Los Fresnos News 11-24-21

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Volume 17 Number 47

Los Fresnos, Tx 78566

www.losfresnosnews.net

UTRGV MSA Chess Players Headed To National Championship

Page 2

Los Fresnos 2021 Parade & Festival set for Saturday December 4th.

Lady Falcons Soar High

Page 4

Health Matters Column

Page 7

Happy Thanksgiving!

Page 8

Once again, this year the City of Los Fresnos, Los Fresnos CDC & the Los Fresnos Chamber of Commerce will be having their annual Parade, Festival an Artisan Market.

It will all take place on Saturday December 4 starting with the parade which starts at 5:00 p.m.

Because of the pandemic, last year the city held a reverse parade where parade goers got to see the parade by staying safely inside their vehicles by driving by floats, bands, dance & drill teams, live nativity displays, music etc.

This year’s theme is “An Old Fashioned Christmas”.

The parade will start off at East Second and Alamo streets then will proceed east on Second Street and turns north on Arroyo Boulevard and will end at

Los Fresnos High School.

Trophies will be awarded for the top three winners in each entry category and will be announced at the Christmas Festival and Artisan Market that follows the parade and held at Memorial Park.

The Christmas Festival starts at 6:30 p.m. and will have many activities for everyone to enjoy. There will be free live music & entertainment, free train rides, free obstacle course, free bouncer & free wall climb. Also, Santa Claus will be giving away candy bags to all children and will also pose for photos. The Artisan Market begins at 3:00 p.m. and will run until 8:00 p.m. For any further questions feel free to contact the Chamber office at (956) 233- 4488.

Los Fresnos News Archives

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2 • November 24, 2021 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS

UTRGV MSA Chess Players Headed To National Championship

By Amanda A. Taylor RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – NOV. 16, 2021 – The UTRGV Math and Science Academy has won the 2021 Texas Grade Championships held for 12th-graders.

UTRGV MSA was represented by Carlos De Leon, Adolfo Balderas and William McNutt, at the competition held Oct. 30-31 in Houston.

The team is being coached by UTRGV’s Chess Coach and Grandmaster, Bartek Macieja, who oversees the multiple chess teams at UTRGV that have successfully competed in tournaments throughout the state, as well as national and international levels.

McNutt obtained five points at first place, Deleon obtained 4.5 points in fourth place, and Balderas obtained 4.5 points in third place.

Overall, UTRGV scored 14 of a possible 18 points.

The team now heads to the National K-12 Grade Chess Championships in Orlando, FL, in December.

The MSA Chess Program is relatively new to UTRGV, starting with tournaments in the 2019 / 2020 academic year.

Dr. Wilma Smetter, principal at MSA, said

she is grateful to Macieja for his dedication and the time spent with this new chess team over the past few years.

“Our UTRGV MSA Chess Team is just another phenomenal component of our awardwinning program,” she said.

Macieja said chess allows students to travel and experience new places, like the upcoming tournament in Orlando.

“We hope the chess program will help them to be successful in life,” he said. “They will learn new skills, and their chess successes are often noted by the best universities nationwide.”

THE WINNERS McNutt, a senior at MSA in Brownsville, won the individual championship, scoring five of six possible points, and is now the state champion from the competition.

“In chess, there are many obstacles on and off the chessboard,” he said. “But what I am most worried about going into a match is making a mistake that changes the outcome of the match.”

Going into the tournament, McNutt was ranked No. 4, which means there were three other students who ranked a bit higher and easily could outrank

him. During the second round, McNutt lost to the highest-rated player in the tournament, which knocked him down a few ranks.

Instead of accepting defeat, McNutt swept through and won the remaining games, knocking out his competitors and capturing the championship.

“Before this year, my last tournament was in November 2019. This year, I’m happy to be able to compete at over-theboard chess tournaments again,” McNutt said. “Our chess coach, Grandmaster Bartek Macieja, has been working with us once a week to refine our skills.”

Macieja said that, in the last winning round, McNutt’s main opponent went up against chess mate De Leon, which helped McNutt win the competition overall.

“The main opponent played the last round against our student, Carlos De Leon,” Macieja said. “By winning, not only did Carlos advance to the fourth place, but he also opened the path for William to win the competition.

“William didn’t waste the opportunity,” Macieja said. “He won his fifth game in six rounds – and became the state champion.”

De Leon, also a senior at MSA in Brownsville,

said winning isn’t always about beating other people, but often is about overcoming your own obstacles.

“For me, the success in this tournament wasn’t in my placement, but in being able to believe in myself,” he said. “I had a rough start in the tournament and it was extremely frustrating, but I was reminded of how far I have come, and I was able to finish strongly.”

Teammate Balderas, who obtained third place and tied for second, said he was thrilled to be able to attend an in-person tournament, even if the pandemic still makes him a little nervous.

“I think that mountains are meant to be climbed, and the only way to the top is by working hard,” said Balderas, also a senior at UTRGV MSA in Brownsville.

“This tournament was something that I had to practice for daily. Win or lose, I learn something from each game I play, which allows me to grow and climb more mountains.”

state and wants to do his best.

“The expectations are high,” he said.

“However, this recent tournament reminded me of my capabilities and reinforced my mindset that I will represent my team well.”

As part of the program, Macieja said, students also had to complete a three-hour Mathematics of Chess course, which uses chess as an educational tool.

“Previous UTRGV MSA Chess Team members have graduated and are attending universities, including UTRGV, UTSA, Rice,

New York University, Columbia and MIT.” Smetter said the academy places an emphasis on effort.

“At UTRGV MSA, we are about transforming potential into achievement, and we could not be prouder of William, Adolfo and Carlos,” she said. “They represent the best of our UTRGV Mathematics and Science Academy.

Each has a fantastic work ethic when it comes to academics, and to chess preparation.”

THE NEXT MOVE McNutt, De Leon and Balderas all will attend the National K-12 Grade Chess Championships on Dec. 3-5, in Orlando.

De Leon said he is a bit nervous about going to

The winning UTRGV MSA chess players, from left, are William McNutt (5.0 points) first place, Carlos Deleon (4.5 points) fourth place, Adolfo Balderas (4.5 points) third place. (Courtesy Photo)

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Yes. Gingivitis is an early stage of gum disease. It is reversible, but if neglected it can lead to periodontitis and consequently, loss of teeth. Gingivitis not only is controllable, it is preventable. The culprit is plaque, the colorless, sticky film that forms on the teeth. The bacteria found in plaque irritates the gums. It’s estimated that more than half of Dr. Adam Lalonde all people over 18 have at least the early stage of gum disease. Most become aware that something is wrong when their gums become red, swollen or tender, and/or bleed easily. The best defense against getting gingivitis is consistent removal of plaque—brushing properly twice a day and using floss daily to remove plaque and food particles from between teeth. Plaque buildup is persistent, and even the most faithful home care can’t remove it all. It takes professional cleaning in the dentist’s office to remove plaque at the gum line, where the gingivitis process starts. Scheduling regular checkups and cleanings provides another plus: The dentist may detect the beginning of gingivitis even before the patient becomes aware of swelling or other symptoms. The earlier gingivitis is recognized, the easier it is to treat.

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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, November 23, 2021, 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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November 24, 2021 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS • 3

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EVENTS

YOUR PROPERTY TAXES JUST WENT UP. OR HADN’T YOU HEARD? When local governments want to increase tax revenues, they are required to publish notices in the newspaper so that you will know. But that right to know could disappear.

Local governmental entities across the state want to hide their public notices on little seen, rarely visited government websites.

What you don’t know will affect you personally!

If it is not in the newspaper, you won’t know about it.

Merry on Main – Dec. 3-4. This two-day annual Christmas event is conveniently located at historic downtown Main St. in Pleasanton, Texas - just 30 minutes south of San Antonio. Merry on Main provides activities for the entire family – local craft and retail vendors, food vendors and food trucks, live music, carolers, children events and more! Each night will provide a different activity for the family to enjoy. www.merryonmain.org.

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4 • November 24, 2021 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS

Lady Falcons Soar High (956) 797-9920 • email: riosportsmagazine@gmail.com

By Ruben Rodriguez Los Fresnos News

The Los Fresnos Lady Falcons took home the fourth place spot after suffering a loss to the PSJA Lady Bears 70-39 in the third place matchup of the 2021 Chick-Fil-A Mid Valley Classic. A tournament that saw 30 teams compete and play great basketball over a three day span. The Lady Falcons were drawn into Pool Eight, which also consisted of great teams such as Edinburg

North, Weslaco East, and underdog Harvest Christian Academy.

Los Fresnos opened up pool play on Thursday, taking on The Weslaco East Lady Wildcats. The Lady Falcons exploded out of the gate and played dominant basketball on both sides of the ball, limiting the Lady Wildcats to only three points at the end of the first quarter. After a dominant second quarter and second half, The Lady Falcons won 55-26 to capture their first

tournament win.

Later in day one, Los Fresnos was matched up against the Lady Cougars of Edinburg North, who just came off a loss against Harvest Christian.

The Lady Falcons continued the dominant playstyle against The Lady Cougars. The Third Quarter however, proved to be a decisive battle. The Lady Falcons endured the defensive pressure by Edinburg North early on and won 56 to 28.

Los Fresnos would

Photos by Brittany Marvin

open up Friday’s action against Harvest Christian Academy and proved to be the toughest matchup against the Lady Falcons. From the get go, the action was fast paced as both teams were deadlocked at 17-17 at the end of the first quarter. The action continued throughout the rest of the ballgame and the first half ended with Los Fresnos down by one at the half. After defensive modifications and adjustments,the Lady Falcons won 62-48.

In the first elimination game that afternoon, the Lady Falcons took on the McAllen Memorial Lady Mustangs and after a dominant run on offense and defense, The Lady Falcons punched their ticket to the semifinals.

On Saturday in the Semifinals, the Lady Falcons took on the Brownsville Veterans Memorial Lady Chargers.

Early on, Brownsville Veterans took control and jumped out to a 13 point lead. After a tough first half, Los Fresnos

attempted to close out the lead in the second half. The Lady Chargers continued the aggressive offense and won the game 54-40.

The Lady Falcons finished the 2021 ChickFil-A Classic in fourth place. Leading Scorers for the Lady Falcons were Shiloh Jones, Sarahi Jones, Olivia Parra, Aylene Ortega and Maritza Ortega. The Lady Falcons set their eyes on the next tournament.

Photos by Brittany Marvin

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The Next Chapter Poem

Colors

There are colors everywhere such as in your food and your hair. A watermelon is red and green, and your hair may be blond or burgundy.

The sky has colors too you know! like the kites that soar and the big rainbow!

Although, what are colors really? Are they just there or does it have a meaning?

The rainbow is a promise from God above to never bring such a big flood. Some colors mean certain things like royalty and blue signifies both sky and sea.

So, the colors portray many things for us to see.

Poem by Selene Olguin 12 years old.

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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: LANGUAGES ACROSS 1. Lacking imagination 6. Afflict 9. Bob of boxing world 13. From then on 14. Ornamental pond dweller 15. Not asleep 16. Cuzco valley people 17. Overnight lodging 18. 5th of 7 canonical

hours 19. *Brothers Grimm language 21. *Language considered to have most words 23. Man’s tasseled hat 24. Cross to bear 25. Retriever’s word, for short 28. Person, place or thing 30. Like a bow or a racket

35. Pale ____ beverage, pl.

37. It has multiple limbs 39. Mister in Madrid 40. Spare in a trunk 41. Manuscript changes 43. Romantic occurrence 44. Letter-shaped girder 46. Russian mountain range 47. Curved molding

48. HNO3 acid 50. Egyptian goddess of fertility 52. Rub the wrong way 53. CISC alternative 55. Cry of horror, in comics 57. *First language spoken in outer space 61. *Once considered the language of diplomacy 64. Like old cracker 65. What acrimony and acrobat have in common 67. Get ready to drive, on a golf course 69. It’s often rewarded with a medal in military 70. Sturgeon yield 71. Backyards separator?

72. “That was close!”

73. “C’____ la vie!”

74. “Silas Marner” novelist DOWN 1. Pressure unit 2. A year in a trunk 3. It’s sometimes enough 4. Cozy accessory 5. Unquestioning ones 6. Similar 7. H+, e.g.

8. Flax-derived fabric 9. Deserter’s acronym 10. Indian princess 11. Luau instrument, pl.

12. Mosquito net, e.g.

15. Teenagers’ emotions 20. Nitrogen, in the olden days 22. *Greek N, pl.

24. Relating to dreams 25. *”Veni, vidi, vici” language 26. “My wife can vouch for me”, e.g.

27. Prince’s “Raspberry ____” 29. *Pakistani language 31. Make over 32. Eel in a sushi restaurant 33. Annotator 34. *Hellenic language 36. Popular way to cook tuna 38. *Greek H, pl.

42. More like a fox 45. Quaggier 49. Langley, VA org.

51. Be full of anger 54. Rabbit trap 56. Land on patellas 57. Invitation acronym 58. One of Four Corners states 59. Price reduction 60. Snail-like 61. Guitar part 62. Ghana monetary unit 63. Designer Boss 66. Trigonometry abbr.

68. Favorite one

6 • November 24, 2021 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS

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November 24, 2021 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS • 7

Because Your Health Matters

Covid Drove A Wedge Between Parents And Schools Most parents say schools didn’t handle the pandemic very well.

By Margaret Spellings

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 offered through Facebook post 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, Cardio Kick Boxing, Zumba, Body Sculpting, Boot Camp, Fitness Blender and more.

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

A good education has always required a partnership between parents, teachers and policymakers. That’s never been more apparent than in the era of COVID-19, and it should guide Texas as we determine the best way to educate future generations.

When the pandemic shuttered schools, parents rallied alongside teachers. Then, as education pivoted to online teaching, parents with broadband turned homes into classrooms. Despite these adjustments, learning during the pandemic was frustrating and often unproductive, leading to a significant drop in student reading and math skills.

Meanwhile, in many places, the partnership between elected officials, educators and parents grew strained. In Virginia, for instance, parents were shocked to hear a gubernatorial candidate say, “I don’t think parents should be telling schools what they should teach.”

In Texas and beyond,

school board meetings have turned heated over conflicting concerns about curriculum, books and pandemicrelated directions — often overtaking concerns about student achievement, mental health and broadband access.

In August, Texas 2036 polled Texas voters on numerous issues and found they shared an overwhelming concern about the state’s future.

Such concern was particularly pronounced among parents: 54% of mothers with schoolage children thought schools didn’t handle the pandemic well, and nearly twice as many parents described online learning as a “disappointment” or “failure” (50%) than a success (26%).

Worst of all, 52% of Texas voters polled said the state is in worse shape than it was this time last year; only 13% said the state is headed in a better direction.

If left unaddressed, growing frustrations will continue to drive headlines, elections and school board meetings.

And perhaps more

important, these forces threaten to distract us from what should be our single-minded purpose: student achievement.

Given that more than 60% of Texas fourth graders cannot read or perform math at grade level, it’s time to get back to basics. It’s time to empower those who know the students best: parents.

Core to parents’ ability to engage in constructive conversations about their children is standardized assessment testing that can objectively show whether a school is meeting its obligations to children and helping them reach their full potential.

Parents need — and want — actionable and timely data on how their child is progressing; that empowers parents to have transparent conversations with educators. We can’t break the feedback loop by reducing or eliminating assessments. And when we get that data, we must be prepared to act on it.

Our polling shows that Texans want data about student learning and decisive action to follow when needed. Almost

every parent polled (96%) thinks it’s essential to have standardized testing data so resources can be targeted to children needing support.

In addition, most parents we polled (84%) support quicker state interventions when a school fails to meet accountability standards.

More than half think the state should intervene within two years rather than waiting the current standard, five. Finally, 82% of parents support allowing the parents of a child at a failing school, or a school that fails to adequately meet the child’s needs, to choose another school.

In a post-pandemic Texas, parents need a transparent accountability system with an honest depiction of how their child’s school is performing. At the same time, they also support systems that quickly force improvements or find more appropriate options to meet their child’s needs.

Parents want to help shape their child’s education. It’s time we listen and empower them to do so.

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Attend a FREE Informational meeting Take home a $10 REWARDS CARD with no obligation to enroll.

Bring a friend and join your neighbors. Learn about the added benefits you could get with a Cigna Medicare Advantage plan.

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

› › › › › ›

$0 monthly premiums $0 primary care doctor visits $0 for many prescription drugs Vision, dental and hearing benefits Virtual medical & mental health care And much, much more

Call or go online to find a meeting near you.

Meetings conducted according to CDC guidelines.

1-855-980-3063 (TTY 711) Monday – Sunday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.

JoinUs.CignaMedicare.com Or use your smartphone to scan here 

Located next to Los Fresnos Pharmacy

All Cigna products and services are provided exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation. The Cigna name, logos, and other Cigna marks are owned by Cigna Intellectual Property, Inc. For accommodations of persons with special needs at meetings, call 1-855-980-3063 (TTY 711). Cigna contracts with Medicare to offer Medicare Advantage HMO and PPO plans and Part D Prescription Drug Plans (PDP) in select states, and with select State Medicaid programs. Enrollment in Cigna depends on contract renewal. ©2021 Cigna Y0036_22_102629_M

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8 • November 24, 2021 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS

The staff of Rio Grande Underwriters

AU TO • H OM E • L I FE • COM M ERCI A L • FLO O D • W I N D

Have A Happy Thanksgiving!

The only Community Bank with locations in Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy Counties

956-233-5744 705 W. Ocean Blvd.

The Los Fresnos Chamber of Commerce is organized to promote and assist businesses in our market area. We are committed to seek and implement all possible ways to best promote, announce,year! and advertise your busiGo ness. Lions

Member FDIC

Have Happy Thanksgiving Make this a your & Lionettes!

The Chamber also promotes social and cultural events to enhance the welfare and prosperity of our community.

ALSO PROVIDING:

636-2676

Hwy 107 & La Feria Ave Santa Rosa

365-6000

1706 Treasure Hills Blvd Harlingen

· FourYour Seasonsone-stop PromotionalforCampai gn physicals, school sports physicals, immunizations, · Communi ty Announcements flu shots, dental, and more. · Annual Events Information Certified Pediatricians · BirdiBoard ng Informati on Kids Dental · City Walk-Ins DemographicWelcome s Evening, Weekend & Night Clinics www.suclinica.org

and these sponsors would like to wish you and your family a very

HAPPY THANKSGIVING