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.

A Glance at la pura vida in Mal Pais, Costa Rica

Mal Pais located on Nicoya Peninsula in the Puntarenas Province is a popular surfing village on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica.

The town is very small, only stretching about three kilometers in total. The downtown area is not even part of the little surf village. This area is known as Santa Teresa, where some of the best coastal waves are found.

In Montezuma, about a 20 to 30 minute car ride away, visitors can spend the day hiking beautiful trails, zip lining through the rainforests and jumping from 60 foot waterfalls.

Some guest may decide to only spend the day there. If this is the case San Jose is only a 25 minutes plane ride away or approximately 8 hours by bus and ferry from Mal Pais.

If backpacking through the country there is a great hostel named Tranquilo Backpackers that is right in the heart of town and only $10 per night.

The currency in Costa Rica is Colones so if you decide to use this method of payment instead, 500 Colones is equivalent to $1.


Create Your Own

Author Malin Alegria visits the Pima County Library for Las Nuestras Raices Literary Arts Festival

Saturday, March 8 emerging Latina author Malin Alegria Ramirez read from her first novel, Estrella’s Quinceanera at Pima County Library's Las Nuestras Raices Literary Arts Festival.

The festival, which runs from Feb.29 to March 27, celebrates Mexican-American authors, as well as arts and culture. In total the event will be held at eight branch libraries and two community venues.

Ramirez, who read from her novel, discussed how she became an author, and answered questions from the audience, ended her presentation with a fashion show featuring Tucson teens modeling beautiful Quinceanera dresses.

Ramirez's presentation recieved laughter and applause from the audience as she vividly acted out each character, using hand gestures and changing the tone of her voice.

A Quinceanera celebration is an important day in the life of a 15-year-old. It symbolizes a bridge into womanhood, and is similar to what most young ladies celebrate a year later, also known as the sweet sixteen.

The Quinceanera is more so a cultural event, with much more planning and finances than a sweet sixteen. The event brings together friends and family to recognize a special time in the woman's life.

It was believed to have been created in the 16th century as a way of first introducing one's daughter to society in hopes of finding her a husband.

Ramirez relives the quinceanera that she never had through Estrella's story. The novel is humurous and includes all of the quirky characters any family is bound to have.

The author regrets not having one now.

"I was like the character in the book. I didn't want a Quinceanera," Ramirez said. "As a adult now I reflect on the importance of honoring a girl becoming a woman."

La Fuente

La Fuente Mexican Restaurant located at 1749 North Oracle Road in Tucson, Arizona is a tasty, authentic eatery infused with border town flavors. La Fuente, which means "fountain" in Spanish is a popular mexican restaurant in town.

The cuisine is a little pricey but well worth it for the fun, festive environment. The menu offers a variety of mouth-watering burritos, enchiladas, tacos, fajitas, etc... And you cannot forget the pitchers of margaritas that perfectly compliment the meal!

The restaurant provides guests with live entertainment while enjoying their festive cuisine. A Live Mariachi Band plays regularaly, singing songs like "Guantanamera." People generously give money to the band for them to play their favorite spanish songs.

The decor of the restaurant is authentic and unique, with bright, colorful artifacts from all over Mexico displayed around the room.

The staff and servers are friendly, making you feel right at home at this magnificent mexican restaurant.

Rodeo Artist, Jerry Culver

Among many talented artists displaying their work at La Fiesta de los Vaqueros this weekend, was artist Jerry Culver of Three Points, Arizona.

His art work ranges from a $5 to $300 range, depending on the detail, intricacy, and time spent on each piece. He uses premade templates from Creative Woodworks and Crafts magazine and a scroll saw to complete his projects. It is very labor intensive but he sincerely enjoys doing each piece.

Culver started doing his serious scroll saw work in 1991 when he retired fro his job at Fry's but he has been doing wood work his whole life.

"The last few years I have become interested in doing portraits and scenic things," he said.

For his next project he plans on making a butterfly that is made up many detailed images of various tigers. He said that it will probably take him about six months to finish.

After he finishes this project, he will mount it as he has mounted the rest of his projects, in a frame against black felt, to create contrast between the foreground and background.

Culver puts in the time, so that he and his customers will be completely satisfied with the finished product.

"I've gone as much as 50 hours on one," he said.

The art that tends to be most popular among customers are the pieces between $30 and $40. The wood work that falls above this price range tends to not be within the customers spending budget. His beautiful work is well worth it though. Culver spends many labor intensive hours perfecting each project to satisfy his clients.

"I tell my customers, when they're looking at my projects, I sell patience," he said.

Artist Speaking with Mike about his work

Video of Talented Artist at Rodeo

Rodeo Adventure

Sunday, me and my fellow Border Beat classmate, Mike Ritter, went to the Tucson Rodeo to experience the excitement of the 83rd annual La Fiesta de los Vaqueros first hand.

We walked around and spoke with various vendors and artists displaying their work at the event. We met many kind and helpful individuals, and took photographs and video clips of various things at the rodeo.

The Tortilla Curtain

While attending the Bridging the Borders Information Fair last Sunday I overheard a man and woman discussing a book that they claimed to be life-changing, regarding illegal immigration.

The novel is titled The Tortilla Curtain by T.C. Boyle. I quickly jotted down the information on the margin of my notes. It not only sounded like an interesting read but I thought it would be a great reference and source for my journalism capstone course, Border Beat.

I just began reading the novel this weekend but so far I really am enjoying it. It is not too long of read so it should not take me too long to finish, but the plot line is slightly complex and the story begins quite abruptly.

I have never read a story that begins with the word afterward, but Boyle does in fact do this in his novel. It first throws you off but he quickly back tracks to explain his train of thought.

The novel is focused around the lives of two couples that live in Topanga Canyon and lead very different lives. According to the summary on the back cover of the book, "Los Angeles liberals Delaney and Kyra Mossbacher lead an orderd sushi-and-recycling existence in a newly gated hilltop community: he a sensitive nature writer, she an obsessive realtor. Mexican illegals Candido and America Rincon desperately cling to their vision of the American Dream as they fight off starvation in a makeshift camp deep in the ravine. And from the moment a freak accident brings Candido and Delaney into intimate contact, these four and their opposing worlds gradually intersect in what becomes a tragicomedy of error and misunderstanding."

Although this is the main theme and plot line for the book, Boyle leaves the rest up to the reader's interpretation

In a conversation with Boyle, that can be found on the Penguin Reading Group website the author said, "Readers certainly have the right to query a writer about his/her work, but they must understand that interpretation is individual and that the author should never seek to impose any interpretation of his own book."

In conclusion, I am anxious to finish the novel and sum up a my own interpretation and understanding of the text!

Bridging the Borders Information Fair

On Sunday, February 3 Grace St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Tucson, Ariz. held an Information Fair from 9 a.m to 12 p.m. concerning border issues.



Denise Mulloy, a member of the church's vestry board and committee for Bridging the Borders, presented a PowerPoint presentation to a room of about 20 people. She discussed her own personal experiences of traveling across the border with the non-profit organization, BorderLinks, a few years back.



Along her journey she spoke with many individuals who had illegally crossed the border, or whom attempted to do so many times. She heard stories of families who did not make it across and/or lost loved ones along the way.

Nonetheless, these people continue(d) to fight and struggle to do what is best for their families, not necessarily just to live the so called American Dream.

"Because there are not nearly enough jobs to support families in the interior and south of Mexico, the populace has been moving north in a desperate attempt to support their families. Their one desire is to obtain enough money to feed, clothe and house their family in their own land," she said. "For most, it is not to permanently settle in the United States."

Mulloy's presentation lasted for about an hour and then everyone continued to the chapel for 10 a.m. service where Rev. Delle McCormick of BorderLinks gave a powerful sermon addressing the same issues that were previously discussed, but in greater detail.



Rev. McCormick discussed the mission/purpose of the organization and why immigration is an important topic to recognize.



"BorderLinks is an international leader," she said. "Through our many educational facilities on both sides of the border we train people to become leaders."



She explained that it is important to recognize illegal immigrants, because although some of us may not morally agree with their decision and action in crossing the border, they are a crucial part of our society.



"The topic of immigration dominates our headlines," McCormick said. Immigrants are "building our houses, carrying for our children...they are our neighbors, friends, our families...Their lives and well being is intricately connected to ours."



After the service an Information Fair was held until 12 p.m. Present at the fair were the organizations No More Deaths (No Mas Muertes), Samaritan Patrol, St. Michael's Guatemala Project, and Humane Borders.

Border Town Education

Education tends to vary greatly north and south of the border. The education that students receive in the United States is significantly different than in Mexico, and this trend appears to be relevant in border towns as well. 

According to a report published by WestEd, "surveys returned from 206 school districts within 100 miles of the border indicate that this is a diverse and historically impoverished region with a growing population of primarily Latinos and Whites."

WestEd is an agency that focuses on the education and development of families, schools, and communities. In the document, "Voices from La Frontera: Study of School Districts along the United States/Mexico Border" published in August of 2002 border town communities were surveyed to find that "common concerns included inadequate education funding; a shortage of qualified teachers; and significant fluctuations in student enrollment and attendance that make it difficult to predict revenue streams and plan budgets, predict staffing needs, and maintain continuity in instruction."

These are understandable concerns for border towns to have about their educational facilities. If schools do not have enough teachers, staff, and the materials that are needed to properly function, how can these facilities be expected to run smoothy, or run at all for that matter?

Border Beat

This semester I am very much looking forward to working with fellow journalism students on Border Beat. In particular I would like to cover stories concerning culture, food, and arts along the border. More specifically I would like to focus on cultural events in border towns that showcase the diverse foods and arts of the people.