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Volume 18 Number 3
Page 2
Los Fresnos Soccer Is Up And Running
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AOM: Progress Isn’t Linear
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Los Fresnos, Tx 78566
www.losfresnosnews.net
By Ruben Rodriguez Los Fresnos News
Gene Haas Foundation gives $80,000 statewide
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Going The Distance
The Los Fresnos Lady Falcons traveled to Harlingen to take on the Lady Cardinals for another round of 32-6A play. Coming off a loss to Weslaco, Los Fresnos looked to avoid back to back losses in district play. Harlingen, who has won 14 of the last 15 meetings against Los Fresnos, looked to continue their win streak over the Falcons, Los Fresnos not only is looking to hold a winning record in District Play, but defeat Harlingen for the first time since December 28, 2012 Early on, what started as a slow paced game quickly was controlled by Harlingen as Avery Hinojosa and Rosa Zapata combined for nine points to propel Harlingen to a 14-11 lead over the Lady Falcons. Olivia Parra and Aylene Ortega led the scoring with seven combined points. In the second quarter, Harlingen led by Hinojosa, Zapata, and Linnartz who combined for
21 points in the first half, continued their control on both offense and defense, outscoring Los Fresnos 22 to 12 to lead 36-23 at the Half. Ortega, Jones and Parra combined for 18 points to lead the Lady Falcon offense. At the start of the third quarter, Los Fresnos took control early on as Jones, Parra, Garrido and Ortega combined for 11 points and propelled the offense, to out score Harlingen 14 to 11. For the first time in the game, Los Fresnos began to take control. Despite being outscored, Harlingen still managed to lead 47 to 37 as Zapata, Rodriguez, Hinojosa and Bryant still led the scoring as the third quarter ended. In the Fourth quarter, the tempo of the game changed as Los Fresnos took control in the late stages of the game, Maritza Ortega had a great quarter, tacking on seven points on key steals. In the final moments of the game, Harlingen looked to extend their lead. Los Frenos made a decisive defensive play with a key
steal that resulted in Sarahi Jones putting back a missed layup by Olivia Parra to cut it down to a one point lead. Efficient shooting from the free throw line played a major factor as Jones, Parra, Garrido and Maritza Ortega combined for 22 points off free throws alone. Los Fresnos managed to tie the game 55-55 to go to overtime. Los Fresnos maintained control in overtime to out score Harlingen 12 to 9 and thanks to great offense and defense, held on to win 67-64. The Lady Falcons, who played dominantly on both sides of the ball, out scored Harlingen 30 to 17 in the fourth quarter and overtime. Los Fresnos overcame a 15 point deficit to capture their 3rd district win in thrilling comeback fashion “We know we could come back, we have the players that can do that, and we have the grit. Something that I've been asking for since the beginning of the season. We Just had to want it more” Lady Falcons Head Coach Alex Lucio
said after the game. Jones and Parra, who combined for 37 points, were the powerhouse duo that paved the way and led the comeback with exceptional shooting from the free throw line and great defense, “Obviously, we want the ball in their hands when it's crunch time, that’s why they got the ball so they can hit shots like that and set up our press.” “Me and Olivia are cousins and we’ve been playing for the past three years so the chemistry has always been there. We have each other's back so I was there for her when she needed me.” Los Fresnos Senior Sarahi Jones said about her chemistry with Parra. Olivia Parra also spoke on Jones' putback. “Missing that jumpshot, I should have made it, but I still had faith that one of my teammates was going to be behind me and follow through and finish it.” History was also made as this win marked the first time the Lady Falcons defeated the Lady Cardinals since December
28, 2012. “As a team, with our coaches we all feel so great. This is a big win for our program.” Jones said on the history making win. “Going into the game, we knew that we wanted it. Los Fresnos is rising, everyone needs to watchout for us.:``''We Just wanted to make a name for ourselves and be big” said Olivia Parra. “Honestly I’m not looking further than the next game we have. Our mindset is we just got to win the next one. We can’t be worrying about anybody else and just got to play the next game and win” Coach Lucio when asked for his thoughts on looking into the rest of 32-6A Play. Sarahi Jones finished off with 20 points. Olivia Parra finished off with 17 points. Maritza Ortega with 10 points, Aylene Ortega with 13 points, Gaby Garrido and Karina Alvarez combined for 7 points. Los Fresnos will face off against Harlingen again on February 1st.
UTRGV awarded $625,000 mental health training grant
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Improvements begin at Park Entry Lane at Isla Blanca Park
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2 • January 19, 2022 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS
Gene Haas Foundation gives $80,000 statewide through The TSTC Foundation to support Precision Machining program
Richard Mesquias, senior field development officer for The TSTC Foundation, third from left, accepts a check for $12,000 from a Haas Foundation representative recently at TSTC’s campus in Harlingen. (Photo courtesy of TSTC.) (ROSENBERG, Texas) - Anyone can dream up an idea, but it takes manufacturing to bring that dream to life. “Without manufacturing, nothing gets made,” said Matt Sykora, a representative for Haas Automation. Such a crucial facet of the economy requires highly trained workers, which Texas State Technical College works to provide with its Precision Machining Technology program. During the fall 2021 semester, the Gene Haas Foundation gave a total of $80,000 through The TSTC Foundation to support six of TSTC’s campuses across the state. Campuses in East Williamson County, Fort Bend County, Harlingen, Marshall and North Texas each received $12,000. TSTC’s campus in Waco received $20,000. All six campuses offer an Associate of Applied Science degree in Precision
Machining Technology (PMT) and a certificate of completion in Machining. The Fort Bend County, Marshall and Waco campuses also offer an occupational skills award in Basic Machining. Sykora, a TSTC graduate himself, presented the gift at TSTC’s North Texas campus. “My degree has afforded me a life that really was beyond what I dreamed of,” he said. “Over the years, Haas has entrusted TSTC with millions of dollars that’s allowed students to be taught on state-of-the-art equipment. It’s actually something I find a lot of joy in doing.” Rusty Hicks, The TSTC Foundation’s corporate development officer for North Texas, looks forward to the scholarships the gift will create for students on his campus. “This has a huge impact, as many of these students are still experiencing tough times due to COVID-
related issues,” he said. “A special thank-you to the Gene Haas Foundation for truly making a difference with their very kind and generous donation.” Pete Rowe, The TSTC Foundation’s vice president of External Relations and the field development officer for the Waco campus, celebrated the partnership between the college and the Gene Haas Foundation. “They provide equipment to train our students on, they provide scholarships, they hire our graduates,” he said. “They’re just very generous to us. It’s just a first-class organization from top to bottom, and TSTC is very fortunate.” The Fort Bend County campus is TSTC’s newest location in the state, and this gift is the first to the campus from the Gene Haas Foundation. “We’re very fortunate to have industry partners like this,” said John
Kennedy, a senior field development officer with The TSTC Foundation at TSTC’s Fort Bend County campus. “Haas is a product that is tried and true in the education we deliver to students, and we look forward to exploring further relationships down the road.” Dennis Engelbert, a Champions Machine Tool Sales representative who presented the gift in Fort Bend County, has witnessed the potential for success in this field. “I love visiting customers -- these are small, family-owned businesses in many cases,” he said. “These all started in the industry, working in some other shop for a couple years, and then they all go out on their own. It’s really a great path to being a business owner. The machining world is easy to do that in, and they can make a great living doing that. It’s a great transition without going into many years of college.” Machining technicians are in high demand in East Texas, said Blake Cox, an associate field development officer for The TSTC Foundation at TSTC’s Marshall campus. “These technicians need top-notch training,” he said. “With that in mind, we’re very honored to have the support of the Gene Haas Foundation. They’ve enhanced our PMT program with equipment donations, and their annual scholarship donation has helped many of our PMT students overcome financial barriers.” Chris Rooney, a
sales manager at Haas Factory Outlet Dallas, recognized the importance of industry support in education -- especially when those students are likely to become future manufacturing employees. “There’s a reason why Haas sells so many machines -- because that’s what these young people in the trade field are learning on,” he said. “We make sure they’re able to continue to do these programs because it’s what’s creating the next generation of machinists. It’s very important to us working in that field.” Often that level of support is integral to students completing their studies at TSTC. “We deeply appreciate this support from the Gene Haas Foundation,” said Richard Mesquias, senior field development officer for The TSTC Foundation on TSTC’s Harlingen campus. “Donations like these really make a difference and go a long way in helping TSTC students achieve their educational dreams.” Educational grants like the gift from the Gene Haas Foundation aim to close the skills gap between the growing number of jobs that require skilled technicians and not enough workers to fill them -- a mission the college shares. “Manufacturing is key to our survival as it supports so many industries,” said Aaron Hayes, a representative of Haas Factory Outlet in Buda. “The reason we have always led the
nation in innovation is our support of engineering and manufacturing programs with continued education to further this field. We hope that the money will be put to good use for students to advance the machining industry.” With that level of support and involvement from industry partners, TSTC will continue to fulfill its mission: training Texans for good-paying careers. “We hear over and over again how impressed our industry partners are with the quality of students that come from our program,” said Michael Smith, The TSTC Foundation’s vice president of development. “We constantly praise Haas because of the equipment we have. We’re able to provide world-class, industry-standard training because of them.” TSTC recognizes that manufacturing is an essential facet of the economy and is certain that its Precision Machining Technology graduates have a bright career ahead of them. The program is part of TSTC’s Money-Back Guarantee. If graduates do not get hired in their field within six months of obtaining their degree, TSTC will refund their tuition. The Gene Haas Foundation was established in 1999 to support the needs of the local community. Its founder, Gene Haas, is the CEO of Haas Automation Inc., a maker of computer numerical controlled (CNC) machine tools.
Ask Our Dentists by DR. ADAM LALONDE
Q: I recently took my kids to the dentist and he recommended sealants. Although he quickly explained what a sealant is, I still have questions. What is a sealant?
“Your Community Newspaper” 705 W. Highway 100, Suite B-2 Los Fresnos, TX
ANSWERED by DR.ADAM LALONDE:
A dental sealant is a thin plastic film ‘painted’ on the chewing surfaces of molars and pre molars. Sealants have been shown to be highly effective in the prevention of cavities by acting as a physical barrier to decay. As long as the sealant remains intact, small food particles and bacteria that cause cavities cannot Dr. Adam Lalonde penetrate through or around a sealant. Sealant treatment is painless and could take anywhere from five to 45 minutes to apply, depending on how many teeth need to be sealed. Sealants should last five years, but can last as long as ten years. However, sealants should not be considered permanent. Regular dental checkups are necessary to monitor the sealants’ bond to the tooth. Children, because they have newly erupted, permanent teeth, receive the greatest benefit from sealants. The chewing surfaces of a child’s teeth are most susceptible to cavities and the least benefited by fluoride. Surveys show that approximately two-thirds of all cavities occur in the narrow pits and grooves of teeth because food particles and bacteria cannot be cleaned out. For this reason, other patients can also benefit from sealant placement. This preventive measure can help reduce future dental expenses and protect the teeth from more aggressive forms of treatment. If you are interested in obtaining more information on dental sealants, feel free to contact our office. You can also visit us at www.losfresnosdental. com for more information.
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4 • January 19, 2022 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS
Los Fresnos Soccer Is Up And Running
By Ruben Rodriguez Los Fresnos News
Soccer season has kicked off across the Valley, and at Los Fresnos, it's up to a hot start. The Falcons and Lady Falcons kicked off their 2022 campaigns with some big games including tournament play. The Falcons kicked off tournament play against The Brownsville Porter Cowboys. Both teams played a fast paced offense, each tacking on a goal in the first half. After a defensive battle in the 2nd half, The Falcons and the Cowboys would eventually draw. The next day, Los Fresnos would kick off their action against the Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial Eagles. The Eagles played solid defense and offense, scoring first and holding
on to a 1-0 lead at the half. As the Eagles continued to hold on to control of the game, Los Fresnos knocked in a goal in the second half to draw their second match of the tournament In game three, The Falcons faced off against the Laredo United Longhorns and after a defensive first half, The Longhorns would score and hold on to the lead to give the Falcons their first loss of the 2022 season. Then after facing off and Drawing with Brownsville Pace, Los Fresnos captured their first win of the season against 32-6A rival San Benito. The Falcons scored once in each half and played consistent defense. The Falcons faced off against the PSJA North Raiders in their first nondistrict matchup of 2022. Defense was consistent
throughout the first half after both the Raiders and Falcons scored and kept it tied heading into the second half. The second half was controlled by Los Fresnos as they played dominant on both sides of the ball, scoring three goals and rendering PSJA North to only one goal, winning 4-2. The Lady Falcons kicked off their season against Alamo Heights out of San Antonio. Alamo Heights struck first and maintained control of the game defensively to win 1-0, handing The Lady Falcons their first loss of the season. Los Fresnos would bounce back with two straight wins, defeating both Sharyland and San Antonio O’Connor by a score of 2-0. The Lady Falcons then faced off against San Antonio Taft in a defensive battle that Los
Taken from the LFHS Girls Soccer twitter account. Fresnos scored first in, but in non district action. a response by Taft in the Los Fresnos took control second half resulted in a early on scoring the first draw. two goals of the game and The Lady Falcons then controlled throughout the traveled to McAllen to take game until two late goals by on the McHi Lady Bulldogs the Lady Bulldogs resulted
in another draw for the Lady Falcons. For Now Los Fresnos Soccer continues to roll on until district play is set to kick off in Late January, Early February.
Los Fresnos Falcons January 2022 Basketball Schedule Tue Jan 4 vs Weslaco, 1pm Fri Jan 7 @Harlingen, 6pm Tue Jan 11 @Hanna, 6pm Fri Jan 14 vs Harl. South, 6pm Tue Jan 18 vs San Benito, 7:30pm Fri Jan 21 @Donna North, 7:30pm Tue Jan 25 vs Rivera, 7:30pm Fri Jan 28 @Weslaco, 7:30pm
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January 19, 2022 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS • 5
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The Poetic Vision
Wherever you are, Whenever you roam, Eternal Truths in a poem Will lead you safely home. While great Truths are really simple, Not everyone can see. The heart of a poet Sees beyond things differently. Yet searching for the truth Can be a very tedious task, For searching is essential If a poet you do ask. When daybreak comes ‘Til night does fall, You’ll find a poet observing all. Though all poems are written With rhythm and rhyme, Their truths remain true Throughout passage of time. Though thinking in volumes May seem to be right, Remember the simple, And let there be Light.
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THEME: THE GRAMMY AWARDS ACROSS 1. Chunk of land 6. Sail alternative 9. Female sheep, pl. 13. Oak, in Spanish 14. Nucleic acid acronym 15. “____ under fire” 16. Permeate 17. Internet meme move 18. *Number of 2022
Grammy nominations for Doja Cat or H.E.R. 19. *Justin Bieber’s stuff from Georgia 21. *Gaga’s partner 23. Mauna ____, Hawaii 24. Cartoon Coyote’s first name 25. Lawyers’ grp. 28. Marine eagle 30. Like Roger Rabbit 35. Boisterous play 37. Ore deposit
39. Davy Crockett’s last stand 40. U.S. city and lake 41. Tossed starter 43. F.B.I. operative 44. Group of nine singers, e.g. 46. Gardner’s gear 47. In the middle of 48. Arctic-wear 50. Porcini mushrooms 52. In the manner of, in French
53. *Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, a.k.a. ____ Sonic 55. Decimal system base 57. *2022 Grammy nominations leader 61. *”Bad Habits” performer 65. Lacking sense 66. Unit of electrical resistance 68. Low landform 69. Grassy mound 70. Recent or new, prefix 71. Los ____, CA 72. Peasy precursor 73. .0000001 joule 74. Earp of the Wild West DOWN 1. LSD consequence? 2. City on the Tiber 3. *Swedish band with one 2022 Grammy nomination 4. Exclamation from a coop 5. Tittering laugh sound 6. Bookie’s quote 7. Registered nurses’ org. 8. Torah expert 9. Female name or a name for Ireland 10. Worker’s reward 11. Not counterfeit 12. Cobblestone 15. Genus, pl. 20. British peers 22. Will Ferrell holiday movie 24. Matrimony 25. *2022 Grammy event venue, Crypto.com ____ 26. B on Mendeleev’s table 27. Type of acid 29. *Grammy host’s last name 31. Aquarium dweller 32. #3 Down’s 1975 hit “____ Mia” 33. Means of communication 34. *Kanye’s album 36. Source of pressure? 38. Facilitate 42. Profoundness 45. Tip of lion’s tail 49. First aid one 51. Up and down playground attraction 54. Sergio of westerns 56. Very recently 57. Triathlon ride 58. Tolstoy’s Karenina 59. New Mexico art colony 60. Inwardly 61. Dirty air 62. Common “pro” follower 63. Loads 64. Egg storage 67. *”Fight for You” performer
6 • January 19, 2022 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS
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January 19, 2022 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS • 7
The Art of Manliness Monthly Segment
Progress Isn’t Linear Well, it’s a new year, and that means men all over the world are setting goals to improve themselves over the next twelve months. If you’re one of these men, here’s a useful mental model to keep in mind as you get cracking on your efforts: progress isn’t linear. Instead, progress usually looks more like the chart above. It took me a while to internalize this concept, but once I did, it significantly reduced the amount of frustration and angst I experienced as I worked on various personal goals. Up until a few years ago, I had this notion that if I set a goal, planned meticulously, and executed it day in and day out, my progress towards that goal would be a straight line up and to the right on the line graph of life. But inevitably, my abstract notion of how I thought progress would look clashed with the reality of how it did, resulting in much wailing and gnashing of teeth. Or, at a minimum, feeling all dejected and put out for a day or two. How Barbell Training Taught Me Not to Get
Discouraged When Faced With Setbacks The idea that progress isn’t linear really hit home thanks to the barbell training I’ve done for the past seven years. During the first few months of serious training, I did experience linear progress. With every workout, I was able to add weight to the bar. I loved it! It was so motivating to know going into each workout that I’d be hitting new personal records. But then, about six months into my training, my linear progression stopped. Instead of hitting PRs every workout, I’d hit them once a week. Then after a few months of hitting PRs every week, I began to only hit them once a month. After a few months of hitting PRs monthly, they started to come once every three months, then once every six months, and then once a year. When I first encountered this slowing progress, my coach had to let me in on a secret about weightlifting: as you get stronger and stronger, it takes longer and longer for your body to accumulate the stress it needs to elicit a strength adaptation. It might even take more than a year to hit
a new PR. In addition to my slowing progress caused by the law of diminishing returns, I’ve also faced a series of injuries during my lifting career — I’ve struggled with tendonitis in my biceps, hamstrings, and adductors — that set me back at various times. Those injuries derailed my progress for weeks and sometimes months. To show how progress with my barbell training hasn’t been linear, let’s look at my deadlift. In 2016, I pulled 500 lbs. It wasn’t until the end of 2018 that I pulled 605 lbs. That’s two years. That’s a long time before hitting another milestone. Along the way, I had workouts where I couldn’t even budge 405 off the floor and weeks where it just seemed like I had to keep lowering the weight to hit my reps. In short, the path to 600 certainly wasn’t a straight shot. At the beginning of 2020, I hit another deadlift PR: 615. In other words, after a year of hard work, I added a measly ten pounds to my deadlift. I’m amid a lull in my barbell training right now. For the past several months, I’ve been battling knee pain and tennis elbow
that have made training impossible. I’m focusing on rehab and hopefully on the road to recovery. It’s taken a while, though. I hope to be back to serious training here in a few months. If all goes well, I may even hit a few new PRs in a year or so. Progress with these injuries hasn’t been linear either. Some days I feel like I’m about to turn a corner with them, but then the very next day, the pain comes roaring back. But if I look at where I was four months ago with these injuries compared to where I am today, I’ve definitely made progress; it’s been up and down, but with a generally upwards trajectory. It’s progress, it’s just not linear. Making Progress on Being a Mope Hasn’t Been Linear Either Another area where I’ve seen progress, but not linearly, is my mood. I’m mercurial by nature. I’ve struggled with the black dog for most of my adult life. It’s something I’ve consciously been working on for the better part of 15 years. Overall, I think I’m in a better place now with my mood. Kate would affirm this. My temperamental troughs are less frequent than they were a decade ago, and when they do hit, they’re very brief. But there’s been a lot of ups and downs along the way to get to this point. One of my biggest challenges in becoming less mercurial has been learning not to beat myself up too much when I backslide. That usually just makes my slumps worse. Now, I just try to recognize that I’ve had a bad day and tell myself that’s just a normal part of the program in becoming better. And then I get back in the saddle and try again. Barbell training has helped me a lot in better managing my expectations
around my mood and getting a handle on my mercurialness. Not simply in boosting my spirits — exercise is highly effective in preventing and alleviating depression — by also in providing me a very visceral parallel as to the nonlinearity of progress. When I think about the ups and downs I’ve had when it comes to hoisting a barbell, I recognize that there will be similar undulations in building the strength to shoulder the weight of my psyche. Instead of wasting time pouting and beating myself up when I get to feeling downcast, I try to just acknowledge the dip as an inherent part of life’s flow, and work to make such dips shorter and less frequent . . . over a longterm time scale. What to Do When You Hit a Wall or Dip in Your Progress So unsolicited bit of advice number one when approaching a goal: don’t expect your progress to be a straight upwards shot. Rather than expecting things to go up, up, up, expect that progress will take the form of a repeating pattern of moving a few steps forward and one, or more, steps back. (Herein is another lesson I’ve learned: a lot of life satisfaction simply hinges on managing your expectations. But that’s a discussion for another time.) Unsolicited advice numero dos: when you do encounter a plateau or dip in your progress, don’t freak out and dramatically change things right away. You may need to mix things up, but maybe not immediately and maybe not dramatically. Just evaluate the situation non-judgmentally. For example, if you gained a pound or two in a week, take a look back at what happened. Don’t get upset or discouraged. If
you’ve done a good job in sticking to your macros, maybe there’s something else involved with the weight gain. Maybe you ate a really salty meal the night before you weighed yourself. In that case, you’re going to be retaining more water, so you’ll look puffy and be heavier. Or maybe you slept poorly that week. That can cause a bit of weight gain. Instead of changing your diet plan right away, give it another week and see what happens. If you’re still gaining weight or you’ve plateaued, try reducing calories a bit and observe the effect of that tweak over the course of a week. If you’re looking to get a handle on your anger and you have a day where you slip, don’t get down on yourself and immediately think you need to get counseling or start taking some expensive nootropic stack to calm you down. Instead, look at what happened when you lost your temper. Were you under a lot of stress that week? More stress than you usually experience? Have you been doing your meditation or breathing exercises on the regular? When was the last time you lost your cool? If it’s been a while, then consider this recent blow-up an anomaly. Keep doing the things you’ve been doing that have helped you have fewer outbursts. Whatever the goal is you’re working on in the coming year, I wish you all the best with it. When you encounter inevitable setbacks, remember not to despair. Don’t freak out. Don’t do anything drastic. You don’t have to be moving in the right direction every single day, just the right direction over the course of months, and years. Focus on the process. Make modest adjustments when needed. And keep on keeping on, brother.
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8 • January 19, 2022 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS
Health Officials Stress Need for Continued Caution as Omicron Variant Takes Hold
BROWNSVILLE & HARLINGEN — With the arrival of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 and confirmed cases once again on the rise in the Rio Grande Valley, local health officials are urging the community to practice tried and true COVID safety precautions. Preliminary research indicates that the Omicron variant of COVID-19 presents a mixed bag for a public weary of fighting the virus for more than two years. While research indicates that the risk of severe illness and hospitalization associated with the Omicron variant is perhaps lower than its Delta counterpart, the Omicron variant is far more contagious than previous strains of the virus. A larger pool of confirmed cases will likely translate to an increased number of hospitalizations, once again straining the local healthcare system, said Dr. Christopher Romero, internal medicine specialist with Valley
Baptist Medical CenterHarlingen. “Even in the years before the COVID-19 pandemic, each winter cold a flu season would cause a spike in hospitalizations and strain resources. This winter we are dealing with a new variant that is more contagious and not as well covered by prior vaccination, especially those vaccinated months ago who have not been boosted,” he said. “In addition, this new variant is not treated by many of the monoclonal antibodies we were able to use in our infusion centers last winter. We are cautiously optimistic that most people that contract Omicron will be OK and not require hospitalization, but there are a large number of people in our community that have health issues that put them at increased risk from COVID-19. These issues include obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and lung disease, amongst other risk factors.” Romero went on to
discuss the important role local residents play in helping to safeguard a healthcare system that has been under immense strain during the COVID19 pandemic. “As a community we still need to work together to protect those amongst us at highest risk,” he said. This means masking when out around others and transmission is high, testing when there is concern about infection, and staying home whenever someone has symptoms to help slow the spread.” Because Omicron is more transmissible than previous strains of COVID-19, there’s no time like the present to for local residents to review COVID safety measures that have been proven to reduce the risk of infection, said Dr. Beverly Zavaleta, Physician Adviser at Valley Baptist Medical CenterBrownsville. Such measures include frequent hand washing, social distancing when applicable, and perhaps most importantly, the use
UTRGV awarded $625,000 mental health training grant
Education Complex at UTRGV Edinburg Campus. (UTRGV Photo by Silver Salas) By Amanda A. Taylor RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – JAN. 6, 2022 – A group of UTRGV professors have been awarded a five-year, $625,000 mental health awareness training grant to help with a project called Bridging the Way. Project Bridging the Way will train school personnel – such as teachers, counselors, administrators, school law enforcement and human resources personnel – to identify signs of mental illness. The grant was awarded to Dr. Suzanne Maniss, project director; Dr. Nancy P. Razo, co-project director; Dr. Javier Cavazos, project evaluator; Dr. Selma Yznaga, co-project evaluator; Dr. Christine Berger, training specialist; Erica Villarreal, training specialist; and Dr. Zulmaris Diaz, training specialist. Razo said the group is excited to have been awarded SAMSHA’s Mental Health Awareness Training Grant. “This is going to provide an opportunity for us to bring mental health awareness to school districts across the Valley,” she said. “We’ll be able to
provide training in Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) for those who work with youth, and Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) for those who primarily work with school personnel. “This is critical, especially during these unprecedented times where people are struggling,” she said. The project also will help train parents of school children, and undergraduate clinical teachers in the UTRGV College of Education and P-16 Integration, to recognize signs and symptoms of emotional disturbances in youth. It also will help train school district staff to make appropriate referrals to licensed mental health providers. “This grant is important and timely, especially during these difficult times,” said Dr. Alma Rodriguez, dean of the UTRGV College of Education & P-16 Integration. “Mental health awareness training will equip school personnel, future teachers and parents with the necessary knowledge and skills to be proactive in the identification of
mental illnesses through appropriate referral.” SAMHSA and the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) awarded this funding as part of their Mental Health Awareness Training grants (MHAT), which are meant to educate individuals about the community resources available to those with mental disorders and to help prevent a crisis. “We will provide districts the tools needed in dealing with potential mental health crises of both students and school personnel, as well as making appropriate referrals so those individuals can receive the help they need,” Razo said. “Mental health is just as important as physical health, and we need to raise awareness.” Better training will generate increased awareness about mental health issues and how to react, to ensure a safe environment for all involved. “I congratulate Dr. Maniss and Dr. Razo on this award, and I thank them for the vision and leadership to address such an important topic, particularly during this COVID-19 pandemic,” Rodriguez said.
of an appropriate face covering when indoors or in high-risk areas. “With research showing the Omicron variant to be a more transmissible form of COVID19, now is the time to continue to utilize the safety precautions we have all become familiar with over the last two years,” she said. “This includes utilizing a mask when you are inside public places such as the grocery store, and making sure that mask offers either a KN95 or N95 level of protection.” Zavaleta said that in addition to COVID safety measures, vaccines and their boosters remain the greatest tool that local residents can utilize to protect themselves and their loved ones from serious illness related to COVID-19 infection. “Vaccines remain our best defense against COVID infection that matters: Severe COVID that puts you in the hospital or kills you,” she said. “We need to get everyone aged five and
up fully vaccinated, and that includes a third shot for adults who had their primary series five or more months ago.” As schools return to session from the holiday break, local parents should also continue to monitor the news regarding vaccine boosters for children ages 12 through 15 years old, Zavaleta said. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration on Monday authorized boosters for children ages 12 through 15, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention issued its approval on Wednesday, meaning children ages 12 through 15 years old are now eligible for a third booster five months after completing their initial series of COVID vaccinations. Zavaleta said that local residents have responded to the healthcare community’s pleas regarding COVID-19 vaccination at higher rates than some of their counterparts throughout the United States, but that
vaccination efforts must continue with the fight against Omicron under way. “Our region has done a phenomenal job so far, with approximately 90 percent of people ages 50-79 vaccinated against COVID. Now we must build on our success by encouraging parents to vaccinate their children starting at age 5, and by giving booster shots to those who are eligible as soon as possible,” she said. “Remember, according to the CDC, there are almost no health conditions that disqualify someone from getting vaccinated against COVID. In fact, most chronic health conditions make it even more important for you to be vaccinated against COVID because of the risk of severe COVID illness when chronic diseases are present. If you are still unsure about getting the vaccine, please read the guidelines on the CDC website or talk to your doctor.”
Construction Work Ahead Improvements begin at Park Entry Lane at Isla Blanca Park Cameron County is pleased to announce that construction improvements to the entry lanes at Isla Blanca Park are scheduled to begin this month. Improvements include the construction of two new toll booths, an automated re-entry lane and implementation of a new and more modernized toll collection system. These improvements are part of the continued effort to create a more enjoyable experience for guests visiting our coastal parks. Funding for these improvements were made possible through certificate of obligation funds (Cos). The total toll booths construction cost is approximately $386,000. Construction activities for this project are scheduled to begin on January 17, 2022, and end on or before April 30, 2022, weather permitting. Throughout the time of construction, patrons can expect to encounter traffic delays while entering and exiting the park. Traffic entering the park will be redirected to make a rightturn on Wallace L. Reed
Road, then a quick left into a parking lot leading towards a service entry gate. This area will be the temporary location of our toll booths and entry lanes during construction (see attached map). We ask visitors to please be patient during construction and to be mindful of all traffic control devices and warning signs posted. The Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority (CCRMA) is providing oversight and management on this project. A&I Custom Manufacturing, LLC has been selected as the contractor to perform the construction and Gomez Mendez Saenz is the Architect of record. Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino, Jr. stated, “These new improvements will increase accessibility and safety for the visitors at Isla Blanca Park. This park offers one mile of pristine beach with large family size beachfront pavilions, a beachfront boardwalk with an array of recreational opportunities, such as fishing, camping, and boating. As I said before
and say it again, Isla Blanca Park is not only the Crown Jewel of the Texas Gulf Coast but the Crown Jewel of the entire coast of the Gulf of Mexico. We thank you in advance for your patience as we move forward with these enhancements.” Cameron County Commissioner Pct.1 Sofia Benavides stated, “I am excited to say that the new improvements will enhance the total experience at Isla Blanca Park and improve the quality of life for our park visitors. We kindly ask for the public’s patience and cooperation during construction, as we strive to make the necessary improvements for the benefit of our end users.” Cameron County Parks Director Joe E. Vega stated, “Cameron County Parks & Recreation Department goal is to continue making the necessary improvements to Isla Blanca Park in order to make the park a safer and enjoyable place for the residents and visitors of Cameron County.”