Word from the Publisher/mensaje de nuestra fundadora
Querídos lectores... T
hank God for the many seasons in life - especially spring! It remains one of the seasons I look forward to the most because of what it represents and because I get to begin my gardening. This hobby was shared by my grandfather the late Don Juan Martinez. He lived next door to me. And during this season he began to work in his yard - planting flowers, removing the debris, and scalping the yard to allow for new grass to come in. His yard was one of the most attractive on the block - he had patience, vision, and commitment to hard work, thus, resulting in a backyard oasis. He would sit on the grass and would begin to remove unwelcome weeds one by one. I would often sit there with him and help. As I worked alongside him, we would talk. He would share dichos, old stories, and, give unsolicited advice. And through the discussions, he would reference to God and credit Him for all good and explain that even the obstacles in life were part of learning. He especially reaffirmed why I had to always be fair, just, and true to my convictions. I didn't always understand, I was young and naive. However today, those lessons make perfect sense - "Become what you were created to be," he said referencing that God had a purpose and plan for us all. I carry on those messages and lessons. Now, my husband Frank and I will spend hours in the back cultivating and tending to our garden, to plants and flowers. I look forward to the spring flowers, especially the Crocus, which are rare to see but confirm that Spring is here. More so, I look forward to the conversations about our past and future that my husband and I have while we enjoy our downtime. As we observe Passover and Holy Week, let us give honor and the glory to God for the next seasons of our lives. We trust Him and we are grateful to what is in store and what lies ahead. I remind you that while we remain ever faithful, remember that God gives us sense to use the tools to manage our lives. We're seeing life returning to normal after this awful pandemic., which is not completely gone. I urge you to approach this time cautiously and continue health parameters including wearing a mask, washing your hands and getting vaccinated. Also, with Los Hermanos Familia we are preparing for a Bilingual Financial Literacy Workshop Series, we are planning the Cinco de Mayo Parade, and, make plans to join us for the the 12th Annual "VAmos a Pescar, Let's Go Fishing Event. As you can see, there are many items of interest in this month's issue of Latino Lubbock Magazine. We are so proud of the achievements of many Latino's from our community, and we hope that you will take the time to read through and read the stories, and help celebrate their successes, and achievements. Many stories are included We are experiencing many changes in our community, state and nationally. This is the time that Latinos must step up and be heard, whether it be through registering to vote and voting, to assuring that your children are happy, healthy and achieving an education. It takes all and every effort for us to be successful as a community and as Hispanics today. Como siempre, Latino Lubbock is committed to our community. We are grateful to be 100,000+ readers strong and appreciate our advertisers who help make it possible to keep our publication free. If you haven’t visited our website, I urge you to do so at www.latinolubbock.net. Thanks for reading and supporting our publication onstands and online! ♥ And of course, thank you for your support. May God bless you! ¡Gracias por su apoyo! Que dios los bendiga. PEACE and random acts of kindness. Que las bendiciones de dios estén contigo siempre! Mask up! Sinceramente, Christy Martinez-Garcia, Publisher/Owner & Latino Market Specialist “Lubbock News from a Latino Perspective” Celebrating 15 Years of Commitment to our Community
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Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Causes Death of Family's Father
BY GRACIELA VAZQUEZ, INTERN FOR LATINO LUBBOCK MAGAZINE
uring the February winD ter storm, Esperanza and Santiago Rodriguez took a nap
without knowing a silent killer was sneaking out of their heater and into their home. Teresa Rodriguez, their daughter, said she remembered the day like it was yesterday. She drove to check on her parents after receiving a worried phone call from her brother, Santiago Jr., asking her to check on their parents. She developed a strange feeling after seeing the lights off and receiving no answer after knocking loudly. After forcing her way into the home, Teresa noticed the smell of gas and said her father and mother looked lifeless and were unresponsive. Her father had passed away due to carbon monoxide poisoning, and her mother was rushed to the hospital. Fortunately, she survived after days of being in a fragile state. Teresa described it as the scariest and hardest day. “Carbon monoxide is a deadly and very silent killer. Nobody knows, you think you smell it but then you're like, oh, it was nothing, it was probably just a gas,” she said emotionally. Esperanza, Santiago’s wife, said that day was faint, and she only remembered getting a kiss from her husband before the nap and trying to walk out of the room but tumbling. The rest of the day was a blur until she woke up in the ER. “I was on the bed and I was tumbling trying to get to the door, but I couldn't, and I passed out because I don't remember
anything else.” Teresa said it’s easy to overlook the dangers of wanting to keep a home warm during the cold weather, but not to do so. She advises everyone to get a carbon monoxide monitor to prevent this from happening and to make sure the batteries are working at all times. “Especially during the winter, people tend to take it for granted and turn on the stove, or open the oven, and let it heat up the house. Don't take anything for granted,” she said. Brent Smith, with the Lubbock Fire Marshall, said carbon monoxide is a poisonous, colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas; caused by incomplete burning. The first symptom of carbon monoxide poisoning is a headache, then dizziness, weakness, and sometimes one may experience vomiting, chest pain, confusion, and unconsciousness. “Whenever you have gas coming through, ideally you want 100% of it to burn, but sometimes if you have dirty furnaces or leaks, it cannot burn 100%, and sometimes comes off with smoke, or even carbon monoxide, which you can't detect.” Smith said if anyone suspects carbon monoxide, they may call the fire department to check for leaks. Teresa described her father as a humble man and as someone who wanted to make everyone happy. “I know dad always said, family is everything, never go mad. If you get mad, get over it. Life
is just too short, and you don't know when's your last day because we're not promised tomorrow.” INFOBOX · Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, and toxic gas · Never heat your home with a gas range. · Carbon monoxide detectors are the fastest way to prevent CO poisoning. · Call 2-1-1 to learn about free detectors.
Important Numbers Police (Non-Emergency) call 763-5333 Fire (Non-Emergency) call 765-5757 Emergencies call 9-1-1 Program/Service info, call 2-1-1 City services, call 3-1-1 City - call 775-3000. www.ci.lubbock.tx.us County - call 775-1000 www.co.lubbock.tx.us
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