Los Fresnos News 1-26-22

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WEEK OF January 26, 2022 THROUGH FEBRUARY 1, 2022 Fishing for Low Rates...

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Volume 18 Number 4

Los Fresnos, Tx 78566

www.losfresnosnews.net

SPI, Some Of Why We Love Our RGV! System Sciences, Climate Science, Conservation Science, Environmental and Sustainability, Earth Science, Ecology, Ecosystem Processes, and Marine & Coastal Sciences.

Safely heat your home as colder weather sets in across the Texas Gulf Coast Region

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Emilio Flores Los Fresnos News

Falcons Diving Team

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Poem: Cold Night

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South Padre Island has received more traction this year than in 2019; that’s prior to the covid outbreak! According to a story put about by Valley Central we are getting visitors from places like Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, and even people from St. Louis Missouri. “We see that the reservations are on the increase we see that the people are coming from different places that before they didn’t visit us,” said Teresa Rodriguez, senior manager

of communications and marketing at the South Padre Island Convention and Visitor’s Bureau told Valley Central. South Padre seems to be making more of an impression than just a spring break party house. And those who are from the valley know that South Padre Island is a great place to take the family for short a weekend vacay, but maybe you didn’t know all of the things our SPI has to offer… Here are some things you may not have known about South Padre Island: UTRGV’s has it's own

TSC, HCC and SJC Partner To Strengthen Workforce For Ports And Aerospace Industry

Research in Marine Biology UTRGV’s School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences or SEEMS, has a Coastal Studies Laboratory that is dedicated to enhancing research, engaging in public service, and outreach related to coastal and marine concerns in the Gulf of Mexico, highlighting with specific emphasis on the South Texas region. The Coastal Studies Laboratory is located at 100 Marine Lab Dr on the Island and was established in 1973. They have research in Agriculture and Food

Polo Sports? Now, you probably if I had brought up something like Volleyball because when you think of beach sports, you think of Volleyball, right? But did you know that there's a Polo Club on SPI that hosts United States Polo Association tournaments? Yep, the SPI Equestrian and Events Center is also the home of the South Padre Island Polo Club. Having events, aswell as lessons for both horseback riding, and polo. SPACESHIPS!? Having the Technological advancements with companies like SpaceX and VTOL, we definitely have something to pride ourselves in. Think about, Cowboys, and Astronauts! It doesn’t get much better than that. SpaceX says that only 24 humans have been to the Moon, the last time being in 1972. Then, on April 16, 2021, NASA announced they had selected Starship (SpaceX’s

Space shuttle) to land the first astronauts on the lunar surface since the Apollo program. Starship is being tested and worked on at Starbase, right here at Boca Chica! And on a similar note, we also have a new company establishing itself in Brownsville calling itself Paragon VTOL. Paragon VTOL's mission is to eventually have flying vehicles, something comparable to a flying drone, but on a much larger scale! The biggest advantage of these flying cars, if you will, is that they can be used to transport an injured person from point A to point B in alot less time than an ambulance. At least that's their endeavor. Though it sounds too futuristic or even a little far-fetched, it very possibly could become a part of our lives in the near future! It’s exciting to see development and growth happening all around us, and these are just some of the things that make South Padre Island special! Bringing even more visitors from all over to take notice in SPI, and bring excitement to us that call the RGV home. We love our SPI.

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UTRGV Researcher Investigating How Pandemics Spread

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LOOK INSIDE Classified................. pg 3 Sports...................... pg 4 Puzzles.................... pg 5 Activity Page........... pg 6

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2 • January 26, 2022 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS

Is The High Level Of Cocoa In Dark Chocolate Good For You? by John Grimaldi

WASHINGTON, DC, Jan 14 – News about your health can be quite depressing – especially these days – but the news that eating dark chocolate, the kind that contains lots of cocoa, can be good for your health, can come as a deliciously delightful surprise, says Rebecca Weber, CEO of the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC]. In fact, each year around this time, in the weeks before Valentine’s Day, news outlets seem to besiege us with the “chocolate is good for you” message. But, suggests Weber, it would be wise to consult with your doctor

before going on a chocolate binge. “It used to be a no-no, particularly for seniors, but research in recent years suggests that, if you don’t overdo it, eating dark chocolate can be good for you. Numerous studies show that regularly treating yourself with about half an ounce of dark chocolate can lower blood pressure, reduce your levels of bad “LDL” cholesterol and increase your levels of HDL, the good cholesterol. And some researchers believe that it can improve cognitive function,” says Weber. According to the National Institutes of Health [NIH], up until the medical community

began conducting deep scientific research into the negative and positive effects of chocolate, health care providers warned their patients of the potential health hazards of consuming large amounts of chocolate. Patients were told that, while it is indeed a tasty treat, it could also have ill effects on your health such as acne, obesity high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. “However,” says the NIH, “the recent discovery of biologically active phenolic compounds in cocoa has changed this perception and stimulated research on its effects in ageing, oxidative stress, blood pressure regulation, and atherosclerosis. Today,

chocolate is lauded for its tremendous antioxidant potential. However, in many studies, contradictory results and concerns about methodological issues have made it hard for health professionals and the public to understand the available evidence on chocolate's effects on health.” Epicatechin [EPI] is a flavanol found in a number of foods we eat including cocoa. But it is said that the amount of epicatechin in cocoa is particularly high. In a paper produced by researchers María Ángeles Martin and Sonia Ramos of the Department of Metabolism and Nutrition at Spain’s Institute of Food Science and Technology, they found that: “Cocoa

is a source of flavanols [epicatechin], and these phenolic compounds exert beneficial effects on health and aging and reduce the risk of suffering chronic diseases (cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, cancer). An increasing body of evidence has emerged to suggest that cocoa flavanols potentially are important chemopreventive natural agents.” Many researchers around the world have come to the same conclusion, suggesting that if you have a craving for chocolate you should avoid processed chocolate treats that contain additives and have low cocoa content. What you’re looking for, they

say, is chocolate with a high content of cocoa, namely dark chocolate that contains 70% to 85% of cocoa. As the Mayo Clinic puts it: “Healthy chocolate sounds like a dream come true, but chocolate hasn't gained the status of a health food quite yet. Still, chocolate's reputation is on the rise, as a growing number of studies suggest that it can be a hearthealthy choice … cocoa itself, unlike chocolate, is low in sugar and fat while offering potential health benefits. If you enjoy chocolate flavor, add plain cocoa to your low-fat milk or morning oats.”

to stay safe by properly warming their home,” said Vanessa Valdez, Regional Communications Manager.

bedding and drapes; keep away children and pets. Plug space heater power cords directly into outlets — never an extension cord. Turn it off every time you leave the room or go to sleep. Never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home. Never leave a fire burning in the fireplace unattended. Make sure any embers in the fireplace are extinguished before going to bed or leaving home. Use a glass or metal fire screen to keep embers in the fireplace. Have furnaces, chimneys, fireplaces, wood and coal stoves inspected annually by a professional

and cleaned if necessary.

Safely heat your home as colder weather sets in across the Texas Gulf Coast Region

Harlingen, Texas, January 14, 2022- — It’s time to turn the heat back on in cooler parts of the country and the American Red Cross Texas Gulf Coast urges families to safely heat their home to

avoid home fires. Heating equipment is the second leading causes of home fires and during colder weather we tend to see an increase in home fires. Since January 1, the Texas Gulf Coast

Region have responded to more than 70 home fires, assisting more than 285 individuals. “Colder temperatures often bring the increased risk of home heating fires, and we want everyone

HOW TO HEAT YOUR HOME SAFELY A 2020 Red Cross survey showed that more than half of us have used a space heater — which is involved in most fatal home heating fires. Provide at least three feet of space around all heating equipment, and never leave space heaters unattended. Follow these additional tips: If you must use a space heater, place it on a level, hard and nonflammable surface, such as a ceramic tile floor. Don’t place it on rugs and carpets, or near

TAKE TWO STEPS TO PREVENT FIRE TRAGEDIES To help protect your family year-round, test your smoke alarms monthly and practice your home fire escape plan until everyone can escape in less than two minutes — the amount of time you may have to get out of a burning home before it’s too late. Visit redcross.org/fire for more information, including an escape plan to practice with your family. You can also download the free Red Cross Emergency app by searching for ‘American Red Cross’ in app stores.

Ask Our Dentists by DR. ADAM LALONDE

Q: A friend of mine recently told me that I have receding gums. She said that it’s visible when I laugh. I have no idea what that is or what this means! Please save me the embarrassment by confidentially answering.

“Your Community Newspaper” 705 W. Highway 100, Suite B-2 Los Fresnos, TX

ANSWERED by DR.ADAM LALONDE:

When the gums move away from teeth, exposing the roots, you get oral recession – or receding gums. It’s a typical sign of aging and common in patients older than 40. But it can also be a sign of periodontal disease or toothbrush Dr. Adam Lalonde abrasion. And for post menopausal women, there’s a link between osteoporosis and receding gums because they lose mass from bone that supports the teeth and gums. You may be wondering…..”How do you know if your gums are receding?” One way to know is when teeth appear longer and notched at the gum line. You may also see visible roots (which may cause sensitivity), cavities below the gum line, red and swollen gums and larger spaces between your teeth at the gum line. The most effective way to prevent gum recession is good oral hygiene. Use a soft bristle toothbrush, practice good at-home care and visit your dentist regularly, especially after age 40. In some cases, gum grafts are done for aesthetic purposes, to prevent root decay or gum inflammation, or to slow progressing recession. For more information, call our office or visit us at www.losfresnosdental.com.

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HOW TO SUBSCRIBE: 1 year subscription delivered by U.S. Postal service...$27.95 or can be purchased at several convinent locations through out the cities of Los Fersnos and Brownsville for 50¢. The Los Fresnos News is mailed and delivered Tuesday, January 25, 2022, and published weekly by Los Fresnos Publishing, LLC. Periodical Postage Rates paid at Los Fresnos, TX. Post Office. Advertising deadline is noon Thursday at the office at 203 N. Arroyo, Los Fresnos, TX 78566. (POSTMASTER send address changes to Los Fresnos, P.O. Box 990, Los Fresnos, TX 78566.)

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January 26, 2022 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS • 3 CITATION BY PUBLICATION

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PUBLIC NOTICE Without public notices in the newspaper, you’re left guessing.

Public notice is your right to know about the issues that directly affect your life. And, you can easily find public notices in your local newspaper. Without public notices in the newspaper, you’re left to guess about what the government is doing in your community and how elected officials are spending your tax dollars. Your local newspaper fulfills an essential role in serving your right to know. After all, it shouldn’t be your responsibility to know how to look ... where to look ... when to look ... and even what to look for in order to be informed about public information. It is the government’s responsibility to notify you of public information, and your local newspaper is the most accessible place to find it.

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4 • January 26, 2022 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS

Fightin’ Lady Falcons By Ruben Rodriguez Los Fresnos News With the first half of 32-6A for the 2021-22 season in the books, Los Fresnos looks to kick off the second half on a high note. After suffering a loss to Harlingen South 41-34 to wrap up the first half of the district calendar, the Lady Falcons finish off with a district record of 4-3 and sit as the number five seed in the district standings. Los Fresnos began 32-6A play, suffering a

loss to San Benito on December 14, 51-43. After bouncing back to rack up two straight wins over Donna North and Brownsville Rivera, the Lady Falcons lost their second district game against Weslaco in a close battle, 71 to 59. Again, the Lady Falcons collected two more wins including a comeback win over Harlingen in Overtime. Then after knocking off Hanna, Los Fresnos ended the first half of 32-6A with their loss over Harlingen South.

So, what lies now for the Lady Falcons? Well round two kicks off with San Benito, then a matchup with Donna North on January 21. Then the Lady Falcons will host Rivera on January 25 then Weslaco on the 28. Los Fresnos then kicks off February at home vs Harlingen, then hosts Brownsville Hanna on February 4th before wrapping up 32-6A play against Harlingen South on February 8th.

Supports the Los Fresnos Falcons! Advertise your Business Here! C a l l 9 5 6 - 2 6 4 -7 7 2 0

Falcons Diving Team The Los Fresnos Falcon Divers did great today at The Sharyland

ISD New Years Diving Invitational as Angel earned the Gold Medal

and Evi earned the Silver

It Is Baseball Time In Texas!

By Ruben Rodriguez Los Fresnos News

After a long wait, Baseball Season is officially here. Here at Los Fresnos all eyes are on the PostSeason, especially after last year’s deep playoff run. The Falcons come into this season with high expectations. Last Season throughout 32-6A, Los Fresnos remained consistent as only three losses were suffered to eventual District Champion Harlingen and San Benito. The Falcons who are led by Rene Morales look to repeat the success of the 2021 season. After

knocking off PSJA in the Bi-District Round, the Falcons would rack up big wins against San Antonio Brennan in the Area round and Edinburg Vela in the Regional Quarterfinal. Los Fresnos then knocked out Powerhouse Round Rock in the Regional Semifinal before suffering a heartbreaking loss to Smithson Valley in the Regional Final. Los Fresnos would finish 2021 with a stellar overall record of 22-72 overall and 11-3 in District Play. A returning core of key players that includes three seniors; Pitcher Mathew Padilla, outfielder Hector Muniz,

First Baseman Juan Garica. Also returning for the Falcons is junior shortstop Joshua Munoz. Los Fresnos will begin non-district play against Brownsville Pace on February 21st. Arguably a tough non-district schedule, some teams the Falcons will face this season include, San Antonio Harlan, Cedar Park, and coastal bend powerhouse Corpus Christi Carroll. The Falcons will then begin 32-6A competition on March 8th against San Benito. With a tough schedule overall, the Falcons look to make another deep run in the postseason.

Medal! Photos taken from the Los Fresnos CISD Athletics Twitter

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The Next Chapter Poem Cold Night Staring out the window on a cold winter night. I sit comfortably under my blanket all snug and tight. The crackling sound of the fireplace makes me content. The peace it brings me is heaven sent. The small of cookies has filled the air. Can’t wait until I can have a taste, I swear. A tall glass of milk is all I need. To devour these cookies oh yes indeed. It’s now time to slip into my warm comfy bed. Hmm, I think tomorrow I’ll bake some bread.

Want your story in the paper? This story continues next week. The Next Chapter is a column featuring a serialized continuing short story from a local author. You can submit your own original story for publication at our Facebook Page.

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LAST WEEK’S SUDOKU ANSWERS

LAST WEEK’S CROSSWORDS ANSWERS

THEME: WINTER OLYMPICS ACROSS 1. Sleeps in a tent 6. Horror movie franchise 9. Varieties 13. Mozart’s “Die Zauberflote” 14. Road crew supply 15. Moron 16. Workman’s cotton,

once 17. Exclamation of surprise 18. Monte Cristo’s title, in French 19. *Olympic Athletes from ____, 2018 hockey winners 21. *Figure skating jump (2 words) 23. Capone’s ilk, e.g. 24. Attention-getting sound

25. Eminem’s genre 28. Cashier’s call 30. Hit-or-miss 35. It will 37. *Triple one in figure skating 39. Hustle and bustle 40. German Mrs. 41. A mile racer 43. a.k.a. horse mackerel 44. Jargon 46. Workbench holding device

47. Health club offering 48. Diner, e.g. 50. Latin for “and others” 52. ____ Aviv 53. Ill-mannered one 55. Curiosity’s victim? 57. *2022 Winter Olympics location 61. *Torch Relay starting point 64. “____ ____ the Family” TV series 65. Refrigerator sound 67. Poppy seed derivative 69. Bitterly regretting 70. Egyptian cobra 71. Part of a stair 72. Seedy source of Omega-3s 73. More, in Madrid 74. Changes to a manuscript DOWN 1. Cape ____, MA 2. Copycat 3. Carte du jour 4. Spectrum maker 5. Delilah’s lover 6. Roofed colonnade 7. Expression of satisfaction 8. Angry 9. Revered one 10. Fancy ride 11. Japanese zither 12. Pas in ballet 15. “Freezing” Marvel character 20. Letter-shaped girder 22. “____ the land of the free...” 24. Designer’s studio 25. *Biathlon gear 26. Skylit lobbies 27. Manufacturing site 29. *2022 Winter Olympics number 31. Like Curious George 32. Monocot’s alternative 33. “Killers of the Flower Moon” Oklahoma location 34. *Olympic award 36. *Olympic sled 38. For fear that 42. Respond 45. Circling 49. Far, old-fashioned 51. Capital of Punjab 54. Early Irish alphabet 56. Sort of warm 57. Vomit 58. Twelfth month of Jewish year 59. Pelvic bones 60. Put a hex on 61. Concert units 62. Not yet final 63. Edible fat 66. *Miracle on Ice winner 68. Not Miss or Ms.


6 • January 26, 2022 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS

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Beat a Cyberbully: Here’s How Parents Can Help Los Fresnos, TX

While remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic lowered reported instances of bullying, parents fear that, for some students, going back to school will mean going back to being bullied. “Bullying is something we worry about, especially with the beginning of each new school year,” said Zury Bourque of her family of four in Cypress, Texas. Now, 15 years after the inception of National Bullying Prevention Month in October, technology’s ever-greater presence in children’s lives has given bullying a new outlet. With just a click, cyberbullies can taunt, harass, and threaten relentlessly, even reaching into the home via cellphone or computer. As a result, victims report feeling hopeless, isolated, and even suicidal. What can parents do to protect their kids?

Taking an interest in their children’s online world can make a difference, says the National Parent Teacher Association. This interest does not necessarily require parents to become tech experts. Instead, the federal stopbullying. gov website advises parents to watch for subtle clues that something is wrong, such as their child becoming withdrawn, hiding their screen when others are nearby, or reacting emotionally to what’s happening on their device. For Zury Bourque and her husband, Chris, that has meant being keenly aware of what “normal” looks like for their two boys, ages 12 and 10. “Knowing my children’s moods is very important because I can then detect shifts or changes in their personalities that might signal something is going on,” said Chris. Talking with kids openly — and often — helps too. “The

more you talk to your children about bullying, the more comfortable they will be telling you if they see or experience it,” UNICEF says in its online tips for parents. As their two daughters enter their teens, Houston parents Thiago and Auboni Cordolino have found that talking less and listening more works best. “We try to focus on being approachable and listening actively without reaction,” said Thiago. Beyond talking, listening, and observing, parents shouldn’t be afraid to make and enforce rules for their kids’ online activities, experts say. The Cordolinos’ girls are allowed to play online games, but they’re expected to turn off the live chat feature to limit interactions with strangers. “We reassure the girls that we trust them and respect their privacy, but they have to stay within the boundaries we’ve set,” said

Auboni. The Bourques have taken a similar approach. “We aren’t constantly over the boys’ shoulders, watching their every move, but we use a family app that lets us know how much time they’re spending on their tablets,” said Zury. Both families cited the tips and reminders they’ve considered together with their kids, using free resources available on jw.org, the official website of Jehovah’s Witnesses. One of the Bourques’ sons especially recommended one of the website’s short animated videos, “Beat a Bully Without Using Your Fists.” “I learned that if you’re being bullied, you should call someone you can trust, like parents, principals, or counselors,” he said. “They can get in between the situation and make it stop.”

HHSC Launches Human Trafficking Prevention Training Course AUSTIN – The Texas Health and Human Services Commission is encouraging health care practitioners and interested members of the public to take its new online human trafficking awareness and prevention training course. The free online course, “HEART”— which stands for “Hearing, Evaluating, Activating, Resourcing and Training”—teaches physicians, nurses and other health care providers how to recognize the signs or red flags of trafficking, support the well-being of at-risk individuals, and understand how trauma impacts overall health outcomes.

“We are confident that health care practitioners who complete this new training will be better equipped to identify trafficking, and this will lead to better outcomes for survivors of this devastating crime,” said Michael Roberts, associate commissioner for HHSC Specialty and Family Services. During National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month in January, organizations throughout the nation raise awareness of human trafficking, or the exploitation of people for commercial sex or labor against their will. According to a 2016 study by

The University of Texas at Austin, at any given time there are an estimated 234,000 victims of labor trafficking and 79,000 youth victims of sex trafficking in Texas. House Bill 2059, from the 86th Legislature in 2019, requires HHSC to review training courses on human trafficking for health care practitioners and list approved trainings on its website. Certain health care practitioners must complete an approved course to renew their registration or license. HHSC also recently launched the new Stop Human Trafficking public donation account to raise funds

for youth survivors of human trafficking. House Bill 2633 from the 87th Legislature in 2021 authorizes the creation of the account to provide grants to facilities committed to the recovery and protection of vulnerable children and adolescents impacted by human trafficking. To learn more, visit the Stop Human Trafficking donation webpage, https://feepay. txapps.texas.gov/hhsc/ stop-human-traffickingdonation-service/ For more information about human trafficking, visit https:// www.hhs.texas.gov/ services/safety/texashuman-traffickingresource-center.

January 26, 2022 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS • 7

Because Your Health Matters

Community Health Outreach Program The City of Los Fresnos offers a free Community Health Outreach Program within its community. The program offers a variety of free classes/activities, nutrition support, cooking classes and diabetes prevention classes. It also offers free health screenings such as blood pressure screenings, BMI screenings, A1C testing and follow-up care to both men and women 18 years of age and older. Exercise classes are offered both virtually and in person. Pre-recorded virtual classes are available on the City of Los Fresnos Community Health Outreach Program’s Facebook group. In person classes are offered at the Los Fresnos Memorial Park. The current exercise class schedule offers Walk 2 Fitness, Zumba, Body Sculpting, Boot Camp and Fitness Blender. All classes are taught by Certified Fitness Instructors. To register for the City’s Community Health Outreach Program contact Los Fresnos Community Health Worker Christine Martinez at 956-312-1406 or email at cmartinez@citylf.us. Once enrolled in the program participants are able to participate in all classes/ activities at no charge as offered by the City of Los Fresnos. The current schedule offers a wide variety of classes to choose from!

For more information contact Christine Martinez, Los Fresnos Community Health Worker at 956-3121406 or email at cmartinez@citylf.us or Los Fresnos City Hall at 956-233-5768

Christine Martinez

Community Health Worker 956-407-3348

NEW LOCATION AT CAMERON PARK 2302 Delia Ave - Brownsville, TX. 78526 -Tel (956)620-3735 - Fax (956)620-3778 384 Military Hwy. - Brownsville, TX. 78520 - Tel (956)544-4400 - Fax (956)544-4508 3831 Boca Chica Blvd. - Brownsville, TX. 78521 - Tel (956)554-3964 - Fax (956)554-3992 2814 International Blvd. - Brownsville, TX. 78521 - Tel (956)542-8695 - Fax (956)554-3160 3244 Southmost Rd. - Brownsville, TX. 78521 - Tel (956)541-7535 - Fax (956)541-6010 719 W Hwy. 100 - Los Fresnos, TX. 78566 - Tel (956)233-2795 Fax (956)233-2797 860 S. Sam Houston Blvd. - San Benito, TX. 78586 - Tel (956)399-4111 - Fax (956)399-4481 MAIN OFFICE 1737 Boca Chica Blvd. - Brownsville, TX. 78520 - Tel (956)546-3120 - Fax (956)546-3980

719 W. Ocean Blvd. • (956) 233-2795


8 • January 26, 2022 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS

TSC, HCC and SJC Partner To Strengthen Workforce For Ports And Aerospace Industry BROWNSVILLE, Texas (January 14, 2022) - Texas Southmost College (TSC) is leading a coastal community college workforce training consortium designed to increase the number of students earning college credentials leading to high demand jobs at Texas’ seaports and the aerospace industry. Funded through a $1.8 million grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), TSC, Houston Community College (HCC) and San Jacinto College (SJC) will collaboratively create, redesign, or expand the reach of training for nine industry-aligned college credentials in transportation, distribution, logistics and information technology that support our seaports and aerospace industry. “The need for a skilled workforce in our region is growing exponentially, and there is a pressing need to fill positions at companies located

within our ports and those associated with the aerospace industry,” said TSC President Jesús Roberto Rodríguez. “With this THECB grant and the cooperative spirit of the coastal community college consortium working in unity, we will offer high value shortterm credentials and certifications that lead to immediate employment.” THECB’s Texas Reskilling and Upskilling for Education (TRUE) grant program is designed to accelerate workforce training credential opportunities urgently needed for economic recovery due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a future competitive workforce in Texas. Through the program, the consortium will invest in developing pathways for: forklift operators to earn a certified logistics associate and logistics technician certification, diesel engine mechanics, truck driving, merchant mariners, cybersecurity and networking

technology. SJC Chancellor Brenda Hellyer, Ph.D. said receiving this funding allows the consortium to grow its training in these high demand areas. “San Jacinto College appreciates the support of the THECB for awarding this consortium a reskilling grant so that we can focus on training in high demand and high growth pathways in transportation,” said Hellyer. “The Gulf Coast region is a hub for cargo destined for Midwest and Western regions of the United States, so our ability to provide training in areas such as forklift operations, truck driving, and merchant mariner are critical to keeping the supply chain moving and helping to get goods to their final destination.” HCC Chancellor Cesar Maldonado, Ph.D., P.E. said these funds will allow HCC to expand its training capacity and further supply the coastal region with the skilled workers it needs.

“HCC is proud to be included in the coastal community college consortium on the TRUE grant,” said Maldonado. “In addition to the opportunity to partner with our gulf coast peers, HCC greatly appreciates the opportunity it provides for our students and community in getting the necessary technology at HCC to expand our training

capacity in the IT sector, a sector that continues to see vast expansion in the Houston region.” President Rodríguez said the TRUE grant program not only enhances the longstanding collaboration between the three coastal community colleges but strengthens it. “This consortium TSC is leading has been given the opportunity to

build capacity to engage more students, develop additional training curriculum, enhance our teaching capabilities and secure additional stateof-the-art equipment,” said Rodriguez. “We look forward to building upon this momentum, working with HCC, SJC and other institutions, to meet the workforce needs of our region and state.”

“The disease is now less severe than preceding pandemic strains, but the bacteria’s ability to compete is enhanced,” Provenzano said. Until recently, the mutations responsible for that process were unknown.

bacterial interactions, especially in host colonization and endemic microbiota. “Distinct and unique T6SS toxin genes (and the antitoxins that protect them) have been found in over 25 percent of all Gram-negative bacteria,” he said. “This suggests that this toxindelivery mechanism is of importance to these organisms.”

Pukatzki, working with Dr. Daniel Unterweger, professor of intestinal microbiology at the Max Plank Institute in Germany, and other collaborators recently published their findings in Nature Communications. The authors indicated that the classical biotype cholera, which caused the first six recorded pandemics, did not require the toxin secretion system to achieve higher morbidity and mortality rates, compared to the seventh pandemic strain. However, ‘El Tor’ was able to engage the toxin secretion system against the previous pandemic strains, as well as other bacteria. Provenzano said this is consistent with the idea that pathogens are pressured to evolve toward milder forms of the disease for the sake of their own survival. “Understanding how microbial strains succeed each other during the course of pandemics sheds light on the evolutionary mechanisms that drive this process,” Provenzano said.

UTRGV Researcher Investigating How Pandemics Spread in the late 1800s.”

Dr. Daniele Provenzano, professor of bacterial genetics, UTRGV Biology department. (Courtesy Photo)

By Karen Villarreal RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – JAN. 13, 2022 – What can an intestinal tissue sample of a Philadelphia sailor who died of cholera in 1848 teach us about the current COVID-19 pandemic? According to UTRGV researcher Dr. Daniele Provenzano, coronavirus’s evolutionary progression into the Delta-, DeltaPlus and Omicron variants is similar to cholera’s mutation process that led to seven pandemics beginning

in 1817, and continuing today. The sample of the now-extinct classical V. cholerae – preserved in formaldehyde for 172 years – may give scientists insight to better understand microbial strain succession – which may help improve the response against future pandemics. “It’s serendipitous that the sample was even collected,” said Provenzano, professor of bacterial genetics in the UTRGV Biology department. “It wasn’t a common practice before the germ theory emerged

BACTERIAL COMPETITION Using modern sequencing technology to amplify the DNA of V. cholerae, Provenzano and colleagues from New York and Germany detected a series of sequential mutations that, over time, may have led to the extinction of prior “classical” strains and to the rise of the current cholera pandemic strain, “El Tor.” Provenzano said the mutations they discovered center around a toxin-delivery system bacteria used to compete with each other for colonization of an unwitting host. “Bacteria interact with each other – sometimes they are compatible, other times they compete and kill each other,” Provenzano said. Disease-causing microbes want to spread and compete with each other but are at a disadvantage if they harm the host too much – so infectious agents mutate over time to increase their ability to defend against or attack other bacteria while harming their hosts less. This was the case with seventh pandemic cholera bacteria.

INTEREST IN BACTERIAL ADAPTATION Provenzano’s collaborator, Dr. Stefan Pukatzki, professor of cell and molecular biology in the Biology department at City College New York, discovered in 2006 that cholera bacteria have a toxin/antitoxin offensive mechanism called the “Type 6 Secretion System (T6SS).” “Bacteria that engage in T6SS competition assemble a nanotube in the cell interior, through which they shoot a ‘stick’ that, like a poison dart, has toxins on the tip,” Provenzano said. “They insert this dart into adjacent bacteria when they come into physical contact, and quickly kill them.” Since Pukatzki’s discovery that the T6SS was present in cholera bacteria, Provenzano said, an explosion in research followed in

EVOLUTION TOWARDS MILDNESS DISCOVERED In 2014, Provenzano, Pukatzki, and colleagues reported in Nature Communications that a unique set of T6SS toxin and antitoxin genes are present in all pandemic cholera strains that determine whether strains can coexist or compete ­– with each other and bacteria of other species. However, after analyzing the DNA of second pandemic V. cholerae in the tissue sample, Provenzano and collaborators found that it lacks this vital defense mechanism – which might have contributed to its demise when the new, seventh pandemic ‘El Tor’ biotype emerged in the 1960s. Provenzano and


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