and freezer first.) Then, go to the grocery store and buy only what’s on your list to make those meals happen. Meal planning is good for the body and the budget.
8. Have healthy snacks ready.
When you’re shopping healthy, don’t forget to buy more than just meals. You need healthy snacks on hand for everyone in the house. Keep them at work too, so you don’t run to the snack machine when your tummy growls. You’ll curb those junk-food cravings, which can get expensive and are rarely a smart health decision.
9. Find an accountability partner. There’s no shame in asking some-
one to help you keep your eye on the
5. Skip the expensive athletic goal. Just the opposite—there’s incredwear. Turns out you can work out just ible strength in asking for accountability. as hard, burn just as many calories, and get just as fit in bargain-priced athletic wear. Okay, so we don’t have an extensive research study to back that statement—but trust us on this. You do need good shoes (meaning they treat your feet well—not they’re worn by your fave athlete). And you do need clothing you can move in. But you don’t need expensive, designer exercise clothing to work out.
And an accountability partner costs you nothing. The only risks include tighter friendships and a higher likelihood of success. And those are risks we’re ready to take! The best accountability partners are on the front lines with you. Find someone working toward a similar goal. You can vent your frustrations and share your wins together. You aren’t alone. So don’t go it alone. Get. An. Accountability. Partner.
6. Invest in home gym equipment. We’re not suggesting you go 10. Budget for your health. buy one of those complicated machines advertised on TV by fitness spokespeople like Chuck Norris. Yes, those things boast that they can work every muscle in your body—even the ones you’ve never heard of and especially the ones you can’t pronounce. But they’re also expensive. Instead, buy a sturdy yoga mat (which is helpful for many kinds of exercise) and some weights. Find used equipment super cheap from people who gave up or moved on to the next big thing in fitness.
You can have health goals and money goals. And you can knock out both at the same time. Just budget! The dumbbells, the smoothie ingredients, the yoga mat— put everything in your budget. While you’re trying out ways to get fit on the cheap, try out our free budgeting app too. It’s practical. It’s mobile. It’s free. From your desktop or phone, EveryDollar goes where you go so you can budget even while you’re working out! (Please budget safely, friends.)
Pick us up at China Star, Abilene Public Library & Martinez Barber Shop | HEALTH | 45
Why Drinking Water is TheWay to Go By Kids Health
Without water, your body would stop working properly. Water makes up more than half of your body weight and a person can’t survive for more than a few days without it. Why? Your body has lots of important jobs and it needs water to do many of them. For instance, your blood, which contains a lot of water, carries oxygen to all the cells of your body. Without oxygen, those tiny cells would die and your body would stop working. Water is also in lymph (say: limf), a fluid that is part of your immune system, which helps you fight off illness. You need water to digest your food and get rid of waste, too. Water is needed for digestive juices, urine (pee), and poop. And you can bet that water is the main ingredient in perspiration, also called sweat. In addition to being an important part of the fluids in your body, each cell depends on water to function normally. Your body doesn’t get water only from drinking water. Any fluid you drink will contain water, but water and milk are the best choices. Lots of foods contain water, too. Fruit contains quite a bit of water, which you could probably tell if you’ve ever bitten into a peach or plum and felt the juices dripping down your chin! Vegetables, too, contain a lot of water — think of slicing into a fat tomato from the garden or crunching into a crisp stalk of celery. How Much Is Enough? Since water is so important, you might wonder if you’re drinking enough. There is no magic amount of water that kids need to drink every day. Usually, kids
like to drink something with meals and should definitely drink when they are thirsty. But when it’s warm out or you’re exercising, you’ll need more. Be sure to drink some extra water when you’re out in warm weather, especially while playing sports or exercising. When you drink is also important. If you’re going to sports practice, a game, or just working out or playing hard, drink water before, during, and after playing. Don’t forget your water bottle. You can’t play your best when you’re thinking about how thirsty you are! When your body doesn’t have enough water, that’s called being dehydrated. Dehydration also can keep you from being as fast and as sharp as you’d like to be. A bad case of dehydration can make you sick. So keep that water bottle handy when the weather warms up! Not only does water fight dehydration, but it’s awfully refreshing and has no calories. Your body can help you stay properly hydrated by regulating the amount of water in your system. The body can hold on to water when you don’t have enough or get rid of it if you have too much. If your pee has ever been very light yellow, your body might have been getting rid of excess water. When your pee is very dark yellow, it’s holding on to water, so it’s probably time to drink up. You can help your body by drinking when you’re thirsty and drinking extra water when it’s warm out. Your body will be able to do all of its wonderful, waterful jobs and you’ll feel great!
46 | HEALTH | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Cooking Well with Diabetes Classes to Begin in April By Kim Miles | County Extension Agent/FCH, Taylor County
If you are one of the many individuals who live daily with diabetes or if you care for a diabetic, you will want to make plans to attend a 4-part series “Cooking Well with Diabetes”. These classes are scheduled for Monday evenings in April (April 6, 13, 20 & 27, 2020) from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Taylor County Extension Office located at 1982 Lytle Way in Abilene. Registration cost is $25 and includes course materials, recipes and food samples.
one that may be diabetic or pre-diabetic.
Session 1 will focus on Carbohydrate Foods and how to recognize carbohydrate sources and recipes and using sweeteners effectively. In session 2 we will discuss how to make recipes with fat better for you by looking at healthy fats and fat substitutions. Double Pleasure Side Dishes will be the focus of session 3 with tips on reducing sodium and increasing fiber in the diet. Finally, session 4 “Celebrating Sensibly” will Diabetes is a chronic disease resulting when be all about creating special event recipes that the body does not make enough insulin, or the are healthy and delicious. insulin it makes does not work properly. It is estimated that 1.8 million adults in Texas have The “Cooking Well with Diabetes” classes are been diagnosed with diabetes. Of that number, sponsored by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension approximately 10,000 of those are in Taylor Service in Taylor County. Pre-registration is reCounty. quired by calling the Taylor County Extension Office at (325) 672-6048 or email kamiles@ Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of di- ag.tamu.edu. Reserve your spot today as seatabetes, accounting for around 95% of all cases. ing is limited. Individuals with disabilities who While diabetes is not curable, it is manageable. require an auxiliary aid or accommodations are People with diabetes who maintain blood sugar, asked to contact 672-6048 in advance so arblood pressure, and cholesterol levels within rangements can be made. recommended ranges can lower their health care costs and increase their productivity. Kim Miles serves as County Extension Agent for Family and Community Health with Texas Through participation in the “Cooking Well A&M AgriLife Extension in Taylor County. with Diabetes” classes, participants can learn ways to prepare food for themselves or a loved
Signs of Sleep Apnea Mayo Clinic mentions these common signs of sleep apnea:
CALL US TO ADVERTISE (325) 701-9505
Sleep apnea is a disorder in which breathing stops and starts during sleep, says Mayo Clinic. It can lead to many complications, from daytime fatigue to high blood pressure.
• Loud snoring. • Gasping for air during sleep. • Awakening with a dry mouth. • Morning headache. • Difficulty staying asleep. • Daytime sleepiness. • Difficulty paying attention while awake. • Irritability.
www.facebook.com/HispanicLifeMagazine
. Advertise Today! Call (325) 518-7091
Cooking Well with Diabetes A cooking school designed to help people with diabetes and anyone that prepares food for them
Sessions Include... Carbohydrate Foods
Cooking Well with Diabetes is a series of four, fun, interactive classes packed with research based information and delicious diabetes friendly recipes.
Recognizing carbohydrate in recipes and using sweeteners effectively
April 6, 13, 20 & 27 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Make Recipes with Fat Better for You
Taylor County Extension Office
Healthy fats & fat substitutions
Double Pleasure Side Dishes Reducing sodium and increasing fiber
Celebrating Sensibly Special event recipes that are healthy and delicious
1982 Lytle Way in Abilene
Southeast corner of the Taylor County Fairgrounds
$25 for all 4 classes which includes class material, recipes & food samples. Call the Taylor County Extension Office at 325-672-6048 to reserve your spot.
Seating is limited
https://taylor.agrilife.org/ Texas A&M AgriLife Extension provides equal opportunities in its programs and employment to all persons, regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating
BUSINESS&CAREER
Self-Starter Credits Faith, Hard Work To Realizing Business Dreams in Abilene By Molly Hill | Special to the Abilene Reporter-News
The American dream is alive and well for Ma- thing different to the women of ria Torres. Abilene.” Upon arriving in the United States from the Mexican state of Durango, via El Paso, as a 16-year-old, Torres worked “whatever jobs (she) could get” while never losing sight of her dream of one day being her own boss. “I came to America in 1990 and didn’t speak a word of English and I did a little bit of everything, like house cleaning and babysitting – whatever I could do to earn some money,” she said.
said, adding that she instills in her children the importance of education because “it will make things a lot easier.”
All of the hot and cold therapy garments are made in Colombia by Forma Tu Cuerpo, a company that “provides work for head-ofhousehold mothers and women whose work helps to develop and grow the (work) industry of their country and to the betterment of quality of life they provide to their families.”
“Even though I didn’t go to college or even finish school past 16 years, my children know the value and importance of a good education,” she said. A certified food manager, Torres also owns a catering business, La Cocina de Maria, and said her daughter and son help with various events such as weddings, quinceaneras and private parties.
(Note: the business name uses Torres now lives in Abilene and opened Co- “Columbia”) lumbian Shapewear & Girdles, 909 N. Mockingbird Lane. In addition to shapewear, Torres also sells unique and whimsical It takes work to be la jefa • The oldest of sev- T-shirts as well as authentic used en children, Torres left school as a teenager to handbags and wallets. take a job cleaning houses. Torres also works as a waitress “It was only my mom and my siblings in Mex- at nearby Monterrey Restaurant, ico so I thought it would be better for us if I as well as a deejay at the Latino worked instead of going to school,” she said. Mix station Star 106.3. Torres said her first “official job” was at a clothing store in Durango when she was 14. The people for whom she worked eventually brought her to El Paso. She moved to Abilene in the early 1990s because of her husband’s employment by the plumbing company Mr. Rooter. Her resourceful, creative and energetic spirit continued to serve her well when she arrived here. On Oct. 4 she realized her longtime dream of working for herself when her she opened her business.
“Cooking is my passion,” she said, adding that she enjoys working alongside her family. In addition to her varied and busy worklife, Torres also hopes she can be an example to other Hispanic entrepreneurs and (Photo: Greg Jaklewicz/Reporter-News) would-be entrepreneurs.
She has “always tried to do things by myself,” Torres said. It is that creative and independent-minded spirit especially having my 22-year-old do a lot of the that helped her transform a rundown shell into a work on the plumbing.” quaint and welcoming space. Although exhausting at times, Torres said workTo say that hard work runs in the family would ing for herself is what drives her through even not be an exaggeration. the most exhausting days. “When we bought the location five months ago, it was in bad condition,” she said, adding that she and her children did all the work themselves, with the exception of the electrical upgrades.
“It takes a lot of work, patience and determination,” she said. “Even big buildings came up brick by brick.”
► Columbian Shapewear & Girdles by Maris is open 10 a.m.-noon and 2-6 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays. Consignments are “I would finish working at Monterrey’s at 10:30 welcome. Call 325-725-9056 for information. at night and then come to the shop and work on getting it ready to open,” she said. “I had a CALL US TO ADVERTISE choice — I would either be someone’s employ(325) 701-9505 ee or my own boss — and that was what I had to do if I wanted to work for myself. 209 S. Danville, Suite B-103
Torres said she chose to specialize in shape- “It has been very rewarding to get the renovawear, such as girdles and other foundation tions done without a lot of outside help,” said garments, because she wanted to “bring some- Torres. “It was great having my kids help and “The harder it is, the harder you push,” Torres
Rates as Low as $1 a Day! *
Any Car. Any Driver. *Restrictions apply
CALL NOW!
832-210-2200
AMAXINSURANCE.COM
Email: info@hispaniclifemedia.com
48 | BUSINESS | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
www.facebook.com/HispanicLifeMagazine
. Advertise Today! Call (325) 518-7091
Grand Opening for the Dodge Jones Youth Sports Center 2-21-20
Grand Opening for The Gap CafĂŠ and Salty Roan Bakehouse 1-31-20
Groundbreaking for the Madagascar Exhibit at the Abilene Zoo
Grand Opening Sweet Thyme Kitchen 2-26-20
Pick us up at Abilene I.S.D., China Star, A & M Donuts | BUSINESS | 49
with Elvia Avalos-De Leon
Multiple Line Representative, State Farm 1. Tell us about your family!
I am happily married for almost 13 years to Mr. Julio De Leon and we have three wonderful children, Lizette, Julio Jr and Sofia.
2. How long have you been working with Neomia Banks at State Farm?
I have been here for almost 12 years already and plan to be here for many more. It has been honor to work here for such an inspiring lady.
3. What made you decide to get into this business? I have always been compelled to help others and when I came into the insurance industry back in 2005, I loved how rewarding it was to be able to help our clients in a subject that is not always easy to understand.
4. What exactly is a Multiple Line Representative? I am licensed agent and
am able to assist our clients in many aspects like Auto, Home, Commercial, Health and Life Insurance. We also can offer Surety Bonds and Bank Products. I am also Bilingual and more than ready to help any of our Spanish Speaking clients.
5. Besides working hard for Neomia Banks at State Farm, what else keeps you busy? Any Hobbies? Kiddos’ activities? Our family stays extremely busy between work, business, soccer, gymnastic, folklorico, school and community activities. On our free time our family loves to cookout, listen to music and have family and friends over.
6. What inspires you to get up every morning?
My Children! They are the Strength that keeps me going every day no matter what and everything I do is to help build a future for them. Every day is different and full of surprises and I always look forward to being with my family at the end of the day.
7. If someone is in need of information about different kinds of insurance that State Farm with Neomia Banks does, how do they get in touch with you? Office Phone Number 325-672-6491, Email elvia@neomiabanks.net
50 | BUSINESS | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Abilene Chamber of Commerce seeking nominations for Small Business Awards By BigCountryHomePage.com
As part of National Small Business Week, the Abilene Chamber of Commerce would like to take the opportunity to highlight the impact of outstanding entrepreneurs and small business owners across the Big Country. The Chamber is currently seeking nominations to recognize small businesses during their annual Small Business Week celebrations and Small Business Week Awards luncheon Tuesday, May 5. The Chamber will bestow four important peer recognition awards at the luncheon which are: • Small Business Young Entrepreneur of the Year • Small Business Community Investment Award • Family Owned Business of the Year • New Business of the Year “We don’t always celebrate the contribution of our small businesses – the men and women who drive our local and national economy. But during Small Business Week, we set aside the time to do exactly that. It’s our week to celebrate the work they do,” said Doug Peters, President and CEO of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber will be spotlighting the individuals and businesses who, through their independent entrepreneurial spirit, play a vital role in building the community and the economy. To be nominated is a reward by itself, and a nomination serves as a great tribute to a company’s leadership and employees. Deadline for nominations are Friday, March 27. The finalists for these awards will be announced at the Chamber Chairman’s Showcase Thursday, April 9, at the Abilene Convention Center at 5:30 pm. “90 percent of the businesses associated with the Chamber of Commerce are small businesses,” said Kim Bosher, Director of Events. “We want to continue this tradition each year as it benefits everyone who is involved.” For more information, criteria, or to nominate a small business, visit www.abilenechamber.com • KTAB and KRBC News are proud sponsors of Small Business Week.
Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country
Food Protection Management Training Course Available to Food Service Establishments By Tammie Belyeu | Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Taylor County
A two-day Food Protection Management training for food service managers in the Big Country area will be held March 23-24, 2020. 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 thirteen 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, Nolan and Jones 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 325672-6048. You may also access a downloadable registration form at http://taylor. agrilife.org.
Pick us up at Kentucky Fried Chicken, Wal-Mart, Lytle Land & Cattle | BUSINESS | 51
What Do We Have Here? By Doug Peters | President and CEO, Abilene Chamber of Commerce One look at this headline and the mind can really start to wonder, huh? “What do we have here” is one of my favorite open-ended questions, and one I love to try to answer. Of course, much depends on the context in which the question is asked. When people ask that question about Abilene, Texas my response is usually something like “you’ve got a city full of awesome people doing great things – together!”
life on the streets, people spending money locally (my personal favorite!) and people living. Lights are lit above the ground floors of many of our buildings. Other communities are asking “how’d you do that?” It’d be easy to say, “well, we just decided to do it.’” But we all know that no one just decided to do it. Instead, people came together, in true Abilene fashion, and elected to follow the example set by Mrs. Julia Jones Matthews so many years ago – who in fact did decide to “just do it” and ensure that our downtown didn’t end up the way of many downtown’s in America – on a respirator.
The Grace Museum, the Paramount Theatre, the T&P Depot, the right-of-way along the railroad tracks – all projects undertaken that have continued to inspire the risk takers of today to follow suit. It’s happening in the SoDA District and all across the North District. And, it’s more than simply a trend. It’s our community taking conIt seems that question gets asked more and more trol of an opportunity that helps us to improve the about our downtown. In fact, there’s so much product that we’re selling – Abilene, Texas. going on downtown that it might be worth a few paragraphs to update you. Mayor Anthony Williams assembled a Task Force to help The biggies are the hotels. Yep, plural. One go- implement the vision that YOU ing up, one going down. The new Downtown cast back in 2016, when more Convention Hotel is on track – and we hope to than 1,200 members of our comcelebrate alongside our partners at the City to munity came together to dream officially kickoff its construction sometime this about what our downtown can summer. It’s in the design phase now – and if and should be. That Task Force you’ve not seen the renderings, check THIS works closely with the Chamber’s out! While the design isn’t cast in stone, there’s Abilene Downtown Initiative and enough there to know that it’ll be spectacular. others to maximize and leverage Thank you Abilene for not giving up on your every public and private dollar dream. being invested. Smart things are happening thanks to you and your The other hotel project is the pending demolition willingness to engage. of the old and tired Civic Plaza Hotel property at 505 Pine Street – right smack dab in front of City Even parking. Now, I know you Hall. It’s surrounded by construction fencing and might not believe this – but I crews are removing the environmentally hazard- still stand by my assertion that ous stuff that’ll allow for it to soon become dust. we don’t have a parking problem I’m thinking it’d make a cool fundraiser – three downtown, we have a walking swings of the wrecking ball for $5.00. problem. Our downtown was built before automobiles, and much of our available parking was So then what becomes of the block it currently built where great buildings once stood. We hate sits on? It’ll be redeveloped. It’s owned by the that. The solution to parking challenges isn’t to Abilene Improvement Corporation (AIC), the tear down a building and cover the lot with assame not-for-profit that is working hard to revi- phalt, creating a toothless grin for those who talize the Pine Street Corridor. We’re working come to see what our city is all about. with the AIC to identify a developer and encour- Instead, we’re working – alongside our partners age the highest and best use of that 92,000 square at the City – to identify and solidify solutions that foot site. It’s in good hands, for sure. make sense. We’re working with private property owners to resolve challenges for daytime and I will also tell you that a quick scoot around the evening/weekend parking. The City has rolled downtown will give you a quick update on all the out a plan to change the diagonal parking to a good things happening there. People are invest- consistent angle that gains new street parking. ing, taking risk, venturing out to experience the constantly improving sights and sounds. There’s But remember this – downtown wasn’t built And that’s the case in so many sectors of our community – from tourism to economic development to business advocacy to cultural affairs – you get the picture. Our great city is in a good place, doing great things.
overnight; it isn’t being revitalized overnight (although at times it seems like it) and all our challenges won’t be solved overnight. Along with your grace in handling the challenges, think about parking where you can find a spot – and walking a block or two to get to your destination. Ultimately, a walkable downtown – with traffic calming and other elements that encourage walking – will be commonplace. Lastly, let’s think too about the criticism of those we’re trying to work with on solutions, especially when we take to social and traditional media to make our complaints. Let’s work together to find a solution – and not inadvertently send a signal that says “don’t come downtown – there’s no parking!” There IS parking. We might have to walk a block or two, but folks our blocks aren’t that big! And while I’m on my soapbox, let me challenge you with this, too. I’m seeing more and more litter on our roads and streets, and if not for risking an accident I’d take a photo. It’s embarrassing and I know you’ll agree that we can do better. That’s what people arriving here or passing through see and it leaves quite an impression. If you have a truck, empty the bed of trash and debris or cover it so it doesn’t blow out everywhere. If you’re hauling something and it falls off the trailer, retrieve it. That was a little preachy. Sorry. Let’s be the best Abilene we can be because, among so many other reasons, we are the product we’re selling when we try to attract workforce so your business can grow. We want visitors to enjoy what they see and experience and come back. With their checkbooks. And their friends. Right? If you see trash and can pick it up and toss it, please do. It really does matter. There. I feel better. I hope to see you around – and heck, if you’re challenged to find a parking spot, holler at me. Onward!
CALL US TO ADVERTISE (325) 701-9505 209 S. Danville, Suite B-103 Email: info@hispaniclifemedia.com
52 | BUSINESS | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Meet
Abilene Works By Marissa Thompson | Director of Talent and Development of the Abilene Industrial Foundation
More than 77,300 civilians work in Abilene, Texas. The average wage in Abilene across all industries is $19.85/hour, this is $12 over the state minimum wage. The average household income for Abilene is $63,224, which is $3,654 over the average household income for the state of Texas of $59,570, according the US Census Bureau. So, what do these numbers tell you? Abilene is a great place to work!
Suzanna
Not only does Abilene provide our citizens with rich arts, entertainment, education opportunities and friendly hospitality, it also provides our citizens opportunities to find quality jobs in a variety of industries at various skill levels. And what better place to look for that next job or for businesses to post their job opportunities than on AbileneWorks.com.
AbileneWorks.com is a free Abilene-centric jobs portal, driven by the She has worked with us at both our Chickfil-A Mall of Abilene location and now at our South Clack location, for a total of 9 months with Chick-fil-A . •Suzanna’s favorite menu item is the Grilled Chicken Sandwich with pickles and bacon. •You can see her working in various areas of our restaurant, but her favorite spot is in our busy drive-thru. We are thankful to have her in our team. Say hi to Suzanna the next time you stop by!
Two Abilene Companies Honored for Commitment to Employing Veterans By BigCountryHomePage.com
The Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) honored two Abilene companies Wednesday. CDTS, Incorporated and Texas Aerospace Services received awards for their outstanding commitment to employing veterans. The awards were presented at the Workforce Solutions board meeting, where they emphasized the importance of bringing veterans into the workforce. “Our employer award programs, it’s a great way for the Texas Veterans Commission to recognize the commitment that Texas employers have shown to hiring, retaining, and also to promoting veterans and transitioning service members as part of their workforce,” says Larry Denton, District Manager at TVC. Members of the TVC say they are proud to have businesses in West Texas to win these awards.
Abilene Chamber of Commerce and it’s volunteers as it works to connect employers to jobseekers. Employers and jobseekers do not have to be Abilene Chamber of Commerce members to utilize AbileneWorks.com, but why wouldn’t you want to be a chamber member? The Abilene Chamber of Commerce works to connect, educate and advocate for you and our community. Chamber members gain a dedicated partner who is working to help you – and the community – succeed. The success of AbileneWorks.com can be seen through its growth over the past quarter. More than 60 employers have posted jobs to AbileneWorks.com and views are up by 84 percent, equaling over 2,600 pageviews for the month of February. AbileneWorks. com can also link employer websites on our home page. Employers can customize their active job posting dates and how jobseekers apply. Employers that post to AbileneWorks.com receive free job marketing as we reach across multiple markets, including exiting military, students, young professionals and anyone else interested in being a part of the Abilene community. AbileneWorks.com also provides resources to its’ users such as résumé writing tips, how to build your interview toolbox, community resources and workplace intelligence. So, what are you waiting for? To post a job, visit AbileneWorks.com. Simply hit the “Post a Job” button and follow the step-by-step how-to instructions. Cost Effective Advertising • CALL 1-325-439-1214 or email us at: terri@hispaniclifemedia.com
Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country
First Bank Texas Elects New Member to Board of Directors By Evon Markum | FirstBank Executive Vice President,Marketing & Social Media Director
First Bank Texas recently announced the ap- tutions, Tracy joined First Bank Texas in 2005 pointment of Tracy Howle as a member of their as a Commercial Banker. Tracy is extensively Board of Directors. Howle of Abilene, Texas involved in the Abilene community where she currently serves on many brings extensive banking civic and charitable orgaexperience to complenizations. She serves as a ment the board’s strategic member of the District-Wide initiative plans. “We are Consultation Committee for pleased to welcome Tracy the Abilene ISD, the West to the First Bank Texas Texas Rehabilitation Center, Board,” said Mike Rhea, Disability Resources, the President and CEO, of Abilene Education FoundaFirst Bank Texas. tion, and the Abilene Chamber of Commerce. “Tracy brings unique knowledge, wisdom, and Tracy Howle is married to perspectives that will furJeff Howle, an Administrather enhance the strength tor for the Abilene ISD and of our existing Board of they have two sons (Payton Directors.” Tracy Howle & Jackson). The family atis a native of the big tends Pioneer Drive Baptist country graduating from Church. Abilene High School, then securing her Bachelors of Business Administration from Hardin- The community is welcome to come by and conSimmons University. She has over 27 years of gratulate Tracy on her promotion to the Board banking experience within the local community. of Directors at the First Bank Texas location on After starting her career in other financial insti- Judge Ely Blvd or give her a call at 325-6731885
CONGRATULATIONS
Chris Jeter, owner of ServiceMaster Restore by A-Town Hi-Tech (far right) was recognized for achieving the BNI Gold Club Award.
Pick us up at Dairy Queen, First Financial Bank & Central Finance | BUSINESS | 53
54 | BUSINESS | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country
SBA Hosts Military and Veteran Entrepreneur Summit in Las Cruces By Darla.Booker U.S. Small Business Administration
Influential Women of South Texas:
Linda Escobar By Allison Ehrlich | Corpus Christi Caller Times
When Linda Escobar was a little girl, she begged her father, popular Tejano and conjunto musician Eligio Roque Escobar, to let her perform at one of his concerts. By 8 years old, she had a gold record. Escobar grew up in Alice listening to her father’s music, and in 1965 recorded the single “Frijolitos Pintos” which sold more than 1 million records. Considered “la reina” of conjunto music, she’s continued her performing career for more than five decades with hits like “Mi Cantina” and “Lonely Letters.” She’s earned numerous accolades including Female Vocalist of the Year at the West Texas Music Awards and South Texas Conjunto Association Awards and was inducted into the Tejano R.O.O.T.S. Hall of Fame in 2003. Since 1999, Escobar has hosted El Veterano Conjunto Festival on Veterans Day weekend in memory of her father, an Army veteran of World War II who wrote “El Veterano” about the experience of Mexican-Americans in the war. The festival not only honors veterans but also awards scholarships to young conjunto musicians. “I feel that it’s my duty to help up-and-coming or young artists so I can open doors for them, just like my dad helped me,” Escobar told the Caller-Times in 2006. More than 50 young musicians have received a scholarship since the festival began.
The U.S. Small Business Administration will host a “Military and Veteran Entrepreneur Summit” at the Las Cruces Convention Center in Las Cruces, New Mexico on Wednesday, March 18, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. This free event will connect veterans, transitioning service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and military spouses with resources and information that will help them start and grow their small businesses. “The SBA is dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs in rural areas and designated opportunity zones with the resources they need to start, grow, or expand a small business,” said Larry Stubblefield, Associate Administrator for SBA’s Office of Veterans Business Development. “The SBA is proud to collaborate with our local district offices and resource partners to host this summit in support of the military and veteran small business community in the Las Cruces area.” Eli Crane, former Navy SEAL and owner of Bottle Breacher (as seen on Shark Tank) will deliver the morning keynote address. During lunch, Kevin J. Bartlett, National Judge Advocate at the American Legion, and Scott Denniston, Executive Director of the National Veteran Small Business Coalition, will deliver remarks. Event attendees will have the opportunity to attend breakout sessions on entrepreneurship resources, accessing capital, government contracting, and small business tips for military spouses. Participants will also be able to learn more about the support SBA provides to aspiring and established small businesses, and network with other successful veteran-owned small businesses. For more information about the Military and Veteran Entrepreneur Summit and to register, visit SBAMilitarySummit.eventbrite.com. To join the conversation on social media, use the hashtag #SBAMilitarySummit.
Pick us up at Dairy Queen, First Financial Bank | BUSINESS | 55
Cindy Gonzales with Abilene SBDC
1. Tell us about your family!
Family is amazing! I have 3 children of my own and have raised 2 nephews. Current ages range from 18-21; Jazmyn, Jordan, Journei, Jerymiah & Jydydyah. All are striving adults!! We also have 2 dogs Oak & Ellie and 9 newborn pups!!! My extended family is tight-knit; we grow and praise together in every way possible. All glory to God!
5. Besides working hard for SBDC, what else keeps you busy? Any Hobbies? Kiddos’ activities? My family & I enjoy traveling, camping, summer activities, crafts, art shows, concerts, festivals, church, life groups, animals, etc. I love hosting family gatherings and much more.
6. What inspires you to get up 2. How long have you worked every morning? My first and foremost for the Small Business Develop- inspiration is the good Lord, my family & the ment Center? I have been with Abilene beautiful community I have the opportunity to SBDC since 2016 graciously serving the Big serve daily. Country and surrounding areas.
3. What made you decide to get into this business?
My decision to join the SBDC group was their dedication to the community. We are eager to help small businesses start, grow, expand & sell. We stand by our vision to be a leading economic development organization by empowering entrepreneurs. *Building Businesses for the Future*
4. What areas do you serve with SBDC? Abilene SBDC provides consult-
ing, training and research to small businesses within the Big Country and surrounding counties including Callahan, Coleman, Eastland, Fisher, Haskell, Jones, Kent, Knox, Mitchell, Nolan, Runnels, Scurry, Shackleford, Stephens, Stonewall, Taylor and Throckmorton.
7. If someone is in need of information about the Small Business Development Center, how do they get in touch with you? (Phone Number, Website? Facebook? Twitter? Instagram?)
Cindy Gonzales
Program Coordinator (325) 670-0300
749 Gateway St., Ste. 301 79602 Email: cindy.gonzales@ttu.edu Website: www.ttusbdc.org Constant Contact: sbdcabilene Facebook: @TXTECHSBDC Alignable: America’s SBDC @ TX Tech