Contempo CULTURE / BUSINESS / POLITICS / FASHION / TECHNOLOGY / TRAVEL
APRIL 2010
CONTEMPO PIONEER
ANNABELLE PALOMORODRIGUEZ TOP VALLEY MODELS & LATINA MAGAZINE
WISE LATINAS
HAVING BIG IMPACT ON U.S. BUSINESS SCENE
AT SPI SPRING BREAK FASHION SHOW WITH THE LOOK OF UTILITY
MISS RIO GRANDE VALLEY 2010 PAGEANT
VERONICA GONZALES
VALLEY BOOMERS
A GENERATION WITH THE BEST MUSIC AND CULTURE COMMENCE “SOMETHING SEVENTIES”
WOMEN DEMOCRATS POSITIONED TO HOLD HOLD THEIR GROUND
KRYSTAL CAVAZOS OUR FEATURE MODEL OF THE MONTH
the Valley’s No. 1 On-Line Magazine
HIGHWAY 7
ICEBREAKER FOR VALLEY’S MODERN COUNTRY FANS page 1 ContempoMag.com
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Are You Not Entertained?
belly dancers by Sonia Chapa Dance Studio
Restaurant Bar Hookah Lounge page 4
McAllen’s Historic Downtown Entertainment District / 519 S. 17th St., McAllen Tx. dinner reservations / 994-9754 ContempoMag.com
from the Publisher: When I was growing up and going to elementary school back in 1969 at Crockett, our papers were handed out with grades not in decimals, not always in letters, but sometimes as words. The one we treasured most was the word “Excellent” because it meant more than 100 percent could ever mean. The word is fitting in many and all ways for discribing the efforts of our Cover girl this month.
Contempo CULTURE / BUSINESS / POLITICS / FASHION / TECHNOLOGY / TRAVEL
Exploring the People, Places, Issues and Events of the Rio Grande Valley
ContempoMag.com The Valley’s #1 On-Line Magazine
Contempo CULTURE / BUSINESS / POLITICS / FASHION / TECHNOLOGY / TRAVEL
APRIL 2010
CONTEMPO PIONEER
ANNABELLE PALOMORODRIGUEZ TOP VALLEY MODELS & LATINA MAGAZINE
WISE LATINAS
HAVING BIG IMPACT ON U.S. BUSINESS SCENE
AT SPI SPRING BREAK FASHION SHOW WITH THE LOOK OF UTILITY
VERONICA GONZALES
WOMEN DEMOCRATS POSITIONED TO HOLD HOLD THEIR GROUND
TEST DRIVE VALLEY STYLE TOYOTA’S 2010 PRIUS VALLEY BOOMERS
A GENERATION WITH THE BEST MUSIC AND CULTURE COMMENCE “SOMETHING SEVENTIES”
KRYSTAL CAVAZOS OUR FEATURE MODEL OF THE MONTH
Annabelle Palomo-Rodriguez has had a lot of impact on Upper Valley youth in many facets of education. Most recently Dr. Rodriguez has started up an already expanding vocational school that prepares willing students for careers that are in high demand. With a bachelors, masters and doctorate in hand and a vigorous approach she has expanded the school facility four fold in the last two years giving hope to eager young Valley job seekers who are landing good jobs for their efforts.
HIGHWAY 7
ICEBREAKER FOR VALLEY’S MODERN COUNTRY FANS
in this issue Dr. Annebelle PalomoRodriguez
7
CONTEMPO PIONEER
LATINA MAG
10
VERONICA GONZALEZ
20
Krystal Cavazos
24
McALLEN’S DOG PARK
26
IDEA Public Schools
28
MISS RIO GRANDE VALLEY 2010 CONTEMPO ART WALL
31
HIGHWAY 7 THE VALLEY STANDARD
34
THE WISE LATINA IMPACT IN BUSINESS
37
STYLE SHOW SPI
LOOKS FOR 4TH TERM
CONTEMPO’S FEATURE MODEL OF THE MONTH
Ralph Magaña Publisher
THE GOOD LIFE
Contempo is a publication of Contempo Magazine Inc. All opinions represented are of the authors & not necessarily the views of the publisher. The publisher makes no representations regarding advertising content. Contempo Magazine is a trademark of Contempo Magazine Inc. All rights reserved. All content published and constructed by Contempo Magazine is the property of Contempo Magazine Inc. Permission for reprint shall be granted only upon written request and authorized release from Contempo Magazine Inc.
NATIONAL RECOGNITION
President / Ralph Magaña Business Lucia Matthews / Alice Gomez Business & Latin American Affairs / Tony Magaña Fashion / Tom Castañeda Photographers Julio Gonzales / Javier Sepulveda / R. Magaña Ad Sales Ralph Magaña 467.7880 / Beatriz Casas 569.3134 Distribution / Rosa Lopez
32
MARIA LINZOAIN
FOR MODERN COUNTRY MUSIC
Co-founder & Webpage Editor / Tony Magaña 956.467.7880
e-mail: wmagana@rgv.rr.com
web site: www.contempomag.com 2210 Sabinal St. Mission, Tx 78572
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People-Contempo Pioneers
Dr. Annabelle PalomoRodriguez Making a Real Difference For Upper Valley Youth In Educational Excellence. by Ralph Magaña
Early on Dr. Annabelle, Palomo-Rodri-
guez never though she would be such a serious role model for so many Upper Valley youths. But that thought didn’t last long as she began a career in education. Annabelle, was born in McAllen, Texas but spent much of her early years in Alamo where she graduated from high school in 1985. In 1989 she earned her Bachelors of Science in Education and became a dedicated teacher at PSJA Independent School District. While teaching, she earned a Masters of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Texas-Pan American and was recruited to the Weslaco ISD as an administrator, Assistant Principal, and as one of the youngest principals in the District. Rodriguez remained in Weslaco for 13 years, ultimately serving as the Executive Director of Curriculum in 2003.
Compelled to advance her own education further, and wanting to have more impact in helping students break through learning barriers, Annabelle embarked on a career to complete a Doctorate of Education, which she received from UTPA in 2009 as part of the Superintendent’s doctoral program. the Valley’s No. 1 On-Line Magazine
Since then, Dr. Rodriguez has started an educational consulting firm and is an educational consultant for the public school system where she monitors educational compliance for federal guidelines in the Adequate Yearly Progress and Academic Excellence Indicator Systems programs for the State of Texas. page 7 ContempoMag.com
Throughout her career in the public schools, Dr. Rodriguez received a number of prestigious awards for educational excellence including the Texas Elementary Principal of the Year Award, District Teacher of the Year for PSJA-ISD and Pharr Elementary Teacher of the Year. Currently she is the CEO/School Director of RGV Careers An Institute for Higher Learning in Pharr, Tx which primarily educates students in the Allied Health Field. The school was recently approved by the Texas board of Nursing for the state Vocational Nursing Program. Only two short years ago the school, at page 8 ContempoMag.com
1200 W. Polk in Pharr, started out as a one unit, 2500 square foot campus. The facility now incorporates a floor surface area of over 8500 feet, most of which are new classrooms. The school curriculum has also expanded by over 100 percent, now offering careers in LVN/vocational nursing, electrocardiogram technician and pharmacy technician. Her mission at the school is to provide a culture of learning in high demand fields within a supportive and motivating atmosphere.
great deal in an important arena in a short time. Her school serves as a new pathway that prepares young, talented and eager students for employment in fields of high demand.
Annabelle spends all her available time with her daughter, Annika and with her parents Miguel and Graciela Palomo of Alamo, Texas. As a single mom she has little time for much more but does like keeping up with new trends in education. For all that she has achieved we are proud By any standard, Dr. Rodriguez’s impact to call Dr. Annabelle Rodriguez a distinon education in the Upper Valley has guished Contempo Pioneer. C been an extraordinary one in both public and private education. She has achieved a
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Latina Magazine and Top Valley Models Feature the Look of Utility SPI Fashion Show by Tom Casta単eda photography: Julio Gonzalez Javier Sepulveda R. Maga単a
It may be one of the most popular tourist
destinations in the country, but on a brisk night in early March South Padre Island offered more than sand and surf. For more than 400 high school and college students from across the Rio Grande Valley, the island provided them with a taste of New York City Fashion Week. In early March, Latina magazine partnered with leading streetwear apparel brand Southpole to host an exclusive outdoor
page 10 ContempoMag.com
the Valley’s No. 1 On-Line Magazine
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fashion show at the South Padre Island Convention tion,” the high-octane event featured nearly a dozen Centre. Entitled “Fashion for the New Genera- models from McAllen’s Missy’s Modeling Studio page 12 ContempoMag.com
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being the first to preview Southpole’s new fall/winter collection. Immediately following the runway show, attendees were able to get their photos taken with the models in front of the step-andrepeat. A special thank you to Region One ESC Gear Up! for assisting in bringing students from across the Valley to the exciting fashion event. C
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FreeStyle offers a uniquely efficient, ultra-compact, and flexible pulse-flow delivery system. Through this miniaturization into a wearable unit, a new class of oxygen users has emerged: Self-reliant individuals who are satisfied only when experiencing life to the fullest. For some that means travel across the country or travel around the world. For others, it’s doing the garden chores on the weekend, unrestricted by time. For still others, it is the exhilaration in attending a grandchild’s outdoor soccer match – carefree even most compact, FreeStyle is the world’s– or lightest, trying your footwork at soccer and only “wearable” portable oxygen concentrator yourself once again.
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Political Commentary: The Run for November 2010
Veronica Gonzales
District 41 State Rep. Addresses Supporters at Mujeres Unidas Benefit Santander Gallery Powerful Credentials and Broad Support Should Bring 4th Term By Ralph Maga単a
W omen from all about the county, including a large number of local office holders,
gathered at the Santander Gallery to show support for Veronica Gonzales in her re-election bid to hold the District 41 state rep. seat. At the gathering which also served to encourage donations for Mujeres Unidas, Rep. Gonzales delivered a strong pitch for her campaign that focused on her proven ability to cross the aisle to work with her republican counterparts and her legislative achievements on Upper Valley priorities. State Representative Veronica Gonzales, now serving a third term in the House of Representatives for District 41, is the first female to be elected to represent the district and is gearing up a potent re-election campaign to hold her seat for a fourth term. District 41, which is contained entirely in Hidalgo County and includes portions of McAllen, Edinburg and Mission produced a 60% voter turn-out riding the presidential and congressional elections of 2008 where she surmounted a two-to-one vote margin over her republican rival.
page 20 ContempoMag.com
Mujeres Unidas Benefit / Santander Gallery Mujeres Unidas/Women Together was founded in 1978 as a result of a local documentary that depicted the plight of battered women and their children. In 1980, the Texas Legislature passed HB 1075 that established funding for shelters for battered women. Since 1978, the agency has evolved and provides a comprehensive array of crisis intervention and support services for battered women and sexual assault survivors. In 1990 the agency developed a program to provide group counseling for abusive males. To learn more go to www.mujeresunidas.org
Former District Judge, Leticia Hinojosa, District 41 State Rep. Veronica Gonzales, Hidalgo County Democratic Chair, Dolly Elizondo and Evelyn Escamilla.
Judge Aida Salinas Flores, then Cynthia Sakulenzki - MHCC, State Rep. candidate Sandra Rodriguez and staff, Justice Gina Benavidez, Democratic Chair Dolly Elizondo, Attorney Rebecca Vela, attorney Deborah Cordova and attorney Sofia Ramon. the Valley’s No. 1 On-Line Magazine
page 21 ContempoMag.com
W
hile serving her 3rd term as a representative Gonzales has built up some strong credentials at the state capitol. She is the current Chair of the House Committee on Border & Intergovernmental Affairs and serves on the Public Health Committee where she pays special attention to women’s health issues. Rep. Gonzales currently serves as Legal Counsel for the Mexican American Legislative Caucus while her colleagues in the State House of Representatives have chosen her to serve as Secretary of the State Democratic Caucus. She helped establish her bipartisan credentials by passing the highest percentage of bills by any Democrat legislator in a Republican dominated house. Off to a fast start, Gonzales was selected as “Freshman of the Year” by the bipartisan Mexican-American Legislative Caucus while the Dallas Morning Star named her as an “Emerging Leader.” Not one to idle along, Gonzales page 22 ContempoMag.com
became Secretary of both the Mexican-American Legislative caucus and Chair of the Immigration Task Force. Republican Speaker of the House Joe Straus chose her to chair the important Border & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee. Her rapid assent to leadership positions within the minority party and ability to work with the republican leadership has created for the 41st District of Texas and the Upper Valley, a lot of clout at the state level. The Texas Association of Community Health Centers (TACHC) gave Gonzales the “Legislative Champion” award for legislation she passed increasing loan repayments for physicians who practice in Health Professional Shortage Areas. With a showing of strong support, Gonzales has been endorsed by the Texas Hospital Association, Texas Medical Association and the Texas League of Conservation Voters, as well as the mayors of McAllen, Mission, Alton, Edinburg and Pharr.
Back in McAllen Veronica Gonzales is a partner at the law firm of Kittleman, Thomas & Gonzales, L.L.P,, and has been elected president of the Hidalgo County Young Lawyers Association, president of the Hidalgo County Bar Association and chair of the association’s 12B Grievance Committee. The association also granted her the Texas Center Professionalism Award recognizing her high standards for ethical conduct. Rep. Gonzales was also selected as an “Extraordinary Woman in Law” by the Texas Lawyer. She serves as a member of many local organizations and sits on the board of the Children’s Defense Fund, South Texas College and Texas Rural Legal Aid. Veronica Gonzales was raised in San Marcos, Texas. The first in her family to go to college, Veronica graduated cum laude from Southwest Texas State University in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Spanish. After completing her undergraduate studies, she enrolled in the University of Texas School
Nonstop Service to Minneapolis/St. Paul from Harlingen. of Law and earned her Doctorate of Jurisprudence in 1991. The principal focus of her legislative efforts deal with issues affecting the quality of family life in South Texas, particularly for young women, higher education and issues affecting the border. She has demonstrated her skillfulness by successfully passing legislation relative to her agenda that includes: helping women who are victims of abuse with a address confidentiality program; protecting youth along the border with a binational substance abuse task force; assuring that divorced parents get all the visitation time permitted; assuring that border citizens have sufficient water by converting water rights from irrigation to municipal use; widening the pool of people who can become police officers; providing lighting for the streets of colonias; and helping students finish college sooner to be able to pay their tuition in payments. It is more than a good guess that Rep. Veronica Gonzales will have a long future in Texas politics as she champions popular causes that are important to local voters and as she continues to show a willingness towards bipartisanship. Although there have been few Hispanic women who have risen to statewide prominence in Texas politics, Veronica Gonzalez has the political instincts in a pervasive political season to survive and prosper. She is interactive but not pretentious. She does not embrace any ideological extremes. She is charismatic and projects a genuine sense of trust and sincerity that many female candidates are banking on this season. C
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Contempo’s Feature Model
Krystal Cavazos
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The Game is On at Cimarron
Affordable Memberships Now Available call 956-581-7401 page 24 ContempoMag.com
ontempo Feature Model, Krystal Cavazos, daughter of Jose M. Cavazos and Lorena A. Cavazos of Mission, Texas, is a 20 year old pre pharmacy student at UTPA. She resides in Mission, Texas and is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Chemistry. Krystal is a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church and credits a faithful and supportive family whom have instilled strong morals and high values “for as long as she can remember.”
spot on the Marcos Valdez show of Univision 48 for her extraordinary singing talent.
Her passion is singing and throughout junior high and high school, she earned a number of prestigious awards including a Division 1 ratings in Solo & Ensemble contests at both regional & state levels. She served on the Region Women’s Choir, and Region and District Mixed Choirs. Because of her excellent range, she often chosen to sing the national anthem at high school football and baseball games, as well at Special ceremonies for Veterans and at local charity events. An early career highlight landed Krystal a
Dazzling judges and audience alike in pageant competition, she has compiled a host of awards that including several top 5 ranks, Most Photogenic, Miss Elegancia, and Best Evening Gown.
Krystal is an accomplished beauty queen with a number of titles, such as Miss Texas Teen Belleza Latina 2007, Duchess of Pink Grapefruit, Duchess of Butterfly, Homecoming Queen of her high school (Veterans Memorial), and Ms. Cavazos served as an Ambassador for the Carnival of Mazatlan, Sinaloa.
She feels very proud and honored to have such dedicated and loving parents, and brothers (Joey and Danny Cavazos), and grandparents (Jose Mario and Bertha Cavazos) who make every day joyful, comforting and rewarding. C
Minutes from Major Area Hotels
100 Years of History
Restaurant
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Patio
Owners - Arturo Guerra & Che Guerra
100 Years of Tradition The Guerra family and staff are determined to make your expectations of great dining a part of their tradition. At The Patio on Guerra you will find a superbly crafted menu of steaks, seafood and other featured favorites prepared by Executive Chef Fermin Delgadillo. At The Patio on Guerra wine selections aren’t left to the discretion of the suppliers. We hand select great wines from around the world that are designed to pair well with our fine international cuisine. Our cellar offers over 130 reasonably priced wines from all over Europe, the U. S., and South America. Guerra family lineage in the New World dating back to 1603.
No. 9 5 6 . 6 6 1 . 9 1 0 0 1 1 6 S o u t h 1 the 7 t hValley’s St. M c A1 lOn-Line l e n ’s Magazine D o w n t o w n E n tpage e r t a25 i n ContempoMag.com ment District
The Good Life: McAllen’s Dog Park Take a Tour: with Contempo Feature Model Ashley Doffing
The new McAllen Dog Park located at 5th Street and Tamarack on Saturday, February 13, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. “After months of anticipation, we are happy to introduce McAllen’s first Dog Park to the community,” said Sally Gavlik, Director of the McAllen Parks and Recreation Department. “The new park will provide a safe, convenient location for people to take their dogs for socializing and exercise, and it will provide a great way to educate the public about responsible pet practices.” The land where the Dog Park now stands was originally a storm water detention pond dug in the 1960’s to accommodate localized flooding. McAllen’s first fenced “off leash” Dog Park has separate areas for small and large dogs, as well as a trail surrounding the park for dogs that may need the restraint of a leash. The renovated park features a new parking lot, shade structure, signage kiosk, landscaping, area lighting, fencing and a walking trail. For more information regarding the McAllen Dog Park Ribbon Cutting ceremony please contact the McAllen Parks and Recreation Department at (956) 6813333. C
page 26 ContempoMag.com
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Please join us for the 30th Annual Tequisquiapan Wine & Cheese Festival in the Heart of Mexico’s Wine Producing Region where Mexico’s most famous wines are cultivated. The area produces an array of fine cheeses to complement the tasting of fine wines from around the world with over 300 international vinyards exhibited. The festival is timed to coincide with our Annual Fair and Palenque with lots of fun for the whole family! Just 30 minutes south of San Miguel. find out more at www.tequis.info page 27 ContempoMag.com
IDEA Public Schools College Prep Donna Campus In Top National Rankings of US News & World Report Hosts Carpe Diem Gala May 20th by Tom Torkelson
All students are college bound at IDEA Public Schools. From kindergarten to 12th grade, IDEA Public Schools offers a rigorous academic program with a laser-like focus on college readiness. To date, 100% of IDEA’s high school graduates have enrolled in college; 75% of these alumni being first-generation college students. Ten years ago, I founded IDEA Public Schools with the mission to ensure that students from underserved communities were prepared to succeed in college and citizenship. At IDEA, we believe all children deserve a college education. IDEA is significantly improving the human capital pipeline in the region by sending these students to college. In 2000, IDEA began with 150 students enrolled at one school and has grown since then to serve over 5,500 students at 12 schools from Mission to Brownsville. In 2005, we launched the 2012 Expansion Plan, an ambitious plan for growth, which calls for the launching of 22 schools in 11 communities by the year 2012. We are halfway through our plan, and thus far, have met every milestone along the way. Our expansion is making it possible for more students from under-served communities to attend our tuition-free schools. Our schools are open to all children; there are no grade requirements or admission tests to enroll.
Where Health is a MAJOR Decision
Andrea Lopez, a 6th grade Social Studies at IDEA San Juan, is just one of our teachers who “truly believe in IDEA’s philosophy of college for all children – no excuses!” She refers to college everyday in the classroom and shows her students that attending COLLEGE is not only a dream, but also an attainable expectation. C Support IDEA Public Schools by sponsoring or attending the 2010 Carpe Diem Gala & Auction on May 20, 2010. Call Lindsey Price at (956) 373-5814 or email lprice@ideapublicschools.org for more information.
page 28 ContempoMag.com
aj o
r
The keys to our success are our teachers, who are incredibly gifted in the art of teaching, and principals who lead their schools with a lot of energy and competence. We have the same kids everyone else has, yet it is our teachers and principals that have found a way to motivate our students to succeed in a four-year college or university.
M
IDEA has a proven track record of success: US News and World Report ranked IDEA College Preparatory Donna #1 high school in the Rio Grande Valley, #3 high school in Texas, #3 charter school in the nation and #13 high school among 21,000 schools nationwide.
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MAMA MIAS PIZZERIA Old Chicago Style Pizzas, Sandwiches, Dogs All Homemade - Original 100 E. Bus 83, McAllen call-in orders: (956) 664-2671 the Valley’s No. 1 On-Line Magazine
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Art Wall
Talking with Maria Linzoain is like walking
into a magical world where painting is the only thing that is important. She speaks unhurridly, explaining her work like someone describing a dear loved one. The harmony of her personality and her calm gaze can be seen in the vibrant colors of each of her paintings.
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Maria Linzoain was born in Villa Maria, Argentina. She has taken part in international exhibits in Argentina, Italy, Spain and USA. She has also participated in many collective and individual shows and has won national as well as international prizes. Today, besides her passion of painting, she runs a workshop ex-
perimenting in composition, colors and theory of the art. ZM Gallery is proud to be the first to introduce the beauty of Maria’s work into the United States. You can experience some of her paintings in ZM Gallery located at 800
Maria Linzoain
N. Main St., Suite 100, Art Village on Main in McAllen or visit our website at www.ZMGallery.com. C By Carolina Rodriguez the Valley’s No. 1 On-Line Magazine
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Music & Entertainment
HIGHWAY 7 With a brief electric guitar intro,
Highway 7 performs “Still Standing at the 2010 McAllen New Year Bash. The song is a country ballad of how true love can endow courage in the face of the life’s hardships. Vocalists Natalie and Kelly Haime dominate an upbeat melody with a familiar deep country vocal expression that is delivered with passion. In this song lead guitarist, Greg Garza has trained his guitar to the sound and era of southern rock, although the band is positioned for modern country.
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Coming to the Valley all the way from Carleton Place, Ontario the sisters have spent a lifetime singing and song writing. They named the band, “Highway 7” after a highway they frequently traveled in Canada and have put their brand on the “modern country” style in the Upper Valley while based out of Edinburg, Texas. Although they have played a number of valley venues in a short time, they prefer large stage events for now. The band is dramatic on stage under the lights and doesn’t compromise country tradition in their music. These sisters can and do harmonize like little country angels giving the band the big performance look and sound. Contempo gives a BIG thumbs up to Highway 7 for bringing a fresh new country sound to the Upper Valley. These ladies should, in quick time, ignite the industry with some new life and appreciation for C the country music. C
An Irish Pub Story..... A man stumbles up to the only patron in a bar and asks “Can I buy you a drink?”-"Why of course", comes the reply. The first man then asks: "Where are you from?" "I'm from Ireland", replies the second man. The first man: "You don't say, I'm from Ireland too! Lets have another round to Ireland."-"Of course", replies the second man. The First man then asks: "Wherein Ireland are you from?" "Dublin", comes the reply. "I can't believe it", says the first man. "I'm from Dublin too! Let's have another drink to Dublin.""Of course", replies the second man. Curiosity strikes the first man and he asks: "What school did you go to?"-"Saint Mary's", replies the second man. "I graduated in '62." "This is unbelievable", the first man says. "I went to Saint Mary's and graduated in '62, too!"
100 E. Nolana, McAllen, TX (956) 618-1335
About that time in comes one of the regulars and asks the bartender, What’s up? "Nothing much", replies the bartender. "Just those O'Malley twins drunk again."
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Event:
Bringin it back to the Best of Times, Music & Culture “Something Seventies� is a group of like-minded Boomers and their many friends who have a profound appreciation for the music and culture of the 1970s. To celebrate they reunite from time to time in the McAllen area and elsewhere. More events are planned for McAllen and Houston in April. Learn more about Something Seventies on Facebook.
Learn more about
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on facebook
BUSINESS / CAPTURING THE MARKET
Wise Latinas Making A Big Business Impact Over the years Latina entrepreneurs have made
a strong impact on the U.S. business scene. The Hispanic population is the largest and fastest growing minority group. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Hispanic population was 46.9 million in 2008, a 3.2 percent increase from 2007, meaning almost one in six American is of Hispanic descent. The large Hispanic influence has resulted in an economy robust with innovative Latina entrepreneurs. This month is Women’s History Month and various individuals, organizations and institutions are putting forth efforts towards recognizing the importance of female societal contributions. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the National Women’s History Project (NWHP), which serves as a catalyst for promoting women as leaders and influential societal forces. The focus for this year’s theme is ‘Writing Women Back into History’. Mainstream historical accounts have largely undermined female contributions in society. The accomplishments of minorities tend to also receive a diminished role in typical historical reports. Therefore, Latinas face a double discrimination. To honor the theme the NWHP has developed a nation-wide program highlighting outstanding women and their achievements. The organization places an emphasis on featuring positive role models and the importance of women from all backgrounds.
compassionate and passionate way. We love our music, colors, food, family and friends,” Robbins said. Her clothing line embraces this culture. “I wanted to create brands that truly resonated with the Latino community.” Latina entrepreneurs have found alternative solutions to breaking down the barriers to success for minority business owners. Networking online through organizations such as the Hispanic Chamber of E-Commerce provides access to knowledge and resources that help promote Latina business.
Accrediting women for the work they have done opens doors for other women to follow their lead. Lisa Garcia-Ruiz, founder of The Grant Hunter, a consulting service that helps its clients seek funding sources, was motivated by the accomplishments of others.
“The Hispanic Chamber of E-Commerce has given online Hispanic-focused businesses a forum to come together and promote their product or services in a professional manner,” Martha Alburquerque, developer of Lela Luxe, an online magazine dedicated to the latest fashion, art, design and entertainment. “Stumbling upon the organization has inspired me to continue my efforts, despite being a minority in the world of blogging.”
Another important aspect attributing to the success of Latina business is their competencies in communicating in multicultural environments. The U.S. is an increasingly diverse playground for business transactions. Creator of networking focused company Opening Latino Doors LLC, For Latinas culture is an important influence in Lourdes Sampera Tsukada, articulates the imbusiness endeavors and thus should be celebrat- portance of multicultural understandings. ed as playing a part in their success. Lilian de la Torre-Jiménez, Publisher of Bodas USA La Re- “When one is doing business or interacting with vista, the first Spanish-language bridal magazine small business owners from another culture, in the U.S., notes the significance her Hispanic communication styles vary,” Sampera Tsukada said. “We are no longer doing business with the heritage has on her business. same culture and the same generations – we are “Being Hispanic is the foundation and the heart doing business with many different cultures, of my business” Torre-Jiménez said. “Our motto generations, and forms of communications. The says it all: Tu Boda, Tu Cultura, Tu Idioma (Your awareness of these key components is the key to Wedding, Your Culture, Your Language).” With future continued success!” that same approach of catering to Latinas with a culturally appropriate multimedia platform, the Women will have an increasingly prominent role publisher is launching her third magazine, Mu- in U.S. business. As the U.S. Hispanic populajer Empresaria, the first Spanish-language digi- tion continues to grow much of this transformatal magazine for the U.S. Latina Entrepreneur in tion will be made by Latinas. The contributions of Latina entrepreneurs should be recognized to mid-2010. encourage the entrepreneurial pursuits of youngCulture-infused Latina companies are able to er generations. The result of such efforts will speak to the ever-growing Hispanic population. have a positive impact on the future of the U.S. Mainstream companies devise heavily budgeted business world. C plans to reach this lucrative demographic but oftentimes fall short of communicating with by Lucía Matthews and Alice Gomez. cultural relevancy. Latina entrepreneurs such as Molly Robbins, founder of fashion brands Palo- Lucía Matthews is a freelance writer and director mita and Chucho, understands the nuances of her of DiálogoPR a Hispanic public relations firm. Alice Gomez is a public relations counselor at DiálLatino culture. “I have been inspired by other strong women entrepreneurs who have been able to create a business that allows them to make a difference, make money and have time for their families as well,” Ruiz said.
According to the NWHP, when the effort began in the eighties less than 3% of the content of teacher training textbooks mentioned the contributions of women and when included, women were usually written in as mere footnotes. Women were deprived of female role models. Today the web contains millions of citations professing ogoPR and a published writer who contributes feathe accomplishments of women and Latinas specifically. “The Latino culture embraces a ‘love for life’ in a tures, news and technical articles. the Valley’s No. 1 On-Line Magazine
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Pageant (continued from page 31)
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