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Dear readers:

Queridos lectores:

Welcome to the June issue of Latino New York Magazine. In this edition our focus is the family in particular the fathers since this month we pay tribute to them on father’s day. Our cover story is a proud Latin American father, Nicasio Rios with his daughter Nicaya. Dainna Rios the wife and mother wrote a poignant and passionate story about this man and what he represents in their lives.

Bienvenidos a la edición de Junio de Latino New York Magazine. En ésta queremos dar reconocimiento a la familia, principalmente a los padres ya que en este mes celebramos el día de los padres. Nuestra portada muestra a un orgulloso padre Latino Americano, Nicasio Ríos con su hija Nicaya. Su esposa escribió un conmovedor y apasionado artículo acerca de éste.

We also wrote a brief history of Jose Lopez the alligator man and a conversation with Brian Stratton Mayor of the City of Schenectady.

We understand that our effort for the month of May was very well received by everyone in the community. It is our desire that you enjoy this one as much or better. Our purpose is to ensure that our magazine becomes the best publication in the Capital District. We believe that we are almost there.

Thank you for your continued support and please do not forget to send us your suggestions and criticisms. We are sure that your comments will help us to continue to improve our efforts Juan J. George Publisher.

If have any comments or suggestion please send them to me at jgeorge@laradionet.net or by calling at: (518) 4382875 or write to us at: Albany Latino Communications.

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También encontrarán una breve historia sobre José López el hombre lagarto y una conversación que tuvimos con Brian Stratton el alcalde de la ciudad de Schenectady.

Tenemos entendido que el esfuerzo de Mayo fue muy bien recibido por todos en la comunidad.

Son nuestros deseos que ésta edición les guste tanto o mejor. Nuestro propósito es hacer lo necesario para que nuestra revista sea la mejor del distrito capital, si es que ya no lo es.

Muchas gracias por su apoyo continuo y por favor no se olviden de enviarnos sus sugerencias y críticas las cuales nos ayudaran a continuar nuestros esfuerzos.

Juan J. George Editor

Si desea enviarnos sus comentarios o sugerencias, por favor envíenos a jgeorge@laradionet.net o llamando al telefono (518) 438-2875 o escríbanos a: Albany Latino Comunications.

1314 A Central Ave., Albany, NY 12205

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Table of Contents

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Tabla de Contenido

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It is Important to encourage the graduates to succeed •María Neira, Vice-President of NYSUT Es Importante animar a los graduados hacia el éxito

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A Conversation with Mr. Brian Stratton • Juan J. George Una Conversación con el Sr. Brian Stratton

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Tips for Completing USCIS Forms • Marco F.G. Tomakin, RN, Esq. Fuel Saving Tips and Automotive Basics • Karen Micklas Consejos para ahorro de gasolina y asuntos básicos sobre automóviles

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It’s Time for a Change • Annalene Antonio Es Hora de un Cambio

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For Honor, For Country ... For Family • Dianna Rios Por el Honor, Por la Patria ...Por la Familia

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Celebración del Día del Padre • Indira Enamorado

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Ask Lisa • Lisa Cortés Pregúntale a Lisa

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Literary Corner • María del Pilar Casas Luque La Esquina Literaria

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There is Special Help for Families facing any serious illness • Column from The Community Hospice Foundation Existe Ayuda Especial para Familias que enfrentan enfermedades graves

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Social & Cultural Events Eventos Sociales & Culturales

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A visit with the Alligatorman • Juan J. George Una visita con el Hombre Lagarto

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Concepts and Dangers of Addiction • Luis González M.A. Conceptos y Pelígros de la Adicción

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Family Summer Fun and Healthy Snacks Tips • Whitney M. Young, Jr. Health Services’ WIC Staff Consejos para hacer Divertidos y Saludables Snacks JUNE 2008

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It is important to encourage the graduates to succeed By: Maria Neira

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t’s hard to believe, but the end of another academic year is upon us. And, my union, the New York State United Teachers, is very proud of the accomplishments made by our students and their schools in 20072008.

Our state’s efforts to close the achievement gap for children living in poverty have been recognized nationally. We lead the country, as well, in the number of students participating in Advance Placement programs.

Meanwhile, the national experts at Education Week cited New York as America’s leader in education standards, quality tests and accountability.

Educators will now spend the summer months taking part in various training programs and preparing curriculums for the upcoming school year. In the meantime, parents should continue to ensure their children are reading throughout the summer so they don’t lose any ground and are off on the right foot in September.

New graduates, meanwhile, will find themselves entering an entirely new phase of their lives — one that requires them to get serious about their future. For many, that future will include college.

In a recent address to a group of Latino students, I told them that no matter how they choose to define success in life, one thing is certain: Success cannot be achieved without a goal and without determination to achieve that goal.

What’s especially encouraging to me is that now — perhaps more than ever before — the Latino community is in a position to help our new graduates succeed. In recent years, we’ve made major strides, making our mark in politics, medicine, education and business.

In fact, according to the U.S. Census, Latinoowned businesses averaged three times the national growth rate for all businesses between 1997 and 2002, and experts say that growth shows no sign of tapering off.

As Latinos make their mark as entrepreneurs and professionals, it is incumbent upon us to reach back and help the next generation. And the perfect way to do just that is by exposing our youth to real life and work experience through internships and mentoring programs.

As more Latino businesses flourish, it is my hope that owners consider establishing further partnerships with our schools as part of a continuing effort to set students on the pathway to success.

The state’s business community has repeatedly told NYSUT that one of its major concerns is the education and development of the next generation’s work force.

That’s especially so for the Latino business community, and there’s no better time than starting with this year’s graduating class.

Maria Neira is Vice President of New York State United Teachers NYSUT.

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Es Importante animar a los graduados hacia el éxito E

s difícil de creer, pero el final de otro año académico ya se acerca. Y mi unión, de Profesores del Estado de Nueva York, se encuentra orgullosa de los avances logrados por nuestros estudiantes en sus colegios durante 20072008.

Nuestros esfuerzos estatales para disminuir la brecha de logros para niños que viven en pobreza, ha sido reconocida a nivel nacional. También estamos a la cabeza a nivel nacional, en el número de estudiantes que participa en programas de Advance Placement. Entre tanto, expertos nacionales de Education Week citaron a Nueva York como líder en el país en estándares educativos, calidad de exámenes y responsabilidad.

Los educadores durante estos meses de verano, harán parte de varios programas de entrenamiento y preparación de curriculums para el año escolar venidero. Mientras tanto, los padres deberán asegurarse de que sus hijos lean durante el verano, para que no pierdan lo aprendido y comiencen con pie derecho en Septiembre.

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Los nuevos graduados, entre tanto, se encontrarán comenzando una nueva etapa de sus vidas – una que requiere seriedad a cerca del futuro. Para muchos, ese futuro incluirá también la Universidad.

En un reciente acercamiento a un grupo de estudiantes latinos, les dije que no importando cómo definan el éxito en sus vidas, una cosa es segura: El éxito no puede lograrse sin la determinación para obtener metas.

Lo que me anima especialmente es que ahora – de pronto más que antes – la comunidad latina se encuentra en posición de ayudar a los nuevos graduados a salir adelante. En años recientes, hemos logrado grandes avances, en dejar nuestro legado en política, medicina, educación y negocios. De hecho, de acuerdo con el Censo en USA, los negocios cuyos dueños son latinos lograron en promedio, tres veces la rata de crecimiento nacional para negocios entre 1997 y 2002, y los expertos aseguran que ese crecimiento no muestra signos de disminuir.

Como Latinos que dejan su huella como empresarios y profesionales, nos incumbe ayudar a las nuevas generaciones. Y la forma perfecta de hacerlo es exponer a la juventud a la realidad de la vida y a la experiencia del trabajo a través de internships y programas de mentores.

A medida que más negocios latinos progresen, tengo la esperanza de que los propietarios consideren establecer relaciones en sociedad con los colegios, como parte de nuestro esfuerzo en definirle a los estudiantes un camino hacia el éxito.

La comunidad de empresas del estado, le ha manifestado repetidamente a NYSUT que una de sus mayores preocupaciones es la educación y el desarrollo de la fuerza de trabajo en las nuevas generaciones.

Ello es especialmente importante para la comunidad latina de negocios, y no hay mejor momento para empezar que con los graduados de este año.

Maria Neira es Vice Presidenta de la Unión de Profesores del Estado de Nueva York, NYSUT.

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A conversation with Mr. Brian Stratton Mayor of the city of Schenectady, New York, since November of 2003

Una conversación con el Sr. Brian Stratton Alcalde de la ciudad de Schenectady, New York, desde Noviembre, 2003

By: Juan J. George

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t was a rainy spring afternoon. I was driving towards the city of Schenectady New York to meet with my friend Janneth Hall who had made an appointment to interview the Mayor of the city Mr. Brian Stratton.

Because I did not know the location of City Hall, we decided to meet at Villa Italia a place we mutually knew and drive to the mayor’s office from there.

I arrived there a bit late Janneth was already in the parking lot. I followed her until we reach a block where I saw this majestic building with large marble stairs. We parked and walked toward the office of the mayor.

Janneth very loving and very elegant as always waited with me in the foyer of the mayor’s office who arrived shortly.

Mr. Stratton guided us to what appeared to be a conference room. We sat down and began the conversation.

We had an opportunity to discuss a variety of issues. We talked about his family. He said that besides being the mayor, he was a son, a husband and a father. He indicated that same day his mother had just gone thru hip replacement surgery which had to be a priority over some other business at hand. We talked about how we both had attended the same university in different time of course. You see, the mayor is a lot younger than I.

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When asked of his accomplishments, he said that goal in its first four years was to restore the economic integrity of the city, and to rebuild a sense of respect in the community. He thinks that with help from state and federal agencies as well as being surrounded by a group of able professionals he was able to accomplished most of his goals.

He said that the problems of the city of Schenectady are similar to the problems of many other cities in the nation. The crime, the collapse of infrastructure, and the decresing population are part of these problems.

He said that Schenectady has to rebuild its neighborhoods. We need millions perhaps billions of dollars to fix streets, sidewalks and sewers he further stated.

He added that we needed to attract good people to live and stay in this community. People who are an integral part of the community and those who are not interested in negative things like drugs or crime.

He added, neighborhoods are the most important things in a community.

Without neighborhoods there is no community. He said that although the development of downtown helps bring the needed resources and revenues, there can be no progress if the quality of life in neighborhoods is not good.

The mayor also indicated that although the city has its problems regarding public safety, He with the help of many others is working hard to change this.

He said that the police can not do the job alone. He indicated that he would like the Hispanic community to be part of a neighborhood watch type of a group to help increase the public safety in the neighborhoods.

He said that the city was working with individuals such as Carlos Caraballo to help the Hispanic community increase it visibility in the community in a positive way. He is in supports of efforts in the community on education and voter registration and education.

He further invites the community to visit the office of Hispanic affairs which is open every Wednesday and ask for Mr. Caraballo.

This office should offer a good opportunity for the exchange of ideas that can benefit both the Hispanic community and the community at large.

We thank the mayor for the opportunity to have this conversation and Janneth Hall for coordinating it.

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Una conversación con el Sr . Brian Stratton

Alcalde de la ciudad de Schenectady, New York, desde Noviembre, 2003 Era una tarde lluviosa de primavera. Yo conducía hacia la ciudad de Schenectady New York para encontrarme con mi amiga Janneth Hall la cual había hecho una cita para entrevistar al Alcalde de la ciudad el señor Brian Stratton.

Debido a que yo no sabía dónde estaba el ayuntamiento, decidimos encontrarnos en Villa Italia un lugar que mutuamente conocíamos para luego conducir a la oficina del alcalde. Llegué al lugar un poco tarde, Janneth ya estaba en el estacionamiento. La seguí hasta que llegamos a una cuadra donde se encontraba un edifico majestuoso con una gran escalera de mármol. Estacionamos y caminamos hacia la oficina del alcalde.

Janneth muy cariñosa como siempre y muy elegante a mi lado. Esperamos la entrada del alcalde a la oficina. El señor Sttratton se presentó y nos guió a un cuarto de conferencias donde nos sentamos para comenzar la entrevista.

Tuvimos la oportunidad de hablar de una variedad de temas. Hablamos de su familia. Nos comentó que su mamá acababa de recibir un cambio de cadera por casualidad ese mismo día. Hablamos entre otras cosas que ambos habíamos asistido a la misma universidad en diferente tiempo por supuesto.

Cuando le preguntamos de sus éxitos, nos comentó que su objetivo en sus primeros cuatro años había sido restablecer la integridad económica de la ciudad, y reconstruir el sentido de respeto en la comunidad. Considera que lo pudo lograr con la ayuda de agencias estatales y federales al igual que el estar rodeado de profesionales expertos en diferentes áreas.

Afirmó que los problemas de la ciudad de Schenectady son similares a muchas otras ciudades en la nación. El crimen, derrumbe de las infraestructuras, y la disminución de la población son parte de estos problemas.

Dentro de sus comentarios explicó que Schenectady tiene que rehacer sus vecindarios. “Se necesitan millones quizás billones de dólares para arreglar calles, aceras y cloacas.

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Se necesita atraer personas de buen vivir a la comunidad. Personas que sean parte integra de la comunidad y no aquellas que están interesadas en cosas negativas tales como drogas o crimen”.

Anotó también: “que los vecindarios son muy importantes en una comunidad. Sin ellos ésta no podría existir. Aunque el centro comercial es lo más importante en términos financieros, no pueden progresar si la calidad de vida en los vecindarios no es buena”.

El alcalde también índico, que aunque la ciudad tiene sus problemas con relación a la seguridad pública, está trabajando fuertemente para que esto cambie. “la policía no puede hacer el trabajo sola.

Quisiera que la comunidad hispana sea parte del grupo de protección en los vecindarios. La ciudad está colaborando con individuos tales como Carlos Caraballos para que los hispanos tengan mayor proyección en la ciudad” Reiteró su apoyo a los esfuerzos de la colectividad en las áreas de participación y educación política.

Invita a la comunidad y a la alcaldía a visitar la oficina de asuntos hispanos, la cual está abierta todos lo miércoles. El señor Caraballos atenderá cualquier inquietud. Esta oficina puede ayudar a establecer un diálogo que no solamente beneficie a la comunidad Latina sino también a todos en general.

Damos las gracias al alcalde por la oportunidad de tener esta conversación y a Janneth Hall por coordinarla.

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TIPS FOR COMPLETING USCIS FORMS

By: Marco Tomakin, RN, Esq. Immigration Attorney

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he approval or denial of a petition or application depends on the information you provided in the USCIS form. Thus, it is very important that the form should be completed truthfully and correctly.

Here are some tips that I would like to share with you when you prepare any form for application or petition that you intend to file before the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service.

1. If you download a form in the internet, go to the “Immigration Forms” page of the USCIS website to make sure that you have the most current and acceptable version of the form. The use of older versions of the form may cause delay or denial of your application or petition. There are forms that only the current version is acceptable and there are also forms which the older version could be accepted. You can download your forms for free at the USCIS website.

2. Make sure you have the correct form. Depending on the immigration benefit you would like to attain and the circumstances you are in, there are specific forms applicable to you.

3. When you download the form, make sure you also download the current version of the form’s “Instructions” page. It is always helpful to have the instructions handy as your completing the form.

4. Some forms can be filled out, saved and printed right from the USCIS website. Some forms can only be filled out and not saveable. So it is always a better practice to download a form, fill it out as a draft where you can make any corrections and changes.

Then if you believe the form is ready to be finalized, then you can have another copy downloaded and completed as a final copy for submission.

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5. Always print your answers legibly and in black ink. If the adjudicator reviewing your petition or application cannot read your form, your case may be delayed if he rejects it and returns it back to you for re-filing, or he may requires you to clarify certain entries therein through Request for Evidence.

6. Honesty is the best policy. When you sign the form, remember that you certify, under the penalty of perjury under the laws of United States of America, that the application and all the evidence submitted with it are all true and correct. Be sure to check the accuracy, truthfulness and correctness of names, addresses, dates, and other entries in the application.

7. Even if somebody else prepared the form for you, be it a friend, a relative or your attorney, review the form before you affix your signature.

Just because your friend knows you very well or your family member knows everything about you, do not assume that they correctly entered any entries therein. Some information may have been omitted, mistakenly entered or falsified without your knowledge. Always double check everything before you sign. And do not hesitate to make any corrections. Remember, it is your application / petition not theirs.

8. Make sure your answers are responsive to the question. If the question asks for names of your children, do not write the name of your spouse or of your parents or vice versa.

9. Do not leave anything blank and use N/A or None appropriately. Because of your personal circumstances, a certain question is not applicable to you, write N/A. If the answer is none, write None.

10. You can use extra pages if necessary. Make sure you write “ Continuation Sheet”, indicate the item or question number, then write the date and sign each page. It would also be helpful if you write your name, your Alien Number, the form name and form number at each page just in case your continuation sheet is separated from the rest of the pages of the main form.

11. If you have any questions as you fill out the form, it is better to refer to the Instructions page, or call the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283. You may also consult an immigration attorney to assist you in filling out the form.

Beware of the so called “notarios” or unlicensed immigration consultants who may ask you exorbitant fees in exchange for their services.

12. Before submitting the form, re-check everything. There is no harm in reviewing every detail before mailing it in. Make sure that is signed and dated in the required space. Do not fill in the space reserved for USCIS use.

13. Now you have the form ready, check with the USCIS Instructions page which Service Center you would mail it, how much the fees are, and the documents needed to support your petition / application.

Again, the adjudication of your petition / application depends upon the information you provided in the form. While this may not be an exhaustive list of the steps you have to take to ensure you have filled out the form correctly, it is hoped that these tips would help you as you prepare your form.

Good luck!

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Consejos para Ahorro de Gasolina y Asuntos Básicos sobre Automóviles

Fuel Saving Tips And Some Automotive Basics By: Karen Micklas

The first thing you need to do is check the air pressure in your tires. This is the most important thing you can do to save fuel and increase safety. I’ll bet that most of you think that they are checked when your vehicle is serviced, don’t be so sure. You can buy a tire gauge right at your nearest NAPA store and they sell gauges for heavy duty trucks right up to digital gauges for a little more money. Once you have the gauge, it is as simple as removing the little cap on the valve stem (little black rubber stem sticking out of wheel) and pushing the open end of the gauge onto the valve stem. The gauge will tell you how much air pressure is in the tires. If you look in your owners manual, or on some vehicles it is on the door pillar (when you open the drivers door it will give you the correct amount of air pressure that should be in your tires). If your tires need air you can go to most gas stations or car washes and they will have coin-operated units with gauges on them. Yeah, I’m spending a lot of time talking about tires but they are the most neglected part on vehicles and can dramatically affect fuel mileage.

So while you are checking the air pressure you may as well look at the tread of the tires all the way across.

Sometimes the outside edge of the tire (part you can see without leaning down and really looking) will look fine, but the inside edge will be bald. You should be able to take a penny, stick it into the grooves in the tire (with Lincoln going in headfirst) and not be able to see the top of Lincoln’s head. If you can see the top of his head you probably need tires, and may need an alignment (if the wear is not even across the tread).

The other thing you should do is rotate your tires every 2 or 3 oil changes, this will dramatically increase the life of the tires.

The next most important item to check as far as fuel mileage is concerned is your air filter. It should be checked every time your vehicle is serviced, but again, don’t be so sure it is being done for you. As a rule of thumb your air filter should be changed every 30,000 miles but in some cases it may need one sooner. NAPA Auto Parts carries a full line of air filters from OEM (original equipment manufacturer) to premium quality.

Some vehicles also have cabin filters. The cabin air filter helps trap pollen, bacteria, dust, and exhaust gases that may find their way into a vehicle’s ventilation system, making the interior of the car a healthier place. Cabin air filters should be replaced according to owners’ manual guidelines, usually every 15,000 miles. These can also be found at your local NAPA Auto Parts store.

Believe it or not changing your oil also affects your fuel mileage. Regular oil changes (with the correct weight of oil, 10w30, 5w50 and so on) are essential to the life of your vehicle.

And lastly, if your vehicle has a “check engine” light on, this could greatly affect your fuel mileage. Your cars computer turns on the “check engine” light when one of its sensors dealing with the emissions system is showing abnormal readings. Several of these sensors can really kill your fuel mileage.

Lo primero que usted necesita, es revisar la presión del aire de las llantas. Es lo más importante para ahorrar gasolina y aumentar su seguridad. Le apuesto que la mayoría de ustedes piensa que eso lo revisan cuando lleva el carro a servicio de rutina, no esté tan seguro. Usted puede adquirir un calibrador en su NAPA más cercano donde los venden para camiones de trabajo pesado hasta los que no cuestan tanto. Una vez tenga el calibrador, simplemente quite la pequeña tapa de la válvula (negra de plástico que sale de la llanta) y presione la parte final del calibrador hacia el sistema de la válvula.

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El calibrador le va a marcar cuanta presión de aire hay en las llantas. Si usted mira el manual del usuario del carro o en algunos vehículos se encuentra en el pilar de

la puerta (cuando usted abre la puerta ahí está la presión correcta de las llantas). Si las llantas necesitan aire usted puede ir a la mayoría de las estaciones de gasolina o lavaderos de carro donde tienen unidades que operan con monedas con calibradores incluidos. Si, me he tomado mucho espacio hablando sobre llantas, pero es algo que se descuida a menudo y puede afectar dramáticamente el gasto de gasolina.

Mientras que usted está verificando la presión de aire de las llantas usted debe también revisar el labrado a lo ancho de las mismas. Algunas veces el borde de las llantas (la parte que usted ve sin tener que agacharse y mirar con cuidado) se ve bien, pero adentro están gastadas. Usted debería poder insertar un penny en el labrado (teniendo a Lincoln con la cabeza hacia afuera) y no ser capaz de ver la parte de arriba de la cabeza de Lincoln. Si alcanza a ver la cabeza, probablemente necesita llantas, y también alineamiento (si el desgaste no es igual a lo ancho del labrado).

La otra cosa que usted debe hacer es rotar las llantas cada 2 o 3 cambios de aceite, lo que aumentará drásticamente la vida de las llantas.

La otra cosa importante para revisar en cuanto a eficiencia de gasolina, es el filtro de aire. Debe ser revisado cada vez que el vehículo entre a servicio, pero de nuevo, no se confíe en que se lo harán. Por regla general el filtro de aire debe cambiarse cada 30,000 millas pero en algunos casos, debe revisarse con anterioridad. Los NAPA Auto Parts tienen una completa línea de filtros desde los OEM (original de fábrica) hasta los de calidad Premium.

Algunos vehículos cuentan también con cabina de filtros.

La cabina ayuda a recoger polen, bacterias, polvo y gases de escape que pueden haber entrado al sistema de ventilación del carro, haciendo que el interior del carro sea más saludable. La cabina de filtros de aire debe ser reemplazada de acuerdo con el manual de instrucciones, y es usualmente cada 15,000 millas. Estas también pueden ser encontradas en las tiendas NAPA Auto Parts.

Créalo o no, el cambio de aceite afecta también la eficiencia de gasolina. Los cambios regulares de aceite (con el peso correcto de aceite, 10w30, 5w50 y así) son esenciales para la vida del vehículo.

Y finalmente, su vehículo tiene una luz que alerta “revisar el motor”, lo cual puede afectar también la eficiencia de gasolina. Su carro prende dicha luz cuando uno de los censores que tienen que ver con el sistema de emisiones, muestra lecturas anormales. Muchos de estos censores pueden afectar realmente la eficiencia de gasolina.

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It’s Time for a Change By: Annalene Antonio Director of Career Services Mildred Elley

“Kimberly, do not let this opportunity pass you by….your mother sent you here for a reason.” This became my tag line as a counselor working to instill values necessary to move up in this society. As a young adult, it is very difficult to understand the value of a free education when one has only lived in a broken home throughout their life; was homeless; participated in gang activities; has lived through a life of addiction; and of course, lived in a poverty stricken existence. It is hard to be able to grasp at the idea of living a successful life when the environment to nurture one’s self-esteem never existed; when there was not an adequate role model to look up to; nor was there space to develop the social skills necessary to move up the success ladder.

“You know, you can be an assistant to a CEO with the soft skills you have, why don’t you get a degree?” There are so many instances when one has so much talent and potential to undertake a position that will enhance the economic and social standing in their life, but has a variety of barriers to overcome before it becomes a reality.

The reality of the moment for most is raising children with limited support, income or time; facing barriers in the employment world because of a criminal record, lack of education/experience or blotchy work history; lacking the confidence and knowledge of selfworth to obtain a better life; and struggling to at least survive with the bare minimum.

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While these barriers are a certainty for many and is a challenge to overcome them, there are a pool of people who struggled enough to give their life a face lift and changed their reality to one filled with success. How did they do it? The successful ones are the people who search and take every opportunity that has been provided for them in their life.

The United States is considered the land of opportunity because it provides affordable education and has a pool of employment opportunities to choose from, the two significant tools utilized to enhance the economic standing of an individual. Successful people take every opportunity to enhance their education and yet some opportunities seem to be limited to a chosen few.

One can find similar opportunities by taking a different route. A few companies are focusing their community outreach to funding an individual’s education. One example is Talbots, a women’s clothing line, which had a campaign to send employed women to college. Most employers provide a reimbursement program for their employees who are interested in enhancing their skills within the field.

CVS Pharmacy has a program for their employees to obtain their degree in the Pharmaceutical field. There are government programs that provide free training for young adults to obtain certification in Medical Assisting, Business Technology, and other trades that will have a wealth of job opportunities in the next few years. The Rural

Students College, Career, and Community Readiness Act, pending legislative approval, will be funding one or more higher education and career readiness projects for rural, low-income students in New York State. The Bush Administration is trying to pass the Second Chance Act, which will provide backing to help ex-offenders transition back to society with a focus on education and employment. Local congregations have endowments to develop programs that provide education for those who cannot afford it.

Peruse through websites (i.e. www. scholarships.com) and one can find scholarships for something as specific as providing funding for someone who is left-handed. With all of these avenues to choose from, obtaining funding to enhance one’s education does not seem so daunting anymore.

As for finding time to obtain that degree/certification, most schools, like Mildred Elley, provide day, evening and weekend classes to cater to those who have paid employment and family obligations. There are some schools that are providing on-line classes, which are useful for one who has a busy schedule. Who would’ve thought that one can obtain a degree from a virtual classroom?

Why is education so important to one’s personal development? Well, looking back to the 1980’s, obtaining a fulltime job with benefits only required a High School Diploma. It’s now 2008 and the world of work has evolved. A High School Diploma will allow one to obtain entry-level jobs that are paying

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Es Hora de un Cambio

at or a little above minimum wage with a possibility of benefits nowadays. Most employment opportunities that provide middle class income now require an Associates degree, Bachelors degree, or Certification; and most management jobs require a Masters and/or Doctorate degrees. According to MonsterTrak, the most-in demand jobs between now and 2012 will require a two-year associate degree and the list includes: Automotive Mechanic/Technician; Computer Support Specialist; Dental Hygienist; Funeral Director/Mortician; Medical Assistant; Paralegal/Legal Assistant; Registered Nurse and Veterinary Technician. The U.S. Census Bureau’s research states that as one moves up the educational ladder, the value of an individual as a worker rises.

Following is the breakdown of degrees and the average annual salary for each degree obtained: High school dropout

$19, 915

High school graduate

$29, 448

Attended some college, but no degree

$ 31, 421

Associates degree

$37, 990

Bachelor’s degree

$54, 689

Master’s Degree

$67, 898

Doctoral degree

$92, 863

Professional degree

$119, 009

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If money is not the driving force for an individual, one needs to understand that in the world of work, one opening in a company will have over 200 candidates applying for that position.

The working world has become extremely competitive and one will need to have the tools to be at an advantage over other applicants. Education is the one thing that will give one an advantage. Every degree earned will open up the employment choices of an individual at a significant rate.

Successful people will evolve according to the current demands from the world of work by taking every opportunity available to increase their chances of a job, and to enhance the ability to obtain basic needs for one’s family in a world of inflation and diminishing benefits.

While we are provided with more challenges than opportunities in our current society, it is important to make a change for survival. First, research and grab every opportunity that will enhance your ability to live successfully in this society. Second, change your thinking from not having any options to how you can take the options that are out there and utilize them to your advantage. Third, evolve according to your environment. From the theory of Darwinism, only the fittest will survive, and you need to be the fittest while our world is getting difficult. It’s time to make that change.

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FOR HONOR, FOR COUNTRY …..FOR FAMILY By: Dianna Rios Translated by Juan George this his “Bookend Career” He is deeply rooted in his faith, his commitments, his community and his family. His military career has been successful, he was able to earn his college degree while serving our country and he was able to have the family he always wanted. But success he believes is not in what we acquire in life, but how we provide and what we give back. If at the end of each day we have a roof over our heads, food on the table, belief in God and can give a little back to our community, we are truly blessed and our sacrifices worthwhile.

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His leaving for Iraq will cause many tears, but it is something he feels he must do. He is proud to wear the uniform and serve. As he nears his 20 years with the Marine Corp, he knows that his leaving to Iraq is something that he must do in order to retire rightly. He is proud to share that responsibility with the many men and women who have gone before him and will go after. He also knows that, as hard as it is to understand for many, that as his wife, I know why he feels he has to go. It is my responsibility to support his career and make his separations from us as easy as possible. With that responsibility I find I must help our children understand the importance of military service and pride of country and family. It is okay to be sad, to be scared and to feel lonely, it is okay to cry, but we find ways to get through our separations together and have stronger family ties because of them. We are so very lucky to live in a community that shares its resources, shares its support and is filled with so many good friends and colleagues.

n Father’s Day this year, my daughter is adjusting once again to Daddy being away from home. GySgt Nicasio Rios, Jr. is a Marine, a husband and a father. Our youngest daughter, Nicaya, is now 5 and although she is adjusting, she knows that Daddy’s job as a Marine means he cannot always be with us and she and I are very proud of his choice to serve our country.

Father’s Day is a day for our family to reflect on how lucky we are to have each other even though miles may separate us. As Father’s Day is celebrated for many by spending the day going fishing, having barbeques or going to ballgames with their dad’s, we celebrate a father’s love for his family by his serving our country. Last year Nicaya’s daddy was in Africa, this year he is in California preparing for deployment and Father’s Day 2009 will find him finishing his tour in Iraq. He has been separated from us many times since Nicaya was born, but it is all she knows. She learned very early on her days of the week, “Daddy will be home on Saturday”…to count, “It will be 20 days until Daddy comes home”; her states and countries, “Let’s find Kentucky on the map” or “Where is Norway?”

Our front yard holds a tree with a large yellow ribbon. Nicaya has her own little routine of running up to the tree, giving it a great big hug and kissing the ribbon. At 5, she already knows what a journal is. Every day we write 5 things we did that day as we make a book to read together when he gets home. We have video of daddy reading stories to Nicaya that help her see and hear him every day and we will record video of Nicaya reading to daddy and mail them to him periodically so he can see and hear her as she is

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learning to read. She is truly Daddy’s girl, and sings both God Bless America and the National Anthem as her tribute to him. (Nicaya can be seen at the Tri-City ValleyCats this summer on July 3 and August 3) My husband’s devotion to the Marine Corp., his country, and his family are a compliment to his Hispanic heritage. An American of Mexican descent, and growing up in South Texas, he chose to enlist in the Marine Corp when he was in High School. He knew that in his life he would either serve God or his country. After visiting both a seminary and gathering the information he requested of the military, he made the decision that changed his life. At 18, a new Marine, he served in Desert Storm and as he approaches 20 years, he has orders to serve in Iraq. He calls

As my husband prepared us for this deployment, he wrote to me something I am happy to share to celebrate how special he is. He writes… “It is difficult to know that I am getting ready to go to Iraq, but I will be back to spend the rest of my life with you.

Upon my return, I will be retired and more than ready to start the next chapter in our lives. Second only to life and health, you are the greatest gift God has given me. Your love for me is a treasure that I cherish with the daughters you have given me” I am truly blessed.

Happy Father’s Day GySgt Rios, our prayers are with you and all fathers who serve in the military and will spend Father’s Day away from home. We will pray for your safety and count the days until you are home with us again.

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POR EL HONOR, POR LA PATRIA …. POR LA FAMILIA

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l Día del Padre este año, mi hija está adaptándose una vez más a un papá que se va de casa. El GySgt Nicasio Ríos, Jr es un Marine, un esposo y un padre. Nuestra hija menor, Nicaya, tiene ahora 5 años de edad y aunque ella se esta adaptando, ella sabe que el trabajo de papá como un marino significa que no siempre pueden estar con nosotros.

A pesar de esto, y ella y yo estamos muy orgullosas de su elección de servir a nuestro país.

El día del Padre es un día para reflexionar en familia sobre lo dichosos que somos de tenernos unos a otros, aunque las millas nos separen. Como muchos celebran el Día del Padre yendo de pesca, teniendo una barbacoa o yendo a un juego de pelota con su papá, nosotros celebramos el amor de un padre por su familia y el servicio que le da a nuestro país. El año pasado el papa de Nicaya estaba en África, este año se encuentra en California preparándose para una asignación, y el Día del Padre 2009 lo encontrará terminando su gira en Irak. Hemos sido separados muchas veces desde Nicaya nació, pero es todo lo que sabe. Ella aprendió muy temprano en sus días de la semana, “Papá estará en casa el sábado”… para contar, “habrán 20 días hasta que papá llega a casa”; los estados y países, “Vamos a encontrar a Kentucky en el mapa” o “¿Dónde está Noruega?”

En el frente de la casa tenemos un árbol con una gran cinta amarilla. Nicaya tiene su propia rutina de correr hasta el árbol, dándole un gran abrazo y un beso a la cinta. A los 5, ella ya sabe lo que es un diario. Todos los días escribimos 5 cosas que hicimos ese día lo hacemos un libro para leerlo juntos cuando él regrese a casa. Tenemos película de papá leyendo cuentos a Nicaya lo que la ayuda a verlo y oírlo todos los días. Grabaremos películas de Nicaya leyéndole a su papá y se las enviaremos por correo periódicamente para que él pueda ver y oír lo que ella está aprendiendo. Ella es verdaderamente la niña de papá, y canta que Dios Bendiga a América y el Himno Nacional como su homenaje a él. (Nicaya pueden verse en el Tri-City ValleyCats este verano el 3 de julio y agosto 3) La devoción de mi marido al Marine Corp., su país, y a su familia son un complemento a su herencia hispana. Un americano de ascendencia mexicana, quien creció en el sur de Texas, él optó por alistarse en el Cuerpo de Marina cuando estaba en High School. Él sabía que en su vida, iba a ser servirle a Dios o a su país. Después de visitar un seminario y recopilar información de la milicia, él tomó una decisión que cambió su vida. A los 18 años, era un nuevo marine, sirvió en “Desert Storm” y con casi 20 años de servicio, ha recibido órdenes de servir en Irak. Él llama a esto su “carrera Bookend”. Él está profundamente arraigado en su fe, sus compromisos, su comunidad y su familia. Su carrera militar ha sido un éxito, fue capaz de graduarse de la universidad mientras prestaba servicio al país y fue capaz de tener la familia que siempre quiso.

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Pero él cree que el éxito no está en lo se adquiera en la vida, sino en lo que proporcionamos y lo que damos de vuelta. Si al final de cada día tenemos un techo sobre nuestras cabezas, los alimentos sobre la mesa, la creencia en Dios y podemos dar un poco de vuelta a nuestra comunidad, somos verdaderamente bendecidos y nuestros sacrificios valen la pena.

Su partida hacia Irak dejará muchas lágrimas, pero es algo que él siente que debe hacer. Él se siente orgulloso de llevar el uniforme y servir. A medida que se acerca a sus 20 años con el Marine Corp., él sabe que partir a Irak es algo que debe hacer para jubilarse de la forma correcta. Él se siente orgulloso de compartir esa responsabilidad con los muchos hombres y mujeres que han pasado antes y después de él. También sabe que aun es duro para muchas personas entender esto, como su esposa, Yo se que tiene que ir. Es mi responsabilidad el apoyar su carrera y hacer que su separación de nosotros sea lo más fácil posible.

Con esa responsabilidad me parece que debemos ayudar a nuestros niños a entender la importancia del servicio militar y el orgullo al país y la familia.

Está bien estar triste, tener miedo y sentirse sola, que está bien llorar, pero encontramos la manera de atravesar esta separaciones manteniéndonos juntos y teniendo más fuertes lazos familiares.

Somos tan afortunados de vivir en una comunidad que comparte sus recursos, comparte su apoyo y está llena de tantos buenos amigos y compañeros de trabajo.

Al prepararnos para su partida, mi marido me escribió algo que me siento feliz de compartir para celebrar la forma especial que es. Él escribe…

“Es difícil saber que me estaba preparando para ir a Irak, pero voy a volver a pasar el resto de mi vida con ustedes. Tras mi regreso, voy a estar retirado y más que listo para iniciar el próximo capítulo en nuestras vidas. En segundo sólo a la vida y la salud, tú eres el mejor regalo que Dios me ha dado. Tu amor por mí es un tesoro que comparto con las hijas que me ha dado “ Estoy realmente bendecida. ¡Feliz Día de los Padres GySgt Ríos, nuestras oraciones están contigo y con todos los padres que sirven en las fuerzas armadas quienes pasarán el Día del Padre fuera de casa. Vamos a orar por su seguridad y contar los días hasta que estén de nuevo con nosotros.

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Orlando Rodrigues y sus hijos Tressa de 10 años, Armand de 11 años y Quentin de 9 años

Para muchas personas la celebración del día del Padre es una fecha comercial utilizada para vender cualquier tipo de mercancía para esta persona especial llamada PADRE. Esta fecha especial tiene una reseña histórica que me gustaría compartir con ustedes:

CELEBRACION DEL DIA DEL PADRE

Solo un verdadero padre sabe lo que significa ser PAPA y ser valorado como tal, ya que no es fácil llenar los requisitos que otorga el título de ser un buen Papá.

Finalmente, en 1966 el presidente Lyndon B. Johnson firmó una proclamación presidencial declarando el tercer Domingo de Junio como el día del padre en Estados Unidos. Luego de convertirse en una fecha especial, cientos de países alrededor del mundo también celebra ese día, fecha que cambia de acuerdo al país.

Es así como en Latinoamérica, Centro America y demás países festejan ese día, el tercer domingo del mes de Junio en familia al lado de tíos, abuelos, primos y demás padres que son agasajados.

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Entre ellos se encuentran los que no se pueden ganar el titulo de buenos y responsables: son totalmente opuestos. Estos son papás pero de palabra, que no tienen paternidad responsable y no tienen nada que ver con sus hijos y muchos menos con la familia.

Encontramos también los padres egoístas, que solo quieren su bien, sacrificando el bienestar de sus hijos.

Todo fue gracias a la idea que tuvo Doña Sonora Smart Dood, nacida en Washington D.C. Ella quiso escoger un día para agasajar y reconocer el trabajo que pasó su padre para criarla a ella y a todas sus hermanas desde el momento que murió su madre.

Debido a que su padre nació el 19 de junio, ella decidió escoger dicha fecha para celebrar el día del padre en honor al suyo. En 1909 la señora Dood presentó la primera propuesta al Congreso para poder hacer relalidad su sueño, pero fue hasta un año después, en 1910, cuando se celebra por primera vez el día del Padre en Estados Unidos.

A pesar de eso, solo en 1924 el presidente Calvin Coolidge apoyó la idea, convirtiéndo así ese día en una celebración nacional.

By: Indira Enamorado

Opuestos a estos, encontramos los padres que dan el todo por nada y que se toman la responsabilidad de criar hijos que no son de ellos y se ganan su título bien ganado y como decían nuestros abuelos “Padre no es el que hace si no el que cría”.

Hoy quiero destacar y felicitar a cada padre que da lo mejor de si, su amor, respeto, bondad, desinterés, cariño y humildad, así como cualquier acción que conlleva sacrificios a la hora de sacar adelante a sus hijos.

A pesar de esta corta reseña continuamos afirmando que padre solo hay uno y aun que tenga sus virtudes y defectos, ese fue el padre que Dios todo poderoso nos regaló y puso en nuestro camino para que nos guiara y nos brindara protección. Es por ellos que debemos cuidar a nuestros padres y madres y debemos darles el valor que se merecen, debemos brindarles amor, ternura, comprensión, ya que esa es la mayor satisfacción que puede recibir cualquier padre y a su vez cualquier hijo.

“Gracias Padre por haberme brindado todo el apoyo y el amor que cualquier hijo pueda recibir.

Gracia por haberme enseñado el valor de la familia, la honradéz, humildad y amor, sin ti y sin mi madre, no hubiéramos llegado a ser lo que somos ahora”.

Y aun que solo se celebra una sola vez al año, nosotros debemos proclamar que los 365 días del año deben ser celebrados como días de nuestros padres, aquellos que pasaron noches enteras desvelados por que nosotros nos encontrábamos enfermos o en problemas.

Pero no todo es color de rosa, y en el mundo podemos observar diferentes clases de padres.

Hoy es buen día para reflexionar sobre si cumplimos un buen papel como padres y como hijos.

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PUBLIC HEALTH SPECIALIST (2 Positions) Health Research, Inc., a not-for-profit corp., seeks 2 Public Health Specialist’s to work in Rensselaer, NY. 1 position will be part time (50%) & 1 will be full time. The incumbents will recruit subjects by mail & by phone; track the progress of recruitment; assist w/ tracing of contact info of subjects; assist w/ the administration of reminder mailings & calls to study participants; review, edit, code & enter survey data; participate in quality control efforts; & compile info for inclusion into reports while maintaining strict confidentiality. Other related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: BA/BS in the social or health sciences & 1 yr of relevant paraprofessional experience combining administrative & programmatic responsibilities in a public health, human services or health related organization/program (or relevant como of edu & exp).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Fluency in Spanish highly preferred. Previous exp. w/ subject recruitment & human research; exp working w/ computerized databases. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Salary is at the rate of: $38,435/yr (100% FTE) OR $19,217/yr (50% FTE). Excellent benefits including health, paid vacation/holidays, retirement, tuition support, etc. Please use code T931LNY (FT position) or T933LNY (PT position) when responding. Resume can be e-mailed to: HRI-mailin@healthresearch.org with a subject line T931LNY or T933LNY or mailed to Health Research, Inc., 150 Broadway, Suite 560, Menands, NY 12204-2719 (applicants must include a return address and the reference code T931LNY or T933LNY on the envelope). No phone calls or faxes accepted. www.healthresearch.org/jobs AA/EOE/M/W/D/V

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Being a father is a responsibility that shouldn’t be taken lightly, and being a “Good Father” is even more difficult to find especially during times in which we live. Anyone can father a child, but not everyone can be a good father. A father’s love is a special love. One of the ways his love is demonstrated is by never abandoning his responsibilities as a father. I would like to salute all of the good fathers out there for a job well done, and wish you all a “Happy Fathers Day”. For those of you who are still struggling with your role and responsibilities as a father, follow the lead and learn from those who have earned that wonderful title we call a “Good Father”.

CANCER – THE CRAB June 21st to July 22nd Stone: Pearl, Opal Element: Water Ruler: Moon Cancer is the fourth sign of the zodiac. They are self protective and sensitive, and often retreat into themselves when hurt. Cancers have the reputation for moodiness and they resist change to an extent. They also concern themselves about being secure and safe in most everything they do. Some Cancers have developed a way to manipulate others to get what they want, but always try to avoid direct confrontation and don’t always appreciate when you are blunt with them. Cancers can be quite soft when you have them in the right mood. Sure they can be touchy and indirect, but they are also caring and dependable people.

Just the two of us Dear Lisa: My boyfriend and I have been together for approximately one year. At first he appeared to be charming, caring and mature. But when I became pregnant things started to change. I

durantes tiempos como los que estamos viviendo.

Cualquiera puede ser padre, pero no todo el mundo es un buen padre. El amor de padre es un amor especial. Una de las formas que demuestra su amor es nunca abandonando sus responsabilidades como padre. Quisiera saludar a todos los buenos padres por su trabajo bien realizado, y desearles “Felíz Día del Padre”. Para aquellos que todavía tienen problemas con su rol y responsabilidad como padres, sigan y aprendan de aquellos que se ha ganado el maravilloso título de “Buen Padre”.

Únicamente los dos Querida Lisa: began to lie a lot, say hurtful things and treat me badly. Recently he demanded that I have an abortion and after telling him no, he then insisted that I give the baby up for adoption.

Those words really hurt me because I love my baby. Now he wants nothing to do with me or the baby. He’s even telling his family that the baby is not his. I don’t know what to do anymore.

I’m hoping he will accept the baby once the baby is born. Now it’s just the two of us, me and my baby. Do you think he might eventually come around and accept me and the baby? Lisa what should I do?

Rita – Albany, NY

Dear Rita: First of all your ex has some nerve to demand anything of you especially to have an abortion, or give your child up for adoption. He is selfish, uncaring and abusive, and shows no signs of trying to change. He’s trying to avoid his responsibilities. Since he told his family it’s not his child, get a paternity test. When the tests show that he is the father, he will have no choice but to face the truth and there is no way he can lie about that. That you owe to your child. There are many single mothers who do a wonderful job, and I’m sure you will too. Forget about him, he’s not worth it. Eventually you will meet someone who is worthy of your love, who will love you and your child unconditionally, and be the father that your ex should have been. Your ex will be the only one who missed out on a wonderful and rewarding experience of raising your beautiful child and being a good father, which is something he can never rebuild.

Ser padre es una responsabilidad que no debe tomarse a la ligera, y ser un”Buen Padre” es aun más difícil de encontrar

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Mi novio y yo hemos estado juntos por casi un año. Al principio él parecía ser amable, cariñoso y maduro. Pero cuando quedé embarazada las cosas empezaron a cambiar.

Empezó a mentir bastante, a decir cosas hirientes y a tratarme mal. Recientemente me pidió que tuviera un aborto y después de que le dije que no, insistía en que diera al bebé en adopción. Aquellas palabras me hirieron por que amo a mi bebé. Ahora él no quiere tener nada que ver conmigo o con el bebé. Hasta le ha dicho a su familia que el bebé no es de él. No sé que más hacer. Espero que acepte al bebé cuando nazca. Ahora solo somos los dos, mi bebé y yo. Tu crees que el eventualmente vuelva y acepte al bebé? Lisa que debo hacer?

Rita - Albany, NY Querida Carmen: Primero que todo su ex es tan descarado al pedirle tener un aborto o de entregar su hijo en adopción. Es egoísta, poco cariñoso y abusivo, no da muestras de tratar de cambiar. Trata de evadir responsabilidades. Si le contó a su familia que no es su hijo, hazle tomar un examen de paternidad. Cuando los resultados muestren que él es el padre, no tendrá más remedio que enfrentar la verdad y no hay forma que pueda mentir al respecto. Debes hacer esto por tu hijo.

Existen muchas madres solteras en el mundo que hacen un maravilloso trabajo, y estoy segura que tu también lo harás. Olvídalo, no vale la pena.

Eventualmente conocerás a alguien que merezca tu amor, que te ame a ti y a tu bebé incondicionalmente, y sea el padre que tu ex debió haber sido. Tu ex será el que deje de vivir la maravillosa y satisfactoria experiencia de criar a un hermoso niño y ser un buen padre, que es algo que nunca podremos volver a realizar.

If you want advise from Lisa, please send us your letters to the following address: Albany Latino Comunications 1314 A Central Avenue, Albany, NY 12205

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La Esquina Literaria

Literary Corner

Maria del Pilar Casas Luque Poeta Colombiana Colombian Poet

Pasos del Tiempo Steps in Time Your silence surrounds the hours unfolds them in the tenuous horizon that slowly burns out.

Your presence vanishes abruptly and your laughter tumbles in my mind, so as to imagine you are still present.

It does not matter that all appears a dream that life keeps telling us how ephemeral we continue being.

The sea carries away in her waves the loneliness I now feel, and returns me amid rains and sand your divine presence, like a gift of life that illuminates and calms this very cold afternoon that fascinates and chokes back.

Tu silencio envuelve las horas las despliega en el horizonte tenue que se apaga lentamente.

Tu presencia se esfuma inclemente y tu risa revolotea en mi mente, para imaginar que aun sigues presente.

No importa que todo parezca un sueño que la vida nos siga diciendo lo efímeros que seguimos siendo.

El mar se lleva en sus olas la soledad que ahora siento, y me devuelve entre lluvia y arena tu presencia divina, como un regalo de vida que ilumina y sosiega esta tarde tan fría que embelesa y ahoga. oga.

that fascinates and chokes back.

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There’s special help for families facing any serious illness.

Existe ayuda especial para las familias que enfrentan cualquier enfermedad grave

Everyone, even those who are very ill, should experience the best quality of life for as long as possible.

That’s really what Hospice care is all about. The Community Hospice works with patients and families to show them how to treasure the life they have and live every day to the fullest. Hospice focuses on the things in life that really matter to patients and helps them set goals and embrace life.

Being a hospice patient means you can stay right at home, surrounded by the people and things you love, if that’s where you’re most comfortable.

Once you’re a part of the Hospice family, you can expect regular visits from a caring team of Hospice professionals.

In most cases, your team will include a nurse, a home health aide, a social worker, a chaplain, even a volunteer from the community – all guided

by Hospice physicians, most of whom are boardcertified in hospice and palliative care.

Nearly all Hospice patients pay little or nothing for their care. That’s because Medicare, Medicaid and most insurance plans and HMO’s recognize the importance of providing Hospice care coverage. The Community Hospice Foundation can provide funds for the uninsured. No one is refused care because of the inability to pay.

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Even if you don’t think you’re ready for Hospice at the moment, it’s probably worthwhile to learn more about the services The Community Hospice provides and understand your options. You’re also welcome to call Hospice directly at 1-800-678-0711 or (518) 724-0242 to find out more and, if you want, Hospice can even call your doctor for you.

Todo el mundo, aún los que están muy enfermos, deben tener la mejor calidad de vida por el tiempo más largo posible. La atención del Hospicio se trata precisamente de eso. El Hospicio de la Comunidad trabaja con pacientes y familias para mostrarles cómo valorar la vida que tienen y vivir cada día al máximo. El Hospicio se concentra en las cosas de la vida que más les importan a nuestros pacientes y les ayuda a fijar metas y valorar la vida.

Ser un paciente del Hospicio significa que Ud. puede quedarse en casa, rodeado de las personas y las cosas que Ud. ama, si allí esta más cómodo. Una vez que Ud. es parte de la familia del Hospicio, puede recibirá visitas continuas de un equipo comprensivo de profesionales del Hospicio.

En la mayoria de los casos, su equipo va a incluir una enfermera, un asistente para servicios de salud en el hogar, un trabajador social, un capellán, aún un voluntario de la comunidadtodos guiados por los médicos del Hospicio, quienes en su mayoría son acreditados en atención de salud del hospicio y paliativa.

Casi todos los pactientes del Hospicio pagan poco o nada por su cuidado. Esto se debe a que Medicare, Medicaid y la mayoría de los planes se seguro y las sociedades médicas reconocen la importancia de proporcionar cobertura para la atención del Hospicio. La Fundación del Hospicio de la Comunidad puede proveer fondos para los que están sin seguro médico. A nadie le nega atención por no tener la capacidad de pagar.

Aún si Ud. piensa que no está listo para el Hospicio en este momento, probablemente vale la pena conocer más sobre los servicios que brinda el Hospicio de la Comunidad y comprender sus opciones. Se puede llamar el Hospicio directamente a 1-800-678-0711 o (518) 724-0242 para saber más y, si Ud. quiere, el Hospicio puede llamar a su médico en su nombre.

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Eventos Sociales & Culturales By: Lynnette Rodríguez Stec

Farmworkers Rally for Justice

On Tuesday, May 20 supporters of the Justice for Farmworkers Campaign got together in Albany to rally for basic workplace justice for New York’s farmworkers with AFL-CIO President John Sweeney. The farmworkers rallied in support of the Farmworker Fair Labor Practices Act, a proposed law that grants farmworkers the same rights and benefits as other New York workers.

Injustice for farmworkers was enshrined into law over 70 years ago, when the New Deal was enacted. President Franklin Roosevelt proposed wage and hour protections for both industrial and agricultural workers, but southern segregationists objected to putting farmworkers, who were mostly African American, on an equal footing with white workers. As a result, farmworkers fell victim to bias and political expediency and were left of the New Deal and subsequent labor and employment protections. New York has perpetuated this exclusion of farmworkers by not defining farmworkers as employees.

Para mayor información e involucrárse con la Campaña por la Justicia hacia los trabajadores agrícolas, puede contactar las siguientes personas: For more information and to get involved in the Farmworkers Justice Campaign, please contact: Jordan Wells at farmworkerjustice@gmail.com Librada Paz at rmmpaz@aol.com

Farmworkers attendees , supporters of the Justice Campaign

President Richard Iannuzzi, NYSUT, Brian O’Shaughnessy, Executive Director, LaborReligion Coalition of NYS, Senator Flanagan, The Rev. Richard Witt, Executive Director, Rural & Migrant Ministry, Inc.

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Social & Cultural Events The Genuine Men Project Our publisher Juan George was one of the subjects of a book entitled: The Genuine Men Project. It is an open commentary and reflection on the community of men. “By bring the images and stories of these men to the community, my greatest hope is that viewers of The Genuine Men Project will walk away with a new understanding of men as positive role models; the type of men that one might want to emulate sometime in their own life’s journey”, stated Nancy Bruno, the artist responsible for putting together the project.

A premiere attendee observes part of the exhibition

Nancy Bruno signs books at the project premiere

The Jim Wood Coalition-builder Award in recognition of outstanding & long-term commitment to values of economic and social justice to Melanie Pores by the Labor-Religion Coalition.

During the Labor-Religion Coalition’s “Full Circle for Economic Justice” conference at NYSUT headquarters, in Latham on May 18th Melanie Pores was honored with the Coalition Builder Award. In the 27 years since Melanie began her career as an educator and community activist, she has found coalition building to be one of her most fulfilling avocations.

Melanie’s main passion throughout her life-outside of her family-has involved her relentless support for Bilingual Education. In her first teaching position at Albany Head Start, she researched, planned and implemented a two-way bilingual (Dual Language) program. She always dreamed of someday initiating a program like that in the City School District of Albany, and 9 years ago, she was able to bring that dream to fruition and she continues to nurture that dream; she has held many hats in the program and is presently serving as the program’s Spanish as a Second Language Teacher.

Another of Melanie’s favorite volunteer activities has been coordinating the Albany Network of Hispanic Service Providers, a group that she helped to found along with 2 other community activists. Melanie has served as the coordinator of the Albany Network of Hispanic Service Providers, which has been meeting once a month for the past 11 years and she also facilitates an active electronic list serv of representatives of community-based agencies in the Network in between meetings and has loved every minute of her involvement in this unique coalition.

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A visit with the

“ALLIGATORMAN”

Una visita con el Hombre

By: Juan J. George

“LAGARTO”

The other day I received a phone call from a young man named Jose Lopez. The call read: My name is Jose Lopez. I have been calling since last year. People call me the Alligator man and I am running for the Board of Trustees of the public library in the city of Albany and would like to meet with you to talk to you about different things”

José López nació en el Bronx de padres puertorriqueños. Cunado tenía apenas diez años, sus padres se trasladaron para Puerto Rico donde vivió en la ciudad de Cataño hasta 1987. Subsecuentemente, la familia se muda a la ciudad de Albany para estar más cerca de los servicios que su padre necesitaba, por encontrárse enfermo.

Due to the urgency in his voice I decided to call him right away to set an appointment. Four days later we met and talked on different subjects.

Jose Lopez was born in the Bronx to Puerto Rican parents. When he was barely ten years old his parents moved to Puerto Rico where they lived in the town of Cataño until 1987. Subsequently, the family moved to the city of Albany to be closer to services needed by his father due to illness.

Although his father dies, the family decided to settle in Albany where he attends the Adult Learning Center and the Educational Opportunity Center.

He talked about his love for animals since childhood. First he loved dogs. He has had five dogs. Although all are now dead he still carries pictures of animals with him.

Five years ago, his love for reptiles began.

He said that he has Caymans, Crocodiles and Lizards. He says that he has them since they were very small. I asked him where he keeps them and he said that he has a permit which allows him to keep them at home.

He added that he also wants to be a delegate to the presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Aunque su padre muere, la familia decide radicarse en Albany donde el asiste al “Adult Learning Center” y al Educational Opportunity Center”.

He was one of three candidates for the Board of Trustees of the public library in the city of Albany. Although he lost in a close election, he will continue to fight for causes that he considers fair or that unfairly affect the community.

Desde pequeño le gustan los animales. Primero le gustan los perros. Ha tenido como cinco animales de estos. Aunque todos han fallecido, todavía trae consigo fotos de ellos.

Hace como cinco años, comenzó su afición con los reptiles. Dice que actualmente tiene Caimanes, Cocodrilos y Lagartos. Dice que los tiene desde que eran pequeños. Cuando le pregunté donde los tiene, afirmó que tiene un permiso el cual le permite tenerlos en su casa.

Tiene un cuarto dedicado completamente para ellos. Agregó que hace presentaciones en escuelas, bibliotecas y lugares similares. Se presenta semanalmente en la biblioteca.

At present, Jose works as an assistant teacher for people with disabilities in the city of Albany.

Good luck Jose.

He has devoted an entirely room to them.

He added that he gives presentations at schools, the Albany public library and similar places. He gives weekly presentations at the library.

El otro día recibí una llamada telefónica de joven llamado José López. La llamada decía: Mi nombre es José López. He estado llamando desde el año pasado. La gente me llama el hombre Lagarto y estoy corriendo para el Board of Trustees de la Biblioteca Pública de la ciudad de Albany y quisiera reunirme con ustedes para dialogar.”

He also said to have a passion for politics.

He has worked with Mrs. Alice Greene and Lester Freeman in his bid for the congress among others.

Debido a la urgencia que noté en su voz decidí llamarlo para hacer una cita. Cuatro días después nos reunimos y hablamos de diferentes temas.

También dice tener una pasión por la política.

Entre otras cosas, ha trabajado con la señora Alice Greene y con Léster Freeman en su campaña para el Congreso. Quiere ser delegado para el candidato a la presidencia Barack Obama.

Fue uno de tres candidatos para el “Board of Trustees” de la junta de la Biblioteca Pública de la ciudad de Albany. Aunque perdió en un votación bien cerrada, dice que seguirá luchando por causas que el considera justas o que injustamente afecten a la población.

Al presente, José trabaja como asistente a maestro para personas con limitaciones en Albany.

Buena suerte José.

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Concepts and dangers of ADDICTION Conceptos y Peligros

de la ADICCION By: Luis Gonzalez, M.A.

The use of illicit drugs in the United States has become a very serious problem, which we must pay close attention to. The increase and use in children and young adults is alarming. According to studies (Brooks and Rice, 1997) in the early 1990s, 11.4 million Americans used illicit psychoactive substances such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin and others.

Most alarming of all is how this scourge has been introduced in schools reaching as many young people of school age. Another study found that 32% of eighth graders had tried an illicit drug and the number was higher in older students, with 40% in Grade 10 and 50% in grade 12. Each year about 20000 people die in relation to drug use (Brook and Rice). Other studies found that 12.8 million Americans used illicit drugs regularly and this is not counting children less than 12 years. This represents approximately 6% of the total population.

According to professor of neuropharmacology, George Koob, MD (Scripps Research Institute, California) 80% of addicts who recover with detoxification treatment fall back within a year. The addition problem is a situation that actively loads a specific sector, but also affects a variety of ways to society at large. Therefore it is a problem which we must all attack.

I also think that treatment programs do the best job in making this disease ‘(as is called by the Medical Model) less devastating.

Moreover the percentage of relapses is very high. Perhaps the recovery centers need to broaden their approach, relying less on the content symptomatic and placing more emphasis on emotional and relational of the identified patient. So in addition to seeking a way out of avoidance is also aimed at finding a way out solution. In general recovery programs follow a treatment based on the Medical Model with hospitalization, medication and education. This is good but the truth is that it is only a partial treatment. The Family Solutions Institute cites Brooks and Rice, who made mention of several models that support the processing of the addendum addition to the medical model. These are: Traditional Psychiatric Models; Contemporaries Psychiatric Models; Trauma Model;

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Social Model and Systemic Model. All these models have their techniques or work strategies not to use tem can lead to deficiency the recovery process. Counselors or addicts clinicians must master these models to achieve greater efficiency with participants in the recovery process. On the other hand the first groups that need to made aware are of this are insurance companies that provide funds to these programs. They need to make less emphasis on quantity (or statistics) and more on quality, so that the clinician will have more access to interactive process with the recovering addict. The pressure of paperwork by the administration is so strong for these clinical counselors or who do not have time to take prudent full meetings with the patient. For that reason can not give a systematic follow-up to enable them to use therapeutic tools at its disposal for the individual and social growth of the addict.

The addict needs a more thorough treatment, which fence beyond the symptoms or the content of the observation process and relational psycoeducationals of the addict. A problem like addition warrants for rigorous treatment, hence achieving a more effective recovery is advisable to use an approach multidirectional, who directs the biological and psychological functioning but also to the dynamic interactive patient within its context family and social life. The addition to drugs is a very big disgrace for an individual, family, community or nation. So give a clinical follow-up without taking into account the performance contextual patient constitutes a barrier to achieving the desired results.

I reiterate, addition so far is affecting our society and we must all deal with the matter to be able have a healthier society, more productive and directed towards upgrading and gaining better citizens.

El uso de drogas ilícitas en Estados Unidos se ha convertido en un problema muy serio, al que hay que prestarle mucha atención.

El incremento y uso en niños y jóvenes adultos es alarmante. Según estudios real-

izados (Brooks and Rice, 1997) a principio de los 1990s, 11.4 millones de americanos usó sustancia psicoactiva ilícita, tales como marihuana, cocaína, heroína y otras.

Lo más alarmante de todo es cómo este flagelo se ha introducido en las escuelas alcanzando a tantos jóvenes en edad escolar. En otro estudio se encontró que en estudiantes de octavo grado el 32% había tratado una droga ilícita y el número fue más alto en estudiantes de mayor edad, con el 40% en el grado 10 y 50% en el grado 12.

Cada año mueren cerca de 20,000 personas con relación al uso de drogas (Brook and Rice). En otros estudios se encontró que 12.8 millones de americanos usa drogas ilícitas regularmente y esto es sin contar los menores de 12 años. Esto representa aproximadamente un 6% de la población total.

Según el profesor de neurofarmacología, George Koob, MD (Scripps Research Institute, California) el 80% de adictos que se recuperan con el tratamiento de desintoxicación recaen dentro de un año. El problema de la adición es una situación que activamente carga un sector determinado, pero que al mismo tiempo afecta de diversas maneras a la sociedad en general. Por tanto es un problema al que todos debemos hacerle la guerra.

Pienso también que los programas de tratamiento hacen una gran labor para que esta “enfermedad’ (así la denomina el Modelo Médico) sea menos devastadora.

Por otro lado el por ciento de recaídas es muy alto. Quizás los centros de recuperación necesiten ampliar su enfoque, basándose menos en el contenido sintomático y haciendo más énfasis en el proceso emocional y relacional del paciente identificado. Así además de buscar una salida de evitación se dirige también a encontrar una salida de solución. Por lo general los programas de recuperación siguen un tratamiento basado en el Modelo Médico con hospitalización, medicación y educación.

Esto es bueno pero la verdad es que constituye solo un tratamiento parcial. El Instituto de Soluciones a la Familia (The Family Solutions Institute) cita a Brooks y Rice, quienes hacen mención de varios modelos que sirven de apoyo al tratamiento de la

adición además del Modelo Médico. Estos son: Los Modelos Psiquiátricos Tradicionales; Modelos Psiquiátricos contemporáneos; Modelo de Trauma; Modelo Social y el Modelo sistémico. Todos estos modelos cuentan con sus técnicas o estrategias de trabajo y desaprovecharlos puede conllevar deficiencia para el proceso de recuperación.

Los consejeros o clínicos de adictos deben dominar estos modelos para lograr una mayor eficiencia en el proceso de recuperación de los participantes. Por otro lado los primeros que deben hacerse conscientes son las compañías de seguros que proveen los fondos a estos programas para que hagan menos énfasis en la cantidad (o estadísticas) y más en la calidad, de modo que el clínico tenga más acceso al proceso interactivo con el adicto en recuperación. La presión del papeleo (paperwork) por parte de la administración es tan fuerte para estos consejeros o clínicos que no disponen del tiempo prudente para tener sesiones completas con el paciente. Por tal motivo no pueden dar un seguimiento sistemático que les permita utilizar las herramientas terapéuticas a su alcance para el crecimiento individual y social del adicto.

El adicto necesita un tratamiento más profundo, que valla más allá de la sintomatología o del contenido a la observación del proceso psicoeducacional y relacional del adicto. Un problema como la adición amerita de un tratamiento riguroso, por tanto para el logro de una recuperación más efectiva es recomendable hacer uso de un enfoque multidirecional, que se dirija al funcionamiento biológico y psicológico pero también a la dinámica interactiva del paciente dentro de su contexto familiar y social.

La adición a las drogas constituye una desgracia muy grande para un individuo, una familia, una comunidad o una nación.

Por tanto dar un seguimiento clínico sin tomar en cuenta el desempeño contextual del paciente constituye una barrera para el logro de los resultados esperados.

Reitero, la adición está afectando al extremo a nuestra sociedad y todos debemos ocuparnos del asunto para tener familias y una sociedad más sana, productiva y encaminada hacia la revalorización y obtención de mejores ciudadanos.

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Family Summer Fun and Healthy Snack Tips From Whitney M. Young, Jr. Health Services’ WIC Staff

Summer is coming.

If you want to make time for fun as a family - turn off the TV, turn on the music and dance any time of the day. Also, now that the warmer weather is here, children can bike around the neighborhood after dinner while parents or caretakers walk along with them. On the weekends, take a walk in the park, or play soccer, baseball etc. Once the temperatures soar even higher, you can also go to public outdoor swimming pools or nearby lakes for a refreshing dip. Just be sure to always wear sunscreen when you and your family members are outdoors, even if it is cloudy.

Here are some snack tips from Fit WIC: Fruits and vegetables taste great, make a healthy snack, are easy to prepare, and are rich in vitamins and fiber but low in salt.

Spinach Vegetable Dip: You will need •

1 package of frozen chopped leaf spinach 1 pint light mayonnaise 1 cup of sour cream ½ cup chopped onions

• • • 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Cut up carrots, broccoli, celery, green pepper, red pepper, etc.

Thaw and drain spinach well.

Mix first four ingredients together Chill it at least one hour Serve with fresh cut vegetables

Eating fruits for dessert or a snack is healthier than cakes, pastry and ice cream. In addition, eating fruits in season is nutritious and inexpensive; fruits such as watermelon, strawberries, grapes, apples, oranges, pears, melons, etc.

Try shopping at a local farmer markets to find locally grown fruits and vegetables. Avoid desserts and concentrated sweets because they are high in calories and fat, which can cause unwanted weight gain.

Funny Fruit Pizzas You will need •

8 oz low-fat mozzarella cheese slices or shredded cheese 4 English muffins, sliced in half or 8 small (4 inches size) tortillas Fruits such as banana, seedless grapes, orange or tropical fruit etc.

• •

1.

2.

3.

4.

Cut fruits into bite-size pieces Give each child half an English muffin or 1 tortilla. Have them place a slice of cheese on the muffin or tortilla.

Toast the muffins until the cheese melts Let the children top his or her muffin or tortilla with fruits

Staying Hydrated When it comes to drinks, drinking water to rehydrate you is better than carbonated beverages such as soda or sweetened

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Consejos para hacer Divertidos y Saludables Snacks en Verano

drinks. If your water supply is not safe or it does not taste right; buying water by the gallon from a supermarket is still less expensive than carbonated beverages and it is healthier for us.

Aquí les tenemos unos tips para hacer unos snacks de Fit WIC:

It’s always important to eat and drink healthy. And the Women, Infant and Children Program (WIC) can help pregnant women, babies, and young children eat right and stay healthy!

Eating healthy means you’ll be able to build strong bones, teeth and muscles, and fight diseases.

Dip vegetariano de Espinaca:

To learn more about how the WIC program may be able to assist your family, please contact: WIC at Whitney Young 920 Lark Drive, Albany, NY 12207 (518) 465-9387 or (518) 465-4771, x275 www.wmyhealth.org The WIC Program is an equal opportunity provider.

HAVE A SAFE, FUN AND HEALTHY SUMMER!

Frutas y vegetales saben delicioso, son un snack saludable, fácil de preparar, ricos en vitaminas y fibra pero bajos en sal.

Si usted quiere tener un momento divertido con la familia – apague el TV, ponga música y baile a cualquier hora del día. También, ahora que el clima cálido ha llegado, los niños pueden montar bicicleta alrededor del vecindario después de comida mientras los padres o quien los esté cuidando, caminan con ellos. Durante los fines de semana, camine por el parque, o juegue futbol, béisbol, etc.

Una vez las temperaturas suban más todavía, pueden ir a piscinas públicas al aire libre o a lagos cercanos para un baño refrescante. Solo asegúrese de usar siempre bloqueador solar cuando usted y su familia estén afuera, aun cuando esté nublado.

1.

2.

Necesitará: • • • • 1.

2.

3.

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5.

El verano está por llegar.

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paquete de hojas de espinaca cortadas congeladas 1 pinta de mayonesa baja en grasa 1 tasa de sour cream ½ tasa de cebolla en trozos Corte zanahorias, brócoli, apio, pimentón vede y rojo, etc.

Descongele y drene las espinacas.

Mezcle los primeros cuatro ingredientes Enfríe la mezcla por lo menos una hora Sirva con los vegetales cortados frescos

Comer frutas de postre o un snack es mas saludable que una torta, postres o helado. Además, comer frutas de estación es nutritivo y barato; frutas como el melón, fresas, uvas, manzanas, naranjas, peras, etc. Trate de comprar en los mercados locales para comprar frutas y vegetales locales. Evite postres y azucares concentrados por que son altos en calorías y grasas, lo que causa aumento de peso.

Divertidas Pizzas de Frutas Necesitará: • 8 oz de queso mozzarella bajo en grasa rayado o en rebanadas • 4 English muffins, cortados por

3.

4.

mitad o 8 tortillas pequeñas (de 4 pulgadas) Frutas como banana, uvas sin semillas, naranjas o frutas tropicales, etc.

Corte las frutas en pedazos Déle a cada niño medio English muffin o una tortilla. Haga que pongan un pedazo de queso en el muffin o la tortilla.

Tueste los muffins hasta que el queso se derrita Deje que los niños le agreguen frutas encima

Manténgase Hidratado

Cuando de bebidas se trata, beber agua para hidratarte es mejor que bebidas carbonatadas como sodas o bebidas dulces. Si no sabe que tan pura es su agua o no sabe bien, comprar agua por galones del mercado es todavía menos costoso que las bebidas carbonatadas y más saludable.

Es siempre importante beber y comer saludable. Y el Programa para las Mujeres, Bebés y Niños de WIC, ayuda a mujeres embarazadas, bebés y a niños a comer bien y estar saludable!

Comer saludablemente significa que usted será capaz de tener huesos, dientes y músculos fuertes, y a prevenir enfermedades.

Para saber más a cerca de cómo el programa de WIC puede ayudar a su familia, puede contactarnos en : WIC at Whitney Young 920 Lark Drive, Albany, NY 12207 (518) 465-9387 or (518) 465-4771, x275 www.wmyhealth.org El Programa de WIC es un proveedor de salud de iguales oportunidades

QUE TENGAN UN VERANO SEGURO, DIVERTIDO Y SALUDABLE.

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Partial Calendar of events for 2008 June 1st. 2008 National Kidney Foundation Walk at the Corning Preserve in Albany, New York: We are walking and will have a booth at the event. Our hope is to help raise $3000.00 to help fight kidney disease, and to provide patient services, community screenings and education. Please join us June 13th. Capital District YMCA Black & Latino Achievers Recognition Dinner Awards at the Desmond Hotel in Albany, New York: A Dinner & Awards presentation to honor outstanding business and community leaders and area young people. Tables are available until June 6, 2008 June 18th. Hispanic Outreach Service Fund Raiser at the Century House in Albany, New York: This event is to benefit the Hispanic Youth Life Enrichment Programs whose basic purpose is to provide those services which will assist youth to perform well in school in order to avoid potential academic failure and/or eventual school dropout. Our goal is to help raise $1000.00 June 22nd & 29th. Latino New York and The Desmond Hotel Take inner city kids to the park: We are taking a number of inner city kids to see the ValleyCats Baseball team to the Joe Bruno Stadium to enjoy a day at the park in Troy, New York July 2nd. Salvation Army Kick-off Breakfast at the Desmond Hotel in Albany, New York: A fund raiser to benefit many of the agency programs.

July 12th. Latin Festival of Amsterdam, New York: Centro Civico of Amsterdam day long celebration of the contributions of the Latino Community to the tapestry of American life. Expect the best in Latin Music, food, crafters and children’s amusement. We are planning to be there with an information booth. Also we encourage our friends and sponsors to join us. We will make all of the arrangements for you.

August 23rd. Albany LatinFest: Over 12,000 people will attend this full day of celebration. Expect the best in Latin music, food crafters and children amusements. The best place to let the Latino community know about your product, programs and services. We will be there in full force. Also we encourage our friends and sponsors to joint us. We will make all of the arrangements for you.

September 13th. Latino Parade and Hispanic Fiesta at the Plaza: Albany’s Hispanic Community celebrates it second annual parade. The festivities will start early morning at Washington Park in Albany and will culminate at the Empire State Plaza to participate in the Hispanic Fiesta at the Plaza. We need sponsors for the Brunch on Saturday morning and floats for the parade.

September 25th. The Salvation Army Fashion Show & Dinner-Dance at the Desmond Hotel in Albany, New York: A fund raiser to benefit many of the agency programs. 400 people expected to attend.

September 27th. The Alzheimer’s Association Northeastern New York Chapter 2008 Saratoga/Capital Region Memory Walk: We are planning to walk in this event to help this organization to reach the thousands of families that need their help! We are planning to put a team together to assist in raising $193,000 and gathering 1,100 walkers. We hope you are able to join us.

October 3rd. The Salvation Army celebrates Hispanic Heritage month at the Captain JP Cruise.

October 8th. Hispanic Heritage month celebration at Proctor’s Theater in Schenectady, New York October 15th. Salvation Army Corporate & Personal Kettle initiative: An event to kick-off the holiday giving season October 16th. Centro Civico of Amsterdam Annual Dinner at Glen Sanders Mansion in Scotia, New York: The agency celebrates 20 years of services in the community. This year’s theme: “Latinos In America” December 1st. Centro Civico of Amsterdam observes International AIDS day.

December 23rd. Latino New York Holiday of food and toys Giveaway to needy families in the Capital Region.

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