ZAPATA VOLLEYBALL ROLLIN’
SATURDAY OCTOBER 30, 2010
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2010 ELECTIONS
UIL CONTEST
Early votes are few
ZHS band stopped at area
188 of 7,200 registered voters cast early ballots By MAURICIO GUERRERO SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
It’s been slow for early voting in Zapata County. Zapata County Clerk Mary Jayne Villereal-Bonoan said as of noon Friday there had only been 188 people who participated in early voting since it began last week. The county has more than 7,200 registered voters. “It’s very important that people get out to vote and express their desires,” she said.
While it’s been slow at the voting booth, Villereal-Bonoan said she hopes that more people will come Nov. 2, especially because there is a current tax measure on the ballot. U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar said that his campaign is doing its part to get his 28th Congressional District constituents to the voting booth. The incumbent faces Republican candidate Bryan Underwood and Libertarian Stephan Kaat. “We’ve got a lot of protocols
in place from phone banks to media,” Cuellar said. “I think we’re doing really well with early voting and in the polls, but I don’t take anything for granted.” Underwood has also been working on his campaign to win the congressional seat. Underwood said that for the past year he has been around the district on somewhat of a listening tour to know what constituents want from their congressman. Kaat was unable to be
reached for comment. Cuellar is concentrating his campaign on transportation and education. He said that Laredo is a growing city and should have a congressman who can help the city with that growth by helping get the money needed to support transportation and the education system. Underwood is focusing more on repealing both the cap and trade bill and healthcare reform.
See VOTING PAGE 10A
READING FEST
SO GOOD IT’S SPOOKY
By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
After receiving superior ratings in the Division I marching competition, the Zapata High School marching band advanced to the area competition in Calallen last Saturday and came home disappointed. "The students did a good job, but the other bands were much better than we were," said marching band director Amado Martinez. The other bands played difficult music and carried out much more difficult marching drills, Martinez said. The ZHS marching band played music by composer Dennis Eveland, Martinez said. "The music was about a roller coaster ride," Martinez said.
See BAND PAGE 10A
2010 CAMPAIGN
B&G Club is safe and fun SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Photo by Cuate Santos | The Zapata Times
(Editor’s note: This is one in a series of profiles of the 26 agencies funded by United Way. The 2010 campaign is now under way.) Viola Gonzales Torres began working for the Boys & Girls Club of Zapata County in 2007. At the time, she had never worked with children other than her own. She applied for a position
Norma Villarreal-Arrellano, right, wearing a Snow White costume, principal at Arturo l. Benavides Elementary, sits with a group of students as they listen to school librairan Marlen Guerra Friday morning as part of the school Spooktacular celebration.
School’s Halloween celebration teaches fun and safety By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
Halloween festivities were in full bloom as Arturo L. Benavides Elementary celebrated the Spooktacular Reading Fest with a witch story narrated by the school librarian pretending to be a witch on the hunt for tasty ingredients. “We’re trying to show the
children that it can be a fun activity where we share, have fun and are aware of safety,” Principal Norma Arellano said. Marlen Guerra, the school librarian, played the witch narrating a story of her hunt for cat eyes, snake eyes, owl eyes, lizard gizzards, and other animal parts for her witch’s brew to serve the children all dressed up in unique Halloween costumes
quietly listening and participating when asked. “It’s just an activity to show the kids what Halloween is all about,” Guerra said. “It’s about pretending and not to be scared — the masks are not real and everyone is just wearing costumes.” After each ingredient was found and dumped into the kettle the children would shout out,
“Boo, boo, the witch’s brew.” “They’re very excited about that,” Arellano said. Every Halloween festivity was a team effort as Arellano, Guerra and other teachers joined in the fun. Immediately following the witch’s brew was a Halloween costume contest at the gym with
because her children were members of the club and she needed a job. Within four months, she was interim director of the club. By the end of her first year, she was executive director of the club. As executive director, she does a bit of everything, from working with the personnel and children to do-
See SPOOKTACULAR PAGE 10A
See BOYS & GIRLS CLUB PAGE 10A