May / June 2015 - RGVision Magazine

Front Cover

SPINE

PENA EYE INSTITUTE: Keeping The Valley’s Vision Bright

SHIPBREAKERS

Mass Recycling Of Government Vessels At Port Of Brownsville

BABY BOOMER BUBBLE BUST M AY / J U N E 2 0 1 5

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Illuminate

your everyday.

LIGHTING & HOME DÉCOR ( 9 5 6 ) 6 8 2 - 6 9 8 6 | 4 8 0 1 N . 1 0 t h S t . M c A ll e n w w w. i l l u m i n a ti o n s r g v. c o m

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FEAR SETS LIMITS, BUT FAITH IS BOUNDLESS. Hebrews 11:1 “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

Fear. The most powerful tool that holds us back is fear - the fear of failing, the fear of not measuring up, or the fear of the UNKOWN. Although this is true, calculated risk with educated decisions has supported the faith of many who overcome fear.

In many ways we can perceive that we are limited. Fear sets those limits, but faith is boundless. I have witnessed many who have reached their limits, and have allowed Proverbs 3:5-6 to come into play.

They had come to the realization that everything prepared up to this point is out of their control, and the only thing left to do is to Trust.

As I read the cover story this issue on the cost of education, the most powerful emotion that set in my mind was fear. Fear for the future of our next generation of leaders who we are educating in America. And more specifically, in an area that is economically disadvantaged like the Rio Grande Valley.

Our goal this issue is to entice the intuition of our readers in hopes of giving helpful insights on what

to expect and what to prepare for when it comes to planning for reaching a higher level of education.

And with that information, provide hope and faith to take the next step whatever it may be.

Faith, with calculated risk, has helped many of the successful profile stories we have shared in RGVision. Showing how they have overcome fear by taking that leap of faith to get to where they are today. Thank you for picking up this issue. We hope you stay informed, educated, and inspired. For more stories go to our website www.rgvisionmagazine. com Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

GABE PUENTE

PUBLISHER/CEO Copyright by rgVision Publications Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction without expressed written permission of the publisher is prohibited.

The opinions and views expressed in the magazine don’t necessarily reflect those of our advertisers or collaborators. rgVision magazine is published bi-monthly and circulates 12,000 copies across the Rio Grande Valley in 389 locations with a direct mail distribution to major hospitals and Superintendents within Region 1. The rgVision office is located at 1100 E. Jasmine McAllen, TX 78501 ste 201.

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STAFF

EDITORIAL MANAGER

GRAPHIC DESIGNER /ILLUSTRATOR

JOEY GOMEZ

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

MARIELA PEÑA

ALEXANDRIA RIVERA

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

ANNIE SYKES

IVAN RAMIREZ

RACHEL ZANARDI

JOHN FAULK

LAURI REVILLA

CLARK TERRELL

MARCOS SOLIS

JOHNNY QUIROZ

ADRIANA DOMINGUEZ

JAMES HORD

MARITZA GALLAGA LETTY FERNANDEZ AUDREY OCAÑAS

For editorial comments and suggestions, please send e-mails to info@rgvisionmagazine.com.

ANNE PRADO JOE LILLI

BUSINESS CONTENT CONTRIBUTOR BILL MARTIN, CFP

For advertising information, please call us at 210.618.8930 or e-mail us at info@rgvisionmagazine.com.

HEALTH CONTENT CONTRIBUTOR ALFONSO MERCADO, PH.D.

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HEALTH CONTENT CONTRIBUTOR DAVID SAUCEDA, M.D.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS EDUCATION Early Start on Global Success 22 HCISD expands pre-kindergarten program to full day schedule

San Benito Autobody Tech

ON THE COVER

,

IS IT WORTH THE COST?

pg. 12

Entering college after high school is society’s standard “next step”, but is it right for everyone? A college degree opens up a world of possibilities, yet getting one is time-consuming and expensive.

By Joey Gomez | Cover Illustration by Mariela Pena

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The Automotive Technology Program gives students a head start

PSJA Associate’s Program

26

Young Prodigies

30

Nearly 500 students will be graduating with an an associate’s degree

IDEA Public School has redefined the science fair concept by challenging students to attempt to solve today’s most pressing challenges

2015

BUSINESS Ship Breakers

HEALTH

Port of Brownsville develops niche market for government vessels

32

VOLUME 7 ISSUE 3 May/June

QUALITY OF LIFE

Baby Boom Bubble Bust

52

Physicians battle with the demand of the Valley’s Baby Boomer health needs

68

Imaginations Ignite

72

City doubles on big venue Entertainment

34

Technology in Orthopedics

Jones Moving & Storage is the Valley’s leader in commercial delivery services

World-renowned surgeon Dr. Marquez takes technology and his talent abroad

Rocket Science in Harlingen

38

Kyphoplasty

Never Say Never

NSN is the biggest music fest in South Texas showcasing music from all genres

76

An effective treatment for compression fractures

The Long Awaited West Rail

40

Nurse Practitioner Julio Olmeda 62

Sunset Sessions

82

Prayer, Faith, and Doctors

Discover History

84

Move Along

United Launch Alliance has been building rockets for over 25 years

A vital rail will cross from the U.S. into Mexico, the first in over a century

41

Bringing Music to the Valley

44 Anxiety at the Gym

Inspired Lighting and Design

46

Valley Keyboards has been expanding local music culture for over 35 years

Illuminations displays an immense variety of breathtaking lighting

60

Saving lives through stroke prevention

A Site for Sore Eyes

Pena Eye Institute keeps the Valley’s vision bright with a variety of services

56

Edinburg’s Viper Gamble

64

Dr. Sauceda weighs in on the controversial issue of religion and medicine

Dr. Mercado tells us how to overcome gym anxiety

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Anything is possible these days at the International Museum of Arts and Sciences

The McAllen Convention Center brings great music and fun to local residents

State-of-the-art exhibits housed at the Museum of South Texas History

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EDUCATION

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, IS IT WORTH THE COST?

BY JOEY GOMEZ

This spring, thousands of Rio Grande Valley students will step off the stage at graduation and into the real world.

Entering college after high school is society’s standard “next step”, but is it right for everyone? A college degree opens up a world of possibilities, yet getting one is time-consuming and expensive. How do we as parents, educators, and community mentors gauge if college is indeed the best option for the future of this generation -- and of the Valley?

Zainab Zakari, Harlingen native and Stanford University graduate, knows a thing or two about the power of a college diploma. She’s learned about life and the critical choices that can make or break a career. She’s learned about following a passion and about being prepared for the inevitable peaks and valleys of the working world.

However, she also knows that a college degree isn’t the only way to a successful, fulfilling career.

Zakari, who boasts a master’s degree from the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism in addition to her “Harvard of the West Coast” diploma, ended up following an altogether different path than the one her studies laid out. This history major and certified journalist found her calling as a professional yoga instructor.

Acknowledging that she is seriously in debt from her time in school (she owes more than $50,000 in student loans), Zakari says she is happy to be doing what she loves.

"School is expensive. You have to understand that it's a gamble," she says. “But I wouldn't change anything. I certainly feel the value of my degrees each day."

“The skills I learned from my education - how to communicate, how to problem solve, and how to think critically - make me a much better yoga instructor,” Zakari explains. She also points out the subtler benefits of a college degree. "You learn a great deal from simply being in college. The relationships you have with your professors outside of the classroom teach you about professionalism, advocating for yourself, and being a self-starter. And,

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EDUCATION

judge

$102,980 Law Degree

mediator

$61,280 Bachelor’s

LAWYER

$113,530

+10%

Lawyers advise and represent individuals, businesses, and government agencies on legal issues and disputes.

All lawyers must have a law degree and must also typically pass a state’s written bar examination.

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paralegal

$46,990 Associate’s

bookkeeper

$35,170 High School

YALE University

Annual Tuition: $56,200

STANFORD University

Annual Tuition: $54,366

HARVARD UNIVERSITY

Annual Tuition: $55,842

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college gives you a chance to build a strong network of friends and mentors.

It’s hard to find that anywhere else.”

"I am grateful to be able to look at what I have done and see that I have learned valuable skills that can easily translate into work I am really passionate about.

There really isn't a straight path to jobs," she says. “But if you're willing to be creative with your skills, you can cultivate any type of work or focus you put your mind to. That is a special thing to learn, and it comes with experience."

Not the Only Way For Zainab Zakari and countless others, higher education has been absolutely worthwhile. Others, however, find that there are better ways to ensure a bright future in this day and age. For instance, RGV LEAD, a non-profit organization housed in Texas State Technical College in Harlingen, believes professional experience is a better bet than classroom learning.

"The job market has changed so much.

Even with a four year degree, there is no guarantee you're going to have a job," said Dr. Norma Salaiz, director of RGV LEAD. "It really comes down to having real world experience. Hands-on experience is going to open up doors to help young people find and keep a job. If students know what they are interested in and pursue it, there is no limit to what they can do."

RGV LEAD’s goal is to help students identify their future interests early, giving them a head start on gaining work experience. The organization does this by facilitating collaborative relationships between education and industry -linking academia with the world outside the classroom. "Our goal is to help increase career awareness in students so they are able to make important life decisions at an earlier age," Salaiz said. “Students should understand their options before deciding to enroll in college or not. And so should teachers and parents. We bring all critical partners to the table to help

students make the best decisions for their future.”

Education and Economy in the Rio Grande Valley 32 percent of Rio Grande Valley residents live at or below the poverty line.

This is over three times the national rate and 19 percentage points higher than the state rate, according to the U.S. Census. The Valley also has a much higher percentage of households with an annual income of less than $25,000 than that of the nation and the state.

How can this cycle of poverty be broken? How can today’s students, parents, educators, and community members lift the Valley out of hardship? Most experts agree that staffing high-paying jobs with

Besides increasing individual earning potential, a college degree can influence the financial well-being of an entire community. Support for this position comes from the Census Bureau American Community Survey. In this study, areas where educational attainment is low struggle to attract industries with stable, high-paying jobs. This creates a reinforcing cycle of poverty in which families that cannot afford advanced degrees are justified in their choice to not attend college. Why pay for the degree if you have to leave home to use it? This cycle ends as more community members return home to work after college. Unfortunately, this doesn’t happen enough in the Rio Grande Valley.

This community-wide departure of

“I am grateful to be able to look at what I have done and see that I have learned valuable skills that can easily translate into work I am really passionate about. There really isn’t a straight path to jobs.” qualified local employees is the key. But how does the Valley attract such jobs?

And what is the best way to build a talented workforce - specific, hands-on experience, as RGV LEAD suggests, or a well-rounded skill set learned in college?

Those who believe that a college diploma is the best anti-poverty tool available point out that the unemployment rate of individuals who have never gone to college is nearly twice as high as those with college degrees, according to a 2014 Pew Research Center report titled "The Rising Cost of NOT Going to College."

The report also points out that young adults with college degrees earn around $15,500 more per year than those with associate’s degrees and $17,500 more than those with no college at all.

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educated workers actually has a name: brain drain. Brain drain is one of the Rio Grande Valley’s major economic challenges. Educated Valley residents leave the community because they cannot find good-paying jobs close to home. These young people may not want to leave, but they have to do so in order to find suitable employment.

The Valley is growing by leaps and bounds. As the population swells with more and more potential earners, the region will come to an economic tipping point: will the new generation of workers stay in the Valley or will they depart?

According to a 2012 Census report, the Rio Grande Valley has a population of more than 1.3 million, 27 percent of which is comprised of school-aged chil-

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EDUCATION

financial analyst

$76,950

accountant

$63,550

Bachelor’s

Bachelor’s

Mgmt. Analysts

+19%

$78,600

Management analysts propose ways to improve an organization’s efficiency. They advise managers on how to make organizations more profitable through reduced costs and increased revenues.

desktop publisher

$37,040

bookkeeper

$35,170 High School

Entry-Level positions require at least a Bachelor’s degree and Work Experience in a Related Occupation with Less than 5 years

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Associate’s

Stanford University

Annual Tuition: $61,875

Harvard University

Annual Tuition: $58,875

University of Pennsylvania (WHARTON)

Annual Tuition: $97,542

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dren. Texas Education Agency figures show that during the 2012-2013 school year there were 416,353 public school students in the seven-county region.

That’s nearly half a million individuals who could help - or hinder - the Rio Grande Valley’s future.

Regional Advantages Brain drain and high poverty rates are real challenges, but the Valley’s economic future isn’t all bleak. For one thing, the region boasts a significant advantage: a growing population of bilingual students moving through its public schools. Bilingual employees are highly sought-after in today’s increasingly international world.

Furthermore, the Rio Grande Valley public school systems offer a variety of college preparatory programs. Most Rio Grande Valley school districts offer training programs or even early college high schools where students are able to graduate with associate’s degrees. If these students already have career goals in place, they will be further ahead of their peers when they enter the workforce. These programs equip students with the knowledge and skills they need for workplace success.

Dr. Salaiz, director of RGV LEAD, expands on the value of these programs.

"We have a lot of early college programs and early college high schools that offer training programs where students graduate with associate’s degrees," she says.

"If students know what their career goals are and enroll in a training program that aligns with these goals, they often save time and tuition money.”

The Importance of Planning Ahead In Texas in 2012, the percentage of students attending four-year universities on a part-time basis was 22 percent.

That percentage is much larger in the

Rio Grande Valley. At the University of Texas - Pan American, for example, the part-time student percentage was 25.4 percent. At the University of Texas at Brownsville, another popular local university, 40.6 percent of students said they attended part-time.

The statewide percentage of students enrolled part-time at two year colleges was 70.9 percent. Interestingly, two-year colleges in the Rio Grande Valley report lower percentages of part-time students.

South Texas College reported 68.9 percent, Texas Southmost College reported 69 percent and Texas State Technical College came in at 57.1 percent.

The number of students attending school part-time or attending two-year colleges is important because those students are at risk. They take much longer to complete their programs. Worse, according to the Texas Board of Higher Education, most will drop out before

they can maximize their college years," Dr. Salaiz says. One example of the importance of research relates to financial aid regulations. Financial aid has gotten more strict in recent years. Some schools only provide aid up to a certain amount of hours. If a student decides on a major freshmen year, but changes his or her mind sophomore year, that student has to start all over and may lose their financial aid qualification.

"We have a high percentage of low socioeconomic status students in the RGV,” Dr. Salaiz explains, “So it's even more critical that they know how to maximize the assistance available to them. Planning and research can ensure students don't lose out on that opportunity.”

Planning ahead is also important for educators and parents. For school systems, this includes identifying what prospective employers want to see. Accord-

“The cost of tuition is so high and the time and effort it takes to get a degree is so great that students need to make sure they can maximize their college years.” completing their degree. For example, in Texas, 58.7 percent of full-time students attending a four-year university will earn a degree in six years. At a community college, this number drops to 24.4 percent.

Of course, it’s not always possible to attend school full-time. How can Rio Grande Valley students protect themselves from dropping out or taking too long to finish college, yet still be able to work to cover some of the costs? Dr. Salaiz suggests that careful research and planning can help.

"The cost of tuition is so high and the time and effort it takes to get a degree is so great that students need to make sure M AY / J U N E 2 0 1 5

ing to Dr. Salaiz, "Business and industry are about hiring people. As a community, we need to pay attention to the employee profile companies are looking for.

If the main goal of our school districts is to prepare students for success, we have to know how to do that.”

RGV LEAD specializes in preparing young men and women for success in their chosen career. The first step RGV LEAD has students complete is a thorough research session. This includes market research, such as application processes, payscales, benefits, and more.

It also includes some personal research.

Students need to ask themselves if they plan to stay in the Valley or move else-

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EDUCATION

ANIMATOR

$61,370 Bachelor’s

Art Directors

$80,880

+3%

Art directors are responsible for the visual style and images in magazines, newspapers, product packaging, and movie and television productions And they direct others who develop the artwork and layouts.

They need at least a bachelor’s degree in an art or design subject and previous work experience.

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WRITER/ AUTHOR

$55,940

PHOTOGRAPHER

$28,490

Bachelor’s

Associate’s

FLORAL DESIGNER

$23,810 High School

YALE UNIVERSITY

Annual Tuition: $34,300

Rhode Island School of Design

Annual Tuition: $44,594

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Annual Tuition: $42,230

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where. Research indicates that most students pursuing four-year degrees in their area of choice have not taken the time to see what job opportunities are available in their new location.

"Young people need to ask themselves if they are going to stay in the Rio Grande Valley or move throughout the state or nation. They need to do at least preliminary searches on job opportunities in their field of interest before de-

in McAllen, spent her career working mostly with young adults. She would coordinate with students and their schools to ensure success in and out of the classroom. Verduzco brought her career knowledge into her own home and is a prime example of how parents can make a difference for their children.

Verduzco is the mother of three grown children who have all gone on to successful careers. Her oldest child, Dr.

“My father always told me that an education was something nobody could take away. It’s so important.” ciding where to live," Salaiz says.

The same advice - do your research also applies to the questions of whether or not to attend college. “If a student is trying to gauge if college is right for them, they should first look at their career interests,” says Dr. Salaiz. “They should check out whether that career requires a degree, whether college-degree-holding employees earn more, and whether there are any job opportunities available in that field.” Answering these preliminary questions before deciding to attend college can save students time and money.

"It really comes down to students needing to do their research,” Dr. Salaiz says emphatically. Districts and educators can help students by ensuring this research is done in a timely manner. Research should begin early enough so that students can take advantage of early college, college preparatory classes, internship opportunities, and more.

Advice for parents Students and educators play vital roles in preparing for a successful life. But perhaps no role is more important in ensuring a bright future than that of the parent. Diana Verduzco, a professional counselor with Guzman and Associates

Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez, is a physical medicine and rehab specialist at Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston. Another daughter, Melinda, is a physician's assistant at the Bariatric Medical Institute in San Antonio. Finally, Verduzco’s son Rene is a pharmacist

tivities. I would attend their games and recitals, whether it was a band performance, track meet or basketball game.

I also made sure to visit their schools during parents’ night or PTA meetings.”

Verduzco comes by her emphasis on hard work and parental involvement honestly. "My father always told me that an education was something nobody could take away. It's so important,” she says. Her combination of high expectations and a constant show of support just may be the secret formula to successful parenting.

Verduzco's message to parents is to find a way to enable their children to make their own choices, and to make absolutely sure they know what they are getting into after high school. "At one point, I had my children write out the advantages and disadvantages of the jobs they were pursuing," Verduzco said. "It never mattered to me what they did, but I just wanted to be sure they knew what

“At one point, I had my children write out the advantages and disadvantages of the jobs they were pursuing. It never mattered to me what they did, but I just wanted to be sure they knew what was coming up ahead.” in the Rio Grande Valley. How did Verduzco ensure such brilliant success for her children? By conveying to them the same message she gave to her students.

"I told them, ‘You have to earn it,’" she says.

"From day one, I expected more from my kids," says Verduzco. "I wasn't satisfied with 'C' grades because I knew they were better than that. For my son, I didn't accept anything below a 90. I always kept asking for more. I was very involved with their extracurricular acM AY / J U N E 2 0 1 5

was coming up ahead.”

Whether the path ahead includes a college degree, an associate’s degree, or no degree at all, planning ahead is critical. The Valley is growing at an unprecedented rate, and there has never been a better time to make a difference in its economic future. With careful planning and a show of support for the younger generation, we can ensure that difference is a positive one.

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EDUCATION

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

$75,400

NUTRITIONIST

$55,240

Master’s

Bachelor’s

SURGEONS

$220,942

+18%

Surgeons operate on patients to treat injuries, such as broken bones; diseases, such as cancerous tumors; and deformities, such as cleft palates.

4 years of undergraduate school, 4 years of medical school, and depending on your specialty, 3 to 8 years in internship and residency programs.

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VETERINARY TECHNICIAN

$30,290

PHARMACY TECHNICIAN

$29,320

Associate’s

High School

HARVARD UNIVERSITY

Annual Tuition: $54,200

STANFORD UNIVERSITY

Annual Tuition: $50,715

JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

Annual Tuition: $47,250

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Mechanical Engineers

+5%

$80,580

Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest engineering disciplines. Mechanical engineers design, develop, build, and test mechanical and thermal devices, including tools, engines, and machines.

Mechanical engineers need a bachelor’s degree. A graduate degree is typically needed for promotion into managerial positions. Mechanical engineers who sell services publicly must be licensed in all states and the District of Columbia.

COMPUTER ENGINEER

$100,920

CHEMICAL ENGINEER

$94,350

CIVIL ENGINEER TECHNICIAN

$47,560

SURVEYING & MAPPING TECH

$39,670

Bachelor’s

Bachelor’s

Associate’s

High School

MIT

Annual Tuition: $45,016

STANFORD UNIVERSITY

Annual Tuition: $44,757

Univ. of California-Berkeley

Annual Tuition: $25,064

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EDUCATION

ransforming early-childhood education at the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District, its Board of Trustees unanimously approved a proposal to expand pre-kindergarten services to a full day schedule for eligible students.

Starting Fall 2015, eligible pre-kindergarten students will now be able to participate in a full day of classes, with their day ending at 2:00 p.m. The full-day model is designed to keep students’ mind’s active as much as possible throughout the day in 22

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a fun and engaging environment, while increasing early success by focusing on the development of a child’s cognitive, social and emotional skills.

“Our goal with our pre-kindergarten expansion is to offer our students as many opportunities as possible early on in their academic careers to create the building blocks for future success,” said Board of Trustees President Greg Powers. “As a Board, we embrace the mission and message behind high quality pre-kindergarten programs and believe it will give each eligible child an engaged learning ex-

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perience that simultaneously progresses their social, emotional and academic development.”

The implementation of the educational offering is aligned with the district’s strategic plan and its goal to create unique learning experiences for all students that promote present and continued success.

Focusing on early development, quality preschool programs prepare children to do their best as they progress in their education by nurturing and fostering a lifelong desire to learn.

“Our district’s approval to offer eligible pre-kindergarten students the opportunity to participate in all-day learning has the potential to give them a further edge on academic achievement,” said Superintendent Dr. Art Cavazos.

“For some students, the additional focus on early development that pre-kinder-

garten offers can be the difference between meeting standards and exceeding all expectations. By keeping students in an environment that promotes knowledge and a life-long love of learning, their chances for global achievement increases by introducing and reinforcing the key skill of literacy early on in their academic careers.”

Pre-kindergarten classes will be transformed by adding the opportunity to introduce students to learning stations throughout the day. Diverse stations will focus on a variety of subjects, including math manipulatives, science and discovery, blocks, and art. By establishing stations, students are able to participate in a consistent routine of engaged learning.

“Keeping our district’s momentum on the emphasis of literacy moving forward, the possibility of introducing the M AY / J U N E 2 0 1 5

option for our eligible pre-kindergarten students to continue their learning experience throughout the entire school day is an opportunity to increase achievement and success early on,” said Chief Academic Officer Dr. Alicia Noyola.

“By potentially allowing our students to participate in this model, which would include a variety of stations dedicated to subjects, we are able to keep true to our mission of developing individualized learning plans for all students that ensure post-secondary, career and global achievement.”

Registration for eligible pre-kindergarten students will take place later this spring. For more information on how to register for pre-kindergarten for the 2015 – 2016 school year, please contact your child’s designated campus or call 430-9500.

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START YOUR

ENGINES! The Automotive Technology Program at San Benito High School

By Audrey Ocanas

S

ix different vehicles fill a garage at San Benito High School; a 1991 Chevy pick-up truck, a 2001 Toyota, a 2012 Volkswagen Passat, a 2008 Honda, a 2001 Ford pick-up truck and a 2004 Chrysler. At least one student hovers around each vehicle, inspecting under hoods and carriages like a busy worker bee. Yes, students. Juniors and seniors alike run about the garage, tools and clipboards in hand as they mirror the inner workings of an authentic mechanic’s shop.

The Automotive Technology Program at San Benito High School offers students a chance to work on real cars and trucks from different dealerships. The program prepares students for a career in the automotive industry or to simply learn how to fix their own vehicles in the future.

The Automotive Technology Program 24

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is certified by the National Automobile Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF). This allows students to undergo training with tools used in today’s highly technical automotive industry.

According to Hector Rendon, Career and Technical Education Director, the program has been NATEF certified for 12 years and certifies the facility and equipment that is used by San Benito High School. “[The equipment] matches what we have in the dealerships,” said Rendon.

“The idea is that the training center should be as equivalent as possible with what is going to be on the jobsite.”

Along with being NATEF certified, the Automotive Technology Program is certified by Automotive Youth Educational Systems (AYES). Approximately only 350 schools in the country are both NATEF and AYES certified. The AYES component looks at the curriculum, according to Rendon. This allows for the M AY / J U N E 2 0 1 5

representatives, and sometimes even the owners of the dealerships, to participate in the Business and Education Council; or the B&E Council. The Council sets the criteria for students when they participate in job shadowing and internships. Eligibility, amount of pay and length of time a student is at a dealership the summer of their junior year is all decided by the B&E Council. When the students become seniors, they can work half a day, similar to a cooperative education program, or co-op.

“It’s a co-op except it’s through our program; not a regular co-op that puts kids in hamburger places. We actually put them in the dealership with a mentor,” said Automotive Tech Instructor, Meliton Hinojosa. Hinojosa is one of the few automotive instructors in Texas that holds a Master’s degree in Education and has been part of San Benito High School for 30 years.

Hinojosa goes on to say that the intent

is for the student to do some job shadowing or internship and continue their college education or the complete the manufacturing training program. This means the student will become an asset to that dealership. In addition, since training is different at each dealership, where a student receives his or her training is more than likely where they will stay for employment.

While some students became involved in the program in order to gain a better knowledge of their vehicles and how to approach future issues, others joined because of a true enthusiasm for cars.

“I really have a passion for cars so that’s why I joined the program,” said 17-yearold junior, David Moreno. “I want to keep on going with it and go to college with it. The teacher recommends San Jacinto and I’d really like to work with Fords.”

According to Rendon, the students become full-time employees upon completion of the manufacturing program.

This is possible partly due to San Benito High School’s advantage of teaching its students five of the eight areas seen in dealerships today; electrical/electronics,

“THE IDEA IS THAT THE TRAINING CENTER SHOULD BE AS EQUIVALENT AS POSSIBLE WITH WHAT IS GOING TO BE ON THE JOBSITE.” suspension and steering, brakes, engine performance and light and maintenance.

The AYES program allows the students to have a direct link with the manufacturers, which is how San Benito High School receives vehicles, tools and equipment for its students so nothing is MARCH/APRIL 2015

a shock come graduation from the program.

Some of the participating dealerships include Gillman, Cardenas Motors, Charlie-Clark Nissan and Burt Ogden. According to Rendon, the current B&E Chairman is Pablo de Paola, the Fixed Asset Manger from Burt Ogden and former AYES student. Rendon went on to say De Paola already came to the classroom and talked with the students, getting them excited about the automotive industry.

“He’s a real supporter of the program,” said Hinojosa. “It’s because of the AYES program that he’s where he’s at and it’s awesome showing our students what they could become.”

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EDUCATION

NEARLY 500 STUDENTS FROM PSJA ISD WILL BE GRADUATING WITH AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE OR COLLEGE CERTIFICATE THIS MAY.

The number of students taking the opportunities provided by PSJA ISD to start their post-secondary studies while in high school is increasing every year.

Students are not only saving up to two years of college tuition and books, but are getting real life experience of what college life is like, and the rigorous expectations they must meet to graduate from a four-year institution, according to school district leaders.

“It is impressive how our students are not only thinking about their Bachelor’s Degree, but planning for their Master’s and even Doctorate Degrees early on,” said PSJA ISD Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Daniel King. “I thank our parents for their confidence and support of our school district. They see the results of the hard work of our teachers and principals as they watch their child walk across the stage to receive two diplomas in one month and the endless possibilities available for them.”

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“It is impressive how our students are not only thinking about their Bachelor’s Degree, but planning for their Master’s and even Doctorate Degrees early on,” said PSJA ISD Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Daniel King.

8 EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOLS

+ 215 + 270

PSJA MEMORIAL EARLY COLLEGE High Scho ol DEGREE OBTAINED: Associates in Interdisciplinary Studies UNIVERSITY PLANS: Kingsville

Texas A&M University

MAJOR: Communication Disorders FUTURE PLANS: +Wants to attend A&M Kingsville or UTRGV majoring in Communication Disorders EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES & OTHER ACCOLADES: +Business Professionals of America +GO TEAM +FCCL A (Family Community Career Leadership of America) +Spanish Club +NHS +NTHS +Golf +CCD teacher for her church.

PSJA Thomas Jefferson T-STEM Early College High Scho ol GRADE: Senior, Class of 2015 DEGREE OBTAINED: Associate Degree in Engineering UNIVERSITY PLANS: Texas A&M University Kingsville MAJOR: Chemical Engineering EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES & OTHER ACCOLADES: + Texas Scholar + Graduating with Distinguished Achievement Plan + President of Robotics Club & Team + Secretary of Tennis Team + Member of National Honors Society + Member of G-Force Mentor Program + Particiates in UIL Academics

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EDUCATION

PSJA SOUTHWEST Early COLLEGE High Scho ol GRADE: Senior, Class of 2015 DEGREE OBTAINED: Associate Degree in Biology UNIVERSITY PLANS: University of Texas at Austin- Exercise Science EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: + Varsity Football, 1st Team All-District Quarterback + Varsity Basketball + Varsity Track and Powerlif ting + Student Council Member + National Honor Society Member

STUDENTS ARE GRADUATING WITH THE FOLLOWING + Biology + Engineering + Mathematics

STUDENTS ARE GRADUATING WITH THE FOLLOWING

+ Physics

+ Computer Specialist

+ Criminal Justice

+ Computer Information Specialist

+ Computer Science

+ Electronic Health Records

+ Chemistry

+ Spanish + Political Science + Psychology + Secondary Education + Interdisciplinary Studies

+ Medical Off ice Specialist + Multimedia Specialist + Payroll Assistant + Recruiter Assistant + Structural Welding

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MARCH/APRIL 2015

PSJA North Early College High Scho ol GRADE: Senior, Class of 2015 DEGREE OBTAINED: Associate Degree in Biology UNIVERSITY PLANS: Texas A&M University MAJOR: Biomedical Science EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: + Freshman Cheerleader 2011/2012 + JV Cheerleader 2012/2013 + Hope Club (Freshman Year) + Book Club (Sophomore & Senior Year) + HOSA (President Sophomore & Senior Year) + Swim & Dive (Senior Year) + National Honor Society (Senior Year)

PSJA Early College High Scho ol GRADE: Senior, Class of 2015 DEGREE OBTAINED: Associate Degree in Biology UNIVERSITY PLANS: UT-RGV MAJOR: Nursing EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: -Obtained a Pharmacy Tech Certif ication -Volunteer at other district campuses -Hosted a Business Exposition at HS -Member of the School Orchestra & Mariachi -National Honors Society Member -Chemistry Club Member

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EDUCATION

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As an eighth grader, Therechel Abad is close to being at the cutting edge of addressing real world problems through science and research.

Recently recognized by the White House for her school science project addressing radiation in common electronic devices, Abad says work she has been conducting for the last year is finally seeing results.

"This project is about the most common electronic devices, namely cell phones. A report from the World Health Organization International Agency for Cancer has classified that cellphone radiation can cause diseases like cancer," Abad said.

"Research is still ongoing trying to figure out if cellphone radiation is safe, but I didn't want to wait for the final results after 30 years. I investigated several ways to protect us."

This isn't your typical school science fair. There are no exploding volcanos or rockets to be seen. Instead, IDEA has redefined the science fair concept by challenging students to attempt to solve today's most pressing challenges.

Abad's experiment, for example, was meant to investigate the relationship between distance and radiation and to find if cases or shields made out of household materials can decrease the amount of radiation emitted.

"An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure," Abad said.

Other experiments include research by students who are trying to find out what is in the meat we consume daily with regards to pesticides. Others are researching which insect is affecting our citrus plants in the Valley.

"Biology, calculus and algebra are all difficult subjects in college, but if you have a strong foundation, you will be more than ready for those courses," said IDEA-McAllen principal, Joan Alvarez.

"IDEA has promoted this by having its own campus and district science fair, and it's impressive the work we do. We make sure we challenge the students in both science and engineering."

"We are gathering students and parents because we wanted to recognize our prodigies," Alvarez said. "They are young students in grades 6-8 who represented IDEA at the District, Regional and State level.

IDEA Public Schools held a celebration for their prodigies in April. This gathering, held at IDEA-McAllen, was meant to recognize the success of students at the regional and state science fairs. A special recognition was given to Abad, who was the only student in the Valley invited to attend the White House Science Fair in March.

After attending the regional science fair at UT-Brownsville, students then went on to the state science fair at Exxon in San Antonio. Abad was the only student who went to Washington D.C. and was able to meet Bill Nye and other leaders who are promoting science.

IDEA has 7 students who have qualified for the Broadcasters Masters Program. They will now submit their work to hopefully be selected among the top 30 in the country to go to next year's International Science and Engineering Fair.

IDEA Public Schools is a growing network of tuition-free K-12 public schools serving nearly 20,000 students in 36 schools across Texas, including San Antonio, Austin, and the Rio Grande Valley. IDEA high schools are ranked in the top 1 percent nationwide by US News & World Report, have a 100 percent college acceptance rate, and a graduation rate five times the national average for low-income students.

"We wanted to recognize the hard work the kids do through innovation, research, extensive study, scientific inquiry and the work in putting everything together in order to change the nation, one project at a time," Alvarez said.

"These projects are a representation of those students who have advanced and are not only representing IDEA-McAllen, but really the Rio Grande Valley in its entirety," Alvarez said.

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UPCOMING EVENTS SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

+ Rita's Dance Studio Annual Dance Recital-McAllen Civic Auditorium

THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015

+ McAllen Chamber of Commerce Business Expo + Montessori Dance Festival

FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2015

+ South Texas Comic Con + Melba's Inc. Dance RecitalMcAllen Civic Auditorium

SUNDAY, MAY 10, 2015

+ South Texas Comic Con

TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015

+ McAllen I.S.D. District Retiree Banquet

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015 + Hidalgo County Bar Association Annual Gala

SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2015

+ Mucha Risa o Que?- McAllen Civic Auditorium

SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2015

+ Engage A Platinum Wedding Event

SATURDAY, MAY 23, 2015

+ Rio Grande Valley Ballet Spring Recital- McAllen Civic Auditorium

SUNDAY, MAY 24, 2015 + Zumba Fest McAllen

THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015 + McAllen I.S.D. Graduation

For More Info:

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F AC

EBOO

K . C OM / S T C A

F

MCALLEN CONVENTION CENTER

700 Convention Center B McAllen, Texas 78501 Phone: (956) 681-3800 Fax: (956) 681-3840

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SHIP

BUSINESS

Port of Brownsville develops nic he market for mass recycling of government vessels

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T

he Port of Brownsville has emerged as the one of the premier facilities in the world for the dismantling of maritime vessels, according to its director.

More than 80 percent of all maritime fleet and merchant marine vessels used by the government that are put out for scrapping wind up at the Port of Brownsville, creating hundreds of jobs, according to Port director, Eduardo Campirano.

"You know, ports develop niches. Harlingen has the niche of the sugar trade on barges because of the sugar mill," Campirano said. "One of the niches that the Brownsville Port has developed over time is in ship recycling. That word has evolved. It used to be the ship dismantlers, then it became the ship breakers, now it's the ship recyclers."

The first of the aircraft carrier fleet to be recycled, the "Forrestal" class, arrived in Brownsville last year. In February 2014, the Port received the USS Forrestal. In August of 2014, the USS Saratoga arrived for dismantling. On January 16, the Brownsville Port received its largest vessel ever, the USS Constellation.

Later this year, possibly by late summer or fall, the Port will see the USS Ranger arrive for recycling. The USS Ranger, which was used extensively in the Vietnam War, was made famous as the aircraft carrier used in the 1986 film Top Gun. "Four of five military vessels that are put out for recycling winds up here," Campirano said. "That tells you the port has a pretty significant role in accomplishing the U.S. government's desire to safely dispose of these vessels and, of course, the steel off of these vessels is a lucrative trade."

On average, more than 200 people per vessel are required for two years to complete the dismantling.

Steel, which is a byproduct of the ship recycling business, comprises the majority of the dry bulk commodity at the

One of the niches that the Brownsville Port has developed over time is in ship recycling. That word has evolved. It used to be the ship dismantlers, then it became the ship breakers, now it’s the ship recyclers.” -Eduardo Campirano, Port Director Port. In 2014, the Port moved almost 2 million tons of slab steel, right behind Houston and New Orleans. Steel related commodities at the Port include iron ore, pig iron and scrap steel.

“As Mexico increases its manufacturing base, that impact affects the region,” Campirano said. Many of the commodities that come into the Port travel south to support Mexico's burgeoning manufacturing sector. Steel that comes into the Port is carried by rail into Monterrey, Mexico to serve the steel mills there.

"We essentially are the premier destination for that industry in the United States. Because the US does it better than anybody else in the world, guess what, the Valley does it better than anybody in the world," Campirano said.

"In regards to the ship recyclers, a lot of that steel that comes out of those vessels is not only shipped to other parts of the State of Texas, it's shipped to other states and other countries in the world."

The Port has 174 active foreign trade zones in the United States, and its ForM AY / J U N E 2 0 1 5

eign Trade Zone led the nation in the value of exported commodities for the second year in a row.

“This is symbolic to what is happening across Texas with regards to petroleum, steel and metals,” Campirano said.

Keppel AmFELS, which has had a facility in the port for the last 25 years, has led the nation in fabrication of new offshore rigs since 2000 to the present.

It's the company's premier full-service facility that is considered the largest domestic fabricator of offshore platforms in the United States.

"2014 was the best year we have ever had in terms of total tonnages moved through the Port not only by waterborne but also by cargo that moves in by truck or rail. We also move cargo by pipeline.”

"This is symbolic of what's going on at the port environment," said Campirano.

"We are all having good years talking about how things are getting better, but the challenge is how to build the infrastructure necessary to keep up."

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BUSINESS

MOVE JONES MOVING & STORAGE IS THE VALLEY LEADER

By Joseph Lilli IN COMMERCIAL DELIVERY SERVICES From Corpus Christi and all the cities that lie across the entire Rio Grande Valley, from Laredo to Brownsville, Jones Moving & Storage in Harlingen has quickly established itself as the “goto” company for commercial delivery services.

“We’re not your typical moving company,” says Jones Moving & Storage Vice President David Groves. “Yes, we do handle residential moves – whether they’re from one part of Harlingen 34

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to another, across the country, or even overseas – but the bulk of our business is handling commercial delivery projects.”

Most of their commercial activity involves appliance delivery and installation. In fact, the company has contracts with the larger retail stores for that type of service. So, for example, when a customer buys a washer and dryer from a retail outlet, he doesn’t actually get them from the store.

“The manufacturer ships the appliances M AY / J U N E 2 0 1 5

directly to us,” notes Groves. “We then deliver them to the customer and install them. Since the State of Texas requires that appliance installers be licensed, our company has 10 licensed appliance installers on board for just that purpose.”

Final Mile and FF&E Deliveries

Jones Moving & Storage is also known as a “final mile delivery company.” When customers order products online, such as furniture, beds, TVs, and exercise equipment, they are shipped by freight carrier

to Jones Moving & Storage’s warehouse.

The company, in turn, delivers the product the “final mile.”

“Say a customer ordered a treadmill.

We deliver it and set it up wherever the customer wants. Before leaving, we also give him a brief overview of how it works,” says Groves.

In addition to the “final mile” type deliveries, the company also handles “Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment” (FF&E) deliveries for hospitals, banks, hotels, and office buildings. Some of its more recent FF&E deliveries include furnishing Border Patrol facilities, dorm rooms for area universities, as well as the relocation of South Texas College’s machine shop.

When the new Marriott Hotel in Harlingen was built, Jones Moving & Storage delivered and installed all the furniture and fixtures for the guest rooms and lobbies.

“We brought in and set up the dresser, night stand, bed, headboards, mirrors, TVs, and assembled furniture as necessary. We even hung the artwork for both the guest room and lobbies. We handled the entire hotel,” Groves remarks.

The company also has trained personnel to deliver virtually any type of medical equipment, such as CAT scan machines, operating room tables, lab equipment, and blood analyzers. And while they don’t install medical equip-

ment – that’s left to hospital technicians – they do put it in place and remove the packaging.

“We’ve done complete hospitals where we bring in everything from office furniture to medical equipment,” Groves says.

“We’re the only movers in the Valley with the trained staff and the capacity to handle all of these various kinds of projects,” he adds.

Groves states his company can take on virtually any type of commercial delivery and installation. When Sprint came to the Valley to install its 4G equipment, it hired Jones Moving & Storage to deliver all of the cable and cabinets that house the computers and electronic switching equipment. These deliveries were made to all of Sprint’s 297 towers from Victoria south.

Even the Girl Scouts owe thanks to Jones Moving & Storage. “We warehouse and distribute to the troops all of the Girl Scout cookies for Laredo, Corpus Christi, and the whole Valley area.”

They Treat You Like Family

Presently, Jones Moving & Storage has 35 full-time employees. All personnel involved in moving possess vast experience and undergo extensive training.

“Many of our employees have been with us for 15, 20, even 30 years because we treat them like family,” comments Groves. “Because we’re concerned about

M AY / J U N E 2 0 1 5

them as a whole person, not just an employee, means they’re more productive, more satisfied.

“And, in turn, our employees treat our customers like family. They bend over backwards for them. And that has meant more satisfied customers.”

To ensure prompt and safe delivery of goods, the company maintains a fleet of five 18-wheelers, all equipped with air ride suspension for high-value electronics and other sensitive equipment. It also owns 15 delivery trucks, plus flatbeds, forklifts and other specialty equipment.

When household storage is required, a 10,000 square-foot warehouse is available. Similarly, when commercial storage is needed, the firm uses its 30,000 square-foot warehouse.

Fulton Jones, who founded the company in 1922, would no doubt be greatly surprised at how far his company has come in 93 years. Throughout that period, the company changed with the times and significantly expanded the scope of its services.

Today, Jones Moving & Storage is the leading commercial delivery company in the Rio Grande Valley. With its team of seasoned professionals, it offers businesses and institutions of all kinds the highest professional grade installation and disassembly possible.

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DISCOVER HISTORY EXPERIENCE THE MOSTHISTORY

FIND IT ALL ...

Discover the blended history of two countries through state-of-the-art facilities, educational programs and special events. Since 1970 we have preserved and presented the borderland heritage of South Texas and Northeastern Mexico through our collections, archives and exhibits spanning prehistory through the 20th century.

To learn more call +1-956-383-6911 or visit MOSTHistory.org M AY / J U N E 2 0 1 5

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Museum of South Texas History H 200 N Closner Blvd H Edinburg, TX 78541 H USA

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BUSINESS

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Rockets blast off at Cape Canaveral and California.

NASA missions beam their signals to Houston.

Spacecraft machinery is built in Harlingen.

The latter item may not seem as glamorous, but well-made rocket structures are crucial to the success of space-bound missions. And they’re created right here in the Rio Grande Valley.

arlingen is home to a manufacturing plant owned and operated by the United Launch Alliance (ULA). ULA is one of the most prolific - if not THE most prolific rocket-launching services in existence.

They’ve launched hundreds of objects into space, including two Mars rover missions, dozens of GPS and weather satellites, and even several NASA space exploration missions. One of their more famous launches was the Pluto-bound New Horizons probe, which ULA says is the fastest object ever to leave Earth.

“None of this would be possible without the work done in Harlingen and our other structure-building operations,” said United Launch Alliance CEO, Tory Bruno.

Bruno is right - the Valley manufacturing plant plays a pivotal role in the success of all ULA launches they touch.

In Harlingen, factory employees create what are called payload-fairing structures. These pieces, also known as “noses,” protect rockets as they blast through the atmosphere. Bruno summarizes the science behind Harlingen’s rocket structures: “When spacecraft are moving through the atmosphere, they’re reaching speeds of up to 15,000 miles per hour. At

that speed, the sound is unimaginable; the acoustics and vibrations would destroy the craft’s equipment were it not for these payload-fairing structures.”

What does it take to build spaceship parts? According to Bruno, it takes a fleet of highly skilled craftspeople who have the knowledge and expertise to build complex structures with utmost precision. As space missions are time-sensitive, they must complete this work on a tight schedule. All this, plus the knowledge that what they build will ultimately play a critical role in launching men and women into space, makes building spaceships no cakewalk. It’s not easy to build perfect structures under such pressure, but the crew in Harlingen gets the job done on time, every time. Their CEO is proud and grateful - “Thanks to them and our other manufacturing crews, 100% of ULA’s last 94 launches have been successful,” he beams.

economy through hundreds of jobs and thousands in city taxes. ULA currently employs 150 technicians and engineers at the factory. This number grows when support jobs such as shipping and events are considered. ULA also inspires budding rocket scientists through their STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) outreach programs in local schools.

Bruno and ULA intend on continuing this fruitful relationship indefinitely.

“We don’t have plans to leave any time soon,” he says. With ULA, Harlingen will go on proudly playing a part in the United States’s space programs.

Bruno’s celebration of ULA’s partnership with Harlingen isn’t just lip service. ULA has operated in the city for over 25 years. During that time, they’ve contributed to the city’s M AY / J U N E 2 0 1 5

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BUSINESS

or over a century, residents have waited for the main Union Pacific rail line to be relocated and by May 2015, all construction is scheduled to be complete and train operations will then begin, according to CCRMA. Developed as a project that will “greatly improve” safety and will reduce congestion and traffic-rail delays. The rail line is expected to improve emergency access to West Brownsville and West Matamoros, improve environmental conditions, noise and air quality, and eliminate the potential of derailments within the urban areas.

“The six-mile project that crosses rural parts of Cameron County in Texas and runs into the state of Tamaulipas in Mexico will be the first to cross the U.S./Mexico border since the 1900’s,” said CCRMA Executive Director, Pete Sepulveda, Jr. The West Railroad Relocation Project in Cameron County was developed in concept form between the years 2000 and 2003, in which feasibility studies were developed and environmental assessmentswere completed with a “Finding of No Significant Impact” issued on June 18, 2004.

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This was followed by a presidential permit application submitted to the United States Department of State in June 2003 and the Presidential Permit was issued on October 1, 2004.

The project, sponsored by Cameron County, the City of Brownsville and the CCRMA, was proposed as an alternative to constructing a series of grade separations along the existing Union Pacific Railroad route in the residential areas of Brownsville, Texas and Matamoros, Mexico.

In Brownsville, the West Rail Relocation Project is to begin at the UPRR’s junction to the Port of Brownsville and south of Olmito and will then continue west and south crossing over U.S. 281, the International Boundary and Water Commission levee and will elevate over the Rio Grande River.

Construction funds for the United States’ portion of the Project have been obtained through multiple agencies including Cameron County, the City of Brownsville, Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority, TxDOT, the U.S. DOT and the Union Pacific Railroad. In Mexico, the Federal Government is funding the Project.

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A S IT E F

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Sore Eyes P E ÑA T HE

IN S T I T U T E

VA L L E Y ’ S

W IT H A

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K E E P S B R I G H T

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VAR IE T Y

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S E RV I C E S

by Annie Sykes

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BUSINESS

W H O WO U L D YO U T RU S T W I T H YO U R V I S I O N ? F O R M A N Y VA L L E Y- A R E A PAT I E N T S , T H E A N S W E R I S D R . R AU L P E Ñ A . B Y A L L A C C O U N T S T H AT T R U S T I S R I G H T LY G I V E N : “ I ’ V E O P E R AT E D O N T H O U S A N D S O F P E O P L E , I N C LU D I N G S E V E R A L P R O F E S S I O N A L F O OTB A L L P L AY E R S , M Y FAT H E R , A N D M Y O W N C H I L D R E N .

I WO U L D N ’ T D O A N Y T H I N G TO A N YO N E I D I D N ’ T B E L I E V E I N M Y S E L F. ” T H I S I S D R . P E Ñ A ’ S M O T T O , A N D H E U S E S I T E V E R Y D AY I N H I S W O R K A S A L E A D I N G O P H T H A L M O L O G I S T I N T H E R I O G R A N D E V A L L E Y.

Dr. Peña owns and operates Peña Eye Institute, a state-of-the-art ophthalmology clinic with offices in McAllen and Harlingen. He is also the official ophthalmologist of the Dallas Cowboys, and has operated on several of the players and their families.

Dr. Peña performs IntraLASIK, the latest cataract surgery, glaucoma treatments, eye allergy testing, and much more. He has completed tens of thousands of successful eye surgeries, and shows no signs of slowing down. “I love what I do,” he says emphatically.

The Peña Eye Institute offers patients the latest, safest, and most effective eye care available today. One common procedure is IntraLASIK surgery, a blade-free vision correction procedure that often leaves patients with better than 20/20 vision.

LASIK patients are easy to spot - they’re the ones gleefully chucking their eyeglasses and contact lenses into the office donation bin. Cataract patients also see dramatic results. Cataracts occur when the natural lens of the eye becomes cloudy, interfering with vision. Dr. Peña removes cataracts and actually replaces them with an intraocular lens implant like Crystalens®. The implants not 42

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only replace cloudy lenses with clear ones, but also integrate with the eye’s muscles to allow it to focus and flex. Many describe the result of this procedure as seeing the world for the first time.

Cataract surgery - and its miraculous results - are what drew Dr. Peña to ophthalmology in the first place. He was in medical school at the University of Monterrey when he first witnessed the wonder of sight being returned. An elderly man with severe cataracts had come to the medical school seeking help. The ophthalmology team cleared the old man’s clouded eyes while Dr. Peña looked on. For years, this man had depended on the help of his loved ones for even the smallest tasks. Now, his family couldn’t keep up with him. It was then that Dr. Peña knew what he wanted to do with his life.

After medical school, Dr. Peña completed a research fellowship in Baltimore, an internal medicine training program at the Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple, TX, and an ophthalmology residency in Cincinnati. He brought this extensive training back to the Valley, which is his birthplace and his home. The Peña Eye Institute was founded soon after his return.

Fifteen years later, with two branches and scores of loyal patients, the Eye Institute has become a pillar of the Rio Grande Valley’s medical scene.

For Dr. Peña, the Peña Eye Institute is much more than a medical care facility.

It’s a place to give back to the community. Community is central to Dr. Peña.

He and his family make giving back a priority. They throw the annual Dallas Cowboys Festival, support the local school systems, and serve on many public boards. Dr. Peña even regularly performs free operations on deserving patients. “To me and my family, giving back is the most important thing,” says Dr. Peña.

Dr. Raul Peña at the Peña Eye Institute is skilled, experienced, and community-oriented. He’s operated on NFL players from San Diego, Houston, and the Dallas Cowboys. When it comes to trusting someone with their vision, Valley-area patients choose Dr. Peña without batting an eye.

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By: Lauri Revilla Photography: Johnny Quiroz

FOR OVER 35 YEARS, Valley Keyboards has been expanding the music culture in South Texas. Their strong belief that “every life needs music” is evident from the name of their website to every single thing that they do. This strong passion for music is what has kept them successful over the years.

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alley Keyboards not only sells some of the finest pianos and organs in the Rio Grande Valley, but also has a large curriculum of music classes for all ages. “At the heart of what we do is our love and passion for music education and musical thinking,” said Valley Keyboards founder and owner, Matt Perez. “We believe that every life can benefit from learning to play a musical instrument. That gives purpose to everything that we do here.”

All of the educational programs offered at the facilities were created with the purpose of introducing the general public to the wonderful world of music.

The store offers over thirty keyboard classes weekly and has ten highly trained professional instructors on staff.

Co-owner Debra Perez, who is one of the most recognized names in the musical education industry, leads all of the training offered by Valley Keyboards. In 1995, she began building their unique programs when she advertised to teach a piano class for adults in their Piano Gallery store in Corpus Christi, Texas. Her curriculum and teaching programs soon became a success around the country. In 2006, she was invited to participate in the Recreational Music Making Grant by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), in which she spent two years training at piano seminars and companies around the nation.

Debra joined Dr. Will Baily, a composer, arranger and educator, to create a curriculum that would teach anyone who wanted to learn to play music. After working on this project for over 4 years, they created three piano programs comprised of 14 training books. These programs have been used in schools and piano companies around the nation. In the Rio Grande Valley alone, they are used to teach music education in several school districts, including six IDEA campuses, private piano studios and

their own classes and summer camps.

These educational services are what have made Valley Keyboards so successful in the Rio Grande Valley. Both Debra and Matt Perez have a strong belief that anybody who wants to learn to play music has the ability to do so. Their mantra “You can play, we guarantee it” exemplifies what they accomplish with every new student or client that walks into Valley Keyboards. They don’t want to sell people a piano or organ that will be just be sitting there –they want to make sure that they teach them the skills to enjoy their treasure.

Valley Keyboards is also one of the “AT THE HEART OF WHAT WE DO IS OUR LOVE AND PASSION FOR MUSIC EDUCATION AND MUSICAL THINKING,” SAID VALLEY KEYBOARDS FOUNDER AND OWNER, MATT PEREZ.

largest musical supporters of many young artists in the Valley. They have a beautifully re-designed Recital Hall that can host up to 120 visitors and they allow the community to use it free of charge. Professors and students from various schools and universities in the Rio Grande Valley and surrounding areas come to the Recital Hall to practice and perform. Their weeklong summer camps offer a great opportunity for children between 4-17 years of age to learn to play the piano in a short period of time. These camps take place in June and July and train children enough skills to play between 10-12 songs by the end of the week.

When it comes to music and musical education, passion is always an essential element. At Valley Keyboards, passion, expertise, and love for music are what makes them one of the best music stores and educational entities in South Texas.

Thank you Valley Keyboards for sharing your love for music with the Valley.

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INSPIRED LIGHTING & DESIGN

By Illuminations to Valley Residents By Joseph Lilli “Wow!” “Awesome!” Those are typical responses most first-time customers declare upon entering the Illuminations lighting showroom in McAllen.

Located at 4801 North 10th Street, Illuminations is the Valley’s premier lighting showroom with more lighting fixtures and accessories than any other area store. It displays an immense variety of breathtaking lighting, including chandeliers, wall sconces, pendants, bath vanities, niche lighting, ceiling fans, recessed lighting, exterior and landscape lighting, table and floor lamps, and bulbs.

In addition, it also offers a great selection of accessories and home décor items like candle holders, mirrors, and tables to complete or augment any home or office.

The lighting and accessories are showcased in specially designed settings or vignettes throughout the showroom. As customers enter these settings, they can easily view the fixtures and experience how the proper layering of light can enhance and illuminate the color and ambience.

“When people walk into our showroom, they’re not just seeing a bunch of lighting hanging from the ceiling. They’re walking through different spaces and getting feelings about how the lighting can be used in different settings,” says co-owner Melinda Garcia.

Melinda and her sister, D’Ann Garcia run the showroom that was established in 2000 by their 46

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father and mother, Gustavo and Gracie Garcia.

Gustavo, a home building contractor, can easily relate to the headaches builders in the area faced. One headache was the lack of a well-equipped lighting showroom. This made it difficult for builders to purchase lighting fixtures for their construction projects.

In response to this market need, he opened a small lighting showroom south of their present location. Covering only 1800 square feet, it didn’t give Gustavo and his wife much space to merchandise their fixtures. But what they lacked in space, they made up in providing great customer service.

That tradition of providing outstanding customer service continues today.

The Garcia sisters and their 12 employees are trained and certified lighting specialists, who keep abreast of the latest technology. They work with builders, designers, and walk-in customers to assist them through every phase of their lighting project, including fixture and décor selection.

Melinda says one of the most fulfilling parts of her job is guiding people through the process of lighting their homes. Certainly, building and remodeling can be expensive endeavors. But she and the entire staff at Illuminations reward their customer expenditures with a better living experience.

“Because we’re trained in lighting design, we can match our customers’ lighting needs with the proper type of fixture, the proper placement of those fixtures, and so remove the stress out of lighting their homes or offices.

“We’re a beginning-to-end store. We’ll sit with our customers in the beginning with their blueprints when their home is being built or remodeled. If we need to go to the job site to do a walk-through, we’ll do that before any purchase is made. That allows us to recommend the right product,” she says.

In 2007, the Garcia’s opened their present showroom, which covers almost 10,000 square feet. Since they own the building, they have the option of expanding as the need arises.

D’Ann takes care of accounts payable and accounts receivable, while Melinda handles the marketing and advertising.

Both travel to market shows to purchase new merchandise and both do sales at the store.

Illuminations proudly carries items from more than 100 of the best lighting manufacturers in the industry – names like Kichler Lighting, James Moder, Hinkley, Casablanca, and Fine Art Lamps. Products from home décor companies such as Cyan Design and Howard Elliott can also be found in the showroom.

Despite being located in a relatively

small market, Illuminations has already made a name for itself within the lighting industry. In 2012, a panel of experts selected Illuminations to be a finalist for National Showroom of the Year from among all showrooms nationwide in their revenue category. The event was sponsored by Residential Lighting magazine and the Dallas Market Center.

Part of Illuminations’ philosophy has always included giving back to the community that helps support it.

“We often work together with our suppliers to do programs where we can donate to Habitat for Humanity. We’ve made several donations to Habitat representing thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise,” Melinda says.

“We also do a lot of donations throughout the year for different community events such as ‘Dancing with The Stars.’ Whenever we can, whenever we’re approached, we usually donate to the community.”

While Illuminations keeps D’Ann and Melinda quite busy, they plan to eventually add new showrooms.

“We definitely want a second location and even a third,” notes Melinda.

“While we serve much of the Valley now, from Brownsville to Alice to Rio Grande City, we want to be more accessible and convenient for Valley residents.

That’s something we’ve wanted for a while and something we intend on doing in the next two years.”

“We’re a beginning-to-end store.

We’ll sit with our customers in the beginning with their blueprints when their home is being built or remodeled.

MELINDA & D’ANN GARCIA

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HEALTH

By Bill Martin

ho needs a financial plan?

The short answer is everyone. Even if you have limited resources, a plan can be a critical tool toward achieving your long-term financial goals.

At its simplest, a financial plan is a document that presents your longterm financial goals and maps out the investment strategies to achieve them.

According to the 2013 Household Financial Planning Survey, there is a positive relationship between the degree of planning and financial preparedness.

People who engage in financial planning were more confident in their ability to make financial decisions and were more pleased with their progress in meeting their savings goals.

Perhaps the most important task in any financial plan is determining the goals that will drive your investing strategy.

Income needs in retirement will likely be paramount, but other possibilities may include buying a vacation home, financing your children’s college education or maintaining a particular lifestyle in retirement. Your Financial Advisor

can help you define and quantify these and other goals.

Based on your goals, time frame and risk appetite, your Financial Advisor will develop a plan with savings, asset allocation and investment recommendations.

Among the questions you will likely answer in preparation are whether you are an aggressive or risk-averse investor, or if your immediate need is for growth or income.

In addition to mapping out an investment strategy, a financial plan also considers the full spectrum of your financial needs, including insurance, estate planning and debt situation. Any of these elements can have a bearing on your investing strategy, as well as your ability to meet your long-term goals.

Finally, a financial plan is an organic document. It changes with you as you grow older and your priorities shift.

Marriage, children and career changes all impact your goals and your financial situation. That’s why it is recommended that you revisit your plan at least once a

year. A well-thought-out plan can help you define and articulate your goals, and provide the framework for achieving them. So get started today.

If you’d like to learn more, please contact Bill Martin, CFP®.

Article by Wealth Management Systems Inc. and provided courtesy of Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor.

The author(s) are not employees of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC ("Morgan Stanley"). The opinions expressed by the authors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Morgan Stanley.

The information and data in the article or publication has been obtained from sources outside of Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley makes no representations or guarantees as to the accuracy or completeness of information or data from sources outside of Morgan Stanley. Neither the information provided nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation by Morgan Stanley with respect to the purchase or sale of any security, investment, strategy or product that may be mentioned.

Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor(s) engaged RGVision Magazine to feature this article.

Bill Martin, CFP® may only transact business in states where he is registered or excluded or exempted from registration, http://www.morganstanleyfa.com/1845group/.

Transacting business, follow-up and individualized responses involving either effecting or attempting to effect transactions in securities, or the rendering of personalized investment advice for compensation, will not be made to persons in states where Bill Martin, CFP® is not registered or excluded or exempt from registration. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Financial Advisors or Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice.

Clients should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving trust and estate planning and other legal matters. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC offers insurance products in conjunction with its licensed insurance agency affiliates. Please be advised by clicking on a third party URL or hyperlink, you will leave morganstanley.com. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC is not implying an affiliation, sponsorship, endorsement with/of the third party or that any monitoring is being done by Morgan Stanley of any information contained within the web site. Morgan Stanley is not responsible for the information contained on the third party web site or your use of or inability to use such site. Nor do we guarantee their accuracy and completeness. © 2015 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. CRC 1099820 01/15 48

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rmando Garza never expected the worst case scenario to happen. As a grandfather, he said he never really much cared for drinking alcohol or smoking cigarettes, but was faced recently with a serious issue to his health.

Garza, a 63 year old indigent patient, said he was not routinely visiting a doctor for care, but nonetheless felt healthy. When he went to the hospital in September 2014 complaining of stomach pain, he was surprised to learn he had stomach cancer, which required immediate surgery.

He remained hospitalized from October 2014 to November 2014, and surgeons ended up operating to remove the cancer, but Garza acknowledges it may be too late.

Because he waited so long to reach out to healthcare providers, Garza is now paying the price. He is bedridden with a wound that cannot heal. He is left with an ostomy, which refers to the operation where the intestines are removed. Since the body needs a new way for stool to leave the body, the surgeon

A

creates an opening in the abdomen for stool to pass through.

"We have a fast evolving problem that needs to be addressed before it reaches a tipping point in which it is too late for providers" said Imtiaz Chowdhury, owner of Life Touch Home Health in McAllen.

Healthcare providers from Life Touch regularly visit Garza at his home in Edinburg.

McAllen-based Life Touch is a home healthcare agency that provides acute care nursing and therapy services, with a focus to make the patient as independent as possible.

The agency's main demographic is the elderly. It was established in 2007, and its nurses specialize in a broad range of care including pediatrics, cardiac and oncology.

"I would like to make the Baby Boomer population aware of the future risks they pose to themselves if they continue to neglect their health," Chowdhury said. "We need to provide them with knowledge and resources to help them take charge of their health."

Garza's story may be an extreme example of a common issue facing those of the Baby Boomer generation in the Rio Grande Valley, referring to the generation of Americans born between 1946 and 1964. They are the largest generation of Americans born in U.S. history.

In the Rio Grande Valley, there is a substantial influx of Baby Boomers that are uneducated about their health needs.

Doctors in the Valley say they are exasperated about the Baby Boomer generation's stubbornness, and half-knowledge about the facts when it comes to their health.

"In South Texas we have a big problem with our Baby Boomers, the problem we have is that people of this age were all sons and daughters of illiterate, hard working labor workers," said Dr. Erik Tavarez, a physician in McAllen who also referred to his own parents who belong to the Baby Boomer generation. "What that means is that these Baby Boomers went against the current. On their own, M AY / J U N E 2 0 1 5

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“�

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they became the first generation of educated Hispanics."

"At one point, they asked themselves 'do I work hard in the labor camps or do I go against the current and those people who tell me I can't do it? I'm going to show them I can do it.' That's the concept these people have," Dr. Tavarez said. "The problem I have with these same people is that it's very difficult for somebody like a physican to come in and tell them that how they have been living their lifestyle has been detrimental to their health."

As a result, there is a huge amount of people coming into the healthcare system with a high incidence of hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and other serious illnesses stemming from an unhealthy lifestyle.

"As a physician I'm battling with a guy who is overweight, hypertensive, and diabetic since the age of 45 or 50. How do I make him live an additional 20 years.

That's where I have my problem," said Dr. Tavarez.

The lack of insurance is a problem that affects anywhere betwen 20-30 million people in the US, but the issue agreed

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upon by health providers is that there is an even greater number of people who lack the education and mentality with regards to preventative care.

In the Valley, the number of households with persons aged 65 and above are at 25.5 percent, higher than the state average of 19.9 percent, according to a report by the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council Area Agency on Aging.

Agency services include case management, benefits counseling, and community assistance for people age 60 and older.

While the total growth in the general population in the Valley has increased by 23.6 percent between 2000 and 2009; its older population increased by 31.8 percent during that same span of time (2000-2009), according to the agency.

As of 2010, the estimate for the 60plus population in the Valley was about 162,987. The low-income senior population is at 23.3 percent or 37,943, and projections indicate significant continued growth in the general and senior population within the next ten years, according to the Area Agency on Aging.

A Lower Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Elders report also indicated that 28 percent of individuals 65 or older were diabetic. Based on this estimate, the number of diabetic seniors is 30,237.

This increases the risk of institutionalization and potential of suffering other conditions such as kidney failure, amputations, blindness and heart disease.

"These people are having these issues that come on, and my biggest concern is they don't qualify for Medicare," said Jonsete Reyna, an RN with Life Touch.

"These are people that are going to end up in the hospital. They dont know about the whole process, about going back to follow up with their doctor. They don't get checked regularly. They are the forgotten group."

"Often, they are close minded about having to be checked," Reyna said about her Baby Boomer patients. "They didn't come from a family that was doing the regular checkups. Their health has probably never been a priority, so it's a big change having to think that it is a priority at this age."

So what can be done?

As the first Baby Boomers entered retirement in 2011, medical professionals have not ruled out hope for the next wave of retirees, and the verdict is still out for their own children.

Dr Erik Tavarez said he has begun preparing for the influx of Baby Boomer patients at his practice by taking extra time to consult with them.

"With Baby Boomers, I have to give them the rationale. I have to explain to them," Dr. Tavarez said. "In other words, the way I convince them to listen to me is no longer these five minute visits where I can just come in, give them a prescription and send them on their way.

With these baby boomers, I have to take the time to sit there and tell them and explain to them the medical reasoning as to why I'm doing what I'm doing in order to convince them to do what I need them to do."

Reyna said it's all about encouraging a healthy lifestyle with her clients.

"I think they do need to think about living a healthy lifestyle, whether it's watching what they eat or maintaining

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a healthy weight. That's one of the key things; exercise and diet. Also, it's about following up with the doctor. A $50 visit once a year isn’t going to give you an idea of what you're predisposed to, and it may prevent you from having hypertension that can lead to a heart attack or a stroke."

Meanwhile, Garza said he pleads with doctors for assistance, but doesn't hold out hope. His fate rests with attorneys who are advocating on his behalf to get him Medicare early.

"You have to take care of the patients and have compassion," Garza said in Spanish. "For those patients who don't have insurance, you have to treat them the same, or maybe give them payment plans or options. Don't turn us away."

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HEALTH

Welcome to the next level

World-renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Raul Marquez takes technology and his talent abroad.

By Joey Gomez | Photos by Johnny Quiroz

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Edinburg surgeon Dr. Raul Marquez has emerged as one of the region's most world-traveled physicians and the foremost expert in robotic surgery using the Navio system.

Currently serving as an international instructor primarily in the USA, Germany and Latin America for the use of computer and robotic technology, Dr Marquez's influence spans across the globe.

"The valuable time I spent with Dr. Marquez provided additional depth of understanding of the Navio robotic technology and will allow me to get off to a quick start with the technology in my own practice," said Dr. Brett Fritsch, an orthopaedic surgeon based in Australia.

Navio refers to robotic-assisted technology that combines handheld intelligent instruments for precise partial knee replacement procedures, without the need for CT-scans or standard mechanical cutting guides.

By diligently working with reputable orthopedic en-gineers on improving and modifying navigation tech-niques, Dr. Marquez said the goal is to develop new technological devices that will improve clinical outcomes and provide a higher level of accuracy and safety.

"Partial knee surgery has been around since the 1940s, the problem is that is was done manually. It was done with mechanical instruments, which means we had to put a gauze inside the bone with pins, which made it very difficult to align the knee," Dr. Marquez said. "That is the reason why I use the robot and the computer because it's impossible for

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the human eye to tell if you have one to two degrees of deviation."

Knees have to be properly aligned with the center of the hip. Deviation refers to the improper alignment of the prosthesis, which can loosen if they are not properly set.

As one of the leading orthopedic surgeons within the national and international medical communities, Dr. Marquez's career spans more than 20 years in the Rio Grande Valley. During that time, he has remained at the forefront of medical technology and has often developed unique devices for patients.

In 1999, he designed and patented his own mobile bearing knee implant known as RAM Mobile Bearing Knee, which was developed in conjunction with Encore Orthopaedic located in Austin. At the time, Bob Mastromonaco, Product Director of Orthopedic Aesculap Implants System, credited Marquez as the main catalyst for a new era in his field.

"Dr. Marquez has helped raise the level of precision of knee surgery to a new level," Mastromonaco said.

The international community has taken notice and often make the trip to the Rio Grande Valley to work with Marquez personally.

Last year, Dr. Ryan M. DeCoons travelled from Macon, Georgia to learn robotic surgery on a patient using the Navio robotic technology. Dr Marquez is only one of a handful of surgeons in the United States that uses the equipment for partial knee surfacing.

Dr. DeCoons came to the Valley to observe, and in the process learn how to operate the new technology for patients back home in Georgia.

Dr. Alberto Gregori from Scotland also flew into the Rio Grande Valley in 2015 for training on partial knee resurfacing. During that time, Dr. Marquez taught Dr. Gregori the basic skills needed to operate the Navio technology used during partial knee replacements.

Dr. Marquez also travels to locations across the globe for training sessions 58

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with other surgeons.

"Dr. Marquez traveled to Istanbul late last year to provide peer-to-peer training on the Navio technology," said Prof.

Burak Beksac, who resides in Istanbul, Turkey. "I then traveled to Texas to spend time with him in his OR to observe Navio robotic partial knee cases.

His assistance and experience are much appreciated."

Born and raised in Mexico City, Dr.

“Dr. Marquez ha s hel ped rai se the level of precision of knee surgery to a new level.”

Marquez received his M.D. in medicine at the University of La Salle and completed his internship at the American British Cowdray Hospital, Mexico City, in 1978. He finished his Fellowship in Orthopaedic Surgery/Spinal Cord Monitoring at the University of Ottawa in Canada and completed his residency training in Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Toronto, Canada in 1986.

A passion for technology and patients' well-being drive Dr Marquez to the forefront of advanced orthopedics, which in turn creates a desire to inform his patients - not just prescribe.

"You just don't become my patient, you become my friend," Dr. Marquez said.

"I am very passionate about what I do.

I love to do this. I think a big part of it is showing the new technology and how it works."

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HEALTH

KYPH O PLAST Y An Effective T reatment for Compression F ractures

by L auri R evil l a

D

isabling back pain, difficulty breathing, decreased lung capacity, leg weakness, paralysis and deformity. These are all symptoms of kyphosis - a debilitating disease that affects thousands of Americans each year. This condition is characterized by a forward rounding of the back that leads to a hunchback or slouching position. It can occur at any age and can prevent the individual from being able to complete simple daily tasks.

Fortunately, Dr. Tajul Chowdhury and the team at Center for Pain Management in Edinburg, Texas offer Rio Grande Valley residents a minimally invasive treatment for this painful condition. Kyphoplasty surgery is a procedure that stabilizes the bone in vertebral compression fractures and restores some of the lost vertebral body height. “The conditions that can be treated with this procedure are compression fractures of the vertebral body due to trauma, osteoporosis and metastatic cancer, mostly T5 through L5,” explained Dr. Chowdhury.

Kyphoplasty involves making a small incision in the back by inserting a narrow tube and guiding it to the fractured area of the vertebrae. Advanced imaging is then used to insert a special balloon

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through that vertebra. This balloon is inflated to return the fractured pieces of the spine to a normal position and to create a cavity that “decompresses” that lost vertebral height. A cement-like material is injected inside that cavity to keep the bone in the restored position.

Kyphoplasty involves complicated techniques and should only be conducted by highly trained physicians.

Patients undergoing kyphoplasty should immediately experience pain relief and will soon realize that they need less pain medication. This procedure also lowers the risk for deep vein thrombosis.

“Pain relief will be immediate in some patients, while in others elimination or decreased pain will take a few days,” said Chowdhury. “Patients will be able to return to their normal daily activities, but should avoid heavy lifting for at least six weeks.”

Center for Pain Management has been the leading pain management clinic in the Rio Grande Valley for over 20 years.

Its founder and leading physician, Dr. Tajul Chowdhury, has over 30 years of combined experience in anesthesia and comprehensive and interventional pain.

After graduating with an M.B.B.S. from Rajshahi Medical College in M AY / J U N E 2 0 1 5

“Pain relief will be immediate in some patients, while in others elimination or decreased pain will take a few days.”

- Dr. Tajul Chowdhury

K Y P H OP L AST Y PRO CED U RE S T EPS

1 Balloon inserted into fractured vertebra

2 Balloon inf lated inside damaged vertebra

3 Special material injected into fractured vertebra

4 Special material hardens, stabilizing vertebra

Bangladesh, he completed additional training at Boston University and Harvard Medical School. He established Center for Pain Management to help patients manage pain resulting from herniated disks, cancer, work injuries, diabetic neuropathies, arthritis and failed surgeries.

Dr. Chowdhury offers some of the most innovative treatments in the field to help his patients continue on with their daily lives. “The way I define success is helping my patients live a better quality of life,� explained Chowdhury. Kyphoplasty helps patients with limited options get back to their regular lives. The ideal candidates for this surgery have symptoms such as low back pain, a decline in bone density and muscle strength, difficulty breathing, pressure sores and side effects from extended narcotic use.

Patients can expect almost a 100 percent success rate from this minimally invasive procedure that carries very little risk.

The team at Center for Pain Management finds it very rewarding to see young patients being able to play sports again or elderly individuals being able to spend time with their family as a result of this procedure. Kyphoplasty surgery is just another example of how the team lives up to their mission of helping Rio Grande Valley residents live a better quality of life by managing their pain.

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HEALTH EDUCATION

By: Lauri Revilla

N

urse practitioner Julio Olmeda their risk. Harvard Medical School recunderstands the importance of ommends lowering blood pressure, maintreating and preventing strokes. Detaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, spite numerous medical advances inBy theAnnie last decade, taking a baby aspirin daily, Sykes /drinking Photosinbymoderation, Clark Terrell stroke continues to be the fifth leading cause of death treating atrial fibrillation, controlling diabetes and in the United States. Over 130,000 Americans die as a refraining from smoking for those that have a famiresult of this disease each year and a majority of survi- ly history or have an increased risk. Olmeda strongly vors suffer its long-term effects. believes that patients need to be educated on how to Although everyone is at risk of having a stroke, modify their lifestyle in order to prevent this disease. there are several things individuals can do to decrease As Neurology Nurse Practitioner in the Valley In-

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stitute of Neurological Excellence Outpatient Clinic, Julio Olmeda sees general neurology and endovascular stroke patients on a regular basis. He helps these individuals recover after a stroke so they are able to return to their regular lives while also educating them on how to prevent a second one. “Basically what I do is assess these patients when they come out of the hospital and make sure that they’re on a correct secondary stroke prevention, which are all the medications that are used to prevent other strokes,” explained Olmeda. “I also do a lot of education about the stroke risk factors that these patients have so that they can prevent future strokes.” Preven-

fessionals are often not able to provide due to time constraints.

Olmeda is a crucial part of the team at the Valley Institute of Neurological Excellence. His extensive training and experience in neurology have made him an asset to the entire Rio Grande Valley. After completing his Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Texas in Brownsville, Texas, Olmeda completed a Master of Science degree in the University of Texas Pan American, where he specialized as a Neuroscience Nurse Practitioner. He is board certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Olmeda’s long career trajectory include roles as an Education Specialist and Stroke C o o rd i n a tor forthe stroke unit at Valley Baptist Medical Center, Clinical Nurse Manager at the Neuro-Trauma ICU in the same hospital and as Family Nurse Practitioner at the Family Night Clinic in Harlingen, Texas.

Julio Olmeda’s strong commitment to preventing stroke by raising awareness and educating the public on prevention doesn’t stop there. He has taught courses around the community on neurocritical care, stroke awareness, vagal nerve stimulation and stroke screenings and has served as coordinator for a stroke support group in Harlingen, Texas. What keeps him going is knowing that all of his efforts are with the goal of saving his patients’ lives.

“We take the time to sit down and explain to patients how they can prevent and manage their disease.” tion is key for this population that has a very high likelihood of having a second attack. According to the Center for Disease Control, 1 in 4 individuals suffering from a stroke have had a previous one.

Julio Olmeda’s strong belief in patient education is what attracted him to become a nurse practitioner. “The training nurse practitioners go through is highly focused on educating the patient,” said Julio Olmeda. “We take the time to sit down and explain to patients how they can prevent and manage their disease.”

Nurse practitioners are a great addition to any medical team because they provide that added support for holistic patient care that other health care pro-

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PRAYER,

&

DOCTORS

by Dr. Sauceda

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edicine and religion have both had their day, but they also both haven’t always been able to coexist. As a doctor, I know there’s a power higher than me. Each day I pray that I do the best I can do in my interactions with patients and in the decisions I make. However, recently I started thinking that maybe I should also pray with them. Since medical treatment seems to have become more holistic, I know doctors should take spirituality into account. I struggled with the decision for some time. Will my patients not like it? Will it make them run away? I wanted to include the spiritual aspect with the medical, but was afraid. Then one day, as I went to see my doctor for my annual health exam, at the end of our visit, he asked me if it was ok if he prayed with me. My answer was “Yes! Of course.” After that I knew I should stop thinking about it and just start doing it.

Some recent studies show that more patients are wanting their spirituality recognized. Doctors also are starting to realize that there is a missing component to health care. I read a statistic that 75%

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of more than a thousand physicians surveyed agree that religion and spirituality are important in helping patients and their families cope and in giving them a positive state of mind. The same statistics also showed that 50% of patients would like prayer with their physician while in the hospital and/or on routine doctor visits. So why is it so neglected?

An article I read about David Levy, a neurosurgeon that prays with his patients, states that is because we are afraid. Nathan Carlin, an assistant professor at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston, stated in an article for The Dallas Morning News ( July 2013) that “A physician should be open to a patient’s spirituality but shouldn’t press religion on patients.” There is caution required in the situation as to not overstep any boundaries, as some say it could be seen as inappropriate. Again, because we are afraid.

Dr. David Levy, who I mentioned earlier, is the author of a book called “Gray Matter: A Neurosurgeon Discovers the Power of Prayer…One Patient at a Time.” In the book he talks about how he believes most physicians are willing to pray for their

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patients but they just don’t know which ones want to pray. He states he believes that patients should ask for prayer if they want it. But he states he offers to pray for the patients he sees because he cares for people, wants to be a blessing to them, and wants to use all of the tools God has given him to heal people. He goes through stories of how he has seen it bringing people together and seeing families unify through prayer.

I can vouch for most everything I have mentioned up to this point.

“When I decided to start praying with my patients and their parents, I was a little terrified. On my first patient, I think my voice cracked as I asked, “Is it ok if I say a prayer for you and your child?”

Thankfully, my first family was ecstatic about it.

Afterward, my patient’s mother was in tears and expressed that they were needing that so much right now. Several other attempts were not as successful, but I do think the successes overcame the failures.

In conclusion, I just wanted to share with the readers that no one never knows how God will use prayers in someone’s life. I’ve come to see that God was telling me to be the person I am, and be authentic even if people don’t understand.

As a pediatrician and a father, I think prayer for our children is extremely important in their life.

So as Gabe usually puts a bible verse at the beginning of the magazine, I would like to add one with my article for this edition: “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5.16-18 DR. DAVID SAUCEDA, M.D. FAAP Pediatrician at Valley Children’s Clinic 2226 Haine Drive Harlingen, Texas 956-423-1283

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un is warming, tanks replaced sweaters, and bikini season is among us.

Yes, all is wonderful with the exception of one thing: That beach-body goal! From awkward first time gym appearances to feeling inadequate next to that buff guy lifting 50-pound weights on each hand next to you, we’ve all been there. To some, the gym may feel like home (to others… not so much). Unfortunately, if you’re the latter, anxiety may rear its ugly head. Feelings of anxiety may be a result of not knowing how all these thing-a-mabob machines work or feeling like you have to pick up heavier weights to prove to the person next to you that you actually know what you’re doing. In fact, this feeling has a name: social anxiety. More specifically, social anxiety is defined as the extreme fear of being scrutinized and judged by others in social or performance situations.

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Over 15 million American adults suffer from social anxiety disorder, which is often misperceived as typical shyness that people just need to “get over.”

The problem, however, is that anxiety is much more than one’s unwillingness or inability to overcome shyness: it is an actual medical condition involving neurotransmitters that we do not have much control over. These chemicals (specifically serotonin and norepinephrine) greatly affect emotional responses depending on the levels of each neurotransmitter within the brain. Anxiety has an array of symptoms that affect each person differently, with each landing on different ends of the severity spectrum.

Fortunately, there are a few symptoms that are widely accepted to be the hallmarks of social anxiety. The DSM-5 (a manual used by mental health professionals) lists some of the following M AY / J U N E 2 0 1 5

symptoms as the trademarks of social anxiety: The fear, anxiety, or avoidance is persistent, typically lasting 6 or more months.

The person recognizes that this fear is unreasonable or excessive.

The avoidance, anxious anticipation, or distress in the feared social or performance situation(s) interferes significantly with the person's routine, occupational (academic) functioning, or social activities or relationships, or there is marked distress about having the phobia.

The fear or avoidance is not due to direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., drugs, medications) or a general medical condition not better accounted for by another mental disorder.

Furthermore, anxiety is often categorized into seven different forms: phobias, generalized anxiety, post-traumatic

stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia and social anxiety. However, it is important to note that although people may experience the same type of anxiety, different coping mechanisms are best suited for each individual. If you fall prey to anxiety, the following step may be the toughest—learning how to cope with its symptoms. Nonetheless, there is a universally accepted coping mechanism – exercise, which helps abate anxiety and depressive symptoms.

Exercise has been described as an “intervention” in clinical psychology, and one of the explanations for its effectiveness is due to naturally occurring chemicals called endorphins. These endorphins are tiny neurotransmitters that work as analgesics on a person’s brain to increase pleasant stimulation, and awesome enough, the simple act of exercise releases loads of them! But before throwing

yourself into a new anxiety playground (like the gym for some), it is important to try and understand when you are experiencing anxiety, and how you can manage it.

As previously mentioned, anxiety has multiple symptoms, but dividing them between the somatic (physical) and the emotional symptoms may aid the some cope with their symptoms. Somatic symptoms include: hyperventilation or breathing heavily, muscle tension or tremors, twitches or shaking, dizziness or upset stomach, ponding heart, and cold or sweaty hands and/or feet. On the emotional end, common symptoms include: feeling tense and jumpy, panic (uneasy) or fearful, troubled by concern, irritable, restlessness or inability to be still/calm. If you experience these symptoms at the gym, then you may be experiencing social anxiety. BUT DO NOT FEAR!

THE FOLLOWING TIPS USED BY SPORTS PSYCHOLOGISTS MAY BE OF ASSISTANCE TO YOU: Relax. Take deep breaths (Inhale and exhale slowly), and count to 10.

Identify your anxiety. Experiencing anxiety is the easy part, but being able to label your emotions if and when you are facing them, along with writing them down, has been an effective way to flush out negative thoughts.

Be positive. Recognize that the problem causing your anxiety may not be fixed immediately, so keep in mind that it is not you.

Seek social support. Talk to friends and family about what is making you feel overwhelmed. You may even be surprised to find out that you are not alone.

Consult with a mental health provider and find a fitness program/ fitness professional to help you learn! *Dr. Mercado’s students in his Mental Health Research Lab at UTPA contributed to this article

Alfonso Mercado, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist Valley Psychological Services Assistant Professor-Department of Psychology At The University of Texas-Pan American 1201 West University Drive Edinburg, Texas 78539 www.utpa.edu/psychology

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LIFE

By Joey Gom

City doubles

tainme r e t n e e u n e v down on big

Leaders in Edinburg say they are working "very carefully" as construction begins for the future Bert Ogden Arena.

More than 15 years later, and still dealing with the effects of expensive failures, like the city's former SuperSplash water park, city leaders say proposed growth from an upcoming medical school as well as innovative public-private partnerships for development should assuade its critics.

"I can't blame anyone for trying to be ambitious and move the city forward. I think the timing was bad on a few of the situations where the city tried to handle it all themselves," said Edinburg Mayor Richard Garcia. "Here we have public-private partnerships, we have people who are going to work at making these things successful, and they are not a burden on the taxpayer."

Investors initially purchased $21.3 million in revenue bonds to finance con68

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struction of the now torn down SuperSplash Adventure water park in 1998.

The park shut down in 2000 after the then Edinburg Industrial Development Corporation defaulted on interest payments.

The water park was impacted by low attendance from the start. According to previous reports, an audit from the park's first year showed it lost more than $1.7 million within its first three months of opening.

The city was also heavily criticized after construction was halted for its Alamo Drafthouse movie theater in 2007.

The Trenton Crossroads development was intially set to be anchored by the Drafthouse, and was announced in December 2005. Unpaid bills by developers drove the property to foreclosure, and M AY / J U N E 2 0 1 5

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the site remained abandoned until November 2010.

The theater, which is located at the busy intersection of Trenton and Jackson roads, has since been picked up by Cinemark and converted into a new movie bistro concept.

The difference now for development projects, according to the mayor, is that innovative thinking from city leaders and major development taking place in Edinburg put the city at the forefront of a wave of new growth set to impact the Valley.

Having just broken ground on the city's upcoming state-of-the-art arena, Garcia drew a comparison to San Antonio not more than 25 years ago when the impact of its medical school allowed for dynamic growth.

"I think Edinburg is going to be part of a metropolis that will be nationally recognized. This is what I expect for the future," Garcia said at the groundbreaking of the new arena. "That is what happened to San Antonio with the medical investment. These are venues that are actually going to provide entertainment to

the people that will be coming here, but what is truly going to spur the growth is medical investment in the billlions of dollars."

The NBA Development League Rio Grande Valley Vipers, along with the City of Edinburg, the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation and CantĂş Construction on Thursday, February 26, broke ground on a new, stateof-the-art arena located at Interstate 69-Central and Alberta Road in Edinburg.

Bert Ogden Auto Group was announced as the arena’s naming rights sponsor.

With a capacity of 8,500 seats, Bert Ogden Arena will be the largest entertainment venue in South Texas when it opens in October 2016, according to the City of Edinburg.

The arena is estimated to cost $68 million, with $30 million from bonds using TIRZ and EEDC taxes and $38 million funded by a private developer. The arena will be owned by the City of Edinburg and operated by the RGV Vipers.

Bert Ogden Arena will be funded by

Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) and Edinburg Economic Development Corporation (EEDC) sales taxes.

The EEDC is the jobs-creation arm of the Edinburg City Council.

Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones (TIRZs) are special zones created by a governmental body, such as a city council, to attract new investment to an area.

TIRZs help finance the cost of redevelopment and encourage development in an area that would otherwise not attract sufficient market development in a timely manner.

Taxes attributable to new improvements (tax increments) are set-aside in a fund to finance public improvements within the boundaries of the zone.

"For me it's great. The City of Edinburg has been great to work with, and hopefully a lot of the other cities can learn from that and work together with local developers and work on the private-public sector to help the community and think more regional," said developer Alonso Cantu, owner of Cantu Construction, which is working with the M AY / J U N E 2 0 1 5

city to finance the arena.

"I think regionalism is where it's at.

Hopefully there is more growth for the Valley," Cantu said. "I think the medical school is going to be a big impact, I think the Viper arena is going to help out."

The opening of the arena is just the latest announcement of major projects taking place in the city. The UT Board of Regents has appropriated $196 million for construction, including $54 million for an academic building for the future UT-RGV medical school.

From retailers to restaurants and residential developments which increase the city's tax base, Edinburg leaders have previously recognized that major activity is happening just from the fact that the medical school is coming.

"We are pedaling as fast as we can," Garcia said about keeping up with the rapid growth that is taking place in Edinburg. "The growth is good, and the good news is we can handle the growth because the new projects mean more income for the city so that we can provide the services needed for all the new

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“With the merger of the universities, with the medical school and the jobs it has created, our construction numbers and residential construction is up.

The feedback I am getting from the community is that it’s a long time coming.”

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growth that is coming into our area.

"I think this particular center here is going to spur a lot of growth," Garcia said. "There is a lot of big name companies, like retail and restaurants, that have been on standby waiting to see if this was going to happen. This has been transformative in that respect as well."

The RGV Vipers will serve as the anchor tenant of the new arena, and will start their 10th season in the facility in the fall of 2016. In addition to being the home of the RGV Vipers, Bert Ogden Arena will host a variety of musical and entertainment acts year round.

Representatives from the Vipers say that because the arena is designed specifically around the basketball court, fans will enjoy a more intimate sports setting. The facility will also display a jumbotron that measures 40-by-20 feet, the largest in the NBA Development League.

Amenities at the upcoming arena will include a full-service restaurant, executive lounges and suites, and concessions. The arena is positioned next to one million square feet of property for an outdoor shopping mall and restaurants.

"We know it's exciting times," said Edinburg EDC executive director, Gus Garcia, no relation to the mayor. "With the merger of the universities, with the medical school and the jobs it has created, our construction numbers and residential construction is up. The feedback I am getting from the community is that it's a long time coming.

"This is something that they have wanted for a long time, and I think they want more," he said. "I think the retailers are gravitating towards that also. The restaurants understand that for a long time we have had a population that really wants those kinds of venues, and all it took was a domino effect."

The City of Edinburg is home to 84,000 residents, while more than 1.3 million people call the four counties that make up the Rio Grande Valley home. Edinburg is the third largest city in the RGV and serves as the county seat for Hidalgo County.

The arena’s namesake, the late Bert Ogden, established his first dealership in Edinburg in 1970. He and his wife, Dorothy, passed away several years later, but his daughter, Janet, and son-in-law, Robert Vacker, continued with the family business, which has evolved into a successful vehicle dealership in the region.

The dealership is one of the largest privately-owned dealer groups in the United States, with 22 complexes Valley-wide, including seven dealerships in Edinburg. Bert Ogden employs more than 1,000 people in deep South Texas.

The RGV Vipers are in their eighth season in the RGV and currently play at State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas. The team will fulfill its current contract with State Farm Arena before moving to Bert Ogden Arena in the fall of 2016.

"It brings the consistency and ability to do more for our product," said RGV Vipers President, Bert Garcia. "Any time you are able to give back to the community is an opportunity we are not going to say no to."

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1. Take a photo

2. Upload it

#rgvisionary 3. Tag it

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IGNI LIFE

IMAGINATIONS

By Joseph Lilli Photos by Johnny Quiroz

Anything is possible these days at McAllen’s International Museum of Art & Science (IMAS)!

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ITE! I

t’s where imagination and fun run wild. Where mind-bending exhibits and real-life, hands-on activities stimulate young minds and nourish skills essential to lifelong learning. Where young and old, parents and kids can have an incredible, super-duper good time!

There’s Science on a Sphere, an interactive, state-of-the-art exhibit, that illustrates planetary and celestial systems.

Students can play among the stars and planets. Observe the continents and earth’s topography like never before.

Dive beneath the oceans. And more.

“This is a technology unique for the Valley,” says newly appointed Museum President, Julie Johnson. “It’s fun and very hands-on.”

Or students can climb, slide, and crawl over RioScape, the Valley’s only interactive science playground. Set outdoors, they’ll get to do more hands-on fun things while also learning about scientific and environmental concepts specific to the Rio Grande River – from its source in the Colorado Rockies to the Gulf of Mexico.

Johnson says the Museum, with more than 50,000 square feet of space, has much to offer Valley residents. “We have science labs and the art studios where kids can create and be innovative. The

Beefing Up Science Exhibit Programs The Museum has long been strong in art, but less so with science. With Johnson’s direction and inspiration, that’s

“The fact that we have combined science and art here for a very long time is what makes this Museum so unique.” fact that we have combined science and art here for a very long time is what makes this Museum so unique.”

With her experience working at the Michigan Science Center and other prestigious museums, coupled with a strong background in exhibits, science and education, Johnson believes she can take what the Museum already has and make it even more outstanding.

“That’s what made me excited about this position and why I wanted to come here,” she remarks.

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rapidly changing.

“The Museum has the science building and the art building, and we need to make that connection more readily obvious to our visitors. So we’re jumping on what we’re calling the STEAM train, where STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. We want the community and local organizations to see us as the resource for STEAM, and how they actually are connected in so many ways. As we grow, I think that will become more evident.”

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With the SpaceX launch site near Brownsville, a new medical center coming in, and the growing programs for the area’s colleges and universities, Johnson says the Museum is in a good place to expand and become more robust as it moves forward.

“Moving forward” means coming up with new exhibits and new programs.

Visitors this summer can expect to see Richard Slechta’s exhibit on Photograms, which takes a look at photography, light, and the digital age, and how all that works together.

Also on tap is a new space exhibit from the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

It will feature a large model of NASA’s space shuttle, shuttle tile, an Apollo space suit and helmet, and much more.

In the fall, Electricity, an exhibit from Philadelphia’s Franklin Institute comes to the Museum. Visitors can discover how much power it takes to illuminate a light bulb or how their body can complete an electrical circuit, among other interactive things.

In January, the Museum will feature Eat Well-Play Well and Brain Teasers 2 – two exhibits from the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.

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Still More Activities Planned But Johnson has even more ambitious plans. “We’re adding robotics and a KidStruction Zone, where kids can get to build with all different types of materials.

We totally overhauled our summer camp programs to have both science and art programs – from pre-K to 8th grade.

They’ll be starting on June 1.

“We’re also working on updating Science on a Sphere and reorganizing our other science exhibits. So visitors and members will see a very big improvement in the science area over the next few months,” she notes.

In addition, plans call for expansion into homes and schools, an outreach where the Museum travels to off-site locations throughout the Valley. All of these events will be posted on their website: http://imasonline.org.

Source: XXXXXX M AY / J U N E 2 0 1 5

Community Support Vital Of course, while all of this is exciting and ambitious, none of it can be made possible without public support.

So IMAS and Johnson are working to expand their membership and tour programs, and to raise funds through various activities, such as Collage, a black tie fundraiser in late September, and Brew-seum Craft Beer Week, when special beers can be samples for a superb cause.

Johnson knows that to gain community support, IMAS has to work with the community. “We have to listen, get input on their needs and wants, and be collaborative. As the funds come in and the community sees what we’re doing with them, greater enthusiasm and support will follow,” she says.

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Never Say Never Fest, est. 2009, is the biggest all-ages music fest in South Texas that has featured bands of many different genres.

Photos by Kevin Martinez 76

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LIFE

SUNSET LIVE OUTDOOR CONCERT SERIES is a FREE family & pet

friendly event which features local and touring musicians, food, art, an artisan marketplace at the McAllen Convention Center’s Oval Park. The concert series takes place the second Saturday of each month.

The next concert is Saturday, May 9th.

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LIFE

EXPERIENCE THE MUSEUM OF SOUTH T E X A S H I S TO R Y

BY LAURI REVILLA

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One of the first things you’ll see when you walk into the Museum of South Texas History (MOSTHistory) is a giant mosasaur skeleton. The unusual fossil is just a glimpse of the unique artifacts and history that you will discover as you walk through the museum’s state-of-the-art exhibits housed in historic and contemporary buildings of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. Of the nation’s estimated 35,000 museums, just 3 percent are accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, a figure that includes MOSTHistory.

The Museum of South Texas History provides a great opportunity for tourists, families, history buffs, educators and students to learn about the historic culture and heritage of South Texas and Northeastern Mexico.

This area along the Rio Grande River has been home to some of the most influential characters in the history of the United States and Mexico. Because of its geographical location, the Rio Grande Valley (Valley) has played a major role in world events, such as the Spanish colonization of this continent and the American Civil War. “An interesting aspect about the history of our region is that it connects us with world history,” said Lisa K. Loebl, Marketing and Public Relations Officer of MOSTHistory. “Our story is unique not only because it covers the history of two countries, but because it touches on historic people and events around the world.”

The museum’s Rio Grande Legacy permanent exhibition spans prehistory through the 20th century, revealed in three parts — River Frontier, River Legacy, and River Crossroads. You will find ancient tools and fossils dating back to when the area was completely underwater, colonial treasures from the Spanish colonization of this region in the 1700s, a steamboat replica from the area’s trade and development boom in the mid 1800s, and battlefield relics from M AY / J U N E 2 0 1 5

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important battles of the Mexican and the American Civil Wars. Visitors will also learn the story of the Rio Grande Valley through an exciting multimedia experience found in all three of the museum’s galleries. “As you walk through our exhibits, you will hear music from that time period, animal growls and many other sounds that enhance your total visitor experience” explained Loebl.

“Visitors can view educational videos in integrated theaters and all of our exhibits are bilingual with the text in English and Spanish.”

The Museum of South Texas History has chronicled the rich cultural heritage of the Rio Grande Valley for 45 years and is a great educational experience for all ages. Founded in 1967 as the Hidalgo County Historical Museum in the 1910 Hidalgo County Jail (a Texas State Historic Landmark), MOSTHistory underwent a 5.5 million dollar expansion in 2003 that added 22,500 square feet to

the facilities, providing for a new wing that includes the Museum Store, Grand Lobby and permanent exhibits.

For outdoor enthusiasts, MOSTHistory’s Will Looney Legacy Park is a great place for both locals and tourists to spend exploring native animal trails and plants on a winding walkway, a wooden windmill and water tank, a traditional leña fence formed by stacking mesquite logs and other outdoor fun for the entire family. For researchers and history buffs, MOSTHistory is also home to the Margaret H. McAllen Memorial Archives – the Valley’s largest collection of historical documents, photographs, videos, and maps.

The Museum of South Texas History’s commitment to preserving the strong cultural roots and tradition of the area doesn’t stop there. The museum partners with local school districts to educate students through guided tours. It also hosts monthly programs and special events

throughout the year such as Pioneer & Ranching Crafts Day, Summer Nights at the Museum and Día de los Muertos, where visitors can experience traditions first-hand.

Located in downtown Edinburg at 200 North Closner Boulevard on the Hidalgo County Courthouse square, the museum’s hours of operation are from 1-5 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Admission is $7 adults (ages 18+); $5 seniors with ID (ages 62+), students with ID (ages 13+); $4 children ages 4 to 12; free, children ages 3 and under. FRIENDS of the museum are admitted free as a benefit of FRIENDship. The blended history of two countries through state-of-theart-facilities, educational programs and special events, an extensive collection of artifacts and archival documents, gardens landscaped with native plants … find it all at the Museum of South Texas History.

Let us help you walk through life with a healthy

Call us now at

956.350.0059 4920 N. EXPR. Suite E Brownsville, TX 78526 86

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Make an appointment by visiting our website at LowerValleyDental.com

The care you need

Kids have special medical needs

We have specialty pediatric neurology care

If your child suffers from headaches, seizures, tics or developmental delays, or syncope, metabolic or degenerative disorders, Valley Care Clinics is here to help.

With expertise in diagnosing and treating disorders of the brain, spinal cord, muscles and nerves, Dr. Randy Williamson is a pediatric neurologist who provides specialty care for complex, serious and chronic medical conditions..

Pediatric Neurology Care in Edinburg 4302 S. Sugar Road • Suite 206 Edinburg, Texas 78539 To schedule an appointment, call

1-855-VCC-APPT Clinic Hours: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Medicare, Medicaid and most medical insurance plans accepted.

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Back Cover

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