Los Fresnos News 9-28-22

Students Recieve Recognition by City

to over 130 students this semester.

On September 16th, the City recognized students from the Los Fresnos High School who have been volunteering in different ways throughout the community. These volunteer students have this opportunity through their School’s Rotary Interact Club, a club that Los Fresnos Rotary sponsors.

Rotary Club shares that the Interact Club has been working hard over the years and has grown

Aside from looking for opportunities to do community service this summer, they have also expanded their efforts to open up internship programs for the students. Students

Clarissa Longoria, Nicolás Naranjo, and Jenibelle Leal all participated at the Cameron County Courthouse. These students worked a minimum of 40 hrs. each assisting with case dockets and sitting in on active cases. They all seek to be

future lawyers.

Cameron County Judge for district court 444, David Sanchez spoke at the meeting sharing his excitement in being able to offer students an opportunity like this.

He says, “For me, it’s really kinda special and hits home,” it’s a valuable opportunity and offers students an experience to test out the waters, and really see if it’s something they want to pursue for a career. Worst case, they find it’s something they don’t want to pursue.

Sanchez says it’s much

better than spending three years in Law School and 3 days taking bar exams just to find this career path isn’t for you.

“An internship in my court is different,” “There are other offices that will have interns that will come in and do paperwork; what I call, ‘busy work.” Judge Sanchez shares that the interns are gonna learn more by experiencing what’s going on; either in courtroom (or) by coming up with questions.

Working at the courthouse and with the Honorable Judge David Sanchez of District Court 444, the students were given a firsthand experience of what being a criminal lawyer entails.

Another group of students worked for the Los Fresnos Boys and Girls Club. These five students Amber Ovalle,

Jada Ashford, Andrew Robledo, Alexia Gonzalez, and Brisaeda Guerrero assisted in this past year’s Fourth of July celebrations. The Boys and Girls Club has opened its doors to juniors and seniors from the Interact Club to assist with the other summer activities such as lifeguards, and mentors. The club looks to expand its internship program this summer to include local businesses.

This Fall Interact already has over 20 community service activities on its schedule. Anyone looking for assistance on community events are encouraged to contact the high school Rotary Sponsor Luis Gonzalez to see how this great club can assist.

Photos taken by Chad Bresson.

Emilio Flores Los Fresnos

Boys and Girls Club Volunteers from left to right, Amber Ovalle, Jada Ashford, Andrew Robledo, Alexia Gonzalez, Brisaeda Guerrero (L-R) Clarissa Longoria, Nicolás Naranjo, Judge David Sanchez, Jenibelle Leal

Honorable Judge David Sanchez of District Court 444

Texas Native Plant Week

By: Norma Cruz ,Cameron County Master Gardener & Friends of Los Fresnos Nature Park Volunteer

October brings cooler temperatures, color changes, and some fun days to celebrate. Gardeners especially love the cooler temperatures to work in their gardens. One special day...really a week to celebrate is the third week of October because it is known as Texas Native Plant Week.

Now you may be asking, “What is Texas Native Plant Week?”

First...what are native plants? Native plants are those plants that have naturally grown in a particular area for hundreds of years and have adapted well to the local climate, temperatures, and rainfall. They also grow deep roots when established which means they require minimal watering, saving you money and time in the long run. Native plants also create a

biodiversity for the local wildlife providing food and shelter. In a nutshell, native plants are the way to grow. Therefore, Texas Native Plant Week is a time for all gardeners, experienced or novice, to learn more about these plants and how to incorporate them into their landscapes.

According to the Native Plant Society of Texas, the original idea came from two women, Faye Tessnow and Barbara Anderson, of the Highland Lakes Chapter. They envisioned this as a way to emphasize the role of native plants in conservation efforts and as an incentive to use it as a tool for educating the public of its importance. Their mission is to educate and seek alternative landscaping practices. Tessnow and Anderson proposed the idea to the state legislature (HB 1739), and it was signed into law by former Governor Rick Perry on June 19, 2009.

I encourage you to take some time during the week of October 17-23, 2022 to learn as much as you can about native

by Dr . ADA m LALONDE

plants by visiting your local state parks and nature parks. Stop by your local nursery and ask them questions about native plants and see a variety of plants while there.

View videos on YouTube channels: Native Plant Society of Texas and Central Texas Gardener (my favorite ones) to get more information about the plants and how to use them in your landscape.

There are a number of books you can purchase to learn more about native plants. For example:

Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife by Noreen Damude and Kelly Conrad Bender

Plants of Deep South Texas: A Field Guide to the Woody and Flowering Species by Alfred Richardson and Ken King

Native Host Plants for Texas Butterflies A Field Guide by Jim Weber, Lynne Weber, and Roland H Wauer

You can also come visit me and my fellow Cameron County Master Gardeners at

our Native Plant Sale on Saturday, October 15th from 9:00 – 12:00 at the Demonstration Garden behind the AgriLife Extension Service Building, 1390 W Expressway 83, San Benito, Texas 78586. We will have a great variety of native plants to purchase and will be there to answer all your questions.

If you want handson experience working with native plants, you can also volunteer at the Los Fresnos Nature Park Butterfly Garden on Saturday mornings from 7:30-10:00. Master Gardener Priscilla Rosas and I will be there working on the butterfly garden.

Knowing the importance of native plants will help you make good choices for your home landscape and garden, so instead of maintaining large yards of green, manicured grass, you can sit back and enjoy all the benefits of a yard filled with native plants.

oral health and untreated oral diseases

a significant impact on quality of life. Many reports indicate a relationship between periodontal (gum) disease and stroke, heart disease, and pre-term low-birth-weight babies.

Sadly, studies have shown that more than 75% of the population is affected by some type of periodontal disease or gingivitis, which could easily be prevented. Poor dental care can also contribute to oral cancer, which now takes more lives annually than cervical or skin cancer. Systemic diseases have oral manifestations, meaning your dentist may be the first healthcare provider to diagnose a health problem. Regular exams allow your dentist to keep your mouth in tip-top shape and watch for developments that may point to problems elsewhere in the body. Oral tissues reflect symptoms of other problems, and many diseases can be diagnosed in their early stages through an oral examination. A dental exam also picks up on poor nutrition and hygiene, growth and development problems and improper jaw alignment. Oral health mirrors overall health. Seeing a dentist every six months, combined with your own daily effort, will ensure that you keep a healthy smile and help identify diseases in their earliest stages. Call your dentist every six months to set up an exam or contact our office if we can schedule you for a new patient exam.

Adam Lalonde

Norma Cruz

Turks Cap, a native plant of the Valley. Photo sent in by Norma Cruz

Scorpions Tail is a native plant of the Valley. Photo sent in by Norma Cruz.

Lantana is a native plant of the Valley. Photo sent in by Norma Cruz

Los Fresnos

Community Development

Events

(956)479-8585

(956)479-8585

(956)367-0335

Farms CD&J Mini Ranch (956)456-9600

Flowers The Flower Gallery (956)233-1555

Gris Faviola’s Flower Shop (956)233-1611

Rosie’s Flowers & Gifts (956)233-5877

Formal Wear Los Fresnos Formal Wear (956)233-9572

Funeral Angel Lucy’s Funeral Home (956)254-2099

Dignity Memorial (956)797-5614

Gifts / Specialty Shops

Las Tres Gallinas (956)577-5777

Handgun / Security Training

Vinson’s Training School (956)266-2582

Hardware

Zarsky Lumber Co. (956)233-4456

Healthcare Clinic / Home Care TVNS, LTD. (800)242-8867

Tropical Health Care (956)202-0111

Home Improvement Arizpe Flooring (956)545-8520

Hotel Los Fresnos Inn & Suites (956)233-1133

Insurance Rio Grande Underwriters (956)233-5744

State Farm David Armendariz (956)233-3276

Meat Market

Super

(956)233-2795

Newspaper Los Fresnos News (956)233-9928

Plumber Integrity Services & Plumbing (956)367-6005

Real Estate Realty Associates / Rosalinda Cantu (956)459-1403

Real Estate Outfitters Inc. (956)346-3034

V.I.P. Realty (956)399-7777

Recycling / Waste Oil Collection

Fatty Chem By-Products (956)233-5691

Restaurant Subway (956)233-1617

Taqueria El Cien (956)233-1001

Dairy Queen (956)233-9533

Tapia’s Cafe (956)233-9988

RV Palmdale RV Resort (956)399-8694

Salon Cuts & More (956)233-3250

Schools LFCISD (956)254-5205

Towing All Valley Wide Towing LLC. (956)233-4840

Water Delivery / Filtration Culligan (956)399-1780

Community Health Outreach program

The City of Los Fresnos offers a free Community Health Outreach Program within its community. The program offers a variety of free classes/activities, nutrition support, cooking classes and diabetes prevention classes. It also offers free health screenings such as blood pressure screenings, BMI screenings, A1C testing and follow-up care to both men and women 18 years of age and older.

Exercise classes are offered both virtually and in person. Pre-recorded classes are available on the City of Los Fresnos Community Health Outreach Program’s Facebook group.

In person classes are offered at the Los Fresnos Memorial Park. The current exercise class schedule offers Walking 2 Fitness, Zumba, Body Sculpting, Dance 2 Fitness, Water Aerobics, and Lap Swimming. All classes are taught by Certified Fitness Instructors.

To register for the City’s Community Health Outreach Program contact Los Fresnos Community Health Worker Christine Martinez at 956-312-1406 or email at cmartinez@citylf. us.

Once enrolled in the program participants are able to participate in all classes/activities at no charge as offered by the City of Los Fresnos. The current schedule offers a wide variety of classes to choose from!

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

Varsity VolleyballSchedule

Friday

Saturday

Tuesday

Thurs.

Tuesday

Thurs.

Tuesday

Thurs.

Tuesday

Saturday

Tuesday

Tournament

Los

Los

TBA

Los Fresnos 5:00

TBA TBA

PSJA 6:30 pm

TBA TBA

Los Fresnos 6:30 pm

Los Fresnos 12:00 pm

Edinburg Edinburg 6:30 pm

Tuesday September 13 th United South Los Fresnos 5:00 pm

Saturday September 17 th Edinburg North Edinburg North 12:00 pm

Tuesday September 20 th *Rivera Rivera 6:30 pm

Saturday September 24 th *Weslaco

Weslaco 12:00 pm

Tuesday September 27 th *Hanna Los Fresnos 6:30 pm

Saturday October 1 st OPEN OPEN OPEN

Tuesday October 4 th *San Benito

Saturday October 8 th *Harlingen

San Benito 6:30 pm

Los Fresnos 12:00 pm

Tuesday October 11 th *Rivera Los Fresnos 6:30 pm

Saturday October 15 th *Weslaco Los Fresnos 12:00 pm

Tuesday October 18

Saturday October 22

Tuesday October 25

Head Volleyball Coach : Anissa

1st Assistant:

Assistant Coaches: Kaylah Zepeda, Marcie Parra, Lindsay Edquist, &

*Hanna Hanna 6:30 pm

*San Benito Los Fresnos 12:00 pm

*Harlingen Harlingen 6:30 pm

Superintendent: Dr. Gonzalo Salazar

LFHS Principal: Justin Stumbaugh LFU Principal: Dr. William Roach Athletic Director: David Cantu

Schuster

Garcia, Tushar

Big win at home Los Fresnos shuts out La Joya in week four

By Ruben Rodriguez Los Fresnos News

The Los Fresnos Falcons picked up their second straight win in week four against 31-6A’s La Joya Coyotes at home. After the thrilling 36-33 win over PSJA the prior week.

The Falcons on offense were tremendous from the start. Robert Pineda started off with a Touchdown pass to Josue Limon to take a 7-0 lead. Robert Pineda would tack on a second TD of a QB keeper, followed by a two point Conversion to lead 15-0. Pineda would connect to Limon for a

second time to make it a 22-0 game.

Los Fresnos, who had displayed a dominant defense on the night, continued their dominance on offense in the second quarter. To start off the second quarter, Pineda connected to Thomas Sandoval for the third TD pass of the night. After allowing an interception, the Falcons forced a fumble which led to another touchdown on a four yard run by Gael Palestina. Los Fresnos led 38-0 at the half.

After a slow start on offense which consisted of a missed Field Goal

on their first attempt on offense. Los Fresnos then recovered another fumble which set up the Falcon offense for a 19 yard touchdown run by Robert Pineda. The Falcon defense forced another turnover on downs, continuing to shut down the La Joya offense. Los Fresnos would hold off to win 45-0.

The Falcons now sit 3-1 on the regular season. Los Fresnos will host Mission before their BYE week on September 30. 32-6A play will begin for the Falcons against the Rivera Raiders on October 6.

Starting off right Los Fresnos picks up win in 326A District Opener

By Ruben Rodriguez Los Fresnos News

Lorraine

After a lengthy nondistrict schedule, The Los Fresnos Lady Falcons began 32-6A play against the Rivera Lady Raiders. Throughout the non-district campaign, The 32-6A powerhouse picture began painting itself as Harlingen, Los Fresnos, Weslaco and Brownsville Rivera have all shown their dominance on the road to 32-6A. These four teams are easily the favorites to punch their tickets to the big dance later this fall. Two of the projected teams in Los Fresnos and Brownsville Rivera faced off to kick off 32-6A play.

The Lady Falcons and Lady Raiders faced off a total of three times in 2021.

The first meeting, which took place in a non-district tournament resulted in the Lady Raiders winning in three sets 2-1. During 326A play, Los Fresnos won the first meeting at Rivera in a sweep fashion. In their third and final meeting, Rivera returned the favor with a sweep over the Lady Falcons. Despite losing power hitter Kenia Ibarra, The Lady Raiders still hold a key core of players in Melanni Garza, Emily Morales, Rochelle Guerra and Zophia Blanco.

The Lady Falcons finished off the non-district with a standout 26-5 record, meanwhile the Lady Raiders finished nondistrict play with a 20-13 record.

Dominance was the start as the Lady Falcons took

control early on offensively and defensively, holding off the Lady Raiders offense which was led by Garza, Blanco, Morales and Guerra. The Lady Falcon Defense played consistently throughout the first set. Los Fresnos would capture set one 25-15.

Set two showed the Lady Raiders offense being a little more aggressive. The Lady Falcons, led by Jones, Martinez, Reyes and Vega. Los Fresnos would hold off Rivera to take set two 2520. The Lady Falcons, who played solid defense all night, continued to control the flow of the game to win 25-17.

The Lady Falcons played a standout style of Volleyball to kick off the 2022 District 32-6A campaign with a win.

the Next Chapter Poem

A Good Night's Rest

They say that fifteen minutes laughing equals two hours of sleep. So is a joke better than counting sheep?

Compared to a comfy bed and a story read? Dreams you make inside your head?

A good night's sleep may be hard to find, although it makes it easier for you to unwind.

I will admit, a joke is good, but a good night’s rest is more understood.

-Selene Olguin (13 years old)

Want

Quantum Light Source Advances Bioimaging Clarity

Texas A&M researchers team up to create device to enhance spectroscopy results

are needed.

Improving the signal-to-noise ratio in brillouin imaging

Six years ago, Yakovlev attempted to improve the signal-to-noise ratio in Brillouin microscopy by using intense light sources. Unfortunately, overexposure to light damaged the cells he was imaging.

allowed the researchers to adjust, direct, and efficiently manipulate and detect light. During that time, Li gained a better understanding of biology, and Yakovlev and Agarwal developed a mechanism to create the proper state and matter of light needed for noise reduction without damaging live cells.

big impacts from seeing small details

Seeing details clearly makes all the difference in biomedical breakthroughs.

Texas A&M University researchers accomplished what was once considered impossible — they created a device capable of squeezing the quantum fluctuations of light down to a directed path and used it to enhance contrast imaging.

This one-of-akind “flashlight” was built to increase the signal-to-noise ratio present in Brillouin microscopy spectroscopic measurements that visually record the mechanical properties of structures inside living cells and tissues. Test results reveal the new source significantly increases image clarity and accuracy.

“This is a new avenue in research,” said Vladislav Yakovlev, Ph.D., University Professor in the Texas A&M Department of Biomedical Engineering in the College of Engineering. “We are specially designing light in such a way that it can

improve contrast.” “It’s a new milestone in the capabilities of Brillouin microscopy and imaging extensively used for biosystems,” said Girish Agarwal, Ph.D., University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. “And it becomes part of an international effort to develop quantum sensors for diverse applications like brain imaging, biomolecule structure mapping and exploring underground oil and water sources by devising supersensitive gravimeters.”

A paper detailing the work was published in Optica.

the ever-present problem of noisy images

All instruments capable of capturing a picture or image also capture signal distortion, or noise, in the process. The distortion

can stem from too much or too little light and even brightness or color issues from the environment around the subject. Most noise is unnoticed until the image is enlarged enough for the naked eye to see the unwanted pixels clearly.

Brillouin microscopy is the fundamental limit of reduced-scale measurement imaging currently possible. The process aims lasers at solid objects and measures the waves or signals of vibration made by the moving atoms and structures within the visibly unmoving material. Distortion produced at this scale can severely obscure the signals received, creating muddied images that are hard to interpret. Currently, all laser spectroscopy systems like Brillouin microscopy suffer from the natural and technical noise distortions associated with laser light, which is why newer light sources

Yakovlev searched the scientific literature for answers and found a theory from the 1980s postulating quantum light could solve the problem, though it didn’t mention how. Agarwal, an expert in quantum physics, came up with a possible way. Tian Li, Ph.D., then a postdoctoral researcher from the University of Maryland, was hired to create the first quantum light laboratory at Texas A&M. The laboratory space was provided by Marlan Scully, Ph.D., director of the Institute for Quantum Science and Engineering.

The team faced two significant challenges: finding funding for such a wild idea and finding graduate students and postdoctoral researchers to help them — ones who were willing to straddle the fields of biology and quantum physics.

After nearly two years of vigorous explorations, the device grew to a table-top-sized contraption of complex optical configurations and measuring instruments that

Small gray inset area in the left image shows the tiny clear-glass triangle researchers put in water and used as a test shape. The left image is scattered spectroscopy using a traditional light source on the glass and water, where the faint outline of the triangle shape is the only clear signal captured. The right image was captured using the new light source, which allowed the scattered spectroscopy to differentiate the contrast between the glass signals and the water signals.

(Image courtesy of Vladislav Yakovlev and Girish Agarwal)

Though the lightsqueezing device can be adopted for other spectroscopic measurements, such as Raman scattering, Yakovlev and Agarwal are enhancing the capabilities of Brillouin microscopy to identify the viscous or elastic materials in biological systems.

These systems control the physical properties of cells and cell structures and define everything from cell development to cancer progression.

“Each time you get a new telescope or something like gravitational-wave astronomy, you discover new things you can’t possibly see without it,” said Yakovlev. “The same thing works in biology. Before the invention of the microscope, we didn’t know that we consist of individual cells.”

So far, only the contrast of spectroscopy images has been improved, but Yakovlev and Agarwal are already working on Agarwal’s theory to enhance spatial resolution or the smallest details possible. And if the task leads to creating another complex device that pushes the limits of current technology, the researchers are ready and willing to make that happen.

“I love those types of projects where people tell you something will never work, and it works,” said Yakovlev. “I love challenges.”

The project was primarily supported by funding awarded to the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, with Yakovlev, Agarwal and Scully listed as principal investigators.

Vladislav Yakovlev, Ph.D., and Girish Agarwal, Ph.D., created a novel light source to improve the clarity of Brillouin microscopy, a critical imaging technique for cell and tissue research. (Photo courtesy of Texas A&M Engineering)