November / December 2015 - RGVison Magazine

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015 | VOLUME 7 ISSUE 6

Building An Empire One Tamale At A Time

THE GIFT OF SIGHT

Dr. Navarro says it’s a common misconception that good vision means healthy eyes.

© 2010 Southwest Airlines Co.

WHEN WE SERVE TOGETHER IN OUR COMMUNITIES, EVERYONE SOARS. Southwest Airlines® proudly partners with those who are helping to shape our communities all across America. One good deed—when coupled with another and another and another—can truly make a positive difference in our daily lives.

THE ART OF SURGERY

M I N I M A L L Y I N V A SI V E SUR G ER Y W EI G H T L O SS A N D R O B O T I C S

Minimal invasive surgery guided by the same surgeon who is teaching others his art Dr. Mario del Pino, a talented and experienced surgeon,performs minimally invasive procedures using the most advanced laparoscopic and robotic technology. Having operated on over 1000 weight loss surgery patients, performing more than 300 robotic procedures, Dr Del Pino has been recognized as the busiest robotic surgeon south of San Antonio!

His experience is vast and assures confidence when taking care of you and your family.

In fact, he is a doctor who is teaching others how to do what they do in robotics. The technology is top notch. The surgeon is excellent. The benefits are numerous. Minimally invasive procedures are safe, and result in faster and easier recovery.

If you are scheduling surgery for yourself or a loved one, be sure to ask if it can be done using a minimally invasive procedure by Dr Mario del Pino. The skills, the knowledge, the confidence and the art make the difference. It is all here, close to home .

MA RIO D E L P I N O M D F A C S FA S M B S

TYPES OF SURGERY INCLUDE: Gall bladder Hernia Weight loss Colon Reflux & Appendix MARIO DEL PINO MD FACS FASMBS Minimally Invasive Surgery Fellowship training at the University of Pittsburg Proctor, Da Vinci Robotic Surgery platform Board Certified by the American Board of Surgery Fellow American College of Surgeons Medical Director Bariatrics Rio Grande Regional Hospital Surgeon Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence Fellow of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

For more information on how robotic surgery can benefit you please call us (956) 631-8155.

Find our facebook page “Mario del Pino MD”

110 E Savannah Ave Bldg A 202 | McAllen TX, 78503 http://www.southtexaslapband.com/

YOUR HOLIDAY SEASON

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

Listen to Your Heart Dobutamine Stress “Echo” Tests Dileep Menon, MD

For many, a stress test makes them think of sweating on a treadmill. But for those with medical conditions who cannot do the treadmill test, there is the dobutamine stress echocardiogram (ECHO).

doctor evaluates. Echo images of the heart before and after dobutamine are compared to detect coronary artery disease.

Why have a stress test?

The Heart Clinic has several locations to meet your needs. We are dedicated to keeping your heart healthy. If you need a dobutamine stress echocardiogram or just a routine EKG, trust our specialists. We’ll explain the procedure, step-by-step, from preparation to after your stress test.

A doctor may prescribe a stress test to assess heart function and structure, to assess the status of known cardiovascular disease, to determine pre-op cardiac status, and more.

How do dobutamine stress echos work?

Trust the Heart Clinic

The test helps doctors assess heart muscle function and structure under stress. The technician takes a resting ECHO. Then dobutamine, an intravenous medication that causes the heart to beat faster, is injected into the arm.

Dileep Menon, MD, is one of the Heart Clinic’s dedicated cardiologists. He is specialty-trained in interventional cardiology, and board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology.

Electrode patches connect the patient to the ECHO monitor. A transducer is placed on the skin to send sound waves into the body that “echo” off of the heart. The transducer sends the reflected echo waves to a computer, creating images of the heart that the

Learn more about heart disease and treatments available at www.heartclinicpllc.com

For an appointment with Dr. Menon or other specialists at the Heart Clinic, call 956-926-4317.

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Identifying the root causes of imbalances or nutritional deficiencies can help reverse or delay illness and improve overall health.”

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GABE PUENTE

PUBLISHER/CEO

STAY INFORMED, EDUCATED, AND INSPIRED. THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY… Where the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well.

As 2015 comes to a close, we reflect on our efforts this past year. RGVision can say with pride that it was a successful year for us, and speaking broadly, for the Valley. We saw economic growth and urban development, social change and educational initiatives that show no signs of slowing as we enter 2016.

Everywhere you look, the Valley is growing in some way, and it goes without saying that this is due to the efforts of the people who call this place home.

We chose the Valley as the birthplace for RGVision Magazine because it is evident that individuals and groups of this region are passionate about making a positive impact. RGVision applauds the business leaders, CEO’s, medical professionals, educators, students, and citizens who are collaborating to build a brighter future for South Texas. We have hosted several events honoring these endeavors, focusing on different areas such as healthcare and manufacturing.

We look forward to seeing many more of our community members participate in the story of South Texan success by joining us at future mixers.

Circulating to over 420 locations Valley-wide, with a readership of over 36,000 per issue, RGVision Magazine is the premiere magazine for our region.

Readers are engaged with our print, largely because of our talented staff of writers, designers, and editors who steer RGVision to be a local magazine with a feel and look that can be compared to most highly regarded national magazines. We always encourage those who want a medium by which to engage with their audience to call us and promote their business, practice, or organization with RGVision. You inspire us; let us share your passion and message with our audience. Let us tell your story.

Call us today, or email info@rgvisionmagazine.com.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

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

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

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS ANNIE SYKES LAURI REVILLA CORI SMELKER CLAUDIA LEMUS JONATHAN LEE SALINAS

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TABLE OF CONTENTS EDUCATION In the Making

12

Teach for the RGV

14

Top in Beating the Odds

16

College Bound Game Plan

18

Theater for the People

20

STC student, Amanda Delgado, is making a leap from marshalling soldiers in Afghanistan to training for occupational therapy.

ON THE COVER The Tradition 2.0

34

Despite the time and labor-consuming nature of tamales, there paradoxically seems to be a heaping plate of them at every holiday function.

By Karen Villarreal | Cover Illustration by Mariela Pena

Teach for America’s efforts in the Valley are transforming public education through service that has garnered statewide attention.

Harlingen CISD’s Early College High School has been recognized for helping economically disadvantaged students overcome obstacles and prepare for college.

A college counseling company is helping RGV students form attainable plans for higher education.

PSJA’s winter program provides the stage for high school students to shine before the community.

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2015

BUSINESS Real Estate Stress-Busters

HEALTH 24 The Gift of Sight

Rio Sol Real Estate Group revels in finding the perfect match for each buyer with as little stress as possible.

On the Road Again

26 Setting the Bar High

Aleman Trucking has had its share of downfalls, but this small business has been the dream of three generations, and tenacity is a family value.

Covered - or are you?

28

It is crucial for all professionals and small business owners to understand what their liability insurance policies cover and do not cover.

Next Generation Gifting

As you consider gifting options, ask yourself how you would like financial gifts made to children or other family members to be spent.

Building the World Around Us

Dr. Navarro says it’s a common misconception that good vision means healthy eyes.

30

38

42

46

48

Weight-loss surgery is not a quick fix or a miracle, but a tool used to help patients reach and maintain a healthy weight.

Avoid the “Holi-daze”

52

Taking time to focus on the true essence

of the holidays can keep them from becoming stressful.

Mental Health at School

Beyond manufacturing products that seamlessly work their way into our lives, Royal Technologies is also working with local schools to prepare future engineers.

QUALITY OF LIFE

We can’t imagine going under the knife without anesthesia. Dr. Parra has been practicing anesthesiology since 1997.

Diet, Exercise and Surgery?

56

Parents and teachers can work together to help make a significant impact in the lives of children with mental disorders.

Healthy for the Holidays

VOLUME 7 ISSUE 6 November/December

58

Holiday mealtimes should not add stress to your holidays. You can be health-

Becoming a Legend

60

Winter on Parade

64

“E-sports,” or professional video gaming, are are on the rise globally and in the Valley.

McAllen’s 2 annual Illuminated Holiday Parade is one of the biggest in the region. nd

Dine by Design

70

Paws for Reading

76

X-mas at IMAS

80

Growing to Feed

82

Decorated table-tops bring together fighters and survivors while raising funds and awareness for cancer.

Children develop confidence in reading with therapy pet teams who volunteer their time and services to community.

McAllen’s museum sprouts a Christmas tree forest and more holiday events for the whole family.

Local food banks are expanding to address the silent scourge of hunger.

conscious and still enjoy the festivities.

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13

EDUCATION

South Texas College’s Amanda Delgado An Occupational Therapist in the Making

by Annie Sykes

S

tarting a career in occupational therapy after a decade of military service is no easy transition. But if anyone can do it, it’s Amanda Delgado. Meet Amanda: current STC student and future occupational therapist.

Amanda’s story begins on, of all things, an exotic animal ranch in rural Wisconsin. The ranch was a haven for mistreated animals, from miniature donkeys to birds and everything in between. With a background like this, Amanda’s lifelong tendency toward service is no surprise.

As fun as the animal ranch was, Amanda knew she wanted a taste of life beyond Wisconsin. She spent her senior year weighing options for the future. Financially speaking, college was out of the question. At eighteen years old, she felt it was too early to jump into a career. Amanda was just looking for a way to get out into the world. She found it in the glossy, action-packed pamphlets handed to her by a military recruiter.

This was the start of Amanda’s decade-long military career.

She joined the Air Force and became a member of the Security Forces, which she explains as “basically the military police.” Over the next several years, Amanda’s job made her dreams of world travel come true. She spent many months in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. She lived for two years in Turkey, and even served a stint 14

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on the Ecuadorian coast.

These years were filled with adventure and personal growth for Amanda. She experienced things she had never imagined: a tea party in the desert with some very polite Kuwaitis, the strangeness of being completely ignored by men in Saudi Arabia, visiting one of the seven Wonders of the World in Turkey, and the stunning Pacific coastline in Ecuador. Amanda was also rising in the ranks.

Her administrative and managerial skills grew along with her confidence and discipline.

But after several years, Amanda began to grow weary of the military lifestyle. The six-months-home, six-months-abroad pattern went from exciting to exhausting. She had a sense of not really living anywhere and began to wonder what it would be like to put down roots. So, she decided to make her next military tour her last.

This final journey turned out to be one of the most intense.

Amanda was sent to 2009-era Afghanistan to improve military behavior in the region. It was challenging and sometimes frightening, but she got the job done. Plus, the whole experience had a major silver lining: Afghanistan is where Amanda met her husband.

After Afghanistan, Amanda started winding down her military

november/december 2015

career in earnest. She spent time in San Antonio and Oklahoma, finally letting her then-boyfriend/now-husband convince her to move to the Valley. Once settled, Amanda realized she felt lost.

She was out of the military, but didn’t feel fully civilian yet. She had an associate’s degree in criminology from the military, but it didn’t feel like the right field.

Never one to wallow, Amanda embarked on some serious soul searching. Many hours of reflection and several career aptitude tests later, she had decided what to do. She was going back to college to become an occupational therapist. The career was a perfect fit for Amanda: she could serve others as she did in the Security Forces, but in a different, more personal way.

Enter South Texas College. Amanda had heard great things about the school. She saw that they offered a two-year program in Occupational Therapy Assistance - a perfect first step for her new career. STC was also affordable, especially with the US Air Force’s help. Best of all, it was really close to her new home. It seemed like a great match, so Amanda took a deep breath and made an appointment with the STC admissions office.

She felt at home immediately. The registrar’s office told Amanda step-by-step what she’d need to do to enroll. Even better, they sent her to the on-campus Veteran’s Office, where she found a

community of people just like her: ex-military, future something else, currently building a life here in the Valley. She felt informed, supported, and ready for the challenges ahead.

And there were plenty of challenges. Ten years away from the classroom made subjects like anatomy, kinesiology, and physiology seem impossible. And those were just the prerequisites; two years of classes and clinical rotations lay ahead. Mustering up all the discipline the military had given her, Amanda dug in. She studied hard, spent countless hours with her close-knit study group, and practiced her new knowledge in professor-supervised clinical work. A little over two years later, Amanda Delgado graduated at the top of her class. She was the only student in the program with a 4.0 grade point average.

Today, Amanda is back at STC to earn her bachelor’s degree.

She’s staying on track for occupational therapy by working part time at a pediatric clinic. It’s a big change, going from marshalling soldiers in Afghanistan to helping children navigate the everyday world. But Amanda is managing the transition with grace. She credits much of that to South Texas College, the place where she became an occupational therapist in the making.

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15

EDUCATION

TEACH FOR AMERICA IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY EARNING STATEWIDE RECOGNITION FOR THEIR IMPACT ON EDUCATION

By Annie Sykes

“

Teachers, students, and leaders all shoot for a higher bar, and the results improve accordingly.

Not just for some kids all students benefit from high expectations.

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I

t’s a fall night in Austin, and the Governor’s Mansion is decked out. Guests mingle under historic paintings and crystal chandeliers.

The atmosphere, usually thick with wheeling and dealing, is full of goodwill. It’s the annual Governor’s Volunteer Awards reception - a night to pause the politics and celebrate service.

Each year, nine Governor’s Volunteer Awards are given out to those who made an extraordinary impact through service or volunteering. The awards are a joint effort between the Governor’s office (First Lady Cecilia Abbott presided over this year’s ceremony) and the OneStar Foundation, an organization that works to boost Texas’s non-profit sector.

Two of this year’s awards recognized members of the Rio Grande Valley community. First, Teach for America Rio Grande Valley, an AmeriCorps affiliate, received the Partners in Education Award for their powerful impact on public education in the region. JoAnn Gama, founder and superintendent of IDEA Public Schools - and a Teach For America alumna - was also recognized.

She received the Make-a-Difference Award for outstanding contribution to her community.

Dr. Paula Garcia, the Executive Director of Teach For America’s Rio Grande Valley november/december 2015

Region, shared her excitement with us.

“We were so thrilled to be recognized with the Partners in Education Award,” she told us. “And to have JoAnn, who is one of our most outstanding alums, win an award too was just the icing on the cake.”

Dr. Garcia heads up one of 52 national Teach For America regions. Teach For America (TFA, as it’s known) recruits and trains college graduates to teach in lowperforming public schools. The idea is that putting talented, high-achieving young people in public school classrooms will raise student achievement levels. Whether or not this is true is a hotly debated topic, though a recent gold-standard research study found Teach For America teachers actually outperform their peers, especially in math. Locally, a study by the RAND Corporation found that 88% of Valley principals who worked with TFA teachers believe those teachers make a positive impact on their schools. 95% would hire another TFA teacher in the future.

Despite the debate, even the loudest TFA critic can’t ignore the organization’s impact. For 25 years, it has drawn thousands of the nation’s best and brightest (with a 15% acceptance rate, getting into TFA is only slightly easier than getting into an Ivy League school) to the public education field “We train generations of future leaders,” says Dr. Garcia. “Nearly two thirds of Teach For America alumni

Dr. Paula Garcia: Executive Director TFA-RGV

“

JoAnn Gama Co-Founder, President & Superintendent, IDEA Public Schools

First Lady Cecilia Abbott

You’ll often hear the phrase ‘college isn’t for everyone.’ To me, that’s not only false, it’s bad business. It lowers expectations for everyone, from the students to teachers to principals. It undermines our future as a region. stay in education, specifically in jobs that serve students of color and students in poverty.”

Like its parent organization, Teach For America-Rio Grande Valley aims to transform public education in the region.

What does that mean? According to Dr. Garcia, it means preparing every Valley student - no matter their racial or socioeconomic background - to graduate from college.

“You’ll often hear the phrase ‘college isn’t for everyone,’” she tells us. “To me, that’s not only false, it’s bad business. It lowers expectations for everyone, from the students to teachers to principals. It undermines our future as a region.”

TFA-RGV sees a Valley education landscape where college is a given. “When everyone in a school knows college is the end goal, the atmosphere changes,” Dr. Garcia explains. “Teachers, students, and leaders all shoot for a higher bar, and the results improve accordingly. Not just for some kids - all students benefit from high expectations.”

If the Governor’s Award is any indication, Dr. Garcia’s vision is slowly becoming a reality. TFA-RGV was founded in 1991. Since then, over 1,400 Teach For America teachers have taught in the Valley. This year’s corps of 130 teachers reaches over 8,500 students. Add that to the 177 Teach For America alumni

”

still in the Valley, and you’ve got thousands of students - and parents - hearing TFA’s “college is for you” message.

Importantly, students hear that message from teachers with whom they identify. Of this year’s crop of TFA teachers, half come from poor socioeconomic backgrounds, two-thirds are people of color, and one third are Rio Grande Valley natives. Nearly a fifth of them became TFA teachers after having been taught by one themselves.

“Students respond to teachers who know what they’re going through,” says Dr. Garcia. “They see how their teacher, who’s just like them, finished college, and they’re more able to picture themselves with that future.”

TFA’s indirect impact also makes a difference. Look at almost any educationrelated foundation, initiative, or organization in the Valley, and you’ll find Teach For America. Tom Torkelson and JoAnn Gama, co-heads of IDEA Public Schools, both served in the corps. The RGV Center for Teaching and Leading Excellence was launched jointly by IDEA, TFA, and the Pharr-San Juan- Alamo school district. RGV Focus, which makes school system “scorecards” to inform the public and improve accountability, has strong ties to TFA. These programs are changing education in the Valley, and Teach For America is right there with them. november/december 2015

Despite the impact, the growth, and of course, the Governor’s Award, Dr. Garcia still sees a long road ahead for Teach For America-Rio Grande Valley. “We’re still at only an 86% high school graduation rate.

The higher education rate is dismal. It’s predicted that only 22% of students like ours will earn a college degree within six years of graduating. What about the other 88%? What will they do? What does that mean for our economy, to have so few college graduates?”

These questions keep Teach For America -Rio Grande Valley up at night. They drive people like Paula Garcia and JoAnn Gama to keep doing what they do: working for a day when all Valley students have the future they deserve. The Governor took notice of their work - when will the rest of us?

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EDUCATION

Top in getting ahead: HARLINGEN CISD’S EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL IS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FOR HELPING STUDENTS BEAT THE ODDS! BY: MARITZA GALLAGA

N

ewsweek recently ranked Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District’s Early College High School as one of the top high schools in the nation in its “Beating the Odds 2015” list.

ECHS came in at number 84 in the annual list, which recognizes 500 public high schools across the United States for their outstanding efforts in preparing their students for college while also overcoming the obstacles posed by students at an economic disadvantage.

“Early College High School has provided many of our students the opportunity to excel in both 18

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high school and college, while preparing them for global achievement,” said Superintendent Dr. Art Cavazos. “I firmly believe that education is the great equalizer in this great country, and the outstanding achievements ECHS has come to earn is a testament to what our students can accomplish when they have the support of their community. I want to commend their staff, students and our great partnership with Texas State Technical College for this recognition.”

ECHS received high marks for all three categories, including college readiness, graduation rate, and college bound – 87.3 percent, 100 percent, and 96.7 percent, respectively.

november/december 2015

“This achievement is a result of the faculty’s commitment to education, the students’ dedication to their studies, and the parents’ unyielding support.”

UPCOMING EVENTS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2015 + Welcome Home, Rio Grande Valley

SUNDAY,NOVEMBER 15 , 2015 + Feast of Sharing

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2015 + The Valley Symphony Orchestra & Chorale presents A Touch of Frost

“Early College High School provides our students with a rigorous high school and post-secondary curriculum while preparing them for leadership roles in our community,” said Principal Dr. Pamela Flores. “This achievement is a result of the faculty’s commitment to education, the students’ dedication to their studies, and the parents’ unyielding support.”

This is the third year that ECHS is recognized at the national level. Last year, the campus earned a bronze classification in the U.S. News & World Report’s Best High Schools national rankings. With a bronze classification, ECHS was named as one of the top 27 percent of high schools in the nation.

According to the U.S. News website, the rankings included data on more than 19,400 public high schools in 50 states and the District of Colombia. Schools were awarded gold, silver, or bronze medals based on state assessment performance and how prepared students are for college.

This May, ECHS saw graduates celebrate the completion of an associate’s

degree or their collegiate academic core in the Texas State Technical College commencement ceremony. The campus even had one student, Anthony McIntosh, graduate with the distinction of Board Regents Scholars, which is an honor reserved for students graduating with a 4.0 Grade Point Average (GPA).

McIntosh was one of 12 Board of Regent Scholars to graduate last May. Opened in 2007, the campus kicked off the district’s efforts to provide students and parents with options in education. It was designed to incorporate the college and high school experience for students, freshman through senior year. The dualenrollment focus allows ECHS students to start taking college classes at Texas State Technical College their first year of high school at no cost.

To learn more about HCISD’s ECHS please visit www.hcisd.org/echs or call (956) 430 - 9690.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2015 + “A Vivir” con Odin Dupeyron

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2015 + Felipe Esparza

SATURDAY,DECEMBER 5, 2015 + Rio Grande Valley Ballet presents The Nutcracker

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2015 + Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker

For More Info:

F AC

EB OO

K . C OM / S T C A

F

MCALLEN CONVENTION CENTER

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

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EDUCATION

An Inside Guide to Getting Ready for College Applications

By Annie Sykes

P

arents – close your eyes and imagine your children’s professional future. What are they doing? How much are they earning? Are they comfortable?

Now, imagine that future with an annual $15,500 cushion. Things look a little rosier, don’t they? That $15,500 may seem like a random number, but it’s not. $15,500 is the “college bonus” - the median additional salary that comes with a four-year college degree.

According to a 2014 Pew Research study[1], today’s 25 to 32 year olds with bachelor’s degrees earn a median salary of $45,500.

That’s $15,500 - the magic number - more per year than their peers with two-year degrees or some college hours, and $17,500 more than those with a high school diploma only. Bachelor degree holders are also less likely to be unemployed, living in poverty, or living with their parents. On a related note, they’re more likely to be married. Four years of college for a higher salary, independent living, and a spouse? Where do you sign?

The statistics are clear: College is worth it. Alihermy (Ali) Valdez, founder of College Bound, already knows this. It’s why she started College Bound, a college consulting company that helps Rio Grande Valley students get into and graduate from college. We’re bringing you some of Ali’s expertise in preparing students for the big senior-year-college-application experience.

Follow Ali’s game plan, and your children will be on their way to stability and security.

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going deeper with extracurriculars. Encourage them to seek leadership positions, spearhead new projects, fundraise, network, and more.

This helps them develop skills that are critical in college and the real world.

Get Started in Middle School Let’s be clear - we’re not suggesting that 11-yearolds get cracking on the college admissions essays due in six years. What we are recommending is focusing on college early. Here are some specific tips for making the most of the middle school years:

1.

2.

3.

4.

Make it a family affair. Good things happen when parents and students head down the college path together. Spend time as a family talking about college, looking at college websites, and planning ahead.

Start visiting colleges - and keeping track of them. Take a campus tour on the next family vacation, or even plan a trip to visit a certain campus. Ali recommends keeping a record of these visits in a notebook. Have your child jot down reactions, pros and cons, and other information that might come in handy later.

Lay the groundwork for good grades. Colleges look closely at GPAs. Developing good study habits in middle school makes it easier for your child to do well in high school. Need study habit tips? Reach out to the folks at College Bound.

Your child’s transcript will thank you.

Support development of soft skills. Succeeding in college takes “real life” skills like asking for help when needed, taking initiative and building relationships. Extracurricular activities help children build these skills. Encourage your child to join a sports team, common interest club, arts program, or whatever else sparks his or her interest.

Keep the Ball Rolling throughout High School

If senior year is the highway to college, junior year is the on-ramp. A strong junior year is key to a successful senior year. Start checking items off your child’s college application list with these junior year tips:

1.

2.

Discuss college summer programs. Check the schools on your child’s list for summer programs.

Students who attend these programs get a little taste of college; they usually live on campus and work directly with professors. A college summer program also looks great on the resume. Be sure to look into financial aid options – many programs offer scholarships or flexible financing.

Ensure your child takes the PSAT in October.

The PSAT prepares students for the SAT and puts them in the running for a National Merit Scholarship. It’s only offered once a year, so be sure your son or daughter signs up.

4.

Help prep for the spring ACT or SAT. Many students wait until senior year to take standardized tests. College Bound recommends taking them junior year. That way, there’s time to prepare for a higher score if necessary.

Senior Year: Smooth Sailing By following these guidelines, you and your child will be more than prepared when senior year rolls around.

To find out more about the senior year experience or preparing for college in general, reach out to Ali and her team at collegebound.com and email Ali at ali@ becollegebound.com. College Bound makes it easy to start early, stay focused, and stick to the game plan.

Because remember - it’s worth it.

Challenging courses are worth it. Colleges like a high GPA, but they also like to see students challenging themselves. Encourage your child to take one or two “hard” classes each year. They’ll be upping their chances of college admission and getting smarter at the same time.

G E BO LE

D UN

Keep the GPA strong with good study habits.

Help your son or daughter continue with good study habits. Remind them to study for tests in advance, take good notes in class, and reach out for help when they need it.

Make college lists. Have your child review his or her campus visit notebooks and favorite college websites, then start making the official list of prospective colleges.

3.

Freshman year is when things start to officially “count” as admissions officers review performance for all four years of high school. Make sure they like what they see by following these guidelines:

2.

3.

Keep visiting colleges. Spending time on college campuses is a great way to find the right school for your scholar. Try to visit a few colleges each year.

The Junior Year Checklist

CO L

1.

4.

Up the involvement. Talk to your child about november/december 2015

ALIHERMY J. VALDEZ

COLLEGE ADMISSIONS CONSULTANT  956-508-9090  ALI@BECOLLEGEBOUND.COM BECOLLEGEBOUND.COM

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21

EDUCATION

PSJA’s Children’s Shows Captivate Generations

By Claudia Lemus

“y

ou don’t understand Claudia,” I recall my sister Selena saying to me about her theatre fascination as we walked home from the bus stop. “When I am up on that stage it’s like magic, like if I can be anyone in the world.”

Being the typical self-centered senior at the time, I blocked off my sister’s poignant words not realizing that at that moment she had poured her heart out to me. Growing up, Selena had always been timid in public settings. We were both quiet, little nerds in elementary. Looking back now, I have come to realize how all that changed when she first joined drama in middle school and got selected to play various roles while at Pharr-San JuanAlamo North Early College High School (PSJA North ECHS).

Although we stopped seeing eye-toeye soon after, my little sister gradually blossomed into an outspoken, outgoing and courageous individual who was no longer afraid to be in the limelight. From a shy little freshman to an audaciously passionate senior, I witnessed Selena live her high school years madly in love with theatre and what she strongly referred to as her “drama family”.

Drama family? I never quiet understood what she meant by that, until now.

Like my sister, each year hundreds of PSJA students anticipate to participate in the various school districts’ high school 22

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november/december 2015

” Last year, PSJA North’s 20 performances of Beauty and the Beast reached a total of 10,000 people. This program has become known as one of the biggest, top quality shows in Texas.”

- Gilbert zepeda -

theatre children’s shows. From The Wizard of Oz and Cinderella to Beauty and the Beast and even The Little Mermaid, their magical live theater productions light up the lives of thousands of youth districtwide.

While in many places throughout the U.S. theatre is embedded into communities and kids grow up having watched countless of plays throughout their lifetimes, the truth is that a large majority of people in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) often live their lives without experiencing the magic of a live theatre performance.

For that reason, Children’s Shows at PSJA ISD, have become a remarkable tradition for families in the school district and the community.

According to the PSJA Fine Arts Director Jon Taylor, due to the many lowincome families the school district serves, the shows provide a very special experience for families.

“It’s probably the only experience that most community members have with live theatre,” said Taylor.

The four major high school theatre productions at PSJA ISD include PSJA Early College High School Thespians, PSJA North Early College HS Theatre, PSJA Memorial Early College HS Wolverine Theatre and the PSJA Southwest Early College HS Theatre.

As an annual tradition, the live theater productions include students singing, dancing, and acting, as well as support from a behind-the-scenes technical crew of teenage aficionados.

Each year the shows draw in thousands of people in the RGV, something that is rare in high school theatre, according to Gilbert Zepeda PSJA North ECHS Drama Director.

“An hour before the show starts, there’s a line in the parking lot of people who want to see these shows with their families,” shared Zepeda who has been with the program since its very first children's

show in 1979. “That’s very unusual for a Hispanic community, especially high school theatre.”

Last year, PSJA North's 20 performances of Beauty and the Beast reached more than 10,000 people.

“This program has become known as one of the biggest, top quality shows in Texas,” said Zepeda.

PSJA North is currently rehearsing Seussical, Jr., a collection of Dr. Seuss stories set to music, with Horton Hears a Who!'s main character telling the story. It is coincidentally the first show Zepeda ever directed, and as he will be retiring next year, he hopes his final production will build on the great success that is typical of past PSJA children's shows. Zepeda says that providing the community this connection to the theater is what has driven him all these years.

“The students are getting to

november/december 2015

have a live arts experience and don't have to go anywhere else to do it,” explained Zepeda. “They can see our students and our teachers put on a live fine arts experience for them, produced and performed by their peers.”

In addition to evening performances open to the general public, the high school productions perform during the day for PSJA second through fifth grade students. The PSJA theatres’ success is due to district-wide collaboration with high schools and elementary schools and the support from various leaders, according to Zepeda.

“We have the whole community and

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EDUCATION

“We had seven actors, a tech crew of about 20 kids. Now we’re working with about 150 kids putting together the production, and I think it’s the same at all of our schools.”

the district’s support,” said the PSJA North Drama Director. “This involves all elementary schools, their principals and the support of the superintendent.”

Due to the high interest of the community in the shows each year, ticket prices are kept low at $5 to $7 so entire families can afford to attend the magical shows. In addition to the community, the winter plays have become so popular that even Winter Texans look forward to attending each year.

According to the directors, the high school students performing in the children’s shows inspire younger students to try to follow in their footsteps.

“The heroes for our kids in this community are our kids,” smiled Zepeda.

“We create the heroes and villains on stage.

In this district, it's a big deal for the little kids to get the autographs of all the actors, and they aspire to get to high school to get into these productions.”

A GLIMPSE TO THE PAST Although the various PSJA theater productions have come a long way and are now an incredible attraction to the RGV community, the reality is that it wasn’t always so. According to Zepeda, in the 24

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beginning of his career at PSJA, the theater department had to give away 100 tickets to try to fill the audience, tickets were sold at the box-office for only $1.50, and the theater put on just one public performance aside from the school performances.

“We had seven actors, a tech crew of about 20 kids,” recalled Zepeda. “Now we’re working with about 150 kids putting together the production, and I think it’s the same at all of our schools.”

Like Zepeda, Gabriel Ramirez the PSJA Memorial Early College Theatre Director said they have seen tremendously significant changes. According to Ramirez, the program now performs for middle and elementary schools and has had an influx of freshmen interested in participating every year.

“Now we can double-cast and do big shows like Cinderella,” said Ramirez enthusiastically. “Junior high kids watch our shows and know that no matter what high school they end up at, they can join the program.”

Due to the the theater’s numerous performances of Rodger & Hammerstein's Cinderella, this year the PSJA Memorial ECHS Drama Director said they had to november/december 2015

double-cast the choir.

“We have two separate casts rehearsing and performing on alternating nights,” explained Ramirez. Not only does this allow students to alternate between performances to alleviate fatigue, it gives more students the chance to feel the limelight.

While at many school districts theatre is often an extracurricular activity, at PSJA ISD children’s shows are part of Theater Production, a class that has become so popular it is now even offered during the evenings to allow students with conflicting class schedules to participate. Although theater production gives students the opportunity to unleash their creativity, students must pass all of their classes in order to participate.

According to the directors, participating in the theatre productions while maintaining their grades teaches PSJA students to be responsible, manage their time wisely and communicate effectively—skills that make them valuable when applying for colleges. The class attracts a diverse group of students as even cheerleaders and football players audition and often get casted.

“Colleges aren’t just looking for students who have advanced credits, but kids who did something else,” said Jon Taylor the Fine Arts Director of extracurricular activities. “Whether it’d be participating in the theatre program, athletics or whatever it might be.”

The PSJA theatre program is already seeing the fruits of their labor as numerous

students have gotten accepted into prestigious drama colleges each year and several have even made it into Hollywood.

Some prime example of students who serve as inspiration to current students are Cristela Alonzo, who became the first Latina to create, produce and star in her own original sitcom Cristela on ABC and David Barrera who’s appeared in numerous television shows, including The Bridge, NYPD Blue, The Big Bang Theory and The Wizards of Waverly Place.

“We talk about the little gains every time a Hispanic wins an award, or is nominated for a Tony or when one of our own kids gets a job in the industry,” said Zepeda about the importance of increasing the number of Hispanics in theatre. “We make them very aware, and proud, of their heritage.”

As a result, the PSJA Drama Department has become like a second family for generations of students who participate, and yes even for my sister. Although she graduated from PSJA North ECHS in 2013, she continues to stay in touch with her drama peers and makes plans to watch the plays each winter.

This year, community members and students can enjoy nights of magic and fun as the PSJA high school theatre productions once again will be performing many great children’s shows like Peter Pan Jr., High School Musical Jr., Rodger & Hammerstein's Cinderella and Seussical Jr. “We have a good group of seniors this year who can sing incredibly,” said Sergio Sauceda, the PSJA Southwest Theatre Director who has been working hard with a theatrical rigging system of ropes and harnesses to provide a theatrical illusion during their performance of Peter Pan Jr. this year. “They're going to be flying through the house.”

Offering nights of magic and captivating audiences for decades, the PSJA Drama Department looks forward to continuing what they have started for many more years to come.

“Over the last 37 years we have become one of the biggest shows in Texas,” said Zepeda with a smile. “We’re really happy to be doing it.”

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- Coming to a stage near you PSJA Memorial ECHS Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella Nov. 17, 19, 20, 30 : 7 P.M. Dec. 3, 4, 5 : 7 P.M. Nov. 22, Dec. 5 : 2 P.M. @ PSJA Memorial ECHS Performing Arts Center: 800 S. Alamo Rd. PSJA ECHS H.S. Musical, Jr. Nov. 19, 20: 7 P.M. Dec. 1, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12: 7 P.M. Dec. 6, 13 : 3 P.M. @PSJA H.S. Performing Arts Centre: 805 W. Ridge Rd. PSJA Southwest ECHS Peter Pan, Jr. Nov. 1: 3 P.M. Nov. 2, 3: 7 P.M. @PSJA Southwest H.S. Auditorium 300 E. El Rancho Blanco Rd. PSJA North ECHS Seussical, Jr. Dec. 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18 : 7:30 P.M. Dec. 6, 13 : 2 P.M. @PSJA North Video and Performing Arts Center, 500 E. Nolana

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BUSINESS

Masters At Minimizing Home Buying Stress Rio Sol Real Estate Group

By Joe Lilli

“Owning a home is a keystone of wealth –both financial affluence and emotional security.”

Suze Orman Author, Financial Advisor, TV host

C

lients always come first with realtors Judith Benavides and Eliseo Garza of Big Realty in Pharr.

“This is a people business,” says Judith. “By putting our clients’ interests first and making sure they’re totally satisfied and feeling like they made the right purchase, we are able to build life-long relationships rather than closing on a quick sale.”

“It’s all about offering exceptional customer service,” Eliseo declares. “It’s what we focus on and what we pride ourselves on providing.”

Not surprisingly, 80% of their business is through referrals.

“It just proves that our clients were happy with our services and they referred us to family and friends.

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That’s pretty self-telling in the way we treat our clients and how we value their time and trust in us,” she adds.

Facilitators, Not Salespersons

The two don’t consider themselves “salespersons.”

They are more like facilitators who help people meet their specific needs and preferences.

Both Judith and Eliseo agree the search process itself can be long and tiring. But they revel in finding the perfect match for each buyer with the least stress possible.

They take considerable time trying to understand their clients’ needs first before they start showing them homes. This involves interviewing their clients to get a good idea of what they want and expect.

november/december 2015

Sometimes, though, clients may not know exactly what they want. They recalled the client who had five daughters, but who did not want a two-story house.

“I showed them several one-story homes, but nothing met the client’s needs. I then told him we should look at two-story homes. After we started looking at two-story homes, he said, ‘You’re right. This is what I needed all along.’ So that’s what he ended up buying because it met their budget and accommodated their family size,” she says.

“It’s our job to guide our clients to make the right investment in the right area and just make sure their needs are being met,” Eliseo adds.

Rio Sol Real Estate Group

Although Judith and Eliseo work as realtors for Big

The two appear to be in perfect sync. They share the same life goals, positive outlook, and genuine passion for their work.

Eliseo is a second generation residential builder and real estate professional. He worked in residential construction with his family while growing up in Edinburg.

Upon completing high school and some college, he started his real estate career in Houston in 2006. But eventually, he returned to the Valley and his roots.

Shortly after Judith and her two brothers formed a new brokerage, Big Realty, Eliseo joined them in their endeavor to grow the up-and-coming company.

When Eliseo and Judith established the Rio Sol Real Estate Group within Big Realty, Eliseo also formed Rio Sol Construction.

“It’s our job to guide our clients to make the right investment, in the right area, and just make sure their needs are being met.”

“Our office is a one-stop shop.

We offer clients the services of a realtor, builder partners that service their needs, and a professional lender group.”

Eliseo Garza

Judith Benavides

Realty Brokerage, they recently formed the Rio Sol Real Estate Group within the firm.

“We created Rio Sol Real Estate Group because we’re both realtors, we’re getting married, and we help each other out with practically everything – from transactions and listings to meeting with clients,” Judith explains.

The two first met in 2009 at another brokerage.

Judith, who had just graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Recreation Parks & Tourism, had trouble finding work due to a weak economy. Her brother, a broker, encouraged her to try real estate.

While shadowing her brother to learn about the real estate industry, she met Eliseo at the office where her brother worked. But a courtship didn’t develop until 2012 when they met again at an evening event.

Eliseo proposed marriage to Judith on Valentine’s Day this past February. They planned an October wedding.

One-Stop Shop

“Our office is a one-stop shop,” Judith notes. “We offer clients the services of a realtor, builder partners that service their needs, and a professional lender group.”

“If people want to buy or sell a home, we can help them with that. If a client wants to build their dream home, we have a construction company to help with that. And if they need financing, we have a lender inhouse to assist with that as well,” says Eliseo.

As for the future, Judith and Eliseo plan on getting their brokerage licenses and setting up their own office in Edinburg.

“It’s going to be the first of many franchises for Big Realty,” remarks Judith.

To learn more about Rio Sol Real Estate Group, visit their website www.rgvlocator.com. Judith and Eliseo can also be reached at 956-207-3525 or 956607-2383.

november/december 2015

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here is a certain amount of risk that goes into starting a small business, but it is a risk worth taking if it is one for which you have passion. “They say that 9 out of 10 companies don't make it past the first year and survive,” said Jimmy Aleman, CEO of Aleman Trucking. “I always believed I could start 10, if that is what it takes, to eventually have one that succeeds. ” Owning his own successful trucking business has always been a dream of his, one he inherited from his grandfather. “Trucking is in my blood,” Aleman said. While the success of a new business depends on many factors, including how you define success, the intimidating 90% failure rate commonly believed to be true for first-year businesses isn’t entirely accurate.

Actually, about half of all new establishments survive five years or more and about one-third pass the 10 year mark, according to the Small Business Association.

Aleman Trucking has been around in various forms for over fifty years.

“Our family has been through many challenges and hardships, but these difficulties have made us stronger and wiser,” he said, explaining that learning from downfalls and never giving up also run in the family.

“Even if you’re experiencing something that is on the way down, just know that’s not the end of your story.

There’s always hope, a new opportunity around the corner,” he shared. He admires his father’s tenacity and attributes his drive to the example his father set.

“My grandfather, Paco Aleman, started it all,” said Jimmy Aleman, relating the family history. “In 1950, he was right out of the Navy and bought his first truck. While Grandpa Paco was still driving said truck in 1966, when he noticed a semi pulled over on the side of the road and decided to stop and help the driver out.” It was a fateful exchange that would result in retirement for the tired truck driver, and the jumpstarting of a career for Paco Aleman and two later generations of truck enthusiasts. “The gentleman asked my grandfather if he’d be interested in running these loads of Pearl Beer to San Antonio and taking over his accounts. Grandpa agreed to the terms and Aleman Trucking was born.” Paco Aleman grew his fleet to four or five trucks before passing away in 1974, leaving Aleman’s 19-year-old father to help raise his seven siblings.

“My dad took over the company early in life, but it started growing,” he remembers proudly. Two years after taking charge, he bought his second truck. He did every aspect of trucking, from driving to repairs to managing operations of what grew to be a 15-truck fleet by ‘89. However, the first Aleman Trucking ended up having a lot of challenges, and they lost the company in 1990. “My dad didn’t have a mentor to help him make the best decisions to avoid something like that from happening,” Aleman said. “I can’t imagine not having my dad there. He has 30 years of experience under his belt, and I talk to him every day. Being able to rely on that guidance has helped me out tremendously.” Aleman was nine years old when they company went under, and it was influential

that he never saw his dad quit after facing difficulties early in his entrepreneurial career. “My dad built himself up during that time.

He started another one in 2000 called USA Carriers, with three trucks. Within eight years he grew it to 600 trucks. He was USA Carriers.”

Unfortunately, the success of USA Carriers was short-lived. “We went through a big challenge with that, some internal mistakes, and in 2010 we all walked away from the company,” Aleman said, explaining that he and his sister were working there with his dad, as well. “It’s a tough blow to lose your company,” said Aleman. “I don’t know many people who have seen those kinds of ups and downs, but my dad never quit. He’s the person I admire the most in the world and always will. Part of the reason we want to grow and succeed is because I’ve always seen him be the best he can be at anything.”

The second loss allowed the Aleman family an opportunity to step back and assess what was really important- their faith. “What we had left was God and family, and it brought us closer together to both.” He says that in retrospect, he had not been living for Him the way he could have, as explained by the Bible parable that talks about talents. “God blesses us with ability and we can work to honor him by using the talents as he intended.” Reigniting their faith also gave the family the perseverance to go forward. “We were OK with not building it up again, moving in a different direction if that was God’s will. But somehow, the opportunity arose to try again, so we did it,” he said, explaining how he acquired his first trucks through fortuitous business partnerships. Aleman plans to apply himself to moving forward with a sense of inner peace, knowing he’s doing things as God intended, even if it takes longer to grow or caps the expansion. “If I had the opportunity to grow, I would love to, but I want to do it the right way,” he said.

“I am passionate about fulfilling the destiny set forth before me. I am so grateful to God that He gave me an opportunity to resurrect Aleman Trucking, which I operate with complete honesty and integrity,” he said. “I strive to be completely transparent in all my dealings and to have the best paid drivers in the industry.” The company started last October with ten trucks, and has grown to 20 in about a year, with a total of over 1.5 million miles driven and counting. “We don’t want to dwell on the past, but we know from experience we can do better. We want to move on and take the lessons that were learned to help us in the future. We believe we have the blueprint of how to grow a company and the one thing we have now that we didn’t before is Jesus at the center of our company.

We tell our drivers, customers, and employees that we put God #1.”

Aleman says that growing up as the son of a truck driver, he knows the sacrifice made not only by the driver every time they hit the road, but also his or her family. “It is hard work. We want the drivers' families to know we will take good care of them here. We want Aleman Trucking to be a place where drivers can know they prayed for, that if they need anything in terms of counsel we’re here for them. We want to make sure they have everything that they need.”

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“But I have insurance for that” For example, I recently worked on a case where a security company that provided security services at several bars and taverns had an insurance policy that excluded coverage for any security services ow many times has a professional or small that are provided at a business at “which more business owner who has been served with than 50% of sales or revenues are derived from the sale, consumption, or dispensing of alcoholic a lawsuit uttered those words in a state of beverages.” Providing security at bars was the core of their business and yet their expensive insurance anxiety? If you paid thousands of dollars in policy provided no coverage for that! That is like a doctor buying a liability policy that does not insurance premiums over the years only to have your cover lawsuits arising from his care of patients or insurance company deny you protection once you are an attorney having a policy that does not cover legal malpractice. sued, anxiety will be the least of your worries.

In addition to “exclusions”, a liability insurance policy will also have certain “conditions” that the insured party must comply with. The most common condition requires the insured party to give the insurance company prompt written notice when they Most professionals and business owners carry liability insurance are sued. This gives the insurance company the opportunity to to protect them in the inevitable event that someone commits review the allegations in the lawsuit and hire the attorney of their a mistake in the operation of their business and they are sued for the damages caused by that mistake. When that happens, choosing to defend the insured party in the lawsuit. If you are sued and you do not give prompt, written notice of the lawsuit, liability insurance is supposed to protect you in two basic ways— the insurance company can refuse to provide you with insurance pay an attorney to defend you in the lawsuit and, if a judgment coverage. In one case I was involved in, a large business was sued is rendered against you, to pay the judgment up to the amount and had $5,000,000 in liability insurance coverage. However, they of the insurance policy’s limits. Have you read your liability did not send the insurance company a copy of the lawsuit with a insurance policy to see what kinds of claims it covers and, most short letter informing it that they had been sued. The insurance importantly, what claims are not covered? company therefore refused to hire a lawyer to defend them in the The most common liability insurance policy that is sold to lawsuit. The company ended up losing the lawsuit and a multibusinesses is called a commercial general liability policy (“CGL million judgment was entered against it. The insurance company Policy”, for short). The policy itself is dozens of pages long. A page or two consist of what is covered, i.e. the Coverage Forms. also refused to pay that judgment—all because the company did The rest of the policy consists of “exclusions” and “conditions” not promptly notify the insurance company that they had been sued. that allow the insurance company to deny you coverage no matter It is crucial for all professionals and small business owners to how much you have paid in premiums. understand what their liability insurance policies cover and do I looked at a typical CGL Policy for this article and counted not cover. It is a mistake to just leave it in the hands of their thirty-two standard exclusions to the two forms of coverage insurance agent and forget about it. One should sit with his or provided by the policy. Depending on the insurance company and her insurance agent and have them explain what aspects of their the amount of premiums you pay, the standard CGL Policy can be amended by an endorsement that adds even more exclusions. business are and are not covered in the event they are sued.

H

By: Alberto T. Garcia Attorney  albert@garmtzlaw.com  (956) 627-0455 www.garmtzlaw.com 30

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“The law firm of Garcia & Martinez showed an impressive command of the law and the courtroom when they got us our $9 Million jury verdict.”

– Dr Juan and Sylvia Mancillas. november/december 2015

NEXT GENERATION BUSINESS

GIFTING CONSIDERATIONS By : Wealth Management Systems Inc. Courtesy of : Bill Martin, CFP® Financial Advisor, 1845 Group at Morgan Stanley Branch Name : Morgan Stanley, McAllen, TX

G

iving financial gifts to children or grandchildren can help reduce your estate taxes. However, if you are concerned about wasteful spending by the recipients, there are several options that allow you to exercise some control over how the is money used.

HOW MUCH CAN YOU GIVE? Federal law permits unlimited tax-free annual exclusion gifts of up to $14,000 per recipient ($28,000 if married), without the donor having to file a federal gift tax return. If you make a gift to any person in excess of the annual exclusion amount, you will be required to file a federal gift tax return. However, if your gift exceeds the $14,000 or $28,000 minimum, but not will be applied to the lifetime gift exemption – currently $5.43 million per individual ($10.86 million per couple filing joint tax returns) – you will not have to pay any gift tax. The gift will simply reduce the amount of your lifetime exemption amount. Taxes may not be owed in this instance, but you will be required to file a gift tax return.

Your generosity and good fortune potentially places a significant amount of money into the hands of children and grandchildren – adult as well as minor – who may be unprepared to manage a windfall. Here are some suggestions that may allay your concerns.

LEAD BY EXAMPLE When making gifts to adult children, discuss your feelings with them in advance. Suggest that they put the money to good use, such as paying down debt, starting a college fund for their own children, investing a portion or donating some or all to a charity 32

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of their choice.

Avoid handing a check to an adult child who you believe may squander the money. Instead, offer to contribute to bigticket items, such as a new car or a mortgage down payment, or require them to attend a financial education course to learn about budgeting, savings, credit scores and other topics which could help them become fiscally responsible adults.

CUSTODIAL ACCOUNTS, TRUSTS AND 529 PLANS If the gift recipient is a young child, Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA) or Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (UGMA) custodial accounts may be appropriate choices.

With UTMA/UGMAs accounts, the minor owns the funds received as a gift, but the donor may serve as custodian and has complete control of the account until the minor reaches the age of majority (generally 18 or 21 depending on the state), at which point the recipient assumes control.

For those desiring some lasting control over the gifted money, a trust may be the better choice. Unlike custodial accounts, money held in a trust is not required to be transferred to the beneficiary at a specific age. 1 You choose the timing and distribution schedule, for example a lump sum at age 21, or periodic payments over a set number of years.

If you prefer that the money be used to fund longer-term financial goals, offer to fund an individual retirement account or open a 529 college savings plan. 2 Under the special five-year election rule, you can make a lump-sum contribution of $70,000 to a 529 plan in the first year of a five-year period (or $140,000 per married couple). Keep in mind that if you choose that option, you’ll have to avoid giving the recipient any additional annual exclusion gifts during the remainder of the five-year period.

november/december 2015

These are just a few suggestions for making thoughtful, satisfying gifts to children. Contact me for help assessing your overall estate and exploring additional gifting and financial education options.

Investors should consider many factors before deciding which 529 Plan is appropriate. Some of these factors include: the Plan’s investment options and the historical investment performance of these options, the Plan’s flexibility and features, the reputation and expertise of the Plan’s investment manager, Plan contribution limits and the federal and state tax benefits associated with an investment in the Plan.

Some states, for example, offer favorable tax treatment and other benefits to their residents only if they invest in the state’s own Qualified Tuition Program. Investors should determine if their home state offers a 529 Plan that may offer such favorable tax treatment and benefits to residents or beneficiaries of that state that may not be available to investors or beneficiaries of other states. Investors should consult with their tax or legal advisor before investing in any 529 Plan or contact their state tax division for more information. Morgan Stanley does not provide tax and/or legal advice. Individuals should always check with their tax or legal advisor before engaging in any transaction involving 529 Plans, Education Savings Accounts and other tax-advantaged investments.

Investments in a 529 Plan are not FDICinsured, nor are they deposits of or guaranteed by a bank or any other entity, so an individual may lose money. Investors should review a Program Disclosure Statement, which contains more information on investment options, risks factors, fees and expenses and possible tax consequences. Investors should read the Program Disclosure Statement carefully before investing.

Sources:

1Kiplinger, “Ways to Give Money to Children,” updated January 2015.

2The Wall Street Journal, “Financial Gifts to Adult Children: Strings or No Strings?” January 2, 2015.

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

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

The author(s) are not employees of Morgan Stanley Smith

Barney LLC ("Morgan Stanley"). The opinions expressed

by the authors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Morgan Stanley. The information and data in the article or publication has been obtained from

sources outside of Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley

makes no representations or guarantees as to the accuracy or completeness of information or data from sources

outside of Morgan Stanley. Neither the information provided nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation by Morgan Stanley with respect to the purchase or sale of any security, investment, strategy or product that may be mentioned.

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

Bill Martin, CFP®, may only transact business in

states where he is registered or excluded or exempted from

registration

http://www.morganstanleyfa.

com/1845group/. Transacting business, follow-up and

individualized responses involving either effecting or attempting to effect transactions in securities, or the rendering of personalized investment advice for

compensation, will not be made to persons in states

where Bill Martin, CFP®, is not registered or excluded or exempt from registration.

© 2015 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC.

CRC 1231999 07/15

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AS YOU CONSIDER GIFTING OPTIONS, ASK YOURSELF HOW YOU WOULD LIKE FINANCIAL GIFTS MADE TO CHILDREN OR OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS TO BE SPENT. RGVISIONMAGAZINE.COM

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which means pachangas, posadas, and many other opportunities to celebrate our blended culture the way we know best-with the food of our people.

Some families follow the American example and make turkey or ham for the main course. Others tap into their Mexican roots with giant pots of pozole, menudo, or the long-time hero of the holiday table, tamales. w

Arguably, the tamale is the most traditional part of a Hispanic holiday spread. They evoke mental images of the kitchen crowded with grandmas and tias reunited for the holidays to participate in the morning-long process of cooking meats, kneading masa and spreading these on softened corn husks with precision and speed, keeping less dexterous hands away. Despite the time and labor-consuming nature of tamales, there paradoxically seems to be a heaping plate of them at every holiday function.

How are we finding time to make them?

The secret to the plentiful plates of tamales is one that at Valley natives have known for several years: we aren’t making them. There is an update to the tradition, which satiates everyone’s craving for the delicious little bundles with the convenience of a drive-thru. We are able to enjoy them not only in the holidays, but year-round too. A white paper bag reveals tamales foil-wrapped by the dozen or halfdozen of 18 different varieties with salsas included, so grandmas and tias can spend quality time with their families instead of cooking.

Who is preparing that white paper bag that allows the tradition to continue without sacrificing family moments?

Delia’s Tamales is the one-woman operation that turned into a thriving chain store over the course of 30 years.

Delia Lubin’s goal was to have one restaurant, and she shared that she struggled a lot to accomplish it. “I thought it was going to be so hard because I didn’t have a formal education,” Lubin said tearfully. She explained that in the rural areas of Mexico where she grew up, there was very little schooling available. “I tell my daughters, I went to third grade three times - not because I failed.

There was just no other class to go to. That was part of the reason I had to find another, maybe more difficult way to get ahead.” Little did she know that the holiday experience of making tamales would provide that outlet, growing with her own hands an empire.

“In life, there are downfalls,” she said. “You fall sometimes and might think, ‘I’m too tired, I will just stay down. Lo importante es no quedarte tirada. Ay que levantarte y seguir. You have to have something in here that makes you get up,” she said, pointing to her heart. “For me it was that dream of having my first store.”

This wasn’t her dream when she sold her first tamale. The Delia Tamales business started after Lubin and her husband moved from Chicago back to the Valley to be closer to her family, where they had lived for ten years after their marriage.

They were going through hard times because he wasn’t earning much, and as she was used to working in Mexico, she didn’t like sitting idly.

“My whole goal at first was to leave behind food stamps, government housing, all this assistance because I didn’t like being dependant and didn’t want this for my daughters,” she said. So when her

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she said. “You fall sometimes and might think, ‘I’m too tired, I will just stay down. Lo importante es no quedarte tirada. Ay que levantarte y seguir. You have to have something in here that makes you get up,” she said.

sister told her one day, “How about we make some tamales...to sell?” Lubin took her up on the offer.

They started with 5 pounds of masa, selling them around where she lived. “We made enough money from this to buy supplies for another 5 pounds, and a profit of $5 each,” she explained. At that time, neither Lubin nor her sister had money, so they made a little bit more the next day, sold them, and worked together like that for about a year. She said that their husbands got in the way eventually, bringing an end to the partnership. For about two weeks after that, Lubin stopped the business until she thought to herself, “Why? I can do this, yo tambien puedo,’ (I can do it too) and again started making tamales by herself in a smaller capacity.

She continued the business out of her own home, making deliveries with her car. She would wake up at four in the morning to prepare the tamales so they would be freshly made for breakfast delivery on Fridays.

“This was around ‘89, I think,” she said, trying to remember. “I’m not sure because I never took down notes or photographs; I never recorded anything because I never thought God and my customers would take me to where I am now,” she shared. She feels she was blessed in several ways, beginning with her early customers. “I was able to go out, make my deliveries for breakfast and lunch, and by 12:30 p.m. I was done, gracias a Dios (Thank God).

Granted, a few businesses would close the door on me, and if I am being sincere I can admit that in the beginning it was a bit embarrassing, but most were very nice. There was always a person who helped

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me. I would ask this person, 'Would you like some?'

And the next time I arrived, they would have a list of orders for me.” Lubin’s customers spread the word about her tamale delivery service and started to tell her they had an interested friend or relative at another business. “Can you go to…” became a common request for her. “I got more customers,” she said, describing what would become the driving force for her tamale business. It got to the point that she had to start making her rounds on Thursday too, because there were too many to reach in one day, and eventually Wednesday as well. “They started asking me for little things like napkins, a bag, salsa, and someone suggested a little bit of salad, so since then I kept that formula: tamales, salsa, salad.”

“I did this for 15 years,” she said. “When I got divorced I raised my daughters by myself--but I provided for them. It’s very hard work, but there were lots of opportunities.” She finally applied for the business license for her first store, which only cost $10, much to her surprise. "There were difficulties, but I remember the first time I overheard someone say, ‘Hey, let’s go to Delia’s for lunch,’ I was so excited,” Lubin said. “I had a lot of faith in what I was doing, but it has been a surprise for me that tamales have been so welcomed as a food for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even special events.”

She remembers that it was a very beautiful feeling to hear her business promoted through word-ofmouth. She holds the belief that this country is one of opportunity, which allows anyone with a can-do attitude to succeed. After the first store opened its doors, the expansion was exponential.

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It was while planning for the third location several years later after the second that Lubin realized there was far too much demand to continue the operation as it was. She was getting requests for Delia’s stores in other towns (which continue to this day), so she wanted to speed the process of making them.

Lubin says they searched, but there was no machine out there that suited their needs exactly. Without wanting to disclose company secrets, she explained that all the tamales are made at one location with some mechanical assistance, but there are many hands at work in her kitchen, and each tamale is individually attended to. “We have a line of about 20 ladies whom we are glad to be able to provide jobs for, who wrap the tamales by hand,” she said.

A central kitchen also ensures quality is maintained across all her restaurants. The tamales are made fresh and then either steamed in store and served, sent to the other five Delia’s stores to be steamed and served there, or frozen for shipment all across the country. Delia’s website allows for ordering tamales delivered by mail that quite a number of people have made use of, ordering over a thousand dozens every month during the year. In December, orders peak at over 7,000 dozens, coming close to matching in-store business. They prepare for the winter rush with months in anticipation, and it is still never enough to meet demand. As soon as the first cold front hits the Valley, every Delia’s location is slammed.

“The winter months are a marvel for us,” said Delia Lubin, the 69-year-old owner of the chain. Delia’s Tamales will shut down day-to-day operation at all six locations the week of Christmas, staying open only for pick-up of pre-orders. You will see lines of cars all the way down the block.

“I have to apologize to many of my customers. I often have to turn them away because I don’t have enough tamales to serve everyone as I would like to do. It breaks my heart because it’s sometimes my best clients who count on me all year long, and I have to let them down because I have to attend to the orders first.”

It's not the worst problem to have as a business owner, and she is expanding little by little, as is her way. "Hopefully by next year, we plan to open one in San Antonio. I would like to keep growing, because everyone wants to have a Delia’s, which to me is a great satisfaction," she said. She is very appreciative of the loyal customers who got her to where she is now.

Lubin has a market clamoring for her product: authentic taste with a hint of nostalgia. The cultural comfort food has blended with the American way of life that we’re enjoying in the Valley and started a new tradition. Delia Lubin has found a way to share a love for the traditional food of our region with future generations by ensuring the popularity of a time-consuming meal that was likely to die in the hands of our instant-gratification generation.

"There are people my age and older who remember me from earlier days and that’s also a great feeling. I want to thank all of them, because it was marvelous to have all their support over the years. What can I say now? I’m happy with life!”

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ROBOT ARM

PLASTIC PARTS FOR ASSEMBLY 40

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YOU MIGHT WANT TO SIT DOWN FOR THIS Now, think about where that seat comes from.

Who designed it to support your back so nicely?

Who turned it from raw material into a fully functional chair and how?

We don’t often consider the origins of our furniture, or any everyday object for that matter.

Some things are just there. And that’s exactly how they’re supposed to be, according to Trung Nguyen, facility manager for the Royal Technologies site in Mission, Texas. “When a product is doing its job, you don’t notice it. It’s just a part of your life.”

Mr. Nguyen should know. Like some kind of Sharper Image Santa Claus, he oversees the Royal Technologies facility where ergonomic office chairs and sound-enhancing speaker boxes are manufactured. It’s also the origin of interior car parts, lightweight-yet-durable tool boxes, and even subwoofer casings. These products may not be topping many Christmas lists, but as Mr. Nguyen says, they make our lives seamless.

Mr. Nguyen’s facility is one of six Royal Technologies sites in the United States. Royal Technologies, an engineering and manufacturing company based out of Michigan, serves industries from automotive to office furniture to consumer products. We have them to thank for things like eco-friendly office chairs, longer-lasting upholstery cushions, and lightweight file compressors. We can also thank them for some of Mission’s recent november/december 2015

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“WHEN A PRODUCT IS DOING ITS JOB, YOU DON’T NOTICE IT. IT’S JUST A PART OF YOUR LIFE.”

economic and educational progress.

The company first came to Mission in 2012.

They acquired Hi-Tech Plastics, adding about 30 technical jobs to the local economy. By 2014, Royal Technologies had built the 350,000-square-foot facility that Mr. Nguyen manages. With the facility came over 100 more jobs, relationships with major companies like Toyota, Stanley, Black & Decker, and Panasonic, and the potential for even more economic growth.

Royal Technologies has also gotten involved in the local education scene. They recently partnered with the Mission Economic Development Council and Sylvan Learning Centers to launch Enginuity, a program that introduces elementary school students to engineering through hands-on activities. Enginuity is an effort to ramp up the local talent pool’s skills in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) areas. STEM jobs pay well and will only become more in demand; equipping more Mission citizens to be engineers is a smart investment.

Not surprisingly, the city of Mission has truly warmed to the company. Local organizations like the Mission EDC all but rolled out the red carpet for Royal Technologies, working closely with the company to ensure a smooth arrival and a stable future. Even the Mission Mayor showed his support for Royal Technologies at the facility’s ribbon cutting last year.

Mr. Nguyen isn’t surprised at his company’s strong relationship with the Mission community.

“Character and trust are priorities at Royal Technologies,” he explains, “from whom we hire to how we support the communities where we work and live.” Like the products they manufacture, Royal Technologies wants to make life better. Think about that next time you sit in your office chair or get into your car - your world may never seem the same. Or, if Mr. Ngyuen has his way, your world will seem exactly the same - only a little easier.

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THE GIFT OF SIGHT Edinburg Vision Center Providing Quality Eye Care For 47 Years

By Joe Lilli

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“We never shy away from treating any type of eye disease. To ensure our patients receive the very best eye care, we continue to use the most advanced medical equipment available today for diagnosis and treatment.”

Dr. Luis Navarro

Dr. Navarro

D

r. Luis Navarro, president, CEO, and owner/operator of Edinburg Vision Center (EVC), says you could be putting your eyes at risk if you forgo or skip routine eye exams. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) confirms this. According to the CDC, 61 million Americans are at high risk of losing their eyesight, yet only half that number had their eyes checked in the previous year.

Dr. Navarro is licensed by the Texas Optometry Board as a Therapeutic Optometrist and Optometric Glaucoma Specialist, the highest level of licensing at which optometry can be practiced in the State of Texas. Dr. Navarro is also board certified as a Diplomate of the American Board of Optometry.

From the moment patients walk in the door, EVC wants them to know they came to the right place. “We never shy away from treating any type of eye disease. And to ensure our patients receive the very best eye care, we continue to use the most advanced medical equipment available today for diagnosis and treatment,” he

notes.

He strongly recommends parents bring in their children between the ages of 1 and 3, regardless of how healthy they appear to be.

“Some children may have amblyopia, or lazy eye. By identifying the problem early on, we can correct that child’s vision which we may not be able to do at a later age,” he says.

Persons wearing glasses or contact lenses should have their eyes checked once a year to renew their prescription eyewear and ensure their eyes are still healthy.

Edinburg Vision Center operates a full surfacing lab. This enables them to make most prescription eyewear in-house. In most cases, patients can get their eyewear the same day rather than days or weeks later.

Unfortunately, many people with good vision often believe their eyes are doing just fine, so they don’t see the need for an exam. Dr. Navarro says that’s a big misconception.

“You could be seeing 20/20, yet there could be something very wrong with your eyes, such as a disease you’re not even aware of,” he warns. With more november/december 2015

people living longer, the chance for eye problems increases. Persons 65 and older, therefore, should have their eyes checked annually. Younger people who don’t wear prescription eyewear should have their eyes checked every two to three years.

Many eye diseases such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy – the leading cause of blindness among U.S. adults – often don’t have any noticeable symptoms until after the disease causes irreversible damage.

“Caught early, we can treat many eye diseases before they do permanent harm,” says Dr. Navarro.”

Dry Eye Of all the eye diseases Vision Center doctors treat, dry eye is the most prevalent.

It’s a condition in which there are insufficient tears to lubricate and nourish the eye, so people complain of eyes that are red or feel dry and sandy.

Why the increase in dry eye complaints?

Dr. Navarro believes it’s a combination of the chemical-laden foods we eat, environmental changes, and a greater RGVISIONMAGAZINE.COM

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consumption of medications. Also, increased contact lens over usage, Lasik, and hours staring at a computer or other type device where people blink less can cause dry eye.

Keep Eyes Healthy Anyone who has a parent or sibling with macular degeneration, diabetes, glaucoma, or other eye diseases is likely to get the same disease in their lifetime. To lessen the chance of developing an eye disease, Dr. Navarro recommends:

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Eating green and orange vegetables daily Exercising regularly Avoiding tobacco products since they can lead to damaged blood vessels of the retina and increase the risk of diseases

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Scheduling regular eye exams For people who struggle with eating enough vegetables, Dr. Navarro suggests taking nutritional supplements. But not just any. It’s important to get pharmaceutical-grade supplements and nutraceuticals.

“You can find an infinite number of vitamins in the drugstore, but do you know which ones will truly deliver the best health benefits? I recommend people talk to their eye care provider who can direct them to the highest quality products.

That’s a service we provide at EVC,” he says.

Established in 1968 Dr. Gary Ahlman opened the Edinburg Vision Center in 1968. Dr. Navarro joined EVC in 2007 and, when Dr. Ahlman retired after 41 years of practice, he purchased the practice from him on July 20, 2009. Dr. Navarro has worked

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tirelessly to continue Dr. Ahlman’s legacy of providing the very best eye care possible to the community. “Our employees are clearly the number one reason why EVC continues to be the longest established eye care practice in Edinburg and has been successful for years,” Dr. Navarro said proudly of his employees.

He also has continued Dr. Ahlman’s work with the Lions Club of Edinburg, an organization that for years has helped people who have no insurance and cannot afford an eye exam or eyewear.

“The Lions Club gives under-privileged people vouchers and refers them to EVC. Although the organization reimburses us for the eye exams, it doesn’t cover the total cost of time and materials. We don’t see that as an issue because we’re glad to help provide a service for people who can’t afford it.”

HEALTH

Dr. Rosario Parra

Setting the Bar High for Anesthesiology By: Annie Sykes

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Photo By: James Hord

A

nesthesia has a mixed reputation. It definitely makes the top ten list of modern medical advances. Without it, we’d be more Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, than Grey’s Anatomy. But it also makes the list for Twilight Zone-esque life experiences. Think about it - where do you actually go when you “go under”?

Understandably, this quandary and other concerns can make patients nervous about anesthesia. But surgery without it? Unthinkable. So what’s the solution to preop anesthesia jitters? For starters, make sure you have a good anesthesiologist. The physician who delivers you into la-la land should be someone with experience, skill, knowledge, and an excellent bedside manner. It should be someone like Dr. Rosario Parra, the anesthesiologist on staff at Dr. Raul Marquez’s Robotic Orthopedic Institute.

Dr. Parra has been practicing anesthesiology in the Valley since 1997. Born and raised in Mexico, she attended medical school in Monterrey before completing her residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. Many physicians stop their training at that point, but not Dr. Parra. Her goal was to practice two of the most challenging sub-specialties in her field: cardiovascular and pediatric anesthesiology. This wasn’t going to be easy.

When it comes to the body’s most vital organ or society’s most beloved demographic, they don’t let just anyone into the operating room.

Practicing cardiovascular or pediatric anesthesia (or both at the same time) requires fairly extensive training. Dr. Parra jumped in without hesitation, traveling near and far to finish the additional requirements.

She worked under world-famous cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Denton Cooley at St. Luke’s hospital in Houston, completed a fellowship at Driscoll Children’s Hospital

in Corpus Christi, and even did a stint in London at the prestigious Hospital for Sick Children.

Now that she had this arsenal of anesthesiology skills, Dr. Parra’s post-training job search went predictably smoothly. She was hired off the bat by McAllen Heart Hospital and practiced cardiovascular anesthesia there for six years. Later, she moved to Rio Grande Regional Hospital, working in general anesthesia as well as her cardiovascular specialty. These hospital years were as much an education as Dr. Parra’s formal training. She saw a huge range of patients, worked with many teams of doctors, and provided anesthesia for procedures big and small.

After nearly ten years working in hospitals, Dr. Parra was looking for a new way to grow as a physician. She found it at the Marquez Robotic Orthopedic Institute, the full-service orthopedic clinic where she’s worked since 2008. There, in addition to being the clinic anesthesiologist, Dr. Parra is also the preoperative evaluation specialist. This means she meets with each surgical patient individually before they go into surgery. She assesses their health, takes their medical histories, answers their questions, and meets any other needs they may have. She then makes all members of the surgical team aware of what the patient is bringing to the table. It’s a mutually beneficial set up: not only does the medical team feel more confident, the patient feels safer.

Often, the patient feels safer because

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Dr. Parra has talked them out of believing some common anesthesiology myths.

Even the most medically astute patients can fall prey to thoughts like “If you numb my legs, I might never feel them again,” or “What if I never wake up?” For these patients, Dr. Parra’s calm, matter-of-fact explanations are a soothing balm. In fact, patients will often reschedule their surgeries if the fall on Dr. Parra’s vacation or outof-office days.

For Dr. Parra, this kind of personalized patient service is deeply satisfying. It wasn’t something she encountered often in hospital work - the hectic pace and sheer volume prevented it. Now, instead of hurriedly talking to people minutes before they’re wheeled into the O.R., Dr. Parra can get to know her patients. She can advocate for them and soothe their fears. It’s a great way to practice medicine, which explains why she’s still excited to get to the office after nearly seven years of work.

Experience, skill, knowledge, and a commitment to patient care are the hallmarks of any good doctor. They’re especially important if that doctor is the last face you see before taking an extended surgical nap.

So if you find yourself in need of orthopedic medical care and want to be sure your anesthesiologist is up to snuff, find Dr. Parra at the Marquez Robotic Orthopedic Institute. You’ll be in good hands.

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Weight loss surgery can seem like a miracle. A single procedure that produces weight loss, restored energy, heightened confidence, and better health? A weight loss solution that doesn’t involve starving oneself ? What other word captures that better than “miracle”?

“Tool,” answers Dr. Luis Reyes. “Weight loss surgery is not a miracle - it’s a tool. It’s one of many tools we use to help patients reach and maintain a healthy weight.”

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Dr. Reyes, a surgeon at Valley Care Clinics Weight-Loss Surgery Center, has been performing weight loss surgeries for over fifteen years. In his experience, patients with “miracle mentalities” tend to be the least successful. They will lose weight, sure, but more often than not, they gain it back within a few years.

Why does this happen? Dr. Reyes explains: “Weight-loss surgery alone won’t give you your health back.

But it will jump start your transition to a healthy lifestyle. Successful weight-loss surgery patients keep the weight off post-procedure because they adopt different habits, not just because they got surgery.”

To illustrate this point, Dr. Reyes recounts the case study of Mrs. C. He learned about this patient while training for gastric balloon surgery. The gastric balloon, one of the newest FDA-approved weight loss procedures, gave Mrs. C a head start on a healthy life. This is her story:

step Pre-Surgery

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When Mrs. C first came in, she was forty-five years old, five feet two inches tall, and weighed 185 pounds. Her body mass index (BMI), a measure of body fat based on height and weight, fell at 35.

A healthy BMI ranges from 18.5 to 25.

None of this was news to Mrs. C. She had been overweight for years, unsuccessfully trying every diet and exercise regimen under the sun.

Now, more than 60 pounds over her recommended weight, she had high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and signs of depression - all health problems commonly associated with obesity. She was ready for a change.

Mrs. C’s surgeon first spent a great deal of time ensuring the patient was committed to living a healthy postoperative life. “She understood that the surgery was not a quick fix. That’s always a promising sign,” Dr. Reyes recalls.

The surgeon also made sure Mrs. C was a good fit for the gastric balloon procedure. Patients who do best with this surgery are usually 40 to 100 pounds overweight, don’t have any gastric or intestinal health conditions (these make the surgery risky), and are motivated to lose weight. Mrs. C fit all the criteria.

After a two-week counseling period, she was ready for surgery.

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The Procedure The gastric balloon procedure places a balloon into the stomach for a few months. It works by reducing patients’ appetites. Successful patients use their time with the balloon to gradually adopt healthier habits.

Mrs. C’s procedure went smoothly.

While she was under anesthesia, the surgeon inserted the balloon into her stomach using a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure. The balloon was then pumped full of saline solution until it reached the size of a grapefruit.

Mrs. C began losing weight almost immediately. Within a few months, she felt lighter, more energetic, and more confident than she had in years. Critically, these changes allowed her to commit to the harder work of getting healthy.

While the balloon helped her lose weight, a team of doctors and nutritionists helped Mrs. C make sustainable lifestyle changes. “They took a common sense approach to eating and exercising, which is exactly what I encourage my patients to do, too,” says Dr. Reyes. “We all know that fruits, vegetables, and nuts are healthier than steak, wine, and cheese. The hard part is making it your habit to choose what’s healthy.”

Mrs. C got through the hard part by taking advantage of her resources. She leaned on her healthcare team to keep her on track. “She also went to a support

group each month,” adds Dr. Reyes. “We have similar support groups that I encourage all patients to attend. It’s easier to stick with a new routine when you have a buddy.”

Six months later, Mrs. C’s balloon was removed.

She had lost over 40 pounds.

step Postoperative Life

3

It’s been several years since Mrs. C’s balloon removal. She has lost 60 pounds since her surgery: 40 during the balloon months, the additional 20 pounds in the years since. Her BMI is now normal, as is her blood pressure and her sleep. Best of all, she just feels good. For Mrs. C, weight loss surgery was the bridge she needed to cross over into healthy living.

Dr. Reyes wants all his patients to have the same experience as Mrs. C. That’s why he is adamant about de-bunking the idea that weight loss surgery is a miracle cure. “Weight-loss surgery really helps, but keeping that healthy weight means living a healthy lifestyle, and that can be hard. Luckily, we’re here to help.”

To learn more about Dr. Reyes and weight loss surgery (including the gastric balloon), visit the Valley Care Clinics Weight-Loss Surgery Center.

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(956) 423-6030

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Taking the Stress Out of the Holidays By: Dr. David Sauceda, M.D. n a study done in 2008 by American Psychological Association, it was found that more than eight out of ten Americans anticipate stress during the holiday season.

Money was found to be a particularly big cause of stress, as parents feel demands to purchase gifts, decorations and other items tied to holiday celebrations. Those households with children were more likely to report anticipating stress during the holidays than those without. About a third of us are expected to feel stress due to the pressure to buy gifts or the feeling that there are too many things to do.

Heightened stress during the holidays can lead to unhealthy stress management behaviors. These behaviors can come in the forms of overeating or drinking to excess. People tend to reduce their stress in ways we have learned over the course of time.

I

The American Psychological Association offers the following tips to help parents deal with holiday stress:

Set expectations – Talk to your children about expectations for gifts and holiday activities. Be open with them if money is an issue. Depending on your child’s age, you can use this as an opportunity to teach them about the value of money and responsible spending. And be realistic. Take small concrete steps to deal with holiday tasks instead of overwhelming yourself with goals that are too far reaching for a busy time.

Keep things in perspective – Try to consider stressful situations in a broader context and keep a long-term perspective. Avoid blowing events out of proportion and teach your children how to keep things in perspective, including what type and the number of gifts they receive.

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Make connections – Good relationships with family and friends are important. So, view the holidays as a time to reconnect with people. Additionally, accepting help and support from those who care about you can help alleviate stress. Volunteering at a local charity with your children is a good way to connect with others, assist someone in need while teaching your children about the value of helping others.

Take care of yourself – Pay attention to your own needs and feelings during the holiday season. Engage in activities that you and your family enjoy and find relaxing. Taking care of yourself helps keep your mind and body healthy and primed to deal with stressful situations. Consider cutting back television viewing for kids and instead, get the family out together for a winter walk. It promotes activity and takes children away from sedentary time and possible influence from advertisements.

Even though the holidays can be a time of hustle and bustle, they can also be a time for learning. One way to keep the holidays from becoming “holi-daze” is to take time to choose to focus on the true "essence" of the holidays instead of the specifics of the different secular and religious events. Try to look at the values you can teach at these times. For example, at Thanksgiving they discuss helping others. The Christmas holidays are an excellent time to encourage sharing, caring, and giving. While young children want to receive holiday gifts, they also should delight in the pleasure of giving and sharing. This is a great time to take a moment with your children to think about others in need. Your child is not too young to know that there are people less fortunate in the world.

In closing, I just want you reiterate that the holidays should not be a time of stress, but a time to enjoy with your family and a time to count all our blessings.

Psalm 103:2- Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits.

november/december 2015

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HEALTH

TIPS FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS

BY DR. MERCADO

MILLIONS OF AMERICAN CHILDREN LIVE WITH DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, ADHD, AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS, TOURETTE SYNDROME OR A HOST OF OTHER ISSUES. 58

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According to the American Psychological Association, an estimated

15 million

children and adolescents in the UniteD States can be currently diagnosed with a mental health disorder.

PARENT TIPS: 1. You know your child best. Talk to

their health care professional if you have concerns about the way your child behaves at home, in school, or with friends.

2. Be open to mental health professional’s suggestions and interventions.

Many more are at greater risk of developing a disorder due to distal and proximal risk factors that play a role in the etiology of mental illness, such as biology and the environment, including families, schools, and the community. Common mental illnesses found in children and adolescents include anxiety and conduct disorders, depression, oppositional defiant disorder, ADHD, and learning disorders.

Parents and teachers play a key role in identifying early symptoms and warning behaviors in order to receive appropriate treatment. However, only seven percent of these youth who need mental health services receive help from mental health professionals (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2011).

Mental health disorders among children are described as serious changes in the way the child typically learns, behaves, or handles their emotions. The symptoms usually start in early childhood; however, some of the disorders may develop throughout adolescence. These medical conditions are usually diagnosed during the school years and sometimes earlier, but some children go undiagnosed.

Childhood disorders can be treated and managed via evidenced-based treatment interventions. Parents and doctors

should work closely with everyone that is involved with the child’s treatment, such as teachers, coaches, therapists, and relatives.

Appropriate resources can aid parents, health professionals, and educators in making a significant impact in the lives of children with mental disorders.

According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, mental health is important to overall health. Without early diagnosis and treatment the child with a mental illness may have significant problems associating with others at home or school, which can interfere with a healthy development and continue into adulthood. Regardless of gender, ethnic/ racial backgrounds, and regions of the United States, mental health disorders affect many children and their families.

It is estimated that up to one out of five children living in the U.S. experience a mental disorder in a given year, and an estimated $247 billion is spent each year on childhood mental disorders (National Research Council and Institute Medicine Report, 2009).

Dr. Mercado’s Mental Health Research Lab at UTRGV contributed to this article (Vanna Clarke, Marco Gonzalez, Gladis Ruiz, and Sarah Soto).

THE FOLLOWING ARE KEY FINDINGS FROM CDC REPORT, MENTAL HEALTH SURVEILLANCE AMONG CHILDREN AGED 3-17 YEARS-U.S., 2005-2011: • Adolescent girls were more likely than boys to have depression or an alcohol use disorder.

• ADHD was the most prevalent diagnosis in children aged 3-17 years.

• Adolescent boys aged 12-17 years were more likely than girls to die by suicide.

• Boys were more likely than girls to have ADHD, behavioral/conduct problems, or autism spectrum disorders, which was highest among 6-11 year olds.

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

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3. Talk with other families who are

going through the same situation. It is important to understand that one should not go through this alone. Other people might know what to do in a certain situation that your child might be going through.

4. Work with the child and their school

by having a talk with their teacher or a school official, such as a coach. Parents can also work with the school in efforts to promote more positive behaviors, develop more social skills, and find ways to prevent difficult situations at school.

5. Remember that your child's behavior is due to a disorder; they do not intentionally misbehave.

6. Don’t allow the little things get the best of you. Patience is key.

7. Make a chart to encourage your child

to do positive things around the house in order to receive positive reinforcement.

(Engaging your child in little tasks can ultimately encourage learning).

TEACHER TIPS: 1. Keeping a positive attitude and remaining patient is important.

2. Utilize positive reinforcement when

appropriate, i.e., via assignments, positive interactions and relationships, etc. Even a simple verbal praise goes a long way.

3. Work alongside mental health profes-

sionals in order to employ appropriate behavioral management strategies in the classroom.

4. Remember you are not only making a

better environment for your classroom, but also changing a child’s life for the better.

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Healthy for the Holidays

Melissa Gauna, NTP, CHNC Nutritional Therapy Services

You can avoid the extra pounds this holiday season

T

he holiday season is approaching! This time of year brings cooler weather, vacation time, and the chance to sit back, relax, and make cherished memories with our loved ones. It’s time for family, friends, festivities, and of course, food. “The holidays” wouldn’t be “the holidays” without all those tasty, timely foods.

Whether you’re flying or driving to a family gathering, preparing a feast at home, attending a church potluck, or a holiday party at the office, it seems healthy options are a rare commodity when delicious food and drink are around every corner, seemingly trying to sabotage your weight-loss goals.

Our best-laid plans to eat healthy tend to get put on hold.

When it comes down to it, we can’t blame the food. We allow ourselves to indulge, and over-indulge, and when the holiday season is over, many of us return to our regular routines with a couple of extra pounds. But being healthy over the holidays isn’t impossible. You can be health-conscious and still enjoy the fun and festivities with a few simple strategies.

1. Food as fuel

In keeping a healthy relationship with food, I don’t necessarily think in terms of calories; rather, I think of food in terms of nutrient content and the fuel, or energy, it will provide. I know that if I eat a balanced meal that includes protein, veggies, and healthy fats, I’ll have the energy I need to run around with my kids and enjoy the season’s activities. If I overindulge in sugary drinks and desserts, then I know I’ll soon suffer a sugar crash and wind up tired, cranky, and moody - and no one wants to be around a Scrooge!

Changing the way you see food is a critical part to staying healthy – not just during the holidays, but all year round.

Next time you are faced with a table of food choices, think of it as a table of fuel, and go for the options that provide the most nutrients, along with those that are closest to their natural state.

For example, if you have a choice of bread/crackers (made of processed flour and thereby stripped of all their nutrients) or a tray of raw veggies, instinct should direct you towards the raw veggies that will deliver vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber.

2. Bring your own dish

Another way you can minimize temptation is to prepare ahead of time. If you know a holiday party or meal will most likely not include a healthy option, it’s within the scope of normal social interaction to ask the host if you can bring a dish to share. This also lets friends and family know you’re working on eating healthier, so they won’t be offended if you pass on dessert or alcohol. (Don’t forget that those fun, holiday-themed cocktails are often loaded with sugar, so it’s easy to lose control of your plan by drinking your calories. And as always, remember to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.) And who knows – your actions might even encourage your loved ones to take a closer look at their own diet and lifestyle!

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3. Eat before you go

If you have an event to attend and bringing your own dish isn’t an option, then the best way to avoid overindulging is to eat before you go. By eating a small meal ahead of time, you won’t be starving when you get there. Instead of spending your time gorging at the buffet table, you’ll be able to socialize and enjoy more conversation and laughter.

4. Avoid the sugar rush

Let’s talk desserts! You’re bound to have countless offers for all those wonderful, traditional sweets that you hold near and dear to your heart, so often home-made “with love” that you may find yourself asking, “How can I refuse?” as you reach for another must-try treat. Remember: you don’t have to say yes to everything you’re offered- but you also don’t have to go to extremes. Avoiding desserts altogether could mean risking social isolation and serious food FOMO (fear of missing out), so instead of a complete ban on sweets, have a strategy. Simply don’t go for the biggest slice of pie, but help yourself to a smaller portion, remembering that sugar is meant to be enjoyed on special occasions, and not as an everyday treat. Then, try not to gobble it down in 10 seconds.

The problem with sugary desserts is that we devour them all at once.

This makes your blood sugar spike, and since your body can only handle a small amount of sugar at one time, your body will convert the extra sugar into fat. A better approach is to take a bite and come back to the plate later; Put the fork down as you savor the taste, texture, and aroma of your treat. You might find that you actually enjoy your dessert more, and by spreading out the amount of sugar you’re consuming over a longer period of time, you have a better chance of avoiding the extra weight gain.

5. Follow the 80/20 rule

The best strategy to avoid over indulging is to follow the 80/20 rule: eat until you are about 80% full. This is actually a common Japanese practice called, “hara hachi bu.” You don’t have to eat everything that’s on your plate.

Eat until you’re satisfied, not stuffed. Simple. Before you take another bite, think: are you really hungry? It’s a good idea to check in with yourself and ask your body what it really needs – not just what it wants. Don’t wait until you’re stuffed. Learn to scale back and stop when you feel satiated. It goes against mom’s “clean your plate” ideas of years ago, but when it comes to having a healthy holiday season in this day and age, it’s all about balance.

Enjoy the foods you love in moderation, and remember that mealtimes should be enjoyable – not something that adds stress to your holidays.

november/december 2015

mushrooms

Bread loaves and buns apples pumpkin pie

egg plant roast turkey

tomatoes pasta

corn

green beans

salt and pepper

ham beans grapes

mashed potatoes cranberries tamales

carrots november/december 2015

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COMPETITIVE THE QUEST TO BECOME NUMBER ONE BY

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KEVIN

november/december 2 0 1 5

MARTINEZ

VS

Did you ever see the famed 1989 classic, The Wizard?

You should watch it if you haven’t, I mean it is a 25 year old film and a cult classic.

Ok fine, it did debut at number five in the box office and was almost immediately forgotten, but the plot stuck with me for a long time. In The Wizard the protagonists, who are no more than 12 years old, go on a cross-country adventure to California to compete in a video game tournament. They have all sorts of crazy encounters along the way, but when the tournament begins things start ramping up. The prospect of winning money and getting famous by being good a video game was born.

The entire time I wondered, why couldn’t my parents let me go compete in a tournament? I mean, I was only six years old, but I could beat the hardest minecart level in Donkey Kong Country for the

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Super Nintendo in less than a couple of minutes!

But as you see in the film, it takes way more than knowing a couple of tricks in a videogame to win the tournament. It takes skill, determination and a whole lot of practice. The problem is, it’s not 1989 anymore, and there isn’t just one sole tournament for all the marbles. There are at least 32 recurring international tournaments every year that host a variety of different games and more than 2,000 recognized regional tournaments. The competition has gotten considerably tougher and marginally wider, but that is not all.

Sleep,Eat,Play, Repeat In the year 2015, more than 100 million people around the world will tune in online to watch their favorite eSport. That was not at typo by the way, eSport, or electronic sport, is a term coined for competitive gaming. In fact, you may think of eSports as an actual sport, since it can be viewed live or at home. There are also teams, a variety of different types of games, and a range of skills needed to be the very best at a certain game. The mastery and persistence needed to excel as a ProGamer is no laughing matter and is becoming an achievable source of income and way of life for many young americans today.

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The sheer amount of time it takes to hone the skills to become a successful pro-gamer is somewhat relatable to the schedule of a National Football League player, although it may not be that organized. When a quarterback has weight training in the morning and accuracy training after lunch, a pro-gamer spends about 6-9 hours practicing every single day, formulating a strategy that will get them the win.

Advertisers,teams, money,and glory.

From a gamer’s point of view, it is amazing that there are large companies backing the creation of eSports events all across the world. HTC is widely known among the gaming community for its willingness to give out HTC phones and tablets to sponsored players. Monitor and TV companies, like Samsung and BENQ, are constantly competing to become the “Proud sponsor of so-and-so tournament”. Why is it that these companies want to have their names so badly involved with the gaming community in general? Viewing hours.

According to Twitch, their website garners over 100 million users every month to broadcast, watch, and talk about video games. The crazier number is that nearly half of Twitch users spend 20+ hours a week on their website! That means that for at least 3 hours a day, a sponsor is guaranteed to get that amount of exposure. Not only are they getting more airtime than they would on television for a fraction of the cost, but they are also targeting their main market. Companies everywhere are reporting a dramatic increase in sales due to their advertising at eSports events.

If you are a bit confused as to how a Pro-Gamer would actually make a livable income, let me break it down for you. A good example is world renown League of Legends player Marcus “Dyrus” Hill.

Dyrus has made League of Legends his career, with 31 major tournaments and 312 competitive games under his belt since 2011. In fact, as of writing this, Dyrus has become a literal legend by having the longest career in eSports history as he retired in October 10, 2015. However, retiring will not make him leave the game. Dyrus’ future is very similar to that of an all-star NBA or NFL player. He can become an analyst, commentator, team manager, or live-stream to his solid fan base for a steady income.

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The Start Of Something Huge The Rio Grande Valley is no stranger to eSports.

Even if the scene is relatively small compared to other cities, the knowledge and dedication is still there. The pop culture conventions at the McAllen Convention Center always have a dedicated gaming section, and local comic book shops are opening their stores to tournaments of all sorts of video games. There is even one Valley business that is tapping into the market head on and enriching the community by providing topnotch gaming services. Team Phoenix of the Nexus Gaming Lounge(Formerly known as The Barracks) has become a hub for gaming in the Rio Grande Valley, hosting all kinds of tournaments and even sponsoring players to compete outside of the Valley.

Gilbert Lopez, owner of Nexus, says “If somebody wants to play, we’re here for you. Ultimately, I would like to build the best community I can around for gamers.”

Lopez is on the right path with a venue that has 30+ screens ready for any tournament, friendly or competitive, and a big following that is growing every week. The following, composed mainly by high school and college students are seeing video games as an actual career, much like the professionals talked about above. It seems attainable, specially for someone like Joey Martinez, an RGV live streamer. Martinez attends Nexus Gaming Lounge most weekends, to test his skill on his favorite game, Super Smash Brothers. “I was probably 16 or 17 when I attended my first Brawl tournament, and it was a sponsorship opportunity to go play somewhere big. I attended and beat one of the workers to win the tournament.”

Martinez, or PKJoey as most gamers call him, is one of the 1 million broadcasters who transmit their stream to all sorts of countries. He has his regulars, and believes that streaming is the right fit for him. “I never really envisioned myself working at a normal job. With Twitch or livestreaming in general, I do believe it can be a career, but you have to create your own schedule, get all the equipment, and really make it your business.”

This is where most parents will come in and put their foot down, and they are right to do so. It is just good parenting to question their child on

“I never really envisioned myself working at a normal job. With Twitch or livestreaming in general, I do believe it can be a career, but you have to create your own schedule, get all the equipment, and really make it your business.”

what they want to do in life, whether they want to be engineers, or pro-gamers. Becoming a progamer -or even a just being involved in the eSports community- takes up time that could be otherwise spent in more seemingly lucrative activities. But the reality is that success is founded on support, and if you are able to recognize talent, interest, and most of all happiness in your child, then it is important to note those qualities in order to espablish a support system.

“You can totally do it! It’s hard to see a 12 year old say that they want to be a streamer or a professional gamer and then get shot down by their parents and be told to be something else. But I think with the right guidance, that kid can become a big rolemodel for the younger generation when he’s older.”

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Can you feel it in the air? It’s the excitement building for McAllen’s 2nd annual Illuminated Holiday Parade. This vibrant, colorful parade – originating at McAllen High School Veteran’s Memorial Stadium and traveling south down Bicentennial Blvd. to Bus. 83 – starts at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5.

Billed as the largest illuminated holiday parade in Texas, last year’s inaugural holiday parade was magical with its breathtaking sea of amazing floats, giant helium balloons, marching bands, and a rolling cast of celebrities, dignitaries, and special performers.

More than 200,000 revelers lined the streets then, captivated by the spectacular sights and sounds. A TV audience estimated at one million also watched the parade from their homes across the Rio Grande Valley and Northern Mexico.

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This was the first time in the history of the city and the Rio Grande Valley region that a world-class event of this magnitude came together to engage the entire local community and beyond, even Mexico. It created a new holiday tradition that will be enjoyed by generations to come.

On an economic note, the parade contributed nearly $12 million to the area’s economy. It also boosted civic pride, fostered awareness of McAllen as a premier travel destination, and challenged the negative image of the Rio Grande Valley as a byproduct of border violence.

Even the International Festivals & Events Association took note. It awarded the Holiday Parade its Pinnacle Award for being the Best New Event in 2014. And if comments from the Mayor and others are any indication, the 2015 Holiday Parade will be eagerly anticipated each year: “Commissioner Hilda Salinas wanted to have a spectacular Parade and we really did not know what that was, and wow, it has beat my expectations and it’s going to be a real wow for the crowd,” enthuses Mayor Jim Darling.

“The parade was fabulous. It brought all the community of South Texas together . . . it was like we were all kids again. It was the best thing to happen to the Rio Grande Valley,” declares Janet Vacker, owner of Bert Ogden Motors.

2015 Parade Bigger And Better Yajaira Flores, McAllen Convention Center’s Manager of Sales & Event Services, says this year’s parade, again sponsored by La Plaza Mall, will be

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even bigger and better than the first one.

“Last year we had 16 giant helium balloons, some standing nearly 30 feet high and at least one towering above the crowds at 60 feet. They featured such holiday characters as the Grinch and Santa Claus, as well as crowd favorite characters Kermit the Frog and the Angry Birds. Many of these are the same balloons featured in the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, as well as other festivals throughout the United States and overseas.

“But we’re going to top last year’s balloon count.

So far, we’ve got 30 giant balloons committed to this year’s event as well as about 40 floats and 20 marching bands, including a band from San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

“Our theme is ‘Movies on Parade,’ so every float will feature a different movie from our generation, while the bands will play famous movie theme songs,” she adds. This year’s Grand Marshal and others have yet TBA.

Before the parade begins, city officials plan a live concert at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The city plans to erect bleachers along the entire 1.5 mile long parade route for spectators. Persons viewing the parade from home can see the parade on the following TV stations TBA. In addition to the Holiday Parade, other special events are planned throughout December. They start on Dec. 1 with the tree lighting ceremony.

“Last year, our Christmas tree was 60 feet tall, but this year we’re lighting an 80-foot tall tree. It will be the largest Christmas tree in South Texas,” says Flores.

On Dec. 4 and 5, the weekend of the Holiday Parade, there also will be the 37th annual Candlelight Posada and the Boys-and-Girls-Club-sponsored Tamale Fest.

VOLUNTEERS

NEEDED The McAllen Holiday Parade is looking for volunteers. It needs balloon handlers, greeters in the park, ushers, parade marshals to monitor the parade route, and many others.

Interested in lending a hand? Look for information on mcallenholidayparade.com.

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november/december 2 0 1 5

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The benefit information is a brief summary, not a complete description of benefits. For more information contact the plan. Limitations, copayments and restrictions may apply. Benefits and premium may change on January 1 of each year. Prominence Health Plan is a HMO plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Prominence Health Plan depends on contract renewal. A sales person will be present with information and applications. For accommodation of persons with special needs at sales meetings call 855-969-5882. TTY users call 711. This information is available for free in other languages. Please call our customer service number at 855-969-5882, TTY/TDD users: 711 8 am to 8 pm, 7 days a week. Esta infomación está disponible gratuitamente en otros idiomas. Por favor llame al departamento de servicio de miembros al 855-969-5882, TTY/TDD: 711 para mas información. + Cornerstone Regional Hospital is directly or indirectly owned by a partnership that includes physician owners, including certain members of the hospital medical staff.

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LIFE

Dining by Design Let’s Dine with These Women on a Mission Krystal Stenseng

D

ining by Design is an amazing display of creativity and heart, as table designers come together to build a museum-style arrangement of artworthy tablescapes. The men and women behind Dining by Design are using their platform of style to raise awareness and funds as they spread a message of hope and health.

When they gather around each unique table, surrounded by family and friends, they are serving more than a meal; they are dishing up love and support through one of life’s greatest trials. The funds raised through the event support the efforts of the American Cancer Society, which strives for health and wellness while seeking a cure once and for all. This year, three women offer their unique perspectives on the fight against cancer here in the Rio Grande Valley.

Joy Burns, a former Reach to Recovery program coordinator for The American Cancer Society of the lower Valley, has seen firsthand the good that is done through Dining by Design. Volunteers in this program call and visit newly diagnosed cancer patients, sharing literature and experiences. Talking to an overcomer – a healthy survivor – gives them added support and encouragement in their own cancer battle. Herself a 26 year breast cancer survivor, Burns sees this funfilled event as an avenue that raises a lot of money that impacts local patients.

“There are so many ways to help to do so much good - from donating money to decorating a table to attending the event,” Burns shares.

Aida Moreno feels Dining by Design is a welloiled machine, which helps her in her position as Development Manager for Distinguished Events for the American Cancer Society of the Rio Grande Valley. This is her third year facilitating and providing support for fundraising events, like sponsorships, expenses, and logistics.

“They are a wonderful, amazing group of hardworking ladies, and I feel grateful and blessed to have them on our side,” Moreno expresses about the Dine by Design team. She concurs that the money raised is helping local patients in real ways.

The American Cancer Society is helping to provide travel and lodging for cancer patients, as well as free wigs for chemotherapy patients, a questions hotline, and teaching programs and classes that provide practical application information. “It’s awesome to see the Harlingen community come out and support us,” she said.

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Sandra Grawunder describes herself as a woman on a mission. She is now living her cancer story and has a powerful message to share: urging other women to listen to their own “body voice,” push hard for answers, and get second opinions. Because her symptoms weren’t classic and multiple avenues could not explain them, she felt what she was experiencing was downplayed or outright ignored, and things fell through the cracks. After she was finally diagnosed with stage 3 Endometrial Cancer, she underwent a very important surgery; as a result of this surgery, doctors at MD Anderson discovered a mutant, hereditary gene. Now her family can be proactively screened for the gene to stay well informed. She says the most important thing she’s learned is to be your own advocate as a patient, to fight for yourself, and your sisters, daughters, girlfriends, and mothers.

“If you are now in survivor mode like me, take heart, be strong, and let your faith and the love of those around you lift you up,” Grawunder imparts. “Once you have been touched by the shadow of cancer, you join an inseparable community of survivors who will always be there for you, period.”

Dining by Design will take place on Thursday, November 12th at its new larger location, Casa de Amistad, at 1204 Fair Park Boulevard in Harlingen.

The Daytime Preview will be held from 11 A.M. to 3 P.M., with $25 pre-sale tickets being sold at the Harlingen Chamber of Commerce, as well as tickets being sold at the door on the day of the event.

The Evening Gala will begin at 6:30 P.M., with dinner set to be served at 8 pm. Limited advanced Evening Gala seating is available for $100 per person.

For all ticket, sponsorship, and donation information, contact Cynthia Gray at 956.357.3025 or cynabee@yahoo.com. For more information about Dining by Design, visit www.DiningByDesignRGV.com.

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LIFE

By: George Cox 78

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Therapy pet Sobrina Luna listens while Benjamin Guerrero reads a book at Paws to Read.

Email: rgvtherapypets@hotmail.com Website: www.rgvtherapypets.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/rgvtherapypets

Contact/Donate Katherine Brookbank: 956-793-0379 George Cox: 956-873-0218

T

he 10-year-old girl waited patiently with book in hand.

When her turn came, Morticia Castro sat on the library floor next to Sobrina Luna, an Irish wolfhound.

The giant breed nuzzled Morticia as she petted the dog’s head, and then she began to read out loud to Sobrina.

Sobrina is one of several therapy pets that are the stars of the Paws to Read program at the Harlingen Public Library every Sunday from 3-4 p.m. Two or three therapy pet teams participate each week.

The children’s literacy program strives to create a nonthreatening, non-judgmental atmosphere where youngsters, who are often insecure about reading out loud can work on their reading skills and self-confidence. The dogs are good listeners and do not correct or criticize. The pet handlers only help in a positive way when a child is struggling with a word.

Paws to Read started in December 2011 with Sobrina’s Irish wolfhound uncle, Ocho, and is now the longest running children’s program at the library.

In 2014 Paws to Read served 631 readers, an increase of 15 percent over the previous year. In 2015 the pace is on target to reach even more young people.

Ocho’s and Sobrina’s owners and handlers Katherine Brookbank and George Cox are also the founders of Rio Grande Valley Therapy Pets, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the numbers of volunteer therapy pet teams in South Texas.

“When we started volunteering with Ocho, we quickly realized how few therapy pet teams there were in the Valley, and how

Traits of a Good Handler +

Is friendly – makes eye contact, smiles, etc.

+

Is a proactive advocate for their pet

+

Is a considerate and caring leader

+

Has a loving partnership with their pet

+

Knows how to help their pet be its best

Traits of a Good Therapy Pet +

People oriented, sociable, friendly and confident

+

Is able to cope with stressful situations

+

Is non-aggressive toward animals and people

+

Is comfortable being touched, at time awkwardly

+

Is controllable, predictable and reliable Source: Pet Partners

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LIFE

Morticia Castro with Irish wolfhound Sobrina Luna, and showing off part of her collection of Paws to Read incentive rewards featuring Irish wolfhound Ocho.

many opportunities were out there,” said Brookbank, president of RGV Therapy Pets.

Brookbank and Cox are registered with their dogs through Pet Partners, a national organization that promotes “positive human-animal interactions that improve the physical, emotional and psychological lives” of individuals.

Therapy pet teams provide a variety of motivational, educational and recreational benefits to enhance quality of life. Hospital patients, retirement home residents, special needs students and many other segments of the community benefit from therapy pet team visits.

The idea for RGV Therapy Pets was conceived in the Fall of 2013, about the same time that Brookbank and Cox were trained and licensed as therapy pet team evaluators by Pet Partners. They are the only two evaluators in Texas south of Corpus Christi and 80

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Therapy pet team Sue Gunnels and Baby at the Harlingen Public Library.

have successfully evaluated more than 20 therapy pet teams.

“Therapy pet work is a meaningful and rewarding way to give back to the community,” Brookbank said. “We want to help others get involved in helping people with their pets.”

Ginny Chester of Harlingen and her golden Labrador Jordan are among the newer teams volunteering at the Paws to Read program.

“I love being with the kids,” Chester said. “The program gives them confidence in reading out loud. You can see it because when they come back they are doing better and are more confident.”

RGV Therapy Pets holds evaluations once a quarter, usually in Harlingen.

The evaluations follow a format designed by Pet Partners and involve a series of exercises that test the human and the animal as a team.

Some basic obedience is required, but most of the evaluation exercises simulate situations and distractions that therapy pet teams might encounter on an actual visit. In one exercise, volunteers role-play as hospital patients in wheelchairs and using other medical equipment. In another, the team is crowded by individuals who may be very loud and attempt to inappropriately interact with the animal.

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Therapy pet team Ginny Chester and Jordan share a story with young reader Brianna Degollado.

“The evaluation is more than just a test of the dog,” Brookbank that profiled him as well as the Paws to Read program. said. “We are evaluating the person and the dog as a team. It’s just In June 2014, the four-and-a-half year old Ocho died of a heart as much about the handler being in control of the dog and being attack. The newspaper published a story about his death, and the an advocate for the dog as it is about the dog’s behavior. And we Harlingen library hosted a memorial in his honor. Approximately look for clues that the team will be interactive with people they 100 people attended, and Brookbank and Cox received numerous visit in a positive and supportive way.” cards and letters offering condolences.

Once a team passes the evaluation and Pet Partners approves “We were amazed at the outpouring of support we received,” their registration, the human-animal partners are free to venture Brookbank said. “We had no idea that so many people thought out in the community to volunteer on visits of their choice. so highly of our dog and his accomplishments. In a way, his death RGV Therapy Pets will try to help teams find places to visit, but strengthened our resolve to move forward with RGV Therapy ultimately it is a decision for the team.

Pets and work even harder to help more people and their pets “It’s important to find the right environment for each team,” get involved.”

Brookbank said. “Some dogs do really well in a hospital setting RGV Therapy Pets was incorporated in January 2014 and and others don’t. It really depends on the handlers’ interests and in August of that same year, just two months after Ocho’s where the dogs are the most comfortable.” death, the IRS approved the organization’s 501(c)(3) status.

Harlingen resident Sue The official nonprofit status Gunnels and her therapy pet allows individuals to make taxpartner Baby, a mixed breed deductible donations to the rescue dog, volunteer at Paws organization. to Read but have also ventured “We’re a small group and we out to different environments plan to stay that way,” Brookbank “You know you have contributed like Golden Palms Retirement said. “We don’t have big expenses something of yourself and your pet Community at Brookdale but we do need operating funds to people who need to touch, feel and Senior Living’s Memory Care to hold evaluations, conduct Unit. communicate … and feel so safe in doing public awareness events and “In the memory group purchase supplies for incentive so with a therapy pet.” the residents may be sitting rewards for programs like Paws quietly alone in their own to Read.” world of thoughts and as When the children’s literacy Baby lays her head in their lap program first started, Brookbank or sits beside them, they come came up with the idea of the alive and reach down with big Ocho Reading Challenge. Once smiles and pet her or call her by the name of one of their past a youngster read at the program eight times, he or she received a pets,” Gunnels said.

T-shirt with Ocho’s picture on it.

Gunnels is an enthusiastic supporter of therapy pet volunteer The program continues to this day and the young readers now work. Initially she was registered with Baby and Ozzie, another have a selection of different dog photos from which to choose. mixed breed rescue, and alternated between the two dogs on visits. They receive a new reward, either a shirt or a book bag, each time Ozzie died last year but the loss did not deter Gunnels from they complete eight reading sessions. her volunteer therapy work with Baby, and she is now training “We have to pay for the shirts and book bags, the transfers to Phoenix Rose, a three-legged rescue dog, to join the ranks of put the images on the items, and ink for the printer,” Brookbank therapy pets contributing to quality of life in the Valley. said, explaining some more expenses covered by donations.

“You know you have contributed something of yourself and As more therapy pet teams become active, new programs are your pet to people who need to touch, feel and communicate … beginning to take shape throughout the Valley. One new team and feel so safe in doing so with a therapy pet,” she said. “It’s like is working with the Pharr Public Library to start at Paws to sharing the sunshine of yourself and your therapy pet with others Read program, and another in Brownsville is pursuing volunteer and receiving twice as much sunshine back.” opportunities with veterans groups.

Not only do therapy pets have a lasting impact in individuals “Becoming a therapy pet team is not difficult for the right person they visit, but they can touch the community at large. and the right pet,” Brookbank said. “So many people have such Because he was such a large dog, Ocho the Irish wolfhound got great loving relationships with their pets, and this is a wonderful a lot of attention, including stories in the Valley Morning Star way to share that love with others.” november/december

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Christmas Tree Forests and Gingerbread Houses It’s a Winter Wonderland at the International Museum of Art & Science

BY ANNIE SYKES

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Rio Grande Valley - the holidays are here.

That’s right, despite blue skies, swaying palms, and mid-70s temperatures, Christmas is right around the corner. Or Hanukkah. Or Kwanzaa. Or, if you’re a kid, the arrival of Santa. Whatever you celebrate, get into the holiday spirit at the International Museum of Art and Science in McAllen.

IMAS has wintery fun for the whole family, like their Christmas Tree Forest exhibition. The Forest is an annual tradition, spearheaded year after year by the IMAS Guild. Santa’s elves got nothin’ on the Guild; this group of women has supported the museum in numerous ways since 1970. Formerly docents and greeters, members of the Guild have graduated to high-holiday event-planner status, a role that requires equal parts type-A organizational skills and enthusiasm for hand-crafted ornaments. In other words, the Guild is perfect for it.

While “forest” may be too strong a word, the Christmas Tree Forest is certainly the largest grouping of evergreens you’ll find in McAllen. The Forest will be installed in the IMAS Welcome Pavilion, transforming the space into a maze of Christmas trees. Each tree will be decked out by a local school, club, business, or other group, making for a very festive collection indeed.

Naturally, there will be a contest to see which tree is decorated the best (the holidays are nothing if not a time for competition). Participating decorators enter one of five categories based on age: Kinder - 2nd, upper elementary, middle school, high school, and then adult/single family/organization. Judges assess the trees in each category according to two strict rules: 1) Every decoration must be handmade, and 2) The decorations must represent the year’s theme.

This year’s theme is “Christmas in Toyland.” The possibilities are endless, though we’re anticipating heavy usage of Toy Story and Frozen characters. And no, high school groups, your smartphones do not count as toys. Contest winners will be announced on November 22nd and immortalized (at least until early January) by a prize ribbon tied to their tree.

The trees will go up in mid-November and stay until early January. That’s plenty of time to take a holiday stroll through the piney “woods” with family, friends, or, for our romantic readers, significant others.

Attention, boyfriends: you will get brownie points for planning this activity.

Need more than Christmas trees to get the holiday spirit going? Try one of IMAS’s gingerbread house workshops. Release your inner architect/confectionnovember/december

er at one of the eight workshops during the first two weekends in December. There will be Christmas music, Christmas hats, and no one will yell at you for eating your house’s roof tiles. Kids love this event. Be sure to sign up early by calling IMAS - (956) 682-0123 or dropping by the museum.

Now, for many of us, the holidays are about more than candy and sparkly lights. They’re a time for reflection, prayer, and connecting with our loved ones. If this sounds like you, we recommend bypassing the Christmas Tree Forest for Sacred Visions.

Sacred Visions is IMAS’s permanent stained Tiffany glass gallery exhibit - one of only three in the country.

On sunny days, visiting the gallery feels like standing in a rainbow. It’s a beautiful, quiet place to pause and reflect on all the blessings of the holiday season.

Whatever your holiday habits, IMAS has something for you. Pay a visit to this community cultural treasure.

You’ll leave full of Christmas cheer, even on the hottest day in December.

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H U N G E R

I N

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R IO

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VA L L E Y

By Jonathan Lee Salinas According to the World Food Programme, W under the purview of the United Nations, the

vast majority of hungry people live in developing countries where 13.5 percent of the population is undernourished. This is the typical context in which many think of hunger: impoverished countries in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, and “hunger” is more often preceded by “world” than followed by “in our community.” But hunger is a silent scourge in America, too. Unsettling as this finding may be, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the same percentage of those who are food-insecure can be found within our own borders. 18.4 percent of households in Texas in 2012 did not know at some point during the year from where their next meal would come. Getting even nearer to home, one in five households in the RGV struggled alike in recent years, according to the former Rio Grande Valley Food Bank President, Naomi

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Perales. However, with the assistance, initiative, and selflessness of local leaders, an increasing number of Valley residents, including children and elderly (the most vulnerable demographics to hunger), are more food-secure.

Leading the combat against this silent phenomena is the Food Bank of The Rio Grande Valley (FBRGV), founded in response to the disastrous 1983 freeze by Reverend Ted and Martha Knies of Trinity Episcopal Church in Pharr. From a modest beginning serving those from the surrounding area, the FBRGV became incorporated three years after its founding to serve the entire region. From Willacy county through Cameron and Hidalgo counties, FBRGV served almost 400,000 households in 2014. About 100 families, most of whom live in the immediate vicinity, visit the FBRGV per week. 200 member agencies, including churches, shelters, and food pantries, receive constant shipments of food dispatched from FBRGV to reach those who

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do not. In 2009, 25.3 million pounds of food were distributed to the member agencies, and on any given week, about 22,000 clients are served through these outlets. This makes up the Emergency Food program.

The reach of FBRGV, however, does not end there.

FBRGV also operates the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which assures that over 4,000 seniors have enough food for the month. Food for this program is distributed to 23 sites spread through the three counties. FBRGV also hosts a community garden where locals can grow produce such as cucumber, squash, and okra, for their own consumption. As the garden grows under the direction of Chris Bueno, FBRGV’s gardening expert, they will be able to sell their produce to farmer’s market vendors, while learning how to grow organically. Additionally, the Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program awards vouchers totaling $20 that can be used at farmer’s markets.

Along with running the Product Recovery program, which trains volunteers to assess the safety of food donations, FBRGV also dedicates attention to one of the populations most vulnerable to hunger: children.

Children make up 38 percent of individuals served

by FBRGV. Kids Café is the nation’s largest charitable meal service program for children in need, with over 1,700 locations. It is operated by Feeding America, and sponsored by ConAgre Foods’ Feeding Children Better Foundation. FBRGV has 5 Kids Cafes between Cameron and Hidalgo county. Kids Cafe aims to provide educational information on healthy eating habits in a safe environment that is also conducive to socializing activities. A nutritious lifestyle is imperative in the development of a child.

Another large population afflicted by hunger are college/university students. Dr. Martha Cantu is an expert in higher education and most recently served as Vice President for Student Affairs for three years at The University of Texas – Pan American. During this time, she prioritized the academic success and well-being of students by providing mentorship and encouragement. But one day, she received unexpectedly alarming news.

A student, in mild extremis, entered Cantu’s office wishing to describe the difficult circumstance. His financial situation entailed using student aid to pay bills, tuition, and books, leaving no money for food purchases. The student, left with few options, had made an agreement with management of a nearby

AZIZ gas station to obtain their kitchen’s leftover food-scrapings, which they saved in a styrofoam container for him. “I was just really floored,” said Cantu. “And this particular student just happened to be a veteran. I was mortified.”

Realizing this was not an isolated incident, Cantu urgently relayed the information to former UTPA President Robert Nelsen. In immediate response, he purchased meal plans for those students out of pocket.

But after more cases of student hunger came to light, it was decided by Nelsen that a food pantry should be opened at the university, which was realized in September of 2014 as one of his final presidential acts.

“The right people were at the table at the right time,” said the former Vice President. Indeed, President Nelsen’s wife, Jody Nelsen, served as the FBRGV President and played a vital role along with the additional help from the Dean of Students Office and the Counseling Center on campus. The Food Pantry at the new University of Texas Rio Grande Valley serves about 100 students per week, and operates under the safety guidelines of FBRGV. At the ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the Food Pantry, Nelsen recalled his experience as a homeless undergraduate, counting loose change to afford a hamburger at day’s end. Alina Wadhwani, a sophomore at UTRGV, had a similar experience, and recalls how the food pantry has been of great assistance. “I would often scrounge for food before the food pantry, not knowing if I would have enough to eat for the week,” said the nursing major. “After visiting the food pantry, I knew I had a steady source of food at my disposal.”

Nelsen went on to assist the student government at Sacramento State University, where he now serves as President, to open a food pantry for the campus.

We are approaching the holidays, which means that among our various seasonal activities, plentiful will be the opportunities for donating to food drives.

However, Omar Rodriguez, a UTPA Alumni and Communications Director at FBRGV, wants the public to remember that hunger exists all year long.

“Every dollar can actually help us provide five meals for children,” said Rodriguez. “And not just meals, but healthy meals.” If we do our part, it seems that we may very well assure that the solidarity-inspiring holiday breezes will endure through any and every season.

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