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Volume 18 Number 7
Los Fresnos, Tx 78566
Get Gardening www.losfresnosnews.net
Falcon Wrestlers’
Page 4 (L-R) Pricilla Rosas, Janice, and Janet Schofield
Emilio Flores Los Fresnos News
Story: The Fire
Page 5
Winter Maze
Page 6
The Importance of Cardiac Health Highlighted During Heart Health Month
Page 7
Anyone that’s not taking a look at the Los Fresnos Nature Park should reconsider! The volunteers at the community Nature Park off North Arroyo Boulevard have been caring for the butterfly garden and embracing the beautiful outdoors! These volunteers want to educate others and encourage the community to come out with them! Meeting with just some of the volunteers last week, it became evident that being involved in nature and experiencing the outdoors a little bit every day really makes a difference, and that’s precisely what these volunteers hope to show the community! Some of the volunteers have dubbed Priscilla Rosas as the go-to person when it comes to volunteering, but it seems she’s stepped up as a leader in her community as well. Priscilla Rosas is a somewhat new Master Gardener who has found a new passion in gardening
and volunteers, at the Los Fresnos Nature Park. Priscilla received her certificate of Master Gardener back in 2019 and is wanting to study more courses. She’s excited to share the benefits of being a part of Los Fresnos Nature Park, and of gardening. Priscilla expresses that getting outside brings peace to her busy life, having two little ones, she is always on the go. When surrounding herself with nature, she says, “Life is just better.” She mentions that there have even been studies that say trees lessen stress and they can even reduce the crime rate in cities! She expressed that she would love to one day have courses on gardening, rain collecting, and composting, along with other skills that the community could benefit from. Priscilla mentions that some of the people that encouraged her to study in becoming a Master Gardener were some of the other volunteers at the Los Fresnos Nature Park!
One of them being Janet Schofield. Janet Schofield is a retired math teacher from Mercedes. She volunteers at different gardens and nature parks including some in San Benito, Los Fresnos, and Mercedes. Mrs. Schofield is both a certified Master Gardener
and a Master Naturalist. The volunteers have many new plans, one of them being a way to both compost and garden in the same area. They hope to expand the garden area. Priscilla plans to meet with the City for permission to do this. The composting method, Hügelkultur, is a technique where a mound constructed from decaying wood debris and other compostable biomass plant materials is later used as a raised garden bed. A great way to create rich soil, and plant, all in one spot! This would allow them to grow plants with much less effort and upkeep. Janet says that it makes for less watering because the compost/soil naturally retains more moisture! Good soil is very important in growing anything, and when asking Mrs. Schofield about this she says “It’s crucial!” She says that If you don’t want dead plants you need good soil, and
composting is where you start! The Los Fresnos Nature Park is a great place to take the family for evening walks, and help volunteer with the garden. These great volunteers have much knowledge to share and are welcome to help however they can. They want to encourage more people in Los Fresnos to grow their own food, take time in nature, and if you can volunteer, to come out to the Los Fresnos Nature Park! For more information on how you can help contact Priscilla Rosas at (956) -238-9218
3
The Butterfly Garden at the Los Fresnos Nature Park
TO BE AN EFFECTIVE STATE REPRESENTATIVE YOU NEED Is That Chile Pepper Hot Or Not?
Page 8
LOOK INSIDE Classified................. pg 3 Sports...................... pg 4 Puzzles.................... pg 5 Activity Page........... pg 6
THREE THINGS ONE: YOU MUST HAVE A COLLEGE DEGREE
I hold a double major in Government and Public Service and a master's degree in Public Policy and Management, all from the University of Texas.
TWO: YOU MUST HAVE LEGISLATIVE EXPERIENCE I spent 7 years working for the Senate District 27 Office and helped write bills that created jobs, infrastructure, and most importantly, improved the quality of life in South Texas.
Luis Villarreal Jr. Candidate for State Representative District 37
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2 • February 16, 2022 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS
Animal Shelter Crisis 2022 Rio Grande Valley Area Animal Shelters are Experiencing a COVID-19 Induced Capacity Crisis
HOUSTON ( February 7, 2022) – Best Friends Animal Society, a leading animal welfare organization with programming and teams active in the Rio Grande Valley, is warning of a national animal shelter crisis with impacts in Texas. It is estimated that about 100,000 more dogs and cats in U.S. shelters are awaiting adoption than at this same time last year due to issues caused by the pandemic. Throughout the Rio Grande Valley, the biggest need is adoptive homes for dogs. Municipal shelters including, Brownsville Animal Regulation and Care Center, Humane Society of Harlingen, and Palm Valley Animal Society report capacity issues with nearly a collective 1000 dogs and puppies waiting to be adopted. “While we hear about supply chains and staffing shortages and the difficult impact that the pandemic has had
on so many business sectors, one hard-hit area that hasn’t received as much attention is animal shelters,” said LeeAnn Shenefiel, regional director south central, Best Friends Animal Society. “The consequences of the pandemic for shelters are that lives are hanging in the balance—when shelter operations are disrupted, it creates a bottleneck of animals in need of homes. On top of that, dog adoptions have waned so there is currently a higher volume of pets in shelters or sitting in foster homes compared to the last two years.” The Omicron surge has dramatically increased the strain on animal shelters in the Rio Grande Valley area creating a COVID-19 induced capacity crisis. Couple this with staff shortages that limit shelter hours, decrease in-person volunteers, reduce adoption events and pet care support
have put more adoptable animals at risk. As the pandemic presses on, here are three ways you can make a meaningful difference now: Adopt—Help animal shelters in the Rio Grande Valley like Brownsville Animal Regulation and Care Center, Humane Society of Harlingen, and Palm Valley Animal Society make space by adopting a dog. The shelters need adoptions to continue to reduce critical overcrowding. Check with individual shelters for reduced or fee-waived adoption specials. Every adopted dog comes, spayed or neutered, microchipped and has received age-appropriate vaccines. Adoption hours and addresses: Brownsville Animal Regulation and Care Center Adoption hours Monday-Friday 1p.m.4p.m. (By appointment only)
416 FM 511 Brownsville, TX 78575 (956) 544-7351 https://www. brownsvilletx.gov/719/ Brownsville-AnimalRegulation-Care-Cente Humane Society of Harlingen Adoption hours Mon.Fri. 1-5pm, Sat.-Sun. 1-6pm 1106 Markowsky Ave Harlingen Tx, 78550 (956) 425-7297 www.hshtx.org Palm Valley Animal Society Monday-Sunday, 11am -7pm 2501 W Trenton Rd Edinburg, TX 78539 (956) 686-1141 www.pvastx.org Foster—Humane Society of Harlingen and Palm Valley Animal Society are looking for 50 emergency fosters that can temporarily open their homes for three-to-four weeks to help an “at risk” dog. Pets’ emotionally and
physically thrive while in a foster home. It is free to foster, supplies can be provided, and medical care is covered for the pet while they are in the foster home. To help, complete a foster application for Humane Society of Harlingen at https://www.hshtx.org/ foster or for Palm Valley Animal Society at https:// www.pvastx.org/foster. Spread the Word—Tell your friends, family and co-workers that animal shelters in the Rio Grande Valley need adopters and temporary fosters to sustain their lifesaving efforts. Follow updates on Brownsville Animal Regulation and Care Center Facebook page, Humane Society of Harlingen Facebook page and Palm Valley Animal Society Facebook page. Saving a life could be just one share away. “Intake has increased, and adoptions have decreased at shelters, contributing to a challenging environment for lifesaving,” said Julie Castle, chief executive officer, Best Friends Animal Society. “Adopting a pet can help to alleviate the stress shelters are experiencing, so if you can, I urge you to adopt now,” said Castle “During a time when many people are experiencing uncertainties, including
job changes, housing insecurity and economic issues, pets can be a source of comfort and companionship,” said Castle. “So now especially is the perfect time to add a new pet into your home.” About Best Friends Animal Society Best Friends Animal Society is the leading animal welfare organization working to end the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters by 2025. Founded in 1984, Best Friends is a pioneer in the no-kill movement and has helped reduce the number of animals killed in shelters from an estimated 17 million per year to around 347,000. Best Friends has operations in New York City, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Houston, Salt Lake City and Northwest Arkansas and runs the nation’s largest no-kill animal sanctuary. Best Friends runs lifesaving programs across the country in partnership with more than 3,500 animal welfare groups and shelters and is working collaboratively with community members nationwide to Save Them All®. For more information, visit bestfriends.org.
Ask Our Dentists by DR. ADAM LALONDE
Q: : My dad has some lesions in his mouth that I think his ill-fitting dentures created. He says they’ve been there for years; should I be worried? My sister is worried about oral cancer. We know nothing about oral cancer. What are the facts that we should all know and who should we take him to see? ANSWERED by DR.ADAM LALONDE:
You should immediately take him to his general doctor SOON. Early detection is key here. Sadly, every hour of every day, someone in North Dr. Adam Lalonde America dies of oral cancer, and this rate is not improving. In fact, oral cancer is on the rise, especially among men. It’s imperative that you know the signs: • Red or white patches in mouth •Sores or lumps •Trouble swallowing Or throat irritation •Thickening of the mouth, lip, or throat area Any abnormalities that don’t heal within 2 weeks should be checked in a timely manner. The 5-year survival rate for oral cancer is only 50%, but this improves to 80% if detected early. We can help with early detection as we screen for cancer at every check-up in our office utilizing the Oral ID system, at no charge to our patients. For more information, call our office or Visit us at www.losfresnosdental.com
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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 TEDDY NENDER TATUM, Deceased, GREETINGS: You are commanded to appear and answer to the APPLICATION TO DETERMINE HEIRSHIP, filed by DARIS VICTORIA REYES GALEANO, 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 November 09, 2021. The file number of said Matter being No. 2021-CPC-00371 County Court at Law IV The Style being:
IN THE ESTATE OF TEDDY NENDER TATUM, 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 12th day of January, 2022. Given under my hand and seal of said Court at Office in the City of Brownsville, Texas on this the 12th day of January, 2022. Sylvia Garza-Perez, Clerk Cameron County, Texas.
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4 • February 16, 2022 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS
The Realignment Recap
By Ruben Rodriguez Los Fresnos News
A look back at the 2022 UIL Realignment
Every two years in February, the University Interscholastic League has their Biennial Realignment to determine new districts for the next two football seasons. The Realignments can always either dramatically shake up the districts or they can barely shake things up. In 2022 however, we saw some big shakeups and a few expected moves. So here’s the UIL Realignment Recap. As Always, the UIL Realignment can always shake up the standings or barely make a difference.
Of Course at times, some predictions do turn out to be true. For Instance, after many years, Harlingen South has departed from its long-time home of 32-6A to make the trip down to 16-5A D1, Joining them on their way to 5A is Donna North, who spent the last two seasons as a part of 32-6A. The Move leaves District 32-6A as a six-team district. In the move, Harlingen South reunites with a few familiar faces such as Brownsville Veterans and Weslaco East. For Donna North, their annual crosstown battle with Donna High will now be a district battle.
Three other big moves from 6A to 5A include the Departures of Edinburg Vela, PSJA North and La Joya Juarez-Lincoln to DIstrict 15-5A D1 after a long tenure in District 31-6A.The Move, just like 32-6A will leave 31-6A as a six-team district. Also Joining 15-5A D1 is the McAllen trio of McHi, NIkki Rowe and Memorial,and La Joya Palmview, who were slated in 16-5A D1 the last two seasons. Joining them as well is Rio Grande City, who competed in 14-5A D1. Other Big moves include Rio Hondo from 16-4A D2 to 16-3A D1,
To the Postseason! By Ruben Rodriguez Los Fresnos News
The Los Fresnos Lady Falcons have officially wrapped up the 2021-2022 basketball regular season with a big win on the road against Harlingen South. Coming off a win against Brownsville Hanna, Los Fresnos was looking to return the favor after suffering a loss at home to Harlingen South 41-34 on January 14. Since the Last meeting against Harlingen South, the Lady Falcons have gone 4-2 against District Opponents. Looking to grab a big win in the district finale, both the Lady Falcons and Lady Hawks came out swinging with the Lady Falcons on
top at the end of the first quarter 9 to 8. The second quarter saw Harlingen South pick up the pace on offense and defense, but Los Fresnos would keep up as the Lady Hawks outscored the Lady Falcons by just two points to make it 22-21 Harlingen South on top at the half. The Third Quarter Saw the Lady Falcons take control with just a more aggressive attack to match with Harlingen South, the Lady Falcons again outscored the Lady Hawks by two once again and continued to maintain the tempo to win 47-44 in a down to the wire matchup With the Regular Season now coming to an end, Los Fresnos finishes
off district with an 9-5 record as the number four seed in the 6A Texas State Playoffs. Now the Lady Falcons officially know who they will face off in the Bi-District Round. Los Fresnos will face off against Edinburg Vela of 31-6A. This won't mark the first time they face off this season. The Lady Falcons actually faced off with the Lady Sabercats in the BISD Tournament Championship where Edinburg Vela won 51-31. With a strong lineup, the Lady Falcons look to reach the Area Round after suffering their loss to Edinburg High in the 2020-2021 Bi-District Round.
joining Lyford. 16-4A D2 remains consistent with Bishop joining against Port Isabel, Raymondville and Grulla. Brownsville Porter makes the jump from 16-5A D1 to 155A D2 with Mercedes, Edcouch-Elsa, and Valley View, all who were in 165A D2. Porter is the lone Brownsville School to be separated from the other 5 BISD Schools. With these moves, RGV schools will be slated against Coastal Bend Schools in District Competition such as Gregory Portland and Flour Bluff.. These Moves also leave 15 and 16-5A D2 as six-team districts. So what’s in store
for the Los Fresnos Falcons in 2022? Well, one major takeaway is the departure of District Rivals Harlingen South and Donna North. Over the years, Los Fresnos and Harlingen South have had great battles on the Gridiron. It’s no secret that District 32-6A has been a very competitive district, which consists of Harlingen, San Benito, Los Fresnos, Weslaco, Hanna and Rivera for 2022. Now with six teams in 32-6A, Every win is crucial, as two teams will not be punching their tickets to the postseason in 2022. Another possibility includes a longer Non-
District calendar. Which means, more time to get tuned up for a tough District Schedule In what was certainly a hectic and drastic Realignment, expect District Play to be even tougher with the introduction of many big coastal bend names. The Playoff race will be even more competitive with multiple six-team districts as only two teams may not punch their ticket to the Postseason. So with that, the hype and billing continues to grow as the Countdown to the 2022 Texas High School Football season continues
We are so proud of our Falcon Wrestlers’ accomplishments at District this past Thursday as we advance 10 wrestlers to Regionals.
Photo from Los Fresnos CISD Athletics Twitter
Results for our Lady Falcons were:
110lb- Yireh Moreno (1st Place- District Champion) 119lb- Alysha Solis (4th Place) 185lb- Katie Reyes
(3rd Place)
Falcon male wrestling results: 106lb- Thiago Almeida (2nd Place) 113lb- Diego Lozoya (3rd Place) 120lb- Justin
Jaramillo (2nd Place) 126lb- Nathan Davila (4th Place) 132lb- Sean Rodriguez (2nd Place) 145lb- Sinhue Medina (5th Place-Alternate) 182lb- Isaac Joseph (3rd Place)
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February 16, 2022 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS • 5
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The Next Chapter Short Story
The Fire
Part 1 At around 5:00 in the morning, still in a deep sleep on my soft and warm bed, I can ear a high-pitched scream coming from a room next door which jolted me awake. Half blurry eyed and asleep, I
bolted across my room towards my door, choking on the dark smoke hovering above me. As I yanked my door open it quickly slammed against the wall, the massive flashes of red and yellow startled me,
The Next Chapter is a column featuring a serialized continuing short story/poems from a local author. You can submit your own original story for publication at news@laferianews.net.
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making me stand still, as stiff as a rock. Soon my trance broke as a cold feeling shot up my pine, I could ear fast and heavy footsteps running to me. In a strong and deep voice, I hear my father calling out to
me. Still scared half to death, I yell back in a small voice, a squeak compared to his. Story written by Selene A. Olguin (12 years old)
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THEME: Kings and Queens ACROSS 1. Outback birds 5. Pilgrimage to Mecca 8. Well, to Sofia Loren 12. Impose a tax 13. No way! 14. Malicious burning 15. ____ over 16. Radiant light 17. Ran easily
18. *”The King of Staten Island” star Pete 20. Goyim, alt. sp. 21. Mork from Ork, e.g. 22. Common furniture wood 23. “Der Ring des Nibelungen” composer 26. Petroleum product (2 words) 30. Shakespearean fuss 31. Loan shark 34. Village People hit
35. City in France 37. Street, in Paris 38. Show in progress (2 words) 39. Tiny purse 40. Was almost out of gas, e.g. (2 words) 42. *First H in HRH 43. Type of bag 45. Unguarded 47. Brick and mortar carrier 48. Resize a dress, e.g.
50. “For ____ the Bell Tolls” 52. *Netflix royal drama (2 words) 55. Bridal veil fabric 56. One who hoes 57. Not far 59. Orderly arrangement 60. Drunkard, slangily 61. Stare 62. Country club pegs 63. Drivers’ licenses, e.g. 64. *2019 movie “Queen & ____” DOWN 1. Not Moose or Shriner 2. Fitting reward 3. Iris holder 4. Forest spirit 5. Gingerbread sculpture 6. Kitchen garb 7. *Billie ____ King 8. *Queens neighbor 9. ESPN trophy 10. Denials 11. December 31st, e.g. 13. Lowest points 14. Plural of alga 19. Intestinal obstruction 22. Opposite of their 23. *Prince Charles’ domain 24. Temples’ innermost sanctuaries 25. Not stay in (2 words) 26. Perceive by touch 27. *The NBA’s Kansas City-____ Kings (197275) 28. More unfriendly 29. *Late “Live” King of CNN 32. Russia’s mountain range 33. Seek a seat 36. *The last “king” of Russia 38. Proprietor 40. *The ___ Queen, regal chess character in “Through the Looking Glass” 41. Public disapproval 44. Cozy and comfortable 46. Two of these do not make a right 48. Near the wind 49. Potato soup partner, pl. 50. “She ____ a Yellow Ribbon” 51. Add to payroll 52. Native of Thailand 53. Lash mark 54. Member of National Socialist German Workers’ Party 55. Giant pot 58. “Shiny Happy People” band
6 • February 16, 2022 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS
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February 16, 2022 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS • 7
The Importance of Cardiac Health Highlighted During Heart Health Month HARLINGEN & BROWNSVILLE – With February serving as American Heart Health Month, there’s no better time for local residents to take control of their cardiac health. According to information from the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, claiming more lives than all forms of cancer combined. Those staggering figures, in conjunction with the statistic from the American Heart Association that 72 percent of Americans don’t consider themselves at risk for heart disease, are why educating the community on the importance of heart health is so important, said cardiac experts from Valley Baptist Health System. “Heart disease can lead to severe disability that can absolutely destroy quality of life for its victims and their loved ones,” said cardiologist Dr. Charles Mild. “Left unchecked, heart disease can lead to a wide array of serious and life-threatening health complications, including heart failure, heart attack,
stroke, and death.” According to Mild, heart disease most often refers to the damage to the heart or blood vessels by a build-up of plaque in the arteries called atherosclerosis. Over time, that plaque can reduce blood flow to the heart or block arteries completely. That build-up is often caused by poor lifestyle choices, he said. “Smoking, poor diet, high stress, and lack of exercise are all things that can contribute to heart disease,” he said. “The most tragic thing about these issues is that they are not genetic or hereditary – we are often doing these things to ourselves.” Two other contributors to cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes, are both common in the Rio Grande Valley yet correctible issues, Mild said. “It is not difficult to take small steps to lose weight and reduce the impact of diabetes,” he said. “Start small – reduce your sugar intake, reduce portion sizes at mealtime, don’t eat late at night and of course eat more fruits and vegetables.
If you start today, you can get results very rapidly on the road to living a healthier lifestyle.” One common misconception regarding heart disease is that it is primarily an issue most associated with older men and that women should not be particularly concerned with heart health. Although research has shown that men are more likely to suffer heart attacks than women, women are more likely to die from heart attacks than men. To complicate matters, women experience different symptoms of heart attack than their male counterparts. While men most commonly experience chest pain when having a heart attack, women can experience a wide array of symptoms that often overshadow the chest pain experienced by men. “The issue is complicated by gender and associated illness,” said Valley Baptist Physician Network cardiologist Dr. Fadi Alfayoumi. “The gender issue, which is a big one, is important because more women die from
myocardial infarction than men. One of the issues is that women perceive pain differently. Women may not complain of chest pain as often as men. They do, however, complain of fatigue, shortness of breath, diaphoresis (sweating), and a generalized feeling of unwell.” According to the American Heart Association, 83 percent of Americans believe that heart attacks are preventable but aren’t motivated to change unhealthy lifestyles associated with heart disease. Additionally 58
(StatePoint) While athletes are displaying feats of strength on the field, for those watching the Big Game at home, it’s more typical to be partaking in cheesy dips, chips, fried foods, beer and other not-so-good-foryou indulgences. However, there’s no need to fumble when it comes to your healthy habits. Check out
these four tips to feel your best during and after the Big Game: 1. Plan in Advance: It can be a busy weekend leading up to the Big Game so being prepared with a game plan for the day is the way to go. Start by making a grocery list ahead of Sunday so you can go to the store and purchase only the things
you need -- this will help ensure you’re sticking to your plan and budget. 2. Get Moving: The game lasts hours, but that doesn’t mean you need to park yourself on the couch the entire time. Aid digestion and avoid stiffness by using commercial breaks, half time, and pre- and postgame commentary to
stand up, stretch, hydrate and move around. 3. Stay Hydrated: Don’t just stock your bar with the usual brews and sugary party cocktails. Take a cue from the pros and be sure to also include clean, healthy, hydration drinks. For some of the world’s top athletes and teams, including former MVP
percent of Americans put no effort into improving their heart health. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, researchers are still working to determine the full range of impacts the disease can have on the heart. What is clear, however, is that COVID-19 can attack the heart, damaging heart muscle and causing blood clots, Alfayoumi said. Because of those effects, it is important that local residents do not delay cardiac care, whether it’s in response to an emergency or a
regular check-up with their cardiologist. “It is important that, even in the midst of the COVID pandemic, people seek appropriate medical care to address symptoms including chest discomfort, shortness of breath and palpitations that may be indicative of a cardiovascular condition requiring evaluation,” said Alfayoumi. “We cannot allow the virus to cause people to delay needed and appropriate medical care.”
photo from taconic.com
4 Ways to Feel Your Best While Watching the Big Game
KNOW WHERE TO VOTE SABER DONDE VOTAR EARLY VOTING VOTACIÓN ADELANTADA 2022 DEMOCRATIC & REPUBLICAN PRIMARY ELECTIONS LAS PRIMARIAS DEMOCRATAS Y REPUBLICANO DEL 2022
Main Early Voting Place
FEB 14 - FEB 18 9:00am - 7:00pm
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The Vote!
FEB 22 - FEB 25 9:00am- 7:00pm
Town of Rancho Viejo City Hall 3301 Carmen Ave. Rancho Viejo, TX
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quarterback Patrick Mahomes, their sports drink of choice is BioSteel. This is for good reason. BioSteel’s lineup of sports drinks are all made with zero sugar, essential electrolytes and without harmful colors and preservatives. And it’s not just the pros who can reap these benefits. Made for everyone from elite athletes to healthconscious consumers, BioSteel is a clean and healthy way to maintain hydration levels throughout the day. Another bonus? BioSteel sports drinks come in an eco-friendly Tetra Pak that uses a plant-based cap. Plus, the brand has a range of great tasting flavors to help satisfy everyone’s hydration needs during the Big Game, including Rainbow Twist, Blue Raspberry, Mixed Berry, Peach Mango, White Freeze, and the new limited-edition Cherry Lime. To learn more, visit biosteel.com. 4. Make Smart Swaps:
A good coach knows when it’s time to make substitutions on the field. Likewise, you can learn where and when to make healthy substitutions in your Big Game spread while still enjoying all your favorite snacks and treats. Making a pot of chili? Switch to lean ground turkey or go vegetarian. Top your bowl with fresh chopped scallions, lime wedges and fresh radishes, which can add crunch without the fat or sodium of tortilla chips. Opt for grilled chicken kabobs over deep fried wings and create your dipping sauce using Greek yogurt. Packed with calcium, protein and probiotics, yogurt not only provides a creamy, delicious alternative to sour cream, it’s also good for you. While notorious for being a day to gather and overindulge, you can make a few smart spectating tweaks to ensure you bring your A game to the Big Game.
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8 • February 16, 2022 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS
Is That Chile Pepper Hot Or Not?
A primer on jalapeños, habaneros and the science behind the spice
Chiltepin peppers in Austin (Photo by Chiltepinster, CC BY-SA 3.0)
Written by Olga Kuchment
People who’ve made the mistake of biting into a spicy chile pepper often end up with a burning question: How can you tell if a pepper is hot or not before you taste it? The world has at least 6,000 types of chile peppers, but only a small fraction of those varieties can be found in Texas grocery stores and gardens. Even this small set displays an exhilarating range of shapes, colors and spiciness levels. “Peppers are quite diverse. If you look at a wild species, you might not even know it’s a pepper,” said Kevin Crosby, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Research professor with Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Horticultural Sciences, Bryan-College Station. One such unusual example is the little, round, intensely spicy chiltepin pepper that grows wild in the southern U.S. and Mexico. The genetic diversity among pepper varieties gives plant breeders lots of opportunities to create varieties best suited to different climates — and tastes. “We develop all kinds of peppers, but our main priority is stressand disease-resistant varieties,” Crosby said. “Many wild species of peppers don’t get plagued by these problems, and so we’re trying to breed those genetic traits into the peppers that we like to consume.” In the past 20 years, Crosby and his colleagues bred a mild jalapeño and a mild habanero, as well as other new chile pepper varieties. How to gauge a pepper’s spiciness Crosby tastes a fair number of peppers. But to officially measure
spiciness levels, plant breeders run samples through equipment in the lab. They measure the levels of a substance called capsaicin and related compounds that are unique to chiles. From these levels, the researchers derive a rating of spiciness known as the Scoville value, also referred to as Scoville Heat Units, or SHUs. Capsaicin feels “hot” because it plays a trick on our senses. It turns out capsaicin activates sensors in our body that normally detect high heat. In fact, capsaicin helped scientists learn more about how our ability to sense heat works, a discovery that was celebrated by the 2021 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. If you don’t have sophisticated lab equipment to measure capsaicin levels, you can crack open a pepper and waft the pungent aroma toward your nose — just don’t forget to wash your hands with soap afterward. The aroma comes from the level of volatile compounds, which can correlate with spiciness. But simply looking at a pepper is not an accurate way to gauge spice level, Crosby said. “Environment has a huge impact on both capsaicin and the volatile compounds in peppers,” Crosby said. “Greenhouse-grown peppers look very beautiful typically, but they don’t have nearly the amount of volatile compounds as a fieldgrown pepper.” Know your pepper varieties While looking at a pepper will not tell you exactly how hot it is, knowing the variety can provide some clues. Below are just a few common varieties of chile peppers, ranging from least spicy to spiciest.
Red and green bell peppers (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Laura McKenzie)
Bell pepper Heat level: None! Different cultivars of bell peppers ripen from green to other colors such as yellow, orange or red.
Bell peppers are chiles that are never spicy and can be sweet and fruity when ripe. They score a zero on the Scoville scale.
Green serrano peppers (Adobe stock photo)
Serrano Heat level: Likely to be hot! A serrano pepper looks like a sharper, more dangerous jalapeño. Although serranos and jalapeños taste similar
and are closely related, serranos can score much higher on the Scoville scale, from jalapeños’ upper limit of 10,000 SHUs all the way up to 25,000 SHUs.
Poblano pepper (Photo by stef yau)
Poblano Heat level: A little spicy. In the grocery store, you’re likely to see poblanos of the deepest green. Just a little spicy or not at all, they are a key ingredient in chile
relleno. When these peppers are picked red, they can be dried and sold as ancho peppers. These relatively mild peppers score less than 1,000 on the Scoville scale.
Hatch chile peppers (Adobe stock photo)
Hatch or Anaheim Heat level: A little spicy. Known as Hatch or Anaheim chiles, these long, smooth peppers are typically light green at the grocery store. They are generally similar in spiciness to poblanos, at around 1,000 SHUs. A few varieties, like the
Rio Grande, are hotter — over 3,000 SHUs. Hatch chiles’ mild flavor has become more popular nationwide in recent years. And, in 2021, they became the first variety of chiles to be grown on the International Space Station.
Half-ripe and green jalapeños (Photo by Tomwslucer CC0)
Jalapeño or chipotle Heat level: Pretty spicy! Jalapeños, typically found green in the produce section, are closely related to bell peppers but can be quite hot at 2,500–10,000 SHUs. They taste a little like green bell peppers, but with some heat.
A chipotle is a fully ripe, red jalapeño that’s smoked and dried, with a spiciness similar to that of a green jalapeño. A mild jalapeño bred by Crosby and team looks like the regular variety but is less spicy, scoring 1,000–1,500 SHUs.
Habanero fruit and flowers (Photo by André Karwath CC BY-SA 2.5)
Habanero Heat level: Scorching! Shaped like little lanterns, habaneros are some of the world’s spiciest peppers. Don’t be deceived by their cute appearance! Habaneros can score 100,000–400,000 SHUs. They also have a sweet, fruity flavor aside from the spice. Chile peppers can grow well in gardens While only a relatively small selection can be found in the grocery store, many more peppers can grow well at home, Crosby said. “They are easy to grow and are a highly popular garden crop,” Crosby said. “You can even grow some dwarf types as a houseplant if you have enough light.”
Crosby’s mild habanero scores only 1,000 SHUs. However, ghost peppers and Trinidad Moruga scorpions, at 750,000– 1,500,000 SHUs, and Carolina reapers — which rival the pepper spray used by members of law enforcement at 1,500,000–3,500,000 SHUs — are all types of habaneros. As for your harvest, there are myriad uses for the peppers. Besides eating them fresh, cooked and pickled, some people use crushed chiles to repel garden pests. Capsaicin has no effect on birds, but many insects and mammals don’t like the spice. Some wild animals, however, are not bothered by it — just like some humans.