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Parade and Festival a Great Success!
TXDoT Gives Port Top Marks in Risk Assessment
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Los Fresnos Chamber of Commerce Facebook page
Little Falcons Academy Facebook page Nelda Briones Los Fresnos News
A Busy Bee Poem by Selene Olguin
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Are ladybugs harmful?
Los Fresnos Chamber of Commerce Facbook page
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UTRGV Grad Student Lands Engineering Job With Jacobs Group Upon Graduation
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LOOK INSIDE Classified................. pg 3 Sports...................... pg 4 Puzzles.................... pg 5 Activity Page........... pg 6
On Saturday December 4, Los Fresnos Annual Christmas Parade took place with the theme An Old Fashioned Christmas. This year the parade was back in full swing compared to last year when they had to do a reverse parade because of the pandemic. There were many people in attendance and many parade entries. This year’s parade entry winners are as follows, for the float category, first place was taken by Los Fresnos Elementary Conjunto. Second place was Star Students LC/ Little Falcons Academy and Dance’ttude took third place. For the band category, Los Fresnos High School Band took first place. Second place was taken by Resaca Middle School Band and Liberty Memorial Middle School took third place. In the Drill Team/Dancing/Walking category, Lopez Riggins CULL Generic 5x2 eng_Layout 1 10/30/12 11:27 AM Elementary Dance Team took first place.
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Second place was taken by Los Fresnos Hish School Stars Dance and Villarreal Elementary Cheerleaders took third place. After the parade the Festival and Artisan market took place at Memorial Park. Children were able to enjoy face painting, inflatable bouncers and much more! They also got to visit and take pictures with Santa. In all more than 300 children received goodie bags from Santa, Mrs. Clause and their elf. Families also got to enjoy live music, food vendors and the arts & crafts from the Artisan Market. The Los Fresnos Chamber of Commerce would like to thank Judge Juan Mendoza Jr. who played Santa, Belinda Garza as Ms. Claus and Gracie Lopez as an Elf. They would also like to Thank LFCISD Family Engagement, HOSA LF High School Club and LFCISD Community in Schools.
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2 • December 15, 2021 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS
TXDoT Gives Port Top Marks in Risk Assessment
Los Fresnos Chamber of Commerce Facbeook page
The South Port Connector Road includes two bridges over wetlands in the area to minimize environmental impacts on the local ecosystem.
The Texas Department of Transportation (TXDoT) in October issued the Port of Brownsville a grade A score for its Local Government Risk Assessment based on the performance of the South Port Connector Road construction project. A risk score of A signifies that the Brownsville Navigation District (BND) presents a low-level risk to TXDoT based on the current project performance. The Local Government Risk Assessment and Qualifications Review process includes criteria such as a local government’s credibility, audit history, financial records, compliance, communications, expertise, stability, and teamwork.
Interdepartmental collaboration between port departments was key in achieving the score. Construction of the 1.9-mile South Port Connector Road Project began August 2020 and is slated for completion at the end of 2021. The road is one of the latest infrastructural advancements at the port that will benefit not only port tenants but surrounding businesses and support the space industry in South Texas. The road will improve vehicular traffic safety by providing a connection between Ostos Road inside the port with State Highway 4, adding another entry and exit to and from the port as well as convenient access to commercial lanes at Veterans International
Bridge. The connector road is is the first phase of Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority's (CCRMA) larger East Loop Corridor construction project. The project is made possible by a partnership between the BND, Cameron County, the CRMA, the Rio Grande Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization (RGVMPO) and TXDOT. In accordance with federal and state regulations, TxDOT has a responsibility to determine whether each local government is qualified and has adequate resources and controls to perform project work, prior to authorizing it to perform any element of the project development process.
Los Fresnos Chamber of Commerce Facbook page
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Ask Our Dentists by DR. ADAM LALONDE
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Even if you wear full dentures, you still must take good care of your mouth. Brush your gums, tongue and palate every morning with a soft-bristled brush before you insert your dentures to stimulate circulation in your tissues and help remove plaque. Like natural teeth, dentures including removable partial devices should be kept clean and free of food deposits that Dr. Adam Lalonde can cause staining, bad breath and gum irritations. All surfaces of the dentures should be brushed daily, using a denture cleanser and brush designed for cleaning dentures. Dentures may lose their shape if they are allowed to dry out. When they are not worn, dentures should be placed in a denture cleanser soaking solution or in water. Your dentist can recommend the best method. Never place dentures in hot water, which could cause them to warp. In the morning the dentures should be thoroughly rinsed before placing them in the mouth. Regular dental check-ups are important. Your dentist will examine your mouth to see if your dentures continue to fit properly, and also examine your mouth for signs of oral diseases including cancer. Over time, dentures will need to be relined, rebased, or remade due to normal wear. It’s important to replace worn or poorfitting dentures before they cause problems. If you have any further questions ask your dentist or feel free to contact our office.
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city of Los Fresnos Notice of Public Hearing on Annexation
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Notice is hereby given to all interested persons that the City of Los Fresnos, Texas proposes to institute annexation proceedings to enlarge and extend the boundary limits of said city to include the following described territory, to-wit: Being a 34.03 acre tract of land, more or less, out of Tract 44, Subdivision "F" of Paredes Tract Subdivision in Share 19, Espiritu Santo Grant, Cameron County, Texas; said 34.03 acre tract also being out of a certain 747.21 acre tract of land described in the deed recorded in Volume 22333, Page 291 of the Official Records of Cameron County, Texas, and being more particularly described by metes and bounds as follows: (Basis of Bearing: Texas State Plane Coordinate System of 1983, South Zone 4205.)
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The public hearing will be held by and before the City Council of the City of Los Fresnos, Texas on the 11th day of January, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. in the Los Fresnos city Hall located at 520 E. Ocean blvd., Los Fresnos, Texas 78566 for all persons interested in the above proposed annexation. At said time and place all such persons shall have the rights to appear and be heard. Of all said matters and things, all persons interested in the things and matters herein mentioned, will take notice.
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THE STATE OF TEXAS In the County Court at Law IV of Cameron County, Texas To: UNKNOWN HEIRS, IF ANY OF MARIA TERESA PEREZ, Deceased, GREETINGS: You are commanded to appear and answer to the Application to Determine Heirship, filed by MARIA JOSEFINA PEREZ, at or before 10 o’clock A.M. of the first Monday after the expiration of 10 days from the date of service of this citation, before the Honorable County Court at Law IV of Cameron County, at the Courthouse in Brownsville, Texas, Said Application to Determine Heirship was filed on August 23, 2021. The file number of said Matter being No. 2021-CPC-00133 County Court at Law IV The Style being:
IN THE ESTATE OF MARIA TERESA PEREZ, Deceased
The nature of said proceeding being substantially as follows, to wit: Determine who the heirs and only heirs of decedent are and their respective shares and interests in this estate; that no appraisers be appointed; and for all other relief to which applicant may be entitled. Issued on this the 27th day of October, 2021. Given under my hand and seal of said Court at Office in the City of Brownsville, Texas on this the 27th day of October, 2021. Sylvia Garza-Perez, Clerk Cameron County, Texas.
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4 • December 15, 2021 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS
A Thrilling Run
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By Ruben Rodriguez Los Fresnos News The Los Fresnos Lady Falcons competed in the 2021 BISD Tournament December 2nd through the 4th where they finished in 2nd place after suffering a loss to the Edinburg Vela Lady Sabercats in the Platinum Bracket Championship game. But how did they get there? Heading into the tournament, The Lady Falcons were sorted into Pool G alongside Rio Hondo and Lyford. Compared to the Boys Tournament, Girls pool play was a must win if a team wanted to punch their ticket to the winner’s bracket. In game one, The Lady Falcons faced off against the Lyford Lady Bulldogs. Quickly Los Fresnos got to work
By Ruben Rodriguez Los Fresnos News The Los Fresnos Falcons took part in the 10th annual Hidalgo Pirate Classic on December 2nd through the 4th. Heading into the 24-team tournament, the Falcons were drawn into Pool C alongside The IDEA Weslaco Colts and the Edcouch-Elsa Yellow Jackets. To kick off Pool Play, The Falcons faced off against the Colts of IDEA Weslaco. The Falcons got to work offensively and defensively to out-score the Colts by nine points in the first quarter.. Los Fresnos relied on a fast pace offense and a great
both offensively and defensively, completely shutting down a high paced Lady Bulldogs attack. In the second quarter, Los Fresnos held Lyford scoreless by going on a 16-0 run. Dominance on both sides of the ball continued as the Lady Falcons defeated the Lady Bulldogs by a score of 78-23. Later that evening in the final matchup of Pool G, Los Fresnos was set to take on the Rio Hondo Lady Bobcats, a team with an explosive offense led by Eliza Rodriguez, who has been putting up more than 20 points a game. Both teams, who have a fast style of play, quickly went on the attack against each other. A classic chess match of a game. The First Quarter ended with both the Lady Bobcats and Lady
Falcons tied up at 10-10. In the second quarter, Rio Hondo picked up intensity on both sides of the ball, out scoring Los Fresnos by six to make it 26 to 19 heading into halftime. In the third quarter, Los Fresnos turned it around to make it a back and forth battle heading into the Fourth Quarter. The high intensity matchup went down to the wire as within the final seconds, a tipped pass by Maritza Ortega which was caught by Gaby Garrido who drove it back to feed the pass to Sarahi Jones to put in the game winning shot to defeat Rio Hondo 52-51. Jones finished with 20 points. Day 2, the Lady Falcons took on Brownsville Pace in a preparation match as both teams were heading into the elimination rounds. Los Fresnos took
control from the start and maintained control throughout the course of the game to win 69 to 28. Maritza Ortega received player of the game for putting up 17 points. In the First Elimination game, The Lady Falcons took on the San Perlita Lady Trojans in the tournament quarterfinals. What Started as a close matchup quickly went the Lady Falcons way as they quickly took control to win 84-44. Olivia Parra received player of the game as she tacked on 15 points and eight rebounds. After a strong performance on day 2, the Lady Falcons began Saturday in a semi-final rematch against McAllen High. The last time the Lady Falcons faced off against McHi was at the Border Bash Tournament, a game in which the
Lady Falcons won 48-47. Both teams had a close knit matchup throughout but the Lady Falcons continuously maintained control on both sides of the ball to secure the win 42 to 30. Aylene Ortega was awarded player of the game for leading the Scoring with 16 points. Now having punched their ticket to the Platinum Bracket Championship game, Los Fresnos was set to face off against 31-6A Powerhouse Edinburg Vela. The Lady Sabercats, who are known to have an explosive dominant style of play, quickly assumed control of the game after Los Fresnos took the lead at the end of the first quarter 8 to 7. Edinburg Vela’s Janai Coleman and Emma Lucio combined for 14 points at the half. Sarahi Jones, Aylene Ortega
and company began to answer back on offense as Jones and Ortega led the scoring with a combined 26 points. However Coleman, Lucio and the Lady Sabercats held on to win 51 to 31 to capture the 2021 BISD Tournament Championship. The Lady Falcons finished off tournament play with a great 5-1 record. Leading scorers for Los Fresnos included Maritza Ortega who finished with the tournament with 33 points, Sarahi Jones finished with 65 points. Aylene Ortega finished with 62 points. Olivia Parra finished with 34 points, and Gaby Garrido finished with 334 points. Val Prazelini, Ali Tobar and Karina Alvarez combined for a tournament total of 48 points.
defense to take control of the game. The Falcons’ defense had a great game, limiting the Colts to less than 12 points per quarter. Los Fresnos would maintain control to capture the win 72 to 28. JJ Salazar led the scoring with 25 points. Luis Ramirez followed with 16 points, and Roger Capetillo with 14 points. Los Fresnos’ next opponent in Pool Play was Edcouch-Elsa, a team known to also have a fast paced style of play both offensively and defensively. Both teams exploded out of the gate on defense, limiting each other to less than 10 points at the end of the first quarter. The Yellow
Jackets took control offensively and were dominant on defense, limiting the Falcons to less than 15 points at the end of the first half. Edcouch-Elsa led 21 to 12 at the half. After some adjustments on defense, Los Fresnos picked up the pace on offense, putting up 10 points in the third quarter and limited Edcouch-Elsa to only seven points scored. The fourth quarter proved to be the turning point for the Falcons as again they only allowed seven points and out-scored the Yellow Jackets by nine points to comeback and win 38 to 35. JJ Salazar again led the scoring with 13 points, Darius Garcia
and Luis Ramirez also combined for 16 points. Now 2-0, the Falcons faced off against Los Potros de Reynosa. A close first quarter ending with a score of 14 to 11, Los Fresnos quickly turned on the jets offensively as they limited Potros de Reynosa to only nine points in the second quarter with the Falcons scoring 18. Los Fresnos’ offense would take flight as Luis Ramirez put up 23 points to lead the Falcons to a win over Potros de Reynosa 64 to 35. With the win, The Falcons punched their ticket into the Elite Eight where they faced off against Dickinson out of Houston. In the Elite Eight, the Falcons were put to the test against the Dickinson Gators, a team ranked number 17 in Texas in 6A classification. The Gators exploded on offense from the start as they tacked on 37 points to lead 37 to 17 at the end of the first quarter. Dickinson’s defense outlasted the Falcons’ offensive attack, limiting Los Fresnos to less than
15 points per quarter. The Falcons’ defense began to take a toll as they managed to gradually decrease Dickinson’s points per quarter. But Dickinson held on to win 88 to 47. Key players such as Ramirez, Salazar, Capetillo and Galvan were limited to less than 15 points per player. In the Falcons’ last match in tournament play, they were squared up against Eagle Pass. In what was Los Fresnos’ closest matchup of the Tournament, both teams put up high numbers in the first quarter to kick off what was a high octane game. Los Fresnos led 15 to 14 at the end of the first. Eagle Pass took control in the second to out-score the Falcons by one to make it a brand new game with a score of 26 to 26 at the half. Los Fresnos took control offensively in a continuously close game, out-scoring the Eagles by just three points to make it 45 to 42 at the end of the third. In the fourth quarter, defense was the dominant factor as both teams were both limited
to less than eight points, with the Falcons only limited to four points. Eagle Pass had forced overtime by out-scoring Los Fresnos by three. In Overtime, defense continued aggressively as both teams were limited to single digit scoring. Los Fresnos would hold on to win 55 to 51. The Falcons finished off the 2021 Hidalgo Pirate Classic with a record of 4-1. JJ Salazar, who had an exceptional performance throughout the tournament, finished off with a total of 88 points scored overall. Luis Ramriez finished with 64 points. Roger Capetillo finished with 43 points. The Falcons are scheduled for two more tournaments before kicking off district play on New Years’ Eve vs Brownsville Rivera.
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December 15, 2021 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS • 5
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The Next Chapter Poem
A Busy Bee Busy as a bee high above a tree; a flower so pretty will soon be a pot of honey! As the sun goes up and down, it will go back and forth through the town. The bee will move all around, left, right, up, and down. The bee will continue this cycle till work is down 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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THEME: Year in Review ACROSS 1. Coalition of countries 5. King trump-er, sometimes 8. Cuckoo bird 11. ____ weevil 12. Smelting waste 13. Kitchen-wear 15. Coke or Pepsi 16. Check-in via text,
email, etc. 17. Settler transport 18. *2021 Super Bowl winner, two words 20. Before long, to Shakespeare 21. Jeopardy 22. Auction action 23. Puts down 26. Coroner’s performance 30. Band booking 31. Snicket of “A Series of Unfortunate
Events” 34. Stravinsky’s “The ____ of Spring” 35. Mine passages 37. *Build Back Better ____ 38. Eucharist plate 39. Table hill 40. Good review 42. “Tit for ____” 43. Buck feature, pl. 45. *First female VP 47. Evergreen
creeper 48. It goes with gin, according to Snoop Dogg 50. Mongolian desert 52. *COVID-19, e.g. 55. Poison ivy or Poison oak 56. International Civil Aviation Org. 57. Distinctive smell 59. House coat 60. Asian cuisine food thickener 61. Pelvic parts 62. Gallery display 63. Self-proclaimed greatest boxer 64. Count on DOWN 1. “Monty Python” broadcaster 2. Rioter’s take 3. Cantina pot 4. Fasteners or holders 5. Cover story 6. *Suez ____, too tight for Ever Given 7. Like custard 8. Mythological ship 9. “High” time 10. Wayside stop 12. Thinly spread 13. Look forward to 14. *____ Papers, leaked offshore account information 19. Banana refuse, pl. 22. Exchange for money 23. Old World lizard 24. *January 20th honoree 25. Anti-elderly one 26. Those not in favor 27. Pita, alt. sp. 28. Take without asking 29. Gossiper, Yiddish 32. *Perseverance landing spot 33. Edible tuber 36. *Kabul’s organization in power 38. *The Nobel ____ Prize was awarded to Ressa and Muratov 40. Snoop around 41. Snowmobile brand 44. Give the boot 46. *”Stronger” by Cindy McCain, e.g. 48. Southwestern hut 49. Sushi restaurant staple 50. ____ gum, food additive 51. Leave out 52. Home to the Leaning Tower 53. Not in use 54. One in mattress 55. Spot for a facial 58. *Actor Liotta, star in “The Many Saints of Newark”
6 • December 15, 2021 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS
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December 15, 2021 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS • 7
Valley Baptist Health System Continues to Offer Bereavement Support During Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic HARLINGEN & BROWNSVILLE – William Shakespeare’s keen observation of life is articulated in his statement, “He who lacks time to mourn, lacks time to mend.” True for both adults and children, the awareness of how to properly care for grief is important to holistic health. When a person experiences significant loss of a person or something important, bereavement is the process they journey through, said former Valley Baptist Health System Vice President Mission & Ministry Joe Perez. “During this COVID-19 era, many people are journeying through the season of bereavement because they have experienced loss of a special someone. Some individuals and families have experienced multiple losses,” he said. “Others may be fortunate enough to not have lost a loved one, but the pandemic
has created for all other kinds of losses, like daily routines, jobs, loss of relational contacts, normal resources for life, and many others.” Grief is normal to the human condition, said Perez, who currently serves as Chief Mission & Ministry Officer at Baptist Health System – a sister system to Valley Baptist located in San Antonio. While feelings of grief are often intensified during the holiday season, Perez said the grief process is unique to each individual person. As a chaplain, Perez said he has learned that saying the phrase “I know what you’re going through” is not helpful when it comes to helping others cope with grief, because while situations of loss and grief may be similar, the consistency of relationships and circumstances are always different. “One may think this is relating, but using this phrase does not
invite the one suffering to disclose their thoughts and feelings because they are said to already be known. The result, then, is that the one grieving does not share his/her experience, which impedes the healing process by not allowing the bereaved to process their grief and grow in their ability to cope,” he said. Perez said that while it can be difficult to help others cope with grief, there are ways to help. “What can be more helpful is saying something like, ‘I have had a similar experience, but I know everybody’s different. How’s it going for you?’” he said. “If you have not had a similar experience, then simply ask, ‘How’s it going for you?’” Perez said Dr. Alan Wolfelt, an influential educator on death and the grieving process, articulates the healing process through grief as, “Let’s remind ourselves of the importance
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between the terms grief and mourning. Grief is the internal thoughts and the feelings of loss and pain, whereas mourning is the outward, shared expression of that grief – or grief gone public. All bereaved families grieve when someone they love dies. But if they are to heal, they must have a safe, accepting atmosphere in which they can mourn.” “There's no ‘one size fits all’ approach to managing one’s grief from the loss of a love one or the loss of something significant. At the same time, there are some essentials that help and obstacles that hinder the process to healing,” said Paul Luna, Valley Baptist Medical CenterBrownsville Pastoral Services Supervisor. “The best help is having a safe companion or community of persons to share life’s difficult experiences.” Perhaps one of the greatest
challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic has been the isolation that can be experienced during necessary social distancing. While the pandemic disrupted gatherings and in-person support groups, it continues to bring to the forefront new methods of navigating the grieving process together. “Keeping safe practices in mind, we need to remember that human beings are meant to be and relate to other human beings as a part of our holistic health. Therefore, we need to be more creative about how we can journey together through these difficult times. Setting up family and/or friend’s phone or video chat times will assist in keeping our community as well,” Luna said. “Seeing each other stimulates more of our senses to work towards healing. Being in each other’s presence, as it can be done safely, is
important as well. Most importantly, if you find yourself isolated, reach out to a trusted family member, friend, or community member as one way to take initiative in your health.” For those working through the grieving process, Valley Health System’s Pastoral Services Department continues to offer comfort for those seeking bereavement support in the community. For more information on the service of remembrance or support groups offered at Valley Baptist Health System, call the Valley Baptist Pastoral Services Department at (956) 389-1194 or email pastoralservices@ valleybaptist.net. Also, information about local RGV resources for Children's Bereavement can be found at https://cbc-rgv. org/our-services.
By Hughes Abell, Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association president
The sellers of plantbased meats have already demonstrated their willingness to use prominent cattle images and terms like meat and beef on their packaging to lure unsuspecting consumers. Not surprisingly, the companies creating labgrown products, academic elitists and the usual critics of animal agriculture are already arguing they should be allowed to use common meat terms to label their products, too. How these new products are labeled will be critical. Otherwise, you’ll be in the supermarket with a magnifying glass trying to read the fine print to figure out if you’re buying labgrown meat that you don’t want. It’s also important for cattle producers. Should there be a food safety issue with lab-grown products, it must be distinguishable from the natural beef humans have safely consumed for millennia. In 2019, USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service and the Food and Drug Administration signed an agreement to jointly oversee these products, which they currently refer to as “comprised of or containing cultured animal cells.” Under the agreement, USDA will be responsible for how the
products are labeled. Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association recently submitted comments to the agency on behalf of cattle producers and consumers, calling for lab-grown products to be clearly labeled and differentiated from natural beef. These products should be prominently labeled with a term like “lab-grown” to ensure consumers both recognize and understand what the product is. For the same reason, they should refrain from using words like “beef,” which consumers have come to trust as defining a wholesome, natural product. Because independent scientists have not yet analyzed lab-grown products to determine their compositional and nutritional properties, it will be imperative to do so before they are publicly available and include any such differences prominently on the label, as well. Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association will continue to fight for accurate and understandable labeling of both lab-grown and plant-based products. I hope you’ll join in the fight so we can preserve the integrity of real, natural beef for American consumers.
Preparing For The Franken-Burger One day in the nottoo-distant future, you may walk into your local supermarket and next to the ground beef, you will see something different. It will look like ground beef, and it might even say “ground beef” on the label, but somewhere in impossibly small type, it will also say “cultured.” However, this new product will not be the same beef we have all come to know and love since humankind domesticated cattle some 10,500 years ago. No, this so-called meat is made in a laboratory, just like Frankenstein. The scary part about this story, though, is that it’s real. In 2013, European scientists created the first lab-grown burger, cultured in a petri dish from fetal bovine serum. That first burger cost about $300,000 to produce. Today the cost is approximately $11 per burger, and numerous companies are preparing to sell these lab-grown products to American consumers. The Franken-burger is coming, and we must act now to protect consumer confidence and ensure a level playing field.
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8 • December 15, 2021 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS
Are ladybugs harmful? UTRGV Grad Student
Annual swarms, home invasion raise questions about native, Asian beetles
Lands Engineering Job With Jacobs Group Upon Graduation
A ladybird beetle, or ladybug, in The Gardens at Texas A&M University. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Laura McKenzie)
Media Inquiries to Laura Muntean, Written by Adam Russell The annual ladybug invasion appears to be in motion. Reports of ladybird beetles, commonly known as ladybugs, invading homes and structures across the southern U.S. have raised questions and concerns. According to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert, ladybugs are definitely a friend, but sometimes even friends can wear out their welcome. Wizzie Brown, AgriLife Extension integrated pest management specialist, Austin, said the increased sightings of ladybugs inside homes and structures are related to colder temperatures. They are crawling through cracks and crevices around the home to find warm, dry spots as temperatures outside drop. Brown said ladybugs are a beneficial insect to gardeners. They are an effective predator against soft-bodied insect pests like aphids that can affect ornamental plants and devastate fruit and vegetable production. “If they’re outside and not bothering you, it’s best to just leave them alone,” she said. “Having them overwinter around your home means it’s likely you will have good populations present when garden pests start emerging in the spring.” Native ladybugs versus the Asian lady beetle Despite their benefits outside, ladybugs can be a nuisance when they invade homes, she said. They can stain fabrics and are smelly when they die or when they release a fluid used as a defense mechanism. Sometimes, when they feel
threatened, ladybugs can bite. Native ladybugs prefer to hibernate outside, but their counterparts, the Asian lady beetle, prefer indoors, so it is likely that invading beetles are the invasive species, Brown said. Native ladybugs and Asian lady beetles are different species. Aside from their overwintering preferences, provide the same benefits around vegetable gardens and landscapes. Both native and Asian ladybugs can share similar colors and spots, Brown said. Asian ladybugs can be identified by a small M or W, depending on how you look at them, on the shield-like section behind their head. “They are both ladybird beetle species, and while the Asian species tends to be a brownish-red or orange with spots, they can also be red with spots,” she said. “So, the best way to differentiate them is the M or W.” How to remove ladybugs from my home If ladybugs are moving indoors in very large numbers, Brown said, homeowners can easily remove them and practice exclusion methods around the home to prevent future entry. Brown suggests sucking them up with a vacuum cleaner and either bagging them for the trash or releasing them outside. To prevent ladybugs from entering a building, Brown suggests exclusion methods, including: Pruning trees and shrubs back away from the house or roof. Moving firewood or other items that might harbor insects away from the house. Installing weather stripping around loose-
fitting doors and windows. Blocking weep holes in brick or stone facades. Using caulk or expanding foam to fill cracks and crevices on the outside of the house and around pipe and wire penetrations. Keeping window screens in good repair. Using stainless steel mesh wire to block potential access points in the attic, including vents. “Ladybird beetle invasions are very sporadic,” she said. “If you’ve had an issue before, it is likely to happen again, but environmental conditions and what is going on around the house play a big role in their activity from year to year. The good thing is, if you practice the exclusion methods, you’re going to prevent other insect pests that might be looking for shelter this time of year from entering your home.” Are ladybugs harmful to pets? Brown said pet owners should not worry about ladybugs poisoning their animals. A story and photo that continues to circulate on the internet about a dog with the ladybugs in its mouth is about one instance. “Apparently the dog was one that eats anything and everything, and it got into a large number of ladybird beetles,” she said. “Some ladybugs were clamping down in its mouth and releasing their defensive fluid trying to avoid being eaten, so you get the viral photo and subsequent panic among pet owners. But veterinarians have tried to dispel any hysteria and agree there is really very little concern about their toxicity beyond some possible stomach irritation.”
A ladybird beetle searching for aphids. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Erfan Vafaie)
Samantha Avila, a UTRGV grad student who will graduate this weekend with a master’s in Civil Engineering during the UTRGV Fall Commencement ceremonies this weekend, on the jobsite at the Edinburg Hidalgo County Courthouse this past summer. (Courtesy Photo)
By Amanda A. Taylor
RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – DEC. 7, 2021 – Not every engineer gets a chance to work on a $180 million renovation project, and most job interns can only dream about it. But Samantha Avila, a UTRGV grad student pursuing a master’s degree in Civil Engineering, got to help on the project – the ongoing renovation of the Hidalgo County Courthouse in Edinburg, led by Jacobs Engineering Group based in Dallas. This Saturday morning, Avila will graduate from UTRGV in its Fall Commencement ceremony at the Bert Ogden Arena to accept her master’s degree knowing she already has a job waiting for her at Jacobs Engineering. She interned with the company from June to August, which gave her three months of crucial, hands-on experience in the field. Not only was it a dream come true for Avila, but also led to a full-time job with Jacobs. “I worked on looking over constructor subcontractors, and I was responsible for helping with payments and inspections,” she said. “Our group also helped with moving management, as we helped move the current employees at the courthouse to another location so renovation could start on certain sections.” Due to the pandemic, most of the construction was postponed, so she got to see all the initial stages of the project, such as putting up walls and beams, and she
even learned how to access security camera systems and protocols in construction security. “Jacobs is a very large company, so they have all of the necessary resources to get the best people into teams to make each project run smoothly,” she said. “The team I was able to work with were very knowledgeable and being able to help project managers with their responsibilities on a dayto-day basis gave me a broader understanding of management.” Avila had completed her bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in 2019 at UTRGV, inspired by her love of math and the broadness of the engineering field. Aside from gaining important insight for her future career during the courthouse renovation project, Avila also won a districtwide competition that Jacobs hosts for summer interns. Avila represented the Hidalgo County project and went up against 20 other interns from varying districts, to share a project with regional leadership on what they’ve learned during their internship. She won the districtwide competition and was invited to present at the company’s monthly town hall meeting. “It was a presentation based off what we learned over the summer and how it correlates with what I learned at UTRGV,” Avila said. “It was really nice getting recognition from the group here in the Valley and the group in Houston, as well.” Based on her hard work on the project and her win in the districtwide competition,
Jacobs offered Avila a full-time position as a junior engineer in Dallas. She accepted with full confidence and excitement for her future. “Jacobs has values and a great environment that made my decision easy,” Avila said. She was offered jobs from a number of other engineering companies, but she turned them down. “During my summer internship, I got to see firsthand all the different programs they offer. And since it’s an international company, I can work on jobs in Australia or Europe – pretty much anywhere I want to go.” During her internship at Jacobs, Avila said, her interest in project management and structural design grew. Her time at UTRGV, combined with the internship, helped her gain the necessary knowledge to put her skills to work. “Attending UTRGV has been a great experience for me,” she said. “I have been really involved with the people here and everyone has made me feel so welcome. It’s been a fun experience. So, I’m happy to graduate, but it’s also sad to say goodbye.” UTRGV Fall Commencement starts at 5 p.m. Friday at the UTRGV Parking Lot B3 in Brownsville and continues into Saturday in Edinburg with ceremonies at 8:30 a.m., noon and 3 p.m. at the Bert Ogden Arena. For additional information on this weekend’s commencement ceremonies, visit www.utrgv.edu/ commencement.