Students show off their intergalactic makeup skills
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Foghorn News DEL MAR COLLEGE
April 30, 2018 Foghorn News
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Volume 83, Issue 16 thefoghornnews
Cheech is buying what she’s selling Actor/comedian purchases artwork from DMC professor Gabriella Ybarra gybarra@foghornnews.com Del Mar College art professor Amorette Garza never thought she would be able to express her Mexican-American heritage on such a national level. The sculpture artist is now a part of what is otherwise known as the largest private Chicano art collection in the United States,
amassed by beloved actor and comedian Cheech Marin. Cheech approached Garza earlier this year about purchasing two of her artworks, following a recommendation by the Art Museum of South Texas. “It’s extremely validating to be a part of this prestigious collection,” Garza said. “Cheech is very observant and thoughtful about what he’s into, so when he said he wanted my work it was so exciting.” The “Cheech and Chong” actor has collected over 700 Chicano-inspired works over the
past 30 years and has been recognized as one of the top 200 art collectors worldwide. According to Garza, Cheech had been looking for more female representation within his art collection and immediately gravitated toward what Garza refers to as “Tchotchkes,” the Yiddish word for trinkets, which are heavily influenced by the Día de los Muertos skeletal design. The first sculpture, titled “Mexican Budai,” is a figurine of (See Artwork on Page 4)
Josselyn Obregon/Foghorn News
Art professor Amorette Garza speaks to one of her art classes. Two of her artworks were bought by actor and comedian Cheech Marin.
More options for GED students Warren J. Maxwell wmaxwell@foghornnews.com
Photos by Josselyn Obregon/Foghorn News
A group of the second-year students from Del Mar’s Regional Fire Academy work together to put out a fire for their final project. The class of 16 extinguished a burning car, dumpster fire, propane cylinder, gas leak and a spill fire for their final.
These students are on fire Second-year cadets attempt to meet requirements in final
started the program with four girls and as the semester went on, I was the only one left.” Grottie said she enjoyed the challenge of proving herself and had a great experience. Erin Garza-Granados Grottie’s mother, Debbie Grotegranados@foghornnews.com tie, explained how her daughFifteen men and one wom- ter’s transition from physical an from Del Mar’s Regional Fire therapy to the fire academy was Academy experienced the heat surprising but not unforeseen. of finals unlike most other stu“In high school she was really dents, as theirs in to power liftinvolved real fire. ing,” the elder “This exercise is a The secGrottie said. ond-year stu- chance for them to “She was even dents tested to win show that they’re able their skills and state.” extinguished Family memready to be a fire- bers a burning car, accompadumpster fire, nied many of fighter.” propane cylinthe students as — Michael Schmidt, they gathered der, gas leak and a spill fire as part witness the assistant instructor to of their requirefire exercise. ments. Cadets Tyler Student Kelsey Grottie, 23, and Chaz Becker were joined by was the only girl left in the pro- their parents, who were thrilled gram at the end. to see both their sons going “I joined this program after my through the program together. career in physical therapy didn’t “It’s amazing being able to see go as planned,” Grottie said. “We them go through this program,”
The final group of students work on putting out a fire as a part of their fire academy final. said Ginger Becker, mother of Tyler and Chaz. “They’re following in their father’s footsteps.” After passing this stage of the program, the students will enter into the EMT and paramedics portion. Michael Schmidt, assistant instructor and interim director of fire science, explained the importance of this step in the
program. “We’ve spent countless hours teaching these cadets how to work gas fires,” Schmidt said. “This exercise is a chance for them to show that they’re ready to be a firefighter.” Grottie said she knows the upcoming stages of the program will be difficult but that she is ready to tackle them.
Del Mar College plans to up the “dreams delivered” part of its motto with the Coastal Bend SHRM Job Fair. The fair will take place at 10.a.m to 2.p.m on Friday May 18th, and early admission for veterans will be available at 9.a.m. The Career Development Department will gather multiple employers from around the community to interact with and recruit students for employment. Career Counselor Fernando Garza and Career Development Coordinator Vanessa Adkins contact numerous employers each job fair to give students a variety of employers to interact with. The college holds several job fairs each year. “We have a minimum of 30 employers per job fair,” Adkins said. The event will take place at the Center for Economic Development, 3209 S. Staples. Adkins said veterans get early admission. In addition to connecting students with potential employers, the fair also provides students with ample interview tips. “That’s the purpose of the job fair, so that they can see these folks in action. These are the people who are going to be hiring students in the future,” Garza said. The job fairs are open to all students, regardless of major. “One huge population that we are tapping into now is GED, so we are trying to get employers to come and hire those type of students,” Adkins said. The Career Development Department also offers mock interviews and one-on-one time to help students solidify their interview skills. “A lot of them are blank so we try to help them to start thinking of some of the verbiage to use and to think about what the company’s all about, Garza said. For more information about the event or other services the department offers, contact Adkins at vadkins@delmar.edu. @Maxwell_Foghorn
Despite problems, residents still hopeful for future Families struggle for progress with the water, environment Mark Young myoung@foghornnews.com
Josselyn Obregon/Foghorn News
Rosa Garcia walks with her son Jonathan at the monthly food distribution organized by Lionel and Juanita Lopez.
Located outside city limits, unincorporated settlements are attracting low-income individuals seeking a place to build a home and call their own. Lacking basic infrastructure and especially dealing with toxic water issues, residents of these settlements, known as colonias, learn to adapt to what they call “the life of a colonia.”
In Nueces County alone, there are nearly 200 colonias dealing with the unsafe and unsanitary environment that comes with living on a colonia. After living in the colonia of Petronila for seven years with her father, Del Mar student and social work advocate Yvette Reyes remains hopeful about the living conditions that continue to affect her family life. “We have water wells, but we have to buy our own water,” she said. “We can’t drink, we can’t cook with the water ... the water’s pretty slimy, you can tell the difference.” Reyes and her father regularly
BORDERING ON FORGOTTEN
Residents of colonias lack resources, but not hope
buy five-gallon containers of water a day, but she also mentions that it’s not the worst of what she’s seen in the farther-out colonias. While living on their own
(See Colonia on Page 3)