Looking Back at this Semester of Border Beat

I have thouroghly enjoyed participating in Border Beat this semester. It has been a great experience working with fellow journalism students who have been dedicated to producing a online publication that we are all very proud of.

This class has pushed me away from the type of print journalism that I am used to and encouraged me to learn multimedia programs, such as Sound Slides and Final Cut.

Although it was frustrasting to work with these programs at times it was well worth the investment. I believe that the tools I have learned in Border Beat will be useful and crucial for my future journalism career, as more and more publications evolve into internet media sources.

I also enjoyed working with a small group of people in this class. I think that it was more productive working with fewer reporters in this case. We all had something to bring to the table that truly helped Border Beat succeed.

Mike McKisson's media skills were very beneficial and I think he did a great job re-designing the web site, creating the design for the St. Andrew's project and other media sources that he integrated into the page to make it more interactive and professional.

Mariachi Workshops Offered in Tucson

Who is ready to learn some traditional Mexican dancing in a fun, festive environment?

You can learn how to dance with the best of them at this promising workshop.

On Wednesday, April 23, and Thursday, April 24, professional mariachi musicians and baile folklorico dancers will be invading Tucson.

Classes will be offered to anyone who is interested in participating who is at least 10 years of age. The workshop will take place at the Tucson Convention Center on South Church Avenue from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m on Wednesday, April 23, and Thursday, April 24.

Famous dancers that will be present at the event include Nati Cano, Rafael Zamarripa and Jesus "Chuy" Guzman.

The event costs between $100 and $175, and reservations are required.

If you are interested in learning more about the workshop and potentially signing up, you can either contact Lolie Gomez at (520) 838-3908 or http://www.tucsonmariachi.org/.

Volunteers Donate their time to make a Difference at St. Andrews

Pini Paredes has been interpreting for doctors at the St. Andrew Clinic for the past year and a half.

Usually she translates for the Occupational Therapy Department of the clinic, but on Thursday, April 3, Pini worked with Dr. Sandy Newmark in the pediatrics section because the translator that usually works with Dr.Newmark was absent.

Paredes, who has now retired, used to work as a interpreter for the Arizona Department of Agriculture.

She now enjoys spending her time at St. Andrew's every month, helping families in need. The clinic is located in Nogales, Arizona, where Paredes also resides.

"This has changed me to be a better person," she says. "You get to meet such interesting people."

She is an avid volunteer and has only missed one clinic.

"You see some heart breaking little stories," she says, but you do what you can to support these patients.

Overall Pini has had a very positive experience as an interpreter, and "as long as God gives me health and I'm able to," she said, Paredes will continue to donate her time.

West Boutique Florist Owner Josefina Lizagarra looks to the Future

Josefina Lizagarra, 70, started her business at 1470 West St. Mary's Road 43 years ago when only three other businesses were located near the Barrio Hollywood neighborhood.

At the time there were few roads. The area was not really developed until Pima Community College West was built.

Lizagarra, originally from Nayarit, Mexico moved to Nogales, Mexico when she was 21 years old so that her mother could undergo cancer treatment.

My mother was sick and she came to Tucson to see the doctor," Lizagarra said.

Her mother passed away shortly after and she remained in Nogales where she lived with her older sister, Adelina.

She landed a job recruiting for the Mexican Army and she met a television repairmen who she eventually married.

They had four children who are now adults with families of their own, Lupita, 44, Manuel Jr., 38, Robert, 36, and Daniel, 35.

They married in Noglaes but soon moved to Tucson where they started their family. Lizagarra and her husband are no longer together, but were for 38 years.

Lizagarra started her West Boutique Florist business as a way to make money while raising her children. She was able to manage the shop while baking beans and washing diapers.

She struggled to put her children through private school and give them the best education she possibly could.

"I went from bad to worse," she said. "Actually it was not worse because I had a beautiful family. I was very much blessed. I got my rewards."

Her family has always been her first priority but now that they have grown up Lizagarra plans on spending her time helping the community and enriching Tucson with the mexican culture she is so proud of.

"The culture in Mexico is very beautiful," she said. Lizagarra is very thankful for the traditions she has inherited.

Lizagarra is currently trying to sell the flower shop so that she can dedicate her time helping with community events and making her beautiful paper flowers for movie productions and local venues.

Doctor Sandy Newmark changes lives at Saint Andrew's Clinic

Peditrician, Doctor Sandy Newmark has been volunteering at the Saint Andrew's Clinic in Nogales, Arizona for about 15 years.

He first got involved with the clinic as an intern and resident at the University Medical Center in Tucson, Arizona and now has his own practice, the Center for Pediatric Integrative Medicine, near Saint Joseph's hospital.

Dr. Newmark estimates that he has helped about 1,000 children throughout his years of volunteering at St. Andrew's Clinic.

"I find this extremely rewarding. You give help to people who really, really need it and can't find it anywhere else," he says.

Working at this particular clinic for so many years Dr. Newmark has recieved hands on experience that he believes he could have never recieved at a regular clinic. He has seen some cases that he had never seen before volunteering at St. Andrew's.

"We don't treat accute conditions," he says. "for a lot of people this is the only place they can get any hope at all."

Very often he sees patients that he has helped in the past. One patient was about 5 years old when he first worked with him at the clinic and now he is about 18.

Not all conditions can be treated but with the medications that the clinic provides a lot of them can be made better.

The longest each patient goes without returning to the clinic is six months even if they are having no issues with medicine.

The reason for this is because "we can only give them medication for a certain amount of time," says Dr. Newmark.

Even if it appears that an individual no longer needs the medication or a smaller dosage that is not the family's decision to make, but the doctor's. Therefore it is important that the patient returns to the clinic regularly.

Barrio Hollywood's Fiesta Grande

Every Spring the Barrio Hollywood neighborhood on the westside of town hosts the Barrio Hollywood's Grande Fiesta.

The event first started six years ago when a sewer line broke causing many businesses to lose customers due to the awful smell and sanitation problems. Many residents in the area were also displaced during this time, and the community ultimately suffered.

Margaret McKenna, who has been President of the Neighborhood Association for 20 years and works for Pima County, decided to do something about the devastating toll that the sewer problem took on the neighborhood.

She eventually started the Fiesta with the assistance and support of the community as well as bands and other entertainment groups who agreed to volunteer their time.

Many vendors participate in the event as well, and in order to maintain the return rate of individuals and/or businesses who participate each year the prices for renting a lot for the weekend have not changed since the first year of the Fiesta.

La Semana Santa en Costa Rica

Last week was a popular holiday in Mal Pais, and no, I am not talking about Spring Break. It was La Semana Santa, or Holy Week. Many Ticos (Costa Rican locals) migrated to the beautiful beaches of the Nicoya Peninsula to celebrate the religious festivites not by performing rituals and/or prayer, but drinking heavily in tents along the shore, says my Costa Rican friends.

Many Costa Rican residents who are originally from the United States are eager for the holiday to pass as quickly as possible. The traffic is horrific during Holy Week and the beaches are left covered with trash by careless individuals.

Ticos and fellow residents stock up on alcohol prior to the holiday because it is not sold at many places during this seven day time span.

While many migrate to the beaches of Playa Carmen, Santa Teresa and Mal Pais some stay home and celebrate with family and friends to avoid the chaos of traveling. During Holy Week, which is also known as Easter Week, a majority of public transportation is shut down.

When me and my freinds were leaving San Jose Friday to return to the States, on our way to the airport their was no traffic because all public transportation was closed for the day.

The shuttle from the hotel was one of the few vehicles on the road.

We were lucky to not come across any problems with travel. Before planning our trip we did not consider La Semana Santa in which basically all modes of transportation are halted Thursday through Monday.

One thing is for sure though, now that Monday has come many coastal residents of Nicoya Peninsula will be relieved that the holiday is over and the celebration has ended. Now their beautiful beach towns will return to tranquil and peaceful villages.