Pick us up at Long John Silver, Drug Emporium & Los Arcos Mex Rest | COMMUNITY | 3
NOVEMBER 2017
Volume 8, Issue 7
Office Park West 209 S. Danville, Suite B-103 Abilene, Texas 79605 (325) 701-9505 www.HispanicLifeMedia.com [currently under construction]
PUBLISHER David A. Hernandez EDITOR HispanicLife Magazine editorial@hispaniclifemedia.com ADVISING EDITOR AND ACCEPTOR OF PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS Amy Hernández info@hispaniclifemedia.com (325) 701-9505 Office
ADVERTISING SALES David Hernandez (325) 518-7091 sales@hispaniclifemedia.com
GRAPHIC DESIGN/LAYOUT Debbie Heep info@hispaniclifemedia.com
About Us
We are dedicated to serving the Abilene and the Big Country by providing up-to-date information and resources that promote healthy families and homes. We also promote our clients businesses by increasing their customer bases and enhancing their public images within the Hispanic community. HispanicLife Magazine is published on a monthly basis and is owned & operated locally. 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.
The season of Thanksgiving is upon us. This is when you begin seeing all the postings on social media of what everyone is thankful for. We are not saying this is a bad thing, it just makes us think, do you really only notice all your blessings in the month of November? We surely hope not! Being thankful or giving thanks should be part of your daily routine, and if it’s not, it’s never too late for it to be. As soon as your eyes open every morning you should be thankful that you have another day of life, another day to love, to forgive, to make a difference in someone’s life or make better choices than the day before. You have another opportunity to do better and be better. Don’t always let the “Worldy” things blind you of your blessings. Be thankful you have a home, legs that you can walk with, eyes that you can see with, a voice that can be heard, and a job that helps you provide for your family. Be thankful for the vehicle that you do drive and the clothes that you have. We could go on and on about all the things the good Lord has blessed us all with. Let us not get caught up in the craziness of the holiday season and forget our true blessings. Remember, so much of what we have that we complain about is exactly what others are praying for. Don’t take life and all you have for granted. We here at HispanicLife, pray you all enjoy your turkey, dressing, sweet potato casseroles, pumpkin pies and football this Thanksgiving with your family and friends. As a mom, I remind my girls daily to be blessed and to be a blessing; I pray we all remember that as well. Have a great month and as always….First God, then Family and finally Friends….
David & Amy Hernández & the girls & all the staff here at HispanicLife
2017 HispanicLIfe Media
All rights reserved. No reproduction of any portion of this issue is allowed without permission from the publisher. www.facebook.com/HispanicLifeMagazine
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4 | COMMUNITY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country
Hendrick Home for Children Begins Work on Major Construction Project By Jonathan McMichael | BigCountryHomePage.com
The Hendrick Home for Children has been helping kids for decades. But while staff remain as strong and committed as ever, the original mansion which houses many facilities, could use some work. “Several years ago we identified a problem we have with the main building,” commented Dr. David Miller, president of the home. According to Dr. Miller the building has seen better days. “The usefulness of the home both for the integrity of the building and the mission of the home, has just about been used up,” he stated. So a plan was hatched to construct new buildings and renovate old ones. “We are growing for the future, and we are building for the future of Hendrick Home,” said Barbara Dahl, vice president for community relations at the home. “You will not even notice a difference from the
street. Now what goes on inside and behind the building, that’s the excellence we give children and single parents,” Dahl went on. The home hopes to have the project come in at under $20,000,000 and expects all of it to be finished by 2020. “We know we can help more people and that’s exciting. That’s what we do,” Dahl finished.
Not Just the Right Car. The Right Car Loan. It’s just what you wanted, and needed. A new car – reliable and problem-free, loaded with all of the latest bells and whistles. One of its best features? The new car loan you got at First Financial. There was no minimum to borrow, and you got a competitive rate and fast approval. Not to mention friendly, personal service right in your neighborhood. It’s enough to drive you happy! Whether for a new car or pre-owned, the auto finance experts at First Financial will put you first.
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LOCAL PEOPLE AND EVENTS
COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHT
Meet Lori McDonald By HispanicLife Magazine
Some people are just easy to relate to. With an dreams come true. array of life experiences, Lori McDonald can “My Clients comes relate to just about anybody, which is what first,” Lori states. makes her career as a REALTOR a perfect fit. Lori has worked in a variety of roles ranging from hospitality services, mental health to retail management. She even worked at Dyess Air Force Base in management for over 25 years, where she won many accolades and awards, including ACC 8 years in a role Hennessey Award which is Best of the Best in all military branches in the whole world! Also including a special coin from The Inspector Generals Team from the Pentagon, And one also from Dyess Base Commander for excellence. After meeting husband, Gary McDonald, Lori began to use her variety of talents and experiences working with Gary at Abilene Area Locksmith assisting Gary in the business and on the field, becoming Office Manager for Abilene Locksmith and Office Manger for personal properties they own G&L Property management Services. After working property management Gary and Lori decided Lori becoming a Texas REALTOR be the next chapter in Lori’s career. Lori went to school became a Licensed Texas REALTOR. Lori’s primary focus is Real Estate, she uses past experiences and various skills to help her clients in the best way possible. Lori follows The REALTORS pledge to do business according to the strict CODE OF EITHICS. Treat each client WITH HONESTY INTEGRITY FAIRLY. While making clients
She has had the honor of getting certified by some of the best teachers and trainers in the Real Estate Industry! Lori graduated Cisco College with a 4.0 GPA. Continuing to Kaplan University`s School of Real Estate Graduating Became Texas REALTOR. Continuing Real Estate education attending Champions school of Real Estate and Allied School Of Real Estate. Lori feels that you can never have enough education. In Lori’s Real Estate career Lori has earned many designations in specialized areas such as GRIGraduate Realtor institute, ABRAccredited Buyers Specialist, SRES-Senior Real Estate Specialist, SFR-Short Sales Foreclosure Specialist RENE-Negotiations & Advanced Negotiations Specialist, MRPMilitary Relocation Specialist, SRS-Sellers Rep Specialist. PSA-Price Strategy Specialist,
ALHS-Accredited Luxury Home Specialist, RSPS-Resort Specialist, TAHS-Texas Affordable Housing Specialist, TRPM-Texas Real Estate Property Management Specialist, NHC-New Home Construction Specialist, CHMS- Staging Specialist, TVLB-Texas Veteran Specialist and several more. Lori Feels she needs to have all knowledge at her hands to provide the best possible service
to her clients, she states knowledge is power. Lori was accepted for The Texas Leadership Program TRLP from The National Associa-
tion of REALTOR University this is a very prestigious designation. The program’s goal is to make leaders. Lori will graduate November 10, 2017. Lori has also served and is apart of many committee’s, such as WCR-Women’s Council of Realtors, NAHREP- National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals, PWBProfessional Women In Building, Chamber of Commerce, NBA- National Builders Association, Abilene Board Of Realtors-Education Committee, Texas Affordable Housing Committee Publicity Committee. Lori enjoys spending time with husband and fur babies, dancing and RV-ing. With Lori’s long list of experience and accreditations, it is evident Lori has a strong work ethic, which she accredits to her mother Mary Ellen Gonzalez who has passed -I Love You And Miss You Mom! The McDonald Real Estate Team @ Fathom Realty. 325-338-5156 Lori Says Call Me For All Your Real Estate Needs! Real Service - Real Results - Real Estate!
6 | COMMUNITY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
HispanicLife Media
Hondo Henderson. Firefighter Henderson joined the Abilene Fire Department in December of 1999. He is certifed as an EMT-Paramedic, Master Firefighter, Fire Instructor I, and Hazardous Materials Technician. He is currently assigned to Engine 6, A shift. Congratulations to Firefighter Henderson.
Book to Movie Club: “The Light Between Oceans” November 18 at 10:00AM Main Library. Movie Summary: A lighthouse keeper and his wife living off the coast of Western Australia raise a baby they rescue from a drifting rowing boat.
SPOTLIGHT
Family Flix: “Lego Batman Movie” November 18 at 3:00PM, Main Library Movie Summary: A cooler-than-ever Bruce Wayne must deal with the usual suspects as they plan to rule Gotham City, while discovering that he has accidentally adopted a teenage orphan who wishes to become his sidekick.
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets November 26 at 3:00PM, South Branch Library. Movie Summary: A dark force threatens Alpha, a vast metropolis and home to species from a thousand planets. Special operatives Valerian and Laureline must race to identify the marauding menace and safeguard not just Alpha, but the future of the universe.
Abilene Dream Center left to find new way to fundraise after fire destroys workshop By Stacie Wirmel | BigCountryHomePage.com
The main source of fundraising for a local non-profit went up in flames 4:30 AM on November 6th, 2017. The workshop where the men from the Abilene Dream Center built hand-made wooden crosses is now gone.
Weekend Walk-In Flix: “Cars 3” November 19 at 3:00PM, South Branch Library Movie Summary: Lightning McQueen sets out to prove to a new generation of racers that he’s still the best race car in the world. Saturday Matinee: “Arrival” November 25 at 10:30AM, South Branch Library Movie Summary: When twelve mysterious spacecraft appear around the world, linguistics professor Louise Banks is tasked with interpreting the language of the apparent alien visitors.
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“The shop was somewhere I could express myself,” explained Cody Dulaney. “Where I could do things that would occupy my time from thinking about things I used to do.” Firefighter
Christopher
Young
joined the Abilene Fire Department in May of 2007. He is certified as a Firefighter Basic and a EMT-Paramedic. He currently is assigned to Station 6 on C shift.
He has been through the program and now is the home director. “My life changed out here, this is really what made me change my life was this shop,” added Dulaney. The wooden crosses made in the workshop would bring in $4 to $5,000 a week to help keep the recovery efforts going.
Family Films: “Free Birds”, November 25 at 2:30PM, Mockingbird Branch Library Movie Summary: Two turkeys from opposite sides of the tracks must put aside their differences and team up to travel back in time to change the course of history - and get turkey off the holiday menu for good. Teen After Hours: “The Nightmare Before Christmas” December 1 at 6:00PM Mockingbird Branch Library. Movie Summary: Jack Skellington, king of Halloween Town, discovers Christmas Town, but his attempts to bring Christmas to his home causes confusion. Weekend Walk-In Flix: “Logan Lucky” December 3 at 3:00PM, South Branch Library. Movie Summary: Two brothers attempt to pull off a heist during a NASCAR race in North Carolina.
Firefighter Dustin Zumwalt
joined the Abilene Fire Department in May of 2013. He is certified as a Firefighter Intermediate and EMTParamedic. He currently is assigned to Station 6 on B shift.
ISE CALL US TO ADVERT 05 (325) 701-95 B-103 209 S. Danville, Suitemedia.com life Email: info@hispanic
Executive Director and Pastor of Life Church Ezequiel Pecina says the program requires $6,000 a week to be maintained. “This is what sustains us and now it’s kind of holding us back a little bit,” Pecina said, “and we’re just praying that God will help us through all of this.” The Abilene Fire Department blames faulty wiring for the complete and total loss.
The Dream Center of Abilene is looking for any help to rebuild and keep going strong. If you would like to donate, go to www. abilenedreamcenter.com and click on the “donate” button or their GoFundMe page at www.gofundme.com/adc-shop-equipmentreplacement. For information on other ways you can help contact Neil by phone at (325) 701-9530 or email at marketing@abilenedreamcenter.com.
Pick us up at Law Enforcement Office & Cisco College | COMMUNITY | 7 Hondo Henderson. Firefighter Henderson joined the Abilene Fire Department in December of 1999. He is certifed as an EMT-Paramedic, Master Firefighter, Fire Instructor I, and Hazardous Materials Technician. He is currently assigned to Engine 6, A shift. Congratulations to Firefighter Henderson.
Third Annual Abilene Operation Blue Santa Benefiting School-aged Children By Megan Allred |Vice President, Abilene Operation Blue Santa
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We are proud to present our third annual Abilene Operation Blue Santa event, presented by the Abilene Police Officers Association, Beltway Park Church, Long Electric, Walmart #536 and Wild Bills Pawn, benefiting school-aged children who are identified as either in need or at-risk. The funds raised will help provide Christmas to children recommended by teachers, school counselors, and school resource officers within the Abilene and Wylie Independent School Districts. Each child will be matched with an Abilene Police Officer who can assist the child in selecting Christmas gifts for themselves and their families. Our shopping date has been set for Saturday, December 9th at Walmart store #536, located on State Highway 351.
I felt that Operation Blue Santa was a great opportunity to positively impact a family.”
The generosity from the Abilene community has amazed the officers the past two years, assisted the steering committee in surpassing our goal and provided Christmas for 86 children and their families in 2016, including one kindergartner named Briana. Briana was partnered with Patrol Officer Catherine Eberhardt. She said, “I interact with families daily, but it is usually characterized by tragic, emotional, and sometimes hostile situations. Even though in some instances, we are able to bring some light, security, and hope, there is no follow up with the family or children.
Our goal, this year, is to provide Christmas gifts, food, toiletries and other household items for 100 children and their families. The two main ways to get involved are to donate through our sponsorship levels or purchase raffle tickets on several exciting packages. For more details, like our page on Facebook, Follow us on Instagram or visit our website (www.abilenebluesanta.org) to learn more about our upcoming fundraising events as well as more information on our raffle ticket items and sponsorship levels.
Officer Eberhardt recalled, “I wanted Briana to be comfortable with me, so we went to the toy aisle first and played with a few toys, trying to decide what to get.” After the toys, they moved to the clothes, and Briana was so excited to pick out clothes that she wanted to carry them around the rest of the time. After a while, Briana wanted to hold her hand through the store. Officer Eberhardt stated, “For me, this experience was humbling and uplifting. I was incredibly happy to give Briana and her family a good Christmas. She was excited about the toys, but she was more excited to have new shoes that wouldn’t hurt her feet.”
Happy Birthday, South Branch Library! South Branch Library in the Mall of Abilene is turning one and everyone is invited to our Birthday Party!
Sunday, November 19, 2017 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM South Branch Library in the Mall of Abilene We want to say a great big “Thank You” to all our wonderful library patrons who supported and visited our new location over this past year. We’ll have storytime and a movie showing of Cars 3. There’ll be games, prize drawings, crafts, and so much more! Please join us for a fun-filled afternoon at your South Branch Library. Call 325-698-7565 for more information.
Veterans ID cards to be available starting in November By Leo Shane III | MilitaryTimes
Veterans Affairs officials will start issuing new veterans ID cards next month, giving recipients an easy way to provide their military service for business discounts and other promotions. The move, first reported by Military.com, comes two years after Congress passed legislation for the cards. A VA spokesman said they’ll be made available for no cost to any veteran who applies through the department’s website. The new cards won’t replace VA medical cards or official defense retiree cards, and will not carry any force of law behind them. But supporters have called a national veterans ID card a simple way to honor veterans’ service and a way to help them prove their service status for non-federal activities. They have also argued that many veterans’ practice of carrying around copies of their military discharge paperwork or other personal documents to get corporate discounts leaves them open to fraud and identity theft. Several states - but not all 50 give veterans the option to identify themselves on drivers licenses. But the national ID card through VA would give a more standard way to verify military service. VA officials have not yet said how long it will take to issue cards after a veteran has requested them. Legislation authorizing the cards was sponsored by Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., and passed through Congress without objection. About 21 million Americans are veterans, with another 1.3 million individuals currently serving in the military.
8 | COMMUNITY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Former Matera Paper Building Ready for New Life By Nathan Greve | BigCountryHomePage.com
It’s been nearly six years since the Matera Paper building burned down, and in that time, the property on South First has remained in limbo, waiting for someone to do something with this piece of the SODA - South of Downtown Abilene - District. That day has finally come, as developer Tim Smith has purchased this empty hole in the ground. He doesn’t know what’s going to be taking shape there, but he promises it will be better than what’s currently there. Smith says he’s wanted this property to be something more for some time now. “I would eyeball this property, thinking, ‘Man, somebody needs to do something with all that rubble.’ Just started dreaming and wishing and here we are.” There are challenges ahead, but there have already been challenges to overcome prior to this point. John Hill, broker for Barnett & Hill, says that marketing this unique property had some unique challenges. He goes through the list: “The city viewed this as something to be condemned. There was a condemnation suit that was pending against this property, there were some property taxes. So
as a person looks at this initially, there are some things to scare them off.” Smith says that there are a number of directions the project could take, suggesting a sunken garden or townhomes. He also mentions that he wants to acknowledge the long history associated with the space. Hill is confident that no matter what happens, it’s going to be great. He says, “Tim’s imagination, when it comes together with his construction savvy and his ability to take on a project, it’s going to be something we’ll all love.”
Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country
Pick us up at Alfonso Hernandez Bakery, Mr. Jiffy & Daniela’s Tex-Mex Rest | COMMUNITY | 9
Time for God’s Men to Pack Heat to Church By Bryan Fisher | Focal Point
Devin Kelley, an atheist and Air Force reject, a man who had been court-martialed and dishonorably discharged for assaulting his wife and child, entered the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas, on Sunday in full combat gear and cut down 26 Christians in cold blood and put another 20 in the hospital. Victims include eight members of one family and the pastor’s own 14-year-old daughter. The fill-in pastor was shot in the back as he made his way up to the pulpit.
with a rifle. By the time the police arrived, there was nothing left for them to do but clean up the carnage. While the thought of armed church members might spook us today, it certainly did not spook the colonists who founded this country. For instance, in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, because of the constant danger of Indian attack, every person above 18 years of age was ordered
Said Wilson County Sheriff Joe D. Tackitt, Jr, “He (Kelley) just walked down the center aisle, turned around and my understanding was shooting on his way back out. It’s unbelievable to see children, men, and women, laying there. Defenseless people.” While he once had been a Baptist Sunday School teacher, in recent months Kelley had taken to his Facebook page to post atheist screeds, calling believers in God “stupid.” As he emerged from the church, he was confronted by a brave neighbor, Stephen Willeford, who shot him through a gap in his body armor. He then fled in an SUV, pursued by Willeford and another neighbor. When Kelley finally drove the SUV off the road and came to a stop, he either killed himself or bled out from the wound he’d received from Willeford. The police showed up five to seven minutes later.
to come to church armed to the teeth, “with their muskets, or other peeces fit for servise, furnished with match, powder, & bullets.” If you showed up without a weapon, you got fined.
Rhode Island had a similar law, and Maryland enacted a 1642 law that specified, “Noe man able to bear arms to goe to church or Chappell… This attack represents the worst church shoot- without fixed gunn and 1 Charge at least of powing in U.S. history, surpassing the nine killed der and Shott.” by Dylann Roof at the Emanuel AME Baptist Church in Charleston, South Carolina in New Haven did the same, and the Plymouth 2015. Plantation directed that at least one member of each household was under an obligation to bring It’s past time to recognize that churches have weapons to church during the season when the become human shooting galleries and past likelihood of an Indian attack was at its peak. time to recognize that church leaders and members need to arm themselves in their own Virginia passed a law in 1619 not only requiring defense. everybody to attend church on the Sabbath but to come armed: “and all suche as beare armes shall This shooter was able to fire dozens of rounds bring their pieces, swords, pouder and shotte.” at helpless victims because nobody in the To show up at church with your Bible but withchurch was in a position to shoot back. This out your gun was a crime that would subject you bad man with a gun was finally neutralized, to a fine. as is so often the case, by a good man with a gun. A plumber, it turns out, who was good While today most municipalities make it illegal
to bring a gun to a house of worship (these ordinances need to be changed), there was a considerable period of time in American history where you’d be breaking the law if you were not armed in the house of God. Jesus, ahead of his time as always, directed his own disciples to arm themselves in their own defense. In a much-overlooked passage of Scripture, he told his disciples, on the night he was betrayed, “Let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one” (Luke 22:36), thus laying a biblical and very New Testament foundation for the Second Amendment. Why were they to arm themselves? Said Jesus, “For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’” In other words, Jesus is saying, there are people out there who consider me to be a public enemy, and group me together with others they think are a menace to society. Because you are linked to me as my followers, they will think of you the same way. Some will be inclined to assault you without any cause whatsoever, just because you are identified with me. You’d better be prepared when that day comes. With all the unhinged rhetoric from the left ceaselessly demonizing followers of the Cross, we’re at a time where we cannot take the risk of attending church without a means of protecting ourselves, our families, and our fellow church members. As a friend of mine put it, “A Glock for the flock.” Bottom line: it’s time for God’s men to start packing heat to church.
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10 | COMMUNITY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
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TEACHER TRIBUTE Mr. Norton - Albany Jr.-Sr. High School TEACHER: Mr. Norton STUDENT: Natalie Haynes GRADE: 12th Grade PRINCIPAL: Edward Morales SCHOOL: Albany Jr.-Sr. High School YEARS TEACHING: 31 Why did you choose teaching as a career? Teachers have always inspired me. My grandfather, Virgil L. Welch, began his career in education as a science teacher and later became a principal at Hobbs High School in Hobbs, NM. My grandmother, Louise Welch, taught second grade at Will Rogers Elementary School (Hobbs, NM). They raised me and were incredible role models. They taught me strong work ethnic and the satisfaction of achieving through hard work. I miss them, but I see them and hear them in me often - especially when I’m teaching. Many other teachers have inspired me through the years. Each had their own
endly, “Adrian was very fri t with lef d came in today an y.” da me sa e th r ca t a grea
strengths and weaknesses. They all seemed to have that commitment to their profession and to their students.
& fun. “Joe was very polite ry nice ve y, sh He was not pu itely fin de ll Wi e. nc rie expe others!” to ce pla s recommend thi
“Adrian did awesome he was very helpful. He deserves a raise!”
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“Great people, very helpful. Joe is very awesom e! 5 Star Customer Se rvice!”
“Amazing custome r service! Extremely happy wi th how fast things went, wi ll definitely recommend Joe De l Rio!”
Pick us up at Taqueria Riojas & Texas Workforce Center | COMMUNITY | 11
Workforce Solutions presents the 4th Annual World of Work (WOW) Youth Expo By Lindsey Phillips | Career Consultant for the Workforce Solutions of West Central Texas Board
Workforce Solutions of West Central Texas is pleased to announce the World of Work (WOW) Youth Expo will be held at the Abilene Convention Center on Wednesday, November 15th, from 9:00am to 2:00pm. Nearly 3,000 8th-12th grade students from more than 30 schools will be in attendance. Parents are welcome at the event any time after 10:00am. The WOW Youth Expo features a keynote speaker, Mr. EJ Carrion the cofounder of Student Success Agency, engaging exhibitors, and mock interviews for junior and senior students. There is no cost for schools, students, or parents to participate.
170488-1117
The goal of the WOW Youth Expo is to make students aware of career, college, and training opportunities around the region in high-wage, high-demand fields. Some of the industries represented will include: health science, technology, public safety, business, manufacturing, and human services. Local organizations
focused on helping youth, the military, as well as colleges and technical schools will also be in attendance. This is not a hiring event; this is an opportunity for students to learn about the skills, training and certifications they will need in order to be hired by local businesses when they enter the workforce. Four students have been selected to serve as Student Ambassadors for the event. These students are the face of the WOW Youth Expo, participating in promotional media interviews and leading their fellow students during the event. The 2017 Student Ambassadors are: Jax Bellar (Baird High School), AJ Lacey (ATEMS High School), Cassie King (Stamford High School), and Maddy Beal (ATEMS High School).
businesses, small businesses, entrepreneurs, tradespeople, and professional services staff to join us in building a pipeline of the next generation of workers. This event also serves as a great marketing opportunity for local businesses! Booth registration is only $50.00 and includes a table, chairs, electricity, wifi, continental breakfast, and 2 lunches. There are also sponsorship opportunities available proHaving a wide variety of employers and viding additional perks! industries serve as exhibitors is crucial to the success of the event. We encourage big If you are interested in your organization par-
ticipating, please contact Lindsey Phillips or register at www. workforcesystem.org/WOW. Questions may be directed to Lindsey Phillips, Career Consultant for the Workforce Solutions of West Central Texas Board, at (325) 795-4327. Email requests should be sent to wow@workforcesystem.org. The Workforce Solutions of West Central Texas Board is one of 28 boards in the state charged with oversight and policy-making responsibility for workforce and training programs in a nineteen county region. Additional information on the Board’s economic development efforts or services for business customers may be obtained by calling the Workforce Board at (325) 7954200 or by visiting the website at www.workforcesystem.org. Equal Opportunity Program. Auxiliary aids and services are available, upon request, to individuals with disabilities. Relay Svc: 711
12 | COMMUNITY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country
Love & Care Ministries 19th Annual
Mission Thanksgiving Over the past 18 years, the community of Abilene has been extraordinary and incredibly gracious in giving at Mission Thanksgiving. Please take a look at what our community did in 2015. Even with the overwhelming response, all food donations were distributed in 4½ months and all clothing and miscellaneous donations were distributed within 11 months. Our community successfully filled 12 semi-trailers (total). These trailers included many items such as: • 5 Clothing trailers / Clothing, Jeans, Socks, Underwear (men and woman), Shoes, Thermal underwear, Coats • 3.5 Food/Drink trailers / Non-perishable food, Frozen meats, Bottled water, and Soft drinks • 3.5 Miscellaneous trailers / Sleeping bags, Blankets, Bedding, Winter gloves, Toboggans and travel size personal hygiene items - plus toys for Christmas • Over $190,000 was raised, with thousands of vehicles driving through Arrow Ford to donate in just one day. We pray that this year will be just as great as last year because Love & Care Ministries is on track to feed 450,000 meals, give 100,000 articles of clothing, and provide over 12,000 showers this year. This is very important to us, but the most important thing Love & Care does is share the love of Jesus Christ with each person we meet. This year’s Mission: Thanksgiving will be held on Friday, November 17th at Arrow Ford, 4001 South 1st Street from 7:00 am – 7:00 pm. One of the ways families and businesses can help is by becoming a community “Sponsor.” Sponsors have given anywhere from $500 to $10,000, but always remember that any donation, big or small, is a blessing to those we serve. Each sponsor who gives $500 or more has their business mentioned on 12 radio stations and KTXS TV throughout the day.
Thank you for being a wonderful blessing,
Mark Hewitt
Founder & Executive Director
“Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor.” Proverbs 22:9
11a-6P
TO VOLUNTEER To donate, simply drive through the Arrow Ford parking lot, and our volunteers will unload your donations for you.
To volunteer, come to Arrow Ford on the day of the event and visit our Volunteer Sign-in table to be assigned to a workstation.
19th Annual Mission Thanksgiving
Pick us up at Drug Emporium, Monterrey Mex Rest & Lytle Land & Cattle | COMMUNITY | 13
By HispanicLife Media
1 How long has Arrow Ford been par-
ticipating with Mission Thanksgiving?
Arrow Ford and Love & Care Ministries hosted the first Mission Thanksgiving in 1998 and filled an entire semi trailer full of goods in the first year. Over the years, the event has grown tremendously and we were able to fill more than 11 semi trailers last year alone. We are very proud to say that this year will be our 19th year partnering for this extraordinary event.
meal and how to stay warm at night. Love and We have to move all of the vehicles off of our lot Care Ministries is a place that they can go to to make room for the semi trailers and traffic, get when times are tough for them, and Mission everything situated on the lot! Thanksgiving is just one of the ways Love and Care ministries is able to do what they do. 6 How you think the general public per-
2 How has the event changed over the years? The main thing that has changed over the years is the growth of the event. The event is exactly the same as it was 19 years ago, except BIGGER. Each year, we think we’ve maxed out on donations, and then the next year, the Big Country comes back and tops what we raised the previous year! The outpouring of support from the community to support the underprivileged of our community has been amazing.
3
How does your staff feel about working with the event? Mission
Thanksgiving is like a holiday to Arrow Ford employees – It’s our favorite day of the year! Our employees are very passionate about the cause ceives the participation of Arthat Love and Care Ministries suprow Ford? Of course, we hope the ports, and I think everyone at the community takes well to our particidealership really takes it upon pation in the event and gets involved themselves to make the event the alongside us, but ultimately, this event best it can be. We start gearing up is about supporting a cause – not about right before Halloween and getting us. As a business, we feel it is very everyone excited to start cleaning important that we give back to our out their closets and pantries. Incommunity, and this is just one of the ternally, we have a contest each causes that we feel called to support. year to see which department can bring in the most donations 7 How can we help? We need and we send our Sales people donations and volunteers! Food and out into the community to urge monetary donations are always the most their connections to get involved. needed. Love & Care is able to make We start piling up everything we collect in one meal for $.42 cents! That’s amazthe weeks leading up in the showrooms and 5 How many hours of preparation ing! Imagine how many meals they can make for service drives, and we have numerous F-150 truck beds FULL before the day of Mission and participation does it take to ac- $100! complish such a huge task? Mission Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving planning starts in August! Ar- 8 What day and times and where? Arrow Ford, Love & Care Ministries, Cumulus Ford, Friday, November 17th, 7 AM – 7 PM 4 What is the goal of this event? The row Radio & KTXS start meeting on a bi-weekgoal of this event is to raise funds, clothing, and food donations for Love and Care Minis- ly basis early so that all of our logistics are CALL US TO ADVERTISE tries to disperse to the underprivileged of the worked out before Mission day. The day of, and the day before Mission Thanksgiving are (325) 701-9505 Big Country. Unfortunately, many people in probably my busiest days of the entire year! our community have to worry about their next
Mission Thanksgiving (Donors)
AM Donuts AML Environment Arby’s Barber Foundation Battle Home Improvement Beltway Coffee Best Buy Black Box Pizza Black Plumbing C & L Abilene Enterprises Capital Farm Credit CBS Insurance Chicken Express Chick-Ful-A (South) Church’s Chicken Coca Cola Countryside Homes Creative Cakes CM Auctions Dominoes Pizza Enprotech/Hibbs & Todd FDLIC Fiddleman Insurance Fuzzy’s Taco Shop Grandy’s Hall Air Conditioning Hamil Family Funeral Home HEB Jimmy Johns Lamar Lauren Engineers & Construction Little Caesars (Buffalo Gap) Nicky G’s Papa Murphy’s Perry Hunter Hall Pest Control Potter’s Pizza Prosperity Bank Remax/Georgia Gowdy Rosas N & S Sam’s Club Schlotzskys (Judge Ely) State Farm/ Glynn Walker Stillwater BBQ food truck Subway South 1st Sylvan Learning Texas Roadhouse The Paint Center Walmart Grape Walmart Hwy 351 Weatherby Roofing Wendy’s South Western Bank
2017 City Sidewalks Schedule By Abilene Downtown Association
ABILENE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT ENTERTAINMENT
The Center for Contemporary Arts, 220 Cypress St. • Red, Rhythm & Blues Performance Choir Abilene Convention Center, 1100 N. 6th St. (North Steps) • Bowie Elementary Choir (South Steps) • Taylor Elementary School Choir The Grace Museum, 102 Cypress St. • Clack MS Choir Minter Park, N. 2nd St. & Cypress St. • Martinez Elementary Choir Calypso Art Gallery, 1133 N. 2nd St • Soundwave Handbell Choir One AISD Center, 241 Pine St. • Dyess Elementary Choir Prosperity State Bank, 402 Cypress St. • Thomas Texan Singers Everman Park, N. 1st St. & Cypress St. • Ortiz Elementary Choir & Step Squad Abilene Public Library, 202 Cedar St. • Craig Middle School Jazz Band NCCIL, 102 Cedar St. • Viva Strings - Madison MS Elks Art Center Ballroom, 1174 N. 1st St. • Austin Elementary Choir The Windsor, 401 Pine St. (Ballroom) • Clack MS Full Orchestra The Wooten, 1102 N. 3rd St. (Ballroom) • Johnston Elementary Choir The Center for Contemporary Arts, 220 Cypress St. • CORE - Craig MS Orchestra Abilene Convention Center, 1100 N. 6th St. (North Steps) • Lee Elementary Choir (South Steps) • Jackson Elementary Choir Everman Park, N. 1st St. & Cypress St. • Ward Elementary Choir The Grace Museum, 102 Cypress St. • Mann MS Choir The Wooten, 1102 N. 3rd St. (Ballroom) • Mann MS Band Ensemble The Windsor, 401 Pine St. (Lobby) • Bonham Elementary Choir Abilene Convention Center, 1100 N. 6th St. • Pure Gold Show Choir, Combined Abilene High School and Cooper High School Orchestras
COMMUNITY ENTERTAINMENT
5:30-6 p.m. 5:30-6 p.m. 5:30-6 p.m. 5:30-6 p.m. 5:30-6 p.m. 5:30-6 p.m. 5:30-6 p.m. 5:30-6 p.m. 5:30-6 p.m. 5:30-6 p.m. 5:30-6 p.m. 5:30-6 p.m. 5:30-6 p.m. 5:30-6 p.m. 6-6:30 p.m. 6-6:30 p.m. 6-6:30 p.m. 6-6:30 p.m. 6-6:30 p.m. 6-6:30 p.m. 6-6:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m.
Joyce McGlaun String Studio • Monks Coffee Shop, 233 Cypress St...........................................................................5:30-6 p.m. Abilene Community Band • Paramount Theatre, 352 Cypress St..................................................................................5:30-6 p.m. The Memory Men • Texas Star Trading Co., 174 Cypress St..............................................................................................5:30-6 p.m. Chorus Abilene • Cockerell Gallery, 1133 N. 2nd St. . .........................................................................................................5:30-6 p.m. The Piano Man • Cypress St. Station, 158 Cypress St ....................................................................................................5:30-6:30 p.m. Celebration Singers • First Financial Bank, 400 Pine St. ....................................................................................................7:30-8 p.m. Community Tree Lighting • Abilene Convention Center, 1100 N. 6th St. .....................................................................7:30 p.m.
GOODIES & MORE!
Under One Roof, 244 Pine St. ........................................................................................................................................Free hot chocolate Prosperity Bank, 402 Cypress St. .................................................................................................................... Free Christmas popcorn
One AISD Center, 241 Pine St. ....................................................................................................Punch and cookies Cockerell Gallery, 1133 N. 2nd St...........................................................................................................Refreshments BBVA Compass, 1049 N. 3rd St. ...................................................................... Free hot chocolate and popcorn Abilene Public Library, 202 Cedar St. . .......................................................................................Free face painting Day Nursery, 702 Cedar St. . ....................................................................................................................... Free activity McKay’s Bakery, 266 Cypress St. ..................................................................................Assorted Christmas treats Abilene Reporter-News, 101 Cypress St...................................................................................Free hot chocolate The Windsor, 401 Pine St. ...........................................................................................Refreshments and gift bags The Grace Museum, 102 Cypress St. . .................................................................................................... Free activity Betty & June Boutique, 189 Pine St..............................................................................................................Free cider The Hotel Wooten, 1102 N. 3rd St. ..................................................................................Free Christmas goodies
DINNER, COFFEE, LIBATIONS, DESSERTS, CANDIES & CIGARS
Cypress St. Station, 158 Cypress St. • The Beehive Restaurant & Saloon, 442 Cedar St. • Fat Boss’s Pub, 216 Pine St. • Monks Coffee Shop, 233 Cypress St. Candies by Vletas, 1201 N. 1st St. • Bogie’s Deli, 241 Cypress St. • McKay’s Bakery, 266 Cypress St. • The Leaf, 1054 N. 3rd St. • Vagabond Pizza, 1056 N. 2nd St. The Flour Shop Bakery, 421 Pine St. • Public Haus, 173 B Pine St.
ABILENE REPORTER-NEWS & DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION WINDOW DECORATING CONTEST
Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau & Abilene Cultural Affairs Council, 1101 N. 1st St. • Abilene Public Library, 202 Cedar St. • Bogie’s Deli, 241 Cypress St. • Day Nursery of Abilene, 702 Cedar St. • IN-Focus Digital, 320 Cypress St. McKay’s Bakery, 266 Cypress St. • Monks Coffee Shop, 233 Cypress St. • Neon Parrot Lounge, 181 Pine St. • One AISD Center, 241 Pine St. • The Flour Shop Bakery, 421 Pine St. • The Grace Museum, 102 Cypress St. • Under One Roof, 244 Pine St. • United Way of Abilene, 240 Cypress St.
This year we are proud to partner with the U.S. Marines Toys for Tots Program to make this Christmas special.
We will have a Toys for Tots Drop-off Box at the parade for anyone wishing to give and it will be located across the street from the Broadcast Tent on N. 6th St. Help make Christmas unforgettable for very Child by donating an unwrapped toy during this event!
Blue Angels Soccer Team Soars to Victory
Pick us up at Alfredo’s, Gloria’s Grill and Kentucky Fried Chicken | COMMUNITY | 15
By C.J. Morrow | Blue Angels Head Coach
I am the proud head soccer coach for the Big Country Soccer Association (BCSA), Blue Angels. The Blue Angels are a U11 recreational soccer team who has been together 4 years. Some players started playing together as young as 3 years old at the YMCA before they moved to BCSA and became the Blue Angels. The Blue Angels are a special group of girls with a special talent and desire to not only play soccer, but to be the best they can be every time they take the field. It is quite impressive to coach girls at such a young age who have a strong will to compete and to WIN! The majority of the girls on the team are 9 years old. North Texas Soccer Association (NTSA) adopted a new age policy a year ago. The Blue Angels elected to stay together as a team and to play an age group higher, currently U11, to remain a team. The Blue Angels are a very successful recreational team. They currently hold an 87% winning percentage with an overall record of 41-5-3 (Regular Season 22-2-3, Tournaments 19-3-0). They have finished in first place in every recreational season they have played. In fall 2016, their first place finish earned them the right to represent BCSA in the Tournament of Champions (TOC) in North Dallas. TOC is the most prestigious tournament in North Texas for recreational teams. Winning your division is the only way to be accepted into the tournament. It is truly
a tournament of champions. The Blue Angels were able to knock off a previously undefeated team from Amarillo in their first match 4-3, after being down 2-0 at the half. This game defined the team they are today. Being down not only 2 points with 20 minutes to play, they were also down some players due to illness. They showed a true desire to “rise up” to the challenge and
lift up themselves to victory. Seeing this from a group of 8 year old girls still gives me chills. The remainder of the TOC tournament was cancelled due to heavy rain. The girls have three championship finishes and
three runner-up finishes in all 6 tournaments they have competed in. This past summer they went to San Angelo to play in the Wool Cup Tournament. They went undefeated, allowing zero goals in their own net and besting a very good San Angelo team, Crossfire, with a 2-0 victory in double OT to bring home the Wool Cup. They rounded out the summer going undefeated in pool play and winning a championship at the Cowtown Classic in Fort Worth. Winning the gold medal game by a score of 9-0! The Blue Angels are a very special soccer team, but more so a special group of talent and girls. They come from all parts of Abilene and are not just great friends; they have become a family, which is a testament to their success.
16 | COMMUNITY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Courtesy of: HispanicLife Magazine
Antonio Jimenez, 51, of Abilene, went to be with our Lord and Savior Saturday, October 07, 2017 at a local hospice facility. Mr. Jimenez was born November 01, 1965, in Abilene, Texas to Benito and Isabel Jimenez. Antonio worked for many years with the A.I.S.D.. He was loved by all his coworkers and was the type of man who would give the shirt off his back to his family or friends. He loved to spend time with his grandchildren. Antonio was the youngest of 15 siblings. Left to cherish his memories include his four children, Teresa Barnes of Arlington, Antonio Jimenez Jr.(Sharon), Adrianna Jimenez (Gabriel), Stephen Jimenez (Clarisse), all of Abilene; and 12 grandchildren, Barron, Emma, Gabriel Jr., Amaris, Adrian, Selena, Jovani, Natalee, Kash, Brielle, Elainah and Evalynn; brothers, Marcus Jimenez, Joe Jimenez (Christina) of Mansfield, Robert Jimenez (Petra) of Arlington; his sisters, Anita (Manuel) of Abilene, Ruth Flores (Cande) of Abilene, Connie Guerrero (Al) of Abilene, Rebecca Solis (Jorge) of De Soto, Texas and Linda Ramon of Burleson, Texas; and numerous nieces and nephews. Antonio was preceded in death by his parents, Isabel and Benito Jimenez; his older two brothers, Jesse Jimenez and Benny Jimenez(also an infant brother named Jesse Jimenez); three sisters, Gloria Portillo, Amelia Rosas, Isabel Castillo. Le Thaun Hoa Tsang, 91, of Abilene, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, October 3, 2017. How Tsang as we all knew her, was born on March 27th 1926 in Cholon Vietnam, present day Ho Chi Minh City. She was the ninth child of a family of ten. She attended a primary school from 1929-1934 and then worked for many years in a restaurant in the Cholon area. Four years after the fall of South Vietnam, in 1979. How with her older brother Le That and younger sister Sol, they were able to leave the country with the help of their niece who lived in Hong Kong. She gave them bribe money to be able get on a boat for Malaysia and then to San Francisco. Our Savior Lutheran church then sponsored them to come here where they have lived since Oct 1979. They worked at Echo’s restaurant for many years before retiring and living at their home at 2807 Russell. She was preceded in death by her older brother Le That. She is survived by her younger sister Le Que To (Sol). Hoa was always cheerful and friendly and you could always find her helping in the kitchen during family nights and other festive occasions.
Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country
Owen Robert Armbruster, LT. COL, RET, U.S.A.F., 88, died at his home in Abilene, Texas on Friday, October 20, 2017. Born in Greenville, Ohio on April 17, 1929, Owen was the son of Lutheran missionaries the Reverend John Miller Matthias and Margaret Bruce (Stanbarger) Armbruster. He was raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, returning to the states in 1945. He graduated from Oklahoma A & M (now Oklahoma State University) and entered the Air Force in 1951. During his distinguished Air Force career as a navigator, Owen flew thirty-six B-26 combat missions in Korea. He also participated in NATO’s Hungarian Refugee Airlift flying over a thousand freedom fighters to safety. In 1958 he joined the B-52D Wing where he flew over 7600 hours in 16 different aircraft with 2,450 of them being in the B-52. In 1968 Owen was Chief of the 7th Air Force Civic Action Program in Vietnam where he was honored with the Valley Forge Freedom Foundation Award for Humanitarian Accomplishments. He was appointed Chief of the Officers’ School of the Inter-American Air Force Academy in the Panama Canal Zone from 1969 to 1974 where he also served as a member of the Organization of American States Peace-Keeping Force in the Honduras-Salvador War. He also was the announcer for the Band of the Americas when they performed at the largest air show ever held in South America up to that time. From 1974 to 1979 Owen was Chief of Plans, Programs, Logistics and Mobility at Dyess A.F.B. where he retired. Over the years, he was awarded over 11 medals and many citations for the wars he served in, and civic works around the world. Owen continued to provide for his family by working for 13 years for the Taylor County Central Appraisal District where he made many wonderful friends. After retiring for a second time, he joined the Red Cross as a disaster volunteer. He served in 37 national disasters where he worked for up to three weeks at a time. He also served for years at Elmwood West United Methodist Church as an usher, financial secretary, and Sunday School secretary. His favorite hobbies were stamp collecting and travel. He started collecting stamps at the age of 8 and continued throughout his life, accumulating stamps from every nation of the world, and corresponding with collectors in over 150 countries. He started traveling at the age of two months, traveling by ship from the United States to Argentina. During his life he traveled to every continent except Antarctica. He was proud to pass his love of travel on to his children and grandchildren. Owen was preceded in death by his parents Reverend John and Margaret Armbruster, his brother John A. Armbruster, and his sister Margarita Smith. Owen is survived by his loving wife Mary Louise Claxton Armbruster, his daughter Margaret Richins (Michael), his son Mark Armbruster (William Berrios), his brother James P. Armbruster (Alice O’Higgins), his grandsons John Richins (Alison Williams) and Nathan Richins, caregiver and special friend Patsy Hood as well as other family and many close friends.
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
Cavazos, the Army’s First Hispanic Four-Star General, dies in San Antonio at 88
Pick us up at Communities of Abilene FCU, SBDC & Lytle Land & Cattle | COMMUNITY | 17
By Sig Christenson | San Antonio Express-News
Gen. Richard Cavazos, the first Hispanic fourstar general in the U.S. Army and one of its most highly decorated veterans, died October 29 in San Antonio after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.
“He knew he was safe with us and we knew we were safe with him. He instilled confidence in everyone,” Campsey said, noting that Cavazos embedded himself with his Delta Company for the last three months of its deployment.
He was 88. Details were pending but Cavazos will be buried Nov. 14 in Fort Sam Houston “I truly believe that a lot of us got home National Cemetery. because of the way he conducted himself,” said Melvin “Brave” Brav, 75, of With a combat record that included the na- San Diego, California, a young second tion’s second-highest medal for valor both in lieutenant when he first served under the Korean conflict and Vietnam War, Cavazos Cavazos as a platoon leader. blazed a trail for generations of other Hispanic general officers. The three who came after him “I can’t really speak specifically to what were Texans — Lt. Gen. Marc Cisneros of it was like to work for him or the comBrownsville, Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez of Rio mand structure, but I think many saw him Grande City and Maj. Gen. Alfredo Valenzu- as a father figure,” said his son Tommy ela, who grew up on San Antonio’s West Side. Cavazos, 52, of Albuquerque, New Mexico. “They knew that he was not some“His impact as a mentor is probably the great- one who would double-cross them or use est impact our army had … and so we all them or cast them aside, that he was a looked up to him as an American soldier, a loyal person, he was an honest person, he was Hispanic soldier,” said Valenzuela, 59, a for- a very moral person. And that carries a lot of mer commander of U.S. Army South. “He weight, obviously, when you’re putting your was the guy we wanted to be. If we couldn’t life on the line with somebody.” be him, we wanted to be near him and serve with him.” Cavazos’ rise to prominence in the Army started as the son of a King Ranch cowhand. Friends and comrades who served with His father, Lauro Cavazos, came to Kingsville Cavazos in Vietnam regarded him as a highly in 1912, fought as an Army artillery sergeant competent tactician who put himself in the in World War I and became a foreman of the crossfire with them. King Ranch’s Santa Gertrudis division in an era of intense racism. One of them, Ronnie Campsey, recalled the 1967 battle at Loc Ninh, in which he served Lauro and Thomasa Quintanilla Cavazos were in a company under Cavazos’ command that determined to give their children a life beyond rushed to aid a unit facing encirclement. The the ranch and put all five of them through colcompanies later pushed up a hill while Cavazos lege. Lauro Cavazos Jr. became the U.S. educalled in artillery and airstrikes. The 50th an- cation secretary under President George H.W. niversary of that battle, where Cavazos earned Bush. his second Distinguished Service Cross, was Monday. Dick Cavazos was their second son. He earned a degree in geology from Texas Tech Univer“The enemy would have great fighting posi- sity before entering the Army. tions and we were moving up, so while they were bringing in the airstrikes I thought it was “I think in the environment he grew up, he like the Star-Spangled Banner playing,” said grew up on the King Ranch, and his father was Campsey, 75, a Southampton, New York, res- very much the same way,” Tommy Cavazos taurateur who left the Army as a sergeant. said. “They got into the task at hand together and there wasn’t really a class system or a sys“You could feel the heart of the napalm tak- tem that was based on status or anything like ing your breath away, you could see the white that.” phosphorous they dropped on them and you could see them running around further up the Richard Cavazos led a brigade, a division and hill, moving from trench to trench. And then an Army corps in the 1970s, finally commandthe word came out for us to move forward.” ing all soldiers in the continental United States before retiring in 1984. Cavazos was with them all the way.
Friday, December 1 7 PM - 9 PM
True Light Global Ministries 1164 Minter Ln, Abilene, Texas *FREE EVENT* - Come ready to engage in annointed worship and be refreshed in God’s presence. You will be encouraged as you hear testimonies of miracles God is doing in the lives of his children. There will be a time for the Prayer team to pray for the sick. Come expecting your miracle!!!
Cisneros, who served under Cavazos as a battalion commander and later as operations officer with III Corps at Fort Hood, described him as a gifted leader, the second-highest decorated officer in the Korean War and, by the end of his career, the holder of two Silver Stars, two Legions of Merit, a Distinguished Flying Cross, five Bronze Stars with Valor and a Purple Heart, in addition to the pair of Distinguished Service Crosses. “He was tough, but not tough to present himself as tough like Patton was. He was just very inspirational. He was soft-spoken, but he was hard-core,” said Cisneros, a Corpus Christi resident who led troops in the 1989 invasion of Panama that toppled strongman Manuel Noriega. “Nobody messed with him.” One of the soldiers in Delta Company, Bill Fee, wrote on Facebook on Monday that Cavazos saved his life in a fierce night battle on Nov. 1, 1967, by ordering resupply helicopters to wait at the site for wounded as enemy soldiers rushed the Americans. “What words can one express to someone who has saved your life? What debt can repay his leadership, mentorship and friendship over fifty years?” Fee wrote on his Facebook page. “He wrote Sally & me a letter dated 11/17/07 which said in part… ‘You mean so much because I saw your devotion, I saw you fight, I saw the hurt, all of which I committed you to. I thank God for the blessing all of you are. I am proud to call you brother!’”
DVERTISE CALL US TO A1-9505 (325) 70 , Suite B-103 209 S. Danville iclifemedia.com an Email: info@hisp
1980’s Fitness Explosion Event Hosted by YMCA of Abilene
Date: Monday, Nov. 27th
Time: 5:30 pm—7:30 pm Place: Redbud YMCA Cost: $10.00 - All proceeds go towards the YMCA of Abilene Scholarship Campaign Ticket Information: www.abileneymca.org
Let’s Get Physcial!
Bring your friends and family, dress up in your best 80’s fitness gear and burn off those Thanksgiving calories! This FUN event includes Zumba, Hip-Hop, STRONG, Tabata, Dance Fitness, Tone-Up and giveaways! Dress up in your Crazy and Fun outfit to win a PRIZE! You may purchase tickets online or at either YMCA at location. We will have several instructors teaching. You MUST have your ticket or online receipt in order to enter.
18 | COMMUNITY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
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EDUCATION
LOCAL SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY NEWS
TSTC Culinary Arts Student Awarded James Beard Foundation Scholarship
Come in for a test save.
By Debra Gonzalez | Texas State Technical College
Total average savings of
Matthew Kepner, a first-semester Culinary Arts student at Texas State Technical College in Abilene, was selected to receive a $10,000 scholarship from the James Beard Foundation.
Authentic Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine are Kepner’s favorite foods to cook. “I love the culture and history around Mexican food and Tex-Mex,” he said. “I learned a lot from my neighbors who are from Mexico. They’ve taught me about cooking meat underground and stuff like that and cooking for hours and hours at a time. I just love the smells; they’re the best thing in the world to me.”
The James Beard Foundation’s scholarship program, which was established in 1991, assists aspiring and established culinary professionals further their education at accredited culinary schools or hospitality institutions, colleges and universities. In 2016 the foundation awarded over $7 million in financial aid to more than 1,850 recipients. Beard was a culinary pioneer and hosted the first TV food program in 1946. Also a chef, cookbook author and teacher, Beard was dubbed the “Dean of American cookery” by the New York Times. Kepner applied for the scholarship after finding the information online, and he was excited to find out he was selected.
Matthew Kepner stands in the kitch en at Texas State Technical College in Abilene.
She “I was at work when my mom got the mail,” said Kepner’s cooking experience outside of he said. “She called me crying. It was really school will help him succeed. exciting.” “He’s worked hard for what he has,” Moon So far, the scholarship has helped Kepner in said. “He has experience, actual chef experischool. ence in a kitchen. He knows actual culinary terms, not just ‘home kitchen words.’ When I “It’s really helped me with books, paying say things like ‘depouillage,’ he knows what for classes and registering for everything,” it means. He’s already coming in gifted and Kepner said. “It helped get me supplies like experienced.” notebooks, pencils and things I need like that.” Kepner will graduate in 2019 and hopes to Culinary Arts instructor and chef Kayleen find a job working on an offshore oil rig or in Moon said she sees a bright future for Kepner. Alaska. “The prepared ones are the ones that do well,” she said. “He was one of those. He started emailing me long before any of the actual paperwork to get into the school.”
For more information on Texas State Technical College and the Culinary Arts program, visit tstc.edu.
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“Since those jobs are two weeks on, two weeks off, on my two weeks off I’d like to travel abroad to learn about other cultures’ cooking and hopefully study under some other chefs,” he said. Congratulations to the City of Abilene, TexasCity Hall Parks and Recreation and Senior Services for winning best overall booth at this year’s 2017 Business Mercado!
20 | EDUCATION | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
First Hispanic Leading Junior League of Abilene
Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country
By Loretta Fulton | Special to the Abilene Reporter-News
The honors just keep rolling in for Kristina Campos with the League, and complete a provisional course. Davis, a professor at Abilene Christian University. Davis, a beneficiary of the effort to diversify, credOn July 1, she began her one-year term as president its Brock and Lynda Calcote with making minority of the Junior League of Abilene —the first woman of membership a reality in Abilene. color to hold that office. The board of directors got on board with that effort, too, adding a “diversity and education” board posiEarlier this month, she was chosen as a specialist in tion. Davis once held that board position and today diversity issues at a national Brock and Calcote are sustaining Junior League convention in member advisers to the person Salt Lake City. The timing holding that board position. was perfect. National Hispanic Heritage Month ended Oct. 15. “It was very much a concerted efDavis will help chapters nafort on their part,” Davis said of tionwide as they seek to gain the Junior League leadership. more diversity in membership. Calcote recalled that she returned “I’m one of two people in from a Leadership Texas meeting the country who can go and in the early 1990s with a passion deal with that” for the Junior for breaking down barriers. League, Davis said. “That was a really nice accolade.” Kathy Merrill, former assistant city manager in Abilene, was the The other woman chosen was first African-American woman to from Cincinnati. join the Junior League here, Calcote recalled. Merrill, who was Abilene, with 100 active an active member from 1992 to members, and 300 sustaining 1995, moved to College Station members, is one of the smaller in 2006 to accept a position with chapters in the United States, the city. so Davis’ election was quite a coup. Since that barrier was broken, Kristina Campos Davis teaches a class on Social other women of color have joined Theory at Abilene Christian University. She is the Davis, an assistant professor in first ethnic minority to be president of the Junior and the effort continues to add of Abilene. (Photo: Ronald W. Erdrich/ more, Calcote said. “We just keep the Department of Communi- League Reporter-News) cation and Sociology at ACU, pushing, trying to open up more joined the Junior League in 2010. A friend asked her if doors,” she said. she were interested in the Junior League. Davis will devote some of her time to recruiting oth“I got invited and joined,” Davis said. ers. She joined the Junior League in 2006 and “paid her dues” en route to the presidency. It wasn’t always that easy for ethnic minorities to get accepted into the Junior League, either in Abilene or She served as communications director, diversity nationwide. The Abilene chapter was founded in 1948. director and worked with Christmas Carousel. The In the early 1980s, the Association of Junior Leagues presidency itself is for one year, but the entire proInternational, the parent organization, began a push for cess is four years. greater diversity. Future presidents serve two years as president-elect, Nancy Brock served as president of the Abilene Junior one as president, and one as past president. That League in 1983-84 and remembers that effort. process ensures the local chapter will have members “When you would go to national meetings,” she said, with institutional memory, Davis said. “you would hear more about that.” Being a role model is important to Davis, with uniOne major step was changing the admissions policy, versity students to guide and a 15-year-old daughshe said, from a “closed admission,” to an open one. ter to raise. Calcote is certain Davis is that — a role In the past, only certain people were considered for model - and an excellent choice to serve as president. admission. Now, the local chapter’s website has membership information listed, including admission re- “She is a wonderful young woman,” Calcote said, quirements: 21 or olderm live in Abilene or within a “and I hope that what she is doing will open even 60-mile radius, agree to engage in community service more doors.”
Meals on Wheels Volunteers of the Month CONNIE MCSHERRY and ROBERT WOMACK & Robert deliver route N46 together, every Friday. They have delivered for several years, starting back OCTOBER 2017 Connie in 2006.
Connie and her husband, Kevin have 2 beautiful children and 4 grandchildren. Playing with the grandbabies is definitely one of her hobbies, as well as cooking and teaching Bible class. Robert is an avid Texas Rangers fan and devoted to his work. He was involved in an audit of Meals on Wheels in the beginning of his career, and quickly learned what an incredible mission Meals on Wheels provides to the elderly and those in our community. Both Connie and Robert state that delivering meals helps to remind them of the importance of each of us doing what we can to help others without getting anything in return. Thank you Connie & Robert for the many years you have served Meals on Wheels.
A+ DIFFERENCE
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YEARS WITH AISD: 2 years
7 Big Country High School Marching Bands Qualify for UIL State Contest
WHERE ARE YOU FROM? WHAT SCHOOL DID YOU ATTEND? I am from Houston. I received my bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin and my master’s from Texas State University in San Marcos.
Congratulations to all of the Big County high “[We’re] being very, very nit-picky,” Morgan school bands that earned a trip to the UIL said. “This morning we talked about one foot State Marching Band Contest.
MAKING MEET
JESSICA GOODE DEPARTMENT/CAMPUS: Ortiz Elementary TITLE:Teacher, 5th Grade Science and Health
By Jamie Burch | KTXS
TELLS US ABOUT YOUR FAMILY: I am married to a wonderful man who is currently serving in the U.S. Air Force. TELL US SOMETHING INTERESTING ABOUT YOURSELF: I enjoy baking while listening to my favorite podcasts. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB? My favorite part of my job is watching students’ reactions while they are exploring new concepts. I really love hearing them explain the “why” behind what they thought was correct against their newly found knowledge. WHAT HER BOSS SAYS ABOUT HER: “Mrs. Goode joined the Ortiz ALLSTAR Team in August of 2016. She teaches 5th grade science and loves to see that spark of learning in each student’s eye. Last year, Mrs. Goode was asked to join the Ortiz Lighthouse Team. She accepted this position even though it was her first time at a Leader In Me School. Mrs. Goode worked to internalize the seven habits
and make her classroom a place where leaders are cultivated. This year was Ortiz’s first time to implement Leader In Me clubs. She took this project on and lead the way beautifully. She created a student survey to help pair students up with their club of interest. She helped organize the campus into clubs to give our students experiences beyond books. This has been a total success because of the service and leadership that Mrs. Goode has provided to our campus. This is just one example of how Mrs. Goode exemplifies leadership qualities each and every day. Mrs. Goode is a team player and seeks to help our school be a positive place for students to learn and grow. We are thankful that Mrs. Goode is an Ortiz ALLSTAR!” – Debra Stewart, Principal, Ortiz Elementary School
For the first time in its history, the Clyde High School Marching Band is one of those schools getting ready to head to the Alamodome in San Antonio for the competition. “I think we’re all just so excited and so happy,” said drum major Elizabeth Dugan. “I think for some of us we haven’t even totally realized yet, wow, we are going to state. We’ve done such a good job.” They found out they qualified at the area com- angle being less than 15 degrees from everypetition Saturday in Amarillo. body else’s. We had one student with his left arm just a little bit off. We adjusted that.” “Everybody was jumping around, screaming, crying,” said Jordan Browning, the band pres- They’ll perform a medley combining classiident. “It was emotional ... I cried, personally. cal with classic rock -- competing against 20 It was just insane.” other 3A schools across Texas who also made the cut. They’ve done well and won plenty of awards before, but this trip to state is a first for the “I’m excited to see us rise up to the occasion Bulldogs. of state,” Dugan said. “We’ve never had an honor like this, period,” The contest is Nov. 6-8 at the Alamodome in said Bruce Morgan, the band director. San Antonio. Now comes the fine tuning.
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Nicholas McClure: Teen Composer By Brandi Brightwater | The Abilene Post
Nicholas McClure, a Junior at Jim Ned High School, told me that his proudest moment, thus far, has been conducting his high school band on a song he composed entirely on his own. The song he wrote is entitled, “The Sandy Hook Lullaby”. “I wrote the Lullaby as a remembrance (of Sandy Hook). Just thinking about the event made me feel overwhelming emotions of melancholy, sadness, and reverend. I wanted to convey my emotions through the only way I felt comfortable: music. I took the appearance of a Lullaby, because of the fact that a majority of the victims were children.” McClure says of his composition.
Funny story, when I was little, I would take PVC pipes, connect them, and make instruments.” Says McClure. “At about 5th grade, my parents got me a trumpet from the pawn shop for Christmas, and that’s when I started to become really serious. Overall, I’m just an odd human who’s a total nerd for the arts.”
tered around 3 teens in an apocalyptic world trying to survive. Each of them dies in a fashion that corresponds to each of the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse. The story is a narrative that is supposed to convey the fact that any attempt to avoid death is futile.” Said McClure. His past theatre experience includes “The Miracle Worker” and “April Fish”. Although he has already accomplished more than most in the arts, he doesn’t intend to stop expanding his studies. He intends on studying Astrophysics and Quantum Physics in college.
“I definitely do not intend on giving up the arts. I will be involved in community plays and orchesMcClure plays french horn, tra, and I will continue to compose as a sort of percussion, trumpet, clarinet, piano, acoustic side job.” Says McClure. guitar, baritone, and mellophone. He has also been Drum Captain for the past two years. Listen to his most recent composition, “The SanThis year he was elected Band Captain for dy Hook Lullaby” at www.theabilenepost.com/ the first time. As Band Captain, he manages local-schools/nicholas-mcclure-teen-composer/ other band officers, leads the band council, and helps make decisions for the band. Beyond his musical involvement, he is active in One Act and has written his own mini-movie over the This article originally appeared on summer.
The wondrous feeling of the moment encouraged him to start writing his second composition. The next one will be for a full orchestra. Though McClure does not have access to all of the instruments in a full orchestra, he has started studying music theory, on his own time. He is applying the fruits of that study to each instrument that he is writing for. “All of my siblings were involved in band, so I’ve always been involved with the band. “The mini film is called “Futility” and is cen-
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TSTC Culinary Arts Student Giraffe Herd Grows Again Awards $2,500 Grant By Bill Gersonde | Executive Director, Abilene Zoo
By Debra Gonzalez | Texas State Technical College
Gissell Lomas Tavarez, a Texas State Technical College Culinary Arts student, recently was awarded a $2,500 grant from the National Restaurant Association.
The male calf received his first physical on November 7th weighing in at 122 pounds and standing at 5’11”. “Results from the exam indicate that he’s a healthy newborn,” said Zoo Staff Veterinarian Dr. Stephanie Carle.
Tavarez said the application process involved completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), writing an essay and getting three letters of recommendation.
“He’s nursing well and the bond between he and his mother grows stronger each day.” Plans are to begin introductions to the herd in the next few weeks and once they are successfully integrated, mom and calf will go on exhibit.
“It does take a lot of work, but I finished it, and the association was really nice,” Tavarez said. “The essay, if you like doing what you do, you’ll write brilliantly about it.” Chef Kayleen Moon, a TSTC Culinary Arts instructor, said that Tavarez absolutely deserved the grant.
The Abilene Zoo is happy to announce the arrival of another giraffe calf born on Monday, November 6th at approximately 9:00 A.M. This was a first time birth for mother Jamie who arrived last year prior to the opening of Giraffe Safari. “The birth went very well for this first time mom,” according to Zoo Executive Director Bill Gersonde. “It was pretty much a text book birth.”
Gissell Lomas Tavarez stands in the kitc Technical College in Abi hen at Texas State lene.
“She’s very diligent. She had to go through a few more hoops to get here than most,” Moon said. “She’s very independent and still manages to do well in school. I’m very impressed with her. She worked really hard to get this scholarship.”
Cafe, in the Texas Panhandle city of Hereford.
“My mom owns a little business already, and I think I want to expand it,” Tavarez said. “That’s why I came here, to get more of the information on how to actually manage it. I Tavarez said the money helped her take a just wanted to take over a little bit because it break from work and focus on her studies. is stressful owning your own business, very stressful. So I want to co-work with her, and “I was so excited,” Tavarez said. “I knew I hopefully we can do way more.” wasn’t going to struggle as much. It’s so hard because after a while you’re like, ‘How am Tavarez said the cafe shows potential. I going to do it? I’ll have to work more.’ So I was happy to know that I can take time off “It’s a kind of diner place, very chill and rework and focus on my school because I know laxed, but there can be way more added to it,” I have that backup money.” she said. “It’s just hard when you’re trying to pay for what you already have and expand. So She also used some of the money to help buy hopefully after this I can help Mom make it supplies for class. bigger. I know it can be way bigger than what it is.” “You think you’re going to be able to use it on yourself, but you use it always for school. For more information on Texas State TechniI thought, ‘Oh, I’m going to buy myself cal College and the Culinary Arts program, something nice!’ No,” she laughed. “It really visit tstc.edu. helped me get my books. Our pants and our shoes are done in like three months because we walk so much, and our knives are very expensive, so I used a lot of that money for that.” After Tavarez graduates in May, she hopes to help her mother grow her business, Rossy’s
The male calf born in October continues to recover from his surgery and herd introductions have begun. “He’s doing great, full of spunk and energy,” said Animal Care Supervisor Denise Ibarra. Zoo Staff have named him Mtumishi (m-tome-she) which means survivor in Swahili
following his rough start. At 6’3” and 159 lbs, he’s the largest giraffe born in recent history at the Abilene Zoo. Plans are for him to go on exhibit within the next two weeks.
24 | EDUCATION | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country
Piero Fenci to Conduct a Ceramics Workshop at McMurry University By Gary Ellison | Associate Director Communications, McMurry University
Ceramic artist Piero Fenci will conduct a ce- available upon request. Continuing Educaand continues to travel there yearly as a ramics workshop from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. tion credit will be offered. visiting professor in the school of fine arts Saturday, December 2, in the Chapin Art to mentor the program. Professor Fenci Building. Contact Caitlin Boyle at 325-793-3851 or has earned an international reputation as boyle.caitlin@mcm.edu for a registration a ceramist, exhibiting his work from coast Fenci will demonstrate techniques to slab form. to coast, and in Italy, Russia, and Mexico, build and throw a teapot, “the likes of which and he was recently named “Texas Mashave never been seen before.” Participants Piero Fenci Bio ter” by the Houston Center for Contempowill build their own teapots under Fenci’s di- Piero Fenci received his undergraduate degree rary Craft, the fourth person and the first rection. We also have it on good authority that in Latin-American Studies with a minor in Art ceramist in the state to be honored with he will perform magic tricks as you work. History from Yale University and he earned that award. his M.F.A. from the prestigious New York “Respite” by Piero Fenci will be on exhibit in State College of Ceramics at Alfred UniverFenci lives and shares a studio with his the Ryan Gallery, McMurry University No- sity. Professor Fenci has been with Stephen sculptor wife, Elizabeth Akamatsu, in vember 6 through December 2. His closing F. Austin State University since 1975 and has the small town of Appleby, 10 miles reception will be Friday, December 1 from distinguished himself as both an artist and north of Nacogdoches. His work is rep5:30-7 p.m. in the Ryan Gallery, 1642 Sayles educator. His ceramic vessels have been fearesented in many private and public colBlvd. tured in magazines and books such as Ceramlections including the Museum of Fine ics Monthly, American Ceramics, The ConArts, Houston; the Scheiner-Joseph InCost is $100 for participants. Add $5 for fir- temporary Potter, and Clay and Glazes for the ternational Museum of Ceramic Art, Alfred, ing fee if you wish to leave your tea pot to be Potter. program in contemporary ceramic art in the NY; and in the Tyler Museum of Art, Tyler, fired. Clay will be provided. Special student history of northern Mexico at la Universidad Texas. prices and scholarship information will be In 2004 he founded the first university Autonoma de Chihuahua in Chihuahua City,
Pick us up at China Star, Abilene Public Library & Martinez Barber Shop | EDUCATION | 25
Time Capsule opened at Abilene High Contents haven’t been seen since 1992 By Nathan Greve | BigCountryHomePage.com
McMurry University offers online degrees in business and nursing that fit your life and goals. The online degree programs are transfer-friendly, convenient and affordable. McMurry University is your community to flourish academically, personally and professionally.
For more information contact your online enrollment counselor Caroline Park at 325-793-4710 or park.caroline@mcm.edu and begin your path to success.
online.mcm.edu
Abilene High stepped back to the radical 90s on Saturday as they cracked open a time capsule that was encased in the wall of the Bryant Wing since 1992.
Jennifer Jordan was a freshman in 1992, and she’s still at Abilene High, now, as a social studies teacher. “It’s my current classroom” she says, thinking of her time as a student. She looks forward to 2042, when “we’ll open it up Jenny Miller was a teacher then, and she’s again, and I’ll be an old lady!” still teaching today. Twenty five years later, she wasn’t completely sure what would come out of the box. “I remembered a lot of the information in there, but I couldn’t remember exactly. I remember when we set it out on the table, and we were all trying to figure out what would go in there. Some things I didn’t remember at all.” Quite a bit has changed in the years that have passed, but some things have stayed very much the same. Predictions made in 1992 were read to the assembly of people seeing the box opened for the first time, The items pulled from the box will be on disand they were shockingly accurate. play for a few days, making for a very unique trip down memory lane. Dennis Townsend lives in Houston now, but he helped students decide what to store all A partial list of what was removed from the those years ago. He says, “I was amazed at wall: the predictions that were given, and how •A list of popular slang many of those predictions had come true. I •A box of “Urkel-O’s” cereal was surprised that there were no surprises in •A Pepsi “License to Chill” card there, that I had not sanctioned to be in there, •Blockbuster coupons because you never know what students are •Red Lobster menu gonna do.” •The New York Times • Time Magazine Some other things haven’t changed much ei- •Abilene High buttons ther. For instance, another time capsule is al- • Clinton/Gore bumper stickers VERY IMPORTANT ready being planned for the current generation of students. TO ORDER, REFERENCE THIS ID#: 698820001b
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DVERTISE CALL US TO A1-9505 70 ) 25 (3
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You can help support Meals on Wheels by donating at least $5.00 when visiting any Abilene United Supermarket or Market Street location between 10-22 November. Your donation will provide one meal this winter, in return, dessert’s on us! You will receive a free pie coupon. Cashiers at all Abilene United Supermarkets or Market Street, as well as any in the store Meals on Wheels volunteers can help you make your donation.
Volunteers Needed If you would like to Volunteer to accept donations at any of the United/Market Street locations, please contact our Volunteer Coordinators at: (325) 672-5050 or by email at volunteer@mealsonwheelsplus.com
I’ve been with the Airport 9 1/2 years. We followed our daughter to Abilene after she came to ACU to school and married and stayed here. I grew up on a farm in Iowa, and lived there until then, working different farm and maintenance related jobs, including 17 years as a tech in a Ford dealership. We like the winters (or lack of) here in Abilene as compared to Iowa, where it can get down to -20 degrees before adding in wind-chill. I like the variety of work in my job, and I enjoy seeing the various aircraft that come through our airport. We have a good group of people we work with around here, and all of the groups work well together (airport staff, Envoy Airline and maintenance, Abilene Aero, rental car companies, and TSA). Fun Fact: I still have my first car, a 1970 Chevelle SS purchased used, when I was a high school Senior in 1977.
TEACHER TRIBUTE Mr. Funderburg - Breckenridge Jr. High TEACHER: Mr. Funderburg STUDENT: Casey Jamison GRADE: 8th Grade PRINCIPAL: Mich Etzel SCHOOL: Breckenridge Jr. High YEARS TEACHING: 24 Why did you choose teaching as a career? I honestly chose teaching to be a football coach. I quickly learned how much influence you have in students’ lives. I decided to use that to try to make every student’s day as positive of an experience as possible. Is there anything else you would like us to know? I would just like to thank all of the great educators, coaches and other people who have shaped me. Also, thank you to all of the students I have had over the 20 plus years. Hope life finds you doing amazing!
Dyess 5th Graders are on the Ropes (Course)
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By Abilene Independent School District
At Dyess Elementary School, we think it’s great to be a fifth grader. Every year the Dyess fifth graders participate in many field trips and events throughout the school year. It all begins with the Ropes Course at the Abilene State Supported Living Center in October. The course provides Dyess students with opportunities to learn life-long skills and practice working together, resolving conflicts, problem solving, critical thinking and team building.
Dyess fifth graders will also be singing at Lyndale Estates for Veteran’s Day, putting their math and science skills to the test in a physics-based field trip, teaching patriotism with our annual “I Love America” presentation, as well as learning valuable leadership skills through our Service Patrol and Dyess Color Guard programs.
Kappa Pi International Art Fraternity Exhibition By Grace Mitchell | University Marketing Staff Writer, Hardin-Simmons University
The Hardin-Simmons University Art Department is hosting an exhibit of photographs, drawings, paintings, 3D works and designs by the HSU student members of the Kappa Pi International Art Fraternity, Beta Chi chapter. The students are: Bryan Vause, Jaree Bell, Micah Davis, Lauren Taylor, Sean Ramirez, Savannah Dorris, José Muñiz, Hannah Lindsey, P. “Buff” Bustillos, Brittany Kuppin, Emilio Tolentino, Claudia Vaughn, and Ryan Stewart. There will be a reception with the artists present on Thursday, November 16, 2017 from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. in the Ira M. Taylor Gallery. The public is invited. Regular gallery hours are 9:00 am -5:00 p.m., Monday Thursday, Friday: 9 a.m. The HSU students featured in the show come from differing backgrounds and ways of life, and their artworks demonstrate the varying majors and artistic experiences of the members of Kappa Pi. This show will be a comprehensive and inspiring display of the hard work put in by students desiring to utilize their talents for the proclamation of God’s creation, their own view of the world around them, and their interpretation of beauty and sorrow.
Friday College Student Gatherings Are A Site to Behold 28 | EDUCATION | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
By Loretta Fulton | Special to Abilene Reporter-News On a recent Friday, 109 people from 24 countries gathered in a backyard in Abilene. No, the United Nations did not hold a retreat in Abilene. These are people who are here permanently — or semi-permanently, at least. Art and Susan Green are starting their 15th year of hosting Friday evening sessions that include a variety of food — and lots of it, fellowship, a message and focused conversation, hymn singing and prayers. The international flavor comes from the guests, who are students from Abilene Christian University, not far from where the Greens live. Most of the guests are international students, although some American students attend, too.
weekly gathering, but the Greens never thought once about ending it. Even as the Friday night dinner continued to grow — peaking at 188 — they didn’t flinch.
Green said.
“It has just been the delight of our lives,” Susan Green said.
As soon as all the serving dishes are empty and the paper goods tossed in the trash, the rest of the evening program begins. It includes a lowkey spiritual message, singing, discussion, and prayers.
The Greens are the driving force behind the weekly affair, but it has evolved into sort of an unofficial outreach ministry of Hillcrest Church of Christ, where the Greens are members. Mary Barton, a member of Hillcrest, has been in on it from the beginning.
“We’re doing worldwide missions from the comfort of our backyard,” Art Green said.
“Emotionally, it was very difficult to deal with,” Cowpersmith said. “You have to step up and be brave for your family.”
Serving tables are set up, featuring international fare. In bad weather, the feast moves inside the Green’s equally spacious home. “We literally push the furniture to the walls and fill up the floor,” Green said.
Besides the food, the students enjoy, and appreciate, other aspects of the gathering, including the fact that some Abilenians care about them enough to go to so much trouble every week.
Ronnie Rama, a native of Uruguay who lives in the same neighborhood as the Greens, teaches architecture and interior design at ACU. On this particular Friday night, he also was a preacher. Rama asked the students to think about a moment in their lives that was transformational and how it affected their life going forward. Vanessa Cowpersmith, a student from Houston, told about how her father’s paralysis, which left him in a wheelchair, changed the entire family.
Newly arrived international students learn about the Friday night gatherings almost the minute they step foot on campus. When the weather permits, the Greens spread blankets and large pieces of cardboard over their spacious backyard.
On one particular Friday night, Nancy Preston, a sophomore from Houston, sat on a blanket with Yunxi Wei, a freshman from China, and other students from Bhutan and South Korea. All the students love the food for obvious reasons- — it’s tasty and it’s homemade, with a dash of love.
“It’s very unhealthy,” Green said, “and very delicious.”
“I wash and cut and chop,” Barton said. “I’m going to keep at it as long as I can.” Noke Logan, a native of Thailand and member of Hillcrest, once owned a Thai restaurant on Butternut Street. She prepares two large Thai dishes every week and every bite is eaten. As those ladies, and other helpers, move in and out of the kitchen with more large serving dishes, others work the water and tea table.
Other students pitched in with transformational events in their lives, and Rama pointed out how the Bible is filled with stories of transformation. All the students who shared a story, he noted, talked about how their transformational event changed the way they thought and acted. Everyone needs to be prepared for transformation, Rama said, and also be prepared to either reject it or benefit from it, like Cowpersmith stepped up and was determined to be brave for her family.
“I’m thankful for them, that they did this for us,” Wei said.
“They really like the mint tea,” said Lori Ely, also a Hillcrest member. “That goes fast.”
“That’s basically what God wants for us,” he said, for our lives to be transformed for the better.
Yves Ngenzi, a freshman engineering student from Rwanda, seemed amazed at the number of people intermingling, the eye-popping display of food, and the hospitality.
Just like the crowd is international, so is the food. Abuelo’s and Sunrise restaurants, and occasionally other food services in town, will donate from their kitchens.
After a little more mingling and dessert, the party was over--until the next Friday. But before the students left, Art Green offered one last prayer of thanksgiving.
“It’s so great,” Ngenzi said. “I met some people I didn’t know.”
Some staples of the meal are homemade bread, donated by some members of Hillcrest, plenty of salad and mounds of rice. Corn casserole also seems to be a favorite across nationalities, Susan
“Thank you,” he said, “for bringing to our house friends from all over the world.”
A lot of work, planning and expense goes into the
And everyone said, “Amen.”
ACU Grad Gives Life-Saving Gift By Ashley Ford | KXVA
Just a few years ago, Olympic gold medalist and leukemia survivor, Earl Young hosted his first bone marrow drive at Abilene Christian University. Years later, one ACU graduate student, Landa Dowdy, was able to save a stranger’s life.
“It was tough for the first week. I needed to be back for school like two days later. Walking was difficult for the first two days and then, several days after that, I had no energy, because your body is having to replenish the bone marrow,” Dowdy said.
On Oct. 13, 2017 Dowdy was introduced to Dustin Santoni, a 34-year-old, Arizona man who was once dying from leukemia. During their introduction, they both said they felt overwhelmed with emotion. Dowdy participated in the bone marrow drive where she simply had her cheek swabbed, and one day, she received a call that she was a match. She said, “I started crying a little bit, but I knew it was something I had to do.” Even though her recovery was painful and delicate, and the surgery was stressful for her family, What she didn’t know was, at the time, doc- she said she’d do it again. tors were telling Santoni there was a percent he was going to die. “Now, I think originally I thought maybe not because it was kind of a process that’s a little scary. “I was told by almost every doctor that I went But now that I got to like meet the person and to, every single doctor that I went to, that there know that I was the only one, that if I’d said no was a percent that I was going to die,” Santoni that he probably wouldn’t be here then I think I added, “You know I never really thought that would say yes.” I’m gnna go. I’m not going to leave this world. So I was like let’s go.” But it was the Earl Young Team and DKMS program that provided this chance for Santoni to live a healthy lifestyle again. “Landa was my only match in the whole database. She was my only 10 out of 10 match,” Santoni said. Dowdy said registering to be a bone marrow donor is the right thing to do but it did take a temporary toll on her body.
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CHS, Clack and Mann Students Capture Awards at West Texas Fair By Abilene Independent School District Seventeen Abilene ISD high school and middle school students earned awards at the 2017 West Texas Fair & Rodeo Creatives Contest held Sept. 8. Students from Cooper High School whose work placed among the winners were Ashlyn Brock and Sorrell Johnston – 1st place; Ashlyn Brock, Kaylie Magnuson and Katie Vecchio – 2nd place; Raylene Deanda and Shashoni McCullough – 3rd place; Brianna Jones – 4th place; and Kailie Morin – 5th place. In the middle school competition, Clack Middle School students Vanessa Rodriguez (1st place) and Linda Marshall (3rd) captured awards. Students from Mann Middle School whose work earned awards were Asheri Ndayikengurukiye and Michael Signor – 1st place; Jordyn Hendrickson, Rolando Rivera and Victoria Saucedo – 2nd place; and Lily Etter, 3rd place. Art teachers for the students are Sherry Griffith and Amanda Baldwin at Cooper, Jaclyn Burch at Clack and Canon Cavazos at Mann.
ATEMS Students Experience “Roadtrip Nation” By Abilene Independent School District
On Friday, Oct. 6, Communities in Schools, the Abilene Christian University Department of Engineering, and the Academy of Technology, Engineering, Math & Science teamed up to provide a unique STEM experience to approximately 185 ATEMS students through the nationally recognized program “Roadtrip Nation.”
Library Offers Classes to Aid Job-Seekers By Janis Test | Abilene Public Library
Every Wednesday in November - Job Time: Application Assistance – Mockingbird Branch, 4-6 p.m. If you need help applying for a job or creating a resume or cover letter, stop by the Mockingbird Branch of the Abilene Public Library every Wednesday from 4-6pm and let us get you started on the road to success. We will cover: how to search for jobs, how to create a resume, share advice on how to dress for and succeed in an interview and much more. Phone us 325-437-7323 as spots are limited and you do not want to miss out! Free. First Impressions Friday – Friday, November 3, 2017, Friday, November 10, 2017, Friday, November 17, 2017 - Main Library Study Room, 3 p.m. • If you’re searching for a job, let your Abilene Public Library and Workforce Solutions of West Central Texas give you a hand. During First Impressions Friday, Career Specialist Jamilah Spears from Workforce Solutions can help you with your resume, and teach you how to leave a lasting impression at your next interview using the tools on www.WorkinTexas.com, the largest free job matching network in Texas. Free.
The organization Roadtrip Nation produces the public television documentary series by the same name. The show’s crew members travel across the United States talking with individuals who have experienced success in their careers and then share that message of success and opportunity with young people.
The purpose of the showcase is to expose students to STEM career pathways and lead activities designed to give the students the self-assurance and skills they need to reach out to people in the Abilene community and beyond who are successful in STEM careers. Through their partnership with the National Communities In Schools Office, CIS of the Big Country was able to reach out to ATEMS and then partner with the ACU Department of Engineering to provide this interactive STEM based experience.
CIS of the Big Country is a proud partner of Abilene ISD and, in addition to their support of ATEMS, is currently serving in two AISD high schools and While in Abilene, incorporated content from all four of their middle schools. Roadtrip NaRoadtrip Nation’s PBS documentary series tion is only one of the great assets CIS of the “A Balanced Equation” along with inspiring Big Country has brought to local students. stories from “Roadies” as part of an interactive tour of their big green RV.
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• Full Service Medical & Surgical Facilities • State-of-the-Art Laser Surgery & Monitoring Equipment • Small Animal Hospital Facilities • Video Ear Scope • Geriatric Health Screening Available • Dental Care • Full In-House Lab For 1-Hour and 24-Hour Coggins Testing • K Laser Therapy (Laser Treatment) • Pain Management • Wound Healing • Rehabilitation
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TEACHER TRIBUTE Mrs. Winge - Breckenridge South Elementary TEACHER: Mrs. Winge STUDENT: Miley Roberts GRADE: 5th Grade PRINCIPAL: Kenna Rainey SCHOOL: Breckenridge South Elementary YEARS TEACHING: 12 Why did you choose teaching as a career? I decided to beconme a teacher because of my mother. I watched her go to school every day and give her students her very best. My mother was an awesome teacher, and I wanted to follow in her footsteps. I wanted to be able to help my students the way she helped hers and the way she helped me. My mother taught me the value or hard work and that every student deserves your very best. Is there anything else you would like us to know? Thank you so much for selecting me for this award. It is such an honor to be love what I do and cannot imagine doing nominated by one of my students. I am very anything else. Thank you for supporting blessed to be a part of Breckenridge ISD. I and honoring teachers.
TSTC Veterans Receive Another $75,000 Gift from EMA Electromechanics By Debra Gonzalez | TSTC Communications
EMA Electromechanics donated $75,000 to Texas State Technical College in a check signing ceremony Friday, Oct. 20. The donation brings EMA contributions to TSTC to a total of $150,000.
in 2010 it expanded to open its Sweetwater location, where it develops and manufactures specialized electromechanical equipment for wind generation.
The gift funds an account called Sweetwater Veteran’s Funds for College Education, which was established in 2015 when EMA gave the first gift of $75,000. Funds will go toward helping veterans complete their technical training at the college’s West Texas campuses in Abilene, Breckenridge, Brownwood and Sweetwater. EMA created the account as a way to honor area veterans.
(L to R) Gabriel Acosta, EMA Manager; JV Martin, TSTC Board of Regents; TSTC Chancellor Mike Reeser; Eduardo Montich, Owner-EMA; Gail Lawrence, TSTC Vice Chancellor; and Rick Denbow, interim provost at TSTC in West Texas pose for a photo with the scholarship check.
“We want to give back to them for what they do for us,” said EMA Manager Gabriel Acosta. “The way we see it is that we enjoy freedom in the U.S. because of their efforts.”
Since 2015, 36 veterans have benefited from the Sweetwater Veteran’s Funds for College Education. TSTC currently serves 68 veterans across its four West Texas campuses. EMA hopes the gift will ease the transition veterans face when returning from service. “The purpose of this gift is to make sure that they have a chance to go back to civilian life with some help if they need some, to go back and get a career or improve their knowledge,” Acosta said. Robert Schneider, an Air Force veteran who is an Automotive student at TSTC, was one of the recipients of the scholarship. “I will forever be grateful for EMA being a helping hand in a time of need,” Schneider said. “I probably speak on behalf of many veterans when I say thank you. Being able to receive help from this company has lifted a lot of burden off of my shoulders at very crucial times.” EMA was founded in 1952 in Argentina, but
TSTC Interim Provost Rick Denbow said the college is grateful for EMA and its contribution. “TSTC is very thankful to EMA Electromechanics’ gift to our veteran students,” said Denbow. “Relationships like these not only strengthen TSTC, but bolster our students and community as well.” For information on making a difference for TSTC students, visit tstc.edu/tstcfoundation.
32 | EDUCATION | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Eight greats enter ACU Sports Hall of Fame By ACU Today
ACU inducted another distinguished class of former student-athletes into the ACU Sports Hall of Fame Oct. 20 in a ceremony at the Hunter Welcome Center. The inductees were football standouts Kirby Jones (’79) and Kenny Davidson (’81), men’s basketball star James Wright (’85), men’s track and field all-America Albert Lawrence (’85), softball standout Katie (Bryan ’05) Thomas, golf all-America Donny Darville (’91), and volleyball all-America Lindsay (Martin ’05) Campbell. Lance Barrow (’77) – a longtime producer for CBS Sports – was inducted into the hall of fame as the 25th recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award.
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Why Do Americans Celebrate Thanksgiving Day? By Catherine Millard | ChristianAnswers.net
Many Americans think of Thanksgiving as a wonderful time to celebrate getting out of school for a long weekend, and eating a great dinner. Or, maybe they think it is the start of the Christmas holiday season. What is the real meaning behind Thanksgiving? Catherine Millard writes: We can trace this historic American Christian tradition to the year 1623. After the harvest crops were gathered in November 1623, Governor William Bradford of the 1620 Pilgrim Colony, “Plymouth Plantation” in Plymouth, Massachusetts proclaimed: “All ye Pilgrims with your wives and little ones, do gather at the Meeting House, on the hill… there to listen to the pastor, and render Thanksgiving to the Almighty God for all His blessings.” This is the origin of our annual Thanksgiving Day celebration. Congress of the United States has proclaimed National Days of Thanksgiving to Almighty God many times throughout the following years. On November 1, 1777, by order of Congress, the first National Thanksgiving Proclamation was proclaimed, and signed by Henry Laurens, President of Continental Congress. The third Thursday of December, 1777 was thus officially set aside: “…for solemn thanksgiving and praise. That with one heart and one voice the good people may express the grateful feelings of their hearts, and consecrate themselves to the service of their
tions to Almighty God, and to implore Him to continue and confirm the blessings we experienced…” Thursday, the 19th day of February, 1795 was thus set aside by George Washington as a National Day of Thanksgiving.
Divine Benefactor;… and their humble and earnest supplication that it may please God, through the merits of Jesus Christ, mercifully to forgive and blot them (their manifold sins) out of remembrance… That it may please Him… to take schools and seminaries of education, so necessary for cultivating the principles of true liberty, virtue and piety under His nurturing hand, and to prosper the means of religion for the promotion and enlargement of that kingdom which consisteth of ‘righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost’…” Then again, on January 1, 1795, our first United States President, George Washington, wrote his famed National Thanksgiving Proclamation, in which he says that it is… “…our duty as a people, with devout reverence and affectionate gratitude, to acknowledge our many and great obligations to Almighty God, and to implore Him to continue is… our duty as a people, with devout reverence and affectionate gratitude, to acknowledge our many and great obliga-
Many years later, on October 3, 1863, Abraham Lincoln proclaimed, by Act of Congress, an annual National Day of Thanksgiving “on the last Thursday of November, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.” In this Thanksgiving proclamation, our 16th President says that it is… “…announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations are blessed whose God is the Lord… But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, by the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own… It has seemed to me fit and proper that God should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people…”
So it is that on Thanksgiving Day each year, Americans give thanks to Almighty God for all His blessings and mercies toward us throughout the year.
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10 Truths about Wisdom Every Child Must Learn By Mark Merrill | Helping Families Love Well
One of the key responsibilities you and I have as parents is to instill wisdom in our children. That can sound pretty lofty, especially when they are little and we just want them to behave and be safe. But there are truths about wisdom they can and must learn. Early on, parents focus on getting kids to do as they’re told. Obedience is the name of the game. I remember when our kids were young thinking “I want them to just do what I asked them to do.” But eventually, for the long term, my main goal in parenting had to shift to “I want them to choose to do what is wise.” Wisdom is more important than blind obedience. A few years ago, author Andy Stanley did a series of messages on “The Best Question Ever” which he described as asking “What’s the wise thing to do?” That’s a fine question indeed, one I want my kids to ask every day. Seeking wisdom will help them tackle many hurdles in life. Wisdom, put simply, is understanding God’s truths and applying them to your life. I am convinced our families, our marriages, and our children need to understand and embrace wisdom now more than ever. We need to be discerning to figure out our way through a confusing world of mixed messages and morals. So here are 10 truths about wisdom that we must convey to our kids: 1. Not every source of “wisdom” is wise. Lots of people, celebrities, and marketing brands claim to provide wisdom. We need to seek wisdom first and foremost from God, who promises to give to anyone who asks. 2. What’s wise to many is foolish to God, and we need to learn the difference. Evaluating the “wisdom” of others against God’s wisdom is critical. 3. We are not born with wisdom. We need to ask God for it, seek it, and pursue it. The ancient biblical book of Proverbs is filled with God-inspired wisdom and a great place to start to understand the world and ourselves. 4. Wisdom is more valuable than wealth. In other words, knowing what is the wise and right thing to do is better than knowing how to make a lot of money. In ancient Israel, King Solomon was offered anything he wanted by God, and he asked for wisdom and understanding instead of wealth. God gave him wisdom, and granted extra wealth to him for his wise request, too. 5. Obeying authority doesn’t mean you understand anything. Just because our kids do what we ask doesn’t mean they are equipped to choose to do what’s right. They need to understand the difference between
obeying on the outside (behavior) and understanding wisdom on the inside (the mind). 6. Following your heart can be foolish, even fatal. We need to understand the difference between Magnetic North (the pull of our hearts from the culture) and True North (what is absolutely true). Blind obedience to your heart might be an unwise reaction to external direction without an internal compass. 7. Wisdom comes from understanding the “Why” behind the “What” in life. Doing what you’re asked to do from authority God puts in your life is important, but understanding wisdom is greater. Encourage kids to ask “why” and don’t be frustrated when they do… that can train them to avoid the question entirely. 8. Obedience means asking someone “What do you want me to do?” Wisdom means asking, “What should I do?” That’s an even better question, especially as they get older. Let’s encourage kids to figure out what’s best and not wait to be told by the loudest or most tempting voices around them. 9. Being smart doesn’t guarantee being wise. There’s a difference between intelligence and wisdom–don’t confuse the two. Intelligence is great, and learning facts is part of what leads to wisdom. But knowledge alone is neutral. We still need something to guide how we use knowledge and what we do with it. 10. Just because you CAN do something doesn’t mean you SHOULD do it. In the movie Jurassic Park, Jeff Goldblum’s character says the scientists who resurrected dinosaurs from DNA were so caught up in whether they COULD do it that they apparently failed to wonder whether they SHOULD do it, and mayhem ensues. When the hard times come, and we all know they will, don’t we want our kids to be grounded in something bigger than themselves? That something bigger is wisdom. And God is the source of all wisdom. Let’s give it to them!
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Cleanliness is Next to Godliness By Kristie Carpenter | Blended Mom Moments
Cleanliness is next to Godliness! I don’t know how much I have ever believed in that statement, but somewhere down deep in my perfectionist heart, I have justified some common sense in that saying. Of course, I know you can have a perfectly clean home and live a life of kind words and deeds - and yet still be hell-bound. I know you can live in a home of filth and have strongholds of sin in your life and yet be heaven bound. But at this time, I want to focus on how cleanliness and organization could be a help towards a smoother life, a calmer home atmosphere, and maybe, just maybe, a more positive mindset that will allow you to not only be on top of things inside your home realm, but then also to extend your gifts and talents outside your home. For years, I have related my being a homemaker, mom, and wife to the following Bible verse. 1 Timothy 3:12 says, “A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well.” A deacon is a servant-leader who ministers to the physical needs of church members. A man is chosen to be a deacon when his personal and home life show signs of management and control. Now, I’m not a deacon, but I take my responsibility as wife, mom, and homemaker in much the same way; I’m a servant-leader in my home. Therefore, I am not as effective and able to give to my church and other outside activities when my own home and life is in disrepair, unorganized, wallowing in filth. If I can’t keep clean clothes on my husband’s and children’s backs, if it takes tons of time to find simple everyday living items, if cooking dinner means I have to clean up dishes from two previous dinners, then I should probably step back and make a decision to make some changes - go back to square one - just taking care of my husband and my kids and my home. I’m not saying you should quit your job or give up a meaningful volunteer position, but I am asking you to look at your life and consider whether you have a good grasp on the home front so you can be free to work and volunteer outside your home. Many women have a pretty good balance and know their limitations of how far they can spread themselves, but why do many of us feel we have to jump through hoops to please other people outside of our home? Why do we feel guilty when we don’t stay late every evening at work?
Why do we feel pressured to be on every school and church committee? And then we wonder why our husbands seem distant and why our kids don’t behave. We dread coming home to the chaos and the growing indifference. Does any of this sound familiar? It’s OK if it does, but it’s not OK to keep it that way. Your husband and children and home are a reflection of you and your priorities. If any of these three are lacking, believe me, they will soon be shouting for your attention! A husband might turn to another woman to find a more interested and attentive admirer. Children may start acting out in school. Your home may look more like a battlefield than a place of refuge, security, and a place to build dreams and encourage strength and growth. I know this sounds pretty dismal; but I’m wanting you to evaluate and adjust as needed. The church committee will not stop meeting just because you made a decision to resign. The women’s organization will still be able to put on the yearly extravaganza even though you won’t be doing table centerpieces. Please hear me; there will be a time and place to volunteer and create and sponsor. I’m just asking that you make sure it is not taking time that could be used to strengthen and gird up the home front. Take 1 Timothy 3:12 to heart; love your husband and manage your children and home well. Cleanliness and organization and quality time may not be next to Godliness, but I figure it sure doesn’t hurt! Blessings in Your Blending! _____________________ Editor’s note: Women’s author, speaker and mentor Kristie Carpenter, aka The Blended Family Mom, has been a blended family/ step mom since 2004; her blended family currently includes four children and four grandchildren. Follow Kristie on Facebook (facebook.com/theblendedfamilymom), Twitter (@BlendedFamilyM), and Instagram (theblendedfamilymom). Her books - “The Blended Family Mom,” and “Blended Mom Moments,” are both available on her website at www.theblendedfamilymom.com).
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LDS Family History Library Helps Community Find Ancestors By Celeste Caballero | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Four Tips to Become a Better Spouse
By Mark Merrill | Helping Families Love Well
Is your happiness at home reflected in your work? According to Mike Mularkey, the former head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, “…the happier you are with your [spouse], the happier you are on the field.” So, here are some tips for becoming a better spouse: 1. Do a random act of kindness daily. Brighten your spouse’s day with little moments of joy. Do the dishes for your spouse. Give your spouse your undivided attention when they get home. A little gesture goes a long way… 2. Know your spouse. Ask them about their favorite music. Find out where they would like to go on their dream vacation. Recapture that first date magic by asking questions – just because you want to know them better! 3. Be creative. Think of unique ways to let your spouse know you love them – and that you still notice them. In the process, you may find that you are falling in love with them all over again. •Slip a card or love note into your wife’s purse or your husband’s wallet. •Celebrate the little things such as the anniversary of your first date or first kiss. •Text an “I love you”, “You are so beautiful,” “You are the most handsome man in the world,” or “I can’t wait until you get home!” •Plan a surprise (and unique) date night such as mini-golf, roller-skating, or cyber-bowling. Be kids again! 4. Think positive. Do you speak sarcastically to your spouse? Do you fight more often than before? Focus on laughing more than fighting. Speak words of encouragement instead of words of sarcasm. Your relationship is a safe haven in a cold, harsh world – treasure it!
Are you interested in learning about your ancestors? The LDS Family History Library in Abilene is one of 4,600 local facilities in 126 countries world-wide where anyone can access genealogical records and receive personal assistance. Family History Centers are free and open to the public and staffed by knowledgeable volunteers. Each facility offers both novices and experienced family historians the tools and resources to learn about their ancestors. These centers provide free access to subscription genealogical websites. For a small fee, patrons can also access the vast circulating collection of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which includes 2.5 million microfilms from over 100 countries. Abilene Family History Library: 3325 N.12th Street (within the building of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). Hours of Operation: Tuesday and Thursday 10 am - 8pm, Wednesday 6 - 8 pm.
Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week November 11-19 By Katherine Bisson | Hope Housing Services Program Director, Abilene Hope Haven, Inc. • Prayer Circle • Who: Open to the public; led by Jake Kelley, Family & Mission Pastor at The Well Church ◘ What: Prayers for those experiencing hunger and homelessness to spread awareness ◘ Where: Vera Hall Minter Memorial Park, on the corner of 2nd and Cypress Street (next to Monks) ◘ When: Tuesday, Nov. 14 at 12:00 pm • National Call-In Day • Who: Advocates across the country that want to help with homelessness assistance programs ◘ What: Flood members of congress with calls to make ending homelessness a priority in the FY 2018 budget ◘ Where: Find elected officials, and make calls: http:// cqrcengage.com/naeh/find?13 When: Tuesday, Nov. 14 all day • Same Kind of Different as Me • (https:// www.cinemark.com/west-texas/cinemarkabilene-and-xd) ◘ Who: Open to the public; $7/adult, $6.75/children and seniors What: Screening of a film that highlights a
Christ; 650 E. Ambler Ave. ◘ When: Wednesday, November 15th at 7 pm
couple’s unlikely friendship with a man experiencing homelessness *Bring a fleece blanket to give towards those experiencing homelessness! ◘ Where: Cinemark Abilene and XD; 672 E. Overland Trail, Abilene, TX 79601 ◘ When: Wednesday, Nov. 15 at 4:20 pm • Discussion Panel on Homelessness • (Hillcrest Community Speaker Series) Who: Open to the public; panel: Jim Clark, Susan Clark, Mark Hewitt, and Katherine Bisson What: Discussing current state of homelessness in Abilene and what our families can do to volunteer ◘ Where: Hillcrest Church of
• West Texas Homeless Network Meeting • Who: WTHN members and anyone wanting more information or get involved ◘ What: Local Homeless Coalition meeting, discussion with other organizations and citizens ◘ Where: Noah Project; 5802 Texas Ave, Abilene, TX 79605 ◘ When: Thursday, Nov. 16 at 1:30 pm • David Phelps Season Celebration • (http://www.abilenehopehaven.org/) Who: Open to the public, $25 for general admission, $35-Artist Circle, $75-VIP ◘ What: Christmas Concert benefitting Abilene Hope Haven ◘ Where: Abilene Civic Center; 1100 N. 6th Street, Abilene, TX 79601 ◘ When: Saturday, Nov. 18 at 7:00 pm Call Katherine Bisson at 325-677-4673 or 325-261-0338 with questions
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7 Subtle Ways Couples Drift Apart By Dave Willis | Patheos
1. TOUCHING each other LESS often and not prioritizing sexual intimacy and/or physical affection. ◘ When a couple doesn’t touch often, it can be a big warning sign that dangerous “drift” is taking place. Couples needs to intentionally stay connected on every level (emotionally, physically, etc.). If you’re making love much less than you used to or you don’t hold hands much anymore or don’t have flirtatious affection anymore, please take action before it’s too late. 2. Focusing on SCREENS instead of focusing on each other. ◘ In our modern world, digital distractions are EVERYWHERE. We can get lost into scrolling through our social media feeds and miss out on socializing with our spouse who is sitting right next to us. It’s possible for a husband and wife to be in the same room but in two different worlds because of their smart phones, tablets, laptops and other devices. I’m a big fan of technology, but if it’s causing you and your spouse to drift apart, then put the phones away! Make face-to-face interaction a high priority. Your spouse needs and deserves your undivided attention. 3. MAKING ASSUMPTIONS instead of truly communicating. ◘ Assumptions are the enemy of healthy communication. In marriage, we can get into big trouble by getting into a mindset that says, “She knows I hate it when she does that, and she’s doing it just to bother me.” or “He should know that I need him to do ______ and I shouldn’t have to tell him.” There are millions more examples I could list, but they all have the same point. DON’T MAKE ASSUMPTIONS! Talk about everything. Express your feelings and ask your spouse to do the same. Even the Bible has some strong words about this: “Fools base their thoughts on foolish assumptions, so their conclusions will be wicked madness.” (Ecclesiastes 10:13) 4. Facing struggles individually instead of tackling them together as a team. ◘ Your struggles in marriage are never “his” and “hers.” They must always be “OURS.” When
we start dividing our responsibilities, goals, dreams, money, time and struggles into separate categories instead of sharing ownership over them all, we’re practicing for divorce instead of building a stronger marriage. Divorce is about dividing everything. Marriage is about sharing everything. Which one are you doing? Stop dividing and start sharing.
sure how observant we are. I ask them to look around the room and mentally log every item they see that’s the color red. After five seconds, I ask them to close their eyes and with eyes remaining closed I ask them to say out loud every item they just saw that’s the color blue. There’s usually just silence and some laughter. Nobody saw blue until they open their eyes again even though the room was full of blue the whole time. The point is that we tend to see only what we’re looking for. Jesus taught “seek and your will find.” Make sure you’re seeking the right things. Look for the good; not the bad. Be your spouse’s biggest encourager. Not their biggest critic.
5. Trying to fix each other instead of trying to understand each other. ◘ If your spouse has a different opinion or perspective than you, it doesn’t mean he/she is wrong. It doesn’t always mean that you need to have the exact same ideas. Marriage is about unity; NOT uniformity. Being unified in your commitment to each other won’t always mean 7. Comparing the current difficulties in your marriage with a false fantasy of how “good” life could be if you were single or with someone else. ◘ This false fantasy causes more divorces than perhaps any other factor. It seduces one spouse into leaving the marriage in pursuit of a mirage that doesn’t actually exist. In the short term, perhaps you could find some temporary reprieve from the struggles by ejecting from problem altogether, but divorce is usually a tragic and permanent solution to temporary problems. It’s a misguided attempt to stop the pain, but it always causes more pain in its aftermath. I’m not saying divorce is never justified, but like with my friends and with so many others, the temporary relief of quitthat you share the exact same perspective on ting is nothing compared to permanent blesseverything. Your differences make you stron- ings of embracing the struggles and preserving ger when you learn from each other and try together. You’ll be stronger on the other side. to see the world from each other’s unique Couples who make it work aren’t the ones who perspectives. Don’t try to correct your spouse never had a reason to divorce. They’re the ones or convince your spouse that your way is bet- whose commitment to each other was always ter. Instead, strive to learn from him/her and bigger than their reasons to quit. give him/her the respect he/she needs and deIf YOU are currently experiencing any of these in serves. 6. Focusing on your spouse’s flaws instead of his/her strengths. ◘ Whatever you choose to focus on will start to seem bigger and everything else will seem smaller by comparison. I sometimes ask audiences to participate in an exercise where we mea-
your own marriage…Don’t give up on each other. Start some new healthy habits. Stick to them. Keep going on the difficult days. Pray. Lean on each other. Surround yourselves with friends who will encourage you and support you in this journey of rebuilding your marriage. Communicate with your spouse about everything. Stop making excuses and start making a way forward.
Before your moods control you... By Steven Furtick | Waking Faith
Are you ready to get your emotions under control...and experience consistent joy? Take a second to answer these questions honestly... Do you ever feel like a victim of your emotions and feelings? ◘ Do you get tired of losing your temper with your family, your friends, and even yourself? ◘ Do you ever wish you could be more positive — no matter how you feel? ◘ The truth is: In Christ, you have access to a source of unlimited joy and... YOU can experience joy everyday. This is a promise straight from God’s Word. Jesus came so that you can have joy and peace, and not just after you die. He wants you to experience it here and now. Jesus overcame death and the grave so that no matter how difficult the circumstances of your life may be, you can overcome and live in His joy and peace. Yes, life has a way of making that seem impossible. When you wake up each day to a life of bills, traffic, coworkers, supervisors, family drama, health issues, political tension, and unpredictable moods, “enjoying life” can feel more like the impossible dream. But though you can’t always control what’s happening around you, God’s Spirit can help you begin to understand — and affect what’s happening in you. That’s why I want to get the DVD series Moodswingers into your hands, with your gift of any amount to the ministry. Yet if you’re like me, your moods are only one part of the equation It’s important to control your moods in difficult situations, but what about the what-if cycle? Those imaginary situations of what could happen if...? If you want to learn some strategies to break these cycles, I also want you to check out this month’s special offers. They’re filled with some
38 | FAITH & FAMILY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
How Do You Become Best Friends With Your Spouse? By Jimmy Evans | Marriage Today
One of the most crucial traits of a successful, healthy marriage is true friendship between husband and wife. The romantic aspects of a relationship need to be built upon a base of friendship. How do you become best friends with your spouse? I believe there are seven foundations of friendship in marriage. BE FAITHFUL • According to Proverbs 17:17, “a friend loves at all times, but a brother is born for adversity.” In other words, the strongest friendships are cemented during hard times. Deep friendships are forged during times of adversity in a marriage. That’s when you pay the closest attention and learn to trust. BELIEVE IN EACH OTHER • One of the reasons God created marriage is to help spouses bring each other to their full potential. For instance, a husband provides a nurturing, protective environment for his wife. Similarly, a wife establishes an atmosphere of praise and respect for her husband.
BE REAL AND TRANSPARENT • Friendship means being honest. Share your heart with your spouse. Talk about opinions, hopes and dreams. Let your spouse into your world. Most importantly, allow your spouse to be real and transparent, too. BE A REFUGE • As described above, transparency is impossible if one spouse feels unsafe opening up to the other. That’s why a husband and wife must be each other’s safe place. When anything good or bad happens in their lives, they go to each other first. This requires listening, openness, and a nonjudgmental spirit. BE FUN AND CREATIVE • Having fun together in marriage dramatically improves a relationship. In fact, one of the danger signs for divorce is when a husband and wife no longer enjoy each other’s company. When was the last time you laughed together? When was the last time you pursued a hobby together? Plan dates. Play games. Flirt and tease. Romance each other like when you were first dating. Work hard at having fun.
BEAR EACH OTHER’S BURDENS • If “a brother is born for adversity,” then friends step up when it’s time to serve one another. That Men and women will flourish in these envi- might mean physically helping or it might ronments. Two people who believe in each mean supporting a spouse emotionally. Get other will both become the best versions of into the habit of checking in with your spouse. themselves. Ask How are you? or What do you need? EMBRACE YOUR DIFFERENCES • In a normal marriage, the husband and wife are not carbon copies of each other. In fact, they are probably opposites in many ways. Will you rejoice in your differences or criticize them? Instead of forcing your spouse to become more like you, celebrate the ways the two of you are compatible. Identify where one’s strengths match up to another’s weaknesses, then thank God for those differences.
Never step back and watch your spouse suffer without stepping in to help. You’re friends, and that’s what friends do. When a marriage struggles, it’s often because a husband and wife have lost focus. They’ve poured their energy into work or into their kids and they’ve forgotten that they are supposed to be best friends. Re-establish your friendship and a more successful marriage will follow.
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Pick us up at China Star, Abilene Public Library & Martinez Barber Shop | FAITH & FAMILY | 39
The Addiction Battle In Our Pews ‘Drug use is everywhere and respects no one,’ says a minister and recovering opioid user as he helps churches fight. By Lynn McMillon | The Christian Chronicle
Speaking out of his own tragedy, Brandon Holt childhood. Upon witnessing How can parents preSr. is gaining national recognition as he edu- peer drug use, they become vent drug usage by their cates churches and leaders on the realities of curious. teens? There is nothing parsubstance use disorders. ents can do to ensure that their • To feel good. Now that they children will never use drugs. Holt’s struggles began while he was working have experienced the euphoric However, several precautionas a senior minister in Corona, Calif. He was high, they know how to feel ary measures can be utilized: in a car accident that required back surgery, good. This new feeling retriggering an addiction to pain medication — moves fear, anxiety, depres• Get educated about the signs a condition that plagues more than 2 million sion, loneliness, grief and and symptoms of drug-seeking people in the U.S., according to the National paranoia. behavior. Institute on Drug Abuse. • Have a family meeting to • To feel better. This is also communicate your policies and As Holt rapidly decompensated, his family left known as “chasing the high.” household expectations. him, his church fired him and his mortgage Once the euphoric high pass• Consider having a weekly company foreclosed on him. es, the euphoric recall imme“validation dinner” designed to diately enters the mind. As demonstrate your love for your But those self-inflicted tragedies ultimately their tolerance increases, subchildren. worked for good, Holt believes. He relied on stance users chase the dope, the Lord and cleaned up his life. He’s been no matter the cost. What used Holt works closely with Judge Hazel B. Jones, serving the 174th Criminal District • Keep your children busy with drug-free for eight years. He’s preaching to be one pill every four to Court by assisting young probationers addicted to drugs. Holt is pursuing a dual mas- extracurricular activities. again. He and his wife, Crystal, reconciled six hours has turned into 20 ter’s in Marriage and Family Therapy and professional counseling from ACU Online. • Involve yourself in their lives by attending school functions, their marriage. They have four children. pills to avoid psychological meeting their friends, doing and physiological withdrawal. daily check-ins. A 2003 graduate of Southwestern Christian College in Terrell, Texas, Holt comes from • To perform better. Some athletes take stimu- given up on me. Guilt and shame sent me into • Create “easy out” techniques designed to help your children leave the scene when ofa long line of prominent preachers among lants such as steroids (a.k.a. “gym candy”) severe depression and embarrassment. fered drugs. Churches of Christ. He is the great-great- to improve performance. The midnight-shift grandson of G.P. Bowser, founder of South- worker may revert to stimulants (amphet- Looking back over my life, my wife’s leaving western. He is also the grandson of George amines, crack cocaine) to stay awake. me was the best thing that ever happened. It These simple steps can positively impact your Philip Holt. forced me to wake up and apologize to God for children’s lives. To what degree are drug usage and accusing him of leaving me when, in actualHolt is the founding minister of the Connect addiction present in churches? Drug ity, I left him. I have been clean from prescrip- What can I do to help a friend or Church of Christ in Baytown, Texas. The use is everywhere and respects no one. tion medication since 2009. This past June, my family member face their addiction problem? Start praying today for God to church is raising money for its building fund wife and I celebrated 13 years of marriage. use you to make a difference in their life. and envisions opening a community based Growing up in a Christian family, I did not witchild care program and a counseling and drug ness drugs and alcohol. What should churches be doing to treatment center. Holt is pursuing a dual mashelp fight this problem? Churches can This includes — but is not limited to — positer’s in Marriage and Family Therapy and pro- Upon entering full-time ministry at 24 years of make a positive impact by helping those who tive reinforcement, treatment referrals and intervention. You can hire professionals to help fessional counseling from Abilene Christian age in 2004, my life changed. While serving cannot help themselves. you host an intervention. University’s online program. as the minister in Corona, Calif., I injured my back in a car accident, which required a five- As a start, pray for God to remove silent disHolt, a Licensed Chemical Dependence Coun- hour surgery. crimination. The average person, church mem- Remember that a substance use disorder is a selor, works alongside Judge Hazel B. Jones of ber or leader will not admit to the silent battle chronic, lifelong brain disease that leads to destructive behavior. This disease is permanent, the 174th Criminal District Court in Houston, While in the recovery room, I remember the within. and anything can trigger a relapse. assisting young probationers who are addicted nurse saying, “Mr. Holt, click this button to to drugs. eliminate your pain.” Several years ago, I dressed in disguise, I smelled bad, had holes in my clothes, smoke In what new ways are teens abusing drugs? “Four years ago, my director/mentor Carol At that point, my life began to spiral down- and dirt on me, had a shopping cart and brown What should parents look for? See Brandon Nunn and Toby Bradley encouraged me to ward. I rationalized and justified my behavior bag with a bottle and sat outside the church be- Holt Sr.’s answer at www.christianchronicle. step out on faith and share my story with the due to having a prescription. I traveled to mul- fore service. People were afraid to speak to me. org. church,” he said. “From that day, the Lord’s tiple doctors (doctor shopping) until I was redFor more information about Holt’s ministry, ministry for me elevated to another level.” flagged. I was preaching every Sunday, visiting I then moved to the auditorium. A member contact connectcocholt@gmail.com. the sick, attending leadership meetings, baptiz- angrily stated, “If you do not leave, then I am There are four main reasons why ing souls, counseling — yet secretly battling calling the cops.” About then, a teenager sat people use drugs: for my life. I was scared to share my struggle next to me and said, “Welcome.” CALL US TO AD VERTISE for fear of losing my job. (325) 701-9505 • Curiosity. Daily, some people dream of peer When I stood up to preach, the sermon was alacceptance due to a recognition-deprived The drugs made me believe my Savior had ready preached.
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HEALTH&FITNESS
What The Healthcare? By Caitlin Richards | HispanicLife Magazine
Navigating the waters of healthcare insurance seems to be anything but simple these days. With terms like Medicare, Obamacare, marketplace, and individual plans, it can be tough to make sense of it all. Texas Benefit Consultants is here to help though. As an insurance broker Texas Benefit Consultants (TBC) can personally shop a customer’s insurance needs with multiple insurance companies. With their customer service, tools, products and knowledge, TBC can make the healthcare insurance task a bit easier. TBC originally started in Brownwood, Texas, but has since expanded to Abilene where they have had an office for the past six years. They are located at 2658 Industrial Blvd. Abilene, Texas 79605. Their agents are ready to help the people of Abilene and the surrounding area find their insurance solutions.
Open enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplace will begin November 1 and close December 15. Call TBC today to make an appointment to simplify your healthcare insurance needs. For more information about TBC, visit texbenefit.com.
In addition to healthcare options, TBC also offers home and auto insurance, bond insurance and others. TBC’s niche is to work with businesses to build benefit packages to offer their employees from major medical, dental, vision, and supplemental insurances. “Here at TBC we deal with everything,” TBC Agent Pancho Perez said. “We specialize in healthcare coverage though. So we have agents that can take care of major medical, dental and supplemental insurance. Then we also have a specialist that handles Medicare.” Since the passing of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or nicknamed Obamacare, everyone is required to have some type of healthcare insurance. This can either be something offered by an employer or be purchased on the individual marketplace or Health Insurance Marketplace. “If you do not have healthcare insurance, you now have to pay a penalty in your taxes,” Perez said. “So, we tell people to purchase insurance on the individual market. You will
Not only does TBC have the knowledge and tools to help customers in the best way possible, but their customer service goes above and beyond as well. TBC works with their customers to ensure they fully understand their insurance policy before they walk out the door. “We will walk you through the whole schedule of benefits for your plan and make sure you understand what your deductibles are and how they work,” Perez said. “Then we talk about max out-of-pocket expenses and what that means.”
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TBC will also walk their customers through specific scenarios as they wind up paying close to the same amount as relate to their healthcare insurance. Their custhe penalty and you will have insurance.” tomer service doesn’t stop there. If a customer has issues with any claims or their bill, TBC will The penalty Perez said is 2.5% of your house- also be there to assist. hold gross income. The ACA has issued tax credits to help those at poverty level up to Open enrollment in the Health Insurance 400% of the poverty level to help pay for Marketplace will begin November 1 and healthcare insurance premiums. This is now close December 15. Call TBC today to make where TBC comes in to help make sense of an appointment to simplify your healthcare it all. insurance needs. For more information “We go through the whole process of putting about TBC, visit texbenefit.com. all of the information in the [Health Insurance Marketplace] system,” Perez said. “By the end of the appointment, they should know what their tax credits are and can then look at all of the different plans available for them in the area.”
Help is a Phone Call Away... 24/7 Victim Crisis Hotline
In order to have TBC help with a healthcare insurance decision, call their office at 325-387-8373 to make an appointment. The office manager will most likely answer the phone and take a message for either Perez or fellow agent Laura Howard to call you back. The cost of TBC services will be covered through a customer’s insurance premium payments. So there is no fear of a steep fee for TBC’s services.
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7 Facts You Need to Know About National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month By Dennis Fortier | Caring.com and author of Brain Today blog
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As you may have read elsewhere, November is National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. But surely, the public is already well aware of this horrible disease. After all, Alzheimer’s has directly affected approximately 1 in every 2 families and the others must have certainly noted its prominent coverage in the news. We don’t really need more awareness, right? Wrong. Some of the information below may surprise you. That is to say, it is information about which you are not presently aware. However, by merely learning the seven facts below you will be helping to reduce the Alzheimer’s problem. That’s right…making you aware of this information and encouraging you to share it with your social networks will facilitate a more informed and more effective approach to combating the threat we face from this disease.
late to optimize the effects of currently avail- erable to letting the damage spread without able treatments. constraint. Yet, many physicians, patients, and caregivers conclude that any treatment short of Memory loss is not a part of normal a cure is not worthwhile. While today it is true aging. The point about end-stage detection that we have no cure for Alzheimer’s, that does raises an obvious question about “why” we not mean there is no treatment. With a good diagnose this disease so late. There are many diet, physical exercise, social engagement, and contributing factors but most of them can be certain drugs, many patients (especially those reduced through awareness and education. detected at an early stage) can meaningfully Some patients resist medical attention in the alter the course of Alzheimer’s and preserve First, here are a few facts and figures that you early stages because they fear a stigmatizing their quality of life. Please be aware that “we may already know. Alzheimer’s currently label or because they are misinformed to be- have no cure” does not mean “there is no treataffects more than 5 million Americans and lieve that Alzheimer’s cannot be treated. Many ment”. that number is likely to triple by 2050. It is people, including a startling number of physithe sixth leading cause of death in the USA cians, incorrectly believe that memory loss is The Alzheimer’s drug pipeline is full. and is climbing steadily in the rankings. Also, a normal part of aging. Improving the timeli- Here’s another fact of which you should be Alzheimer’s is the leading cause of dementia ness of diagnoses for Alzheimer’s is, in many aware. Through an intense research effort over and accounts for about 65% of all dementia ways, a problem that can be addressed through the past twenty years, scientists have gained worldwide. These facts may not be news to awareness and education. Please be aware that a lot of insight about Alzheimer’s disease you, but they are still quite sobering. memory loss is not a part of normal aging and, mechanisms and about other factors that inregardless of the cause of the memory loss, crease the risk for the disease. Much has been Facts You Need To Know timely medical intervention is best. learned and some very promising drugs, based Now, here are some points you may not know on sound theoretical approaches, are in FDA but should. It is the following information that Current Alzheimer’s drugs are prob- clinical trials right now. While much of the I hope will stimulate discussion and promote ably more effective than you think. disease remains shrouded in mystery and we a better understanding of the disease. With Our widespread practice of late detection has may still be a long way from better treatments, more discourse, we can begin to erode the many negative consequences. For example, it is possible that an effective agent is already lingering stigma that currently prevents some one of the reasons that current treatments are in the pipeline. Please be aware that, although people with early symptoms from seeking often deemed ineffective is because they are we don’t know when, better treatments for Altimely medical attention. routinely prescribed for patients with end- zheimer’s are certainly on the way. stage pathology who already have massive We generally detect Alzheimer’s at the brain damage. With earlier intervention, treatTaking good care of your heart will end-stage of the disease. ment can be administered to patients with help your brain stay healthy. Know this; the On average, Alzheimer’s follows a 14-year healthier brains, many of whom will respond health of your brain is very closely tied to the course from the onset of the first symptoms more vigorously to the recommended therapy. health of your body, particularly your heart. until death. There is some variability across Yes, we need better treatments, but a great start Researchers have shown conclusively that patients but 14 years is pretty typical. The would be to intervene earlier with the treat- high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and obemore surprising news is that, on average, ments we already have. Please be aware that sity all confer greater risk for cognitive decline. we diagnose Alzheimer’s in years 8-10 of currently approved treatments may be more The mechanisms that keep oxygen-rich blood that disease course. This means that for most effective than some headlines indicate. flowing through your body play a key role in patients, symptoms go undiagnosed and unmaintaining a healthy brain. Everyone should treated for at least seven years, during which Alzheimer’s disease can be treated. be aware about the close association between time the lesions spread through the brain and Another treatment related concept about which vascular health and cognitive health. Please be cause irreparable damage. Please be aware everyone should be aware is this. Prevent- aware that maintaining good vascular health that we diagnose Alzheimer’s disease far too ing or slowing further brain damage is pref- will help you age with cognitive vitality.
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Managing risk factors may delay or prevent cognitive problems later in life. There are well-identified risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease that are within our power to manage. These include diabetes, head injuries, smoking, poor diet, lethargy, and isolation. With greater awareness of these facts, we can imagine a world where diabetics take more care to control their blood sugar, where helmets are more prevalent in recreational activities that are likely to cause head trauma, where people smoke less and eat more fruits and vegetables, and where everyone makes a better effort to exercise and to stay socially engaged on a regular basis. While these facts may not be well known, they are all well proven. Galvanizing an effort to publicize them is one purpose of National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. Please be aware that many risk factors for Alzheimer’s can be actively managed to reduce the likelihood of cognitive decline. So why bother with Alzheimer’s awareness? Because it is a terrible disease poised to ravage our aging society and the lack of education and awareness has lead to a stigma that prevents a more proactive approach to early intervention. The result is that we diagnose it too late, which hampers the efficacy of available treatments. A more educated public could manage risk factors to minimize the likelihood of Alzheimer’s, could monitor personal cognitive health with greater vigilance, and could seek medical attention at the earliest sign of decline. Physicians could then diagnose problems earlier and prescribe appropriate treatment including diet, exercise, and drugs to slow disease progression as much as possible. In the end, we could have fewer cases, more effective treatment, slower progression, higher quality of life, and lower healthcare costs. The social, emotional, and fiscal benefits of awareness and education in this area are too large to quantify.
Pick us up at Abilene ISD, La Familia Mex Rest & Lytle Land & Cattle | HEALTH | 43
BRIDGE TO EXCELLENCE- ABILENE
Building a Bridge Between Our Community and Traditional Health Care By Andra Cobb | Big Country AHEC
The Big Country Area Health Education Center (BCAHEC) has been funded to train and host Abilene’s first Community Health Worker (CHW) Program. The new CHW Program will build a bridge between our community and traditional health care. CHWs play a unique role in the community by providing health education for chronic diseases, guidance on how to navigate the health care system, referrals to medical care and social services, advocacy for the patient and follow-up care to ensure compliance with treatment recommendations.
community to improve community health, particularly with disadvantaged and vulnerable individuals. Through education, social support, and advocacy, CHWs work to build individual and community capacity and self-reliance.
Financial support for the CHW Program has been provided by the Dodge Jones Foundation, Hendrick Medical Center, United Way of Abilene, and Big Country AHEC. Program support will be provided by the West Texas Area Health Education Center’s CHW Workforce Development Center, Texas Tech University Beginning in January 2018, BCAHEC will Health Sciences Center, West Central Texas hire and train two individuals from the com- Council of Governments, City of Abilene, and munity to become certified CHWs to work Hendrick Medical Center. in conjunction with the Hendrick Hospital Nurse Navigator. Community Health Worker Programs are evidence based, innovative, and truly tailored to Currently, the Nurse Navigator is working the communities they serve. By looking at the with 10 identified patients to assist and pro- needs of our community, BCAHEC is creating vide strategies to achieve long-term goals that a bridge between a patient’s needs, services and will improve their overall health status. resources that are available, education support “After working several months as a Nurse and patient advocacy. Our community will be Navigator, I truly see the need for CHWs in impacted by better health, better quality of serour community,” said Tam Luedtke, Hendrick vice, lower costs, greater job opportunities and Medical Center Nurse Navigator. “A CHW the ability to connect with hard to reach populafills in the gaps and provides additional sup- tions. port to the patient. By working one-on-one with patients, the CHW can teach them the Big Country AHEC is the regional office of the skills and guide them toward the resources West Texas Area Health Education Center needed to make better, more hosted by Texas Tech University Health Sciencinformed decisions about their health behav- es Center. Since 2005, Big Country AHEC has iors and choices.” been committed to improving the health of all Big Country residents by providing youth an inIntegration into the community will begin troduction into health careers, support for existby identifying appropriate CHW candidates ing health care professionals and clinical trainguided by suggestions from an established ing for students who are in health professions. neighborhood advocacy group. The CHW will become an integral part of the Abilene
44 | HEALTH | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
5 Steps to Boost Your Immunity and Avoid the Flu This Winter By Nicola Conville | Body and Soul
Boost your diet • Eating foods that are effect on immune response.
high in vitamin C will help keep your immune system strong, so include fruit and vegies such Lead researcher Professor David Nieman from as lemons, kiwifruit, capsicum and broccoli in Appalachian State University in the US reported that study participants who went for a your weekly shop. brisk walk several times a week reduced their If you’re struggling to get the recommended number of sick days by about 40 per cent. two serves of fruit and five serves of vegies each day, try juicing them. Nutritionist Zoe “Regular aerobic exercise, five or more days Bingley-Pullin recommends making juices a week for more than 20 minutes a day, rises that consist of two-thirds vegetables and one- above all other lifestyle factors in lowering third fruit. A blend of carrot, beetroot, spinach sick days during the winter cold season,” Proand lemon is a stress-busting combination that fessor Nieman says. But don’t go overboard. Overly strenuous exercise releases the stress will boost your immune system. hormone, cortisol, in the body, which can Ensure your diet also includes plenty of lean weaken the immune system. meats, fish, poultry, low-fat dairy, legumes, wholegrains, nuts and seeds, and use lots of Stay connected • Socialising helps strengthen your immune system by keeping herbs and spices. you active and reducing your stress levels, so Exercise regularly • It’s vital to keep avoid the temptation to rug up on the couch all your workout regimen up during winter, with winter. Invite friends over for dinner or host a a recent study showing that a moderate level games night, visit local museums and art galof regular exercise has a long-term cumulative leries, wrap up warm and go for a walk in the
park with your family or plan a cinema date with your partner.
Scrub up • Frequent hand washing is one of
the best ways to avoid getting sick and spreading illness as it limits the transfer of bacteria, viruses and other microbes, according to the Mayo Clinic in the US. This is important during winter when we tend to cough and sneeze more frequently.
Sleep well • Lack of sleep can have a seri-
ous effect on your immune system, making you more vulnerable to catching colds. A study from Brazil found lack of sleep can result in a substantial decrease in the white blood cells that help to fight infection in the body. Create a relaxing bedtime routine, such as listening to soft music or soaking in a warm bath. Avoid watching TV or using your computer just before bedtime and turn the lights down low an hour before you turn in for the night, as it will boost the release of melatonin in the brain.
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Pick us up at China Star, Abilene Public Library & Martinez Barber Shop | HEALTH | 45
Dyess C-130J Pilot Wins 2017 Dutch Huyser Award Captain leads aeromedical evacuation of a critically ill infant. By Senior Airman Kedesha Pennant | 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs, Dyess Air Force Base
One of Dyess’ own was selected as the 2017 Gen. Robert “Dutch” Huyser award recipient in the pilot category. Capt. Greg King, 317th Operations Support Squadron group tactician and C-130J Super Hercules pilot, won the award at the Air Force level for his outstanding proficiency and performance of air mobility flight duties and other accomplishments. The award is named after Huyser, a command pilot who served during World War II, the Vietnam War and Korean War flying more than 9,000 hours on various aircraft. The award is also open to every major command and service component.
to U.S. embassies abroad. The call to help the U.S. Embassy in South Sudan occurred July 12, 2016. The U.S. ambassador to South Sudan forewarned former president, Barack Obama of the unrest in the region. The mission planning occurred about twelve hours before the aircrew were to be sent. The alert trickled down to the crisis response force at
Some of the other accolades that contributed to achieving the award included contributing to 75 Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa sorties resulting in 458 tons of cargo airlifted and 585 passengers transported.
King’s achievements that led to receiving the award were from leading an aeromedical evacuation where an infant was in critical condition and had to be airlifted to medical care resulting in saving the child’s life. He flew an aeromedical evacuation crew and doctors who were with the child from Birmingham, Ala. to Baltimore in November 2016. There were some challenges as the infant was in an incubator with many tubes, while on the C-130. “The C-130 is not designed for comfort,” King said. “I had to think far ahead of the aircraft to handle it as smooth as possible. I couldn’t be expeditious with power, and I had to fly with autopilot off. The auto-pilot is very aggressive and was not conducive to a smooth ride for the baby. ” During King’s first deployment as a pilot, he was part of the aircrew who successfully evacuated 29 personnel from the U.S. Embassy in South Sudan in July 2016. The mission fell under Operation New Normal, a presidential-directed mandate which provides aid
so fast paced,” King said. “An initial plan was made, but it kept constantly changing due to more relevant and pertinent information. We got as much information as we could about where we were going, exactly what we were doing on the ground, who we were picking up or dropping off and the threat environment.” There were no injuries he recalled. He called his role the aircraft commander’s ‘sanity check’ simply by providing support and guidance when needed. They landed safely in Uganda, which is about a 45-minute flight from South Sudan.
He was also a part of the Hurricane Irma relief mission throughout the Caribbean and Central America.
Ramstein Air Base, Germany and the C130J Super Hercules aircrew at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Africa. King was the copilot under the aircraft commander, along with two loadmasters, on the second C-130J out of three sent to South Sudan. They just finished flying their normal missions when they were put in alert status, because of a civil war outbreak in the country. They got as far as loading the crisis response force when they were told there was too much of a risk involved with the mission. The mission was terminated that night; however, the next day, they were clear to proceed with the operation. “We didn’t really know any details because it was
“When we arrived to St. Martin, it was very sad to see all of the destruction,” King said. “When we went to Puerto Rico, also during the Irma relief, many people came up to us crying and thanking us for bringing supplies. It was a very humbling experience.” “If I was able to fly to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, then that would’ve made my whole career.” King said. King followed in his father’s footsteps becoming a pilot. He served in the U.S. Navy for 21 years and retired as a commander. Out of the nine different aircraft he flew, one of them was a legacy C-130 during the 1970s. “The fact that I fly one of the aircraft my dad flew is very rewarding,” King said. “My family is very proud.”
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Chamber of Commerce Annual Award Winners Announced By Abilene Chamber of Commerce
The Abilene Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting & Awards Celebration was held Oct. 19th at the Abilene Convention Center. It is the Chamber’s annual party where they celebrate the past year, celebrate the future, and honor those who have helped shape the future. Recognition was given to outstanding achievements of business community leaders and organizations, and they also gave thanks to member companies, individuals and volunteers.
2017 Citizen of the Year -
Presented by the City of Abilene Norm Archibald, Hendrick Health Systems
2016-2017 Chairman’s Award -
2016-2017 Redcoat of the Year Presented by Wagstaff, LLP Scott Landreth, Texas Farm Bureau Insurance
Presented by Batts Communications, LP Kelly Jones, Texas Ramp Project
2016-2017 Corporate Star Award –
Presented by Mansefeldt Investment Corp. Tim Surles, 4M Autoplex
2016-2017 Young Professional of the Year -
2016-2017 Leadership Abilene Award 2016-2017 Military Affairs Award Presented by Rentech Boiler Systems Joe Spano
2016-2017 Hispanic Business Council Champion Award Presented by Snyder Ranch Telemundo Abilene
Presented by Hendrick Health Systems AEP Texas
Presented by First Financial Bank Brett Emmett, Hendrick Health Systems
2016-2017 Excellence in Agriculture Award -
Presented by Mansefeldt Investment Corp. Jackson Brothers Feed and Seed
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Ed Eats: Hooks and Tails By Edward Morrell | The Abilene Post
So you’re thinking about lunch, or maybe dinner and you can’t decide what you want. Do I want a Texas traditional, such as chicken fried steak, or some fried catfish? Or maybe something a little different… maybe a shrimp taco! Founded by the owners of Heff’s Burgers here in Abilene, Hooks and Tails has created a new take on what I would call West Texas Surf and Turf. The menu is very simple, yet will appeal to many different palettes. sample. Well, it was delicious! The breading was Let’s start with the shrimp tacos. I was pleas- not heavy, the catfish was antly surprised when my order arrived. The light, extremely juicy and serving consisted of 3 Tacos filled with nice had an amazing taste. sized shrimp and seasoned pico slaw, as well as feta cheese. Yes, feta cheese! It definitely Now let’s move on to the added another dimension to the flavor. turf. Hooks and Tails offers several land-based proteins. I have had Shrimp Tacos at a Fuzzy’s Tacos Having tried the Chicken here in Abilene and there is no comparison. Fried steak at Heff’s, I figHooks and Tails, hands down, makes the su- ured I wasn’t going to be perior shrimp taco. Fish tacos are also served disappointed. Again, I am on the menu; they are served with the same originally from the Northtoppings as the shrimp tacos. east and had no prior knowledge of what a chicken fried Let’s talk a little about catfish. Honestly, be- steak was prior to moving to fore moving to Texas I had never eaten cat- Texas. I have since been edufish. Since moving to Texas, I have tried it cated. at several places and had decided it wasn’t for me. Most of the catfish I tried was over- After having the Chicken Fried steak at Hooks coated in breading and was extremely dry. and Tails, I am sold on this Texas tradition! The meat was moist and tender and the breadFast forward to my visit to Hooks and Tails, ing flavorful. But what made the dish was the VERY IMPORTANT my wife ordered the catfish and I decided to savory bun. It tied all of the ingredients to-
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what you think. Most of the items are served with their signature flavored fries. You can choose from garlic and parmesan, sea salt and pepper, lemon pepper, and Cajun. Hooks and Tails now has two locations. One is located on the south side at 4458 Buffalo Gap Road. The newest location is on the north side and is located at 1989 Hwy 351. You can also find them on Facebook. gether to make an amazing sandwich. Hooks and Tails has several other items on the menu, such as a ribeye Philly, fried shrimp, and ribeye nachos just to name a few. I haven’t tried these yet, but I’m sure the rest of you will and I hope you will let me know
This article originally appeared on The Abilene Post website
Tuesday Nov. 21st (11:30 to 1pm)
“HBC celebrates Friendsgiving, Invest in yourself!” Hosted by Hardin Simmons University, this month’s luncheon will take place in the Johnson Building. Lunch is $12 per person. RSVP to Cheri at cdrysdale@abilenechamber.com by noon on Friday, November 17.
www.the abilenepost.com
48 | BUSINESS | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
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Multi-Million Dollar Travel Industry is a Vital Part of Abilene’s Economy By Trish Dressen | Communications Director, Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau The Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau is pleased to announce new travel MSA (metropolitan statistical area) numbers for the Abilene area. Overall, tourism pumped $416.1 million into the Abilene area economy, employed 3,930 people and provided $11.5 million in local tax receipts. The industry is represented primarily by retail and service firms, including lodging establishments, restaurants, retail stores, service stations, and other types of businesses that sell their products and services to travelers. The money that visitors spend on various goods and services while in Abilene produces business receipts at these firms, which in turn, employ Abilene residents and pay their wages and salaries. Local government units benefit from travel, primarily in the form of taxes on the goods and services purchased by visitors. Total direct travel impacts in the Abilene MSA are found in the following industry groups: •Local Transportation and Fuel-$111 million •Food-$95 million •Retail-$75.4 million •Accommodations-$56.8 million •Entertainment/Recreation/Arts-$48.5 million •Other Travel-$19.1 million •Visitor Air Transportation-$10.3 million
In 2016, total visitor spending decreased 2.2% which is directly contributed to the lower cost motor fuel (-10%), however the average annual change in travel spending has increased 3.4% for the Abilene MSA (from 1995-2016). “Tourism produces $580 in tax revenue per Abilene household and $690 per Taylor County household. The travel industry remains one of the top industries in Abilene. People visit Abilene for numerous reasons – business, conventions, tours, reunions and leisure. Whatever the reason, travel spending directly and indirectly benefits our community,” states Nanci Liles, Executive Director of the Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau. Full report can be found here: http://www.deanrunyan.com/doc_library/TXImp.pdf
Shopping Small is a Big Deal!
Pick us up at Alfredo’s, Mr. Gatti’s, H.E.B., & The Whitten Inn | BUSINESS | 49
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And you likely expected this week’s article to be about that topic, didn’t you?After all, Small Business Saturday is fast approaching, and the need for keeping local dollars local is something I just can’t seem to talk about enough.
to ourselves and our community to do business with ourselves, and Small Business Saturday is one of 365 opportunities you’ll have to spend your hard-earned money throughout the year.
Once again, the Abilene Chamber and its local partners along with American Express are promoting Small Business Saturday in Abilene. The date is Saturday, November 25. There are hundreds of reasons to shop small this (and every) year, and honestly, I wish we’d all shop small every day, not just on a single designated date. But we’re glad to join in with American Express to bring focus and attention on this important local topic.
If your small business would like to participate in Small Business Saturday, you can do Do you know that an estimated $.68 of every so by reaching out to our promotional distridollar you spend stays in Abilene when you shop bution partner 93.3 LaVoz radio. They’ll have local small businesses? all the goodies you need, from canvas bags, welcome mats, buttons and more that you can Do you know that the city’s portion of our sales use to promote our big day. tax dollars add up - and are used to pave our streets? Recruit and retain jobs for ourselves and And folks, remind others why shopping local our neighbors? Provide police and fire protec- and shopping small matters. tion? I’ll see you on the street on November 25! Do you know that the person you spend that dollar with is extremely likely to spend it again with DVERTISE another small business? ALL US TO A C
I could go on, but you get the point. We owe it
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50 | BUSINESS | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
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Pick us up at Golden Corral, MCM Elegante and Long John Silvers | BUSINESS | 51
9 Cost-Effective Alternatives to Cable By Rachel Cruze | DaveRamsey.com
Who doesn’t love TV? Nothing beats lounging on the couch after a long day and getting lost in a great show. But cable isn’t the only way to watch your favorite shows these days! There are many exciting and cheaper alternatives to cable TV.
option if you want to watch Hulu original series or currently airing shows soon after they broadcast (along with many past seasons). The only catch? Unless you want to upgrade to the commercial-free version ($12), you’ll have to sit through some repetitive ads. So if you’d rather not wait to keep watching, mayWhy pay for premium channels you never be cough up the extra four bucks. use when—for a fraction of the cost—alternatives to cable like Netflix, Hulu or Amazon 5. Netflix ($8 per month) - Netflix is a Prime Video can fulfill all your binge-watch- great place for binge-watching entire seasons ing needs? all at once. But unless it’s a Netflix original series, you’ll just have to wait until a season If you’re trying to pay down debt or save up finishes airing to get started. But hey, no comsome cash, one of the best ideas is to cut the mercials! Accessing the service shouldn’t be cable cord! And with these cost-effective al- a problem either. You probably have 10 deternatives, chances are, you won’t even miss it! Here are some of my favorite options for watching TV shows without having to pay a big cable bill each month.
1. Cable Network Channels Online (free) ◘ Most
major networks post recently aired episodes to their websites for a limited amount of time. CBS even offers online viewers an additional paid subscription option ($6 per month) to unlock more than 8,500 episodes of everything from The Brady Bunch to The Good Wife. And if you own a smart TV or other streaming device (like Apple TV or Roku), you can download many network apps straight to your device and watch there—and most of them are free!
7. HBO NOW, Showtime, Starz ($9–15 per month) ◘ After HBO launched its own
streaming service a few years ago, Showtime and Starz wised up and followed suit. You can subscribe to each as stand-alone services or add them to your Amazon Prime, Hulu, Roku, Sling, or Netflix accounts for an extra fee.
8. Sling TV (starting at $20 per month)
With Sling, there’s no more waiting on a show to air—you can watch it live like with cable or satellite, except you’re watching over the internet! The basic package includes 30 live channels like AMC, CNN, ESPN, ESPN2, HGTV, and Disney Channel. You can get a slightly different lineup of networks for $25, or get both for $40. There are also $5–10 add-on packages for sports fans, movie buffs and your little ones. So if ESPN is the only reason you’re clinging to your cable box, you may be out of excuses now!
9. HDTV Antenna (prices vary) ◘ If you
vices in your house right now that came preloaded with the Netflix app. But if you want to use Netflix on more than one device at once, you’ll have to upgrade to the Standard ($10) or Premium ($12) plan.
really want to cut back, all it takes is an antenna. Luckily, they’ve come a long way since your grandma’s rabbit ears. Not only do they look better than the finicky metal rods, but the HD quality can also be even better than what you get over a cable line. See what stations are available in your area before you buy at antennaweb. org.
Other Cable TV Alternatives ◘ This is 6. Amazon Prime Video ($8.99 per by no means a comprehensive list of alterna2. YouTube/Vimeo (free) - YouTube is month) ◘ That’s right, Amazon—it’s not tives to cable, but it’s a great mix-and-match known for hosting thousands of viral videos. But it’s also a great place to learn. In the span of a few minutes, you can discover everything from how to fold a fitted sheet to how to make delicious dishes that won’t bust the budget. You can even watch many classic shows and movies there too! Are indie films and documentaries more your thing? Check out Vimeo.
just for shopping. It’s a major contender in the online streaming market. A membership to Amazon Prime Video gives you access to a wide selection of popular movies and TV series, plus a bunch of Amazon original series. And if Prime Video doesn’t include the show or movie you want as part of your package, you can usually pay per season or episode, or just rent it.
3. Library (free) - Here’s a shocker, guys: If you can afford it and you’re a frequent You can find everything from contemporary TV shows to workout videos at your local public library. The only downside is that you actually have to drive to a physical location— but at least you can keep your rentals for a week or two! 4. Hulu ($8 per month) - Hulu is a great
Amazon shopper anyway, an even more costeffective option is to pay for Amazon Prime’s annual membership in one payment. It’s $99, but that comes out to just $8.25 per month (even cheaper than the monthly Prime Video rate), plus you get access to all the other Amazon Prime perks.
way to get started. And you can usually get a free trial of almost any of these before you commit. If you’re not quite ready to give up your favorite sports or movie channels, you can always call your cable or satellite provider and try to negotiate a better deal. Knowing your options will usually work to your advantage!
Regardless of whether you keep cable or decide to cut the cord, make sure you budget for it!
CALL US TO ADVERTISE (325) 701-9505 209 S. Danville, Suite B-103 Email: info@hispaniclifemedia.com
52 | BUSINESS | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Credit Repair: 5 Easy Steps To Do It Yourself And Improve Your Score
Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country
By Nick Clements | Forbes
Do you have bad credit? Are you tempted by television advertisements that make fixing your credit and boosting your score look easy? Before you pay someone to “fix” your credit, just remember these three things: 1.According to the FTC, no one can legally remove accurate and timely negative information from a credit report. 2.Everything a credit repair firm does, you can do yourself, for free. Credit repair firms provide a service: they will save you time in exchange for money. These firms do not have any magic tricks or tools that you do not have yourself. 3.Do not work with a credit repair firm making promises that are too good to be true. Ignore companies that promise to “erase your bad credit - 100% guaranteed.” To repair credit yourself, follow these five steps: 1. Get Your Credit Report From All 3 Bureaus, For Free-You need to review, in detail, your credit report from all three credit reporting agencies. You can use AnnualCreditReport.com to obtain your report for free. As you review the report, keep track of any information that you believe is incorrect. Credit scores are built using data from the credit bureaus, so it is important to ensure the data at Experian, Equifax and TransUnion is accurate. 2. Did You Find An Error With An Existing Account? If you recognize the account but believe the information being reported is not correct, you should reach out directly to the financial institution that reported the information. For example, if you recognize the credit card, but do not recognize the late payment - speak with the credit card company. Often the bank or credit card company can fix the issue and update the credit bureaus directly. You might see a big balance on a credit card you never use, because someone might have stolen your credit card information. Dispute the balance directly with the credit card issuer. The credit card company would then be able to fix the problem and update the reporting with the credit bureaus. Just ensure that you keep a good paper trail of your correspondence with the financial services companies. If the bank or financial institution does not resolve the issue, you can take further steps. But having a good paper trail makes those next steps easier. 3. Did You Find Accounts That Are Not Yours? If someone has opened accounts in your name, without your knowledge, you could be the victim of Identity Theft. The best first place to start managing identity theft is IdentityTheft.gov. This is a government website that enables you to report an identity theft and get a recovery plan. As part of that plan, you will be encouraged to freeze your
credit and file disputes with the credit bureaus. It is critical to keep a good paper trail. 4. Use The CFPB To Your Advantage If you are unable to resolve the issue with your financial institution, you do have another option. You can always complain to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. You can submit your complaint online, and a dedicated case worker will look into your situation. The paper trail becomes very important in this step. You should share with the CFPB as much detail as possible, so that they can be the most helpful. Complaining to the CFPB is free. 5. Build Your Credit The Old-Fashioned Way To have a good credit score, you need to have positive information reported into your credit report on a monthly basis. The easiest way to do that is with a credit card. Just try to keep your utilization low (although there is no magic number, VantageScore released data showing that people with excellent credit scores tend to have utilization below 10%). And make sure you pay your statement balance in full and on time every month. If you repeat this, over time your score will improve.
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If you are unable to get a credit card, consider applying for a secured credit card instead. You need to provide a deposit, and you will be given a credit limit that is tied to your deposit amount. A secured credit card is reported to the credit bureau and can help you build your credit score. You can shop for the best secured cards at sites like MagnifyMoney and NerdWallet.
Special Notes: Client provided artwork for reference. Shutterstock image
Continue To Monitor Your Credit Report And Yourused. Score - The earlier you find out about a credit report or iden-*Thanksgiving is difficult to read recommend changing tity theft issue, the easier it is to solve. To ensure that you findcolor of text to white. out about issues in the future, consider signing up for a credit monitoring service. Some companies, like CreditKarma, offer free credit monitoring. Other companies offer daily threebureau monitoring and resolution services.
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Chamber to Embark on Global Experiences
Pick us up at The Whitten Inn, China Star, & H.E.B. | BUSINESS | 53
By Doug Peters | President and CEO, Abilene Chamber of Commerce Saint Augustine said, “the world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” Isn’t that the truth? It’s a big world we live in, and to experience the culture, business practices, governments and people of the world is one way we all learn to improve our own communities. This week I want to let you know of a new initiative of the Chamber, created by Jack Rentz (Rentech Boiler Systems), the Chamber’s 2017-18 Chairman of the Board. And it’s an opportunity we believe will provide depth and perspective to those who choose to engage in it.
fully excavated and open to explore. On day five, you’ll board a flight from Beijing to Shanghai and tour Suzhou (pronounced “SU-jo”) the Lingering Garden, Tiger Hill, Hanshan Temple and the Chinese National Embroidery Institute to see silk embroidery, a local craft with thousands of years of history. You’ll end the day with dinner and a show featuring traditional Chinese music. Day six features a morning bus trip to Hangzhou (pronounced “HON-jo”) for a
And get this – we’ve leveraged special group pricing exclusive for Chamber members of $2,099 per person, including all international and Chinese domestic flights, all deluxe ground transportation, three meals each day and four and five-star accommodations. The only additional expense you’ll incur is your flight to and from LAX, our departure city. There will be plenty of shopping opportunities for items such as silk rugs, jade, pearls and other native items that originate in the country. Also included are all taxes, entrance fees for attractions and fluent English-speaking translators. Non-members may also participate at a rate of $2,199. If you’re interested in exploring the first international experience, hosted by Jack and Becky Rentz, be sure to let us know by emailing Erica Pangburn, trip director at Erica@abileneChamber. com. We’ll reserve a seat for you at the November 20 travel orientation session where you can ask questions, learn more and meet with others who will travel in April.
In early April, Jack and Becky Rentz will host a tour of China for members of the Abilene Chamber. These excursions, hosted by Chambers across the US, are gaining in popularity among many business leaders and their spouses because of not only the tremendous bargain, but also because of the exposure to the world marketplace they provide. Departing LAX on April 1, 2018 and returning to the United States on April 9, the Chamber’s first organized trip abroad will fly members (and non-members at an additional cost) direct into the Chinese capital of Beijing. The flight, aboard Air China, is both enjoyable and comfortable. Afterall, you’ll be accompanied by some of your closest friends and business peers. On the third day of your China experience, you will visit famous Tiananmen Square and the Temple of Heaven, built in 1420 A.D. You’ll also travel to the Palace Museum (also known as the Forbidden City) which boasts 9,999 rooms as well as the Summer Palace which features Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill as well as the Seventeen Arch Bridge and the Marble Boat. Day four will deliver you to the Great Wall, the 4,000 mile long and 2,000 year old structure which is the only man-made structure visible from the moon by the naked eye. You’ll visit the Ming Tombs, which has 13 Tombs altogether, one of which is
visit to the Economic Development Zone as well as the centuries-old Lingyin Temple, which features a 64.3 foot high camphor-wood carving of Buddha. Day seven is one to look forward to, for sure. You’ll enjoy a morning boat cruise on West Lake with a relaxing stopover at jewel-like pagodas and tea houses, followed by a tour of the economic powerhouse of Shanghai. While in Shanghai, you’ll visit the Yu Garden, an incredible maze of pavilions, ponds, rocky works and overarching trees. You’ll also visit the Bund, Shanghai’s famous waterfront park (you’ll see the Mary Kay cosmetics factory from there) and tour the Pudong Economic Development Zone. And then you’ll depart Shanghai to fly back to Beijing, followed by a comfortable flight back to L.A.
Lastly, I took this trip just a few short years ago as a member of a delegation of Chamber executives from across the U.S. Simply put, it is one of my most fond memories and I developed friendships with my fellow travelers as well as relationships across China that still serve me well to this day. An incredible value, and trust me – the tour company – Citslinc – thinks of everything. And as a bonus, who wouldn’t want to travel with Jack and Becky Rentz? Call or email today to reserve your place on this unique experience, and mark your calendar for the orientation on November 20. As famous entertainer Danny Kaye once said, “to travel is to take a journey into yourself.” I hope you’ll join us on what will be the first of many travel experiences – including destinations such as India, Dubai, Ireland/Scotland, Croatia and Eastern Europe, Cuba and others. Onward!
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54 | BUSINESS | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Davis Kinard & Co. to Join Eide Bailly LLP on December 4th By Liz Stabenow | Director of Communications, Eide Bailly LLP
Davis Kinard & Co, PC will become part of Eide Bailly LLP, a regional certified public accounting and business advisory firm, on Dec. 4. Davis Kinard & Co will assume the Eide Bailly name and add 11 partners and 80 staff members to the firm. The joining marks Eide Bailly’s debut in Texas, with offices in Abilene, Haskell, Plainview and Seymour. “We’ve had our sights set on Texas for a while, and Davis Kinard & Co will be a great addition to the Eide Bailly family,” said Eide Bailly Managing Partner/CEO Dave Stende. “Texas fits with our growth strategy to expand west of the Mississippi and gives us a greater presence in banking, government and nonprofit, which are prominent industries for our firm. We are an innovative firm, always looking for better and different ways to serve our clients. We’re excited to be able to bring these services to more businesses in Texas and the surrounding regions.” Eide Bailly’s robust culture and breadth of servic-
es attracted Davis Kinard & Co, said its President/ CEO Russell Guthrie. “We’ll be able to grow with our clients by offering more resources and services like state and local tax, technology, forensics and cyber security. In addition, our staff benefit with greater opportunities to advance their careers through training and specialization,” Guthrie said. “Eide Bailly’s culture mirrors ours so we’ll continue to be active in our communities. We’re looking forward to joining the firm.” About Eide Bailly LLP Eide Bailly’s journey began in 1917. By embracing change and focusing on innovative ideas, we’ve grown with our clients to become one of the top 25 accounting firms in the nation. Accounting is about numbers, but our business is about relationships. Talented, down-to-earth people work at Eide Bailly, and we’re inspired to deliver outstanding expertise and care to our clients across the nation in the areas of audit, tax, accounting and business advisory services.
Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country
6 Methods For Making a Lasting Impression at Networking Events
Pick us up at First Financial Bank & Daniela’s Tex Mex | BUSINESS | 55
By Nicole Smartt | Young Entrepreneur Council You went to a networking event, chatted with new contacts, and collected cards. Now what? There are multitudes of things you can do to make a personal and lasting impression past the first interaction. Now that you’ve done your due diligence in attending a networking event and connecting with peers, it’s time to begin the process of staying top-of-mind. Here are 6 tips to get you past a one-night networking stand — and into a long-lasting business relationship: Connect quickly on multiple levels. Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, you name it. Today, there is even a great app powered by LinkedIn called Cardmunch that allows you to take a picture of a business card and it will instantly connect you with the person’s LinkedIn account. It doesn’t get simpler than that. I recommend doing this either the same day or the next day — it’s important to connect while the event is still fresh on everyone’s mind. Building relationships takes time, effort and genuine interest. You wouldn’t wait a week to connect with a new interest on social sites; consider timely interaction with new business contacts as proper business courting.
Get it on the calendar. Coffee, lunch, or drinks are preferred first methods of connection. Send an email to remind your new contact how you met. Make sure to include an important fact about the person too; we all love to know people were listening to us, and details can be great conversation starters. Request a time to meet to learn more about them, their business, and how you can help one another.
ulate them on their successes, new ventures, or even their recent quote in the paper. This is a great way to show genuine interest, demonstrate you’re in the know, and engage with them and their business.
Introduce them to a beneficial connection. Do you know someone that may be in need of their services? Connect them. One of the best ways to gain the attention of others is by helping them. It doesn’t take a lot of time to be a connector. Superconnectors are priceless in their power to connect other people.
Set reminders. Set your calendar up to remind you to contact your professional consales nections. I recommend a monthly and business reminder for contacts that are highly opportunities come from beneficial, 45 days for slightly beneficial and referrals — aka word of mouth. The more con60 days for everyone else. This will keep you nected you are, the more resources you have. on the right track to continue building your re- It’s that simple. Send a note. Old-fashioned snail mail is now lationships. an underused source. It’s a unique, personal way to say thank you for meeting and re-send By taking the time to research each person and your business card. Snail mail goes a long way their company, and doing one, three or all of in setting yourself apart from ho-hum online these tips, you’ll stay top of mind, guaranteed. DVERTISE CALL US TO A1-9505 contacts. 70 ) (325 And remember, everyone knows someone. Will Keep them top of mind, too. Subscribe to an acquaintance think of you when asked if they Google alerts or their newsletters and congrat- know someone in your field? The best type of
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