LFHS Names Four New Head Coaches
WEEK OF Jun E 22, 2022 THRO u GH J un E 28, 2022 LOOK I n SIDE Classified pg 3 Sports pg 4 Puzzles pg 5 Activity Page pg 6 Volume 18 number 25 www.losfresnosnews.net 705 W. HWY 100 Los Fresnos, Tx 78566 956-233-5744 AUTO • HOME • LIFE • COMMERCIAL • FLOOD • WIND RIO INSURANCEUNDERWRITERSGRANDEGROUP,INC Member FDIC The only Community Bank with locations in Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy Counties Fishing for Low Rates... Boat owners insurance for less than you think. State Farm® boat insurance doesn’t cost much, but covers a lot – like your boat, motor, and trailer. It also protects you and your passengers. Do you have the proper coverage? FREE QUOTE This 956-264-7720AVAILABLESpaceCALL CULLIGAN WATER OF THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY better water pure and www.culsimple liganrgv.com CULL Generic 5x2 eng_Layout 1 10/30/12 11:27 AM Page 1 CULLIGAN® WATER OF THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY better p d www.culp liganrgv com CULL Generic 5x2 eng_Layout 1 10/30/12 11:27 AM Page 1 CULLIGAN® WATER OF T www.culliganr gv.com CULL Generic 5x2 eng_Layout 1 10/30/12 11:27 AM Page 1 1300 W. Business 77 • San Benito, TX 956-399-1780 Call today for a FREE water analysis! CULLIGAN® WATER OF THE RIO GRANDE V CULL Generic 5x2 eng_Layout 1 10/30/12 11:27 AM Page 1 CULLIGAN® WATER OF THE RIO GRANDE VAL better water pure and www.culsimple liganr gv com CULL Generic 5x2 eng_Layout 1 10/30/12 11:27 AM Page 1 Page 7 Los Fresnos PD Hosts Free Family Movie Night Page 7 Beginners Guide to Harvesting Rainwater Page 8 Pick Tomatoes at Color Break Learn About Butterflies, Bring Them to Your Garden Page 4 Page 2
Three Coaches Promoted from within the Los Fresnos Athletics Program, with One New to Coaching Los Fresnos, June 8-Los Fresnos CISD Athletic Director David Cantu announced four new head coaches have been selected for the 2022-2023 school year. The coaches will oversee the Los Fresnos High School Golf, Softball, Tennis, and Water Polo sport programs. Three of the coaches were promoted from their assistant status within their respective programs, while one begins his coaching tenure.
Golf: Agapito Ortega, Jr., Coach Agapito Ortega, Jr. is teeing off the new school year as head coach of the Los Fresnos High School Golf program. The Los Fresnos native is no stranger to the local greens, where he played as a student-athlete for Los Cuates Middle School and Los Fresnos High School before graduating from The University of Texas at heSouthmostBrownsville/TexasCollege,wherecompetedcollegiately.
Ortega immediately began his career with Los Fresnos CISD as a teacher after college, working his way through various campuses before being promoted to assistant golf coach, serving for five years.Ortega was an integral part of the coaching team that worked with the highly successful Lady Falcons golf team that won district play for six years. In 2022, the Boys golf team had a superb year, earning various distinctions. Falcon pride runs deep in Ortega’s family. His wife teaches at Dora Romero Elementary school, and they have been blessed with two beautiful children, Gabriella Rose and Agapito, lll.
Softball: Matthew Molina, Head Coach Matthew Molina is looking for a home run season that makes a positive impact not just on the diamond, but in the community as well. In his 13th year of coaching, Molina will set out as head coach of the Lady Falcons Softball team. This is the fifth year Molina is with the talented team after serving for three years as an assistant, and one as first assistant. He also currently coaches varsity football and serves as a Physical Education coach at MolinaLFHS. says he is looking to build on the past success and tradition of softball program, which is consistently among the best in the Rio Grande Valley. Molina is proud that the team were Area finalists in 2022, and Regional semifinalists in 2021. He is married to Blanca Ordaz-Molina, who is also a softball coach. Their children, Mia and Mateo, are proud students of Los Fresnos CISD. Tennis: Gutierrez,JesusHead Coach Jesus Gutierrez is serving up some knowledge about the hardcourt for new and returning players on the LFHS tennis team. He brings over 30 years of experience of playing the game and other racquet sports as head coach. Gutierrez spent the last 7 years in the assistant spot for LFHS Falcon Tennis. He has helped oversee the varsity, junior varsity, and freshman boys and girls teams.Hehas helped guide many players to playoff competition, including multiple championshipsbi-districtand several regional qualifiers. Coach Gutierrez is married to Wendy Gutierrez and they have two daughters. Water Polo: Dr. Brent Burkott, Head Coach Dr. Brent Burkott is diving into coaching this year, taking over the developing water polo program. Burkott, who has a Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction, a Master’s in Mariculture, and a Bachelor’s in Biology, has taught in Los Fresnos since 2007. While Burkott is new to coaching, he is not new to working with teens as part of the Boy Scouts of America for 25 years and the Los Fresnos Nature Club. He will coach both boys and girls water polo teams, which is in its’ first year as an official UIL program. His goal is to develop strong studentathletes in the pool and in theBurkottclassroom.comes to Los Fresnos by way of Hawaii where he worked as a researcher. Other work experience includes serving as an agricultural extension agent in Texas, a shrimp-farm manager in Puerto Rico and Texas, and at one point owned a 50-acre tropical fish and shrimp farm in Kahuku, Hawaii for five years. He enjoys all water-based sports, but has spent a lot of time diving and surfing, including the big waves on the North Shore of Oahu in Hawaii.
L-R: Head Golf Coach, Agapito Ortega, Jr., Head Tennis Coach, Jesus Gutierrez, Head Softball Coach, Matthew Molina, Head Water Polo Coach, Dr. Brent Burkott And Then There Were Eight.
Photo back from 2016 during the Goosebumps showing on July 7th, 2016.
Photo was taken from Los Fresnos PD Facebook page back in 2019 during their “SpiderMan Into The Spider-Verse” movie night
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by DR. ADAM LALOn DE Dr. Adam Lalonde Ask Our Dentists 956-233-4400 www.losfresnosdental.com
2022
The first showing was last week on Thursday, June 16th at the Los Fresnos Community Center and they were showing the Disney movieBandaEncanto.explains that they will be showing a different movie every two weeks. The next Movies on the list are Sonic 2, on June 30, Uncharted on July 14, and The Bad Guys on July 28. The movies and snacks are free for the whole family and are just one of the ways the Los Fresnos Police Department is giving back to the community.
Los Fresnos PD Hosts Free Family Movie Night Los Fresnos Tx. — Free Family Movie Night at the Los Fresnos Community Center, 204 N, Brazil Street Los Fresnos Tx. at 3 PM. Los Fresnos Police Department tries to do different outreaches to the community, and families. Commander Charlie Banda says in previous years they would have movies in the evenings, but they hope to get more traction by having it as something kids can do in the andpillowswelcomeandfamiliesDepartmentwater.withsomepopcorn,kids,greatengagement”promote“We’reafternoon.tryingtocommunityBandasaysit’satimetoservethethePDprovideschipsandcandiesalongfruitpunchandLosFresnosPoliceinvitesalltocomeoutenjoymovienight.Bandasaysyouaretobringyourorchairstositenjoythemovies.
ANSWERED by DR.ADAM LALONDE: Good question! There is now relatively new evidence that the bacteria involved in gum disease likely plays a key role in development of Alzheimer’s disease and others like it, research suggests. Interestingly, these toxins are also linked with other conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and aspiration pneumonia. I know it’s hard to believe, but there are a lot of nerves going into our mouth which have direct connection to the brain. As the brain gets sick with Alzheimer’s disease, it becomes less able to fight off other things, creating a domino effect.Inshort, regular brushing, flossing, and seeing your dentist for regular check- ups can save your teeth AND possibly your brain too! For more information, call our office 956-233-4400 or visit us at www. losfresnosdental.com.
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Fantastic Finals
By Ruben Rodriguez Los Fresnos News After a long first two weeks in the 2022 NCAA Baseball Tournament, we have reached the best part of the annual tournament. The 2022 College World Series is now set to take place. 64 teams started the exciting tournament, now eight teams have successfully punched their ticket to Omaha, Nebraska. Of those eight teams, two stand proud as they represent the Lone Star State. Those teams being, the Texas Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggies. The Other six teams in the College World Series are Arkansas, Ole Miss, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Stanford andTheAuburn.Longhorns started their CWS journey hosting the Austin Regional, going against Air Force, Dallas Baptist University and Louisiana Tech. Texas, who has gone to 35 of 70 College World Series', looked to advance back. The Longhorns used the home field successfullyadvantagequalified to the Super Regionals after a clean sweep in Pool Play. Texas A&M qualified out of the College Station Regional in a sweep fashion as Headingwell.tothe Super Regionals, The Longhorns were slated against East Carolina University. The Pirates were looking to clinch their first CWS Berth since 2001. Texas Struck first in the opening game with a 2-0 lead in the first inning. ECU would later turn up the heat, scoring multiple runs, holding Texas Scoreless for multiple innings. The Longhorns would bite and chip away at the lead, however ECU dominated and captured game one with a 13-7 victory. Game Two saw ECU take an early lead with the Longhorns winning off a walkoff home run 9-8. Game Three Texas took the lead off hot bats, and despite a 4 hour rain delay, Texas punched their ticket to Omaha on an 11-1 victory. Texas A&M went up against ACC powerhouse Louisville in the Super Regional, Getting the home-field advantage again due to being ranked higher than Louisville. The Cardinals got the lead early on and maintained control, with great hitting and solid defense. The fighting Aggies responded, mounting a comeback and a walk off on an RBI Single to win game one 5-4. Coming off the walk off in Game one, Texas A&M rode in on the momentum into game two and had a solid execution on offense and defense. Capturing game two with a 6-3 victory. Other major moments during the tournament saw the Number one ranked Tennessee Volunteers go down in the Super Regionals off a comeback mounted by Notre Dame in game three. Stanford getting a major win over a tough UConn ballclub. Auburn upsetting PAC-12 Powerhouse Oregon State. With the College World Series a mere few days away, Eight powerhouse teams will converge on TD Ameritrade Ballpark in Omaha, Nebraska to crown themselves the 2022 NCAA Baseball Champions. The Longhorns will be looking for their seventh National Championship, while Texas A&M makes their first appearance in the CWS since 2017 as they look to capture their first National Championship.
Road to Qatar!
324 W Ocean Blvd Ste 102 Los Fresnos, TX 78566-3668 Phone (956) 233-1916 Installment Loans Serving Customers Since 1955! 4 • J UNE 22, 2022 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS Gabby Guevara Andrea Guevara Tuesday - Saturday | 7am-1pm 233-9988 32184 State Hwy 100 | Los Fresnos /tapiascafe And Then There Were Eight.
By Ruben Rodriguez Los Fresnos News With the 2022 FIFA World Cup just 151 Days away. The United States have their eyes set on Qatar in November. For the United States, This will mark their first World Cup appearance for the first time since 2014 after failing to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The USA has been on fire since 2021, capturing their 7th Gold Cup title, the inaugural CONCACAF Nations League Cham pionship and qualifying for the 2022 World Cup back in March. Led by the young trio of Christian Pulisic, Giovanni Reyna and Weston McKennie, The Stars and Stripes look to make a deep run into the Elimination Rounds after back to back losses in the Round of 16 in their last two FIFA World Cup Appearances. Team USA is currently led by Head Coach Gregg Berhatler, who alongside Reyna, Pu lisic and McKennie, will make his first World Cup Appearance.ForSeeding, the United States was drawn into Group B, where they will go against England, Iran and the winner of a play in later on down the road. Other Teams to lookout for are Spain, Germany, France, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina andAsPortugal.statedearlier, The United States looks to make a deep run in the tournament. In their last two FWC appearances in Brazil 2014 and South Africa 2010, The U.S. Lost in the Round of 16. In Germany 2006, The United States were elimi nated in the Group Stage. Their best World Cup Per formance came in KoreaJapan 2002 where they lost in a thriller to Ger many in the Quarterfinals. The 2002 USA Squad was led by the young Duo of Landon Donovan and Brian McBride. In 2010 and 2014, Team USA was led by Clint Dempsey, Mi chael Brsdley and Josey Altidore.WithWorld Cup fever slowly starting to take place, Team USA Has their sights set on lifting the Title in December.
By Ruben Rodriguez Los Fresnos News
Two Texas Schools among teams qualified for 2022 College World Series
Team USA is in preparation for the FIFA World Cup
The NBA Finals have been nothing short of an exciting series. The War riors, who are in their fifth finals in seven years are also looking for their fourth NBA Title in five final appearances. Golden State is Led by Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green and Jordan Poole. The Celtics, who have been red hot in 2022, look to capture their 18th NBA Title, their first since 2008. Boston is led by the trio of Marcus Smart, Jayson Tatum and Veteran Al Horford. Game One was a fast paced attack by both teams. It being a home game for Golden State, The Warriors lit up the charts and domi nated the majority of the game. The fourth quarter saw Boston play solid two way basketball to come from behind and capture game one 120-108. Horford led the Celtics’ offense with 26 points, Jaylen Brown followed with 24 points. Despite the loss, Curry and Wiggins combined for 54 points.Game Two saw Golden State again take the early lead as Boston constantly closed in on the Warriors and nearly took the lead on multiple occasions. The Warriors managed to hold on to tie the series with a 107-88 win over Boston. Jayson Tatum led Boston’s offense with 28 points, while the victorious War riors were propelled by Curry’s 29 point perfor mance.Now heading into Game Three in Boston at the legendary TD Garden. The Celtics and Warriors were in a fist fight from the start with Boston on top. The Celtics withstood the attack led by Stephen Curry, who again led the scoring with 31 points alongside Klay Thompson’s 25 points. The Celtics, who used the home court to their advantage, held on to win 116-100. Marcus Smart finished with 24 points, Jaylen Brown with 27 and Jayson Tatum withWith26.Boston now leading the series 2-1 heading into Game Four, The Celtics looked to win two con secutive games. The First quarter was an exhilarating one with Boston leading 28-27 heading into the second. The Celtics again maintained the lead, out scoring the Warriors 26-22 to lead 54-49 at the half. The second half saw the Warriors offense erupt as Curry put up a dominant show on offense, scoring 43 points to lead the Warriors series tying win 107-97. Klay Thompson and An drew Wiggins combined for 35 Gamepoints..Five, back in San Francisco saw the Warriors again dominate on offense, led by Andrew Wiggins’ 26 point performance. Klay Thompson followed suit with 21 points. Despite Jay son Tatum’s solid 27 point performance, Golden State managed to capture Game Five to lead the series 3-2 with a 104-94 win.
J UNE 22, 2022 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS • 5 ADVERTISE WITH US! 203 N. Arroyo Blvd P.O. Box 990 (956) 233-9928 (956) 797-9920 THEME: AT THE 1.ACROSSBEACHLikeacertain eagle 5. 15.14.13.12.hold"8.protective*Beach-goer'sacronym"To____andtoArabianbigwigIndianlentilstapleWildWestgrazerTVprize 16. Between Illinois and 17.nebraskaQuick and light on one's feet 18. *Wooden walkway by the beach 20. not this 21. 29.26.23.22.examinationsunwrittenCherrymiddleRelatingtoarib*BeachsuittypeKanye'sgenre LAST WEEK’S SUDOKU ANSWERS LAST WEEK’S CROSSWORDS ANSWERS 45. Modifies 47. *Just out of the 48.waterParallel grooves 50. Arrival times 52. *Wave rider 56. nitrogen, in the olden days 57. In ____ of 58. Hipbones 59. Parcel of land 60. Et alibi 61. 64.63.62.exclamationAuctioneer'sA.C.T.sectionTietheknot*Casualbeach tops DOW n 1. British 34.Jason32.found31.28.27.grocery26.25.paddle24.beach23.22.19.14.Lights13.11.Chevy10.9.(28.7.notch,6.5.words)4.3.2.colloquiallyCorporation,BroadcastingShellsinamagazineCapitalofPeruFungusdamage(2*SameassandbarCatchforaratchet'spl.Criticism*Wateratitshighestwords)ThelargestcontinentRetiredelectricCompassdir.HinduFestivalofDyedfabricTypeofTVshowEatingconteststaple*Decapodona*PropelledlikeaboardPluralofsputumTypeofbininastoreBundleofaxonsSlipperier*BuildingmaterialatthebeachJackRyan'sandBourne'sorg.Barrelsofbeer 36. *Hasselhoff's beach TV show 38. Improvise 40. Exercise group 41. upbraiding 44. Annoy 46. Lao Tzu follower 48. Hotel room option 49. Metallica's "Don't ____ On Me" 50. Poet Pound 51. To perfection (3 56.55.54.summertime53.52.words)Abunch*End-of-daysootherRubthewrongwayPopsCashdispenser 30. Pool hall mishap 33. 52 cards 35. *Sunny Dutch Caribbean vacation night43.42.meandered40.39.38.37.destinationBeunwellEagle'shomePrecedescarotene?TwistedorChill,with'out'Seatbyday,bedby GET SCHEDULES, SCORES & LIVE BROADCASTS OF LOS FRESNOS GAMES LIVE BROADCASTS SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY Want your story in the paper? 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. news@laferianews.net Tears To know when an innocent child dies Should bring tears to the most hardened eyes. May our hearts fill with sorrow To know for them there is no morrow, So when teardrops do fall At a time when death calls, May we lift up our eyes To blue Heavenly Skies, And for peace we do pray. May our hearts love each day, And from violence turn away Poem by James Arnold The next Chapter Poem
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• Something to store the water in. The container can be a rain barrel, a foodgrade barrel or even a large, clean trash can.
• A way for water to reach the container — a pipe, pvc tube or rain chain. What you don’t need A gutter. Determine the lowest point of the roof or the valley where rain would naturally run off. Heavy rain — any amount of moisture that accumulates — will work with gravity to help fill your container.
• Fancy math skills. We’ll do that for you: For every inch of rain that falls, around 0.62 gallons of water can be captured per square foot of roof. In other words, 1,000 square feet of roof can produce as much as 620 gallons of water for harvest with 1 inch of rain.
Tomatoes ripening on a window ledge. Tomatoes ripen best at room temperature on a solid surface.(Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Adam Russell)
• Texas “I’donmakingandharvestingincludingmanyAgriLifeA&MoffersresourcesarainwaterwebsiteinstructionsonarainbarrelYouTube.encourageeveryone to utilize the information AgriLife Extension has to offer when getting started harvesting rainwater,” said Watkins. “From keeping your success.”rainwatermakemanyyourotheramosquito-freewatertomakingfiltertocatchleavesanddebrisfromenteringsystem,thereareresourcestohelpyourfirstforayintoharvestinga
Storage and ripening Stein said picking at color break can also allow gardeners to better extend their harvests. The shelf life of ripe tomatoes can be extended in a refrigerator. Refrigerating tomatoes picked earlier in the ripening process puts the ethylene gas production on hold.Stored tomatoes can then be sequentially ripened at the gardeners choosing. To ripen tomatoes, Stein suggests placing them on a countertop at room temperature. The process should take five to seven days from color break. “There will be naysayers, but there is no science to support ripening on the vine,” he said. “The quality will be as good, if not better, ripening your tomatoes off the vine rather than on the vine.”
Beginners Guide to Harvesting Rainwater
719 W. Ocean Blvd. • (956) 233-2795
Especially in times of drought, every drop counts and rain barrels help to capture this valuable natural resource. (Stock photo)
Written by Adam Russell Home gardeners should pick tomatoes sooner than later.There is a misconceptioncommonamong the public and home gardeners that vine-ripened tomatoes taste better. But picking tomatoes at color break does not hurt quality, reduces fruits’ exposure to damage and can extend their shelf-life, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert. Larry Stein, Ph.D., AgriLife horticulturist,ExtensionUvalde, said tomatoes are fully mature when they begin to break color. Tomatoes ripen as they begin to produce ethylene gas, which promotes the tomatoes“Breakers,”process.maturestartingto change colors, begin to turn a yellowish green and then begin to fade into salmon-to-pink hues before turning red. Tomatoes can be picked as soon as their green begins to yellow. There is a difference in taste and quality between some producedcommerciallytomatoes, but it is based on logistical necessities that do not apply to home gardeners, Stein said. For instance, many commercially grown tomatoes are picked green for shipping, then treated with ethylene gas or placed in “ripening rooms” to promote ripening. Harvests of commercial tomatoes in Texas bound for markets around the state may include a range of fruit break – from yellowing to ripe – because bulk picking and shipping is the only feasible option. There is a difference between tomatoes picked green and ripened via synthesis, Stein said, but no taste or tenderness difference between tomatoes pulled from the vine at color break and those allowed to reach full red color on the vine. “Over the years, the term ‘vine-ripened’ may have emerged as a branding tactic used to make something sound better or set a product apart, but it is just a marketing ploy when it comes to tomatoes,” Steins said. “The fruit is fully mature at break, and there are no benefits from leaving it on the vine, but there are drawbacks.”
Don’t save it for a rainy day
What you need • A way to collect rain — a roof is ideal.
• A method to direct the water, such as a rain gutter and downspout.
Keep in mind
Pick Tomatoes at Color Break
Written by Susan Himes With ongoing droughts across much of the state, rainwater harvesting is something nearly every Texan can do to make the most of the moisture they get.“Even after the much-needed rainfall we recently received in late May and June, much of Texas is still under varying levels of drought from ‘severe’ to ‘exceptional’,” said Allison Watkins, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service horticulturist for the Concho Valley. Many erroneouslyhomeownersthinkthat if they live in an area with little rainfall, it’s not worth trying to catch for use“Infrequentlater. rainfall is exactly the reason to harvest rainwater,” WatkinsRainwatersaid.harvesting is one way homeowners can invest in their landscape and continue to garden during drought while also protecting valuable water resources.“Plantslove rainwater and catching when it does come, to use later when it’s hot and dry, will really help plants survive and thrive in a yard or garden,” she said.
The range of tomato ripeness from a “breaker” to fully ripe. Picking tomatoes earlier and ripening them off the vine can help growers avoid fruit damage and extend the shelf life of their harvest. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Larry Stein)
• This water is “grey water,” which is suitable for watering plants, washing your car or other places, but is not to be consumed by people or pets. If you want a system that will drinkableprovidewater, that is a more advanced system and special equipment and expert advice is needed.
Located next to Los
Picking tomatoes earlier reduces risks, damage Stein said he has picked his own tomatoes at the first hint of color change for decades. It is standard operating procedure to reduce fruit damage or losses in his garden and his recommendation to gardeners.Harvesting at color break reduces the chance of pests like stinkbugs and birds harming the fruit, he said. Breaker tomatoes are also less likely to experience radial cracks, splits in the fruit related to water uniformity.Radialcracks occur because forotherbirdsconditions.waterwhenFruitconsistent,availabilitymoistureisnotSteinsaid.swellsandcrackssoilsreceiveexcessfollowingverydrySomegardenersbelievetargettomatoesandgardenvegetablestheirwatercontent,
J UNE 22, 2022 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS • 7
especially during drought, Stein said. He doesn’t have any data to suggest those beliefs to be right or wrong, but he did say birds targetPickingredness.atbreak will not prevent all blemishes from stinkbugs but it will reduce exposure to varmint and pest damages, including burrowing pests like fruitworms.Earlierharvest will also reduce fruits’ exposure to high winds and other various contributors to bruising, he said.
Ripening off the vine extends harvest, quality with no taste difference
“There are so many reasons to pick tomatoes at color break, and no reason not to,” he said. “It’s just how I have done it forever.”
• Your local AgriLife helpGardenersTexashorticulturistExtensionorMastergroupcanyougetstarted.
(StatePoint) Starting a garden for the first time or expanding an existing plot is easier than you may think. With a little love and care, your green space will bloom and thrive. “For anyone with the inclination, a beautiful lawn and garden is always within reach,” says Jamie Briggs, director of marketing, Exmark, a leading manufacturer of commercial mowers and equipment for landscape professionals and homeowners with a lot of lawn to cut.
UTRGV Medical Student Advocates for LGBTQIA+ Health
Written by Susan Himes A Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service online learning course on butterflies is now available. The course covers butterfly biology, how to identify different species and what plants will attract them to a garden.Thecost for the course is $25, and it is available ownvideosparticipantsthreehourhttps://tx.ag/ALLButterfly.atThetwo-and-a-half-courseconsistsofmodules,allowingtowatchtheandlearnattheirpace.
“The course was born from years of people asking me about butterflies and creating a butterfly garden,” said course creator Molly Keck, AgriLife Extension entomologist, Bexar County. “When I speak at a Texas Master Gardeners or a garden club event, I can only give them a teaspoon of information on butterflies, I can’t get as indepth as I can in a course, so I created this one.” The online course consists of three parts: Butterfly Biology, Common Orders of Butterflies and Host Plants. Butterfly biology The first section covers the biology of butterflies and provides an understanding of the insect’s lifecycle. It is a butterfly’s body parts that make it an “accidental pollinator” since it only seeks out nectar, Keck explained. Pollen can become attached to a butterfly’s legs, body or mouthparts, which in turn can pollinate otherSheplants.saidthe insect’s defense mechanisms will also be explored, as will butterfly classifications.
Who’s who among butterflies “I think people will be amazed at how many different species of butterflies we have here in Texas,” Keck said. She said they can be tricky to identify sometimes because many can look similar. The Common Orders of Butterflies section of the course covers 30 Texas species, which includes monarchs, leafwings and painted“Participantsladies. will also learn the most common butterflies for each region of the state,” she said.
GETTI nG TO WORK Mittal hopes to use the award to highlight the importance of training physicians to be more aware of the differences within in our communities. “A lot of the battle is educating people, increasing towelongDiversity.withConferenceLGBTQIA+Inbyweperseveredsaid.beenstudentbeforeasorganization.ofcampus,PrideUTRGVhealth,tobeenmedicalconversation.”firstsaid.LGBTQIA+peopletheproviders,competencyculturalforourandnormalizingfactthatLGBTQIA+exist…especiallyyouth,”Mittal“So,oftentimes,thestepisjuststartingthatSincethebeginningofschool,Mittalhaspassionatelyworkingcastlightonqueerevenre-startingtheMedicalStudentAlliancegrouponthelocalchapterthenationalMSPA“ItookontheroleleadforMSPArightthepandemic,andengagementhasdifficult,”Mittal“Nonetheless,weandthatiswhyarebeinghighlightedtheU.S.PublicHealth.2021,weputonanUTRGVinpartnershiptheUTRGVOfficeofItwasaday-virtualevent,andinvitedlocalspeakersfocusonwhatthe
Learn About Butterflies, Bring Them to Your Garden
• Practice “Companion Planting”: Whether it’s growing marigolds alongside tomatoes to block bad bugs or planting corn next so squash to provide shade, plants are kind of like people, they do better with a buddy. Companion plants help block weeds, prevent pests, create fertile soil, promote pollination and offer plants a place to climb. In fact, people have been practicing this technique for centuries to create vigorous gardens. For more easy-to-understandentertaining, approaches to making the most of your outdoor spaces, check out the Exmark Backyard Life site at Ifexmark.com/backyard.you’vealwaysdreamed of having your own, homegrown, fruits and vegetables in your cooking, or brightening your home with fresh-cut flowers, there is no better time than the present to pursue this dream. The long sunshiny days of summer are ideal for developing your green thumb.
Conference attendees received
Peopletosounderservedaimmigrantatifbetheyintersectionsresidents,resourcesLGBTQIA+uniquetoValleyMittalsaid.“WehavealotofintheRGV,”said.“Englishmayasecondlanguage,theyspeakEnglishall.Wehaveabigpopulationandhistorically,medicallycommunity,it’saveryuniqueplacebringtheseresourcesto.wereverygrateful.”
– JUNE 13, 2022 – Third-year UTRGV med student Isha Mittal is the most recent recipient of the U.S. Public Health Service Excellence in Public Health Award. The award was established to recognize the contributions to public health from medical students across the country. The UTRGV School of Medicine nominated Mittal for their commitment to meeting the Healthy People 2030 initiative established by the U.S. Public Health Service.Mittal’s passion and work for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) health and advocacy stood out among the many nominees for the award. Mittal, who comes to UTRGV from Colombia University with a master’s degree in public healthsaid it has always been a goal to uplift those who identify as LGBTQIA+. “My program focused on sexual and reproductive health – and that work continued here for me in the Rio Grande Valley,” Mittal said. “My goal is to be a pediatrician and to work in adolescent health. I want to work with queer youth, and I plan to do this work pretty much for my entire life.”
8 • J UNE 22, 2022 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS
By Dimitra Trejo RIO VALLEY,GRANDETEXAS
n EXT STEPS Mittal hopes to continue organizing LGBTQIA+ specific events to raise awareness and bridge the healthcare gaps not only in the South Texas region, but also around the country. “Our conference was the cornerstone of the work we are doing in the Valley and why we were recognized,” Mittal said. “The efforts we are putting into highlighting resources for LGBTQIA+ people are one I’m passionate about, but it also simultaneously meets the priorities of the Public Health Service’s Healthy People 2030 goals.”
Tips to Start or Expand Your Garden and Make it Thrive
This is the driving idea behind “Backyard Smart,” a free online video series. These short explainer videos are full of facts and relevant information to answer your most common lawn and garden questions. The following planting strategies come directly from two recent “Backyard Smart” episodes: • Start With Seeds: Looking to add new plants to your garden and flower bed? Try starting from scratch. While most nurseries have limited species of mature plants to select from, there are literally thousands of varieties of seeds available at dirt cheap prices. A quick trip to the seed kiosk in your local hardware store offers the potential for you to enjoy flowers you’ve never seen and vegetables you’ve never tasted. “It’s easy to be intimidated by the prospect of growing plants from seeds but the truth is that all you need is soil, just the right amount of water and lots of sunshine,” says Briggs. “Nature will handle the rest.”
experience of being queer in the Valley is like.”
New online course covers the “B to Y” of a butterfly
How does your garden grow? The third section of the course, Host Plants, covers best practices for creating a butterfly garden, including the plants to select that will attract the adult butterflies, such as swallowtail and milkweed butterflies. “It’s important to choose plants that not only attract butterflies, but will do well here,” Keck said. In the course Keck covers Texas Superstar plants that will serve as good butterfly attractors. “These are the plants that grow well all across Texas and are water efficient,” she said. “In addition to attracting butterflies, other pollinators will also be drawn to the right plants.”
The course also has an interactive portion, which allows participants to virtually explore a garden. Keck said she hopes butterflies will serve as a gateway for people to also become more interested in other“Everyoneinsects. enjoys butterflies — no one is afraid of butterflies; they are like the birds of the insect world,” she said. A course covering butterflies is now available for online learning. It covers the basics of butterflies, helps Texans to identify which species are in their region, and how to garden to attract them. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Laura McKenzie)
Third-year UTRGV medical student Isha Mittal and Dr. Michael Hocker, dean of the UTRGV School of Medicine, display Mittal’s recent U.S. Public Health Service Excellence in Public Health Award. (Photo by Raul Gonzalez)
One of those project goals is providing more mental health resources across the United States. “The project has a set of goals that the nation wants to see happen in the next 10 years, and one we showcased was increasing treatment for people with depression,” Mittal said. “For this reason, we had mental health providers talking about those resources, as well as addressing bullying and how to combat that in our environment.”Mittalhasbecome part of the Gay and Lesbian Medical towillthisspecificmorehealth.apediatrictheirhealthtoindividualssexualfortoorganizationprogram(GLMA)Organizationfellows’–anationalcommittedensuringhealthequityLGBTQIA+andallandgenderminoritythataimsfurtherLGBTQIA+–andiscontinuingstudiestobecomeaphysicianwithfocusonLGBTQIA+“IfIcanbejustonepersontoprovidethiscare,especiallyinregion,”Mittalsaid,“itmakeahugedifferencethosepatients.”
