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