July
2, 2010 Use Back button
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‘Rain on
parade’ possible
|
SANDERSON –
Hurricane Alex, which made landfall south of Brownsville overnight Wednesday,
promised to bring some much-needed rain to Sanderson and south Terrell
County. But that same
storm has also threatened to “rain on the parade” as the county observes its
annual July 4 event today and tomorrow, July 2 and 3. Forecasters
earlier in the week were calling for rain throughout the Trans-Pecos area
through tomorrow. If rain
threatens any of the outdoor activities, there is a backup at Fair Hall but
it is too small to handle all of the activities normally scheduled for the
Courthouse Lawn and the parade down Oak Street. The American
Legion still plans to have its noon barbecue at the Legion Hall, barring any
really severe weather. But other outdoor events could become a victim of
Mother Nature. Activities
start today for Fourth By
ANNA La FLEUR Production
Manager SANDERSON –
Today starts what has become the biggest “Red Letter Day” of the social
calendar here with the annual Fourth of July celebration. Weather
permitting, local residents, friends and out-of-town softball players will
take in the festivities here for the nation’s 234th birthday and Sanderson’s
105th birthday. The kickoff of
the weekend of events will feature the Terrell County Bs playing for a
“rehearsal” on stage in front of the old Sanderson High School building
starting “about” 8:30 p.m. tonight, July 2. Vendors are
encouraged to set up booths Friday on the Courthouse Lawn during the time the
band is playing. Tonight’s
vendors can pick out a spot starting at 7:30 p.m. Road and Bridge Supervisor
Mike Sanchez will assign spots and provide power where needed. Tomorrow
morning, July 3, the American Legion two–day softball tournament will begin
at Legion Field at 8 a.m. The Legion has
cancelled its regular Saturday breakfast but will offer breakfast burritos
and other goodies at its concession stand, which also will open at 8 a.m. Vendors can
meet Sanchez at 9 a.m. tomorrow, July 3, to select their spot for the
afternoon events on the Courthouse Lawn. “They don’t
have to set up that early but if they want to select a spot, I suggest they
be there at 9 o’clock,” Sanchez said. The Sanderson
Roping Club’s Annual Saddle Roping Event will kick off at Downie Arena on US
Highway 285, also at 9 a.m. The annual
American Legion Auxiliary Parade will line up on the west side of Sanderson
Bank at 10 a.m. ready to throw candy and entertain the crowds of spectators
gathered along Oak Street. The parade
will “move out smartly” at 11:30 a.m., ending at Legion Hall where a barbecue
lunch will be offered at the newly-air-conditioned building. There will be a
misting system outside to keep eaters cool and plates can be ordered to go. Tickets are $9
for both chicken and brisket, $8 for one meat and $6 for child plates. Back on the
Courthouse Lawn, Project Graduation will have a booth offering barbecue.
Burritos, jewelry, frozen ice popsicles, face painting, furniture, funnel
cakes and other foods items will be available. Local pizza
maker and restaurant owner Shellie Martin will sell pizza and other goods all
weekend. She can be reached at 432/940-5883. A group called
Fun Spot of Lufkin hoped to bring a “Bungee Jump” for kids of all ages but
mostly the older variety. It does not
require leaping from a high place. Proprietor Robert Day said it is similar
to a baby jumper that attaches to a doorway, only on a much larger scale. However, Day
reported Wednesday he had been involved in an accident which destroyed his
pickup and damaged a knee. He said he
could not be here this weekend but was looking at other events to reschedule
his appearance. The Old Timers
Hour will begin at 2 p.m. when the oldest man and oldest woman in attendance
will be recognized. It is sponsored by the Texas Historical Society. Sponsored by
the Sanderson Culture Club, a homemade ice cream contest will ensue on the
courthouse lawn at 3 p.m. At 7 p.m. disc
jockey J.R. Roman of Odessa will play music to suit a variety of tastes prior
to the street dance and at band breaks to keep people entertained and tapping
their toes. The street
dance will begin at 9 p.m. with music by Southern Comfort of Del Rio. Dr. Darrell
Wells will present the fireworks show at 10 p.m. during which the DJ will
offer patriotic music. The band will
play on till 1 a.m. Sunday but it won’t be over yet. The Legion
will offer a breakfast back at Legion Hall from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. for a $7
“donation.” The softball
tournament at Legion Field will resume at 8 a.m. with concessions available. There will be
a non-denomination church service at the pavilion in Bicentennial Park at 10
a.m., sponsored by First Presbyterian Church of Sanderson. All of the
above, of course, is with the proviso “weather permitting.” SANDERSON –
The Labor Day weekend start for the first Nopalito Market in Sanderson was
still being debated last week as committee members also discussed a location
that would give it the best visibility. No firm
decisions have been reached. Several
locations were discussed at the weekly Nopalito Committee meeting Friday. At issue were
the size of the first few markets and how much difference the location would
make in attracting passersby to stop. The Courthouse
Lawn was discussed as a possible location because it has restrooms, shade and
utilities. But others were concerned that people driving through town might
not want to leave the highway, not knowing where they might end up. If the
courthouse were chosen three blocks north of the highway, attractive signs
would have to be created to point the way. Temporary
signs might be created for a few market days until more permanent signs could
be fashioned. The committee
agreed the market needs its own logo and Terry Toler of Sanderson has agreed
to help with both the logo design and the signs. The market
committee discussed the website and a Nopalito cookbook to be sold at the
market. Committee
members had a chance to taste some samples of cactus cooking that could be in
a cookbook. Some committee
members said they had never tried anything made of cactus and ideas of what
can be in the cookbook were discussed. The market is
taking a long time to start because of the amount of planning and details
that go into starting a market like this for the first time was discussed. Every detail
must be covered and every question answered before this market is to open so
that it runs smoothly and there is no confusion, said Anna La Fleur, who came
up with the idea for the market. Nopalito
Market Committee President Shellie Martin said guidelines also are being
developed. “The market
idea came about when some of us wanted to find a way to cause more of the
some 3,000 vehicles a day that roll through Sanderson to stop and experience
our hospitality,” La Fleur said. By
JIM STREET Ed
& Pub “We hold these
truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these
are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” So begins one
of the most recognized documents in the annals of American literature. The
Declaration of Independence was approved 234 years ago today and John Adams,
who would become the nation’s second President, predicted July 2 would be a
date that would live in history. He was off by
just two days. July 4 would become the official “birthday” of the United
States of America, though it would take eight long, hard years after its
adoption before the dream would become a reality. The 56 signers
of the Declaration mutually pledged “to each other our lives, our fortunes
and our sacred honor.” Iconic
diplomat Ben Franklin warned the signers they must “hang together or surely
we shall hang separately.” It was on July
4, 1776, that the Continental Congress formally adopted the declaration that
the 13 American colonies deemed to have been separated from the British crown
to which they had pledged allegiance. The document
which officially birthed the United States of American was written primarily
by Thomas Jefferson and was amended by the Congress before its adoption. In it,
Jefferson, who would become President number three, innumerated a litany of
abuses by King George III and asserting certain natural rights, including a
right of revolution to address the grievances. And it
declared that “whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these
ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it and to
institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing
its powers in such form as to them shall seem most likely to affect their
safety and happiness.” The
Declaration was the first of three significant documents that would create
what would become the richest and freest nation the world would ever know,
the United States of America. The second
document, already under way when the Declaration was being drafted, was the
Articles of the Confederation, the first US Constitution, formally ratified
in 1781. It was a loose
confederation of independent states but some, calling themselves
“federalists,” felt more power should be granted to the central government. There was
great debate with the “anti-federalists” and it ended with a compromise in
the Constitution, adopted June 21, 1788, which created the “federal”
government with power shared between the central government and the states. It also
created three “co-equal” branches of government with the executive,
legislative and the judicial branch each holding veto power over the other
two. Another
innovation of the new government was the transfer of the “sovereign” from the
government to the people. Government
derived its “just powers” from the consent of the people, not the other way
around. Those concepts
are under attack these days like never before. But the nation has endured
many challenges in its 234 years of existence. May it long
survive these and other challenges. By
ANNA La FLEUR Production
Manager SANDERSON –
The Nopalito Market is working on a cookbook and is asking for local
residents or anyone else to donate recipes of foods and drinks made with cactus. We also
encourage donors to feature dietary information. You can also
submit a picture of your dish or a little story about how the recipe was
acquired or created. We see the
market as an opportunity to show the world how valuable our little town is
and why we can proudly say that we are the Cactus Capital of Texas. The cookbook
will include a main dish category along with side dishes, desserts, jellies
and jams, snacks and a cooking with kids section. It will be
spiral bound with a section on how and when to harvest. The cookbook
will also contain instructions on what cacti are edible and what the various
parts are. This book will
be sold at the market for an undetermined price and the proceeds will go to
the Nopalito Market, a part of the Sanderson Chamber of Commerce. Anyone
interested in submitting recipes can send them to me with pictures in JPG at anna.tcnl@yahoo.com or drop them
off at the News Leader office. There is no
charge for submitting recipes or pictures and anyone can submit as many as he
chooses. However,
pictures and stories are not mandatory. Make sure to
include your phone number so we can contact you if we have any questions. The committee
has already attained some recipes and is looking forward to receiving more. All recipes
and pictures must be submitted by August 31 to be included in the first
edition of the book. ALPINE – The
Rotary Club of Alpine will host the 2010 Way Out West Texas Book Festival
this month at the Espino Conference Center on the Sul Ross State University
campus here. Club President
Lou Pauls said the festival on July 29, 30 and 31 will benefit the building
campaign of the Alpine Public Library, which is seeking funds to complete its
new building, to furnish it and to landscape the grounds. Rotary
International supports literacy initiatives worldwide. The
many-faceted festival will begin with a Meet-and-Greet Thursday evening, July
29, at Kokernot Lodge, featuring a social hour followed by an old-fashioned
West Texas Barbecue. Special guests
and dignitaries will be introduced and the Alpine belly-dancing troupe Mystic
Gitanas will perform. This and the
other evening activities are ticketed events. Daytime
programs will follow on Friday and Saturday at the Conference Center, said
Festival Director Jean Hardy-Pittman. “This year we
will have programs on Friday for young people from pre-school to college
age,” Hardy said. Bilingual
programs, storybook times, dramatic performances and talks by well-known children’s
authors will be designed to engage, entertain and inspire the young to read
books. These programs
will also be appropriate for parents, teachers and families. These and all
other daytime programs are free and open to the public. Participants
will gather Friday evening, July 30, for a reception and dinner at the Espino
Conference Center. A special
program is planned including music and noted guest speaker Denise Chavez, who
will present a dramatic interpretation. Saturday, July
31, will kick off at 9 a.m. with a keynote speech by acclaimed novelist David
Morrell, creator of the “First Blood” trilogy and its famous Vietnam War vet,
John Rambo. Morrell has
written a score of other bestselling action-adventure novels and is often
called the father of the modern action novel. The festival
coincides with the release of his “The Shimmer” in paperback, a cross-genre
thriller set in a thinly disguised Marfa. The Saturday
schedule will feature prominent authors in readings, panel discussions,
poetry performances and audio-visual presentations. Laurence
Parent will discuss his upcoming nonfiction account of “Death at Big Bend,”
Iron Mountain Press, July 2010. Author D.J.
Stout will discuss his new book on Herbert Kokernot and the Alpine Cowboys
baseball club and photographer James H. Evans will present a program of his
new work, which will be published next year in a new book from University of
Texas Press. A dozen other
authors are included. Again this
year, writers, publishers and book dealers will offer their books for sale in
the reception area of the conference center. And plans
include a Saturday evening grand-finale fundraising concert by the
Flatlanders, featuring Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock, at the
Pete P. Gallego Center on the university campus. Tickets are
available through www.frontgagetickets.com. Festival
Committee members include Rotarians Pauls, Hardy-Pittman and Suzi Belles.
Community members are Donna Greene, Christopher Ruggia, Julia Green and Tom
Michael. Serving as
Festival advisers are author Stephen Harrigan of Austin, a longtime director
and stalwart of the Texas Book Festival, Jim Glendinning of Alpine and Lonn
Taylor of Fort Davis. More news will
be published in area media and on at www.wowtxbookfestival.com. For
information, call 432/ 837-3360, 800/597-3360 or info@wowtxbookfestival.com. By
JEAN HARDY-PITTMAN Special
to the News Leader ALPINE – Lest
the Alpine Rotary’s Third Way-Out-West Texas Book Festival July 29 to 31 be
viewed as an exclusive literary affair, organizers this year are making it
clear books are for everyone, especially children, young adults, families and
teachers. In fact, the
first full day of programs on Friday, July 30, will feature authors and books
for children and young adults. Starting with
an entertaining tale, Alpine library children’s director Mary Beth Garrett
will read “The Gum-Chewing Rattler” by Joe Hayes, Cinco Puntos Press, 2008. Afterward, the
children and their parents will get into the act with crafts and hands-on
learning activities. Author/artist
Xavier Garza of San Antonio will present a bilingual program based on his
vibrant story “Lucha Libre: The Man in the Silver Mask,” Cinco Puntos Press,
2007. In Mexico,
lucha libre is a popular form of “free” wrestling featuring rapid, stylized,
sometimes high-flying moves and colorful masks. “Children and
adults — our other children — will love the work of Xavier Garza, who is not
only a great reader but also the artist of the paintings in Lucha Libre,”
said Denise Chavez, who has hosted Garza at the Border Book Festival in Las
Cruces. “At once
fresh, fun and exciting, his work with children has a positive message and is
a bridge for all people, reminding us that we should all have the open hearts
of children,” she said. Chavez and
Benjamin Saenz will read from their works, appealing to a broad audience. Saenz’s “Last
Night I Sang to the Monster,” Cinco Puntos Press, 2009, has earned widespread
praise in such prestigious review journals as Kirkus, Publishers Weekly,
Booklist and School Library Journal, among others. Written in the
voice of 18-year-old Zach, the novel begins with the boy waking up in a
rehabilitation center and he does not want to remember how he got there. He just wants
to forget. “Zach’s
first-person voice is compelling and heartbreaking,” a reviewer writes in
Kirkus. “Saenz’s poetic narrative will captivate readers from the first
sentence to the last paragraph of this beautifully written novel, which explores
the painful journey of an adolescent through the labyrinth of addiction and
alcoholism.” However, the
book “is also a celebration of life and a song of hope in celebration of
family and friendship, one that will resonated loud and long with teens.” Saenz also
plans a program based on his book “A Perfect Season for Dreaming,” Cinco
Puntos Press, 2010, in which 78-year-old Octavio Rivera shares with his
granddaughter Regina his nine most memorable dreams. Denise Chavez
will read from “Last of the Menu Girls,” a rich weaving of interrelated
stories comprising the coming of age novel of Rocío, a young southern New
Mexican girl. With the
publication of this book in 1986 by Arte Público Press, Chavez joined the
highest ranks of Chicano literature. “The family,
the known neighborhood and the role of women in this context are Denise’s
concern as a writer,” iconic Chicano author Rudolfo Anaya writes. “Her eye
for detail is sharp, the interior monologues of her characters are revealing
and Denise’s long training as a dramatist serves her well in creating
intriguing plot and dialogue. In short, all the strengths of a writer are
here.” The
Way-Out-West Texas Book Festival will be at Sul Ross State University
facilities. It includes
evening events July 29, 30 and 31, as well as the two days of programming
mentioned earlier. For more
information, call 432/837-3360 or go to www.wowtxbookfestival.com. ODESSA – The
Texas Pecos Trail Region Board of Directors bi-monthly meeting will be at 10
a.m. Thursday, July 15, at the Barn Door Steakhouse at 2140 Andrews Highway
here. The public is welcome to attend.
Lunch will be
served at noon. Cost is $10 per plate,
collected at the door. The Texas
Heritage Trails Program is the Texas Historical Commission’s award-winning
tourism initiative designed to help Texas communities promote tourism,
revitalize local economies and foster community leadership through historic
preservation. The Texas
Pecos Trail Region encompasses 22 counties in the Trans-Pecos area including
Terrell, Andrews, Crane, Crockett, Ector, Edwards, Glasscock, Kimble, Kinney,
Loving, Martin, Maverick, Midland, Pecos, Reagan, Reeves, Sterling, Sutton,
Upton, Val Verde, Ward and Winkler. Those planning
to attend should contact Executive Director Scott Jordan 325/387-3900 or info@texaspecostrail.com by Friday,
July 9. SANDERSON –
Hurricane Alex bringing rain to the Gulf Coast has resulted in another change
in a plan to seal coat Ranch Roads 2400 and 2886 back to this week. The Texas
Department of Transportation said it planned to do the work last month but
then changed it to later this month. But the storm caused another changed in
schedules for contractor Ronald R. Wagner & Company of Kendalia and the
work was moved up to this week. TxDOT
spokesman Glen Larum said this week that Highway 2400 would be coated from the
Pecos County line to State Highway 349 yesterday and today and 2886 from the
2400 intersection to the Pecos County line will be done today and tomorrow. “Seal coat” is a rock and asphalt layer put
down on the highway to reseal the surface and keep moisture from damaging the
road base and extending the life of the pavement. Larum said
motorists will encounter construction workers who will direct them through
the work zone and there will be brief lane closures in those areas where seal
coat work is being done. The work is
part of an annual preventive maintenance program involving 276 miles of
highways across the 12-county TxDOT Odessa district in 2010. Dark skies initiative launched FORT DAVIS –
The University of Texas at Austin McDonald Observatory here will kick off a
campaign to promote awareness of the causes, effects and solutions to light
pollution – stray light shone into the sky where it’s wasted, rather than
down on the ground where it’s useful. The
Observatory has promoted dark skies awareness through its nationally
syndicated “StarDate” radio program, its Spanish-language radio program
“Universo” and through online video and summer programs on-site at its home
near here. The
Observatory has produced a three-minute video detailing easy steps people can
take to preserve the night sky. The video is
posted at the Observatory’s Web site at http://mcdonaldobservatory.org/darkskies and YouTube
at http://www.youtube.com/mcdonaldobservatory. The video also
will be shown to the 55,000 annual visitors to McDonald Observatory at the
Cullen Theater in the Frank N. Bash Visitor Center. Stray light
cast into the sky by poorly-designed security and street lights, porch lamps
and neon signs fill the sky with so much light that they obscure the rest of
the universe beyond, including the Milky Way, and hides all but the brightest
meteors. Only a handful
of bright stars and planets shine through it. “McDonald
Observatory is fortunate to have the darkest night skies of any professional observatory
in the continental United States,” McDonald Observatory Superintendent Dr.
Tom Barnes said. “The sky out here makes this a great place for big
telescopes and research. “For years,
we’ve put on public programs and worked with schools to bring the wonders of
the universe to as wide an audience as possible,” he said. “Now we want to
share the message that dark skies are what makes our work possible and
preserving dark skies is worthwhile for everyone.” Light
pollution isn’t only a problem for astronomers and skywatchers. The
International Dark-Sky Association estimates Americans lose $10 billion each
year paying for light that is wasted as it’s shone into the sky instead of
down on the ground where it’s needed. McDonald
Observatory’s dark skies efforts are funded by a gift from Premack.com of San
Antonio. “It’s
important to us to get the word out about correcting light pollution, about
how you can take action to preserve dark skies and about how you can save
money by using responsible lighting,” Ruthie Premack said. “This is not
only a problem for astronomers but for everyone – for wildlife and for people
who live in cities where the dark skies are drowned out by wasted light,”
Paul Premack said. “You can make a difference by being wise about the kinds
of lighting you use to light the outside of your homes and by supporting city
and county lighting ordinances.” For many
years, McDonald Observatory has worked with nearby communities like Jeff
Davis County, Marfa and Alpine on lighting ordinances to keep skies dark and
streets safe. The Premacks’
donation also helps to fund summer programs for Boy Scout groups at McDonald
Observatory. The programs
will include a demonstration of best lighting practices and Scouts will
receive red flashlights that preserve dark-adapted vision for skywatching. The half-dozen
workshops for K-12 teachers at the Observatory this summer will include dark
skies information, best-practices lighting demonstrations and provide red
flashlights to about 100 teachers. First tennis camp sparks interest ALPINE – In
the same week as the record-breaking eleven-hour Wimbledon tennis match, Sul
Ross State University served up its first ever tennis camp. Kay Whitley,
director of athletics and head tennis coach, hosted the camp with the help of
student tennis players Mike Quintero of San Antonio and Lauren Ivey of
Imperial. Children
learned the basics of tennis at the camp and how to play the game. “My objective
is to get kids involved in tennis,” Whitley said. “I’d like to see young kids get involved.” A total of 18
children enrolled in the camp, with ages ranging from five to 15. During camp they learned the basics of
singles, doubles and basic swings and played various games to help improve techniques. “They all know
more about tennis now then when we started,” Whitley said. “And they all are
showing improvement.” Whitley said
hosting the camp was something she always wanted to do but conflicts
prevented her from it. “I always
wanted to have a camp but due to my schedule I couldn’t do it,” she said. She said she
is glad that she had students who were willing to help with the camp and they
were a major part of its success. “I have Mike
and Lauren the first summer session and they helped,” she said. “I oversee
the camp but they do most of the work.” Whitley worked
with the younger group of children, while Quintero and Ivy worked with the
older ones. Quintero, who
has had experience teaching at tennis camps, feels this camp is good for the
area. “This is the
first camp we’ve held since I’ve been here,” he said. “It’s very good and helps promote tennis in
the community.” Quintero
taught tennis camps in his hometown of San Antonio for almost ten years,
dating back to when he was in high school. He said he
feels the turnout for the first-year camp at Sul Ross was good and he hopes
the camp will continue to grow. “It’s a good
turnout with good numbers for the first time,” Quintero said. “It’s going pretty good. There are a lot
more kids than we thought and they’re all learning a lot.” Ivey is
getting her first experience teaching the camp. She said she is having fun
and feels she is doing quite well. She enjoys the
fact that this year’s campers are into the sport and have a willingness to
learn. “I’m really
enjoying teaching people how to play tennis,” she said. “I think I’m doing
pretty well. I really enjoy it. The kids have good attitudes and really want
to learn.” This year’s
turnout gives hope for the camp to continue next year, Whitley said. “I hope this is not a one year thing,” she
said. “It’s something I’m looking at doing next year too. I appreciate the parents of the kids for
letting them participate.” Whitley hopes
to have an even larger number of participants next year and hopes that the camp
can spark interest in tennis among children. “I feel like
we’re creating interest in tennis. Our courts are university courts but are
open to anyone,” she said. “I hope the camp triggers more people to come and
bring their friends. Tennis is one of
those things that once they learn, they can keep playing.” For more
information, contact Whitley at 432/837-8229 or by e-mail at kwhitley@sulross.edu. FORT STOCKTON
– Lightning caused at least three grass fires which burned about 185 acres on
the Longfellow Ranch about 35 miles south of here Sunday. The biggest
fire was on about 120 acres in an inaccessible area of the ranch. Another 25
acres and then 30 to 40 acres also burned. There were
reports that Fort Stockton fire equipment could not reach the scene because
it lacked four-wheel-drive vehicles. “The tanker is
two-wheel drive but we’re not going to take the tanker on top of a mountain,”
Fort Stockton Fire Chief Jesse Dominguez said. He said the
other trucks are equipped with four–wheel drive. Another small
fire was reported Monday night on the Harkins Ranch north of Sanderson but
Sheri Thorn was able to put it out with a bulldozer before it caused any
damage. Neto Calzada,
Ruben Rosas, Ralston Rosas, Richard Montalvo, Haze Roberts, Lewis White,
Albert Thorn and Michael Calzada all helped Thorn snuff the fire. Patrol nabs suspected illegals SANDERSON – US
Border Patrol agents here arrested 20 suspected illegal aliens recently 15
miles east of here. “Border Patrol
spotted a group and it took several days but the group was captured,” Border
Patrol spokesperson Bill Brooks said. It is believed
that the “coyotes,” or guides, escaped. Local
residents called the border patrol office here and reported seeing the
suspicious group but the agents were already in pursuit, Brooks said. By
ANNA La FLEUR Production
Manager SANDERSON –
Many people have noted that I lost weight recently and asked me how I did it. Too many in
this country suffer from obesity, hypertension, diabetes and many other
preventable illnesses. There are a
few things that they could change in their diet that would make a world of
difference. Salt, sugar
and food chemicals are the biggest contributors to an unhealthy body. A
healthy individual should only have a teaspoon of salt intake daily. Those who have
high blood pressure should decrease that amount by half. Garlic powder,
nutmeg, cumin and lemon can be substituted for salt. Beware of
hidden salt in foods. Monosodium Glutamate, known as MSG, baking soda, baking
powder and disodium phosphate are major contributors of hidden salt in food. Other sources
of hidden salt are cottage cheese, vegetable juice, cereals including certain
bran cereals and low-fat potato chips. Salt is
important for the human body and should never be completely avoided because,
without it, other illnesses can wreak havoc. Moderation is the key in healthy
eating. Sugar depletes
the calcium in bones and wreaks havoc in diabetics. Honey is a wonderful way
to sweeten and fresh-squeezed fruit juice can be used in recipes to sweeten
foods. If you cannot
read the ingredient name, it more than likely is a chemical. If it is
chemically altered, modified or a man-made seasoning that cannot be grown in
the ground, it is a chemical. Many chemicals
are in foods to make them addicting, not to make them taste good. They make
the consumer purchase more and eat more of the product. There is a
world of fresh foods at the supermarket that can be prepared without harmful
ingredients. Some healthy
seasonings are pepper, mustard seed, vinegar, garlic, dill, parsley, onion,
fresh peppers, fruit juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, olive oil, nuts, mushrooms,
olives and even carob. Carob is a
lovely substitute for chocolate and is very good for your heart and
everything else in your body. Another good
tip to keep in mind is that the human stomach is only as large as that
individual’s fist. Don’t eat
until you feel full but eat until hunger disappears. This will insure that
overeating is not an issue. Starchy foods
are not a healthy choice for diabetics to consume. Fresh fruits, vegetables
and meats are better. A person with
low blood sugar should not consume loads of sugar but rather get a natural
sugar intake from fresh fruits. Oranges are a
wonderful food to eat when trying to loose weight because it actually helps
burn the fat. Avocado is a
healthy source of fat and can be used moderately on salads. Food should be
prepared with all the colors of the rainbow. Don’t stick to one color of food
or you will not get the vitamins and minerals needed for a healthy diet. Bon apatite. FORT DAVIS —
The Nature Conservancy’s Davis Mountains Preserve will be open for hiking,
camping, horseback riding, backpacking, picnicking, photography, birding,
stargazing and other outdoor activities from about 10 a.m. Friday, July 9,
through about 3 p.m. Sunday, July 11. The event is free and open to the public. Guests will be
required to sign in and out at the McIvor Conservation Center. Only
high-clearance vehicles will be allowed past the center. Overnight
camping is allowed at the center, Madera Windmill and 48 Tank. Inquire upon
sign-in as to the location of these areas. Restrooms are available at the
McIvor Conservation Center. Only camp
stoves are allowed and open camp fires are prohibited. Jeff Davis County is
currently subject to a burn ban. Horseback
riding is allowed on the roads and the preserve provides a corral and water. Riders must
provide horses, tack, feed, etc. Horses must have current negative Coggins
Test. Guests should
bring their own food and drinks and plan to take their trash home with them.
Hikers should bring their own binoculars, cameras, sunscreen, hats and plenty
of water to drink. Firearms,
ATVs, stereos and TVs are prohibited. For safety reasons, children must be
supervised by their parents or other designated adults. No pets of any kind
are allowed. Davis
Mountains Preserve is about 25 miles northwest of here on State Highway 118,
about 10 miles past McDonald Observatory and about a quarter mile past the
Lawrence E. Wood Picnic Area. For further
information, e-mail DMP Director Chris Pipes at cpipes@tnc.org or call 432/
426-2390. To learn more
about the Davis Mountains Preserve and other Texas lands the Conservancy
works to protect, visit www.nature.org/texas. The Madera
Canyon Trail adjacent to the Lawrence E. Wood Picnic Area is open to the
public year-round from dawn until dusk. TEMPLE – The
US Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development office offers grants to
rural microentrepreneurs and microenterprises. The USDA Rural
Development's Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program was authorized by
the 2008 US Farm Bill. It will fund,
finance and facilitate microenterprise developments through loans to the
microlender to establish a Rural Microloan Revolving Fund and grants to fund
technical assistance. “USDA Rural
Development strives to improve the overall quality of rural communities,”
USDA Rural Development State Director Paco Valentin said. “By providing loans and grants to start-up
businesses through the new Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program, we can
assist with the development of local, rural businesses. “These
businesses will in turn benefit the community by creating job opportunities
and providing needed goods and services to rural residents,” he said. Loans ranging
from $50,000 to $500,000 with fixed interest rates will be made available to
microlenders for startup and growing microenterprises. Grants will be
available for microlenders and microenterprise development organizations that
provide technical assistance and training to microentrepreneurs who have
received or are seeking a microloan under this program. Technical
assistance grants will not exceed $130,000 and will be made based on a
percentage of the outstanding microloans owed to the microlender under the
program. To be eligible
for this program, a MDO must be a non-profit entity, a federally-recognized
Indian tribe or a public institution of higher education. Additionally,
the MDO must have legal authority and responsibility and must be citizens of
the United Sates and its territories. Applications
will be accepted throughout the year and awarded on a quarterly basis. For
fiscal year 2010, applications must be received by July 16. Information on
how to apply for funding is available in the June 3 Federal Register at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-13380.pdf. BRACKETTVILLE
– The Rio Grande Electric Co-op will host Weatherization Assistance Days at
its area offices next month. Representatives
from community service agencies will be on hand to help co-op members fill
out the application forms and will answer questions about the Weatherization
Assistance Program. The eligibility income limits are now
approximately 200 percent of the poverty limit so there are many more families
who will qualify. Members need
not be on any other type of assistance programs to qualify. The only way
to determine if a family can benefit from this program is to schedule an
appointment, talk to the community services agency representative and
complete an application. Representatives
will be at Rio Grande area offices from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. including the lunch
hour July 12 in Carrizo Springs, July 13 here and Alpine, July 14 in Fort
Stockton and July 15 in Dell City. MIDLAND – In
the wake of any disaster, many reach for their checkbooks and donate money to
aid and rescue organizations. But the Better
Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance has cautioned that the oil spill in the
Gulf of Mexico is unlike previous disasters and offers specific advice to
potential donors and volunteers. “Although tens
of thousands of individuals are already involved in the response to the oil
spill, many others wonder how they can pitch in and help, whether it means
writing a check or volunteering their time,” Wise Giving President Art Taylor
said. “Businesses,
communities and wildlife across several states have been seriously impacted
by the spill and the need for assistance is great,” he said. “However, the
constraints in the cleanup effort limit what charities can do with your money
or how you can volunteer.” The alliance
offered several tips for those considering donating to the cleanup. Beware of
well-intentioned but inexperienced organizations. New non-profits and relief
organizations spring up after any major disaster. While these
groups might have the best of intentions, new charities responding to a
crisis may lack the resources, experience and management needed to be
effective. Ideally, look
for established organizations with environmental expertise or experience
aiding Gulf communities. Understand
where your money is going. Find out how the organization plans to spend funds
for Gulf relief, ecosystem recovery and related activities. Among the
activities that charities are promoting, in addition to shoreline rescue and
protection, are needs assessment, litigation, economic relief, advocacy for
new governmental energy policies and research into long-term solutions to
minimize effects of future disasters. Ask whether
the organization offers to restrict your donation for use in its Gulf-related
activities or intends to use it for general support for all of its
programs. Rely on expert
opinion when it comes to evaluating a charity. Be cautious when relying on
third-party recommendations posted on blogs or web sites as the authors might
not have fully researched the organizations they list. The public can
go to www.bbb.org/charity to research
charities to verify that they are accredited by the BBB and meet the BBB’s 20 Standards for Charity
Accountability. Find out if
the charity is doing Gulf-related work or raising funds for other Gulf relief
organizations. If a charity
is raising money for other groups, you may want to consider “avoiding the
middleman” and giving directly to those performing the work, the alliance
said. Research
ultimate recipients of the “middleman’s” donations to ensure that these
organizations are equipped to do the job you want to support and are aware of
the individual or organization soliciting on its behalf. Volunteering
for Gulf clean-up may require special skills or training. Learn what
qualifications are necessary before setting off for the site. If you want to
get your hands dirty, you’re out of luck unless you’re certified to handle
hazardous materials or have received training to care for injured wildlife. In fact, Gulf
residents are being told not to handle any tar balls that wash up on the
beach or animals that might be affected by the spill. Other
volunteer opportunities may include shoreline monitoring, fund raising,
office work, help in food programs for families in need and providing
transportation. Numerous
charities with volunteer programs ask that you register with them so that
they can assess your skills and place you appropriately when openings
arise. There will be
many opportunities to give, so keep checking. The Gulf
region will be suffering from the effects of the oil spill for years to come
and, as the situation unfolds, there will be more opportunities for donors to
step in and help in the future. If you can’t
find a cause you can get behind right now, plan to revisit the possibility of
making a donation or volunteering in the months to come. The alliance
has compiled a list of nationally-collecting charities which meet BBB
standards that are asking for donations and volunteers for the Gulf effort. More
information and charity evaluations are available at www.bbb.org/charity. AUSTIN -
Warmer weather brings out young, wild animals venturing from their nests and
hiding places under the watchful eyes of their parents. Young animals
often stray and appear to be abandoned and that's when humans need to resist
the urge to help, wildlife experts say. Some species,
including birds, deer and snakes, are very active this time of year and are
seen more frequently. Young birds
are out of their nests but many cannot fly yet. If the bird's eyes are open,
it has a coat of feathers and is hopping around, it is probably fine, the
Texas Parks and Wildlife's wildlife information center said. Grounded
fledglings will usually be up and flying within a few days. "Many
people discover apparently lost or abandoned wildlife young and take them in,
thinking they are doing the right thing, and this sometimes does more harm
than good," said Mark Klym of the Wildlife Diversity branch at TPWD.
"People should leave young animals alone unless they are obviously
injured or orphaned. “It is best to
observe a wild creature from a distance for a while in order to make that
determination," he said. Staying too
close to the baby may keep its mother from returning, Klym said. Deer will
typically leave their fawns for hours at a time, returning only to nurse
them. Fawns are
often discovered lying quietly in tall grass or brushy areas. Well-meaning people
sometimes pick them up, thinking that they have been abandoned by their
mothers and need help. This is rarely the case. A fawn should
only be picked up if it is covered in fire ants or is otherwise seriously
injured. These fawns need assistance and should be taken to a wildlife
rehabilitator immediately. If it is
determined that a wild animal is sick or injured call the TPWD wildlife
information line at 512/389-4505 during business hours for a referral to a
licensed wildlife rehabilitator. After-hours
callers can get the names of rehabilitators from TPWD's dispatch line at
512/389-4848 or by accessing the department's web site. "Some of
the most common questions are whether the fawns are actually abandoned and if
baby birds can take care of themselves on the ground," Klym said.
"In most cases, the fawns' mothers are just out of sight and the baby
birds are still being protected and fed by the parents. "The
overall message is that wildlife should be left alone," Klym said.
"Wild animals are best left in the wild." ALPINE – The
Theatre of the Big Bend’s musical production of “Damn Yankees,” the only
Broadway musical written about sports, ends its run this weekend. The final two
performances of the production directed by Dona W. Roman, with musical
direction by Dr. Erin Lippard are today and tomorrow, July 2 and 3. Last Saturday,
a summer shower provided a unique experience. The audience and the orchestra
sat through the rain as the actors performed with “miles and miles of heart”
until the instruments had to be removed from the rain. After the
orchestra packed up their instruments, the ensemble came on stage for a bow
and provided the still-faithful audience with an acapella version of the
final musical number “Heart.” The final two
performances of “Damn Yankees” are at 8:15 p.m. today and tomorrow at the
Kokernot Outdoor Theatre. For tickets,
ticket prices, or more information, contact the Theatre Office at
432-837-8219. |
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