La Feria News | July 21, 2021

WEEK OF July 21, 2021 THROUGH JULY 27, 2021

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Your Community Newspaper, Serving the Heart of the Rio Grande Valley VOLUME 98 NUMBER 29

Bandits Save La Feria A Look Back in History to 1912...

The following story is a chapter from a manuscript entitled The Bicentennial History of La Feria, Texas written by Eddie Gathings McNail in 1975. The City of La Feria celebrated its centennial in 2015. In 2023 La Feria News will be 100 years old. Let us know what stories of bygone years you would like retold.

Culinary Arts Garden Page 2

From Drop Out To CNA

Page 3

The Nightmare Team?

Page 5

Spot the Difference

Page 6

Way back in July 1912 on a hot, sultry night, a group of prominent men took the Bixby Station while all the good town folk of La Feria and of Bixby were fast asleep in their beds. Men operated heavy jacks raising Bixby’s new depot off the foundation, letting the building down on rollers on a makeshift platform, and rolling it to a flat car on the tracks of the St. Louis, Brownsville, and Mexican Railroad.

The men talked in whispers as they worked on this moonless night, and other men stood on the dusty road which is now the five-lane, old U.S. Highway 83 to keep a watch for moving travelers who might interrupt the business at hand.

After loading the new depot, two teams of horses were hitched to the flat car and pulled it east two miles to La Feria, where the depot was unloaded. Only the Bixby had to be changed to La Feria, and our town had a permanent stop for all

trains, passenger and freight. Before that time, a mailbag was hung out on a high post and removed by a member of the train’s crew. But no stop was made for passengers or freight.

The theft of the station came after all legal means had failed.

Since Bixby was named for W.H. Bixby, a St. Louis, Missouri multimillionaire who owned thousands of dollars of railroad stock in the St. Louis, Brownsville, and Mexico Railroad, and who was a man of power and importance, nothing was accomplished.

Imagine the amazement of the Bixby residents who awakened to find their depot gone, and the equal, great amazement of the La Feria residents who awakened to find they had a brand new depot.

Thus, La Feria was back in the running as a city because town lots and farmland sold rapidly. The story is told that prospective buyers, being brought in by various land companies, reached New Orleans,

1920’s view of the La Feria Hotel from the train depot, which stood somewhere in the vicinity of the present location of the post office. Was this the Bixby depot that La Feria founding fathers purportedly “stole” from Bixby? Photo: LFN Archives.

Portion of Cameron County Land Office map from 1913. La Feria is shown to be a community near the Arroyo Colorado and the community on the railroad tracks is labeled Tio Cano. Santa Maria is in the expected location on the Rio Grand. The current Bixby Rd is in line with N Santa Maria Rd (FM 2556). That is probably the old horse and buggy trail connecting Santa Maria to the railroad.

Is this the location of the original Bixby Station? Photo texashistory.unt.edu.

Louisiana, became alarmed about the land situation and wired ahead about specific property, fearing it might all be sold before they arrived. One of these buyers was Clay

Hall who later was a funeral director in San Benito.

If the depot had not been kidnapped, La Feria, the fair, might not be on the map today.

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stories that might help us piece together La Feria’s storied history?

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Train tracks near La Feria, Texas. Photograph’s date unknown, presumably sometime between 1912 and 1929. Photo: LFN Archives.

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Culinary Arts Garden

2 • July 21, 2021• LA FERIA NEWS

Farm-To-Table Approach Spices Up TSTC’s Culinary Arts Program

(HARLINGEN, Texas) Back in January, Samantha Colunga did not expect her Culinary Arts classes at Texas State Technical College to include gardening.

“When I heard about the work-study for the garden, I thought it would be really cool to get my hands dirty,” she said. “It’s cool to see your food grow and take it to the kitchen because you can tell the difference -- it’s really fresh. It adds a lot of flavor to everything.”

Chef Emma Creps, a TSTC Culinary Arts lead instructor, recognized what an empty greenhouse on campus represented

for her program: an opportunity for growth.

It was also a chance to save money on pricey packages of fresh herbs from grocery stores -- and the vegetables her students needed on a constant basis.

“None of us are gardeners. None of us,” Creps said. But she added that after experiencing success with everything from basil and microgreens to the carrot, onion and celery base of French cooking’s mirepoix, “it became a farm-to-table sustainability lesson for these guys -- and for us (the instructors), as well, to be honest.”

With all the money her

program is saving -- 98% of the vegetables her classes need come from the garden -- Creps is able to invest in replacing equipment like mixers and other expensive kitchen tools.

The vegetables grown also create new culinary challenges for students in the program.

“It’s really awesome to come out here and have the students and to be able to say, look, this is what we’re going to use today,” Creps said, recalling eggplant lasagna, tomato jam and other student creations.

“The thing I like about it is it shows them the different side of what they can use with the vegetables, instead of just slicing the tomato and putting it in a salad or sandwich.”

Inside the greenhouse, work-study students like Colunga snipped fresh basil and hunted down peppers in the lush greenery. Outside, potatoes, onions, butternut squash, celery, garlic, zucchini, cantaloupe and watermelon dominate the beds. Recently Creps planted banana, papaya,

fig, peach, mango, avocado and citrus trees.

“We started off with this tiny thing, and we just took over this area,” she said.

“We’re trying to figure out where we can plant our pumpkins. Every time we come out here, pulling carrots or whatever, we’re like little kids -- we get excited.”

In the future, Creps hopes to continue harvesting the fruits of her program’s labors in the greenhouse and surrounding gardens.

She would like to build community awareness by connecting with other gardeners in the Harlingen area and perhaps creating a club. Local farmers markets could also be a good place to sample students’ jams and homemade pickles.

“We want to really showcase this,” Creps said.

“We’re always amazed by it. It really provides a different educational aspect for the students.”

Summer Breeze As I see the tall green tree with all the leaves, through a summer breeze.

I sit in the shade that it provided, putting myself in a world of silence.

Slowly the wind passes through my hair and the whistling noise in my ear, something I have not felt in a while; glad to feel it from time to time.

Poem written by: Selene Olguin Age 12 years old

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In accordance with the Order of the Office of the Governor issued March 16, 2020, the City of La Feria will conduct the meeting and provide audio/telephonic availability for the public using live stream in order to advance the public health goal of limiting face-to-face meetings (also called “social distancing”) to slow the spread of the Coronavirus (also known as Covid-19). To view the meeting via internet live streaming, please visit https://www.cityoflaferia.com/boards-and-commissions/ city-commission/agendas-2020/ where you will find the agenda for the next meeting. The pdf for the agenda will include a link, meeting ID and passcode for the Zoom meeting. More information is available by calling 346248-7799.

Members of the public may sign up for public comment on an agenda item or for another item of public concern by submitting an email to amorales@cityoflaferia.com containing (1) the name of the individual wishing to comment; and (2) the item number or subject matter the individual wishes to comment on. Please submit requests for public comment no later than two hours before the meeting. Join the meeting at the time and login listed above and the Mayor will call on you when it is your turn to speak. A recording of the meeting will be made and will be available to the public in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act. If during the course of the meeting, any discussion of any item on the agenda is permitted to be held in executive or closed session, whether such item is already so identified on this Agenda or not, the City Commission will convene in such executive or closed session in accordance with Texas Government Code Section 551.001-551.146.

JULY 27, 2021 6:30 PM City Commission Meeting Online ZOOM Meeting

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CORRECTION POLICY Although the La Feria News Staff strives for excellence in all stories and advertising, spelling or typographical errors can occur. If you find any confirmed factual or other type of error, please call 956-233-9928 during business hours or leave a message.

WEEKLY COLUMNS printed in the La Feria News contain the opinions of the Authors. They may or may not be the opinion of the Newspaper.

"El que nada tiene, nada pierde."

"He who has nothing, has nothing to lose."

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The La Feria News is mailed and delivered Monday, July 19, 2021 and published weekly by La Feria Publishing, LLC. Periodical Postage Rates paid at La Feria, TX., Post Office. Advertising deadline is noon Thursday at the office at 128 W. Oleander Ave., La Feria, TX 78559. (POSTMASTER send address changes to La Feria, P.O. Box 999, La Feria, TX 78559.)

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July 21, 2021 • LA FERIA NEWS • 3

From Drop Out To CNA BISD, TSC Student Finds Renewed Hope

TSC's CNA Nayda Rodriguez

TSC Media Nadya Rodriguez never thought she would see the day that she would complete her General Education Diploma (GED), much less graduate as a certified nursing assistant.

But the day finally came for the 28-year-old, who was one of nine graduates recently honored during a pinning ceremony hosted by the Texas Southmost College Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program.

“I cannot believe it finally happened. I’m making my dreams come true,” said Rodriguez. “It still feels so surreal, yet so liberating because there’s no stopping me now.”

Rodriguez, also a student in the Brownsville Independent School District Adult Education program, said it has been quite the journey getting to where she is today.

“In 2002, my father was deported to Mexico, so my family followed him, leaving me without a high school to attend,” she said. “I was reunited with family who were doctors in Mexico and the plan was to do that too, but it didn’t work out the way

I wanted it to.”

With violence in Mexico increasing exponentially during that time, the Donna native returned to the U.S. at 18 years old and as a freshman in high school.

“I was behind in my studies. I completed my freshman and sophomore year at the same time,” she said. “And I was going to do the same with my junior and senior year, but I got married and started a family.”

However, this entire time, Rodriguez felt like something was missing, and that something was a high school diploma and a college education.

So, with her children now 8, 7, 6, and 3 years old, she felt it was time to finish what she started for herself and for them.

“I was supposed to only study to get my GED, but when BISD told me about TSC’s CNA program, I could not pass on the opportunity,” said Rodriguez. “I’ve always wanted to pursue a career in the medical field, and nurse assistant was my foot in the door.”

Rodriguez said she shed many tears throughout her

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journey to completing both her GED and TSC’s CNA program.

“Juggling school, a family, a business and taking care of my father in Mexico, who was recently diagnosed with heart problems, was a lot to handle,” she said. “But my husband and my kids are what kept me going. They were excited to see me pursue something I love and to see me finish. I couldn’t let them down.”

Rodriguez, who is now preparing to take her licensure exam at the end of the month, is applying for jobs as a certified nurse assistant and planning to return to TSC to pursue a certificate as a vocational nurse.

“If this experience has taught me anything, it’s that I can do whatever I set my mind to,” she said. “I have

Santa Maria fights hard but falls to Donna High in summer league action by a score of 56-52. Scan the QR code below to watch the whole game. Photo: Rio Sports Live proved to myself that I am capable, and I can persevere through tiredness, stress or whatever else comes my way.”

She added that every day she is thankful for the opportunities that BISD and TSC presented to her, because they were life changing.

“One dream down, many

She survived! She did not say it was a miracle. She did not say I have a second chance to change my ways. Her ways were not that bad. However, she did have a message. Looking at me she said, “When you have a difficult day, when you think about giving up, remember that what you do matters.”

Death may not be scary, but it is sobering. It reminds us that this life is not eternal, but it is important. What we say to each other is also important. It may be our last chance to speak to them. Speak well.

First Baptist Church of Santa Rosa Pastor Harold Parker 956-636-1603 118 Jesus R. Cruz, Santa Rosa Sunday Services 9:30am Bible Study, 10:30am Morning Worship, 7pm Wednesday Evening Worship.

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“They did not want to do the surgery, giving me a 1% chance. Still, there were no other options.” The family gathered, said their goodbyes, and shed their tears. Then the surgery.

International Worship Center Bishop Ronaldo Ortiz 956-797-1204 116 W. Seventh St., La Feria Services Sunday (English) 9:30am Domingo (Espanol) 11am, Miercoles 7pm Interdenominational Worship Extreme Youth Sat. 6 pm

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When the dead or the nearly dead speak, it is important.

She was as pale as the proverbial sheet, clutching a pillow to her chest as if her life depended on it. And I guess it did.

Through watery eyes she stared at me and spoke, from the grave, or at least near the grave.

1st united Methodist Church Pastor Federico Perez, 797-1393 331 S. Main St., La Feria, Sunday School 10am, Traditional Worship Service 9am, Contemporary Service 11am, UM Youth 5pm

Terrific Greens and Great Course Condition

Our 98th

First Baptist Church, La Feria

CHURCH SERVICE DIRECTORY

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For more information on TSC’s Certified Nursing Assistant program, visit tsc. edu.

Summer and fall registration is ongoing, visit tsc.edu/register.

-Mark S. Ross DMin.

A Robert Trent Jones, Sr. Design

more to go,” said Rodriguez.

“I am proud of myself, and I’m going to keep pushing myself until I become the registered nurse I aspire to be. The growth and the opportunities I have seen so far are only the beginning.”

Apostolic Faith Tabernacle Pastor Ramon Zarate 357-6384 621 South Main, La Feria Sunday School 10am Sunday Worship 4pm, Wed. Evening 7:30pm.

All services are bilingual.

Iglesia Oracion en Su Presencia Missionary Church,Inc. Pastors Frank & Janie Gonzalez 797-0044 4th Street, La Feria,TX Sunday 10am & 6pm, Monday 7 pm Prayer Service, Wednesday 7 pm, Friday 7 pm.

Church of Christ Minister Gene Head 536-9832 912 N. Parker Rd., La Feria, Wednesday 6:30 pm Bible Study, Sunday 9:30am Bible Study, 10:30am Service, 5pm Evening Service Los Domingos: 12:00 Medio Dia Los Jueves: 7:00 pm Estudio De Biblia Faith Church of Christian & Missionary Alliance Church Pastor Oscar Loredo 797-1739 125 W. First St., La Feria,Tx Bilingual Ministry Sunday 10am Sunday School, 11am Worship, Wednesday 7 pm Bible Study, Friday 7 pm Prayer.

Santa Rosa united Methodist Church 408 Main Street (Hwy. 107/506) Santa Rosa, across from High School Sunday Coffee and Fellowship 9:30 AM Worship10 AM (Communion first Sunday) Wednesday Prayer Service 9:00 AM Pastor: Carole Lahti (956) 279-3407

living Water Church and Ministry Pastor Henry and Rosie 2805 Memorial Suite B. La Feria Sunday Service 11am, 6pm Spanish Worship Service, 7pm Wednesday Service St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church Fr. Rodolfo Franco 797-2666, office: 502 S. Canal Casa de church: 500 South Canal St., La Feria, Esperanza Apostolic Saturday Mass 5:30pm, Church Sunday Mass 8am Spanish, 416 W. Spruce La Feria 10am English, 12pm Bilingual.

965-639-4301 Bilingual Services Sunday at 1:00pm Christ In Our Midst Daniel Martinez - Pastor Missionary Church Pastor: Rev. Daniel Carrizalez St. Mary’s Catholic 956-742-6311 Church 1 mile N. of FM 506, La Feria FR. Edouard Atangana, Sunday School - 9:45 a.m., 956-636-1211 Sunday Worship - 11:00 a.m., 101 San Antonio Ave., Santa Rosa Wednesday Service - 7:00 p.m., Monday Saturday Mass 5pm Bilingual, Prayer - 7:00 p.m.

Sunday Mass 8am Spanish, New Hope 10am English.

Presbyterian Church 208 West Central Ave, First Baptist Church of La Feria,TX, 956-277-0208 la Feria Services Sunday 4:30 pm 797-1214 Sunday School 3:15 pm Main St. & Magnolia, La Feria Communion on the Wednesday 6:30pm Youth Bible Study & 1st Sunday of every month Mission Friends, 9:45am Sunday School, 11am Morning Worship Service Cowboy Church 11235 Swift Ln. Santa Rosa, Tex. Service St. Albans at 11:00am Sunday Episcopal Church 6:30pm pm Monday Reverend Scott Brown 956-975-6144 956-428-2305, www.westernoutreach.org 1417 E. Austin, Harlingen,TX Holy Communion 8am, Sunday School St. Paul lutheran Church 9:15, Holy Eucharist 10:30am.

Pastor Nathan Wendorf Sundays 8:00AM (Traditional) Hope in the Word Church HC first, third & fi fth Pastors Jose & Bertha Belmares 10:30AM (Contemporary) 797-3621, HC second, fourth & fi fth 28354 S. Bixby Rd., La Feria (956) 423-3924 Services Friday 6pm, Sunday 10am.

602 Morgan Blvd.

All services are Bilingual, English & Harlingen, TX 78550 Spanish. church@saintpaulharlingen.com Templo Getsemani Primera Iglesia Pastor Julio y Claudia Mendoza Bautista Phone (956) 589-5016 956-797-1740 11418 Fifth St. La Feria 519 N. Main, La Feria Servicios: Bilingual Services: Sunday 9:45am Tuesday & Thursday 7pm Sunday School, 10:45am Worship Friday Pray at 7pm Service, 5:00pm WMU, Sunday Bible Study at 10am & 6pm 6:00 pm Evening Worship Service, Immanuel lutheran Iglesia Generacion Church & School En Conquista Rev. Ed Weber Pastor Samuel y Magda Cervantes, 956-565-1518 Office (M-F; 8-12 noon) Phone (956) 536-2215 956-565-3208 School (Grades: PK-5th 2803 W. Exp. 83 Suite A. La Feria 703 W. 3rd St., Mercedes, TX Sunday Service 10am Bible Study, 11am Sunday Worship Services 9am Worship Service, Sunday Bible Class 10:30 am 7pm Wednesday Family Service immanuelmercedes@gmail.com lutheranmercedes.com

MONDAYS _____________

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS COUNCIL 12135 1st & 3rd Mondays, 7:30pm St. Francis Xavier Parish Hall at the corner of West & Cypress (956) 797-266 LA FERIA SCHOOL BOARD 2nd Monday, 6:30pm Board Room Central Administration Office 505 N. Villarreal St. (956) 797-8300 LA FERIA BAND BOOSTERS 3rd Monday, 7:00pm La Feria HS Band Hall (956) 797-8300 SANTA ROSA SCHOOL BOARD 3rd Monday • 6:30pm Santa Rosa HS Library (956) 636-9800 MAINSTREAM/PLUS DANCE Mondays • 9:30am - noon Park Place Estates Ballroom • Harlingen

TUESDAYS _____________

CITY OF LA FERIA UTILITIES BOARD 2nd Tuesday, 5:15pm La Feria City Hall 115 E. Commercial Ave. (956) 797-2261 CITY OF LA FERIA CITY COMMISSION 2nd & 4th Tues, 6:30pm La Feria City Hall 115 E. Commercial Ave. (956) 797-2261 AMERICAN LEGION POST #439 1st Tuesday, 7:30pm American Legion Post 145 E. Commercial Ave. (956) 797-3701 CHIP-O-TEXAS WOODCARVERS Every Tues • 8:30am-noon Park Place Estates Friendship Hall • Harlingen (956) 399-6660 SOUTH TEXAS UNITED AUTO WORKERS RETIEES 2nd Tuesday • 10:30am Elk Lodge Club 1426 S. Commerce • Harlingen (956) 428-3555 BLUEGRASS JAM SESSIONS Every Tuesday, 1:30pm Kenwood RV Resort 1201 N. Main • La Feria (956) 797-1875

WEDNESDAYS _____________ DIALOGUE MEETINGS 1st & 3rd Wed, 12:30pm Sept. - May Valley Baptist Medical Center East Tower, 1st Floor, Abbot Meditation Room • Harlingen MAGIC VALLEY QUILTERS Every Wednesday • 10am 1st Christian Church 400 N. Readan • San Benito COUNTRY JAM Wednesdays • 2-4pm Musicians by invite only OPEN TO PUBLIC Park Place Estates Ballroom • Harlingen contact Charlie (308) 379-4589 LINE DANCING Weds • 9:00am - 11:30am • $3 Park Place Estates Ballroom • Harlingen

THURSDAYS _____________ SOROSIS LITERARY CLUB 2nd Thursday Contact Cindy Moore (956) 245-5742 SANTA ROSA CITY COUNCIL MEETING 3rd Thursday • 7:00pm Santa Rosa City Hall (956) 636-1113 MEN’S SUPPORT GROUP Every Thursday • 7-9pm Men’s Resource Center of South Texas 204 N. 1st St. • Harlingen (956) 425-6110

FRIDAYS _____________

LINE DANCING Sat • 1:00pm - 3:00pm • $3 Park Place Estates Ballroom • Harlingen

SATURDAYS _____________ ORDER OF EASTERN STAR HARLINGEN CHAPTER #641 3rd Saturday • 2:00pm Masonic Temple 702 E. Harrison • Harlingen (956) 423-5544

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4 • July 21, 2021 • LA FERIA NEWS

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“Your On- site Answer to Document Destruction”

CITATION By PuBlICATION - TRC 109 & 114

THE STATE OF TEXAS 2018-DCl-05370 Jose Martinez

§

IN THE 444TH DISTRICT COURT

VS

§

OF

Dacko Wieslaw

§

CAMERON COUNTY, TEXAS

TO:

Dacko Wieslaw No Known Address, DEFENDANT – GREETINGS:

NOTICE TO DEFENDANT: "you have been sued. you may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney do not file a written answer with the clerk who issued this citation by 10:00 am on the Monday next following the expiration of 42 days after the date this citation was issued, a default judgment may be taken against you. In addition to filing a written answer with the clerk, you may be required to make initial disclosures to the other parties of this suit. These disclosures generally must be made no later than 30 days after you file your answer with the clerk. Find out more at TexaslawHelp.org." "

We supply the Rio Grande Valley and South Texas with Secure Mobile Document Destruction.

You are hereby commanded to appear by filing a written answer to the Plaintiff's Original Petition at or before 10:00 o'clock A.M. on the Monday next after the expiration of 42 days after the date of issuance of this citation before the Honorable 444th District Court of Cameron County, at the Courthouse in said County in Brownsville, Texas. Said Plaintiff's Original Petition was filed in said court on the 14th day of September, 2018 in the above entitled cause.

A brief statement of the nature of this suit is as follows, to-wit:

Call Us Today!

as is more fully shown by Plaintiff's Original Petition on file in this suit.

Issued and given under my hand and seal of said Court at Brownsville, Texas, on this the 8th day of June, 2021.

ATTORNEY: TRAVIS BENCE 24029441 956-440-8900 1018 East Tyler Harlingen TX 78550

1-956-233-4780 www.ValleyShredding.com

laura Perez-Reyes

District Clerk of Cameron County 974 E Harrison Street Brownsville, Texas 78520 By:________________________________________ Claudia Palacios, Deputy Clerk

THE HAIR CENTER Betsy OPEN Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri

956-797-4036

City of La Feria Planning & Zoning Commission Notice of Public Hearing

122 W. Oleander • La Feria, TX

On Wednesday August 04, at 6:30 PM the City of La Feria Planning & Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing to consider a Zone change request from R- 3 Residential District to C-2 General Commercial District for the following property:

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Now Hiring Child Care Teacher/Providers Looking for a child care teachers to encourage the healthy intellectual growth of the children in our facility. You will teach and supervise, while also motivating them to use their mental capacities and exercise their imagination. Curriculum will be provided. Starting Pay $7.50.

Contact Ashley Farias Email: ashleylittlelions@ gmail.com Phone: 956-797-5466

news@laferianews.net

Our 98th

Property located at 414 Short Street, La Feria Texas, the legal description being: La Feria Original Townsite, Lot 5-6 Block 1, Cameron Appraisal District ID # 85111, Property Owner: Charles Villanueva.

The public hearing will be held at 6:30 PM. in the City Commission Meeting Room, 115 E. Commercial Ave, La Feria, Texas. All interested persons are encouraged to attend the public hearing to voice their opinion regarding the granting of the requested zone change. Interested persons may also submit written testimony to: City of La Feria Attn: Planning Department 115 E. Commercial Ave. La Feria, TX 78559-5002 The City Commission meeting room is handicapped accessible. Persons with disabilities or who require auxiliary aids or services to participate in this hearing should contact the City Secretary two days before the hearing so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

To request additional information, please contact Juan Ortiz, Planning Director at (956) 797-2261.

ANNIVERSARY REQUEST FOR BIDS

serving the community of

The La Feria Independent School District is now accepting bids for Fiscal Year 20212022 on the following: · In-Duct Air Purifiers for Classrooms & Offices district-wide Bids will be opened Friday, August 13 at 3:00 p.m. and recommendations will be made at a subsequent Board meeting.

Bid Specifications may be obtained online at www.laferiaisd.org under A-Z/Business/Purchasing/Bid Opportunities on our new bidding platform. In order to bid you must create a Bonfire account. Disregard the commodity code when creating the Bonfire account. For technical assistance regarding the Bonfire system please call 1-800-354-8010, option 2, leave a detailed message and someone will call you back.

Questions regarding specifications can be submitted through Bonfire. Any other general questions can be directed to The La Feria ISD Business Office, (956) 797-8310.

La Feria ISD reserves the right to reject any and all bids it deems not beneficial to the school district.

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July 21, 2021 • LA FERIA NEWS • 5

The Nightmare Team?

Team USA Basketball has won the gold medal in each of the last 3 Olympic Games on the backs of NBA super star talent. The expectation was that year would be the same. The team is stacked with talent, youth, experience and athleticism. The coaching staff is very capable of coaching stars with head coach Greg Popovich and assistant Steve Kerr.

Devin Booker, Jrue Holiday, and Khris Middleton have not played in the exhibition games so far because the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks are still playing for the NBA championship.

While those three are excellent players it still does not excuse the result of the first two exhibition games.

Game 1 Nigeria 90 USA 87 The game was close but it shouldn’t have been. The Nigerian team is ranked 22 in the world compared to the USA at number 1. The Nigerian do have 7 NBA players but none that are known to pedestrian NBA

fans. Team USA was only close because they out scored Nigeria from the free throw line 25-6.

Unfortunately the Achilles Heel may be a product of what the team is: and AllStar team. Watching the game looked like an NBA All-Star game from the USA side. Looking for slick passes and dunks. These players have not played together long, but they do know each other well.

The story goes that the original Dream Team coach, Chuck Daly, intentionally played bad matchups when the team played college stars to show the team if they weren’t serious, then they could lose. Is this what Popovich did? I think one game would have been enough but then there was Game 2.

Game 2 Australia 91 USA 83 Another close loss. And this was against much better competition.

Australia is the 3rd ranked team in the world.

Australia boasts 2 current NBA players and 5 more that played very recently in

6/29/2021

the NBA. Most expected Team USA to come out hungry and tenacious after losing to Nigeria. Smothering defense and skilled scoring was expected to carry the day. Instead team USA got out played in the second half being out scored 54-37.

One good thing from this game is Damien Lillard seemed to become an on court leader taking control on the offensive end. But Jayson Tatum struggled from the field going 0-6 from 3-point range.

Game 3 USA 108 Argentina 80 Argentina is ranked 4th in the world. So this 28 point victory looks like what we were expecting all along. Argentina seems to get it done on team play.

The leading scorer for Argentina is former NBA player, Luis Scola. Scola is 41 years old and has been out of the NBA for a few years now. But there are 4 other NBA players on the roster with him.

Argentina did play well in the World championships in 2019. But that was 2

Damien Lillard drives against the Australia Basketball team in a recent exhibition game.

Photo: USAB.com years ago and the team is not the same roster now. It is important to note that on the previous day Nigeria beat Argentina by 24.

Hopefully all the wake up bells have been rung for this team and the coaches have a game plan mapped out. The Olympics are a special treat for basketball fans. It is that rare opportunity when you can see a whole team made up of stars play games that really matter.

2021 USA Men's Basketball Roster Bam Adebayo Miami Heat Bradley Beal Washington Wizards Devin Booker Phoenix Suns Kevin Durant Brooklyn Nets Jerami Grant Detroit Pistons Draymond Green Golden State Warriors Jrue Holiday Milwaukee Bucks Zach LaVine Chicago Bulls Damian Lillard Portland Trail Blazers Kevin Love Cleveland Cavaliers Khris Middleton Milwaukee Bucks Jayson Tatum Boston Celtics

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July 21, 2021 • LA FERIA NEWS • 7

The Next Chapter The Pet Ghost

By Nandy Ekle Part 4

“Good evening. I’m Leslie Brite. Here on this dark and spooky Halloween night I’m in the city’s most famous haunted house.

With me is the owner of the house, Dora Mason.”

She turned her face toward me. “Ms. Mason, is it true you share your home with a ghost?”

“Um, yes. I believe there may be a ghost in this house.” I reminded myself not to laugh.

“Aren’t you afraid to live with a ghost?” Leslie asked.

“Oh, no. It has never done anything to make me feel threatened or scared. In fact, it’s like a third hand around here, sometimes picking things up that don’t belong on the floor, or gathering dirty dishes

if I happen to leave them around. I’ve even seen the laundry baskets move themselves to the garage on laundry day.”

“Do you have any idea who this ghost might be?”

I didn’t want to mention the name on TV in case Mrs. Carnes’ family was watching. “Well, I have an idea, but I don’t want to say.

It’s kind of a private thing.”

“That’s all right, Ms. Mason. We understand.”

Leslie turned back to the camera. “We have with us tonight Dr. Barry Simon from the Parapsychology Coalition.

Dr. Simon, do you feel any paranormal energy?”

He looked around my living room. I sent Alfred to ruffle the curtains and Dr. Simon's eyebrows shot up. He looked at me. “I did just now feel a very small

surge of energy whiz past me. As far as malevolent or friendly, too soon to tell.”

I bit the inside of my mouth and turned away.

The cameraman counted down with his fingers again, but when the last finger went down, the light continued to burn. Barry sat on the chair closest to the hall. I had a big show to put on and I would be tired by the time they all left. I sat back in my seat and let the air out of my lungs. Might as well relax as much as possible.

After a few minutes of awkward silence, the cameraman began counting out loud and Leslie’s plastered smile came back to her face.

“Welcome back. We are in the haunted home of Dora Mason on this dark Halloween night. I’ll ask a few more questions and then Ms. Mason will walk us through the house with psychic, Barry Simon, looking for cold spots, orbs, sounds, and any other signs of paranormal activity.”

She turned to me. “When did these occurrences first begin?”

“I don’t really know. One day I just realized things were happening. But they weren’t scary or dangerous.

I’ve never had a reason to fear the presence here.”

“And you can’t remember the first time? Really, Ms. Mason, that would be

something to remember.”

“Well, it was subtle at first. You know. I think I forgot to put the dishes in the sink, but when I go back to the kitchen, they’re not on the table. Or I think I dropped a sock on the way to the laundry basket. But when I look around on the floor, there is no sock. A lot of little things like that before I finally figured it out.” Every word of that was true. Discovering Alfred was not sudden. “Then one day I was sunning out in the yard and I felt the presence.

I said, ‘Is someone here?’

Of course, there was no answer, but a book I had been reading on the porch flew to me.” Also true-that’s when I knew I had a new talent. That was also the day my husband left.

“So is this presence a poltergeist?” She added a dramatic drawl to the word “presence.”

“I don’t know much about those kinds of things. The presence here in my house is friendly. It feels like a grandmother. I’ve really grown quite fond of it.”

“Do you think your grandmother stayed behind to help you out?”

“I couldn’t say for sure.”

“Dr. Simon? How do you feel about what Ms. Mason described?”

He cleared his throat.

“It’s possible for a spirit to act as if they don’t know they’ve passed. They will

carry on with daily acts of living just as if they are still alive. And if the presence in this house was a nurturer, it makes perfect sense for it to do little chores when we’re not looking. But I feel like there’s more to it than that.

What I feel in this house is—“ The cameraman held up his fingers in a countdown once again.

During the break Leslie and her assistant left the room. Dr. Simon looked at me. “Is that really how it started? And you really don’t recall the first incident? Most people would have taken note.”

“Well, I just didn’t.” I looked at the entry to the hallway instead of his

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THEME: KIDS CLASSICS ACROSS 1. E-wallet content 6. Pen ____ 9. *Rubik's ____ 13. Bryan Stevenson's "Just ____" 14. *____-Wan Kenobi 15. Egyptian falconheaded deity

16. Top of a steeple 17. *"____-I-Am" 18. Vernacular 19. *"Walking" spring toy 21. *Purple dinosaur 23. Foot the bill 24. Smidgen 25. *KIDZ ____ 28. Like a mattress?

30. Stay clear of 35. *Dumbo's were huge 37. *Arnold Lobel's "Frog

nice-looking face. We were going to have to exchange phone numbers when this was over. “What were you going to say you felt here?”

I smiled a dazzling smile.

“Just that there’s more than one presence here. I do feel the kind, sweet spirit you describe, but there is another, darker feeling here as well.”

“Hhhmmm . . .” I had no answer for him without revealing the truth. Instead I sent Alfred to ruffle the curtains again.

“Like that. I felt something, a concentration of energy, pass me, but it wasn’t cold like a spirit would be. In fact it was very warm, almost hot.”

I felt a little heat rise

and ____" 39. Emotional punishment 40. At the summit of 41. Young hooter 43. Shakespeare's hometown river 44. Increase rpms (2 words) 46. *Pinocchio or Baron Munchausen, e.g.

47. Retired, shortened 48. Soft palate vibrations

50. Bob of the boxing world 52. Bovine hangout 53. Give the cold shoulder 55. Unagi on sushi menu 57. *Place called Sesame 60. *Place for Pong and Pac-Man 63. Semolina source 64. It would 66. Mourning fabric 68. Arterial blood vessel 69. Atlantic catch 70. Partner of pains 71. Emeralds and rubies 72. *One of "Little Women" 73. Haul something heavy

DOWN 1. German river 2. Large edible mushroom, pl.

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10. Strong desire 11. Channel marker 12. Eastern Standard Time 15. What bullies do 20. City in Japan 22. Past tense of eat 24. Popular salad dressing 25. *Winnie and Paddington 26. Derived from oats 27. Utah city 29. Thanksgiving turkey, e.g.

31. Burn to a crisp 32. Václav of Czechoslovakia 33. Be theatrical 34. *One of the Darling children 36. Horse prod 38. Letter opener 42. More true 45. Bygone Spanish money 49. "He said, ___ said" 51. Place that attracts visitors, pl.

54. Ancient city in Africa 56. Cooler clime conifer 57. *"One, two, buckle my ____" 58. Four years in the White House, e.g.

59. *"____ of NIMH" 60. *____ Walker, American Girl 61. *"Matilda" and "The Gremlins" author 62. *"The Three Musketeers" sword 63. Tail action 65. *Huck's friend 67. Sixth sense

8 • July 21, 2021 • LA FERIA NEWS ► CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 tiny bit of a giggle stick in to my face, so I looked the back of my throat. The at the floor just as Leslie cameraman and the man and her assistant returned. with the bright light ran The cameraman counted toward my pantry. They down from three and Leslie flung the door open wide to perked up. reveal my groceries on the “Welcome back. Ms. shelves in a random knot.

Mason is about to walk us Embarrassment crept all through her house in search over my face again when of paranormal activity.”

I saw the untidy closet on We all stood and I led the display for the whole world. parade through the living “Nothing there,” the room to the kitchen. “This cameraman said. is my kitchen/dining area.

“Dr. Simon, what do you Sometimes my friend takes make of that?” Leslie asked. dishes to the sink, or takes “Interesting.” things out of the fridge I looked at Leslie, for me. I’ve even seen the beginning to sweat under broom come out and sweep the hot light. I felt my jaw the floor.” No one made a tighten with a slight bit of move so I blinked and the irritation. “Are we ready to pantry door opened about a move on?” quarter of an inch. I noticed “Yes, show us more.”

Dr. Simon twist his head as I headed to the hallway Alfred flew past his ear. with the entire entourage “Ladies and gentlemen, trailing me, except Barry; we have just witnessed a he walked beside me. I door opening with no one allowed my hand to hang standing near it!” Leslie free in case he wanted sounded triumphantly giddy to touch it. Opening the as she pointed across the first door on the right, I room. I smiled and felt a announced, “My son’s

room. He moved out several years ago. I don’t come in here often, but occasionally I hear something that sounds like bedsprings.”

Everyone behind me went totally silent. We waited there for a few seconds and I couldn’t think of one new thing to do, so I used Alfred to bounce on the bed. After a moment or two, Dr. Simon looked at me with surprise.

“Did you hear that?” He asked.

“Yes. That’s exactly what I’ve heard in the past.” I turned my face away from him.

“I heard it.” Leslie piped up from my other side. “It sounded like the bed, like a creaking mattress.”

I looked at Dr. Simon. “Is that what you heard?”

“No.” He cleared his throat and tore his eyes away from me to the wall in front of us. “I mean, I did hear that, but I also heard a voice ask, ‘Why are you here?’

TSC Helps Strengthen Family Wellness, Self-Care In The Community

TSC Wellness Box Event For more information about TSC’s Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers, contact your child’s school counselor.

Brisa Ceniceros and her son Kevin, a rising junior at Rivera Early College High School, recently stopped by the Texas Southmost College campus to pick up a COVID-19 Wellness Box. The Wellness Box pick up happened during a kickoff distribution event hosted by TSC’s Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Center in collaboration with the Brownsville Independent School District and BISD Communities in Schools.

During the 2020-2021 school year, TSC’s 21st Century program launched a series of parent training sessions that covered topics such as substance abuse awareness and gang prevention to COVID-19 wellness awareness.

To close out the COVID-19 Wellness Awareness session, all 21st Century parents received a COVID-19 Wellness Box that included a thermometer, disinfectant wipes, gloves, face masks and shields, disinfectant spray and hand sanitizer.

“It’s programs like these that make parents like me conscious about what our children and families are facing. It gives us insight into our new realities,” said Ceniceros. “TSC’s 21st Century program helps us guide our children and reinforces what we are already trying to teach them about health, safety, college and the world. It helps us unite toward one goal – our child’s success.”

Ceniceros added that each session has been invaluable to her and the wellness box she received is going to benefit her entire family.

“The pandemic is far from over. That’s why we’re still wearing these,” she pointed at her face mask.

“So, everything in this box is going to ensure that we have what we need to not only take care of ourselves, but those in our community.

Because if I’m protecting myself, I’m also protecting you.”

Other wellness box distribution events are planned for the month of July at each of the 10 BISD campuses that house TSC’s Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers.

Prisci Tipton, TSC director of Special Instructional Projects, said preparing the kits and planning distribution events has been months in the making because of COVID-19 disruptions.

“We are so excited that everything has come together,” she said. “This is how we strengthen wellness for the families in our community. This is powerful.”

She said every school year, parents of the children who participate in TSC’s 21st Century program are asked to complete a survey about the types of sessions they are interested in, and a COVID-19 wellness-related course was highly sought.

“With everything we are experiencing with this

pandemic, there was a dire need for a wellness session, and I’m proud that our team, along with Communities in Schools, was able to provide this for our parents,” said Tipton. “The ultimate goal of the session was to raise awareness about protection against COVID-19 for the 21st Century families.”

The training session focused on promoting good hand washing behavior, hygiene, physical distancing, the use of face masks when necessary and self-care.

For 21st Century parents like Jesus Carr, who is a former community first aid and CPR instructor, getting a refresher on safety practices and receiving a wellness box that his family can use to take precautions is priceless.

“I’m so happy to see that to TSC, our health and safety come first,” he said. “Just because we’re vaccinated and have vaccines readily available, doesn’t mean we can let our guard down and seeing this type of care for our students and communities is great. I’m extremely grateful and as a parent it makes me more comfortable knowing that my daughter will be a part of this great school.”

Carr’s daughter will be attending TSC in the fall to pursue an associate degree in Criminal Justice.

“We have seen so much thankfulness and gratefulness from our parents,” said Tipton. “We have even seen a sigh of relief for some. Our goal is to always get our students to the next level, to higher education, and that doesn’t only come from academic opportunities, but also from promoting wellness and self-care. Success is made up of several influential factors and it’s our job to continue meeting needs and removing obstacles.”

For more information about TSC’s Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers, contact your child’s school counselor.

How to Protect Your Family from the Delta Variant (StatePoint) Despite significant gains in vaccinations and fighting COVID-19, the rise of the more transmissible Delta variant poses a significant risk for unvaccinated people.

“We are at a critical moment in the COVID-19 pandemic. We have the vaccines and public health measures necessary to protect people and stop the spread of the virus, but the onus is on all of us to get vaccinated in order to protect ourselves and our communities. Despite the gains we have made, the dangers -- particularly of the Delta variant -- are real and concerning,” says Gerald E. Harmon, M.D., American Medical Association (AMA) president.

According to the AMA, here is what you can do now to decrease the risk to you and your family.

1. Talk to your doctor.

Speak to your own physician about vaccines.

Physicians remain one of the most important sources for information about vaccines. And with 96 percent of physicians vaccinated, according to a recent AMA poll, they are prepared to answer your questions and speak about their own experience with vaccines.

2. Get vaccinated ASAP. If you’re not already

PHOTO SOURCE: (c) jacoblund / iStock via Getty Images Plus vaccinated, get the first vaccine available to you.

Three vaccines are now available in the United States: those made by Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson/ Janssen Pharmaceuticals.

All are safe and highly effective at preventing severe COVID-19 illness, hospitalizations and death.

3. Immunize your child. Now is the time to immunize your child, if they are eligible, so they are fully vaccinated by the start of school. It takes five weeks for the two-dose Pfizer vaccine to be fully effective. With schools reopening in person in August in many places, and with just one in five children between 12-15 years old vaccinated, you should start the vaccination process as soon as possible.

Additionally, childhood and adolescent vaccination rates against diseases such

as measles, pertussis and human papilloma virus dropped precipitously during the first few months of the pandemic stay-athome orders. Although rates have picked up, they have not picked up enough to achieve catchup coverage, so make sure your child’s immunizations are on track during wellchild visits with their doctor.

“In order for communities to fully move on from COVID-era restrictions and ensure we don’t fall back due to spread of COVID variants, everyone must do their part now and get vaccinated.

Too much is at stake,” says Dr. Harmon.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines by visiting getvaccineanswers. org or find a location to get vaccinated near you at vaccines.gov.

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