I Aint Heard No Fat Lady – 11.29.07

Providence, Rhode Island—Opera is not quite what comes to mind when one thinks of female empowerment but on Oct. 26 the Columbus Theatre proved that women are forces to be reckoned with, dead or alive, kicking or cooking. Opera Providence presented Bon Appétit! and The Italian Lesson, two musical monologues by American composer Lee Hoiby, as a tribute to two astonishing women of the 20th century, America's favorite French chef Julia Child and monologue extraordinaire Ruth Draper.

Bon Appétit!,showcases a social icon made famous way before the likes of Emeril or the Food Network, the bubbly TV cook Julia Child. Child's coworker and friend Nancy Verde-Berr, author of Backstage with Julia: My Years with Julia Child, gave the introduction to the piece.

Verde-Berr described her friend as an impressive woman, not just in stature - Child was 6'2" with a size-12 shoe - but in the way she viewed herself, her cooking and the world. To Julia, Verde-Berr said, it was "always about the cooking."

"People always ask me what Julia thought of the 1978 "Saturday Night Live" skit that Dan Akroyd did of her," Verde-Berr went on to say. It turns out Child saw the parody and kept a video of it to show guests.

"It was always funny watching her imitate Dan Akroyd imitating her," Verde-Berr said.

In Hoiby's monologue, Child is portrayed in a comical light. Child (played by Vanessa Schukis) is no longer just the do-it-all-no-matter-what-happens chef showing Americans a thing or two about baking the "perfect French chocolate cake" - she is now a mad woman armed with an eggbeater and lots of flour for ammunition. Schukis leaves no area of the stage clean and no audience members somber in their seats.

Unfortunately, even Schukis' zestful acting and effective use of props could only make this piece semi-sweet due to a gap between score and narrative. Hoiby may have thought a word-for-word reenactment of one of Child's shows would be nice with music, but it fell just as flat as the cake Schukis pulled out of the cardboard oven on stage. In truth, this piece is only one step up from Akroyd's "SNL" impersonation, and that's only because it was followed by free chocolate cake and book-signing by Verde-Berr during intermission.

In the second production of the night, The Italian Lesson, Valerie Nicolosi was a one-woman show the audience couldn't help but watch. She brought new life to Ruth Draper's The Busy Mother, the story of a high-class lady trying to get through an Italian lesson that is continually interrupted.

Ruth Draper lived from 1884 to 1956 and introduced audiences to 60 roles and 368 "invisible" characters. English movie star Sir John Gielgud is said to have described Draper as "the greatest American performer that America has ever given us." Along those lines, Nicolosi proved to be one of the better performers Providence has seen in a while.

She brought her role and nine invisible characters to life with such ease that it seemed as though a full cast was alongside her. This opera singer not only hit the right keys, she also unlocked the imagination of the audience: Her performance was so convincing that it truly felt as though she was surrounded by a dog, three spoiled children, a manicurist, a lover, her husband, a best friend, a not-so-close friend, a certain Count Bluffsky and an Italian instructor attempting to hear her read Dante's Inferno.

© Copyright 2007 The Post - Brown Daily Herald

Obama leads Presidential hopefuls among Brown students – 10.28.07

This article was picked up by the U-Wire and CBS News. Here is the appropriate links:
CBS News

FOR AN E-PAPER LOOK AT THIS ARTICLE CLICK here

Providence, Rhode Island—As the primary season for the 2008 presidential election approaches, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., the two Democratic frontrunners, are engaged in a tight race in some states as they pursue their party's nomination. But a Herald poll conducted earlier this month paints a different picture on Brown's campus.

The Herald poll showed Obama as the clear favorite among undergraduates, with 37.5 percent of students saying they think he would make the best president, compared to 18.4 percent of students who said they back Clinton. Former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina came in third, with 5.6 percent, and U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas led among Republican candidates, with 3.1 percent of students saying they think he would make the best president.

The poll was conducted from Nov. 5 through Nov. 7 and has a 3.9 percent margin of error with 95 percent confidence. A total of 621 Brown undergraduates completed the poll, which was administered as a written questionnaire to students in the University Post Office at Faunce House and in the Sciences Library.

Miguel Blancarte '09, a political science concentrator and Clinton supporter, said it was "no surprise that a Democrat leads The Herald's poll, and it was also not surprising that Obama was the number-one choice for Brown students. His tactic of targeting college students seems to be very successful."

Jenna Silver '10, a member of Students for Obama, said, "Rarely is there a day I can cross the Main Green without spotting at least one 'Obama '08' button displayed prominently."

Silver said she believes the results of The Herald's poll would be similar to those found on other campuses around the country.

"Obama is receiving huge amounts of support from students throughout the nation," she said. "When national polls are conducted, they can be misleading in their results because of the people they are polling. Students' opinions are rarely properly assessed because they aren't deemed 'likely voters' and because many don't have landline (phones)."

But Marc Frank '09, president of the College Republicans, disputed the poll's accuracy.

"Brown is not a random sample of the population as a whole," he said. "(The Herald poll) didn't seem like random sampling. It was bias right off the bat and should have read 'not a scientific poll' up on top just as CNN announces theirs on their Web site."

Frank, who said he plans to vote for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in 2008, said he felt the Republican voice on campus was muffled in the poll.

"I don't think (the poll) represents Republicans here at all," he said.

Under national guidelines, according to Frank, the Brown GOP chapter cannot endorse any particular candidate until after the primaries. But, Frank said, based on his conversations with group members, Romney, Sen. John McCain of Arizona and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani are the top picks.

In The Herald's poll, Romney ranked second among Republican candidates, with 2.7 percent of students saying they think he would make the best president. Giuliani came in third, with 1.8 percent, and McCain garnered only one percent of students' vote for best presidential candidate.

Blancarte said he thinks the poll results only reflected campus opinion, not that of the entire country.

"I personally feel that Senator Clinton is currently viewed as the number one candidate. However, as the primaries get near, the spot for the number one candidate within the Democratic Party will fluctuate greatly," Blancarte said.

Clinton has continually ranked first in most national opinion polls of Democratic voters. In a NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll conducted Nov. 1-5, she had the support of 47 percent of Democrats.

The Herald poll found that 16.6 percent of the undergraduate student body had not yet chosen a candidate to support.

"There are things about all of the candidates in the race that I really love and support, and things that I don't find so endearing. Hopefully as the primaries approach, I will know who I support," wrote Gabriel Kussin '09, president of the Brown Democrats, in an e-mail to The Herald.

The Brown Democrats, like their Republican counterpart, will not endorse a specific candidate until after the primaries. But, through student groups such as those supporting Obama and Clinton, students have been making weekly trips to New Hampshire to campaign for their candidates.

"While I believe The Herald's poll to be accurate, I think Brown students shouldn't be afraid to stand up and support the candidate of their choice simply because they are polling in smaller numbers," Kussin said.

© Copyright 2007 Brown Daily Herald

MEZCLA mixes it up with 'dirty dancing'-11.19.07

NOT BY ME- marisa calleja


Providence, Rhode Island—MEZCLA, the Latino performing arts troupe, held their fall show Thursday and Saturday in a nearly sold out Salomon 101. The "Dirty Dancing"-themed show featured dancers, singers, musicians and poets in 18 different acts representing diverse performance styles and traditions from Latino culture.

This year's performance showcased samba, mambo, salsa and other dance styles from Cuba, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Spain and Mexico. The pieces, all choreographed by students in MEZCLA, came from the spirited, eclectic repertoire of the large group.

Some pieces, such as "Bam Bam-Salsa Duet," a Cuban salsa choreographed and performed by Alyssa Iglesias '08 and Daniel Oviedo '10, reflected traditional dance styles. Others, especially the large group pieces, showcased fusion styles created in the United States from Latin American influences. Pieces such as "Reggaeton Salsa Medley," choreographed by Bianca Figueroa-Santana '10, served as dynamic testaments to the continuing evolution of Latino dance styles in the United States.

"Samba Urbano," the first piece in the performance, was a fusion of traditional samba and urban styles. "With this piece, we take that dance out of the land of the Carnaval Brasileiro and onto the streets," read the abstract from the piece's five choreographers - Megan Brattain '10, Rocio Bravo '10, Vivian Garcia '10, Sarah Magaziner '10 and Herald Staff Writer Christian Martell '10. The nine dancers stomped and shook fiercely to traditional samba drums and Fulanito's "Chillando Goma" in this elaborately choreographed piece, dedicated to their mothers "who taught us how to dance."

"Ballroom-Mambo y Salsa," a skillful and sensual three person dance - choreographed and performed by Savonya McAllister '08, Dina Tsukrov '08 and Wilfredo Perez '08 - was one of two ballroom pieces in the show. In combining Cuban mambo, Brazilian samba and American ballroom dance, the choreographers merged these disparate cultures. This indicates the continuing fusions of different Latino and American styles, both in MEZCLA pieces and throughout the dance world.

In addition to dance, MEZCLA's fall show included two spoken word performances - "Socorro" by Irene Castillon '09 and an untitled piece by Alyse Ruiz '09 - which passionately discussed family, tradition and culture. "Socorro" was an ode to Castillon's abuelita or grandmother, who continually sacrificed for her family.

The show also featured two vocal performances and a song by Mariachi de Brown, "La Ley del Monte."

MEZCLA, according to their mission statement, strives "to convey and at the same time teach the beauty, diversity and richness of the Latino culture to the Brown community at large." The group, which is led by an executive board, holds fall and spring shows, as well as open dance workshops throughout the year.

"Just because it's a Latino performing arts troupe, doesn't mean it's specifically for Latinos," said MEZCLA President Marco Martinez '08.

© Copyright 2007 Brown Daily Herald

RI has the lowest energy consumption per capita-10.25.07

THIS ARTICLE WAS PICKED UP BY the U-Wire and Highbeam Research. It can be found on encyclopedia.com

Though it is the smallest state in the union, Rhode Island proved a big contender in Forbes.com's first America's Greenest States rankings, released last week.

The Ocean State ranked eighth overall, after being evaluated for six environmental factors: air and water quality, hazardous waste management, energy consumption, policy initiatives and carbon footprint, or the amount of carbon emissions per capita. Rhode Island also boasts the lowest energy consumption per capita and the third-lowest carbon footprint, following Idaho and Vermont, respectively.

"(Rhode Island) is starting from a great place," said Steven Hamburg, associate professor of environmental studies. "We have relatively energy-efficient infrastructure, but we need to build from that and not just sit back and say 'look at how good we are.' "

Hamburg, a strong advocate for climate-change issues, said the best way Rhode Island could improve its standing on next year's list is by expanding its public transportation system and by "walking the walk, not just talking the talk."

"Rhode Island doesn't really have substantive environmental policies," he said, referring to the policy initiatives factor in the rankings taken from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy's energy efficiency scoreboard, released in June.

Forbes noted that Rhode Island is now mandating that utilities obtain 16 percent of their power from renewable fuel sources by 2020.

"There is a difference between things being done and things we are wanting to do," Hamburg said.

Green-friendly initiatives are being proposed throughout Rhode Island.

In 2004, Gov. Donald Carcieri '65 proposed a $70-million environmental bond for watershed protection, which voters later passed. For 2008, Carcieri has proposed an $85-million environmental bond - the largest of its kind - for cleaning up Narragansett Bay, according to the governor's Web site.

Visiting Lecturer for Environmental Studies Donald Pryor's work focuses on the effects of climate change on the ecology at Narragansett Bay. When asked what he thought of the Forbes rankings, Pryor said he was surprised that Rhode Island was among the top 10.

"I give (Forbes) a lot of credit for making quantitative estimates, but when I looked at some of them I was struck. There is a difference between spending money and achieving something with it," Pryor said. Forbes factored how much money states have allocated for policy initiatives into its rankings.

"The political machine here (in Rhode Island), they're not having the open discussion we need to have to move forward," he said. As for Carcieri's agenda, Pryor said "the governor resisted for a very long time."

Some student environmentalists think Rhode Island and the University could become more environmentally friendly. "Even if Rhode Island's per capita energy consumption is the lowest of all 50 states, American society is still undeniably consumptive in comparison to the world average. Whether your state comes in first place or last (in the Forbes rankings), we can always do better," Kirsten Howard '09 wrote in an e-mail. Howard is a member of emPOWER, a student group working to end Brown's contribution to global warming.

Last month, the Energy and Environmental Advisory Committee submitted its final recommendations to the University. The recommendations were influenced by emPOWER and will be submitted in the budget proposal in the Corporation's next meeting, wrote Julia Beamesderfer '09 in an e-mail to The Herald. Beamesderfer is also a member of emPOWER.

According to Howard, emPOWER members are working to incorporate sustainable design into Brown's curriculum. Brown recently acquired $350,000 in grant money for local, student-initiated environmental initiatives - $150,000 from President Ruth Simmons' office and $200,000 from the Sidney E. Frank Foundation.

"It is our hope that students can use this money to fund local offsetting projects with the objective of making Brown a climate-neutral institution," Beamesderfer said. Hamburg and Pryor said the University must evaluate future expansion plans and make sure they are environmentally conscious.

"(Brown) has a lower carbon output compared to our peers, but that doesn't mean we can't be more aggressive. We need to think about how to expand, but at the same time not create negative impacts," Hamburg said.

© Copyright 2007 Brown Daily Herald

Tree stall India Point Park bridge opening-10.18.07

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Providence, Rhode Island—The opening of the new pedestrian bridge connecting India Point Park to the Wickenden business district has been postponed until later this fall. The bridge was slated to open Sept. 12 - two years after the original bridge was demolished to make room for the relocation of I-195.

Construction was delayed because workers originally planned to cut down a large, old red-oak tree on a pathway leading to the bridge, but local park enthusiasts saved it from being removed.

"The opening was delayed 45 days because of the saving of the tree," said David Riley, co-chair for Friends of India Point Park, a citizen group dedicated to the preservation and expansion of the park.

Due to the setback, Friends of India Point Park will not hold their planned celebration for the opening of the bridge until next spring, when the entire project is completed.



"We've been told (by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation) that the ramp won't be done until then," Riley said, adding that once completed next year, the bridge will feature plants and trees. The walking ramp will be accessible later this fall, he said.

India Point Park, an 18-acre waterfront park between the Providence and Seekonk rivers, is ranked the third most-used park in the city following the downtown skating rink and Roger Williams Park, which is 24 times larger. India Point Park is home to the Mexican Soccer League, the Cape Verdean Independence Festival and the Fox Point Boys and Girls Club, among other groups. It has also been the location for past WBRU concerts and is next to Marston Boathouse, which is used by the University's rowing teams.

Before the construction city officials told the Friends of India Point Park that the number of people using the park will double after the highway project's completion, Riley said.

The entire Route 195 project - the construction of the pedestrian bridge, the relocation of I-195 and the replacement of a sewer pipe under Gano and India streets - will cost Rhode Island $26.1 million, according to the state's Department of Transportation Web site.

Lambri Zerva, design project manager for the state's Department of Transportation, told The Herald in March that the removal of the old bridge was necessary because its piers would have obstructed the new road links for I-195.

"The new bridge took up space where the old one was, so we couldn't keep the old one and build the new one at the same time. Unfortunately, (taking down the old bridge) was a necessary evil," he said.

"We're looking forward to the completion of the construction," women's crew members Vanessa Rathbone '08 and Molly Getz '08 wrote in an e-mail to The Herald. "For the past two years, people on our team have been walking down busy roads and a lot of construction, which is not very safe."



"I used the bridge freshman year to get down to the boathouse. It always seemed kind of rickety because it would shake slightly if a big semi-truck passed underneath it," said women's crew member Emma Olson '08.

Despite the old bridge's small size and instability, Olson preferred it to an alternative route, which is used to get to the park and boathouse now.

"(The bridge) seemed safer than the current way to get to India Point Park or the boathouse, which is straight down Gano Street and under the bridge," Olson said. Students must currently cross a freeway ramp to get to the boathouse. "The off ramp was recently rerouted and cars never seem to come to a full stop at the stop sign, which is dangerous for the number of rowers who walk and run by and any other pedestrians heading to the park," she added.

© Copyright 2007 Brown Daily Herald

Whelan found Merasi school in India's Rajasthan - 10.10.07

Rajasthan, India—When Caitlin Whelan ’07.5 was driving home to South Portland, Maine with her brother, she received a call on her cell phone from someone who claimed to be President Ruth Simmons.
Going along with what she thought to be a prank call from one of her friends, she realized that no one she knew would use phrases such as “where are you in route to?” and “are you going via car?”
The next sentence the caller said was something along the lines of “I hardly ever call students, but this is one of the things I enjoy most about my job, congratulations on being named a Truman Scholar.”
Whelan said she felt honored and surprised, mostly because it really was Simmons on the phone and what she had just uttered could not be false.
But, Whelan said that what really satisfies her is the reason behind why she received the scholarship — a community-based music school in India that she started in order to preserve the music of the Merasi, the lowest caste in that country often categorized as “untouchable.”


The story of The Merasi School begins with how Whelan stumbled upon the community and how she “relearned the world through the Merasi.”


Whelan took a year and a half off from college after having completed her freshmen year at Sarah Lawrence University in the outskirts of New York City. Floating from a documentary writing project to an urban arts education program in Maine, she eventually ended up working in an Italian farm for three months.


“I remember being in a sunflower field in Italy when I received a fax from Brown telling me my transfer had gone through,” she said, “but I was accepted for January 2005 and that left me with no real plans for the next few months.”


Whelan’s mother told her she would have to get out of the house soon and on that note contacted someone she believed would give Whelan something to do, Karen Lukas director of Folk Arts Rajasthan, a New York-based non-profit that promotes cultural, economic and educational empowerment of the Merasi community.


“She’s a one-woman show,” Whelan said, referring to how Lukas ran Folk Arts Rajasthan before she joined her.
When Whelan first began working with Lukas at FAR, she said she immediately was put in charge of a lot of projects.
“It wasn’t that I was really talented or anything…it was that there was so much to do,” Whelan said.
“I use to have very vivid dreams of being in theater, a Broadway darling. It was all about the betterment of Caty and how the world could see more of Caty, but I don’t think that was the best way for me to be most effective,” she said.


“I remember I had no interest in India whatsoever, not the music, not the food, not anything. South Portland only has two Indian restaurants and I didn’t really like going to either,” she recalls.


“But getting involved with (FAR and the Merasi) took my world and flipped it on its head,” she joked.


Whelan had her first taste of India the fall of 2004. She did not return in the summer of 2005, but opted to continue the work she had started from home.


“I interned with an anthropologist during the day and talked with Lukas on the phone at night. We were trying to see how we could bring eight Merasi musicians to tour the East Coast,” she said. “But, because they lived on the border with Pakistan and their last names were all Khan, no one wanted anything to do with them.”


“Thankfully, at the eleventh hour, we found a sympathetic ear,” she said. “I received a call from one of my senators’ offices saying that if we could have all the paperwork done they would provide them with visas.”


The following summer, Lukas entrusted Whelan with archiving the traditional Merasi music. She would go by the elder’s homes with her tape-recorder in hand, but aside from getting valuable recordings, Whelan found this to be an opportunity to discuss the biggest issues facing the community — “marginalized citizen status, crippling poverty, no access to political representation, sustained employment, or education.”


“Modernization is blazing away through India and traditional music is rapidly losing its popularity. But, their music is the only thing that others respect of the Merasi,” Whelan explained.


“Yet the younger generations are put to work and do not have the time to learn the old ways of the Merasi,” she said. The word ‘Merasi’ literally translates into ‘musician’ in the local dialect.


“In searching for a way of merging cultural preservation with social mobility, we came to the idea of creating a music school, which would also have a scholastic component,” she said.


“But it was important to make the school community-based,” she said. “The people of that community want to make their own decisions. They don’t want some white kid to come in and tell them what to do, then leave them with nothing as soon as they go home.”


With this in mind, Whelan found two members of the community to teach at the school, Anwar Khan for the scholastic portion and Lune Khan for the music portion. The students range from five to seven years for the “little group” and eight to 11 years for the “big group.” Class is two hours a day, six days a week.


“We realized quickly that we could not take the kids away from their families for much more than that, because of the economic conditions they live in,” Whelan explained.

The Merasi community in Rajasthan is composed of 15,000 people. The school currently reaches 18 boys and girls. In the future, Whelan said she hopes to contract another teacher (preferably a woman from the area), buy a taxi to transport the children safely and a building to house the school.


“There are few things less powerful than a physical presence,” Whelan said. “I want the kids to pass by the building and be able to say this is were I go to school.”


Classes are currently being taught in a building belonging to one of FAR’s partners, Lok Kala Sagar Sansthan. LKSS is an Indian NGO with the same mission as FAR. Its current director, Sarwar Khan, doubles as the on-site manager of The Merasi School.


In order to go through with her plans, Whelan needs $15,000 in funds, $10,000 more than the original amount needed to start the school. She said the first 100 people to donate $150 will be named part of the “visionary core” and their names will be featured in a plaque in the new school building.


“This is so that the children can see that there is someone out there that believes in their potential to grow through education,” she said.
“Not a day goes by that I don’t walk through the Brown campus and I am not aware of how privileged we are to have this, an education. All I want is to make that accessible to others.”


prior to editorial changes — © Copyright 2007 Brown Daily Herald
actual article here.

Providece Business Competition Kicks-Off – 10.04.07

Providence, Rhode Island—About 40 pairs of eyes shined brightly last night with the thought of winning $150,000 in prizes from the Rhode Island Business Plan Competition, which encourages start-up businesses in Rhode Island to contribute to the local economy.

The competition, hosted by the Brown Forum for Enterprise, kicked off Wednesday with presentations from past winners and successful entrepreneurs, followed by a networking session at the Johnson & Wales University Culinary Archives and Museum.

"This is an unbelievable competition. You won't imagine how many doors it opened for our business," said Brad Weinberg '03 MD'09, a 2007 Rhode Island Business Plan winner.

Weinberg, along with his business partner Rajiv Kumar '05 MD'09, started Providence Health Solutions - a fitness workplace program - after winning the portion of the contest open to college and graduate students, called the student track. The other portion, the entrepreneur track, is open to professional or aspiring entrepreneurs.

"Time management was essential in dealing with school and working on the plan. Not sleeping also helped," Weinberg joked when asked about how he juggled both medical school and business ambitions. The fitness company he started with Kumar encourages businesses to participate in an employee weight-loss program through team competitions. Kumar also founded Shape Up R.I., a statewide exercise and weight-loss challenge program.

This year, the competition has garnered 30 community-based sponsors in an effort to address the rising crime pattern, including the University, Citizens Bank and CVS. There will be one winner and two runners-up from each track, who will together share the $150,000 in cash and legal and accounting services. The winners will be announced after a presentation made by the finalists during the May 2008 meeting of the Brown Forum for Enterprise, said Charles Kingdon, one of the co-chairs for the competition and associate vice president of Brown Technology Partnerships.The competition requires applicants to start businesses in Rhode Island.

Following Weinberg's presentation was last year's winner of the entrepreneur track competition, Michael Glier. He warned the kick-off attendees of "the things you shouldn't do when pitching a business, but find out afterwards." Glier is chief executive officer and co-founder of Campus Guardian Corporation, a service that matches college students with campus safety officials.

The final and keynote speaker of the night was Stephen Lane, co-founder and CEO of Item Group, a leading design firm based in Rhode Island. Lane will also be one of 10 judges for the competition.

"When you go to art school, you don't do your homework until right before class," Lane explained. Lane is a Rhode Island School of Design alum and currently teaches a 12-week business-plan class at the school.

Those interested in entering the competition must submit a business plan by April and attend several workshops and networking

opportunities.
© Copyright 2007 Brown Daily Herald

Congressional Hispanic internship proves an eye-opener - 10.2.07

Brownsville, Texas— In his blue polo shirt and khaki shorts, Michael Vargas looks like a regular 20-year-old.
But contrary to appearances, Vargas recently finished a congressional internship on Capitol Hill, which landed him a series of interviews with the BBC.
“Who would have thought,” was all Vargas could say about the BBCmundo article and BBC radio and video interviews.
Much more than this newfound international attention, Vargas’ story is about perseverance.
Two months before the start of his senior year at San Benito High School, Vargas had to cope with the death of his father.
Vargas said he still remembers conducting the band — he was the drum major his senior year — and having the principal walk over to offer his condolences.
“He told me his father also passed away when he was 17,” Vargas said. “It was the best thing to hear at the time ... knowing that you’re not alone and that someone knows what you’re going through.”
That year was hard for him socially and academically.
“I just told myself that things happen for a reason,” he said. “But, now more than ever I feel that I have to do things he could never do.”
Vargas, now a first-generation college student at Brown University, said his high school counselor was “the key” as far as applying to schools and scholarships.
“She practically force-fed me applications, but that’s what I needed,” he admitted.
Studying so far away from home is sometimes hard for his family.
“Thankfully, my family knows why I can’t always come home for the holidays,” he said.
Is he happy with his choice in school?
“I love Brown, wouldn’t be anywhere else,” he said noting how he teared up with only the admission letter.
Vargas will double major in political science and sociology, something that may prepare him for his “ultimate dream” job — being a congressman for the Rio Grande Valley.
“(Running for office) is something that felt so distant once, but finally is starting to solidify,” Vargas, a two-time intern at U.S. Rep. Solomon Ortiz’s office, said.
“Last year, I mostly dealt with constituent mail and tours, but this year (I) got there in the middle of the Iraq and immigration debates,” he said, his face instantly lighting up.
This past summer, as a Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute intern, Vargas was able to see the legislative system first hand.
“At first, it was hard hearing people almost 3,000 miles away talking about what I see in my backyard,” he said, referring to the Senate debating an immigration bill that never passed.
“The worst was hearing senators saying things like ‘if I could round them all up and throw them out, I’d do it myself,” he said. “But I learned to stay objective.”

The Brownsville Herald

Brown gets down, and we're not talking ddr

Providence, Rhode Island — From frat parties to Wednesday nights at Fish Co., Brown students and dancing are inseparable. Leaving sticky lounges and packed clubs behind, Brown's campus caters to more than just the casual dancer. In fact, for an institution that doesn't offer dance as a concentration, we have a surprisingly large number of talented people who know how to "get down," whether in a club or on a stage.

When it comes to dance classes there are usually eight available in any given year, ranging from Beginning Modern Dance to Dance History: The 20th Century, which focuses on trends in American and European dance styles. Although Brown does not offer a specific dance concentration, it does boast a great program under the Theater, Speech and Dance department.

"Many [Brown] dancers have gone on to join major companies and some have danced on Broadway," said Carole Abizaid '84, an adjunct dance professor. Abizaid, originally from Beirut, Lebanon, returned to teach at Brown when Julie Strandberg ? a Senior Lecturer in the Theater, Dance, and Speech department ? offered her a teaching position. "Julie has done amazing things with the program. When I was here she was the only full-time dance teacher. She is the one who took dance out of the P.E. department and made it into what it is today," Abizaid added.

Vivian Garcia '10 had limited experience with modern dance styles before coming to Brown, but since arriving on campus she has taken both introductory and intermediate level dance classes, one of which was taught by both Strandberg and Abizaid. In her opinion, the classes have actually added to her academic experience by putting her "at peace."

"The classes are very good stress relievers. When you walk into the theater, you just dance and forget everything else," she said. This type of praise has led many to push for a dance major ? currently absent at Brown.

"There is definitely a demand for a dance concentration here," Abizaid said. "There is a whole body of voices that we don't hear and who aren't getting their needs met," she added, referring to those students who would like for Brown to offer dance as a concentration. "But there is definite movement in that direction."

Even though the current dance program under the Theater, Speech and Dance department focuses mostly on modern techniques, one of the most popular dance classes offered currently is West African Dance, taught by Michelle Bach-Coulibaly each spring.

As a double-concentrator in International Relations and French Studies, Camela Logan '07, did not need West African dance to graduate, but took it every year while at Brown. In fact, her only spring not enrolled in the class was spent abroad, studying in France.

Apart from her studies, Logan also a participated in two dance groups last year: What's on Tap? (for which she choreographed) and Mezcla ? Brown's only Latino performing arts troupe, which boasts the largest membership for a dance group with some 80 dancers.

Like Logan, there are many students involved in the various dance groups that Brown has to offer. Sofia Bengoa '08.5 is currently a member of four, and supports the idea of a dance concentration at Brown because "it would mean better performance and practice spaces" for all dancers.

Time commitment for some groups can push six to 11 hours a week, with performance opportunities ranging from twice a month to once a semester. Each prides itself on a certain style of dance, although most incorporate and mix styles for variety. Brown's dance clubs are completely student-run, meaning that everything you see onstage is choreographed by members only.

According to Mezcla's President Marco Martinez '08, Body and Sole - an organization out of the dance program that serves as the umbrella organization for all dance groups - is planning to create a dance council this year consisting of one representative from each of the groups. Doing so would unite dancers at Brown and provide a means of communication and collaboration for future events. Currently, Body and Sole's primary focus for the semester is the Fall Dance Show, which features all the favorite pieces from each dance group and takes place in November. We should all check it out - chances are you'll end up supporting friends who you didn't even realize could dance the night away.

-Post Magazine

U.'s Cooper Nelson joins Hospice Board—09.24.07

Providence, RI — University Chaplain the Rev. Janet Cooper Nelson has been elected to the board of trustees for Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island, the oldest hospice care program in the state. Cooper Nelson, who said she has long been interested in healthcare issues and the ethics of physician-assisted suicide, was elected in the spring.

Cooper Nelson said her connection with Home & Hospice Care is a "new involvement," but she noted that she has had direct experience with hospice programs - which provide palliative care, often for the terminally ill - in the past.

"I, myself, went into hospice care," Cooper Nelson said, declining to elaborate.

Cooper Nelson said she was attracted to the organization due to her predecessor's previous commitment - the Rev. Charles Baldwin served as University chaplain for 29 years and was the first president of Home & Hospice Care's board of trustees, beginning in 1976. She said she was sought out for the position by John Eng-Wong '62, chairman of the organization's board and former director of foreign student, faculty and staff services at Brown.

Analee Wulfkuhle, the president and CEO of Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island, said in a press release that the group is excited about working with Cooper Nelson.

"We look forward to her sharing her keen intellect, experience, dedication to service and expertise in spiritual care issues with us," she said.

Cooper Nelson's position at the University calls for her not only to direct the Office of the Chaplains and Religious Life but also to make home visits, similar to those made by hospice programs, to professors, students and staff, she said.

As one of Home & Hospice's 21 board members, Cooper Nelson's duties on the board will consist of overseeing all the resources and programs of the organization as well as upholding their mission and commitment to quality health care.

"Hospices took the fear and mystery away from people who are dying," Cooper Nelson said.

© Copyright 2007 Brown Daily Herald

Brown, MIT, VA collaborate to make PowerFoot for vets-09.12.07

Boston, Massachusetts—Garth Stewart lost his left leg below the knee two years ago in an explosion in Iraq, where he was stationed in the Army. Now, he jokes that he's fulfilled a childhood dream by becoming part-robot, with a new form of motorized prosthetic limb developed by researchers at Brown and elsewhere.

"C'mon, everyone wanted to be a cyborg," said Stewart, now a sophomore at Columbia University.

He's the second person to use the PowerFoot One, which was unveiled July 23 by the Center for Restorative and Regenerative Medicine, a partnership of Brown, the Providence Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The project was funded by a $7.2 million grant in 2004 from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Pentagon.

The center is directed by Professor of Orthopaedics Roy Aaron, who also helped develop the limb. The center will soon move into a new, $6.9 million building at the Providence VA hospital, according to a Department of Veterans Affairs press release.

The researchers are seeking to develop advanced replacement limbs and conduct research in the field of "bio-hybrid" prosthetics at a time when many soldiers like Stewart are returning from overseas with amputated limbs.

Hugh Herr, one of the PowerFoot's inventors and an associate professor of media arts and sciences at MIT, was the first person to test the device - he is a double-amputee. The PowerFoot has a mix of sensors and specialized control algorithms that ensure the user stays balanced while walking, he said.

Herr and Stewart demonstrated walking with the artificial foot at the device's public unveiling in July.

Stewart said the most noticeable difference in the prosthetic, which responds to pressures from the remaining section of the leg, versus other, less advanced models was that the PowerFoot allowed the person wearing it to stand straight while walking and that it did not put so much pressure on the hip.

"It's kind of like having your leg back," Stewart said of the project's eventual goal: Linking the motorized prosthetic limbs directly to the brain using the BrainGate technology developed by Professor of Neuroscience John Donoghue PhD'79 P'09.

After the public unveiling of the foot, iWalk - a company co-founded by Herr and a self-described "leader in wearable devices for human augmentation," according to its Web site - decided to mass-produce the device, starting next summer.

The Brown Daily Herald

At One Day U., Brown profs cater to older students

Hartford, Conneticut—Less than a week into the academic year, some students are already complaining about classes - but there are plenty of people who would love to take their place, if only for a day.

Three years ago, Steven Schragis was able to sit in on a college course while visiting his daughter, a freshman at the time, at Bard College.

"I remember thinking, 'I wish I could be going to college, instead of paying for it,' " he said.

That's what led him to co-found One Day University with his business partner, John Galvin. One Day is a day-long program that allows fee-paying adults to attend some of the most popular lectures by professors from several big-name universities.

For $219, the "students" listen to four lectures throughout the day, covering a wide range of topics, such as depression in the United States and school shootings.

The professors hail from several Ivy League institutions and other prestigious schools, such as the University of Oxford and New York University.

This month marks a year since the program officially began, and already One Day University has recruited multiple Brown professors, including Senior Lecturer in Economics Rachel Friedberg, Associate Professor of Political Science Wendy Schiller, Lecturer in Neuroscience John Stein, Associate Professor of Political Science John Tomasi, Assistant Professor of Political Science and Public Policy Jennifer Lawless, Professor of Political Science James Morone, and Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy Christine Heenan, according to Educational Media Group, the company that runs the program. The company declined to divulge how much professors are paid for giving the lectures.

Lawless, a widely quoted scholar on issues involving women in politics and a former congressional candidate, said teaching at the program "is very fulfilling because I am able to speak to a completely different audience."

Lawless said she was contacted by Schragis and Galvin after they heard her speak at another venue.

One major difference from Lawless' usual audience - the average age is between 55 and 75, Galvin said.

"(The students) are hungry for it. For most of them, it's been a good 30 years or so since they attended college, and they find it fascinating to hear what their grandchildren are learning about at college," Galvin said.

After giving two lectures through the program, one in the winter and the other in spring, Lawless said she's signed up for another this fall.

Galvin and Schragis said the program is growing and that they have already seen some eager participants come back for more.

"We offer a discount if you sign up at the end of the day, and a lot of them take it," Schragis said.

Sara Sadin P'03 and her husband, Robert P'03, are three-time participants, and they say they are looking forward to registering for additional sessions.

"We've had a great experience hearing professors talk about topics that really pique your interest," Sara Sadin said.

But, she said, the topics themselves aren't why the program is enjoyable. "It's that (the professors) are great teachers and are truly engaging," she said.

The Sadins are the parents of Meredith Sadin '03, and they said the program - and its Brown-based lecturers - has offered them a "real connection" to Brown.

"We're really envious of the environment of the University - that whole feeling of community, independence and a prestigious education that Brown provides its students," she said.

© Copyright 2007 Brown Daily Herald

Students dress the part-08.15.07

Brownsville, Texas—Fall means the end to carefree summer fashion for BISD students who will move out of shorts and flip-flops and into appropriate learning attire — or else. The Brownsville Independent School District’s dress code lists restrictions for students grades 6-12 and disciplinary actions for off-code outfits range from warnings to being sent to an alternative campus. The code is derived from what high school principals in 1998 judged to be issues “disruptive to the instructional environment.” It has not been modified since.
Sylvia Perez, one of the principals to participate in the drafting of the dress code, said there has not been any change because it remains valid.
“It’s hard to come up with a dress code that is right in every way,” she said. “Students need to remember they can wear whatever they want as long as it’s reasonable.”
Perez and Hanna High School senior Gaby Soto offered their opinion on some BISD fashion rules:

Rule No 1: Anything shorter than the end of the student’s fingertips when the student’s arms are extended to his/her sides shall be deemed too short, but longer lengths may be inappropriate in individual cases.
Soto: “Girls get in trouble more than boys for violating the dress code — this is the reason. Some girls wear really short shirts and skirts. Older teachers are usually the ones to get most offended by this, but I’ve also heard of some girls that get away with it. That’s not fair.”
Perez: “Because of middrift exposure and revealing clothes, ladies call a lot more attention. Sometime it is hard to determine what is or is not appropriate, but it is up to each administrator to make the call and implement the dress code.”
Rule No 3: No tight or transparent clothing.
Soto: “Most girl’s clothing is fitted. Some girls overdo it, but others really don’t and still get in trouble. We don’t want our young ladies to be disrespected.”
Perez: “It’s hard, especially because of the type of clothes available for youngsters.”
Rule No. 14: Male students shall not be allowed to wear female attire.
Soto: “Some boys go for the ‘slim fit’ they get from girl’s ‘skinny’ jeans. I don’t know why they do it, but they shouldn’t get in trouble. It’s just the style now, I guess.”
Perez: “I haven’t really seen much of this (new style). Some of them are just trying to emulate what they see on TV and magazines. It’s fine, as long as they dress in good taste and doesn’t just call attention.”
A complete dress code can be requested from BISD or school offices. Go online to www.bisd.us, for more on student codes of conduct.

The Brownsville Herald

Shoppers get ready for tax-free weekend-08.15.07

Brownsville, Texas— The mother of a 12- and 5-year-old, Patricia Guerra is already preparing for tax-free weekend.
“I usually just go for things I know I’ll find,” Guerra said.
She said it is easier when you know what you want to buy.
“You have to know your kids’ sizes because it’s not like regular shopping, you can’t just look around and try things on,” she said.
The sales tax holiday takes place Aug. 17-19. Most school-related items less than $100 are eligible to be purchased tax-free. For the first time this year, backpacks are on the list, which also includes such staples as baby clothes, diapers, jeans, shirts, and shoes.
Brenda Hernandez, a manager at Bealls in Sunrise Mall, said she does not understand why people prefer to shop during tax-free weekend.
“Some people see our sales (in early August) and still wait for tax-free weekend, when they run the chance of buying things at regular price,” she said.
Others opt to shop in advance.
Lupita Alvear and her two boys, ages 9 and 10, think the weekend is much too close to the start of classes.
“If you wait that long, everything will be gone,” she said. She bought supplies three weeks in advance.
Yet, both Guerra and Alvear know more shopping will be done after the start of classes.
“For my 12-year-old, I buy only the basics and wait for what teachers ask for,” Guerra said. Alvear notices the same thing with her boys at the elementary level. “Usually, teachers ask for things that weren’t on the list,” she said, thinking of past years when she had to buy extra tissue boxes and cleaning supplies. “It’s stuff I think the school district should provide,” she admitted. Perhaps, the one thing both mothers agreed on was how much their children influence their purchases.
“Shoes are probably the most important thing for my boys,” Alvear said. “They choose them way before we buy them and that’s usually what I spend the most money on.”
Guerra said she let her 12-year-old buy what she wants, but “my little one has less of a choice.”
For a complete list of tax-free items, see the Texas comptroller’s Web site, window.state.tx.us.

The Brownsville Herald

Back to School Cost-08.15.07

Brownsville, Texas—This year marks a first for Kelly Taliancich and her mother, Gracie — the first time they shop for school supplies from a BISD list.
Kelly, 10, is making the change from Episcopal Day School to Hudson Elementary, where she’ll enroll in the fifth grade.
“I wanted my daughter to get a group of friends she would move on to middle school with,” said Gracie, who always planned for her daughter to attend public schools after elementary.
The Brownsville Independent School District list is more manageable than private school supply lists, Gracie said. “When I saw the list, I told (Kelly) we can get this in 5 minutes.”
“The amount of things asked for” by private schools was the greatest difference between its public counterpart. “They (private school) asked for water colors and drawing pads,” Gracie said.
“Oh and 96 colors, instead of 24,” Kelly added, referring to the 24 crayon box requisite for public school.
Besides the school supply breakdown, mother and daughter’s most debated change is regular clothes vs. uniform, something they had yet to settle a few weeks before school began.
“I’m very excited to not be wearing uniform after six years,” Kelly said, not able to contain her smile.
To which Gracie replied “we’ll see,” admitting that she would rather Kelly wear uniform at least one day out of the week.
Some public schools will require their own version of a “uniform,” which could include khaki slacks or jeans with a school-colored polo shirt.

The Brownsville Herald

A place to play-08.13.07

Brownsville, Texas—Soccer creates trust for residents of the Buena Vida neighborhood.
Two months ago, the Buena Vida Leadership Council, made up of 14 neighborhood volunteers, opened a soccer field for the community.
“A lot of good things come from the field — neighbors getting to know each other, trusting one another, and children staying healthy and off the streets,” Carmen Cavazos, the council’s coordinator, said in Spanish.
Since the field opened on 14th and Tyler streets, 48 registered children have played every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 6-8 p.m. The children are split into two teams according to age.
“My kids love it there, and a lot of people here love soccer. There’s just no other place like it,” said Concepcion Ornela, parent of two boys that have played since the field opened.
“Before, the kids could not play soccer because of the damage they might cause, but now there is somewhere for them to go,” the council’s coordinator explained.
The council was started two years ago by the Center for Civic Engagement at the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College.
“The purpose (of the council) was for residents to take ownership of the barrio,” said Magda San Roman, community organizer at the center.
“We start the program and then pass it on, in hope that it can become self-sufficient,” she added.
Although the center created the council, San Roman admitted that UTB-TSC had only monetary involvement, as well as some advisorship, with the council.
“They get funding from the Compassion Capital Fund we received, but most of what they’re doing is by themselves,” she said.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services gave the Compassionate Capital Fund to the center for its involvement in Buena Vida.
Additional funding came from the city, which paved the area near the field, the city’s Housing Authority, which provided fencing and La Iglesia del Pueblo Pentecostal on 13th and Tyler, which lent out the three lots the field sits on.

The Brownsville Herald

First Mass-08.08.07

Brownsville, Texas— “Am I late?” “Is it full?” “Has it started?”
These were the questions asked by Valley Baptist Medical Center-Brownsville employees, as they rushed inside the newly-restored interfaith chapel for the first Mass there since 1973.
Whatever the answers to their questions (no, yes and not yet) the employees were welcomed, as were numerous patients and family members to the historical sanctuary that is the Herminio and Francisca de Yturria Chapel, located behind the hospital.
In 1935, the Sisters of Mercy built the chapel, which also housed their convent.
When the hospital was sold in the 1970s, the chapel spent the next three decades as a bill processing and purchasing department storage area, until the grandsons of the Yturrias funded the chapel’s restoration.
“Right after Valley Baptist bought the hospital (July 2004), they saw how appropriate it was to have the chapel serve its original purpose,” said Teri Retana, spokeswoman for the hospital.
The beige and light brown marble altar and French stations of the cross from the 1850s that line the creamy colored walls are two examples of how the chapel has redeemed its former glory.
“The rich history of Brownsville and the faithful dedication of the Sisters of Mercy is now being returned to the community,” said Sandra Sweeney Wilson, director of development for the hospital and the one to spearhead the project.
A new addition to the chapel — a gold tabernacle, dedicated by the Serafy family of Brownsville — is what made the first Catholic Mass possible Tuesday morning.
Bishop Raymundo Peña conducted the first Mass and dedicated the tabernacle, a portable holder of the eucharist.
“We pray that the patients who are here now and who may be here in the future will always feel the presence of our savior,” he proclaimed during the service.
Rev. Raymond Nwachukwu, the Catholic hospital chaplain for the Diocese of Brownsville, aided the bishop.
Nwachukwu will hold regular services Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.

The Brownsville Herald

Ortiz, vets discuss VA hospital-08..07.07

Brownsville/Donna, Texas— Hundreds of Rio Grande Valley veterans gathered at town hall meetings in Roma, Donna and Brownsville on Monday to further their push for a local hospital.
The Valley’s congressmen — U.S. Reps. Rubén Hinojosa, DMercedes; Solomon Ortiz, DCorpus Christi and Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo — along with U.S. Rep. Bob Filner, DCalif., chairman of the House Committee on Ve t e r a n s ’ Affairs, met with veterans to update them on legislation calling for a veterans hospital in South Texas.
The legislators also heard from a t t e n d e e s about their e x p e r i e n c e s r e c e i v i n g health care at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs facilities in and outside the Valley.
Veterans and their families filled every seat of the auditorium at Donna High School and cheered as the congressmen told them how they will continue to work together to bring a VA hospital to the area.
The crowd gave Ortiz and Filner standing ovations as they approached the podium to speak.
A few people shouted “let the people speak” as the congressmen addressed the group.
Ortiz, who has been introducing bills calling for a veterans hospital in the region since he joined Congress in 1982, said he and the rest of the South Texas delegation will continue to push for a hospital.
“Part of the healing process comes from families being close to the wounded soldier, and some of these hospitals are just too far away,” Ortiz said at the Brownsville Events Center, referring to the closest veterans’ hospital in San Antonio.

The latest bill, HR 538, is being considered in the House’s veterans’ affairs committee.
Filner thanked the veterans for their service and said the government has not done a good enough job of taking care of its veterans.
“You shouldn’t have to fight the VA to receive the care you need,” he told veterans in Donna.
The California congressman said he would support the bill sponsored by Ortiz and the other South Texas congressmen.
“It’s going to my committee and it’s going to leave my committee passed,” Filner told the group in Donna.
The last stop on Filner’s South Texas tour on Monday was the Brownsville Events Center. There, he met privately with veterans from 6 to 8 p.m.
“We started pushing for this three years ago, and now they’re shooting for October,” said Al Senteno, a veteran and spokesman for Veterans of Foreign War Post 2035 in Brownsville.
“There’s not just the possibility of a hospital, but of improving medical care overall for them,” said City Manager Charlie Cabler, one of several local officials in attendance. Others included Harlingen and McAllen mayors, as well as former Brownsville Mayor Eddie Treviño Jr.
After the meeting in Donna, some veterans said they remain hopeful a hospital will be built in the Valley, but remain skeptical about receiving help from the government.
“Before I came here I was from Missouri,” said Larry Schrader, of Mission.
“Show me — talk is cheap.”


Freedom Publication Press
Contributor, Jennifer Berghom

Zoo recognizes summer volunteers-08.06.07

Brownsville, Texas—After dedicating two months to the Gladys Porter Zoo, 46 summer volunteers on Friday were recognized for their help.
“This is something that’s going to help them in the future,” said the zoo’s Education Curator Sergio Garcia.
For approximately 20 years, the Summer Teen Program has been giving teens between the eighth and 12th grades the opportunity to learn more about animals.
“They’re doing things here you wouldn’t even expect them to do at home,” Garcia said.
The volunteers shadow keepers and help clean and care for the animals.
“One time we were cleaning out a squirrel cage, when she flew out. It took a lot to get her back inside,” said 16-year-old Alex Sanchez.
Sanchez has volunteered at the zoo for the past two summers, but her friend, Natalie Lauber, has devoted the past five years.
“When I was younger, I remember making my grandmother bring me to the zoo,” the 16-year old said. “It’s always fun here.”
Those interested in the program must go through an application process.
Once accepted, volunteers are expected to work from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. two days out of the week for two months in five different departments — Australia, Birds, Education, Herpetarium and Small World.
Birds keeper Ruben Gracia said the volunteers are a lot of help and that he notices how observant they tend to be.
“They come here at the perfect season (mating season in his department) and want to know about everything,” Gracia said.
“Some of them don’t like it and leave — but those that do, like it a lot,” he added.

Newshound, diabetes and apples-08.06.07

The Brownsville Herald’s Newshound is on neighborhood watch — sniffing out answers to your questions and complaints. From potholes to poor drainage and issues in between, he’ll make the problem known, find out who’s responsible and try to get an answer.
If you have an issue in your neighborhood and need help getting it resolved or want to make a complaint, call on The Newshound.
Include your full name, address and description of the problem in an e-mail to Newshound@brownsvilleherald.com or post mail to Brownsville Herald c/o The Newshound, 1135 E. Van Buren, Brownsville, Texas 78520. Submissions must be 250 words or less, please.

Issue:
As a diabetic, Francisco Treviño is concerned that the Wal-Mart supermarket on Boca Chica Boulevard near his home does not carry the brand of apple he alleges has the least amount of sugar. “I have to drive out to the Wal-Mart on (7480 Padre Island Hwy.) to get Braeburn apples,” Treviño claims. “I’ve asked them for to get it for the past three to four months, but they still have not brought it in,” he added. According to the product’s nutritional information, Braeburn apples only have 17 grams of sugar per serving. “I just try and consume products that will help me,” Treviño said.
Who to call:
Wal-Mart on Boca Chica at (956) 544-0394.
What they said:
An assistant manager at the location, who refused to give his name, said the store does carry the apple, but it is not currently in stock. He said they would call the buyer on Monday to try and fix the problem.

Group to hold memorial for Hiroshima bombing-08.05.07

Brownsville, Texas— More than 140,000 Japanese people lost their lives when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima in 1945.
For those lives and countless others lost to war, Pax Christi Brownsville, a Catholic peace movement, will hold a service today to commemorate the 62nd anniversary of the bombing.
The event, “Pray for Peace,” will take place at Hope Park across from the Greyhound Bus Stop from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
There will be songs and prayers. Representatives from the Jewish, Protestant, Catholic, and Muslim communities were invited.
“We want to recognize the terrible acts of war,” said Jean Krause, event organizer and part of Pax Christi Brownsville.
The story of an 11-year-old Japanese girl who died from leukemia prompted by the bombing will also be shared.
“The story of Sadako is famous. She was told that the Gods would smile upon her, if she made 1,000 paper cranes,” Krause said.
The girl died before she was able to reach her goal, but nonetheless was buried with 1,000 paper cranes. “The paper crane is now seen as a symbol for peace all over the world,” Krause said. Sadako holding a gold crane in her hands is now the memorial seen in Japan. “We’ve asked kids around the community to make cranes for the service,” Krause said. A thousand paper cranes will be displayed at the park today.

The Brownsville Herald

Homeless man allegedly chops down city palm trees-08.03.07

Brownsville, Texas—Using a machete and pocketknife, an unidentified homeless man chopped down five city-owned palm trees on Central Boulevard and FM 802 last Friday.
According to City Forester Edward Kuprel, a resident alerted greens worker Raul Llamas to what was happening.
Kuprel said Llamas and Brownsville police officers reached the location to find the man “acting as if he was about to die” and “in bad shape with actual maggots living on him.” The officers did not arrest or cite the man, according to Kuprel. The man had fled the scene by the time Kuprel arrived.
“Depending on the price of the trees, the penalty class would be between a Class A misdemeanor or a state jail felony,” Brownsville Police Lt. James Paschall said.
Willie Gonzalez, a supervisor at the city health department, told Kuprel the man had already caused “some trouble” before.
The palms, planted in 1992, were the first project overseen by the Brownsville Beautification Committee.
Guy Huddleston, committee chairman at the time, said the project was funded by the city and the Texas Department of Transportation.
“The project was very important to us — too important for somebody to just come in and destroy all of it,” Huddleston said.
“The trees are a public asset and very valuable. The man should be held responsible for what he did.”
Kuprel said the police “didn’t even want to touch (the man)” when they got to the site.
But, Assistant City Manager Carlos Ayala said police are following up on the event and if they find the man again, he will be held accountable.

The Brownsville Herald

County official review evacuation plan-08.03.07

Brownsville, Texas—Cameron County Emergency Management Director Johnny Cavazos outlined the county’s plan of evacuation in the event of a hurricane Thursday evening at a meeting called by Precinct 1 Commissioner Sofia Benavides. Addressing about 20 residents, Cavazos said the county plans to issue a mandatory evacuation once a hurricane is 30 to 60 hours from making landfall and there is convincing evidence of a direct hit.
Cavazos showed footage of the effects of hurricanes Katrina and Rita and computerized images of what South Padre Island and Brownsville would look like if a Category 5 hurricane hit the area.
One key step in the evacuation plan is getting those without means of transportation to safety. The county will bus residents who have registered with the 211 system out of the area.
Several pick-up locations will be set up allowing pre-registered people to get roundtrip passes and board designated buses.
The buses, after being inspected and provided with proper tracking systems, would then take residents to a state reception area, possibly in San Antonio.
Also, the county and American Red Cross would no longer open emergency shelters, in order to discourage people from staying in the area.
According to Cavazos, no one will be forced to evacuate if they remain in their home, but will be asked to leave if they venture outdoors.
The evacuation buses will transport pre-registered citizens as well as their pets, as long as owners can show proper immunization records.
People interested in registering for the transportation service can call 211.
The director of the area 211 call center, Thelma Longoria, said people cannot register after a hurricane is sighted 72 hours from the county.

The Brownwsville Herald

BISD celebrates improved state ratings-08.02.07

Brownsville, Texas—Good news for Brownsville schools came with the release of accountability ratings by the Texas Education Agency Wednesday.
“This is the best year we have had since the state introduced the new TAKS,” said Raul Vasquez, administrator for assessment, research and evaluation for the district.
Four elementary schools were given “exemplary” status, the highest rating possible, and 23 other schools retained “recognized” status from last year’s ratings.
The district also had the first high school to reach “recognized” status since the new test was unveiled.
“We worked to improve all objectives we did poorly on last year,” said Resaca Elementary Principal Carlos Paredes. Resaca, Egly, Paredes and Putegnat elementary schools were the only four named “exemplary.”
No schools were deemed academically unacceptable — an improvement from last year, which had Lopez High School as one of two unacceptable schools in Cameron County.
Lopez Principal Dawn Hall said before- and after-school tutorials and extra benchmark testing boosted the school’s performance this year.
The TEA ratings are based on TAKS and state developed alternative assessment scores and annual dropout and completion rates.
Schools must score 90 percent or higher on the TAKS for “exemplary,” above 75 percent for “recognized” and above 50 percent for “academically acceptable.” Scoring below 50 percent deems a school “academically unacceptable.”
Although overall ratings have improved, most district schools still lack in the areas of math and science on the test.
Statewide, 27 school districts received “exemplary” status, up from 19 in 2006.
But more than 100 of the 1,222 school districts slipped from “recognized” to “academically acceptable,” most because they couldn’t handle tougher tests in math and science.
Math and science haunted the academically unacceptable campuses as well. Most of the 301 campuses and 59 districts that got the lowest ranking possible can point to failure in those two subjects as the reason, according to TEA.
“It is most likely that it was math or science scores that caused a district rating to change,” said Robert Scott, acting Commissioner of Education.
All four “exemplary” Brownsville Independent School District schools fell short of that status last year because of the science portion of the test.
“Science has been a challenge for all of us,” admitted Putegnant Principal Esmentina Treviño.
“The kids are good, they just need more practice,” said Lopez Principal Dawn Hall, referring to the renewed focus on math and science at the school. Lopez missed the “acceptable” mark by five points on the science portion of the TAKS last year.
Even Hanna High School, the only high school to be “recognized” this year, showed math and science scores in the 70th percentiles, as opposed to social studies and English language arts, where scores ranked in the 90 th and 80 th percentiles, respectively.

The Brownsville Herald

Paying Homage-08.01.07

San Benito, Texas—Like planets orbiting the sun, the colorfully dressed dancers move in circles around a center drum, all for respect, faith and heritage.
On Sunday, the Aztec-Chichimenca style dance group, which goes by Grupo Coatlicue, named after the Aztec Earth goddess, performed one of five obligatory dances for the year to St. James, also known as Señor Santiago. Other obligatory dances are for la Virgen de los Remedios, Señor Sacramentos, the Easter holiday and the Virgen de Guadalupe.
The group, one of two since 2001 to gain permission from Mexican tribes to dance in Texas, performed at its meeting center in San Benito. The center, Capulli Tlacalpalli, translates to “house of colors” in Nahuatl.
“My wife and I have been dancing for 25 years,” said Jose Garza, dance group captain.
The dancers are sometimes called concheros because they play a conch prior to each dance. But, their music comes from drum.
“There was something in the drum that called to us, like it has to others,” Garza said. “When we moved here, we continued dancing and a group grew from there.”

Most group members are proud to uphold traditions dating back to pre-Columbian times.
“The dances aren’t guided to the artistic side, but to tradition,” said eight-year member Fernando Elizalde.
He said he views the group’s roots as a “perfect blend” of Mexico’s Catholic influence and indigenous traditions.
“Every dance is like an offering to God,” he said. “It’s like our own form of prayer that represents the synergy, which formed the mestizo race.”
The group adds to the rhythm with hand-held rattles and ayayotes, which are special noisemakers attached to their ankles.
“I’m just learning, but it’s fun,” said 13-year-old Sevin Mendoza.
Mendoza is what the group calls a “principe,” or beginner, but a history of this dance is in his family.
His mother, Melissa, has been with the group on and off since 1993.
“The group’s size has varied from as small as five to 30,” she said. Currently, it has 15 members.
But, she knows the reason behind why she keeps dancing.
“We look for a balance that is universal,” Melissa said, referring to how dancers are like the planets revolving around the sun, or center drum.
“It’s nice to know that there is something here in the Valley that came right from our raices,” she added.

The Brownsville Herald