LA SALINERA
July 2017 Volume 9, Issue 2
Inside this issue:
VillageAn update Vibes on theESL ClassesThe Great AmericanStaying Healthy Farmer’s MakingMarket a Upcoming& more! Events Water & Sewer Pro- Cleanup Music Festival Difference ject
Page 3 Page 13 Page 17 Page 8 Page 9
Table of Contents
Inside this issue:
Village Vibes Music Festival………..pg. 3 City Council
Manuel Leos Mayor Administrator’s Memo………………..pg. 7 Victor Carrejo Place 1 Yolanda Lucero ESL Classes……………………………….pg. 8 Place 2 Sonia Arceo
Place 3 Santos Lucero Fun Page…………………………………...pg. 11 Place 5
Administrative Staff Making a Difference…………………..pg. 13 Jessica Garza, Village Administrator
Andrea Carrillo, Deputy Village Clerk In Search of History…….…………….pg. 15 Jannette Monrreal, Admin. Assistant
Marisela Padilla, Accounting and Upcoming Events……………………….pg. 17 Budget Supervisor
Michael Garay, Accounting and Join us July 19 for our next Water & Budget Analyst Wastewater Public Hearing. The hearing will take place at the West Valley Fire De- Norma Gomez, Sanitation Clerk partment, located at 510 Vinton Rd., at 6:00 pm. The public is welcomed and Josh Luna, Media Specialist & Community Outreach very encouraged to attend.
A Word from Mayor Leos
Hello again,
Half of the year is gone and summer is approaching fast, we have to be prepared for the desert heat. I urge everyone to stay hydrated and please look out for your neighbors. Make sure to supervise children dur- ing outdoor play and be sure to monitor them closely and frequently. Al- so, look after our elderly family and friends, as we all get older we are particularly at risk for heat exposure. Keep in mind, heat exposure can lead to grave health issues or death.
Vinton summers, brings family fun at Dr. Applegate Park, where one can bring their kids to play, take a relaxing walk, picnic, or hang out with family and friends. Enjoy a movie on selected Fridays, as we continue with the Movie Nights program again this summer, brought to us by the great volunteers of Keep Vinton Beautiful.
Additionally, special thanks to Anthony ISD, for again bringing the summer food program to the park. All children up to age 18 can enjoy a nice dinner every weeknight from 6:15 to 7:15 pm at Dr. Applegate Park. We would also like to take this opportunity and thank Bill Childress Elementary from CISD for hosting our Mini-Health Fair on May 12th, 2017. As we continue to reach out to the community with these types of pro- grams, we challenge Vinton residents to get involved and become a volunteer, it is very rewarding. We are proud to say that our first English as a Second Language (ESL) class has successfully completed the re- quirements and have received their certificates of completion. Great Job!
The council and staff continually keep working on our top priority list, namely the water and waste water projects. This is an ongoing challenge as we are working though the long and very detailed process. We are hoping that by the time this newsletter gets to you, we will have good news about the funding from the Tex- as Water Development Broad (TWDB) on our waste water project. Other items that we will be working on this summer are the Uniform Development Code and the 2017-2018 Budget.
The great days of summer are here, enjoy them with family and friends. Join us at the park this summer to watch a movie, hang out, relax, and have fun.
Sincerely, Manuel “Manny” Leos, Sr.
La Salinera 2
Village Vibes Music Festival 2017
The Village Vibes Music Festival is back and Keep Vinton Beautiful would like to invite you to take part in the festivities. This year’s festival is set to take place on September 30th, 2017 at Dr. Applegate Park. The fun begins at 2:00 pm and will go on until midnight. Come out and enjoy an afternoon filled with music, food trucks, a new family dedicated area, and good vibes.
Village Vibes Music Festival 2017 Features:
• 2 Stages
• Food Trucks
• New Family Dedicated Area
• Vendors
• Art
To purchase tickets for this year’s festival visit the website at:
www.villagevibesmusicfestival.com
Use this code when purchasing your tickets to receive $5 off adult tickets!
DISCOUNT CODE: vvmf17
September 30, 2017 2:00 pm - 11:59 pm
3 La Salinera
VVMF 2016 Photo Highlights
La Salinera 4
Village Vibes Golf Tournament 2017 Recap
Keep Vinton Beautiful hosted it’s first ever golf tournament on June 2, 2017 at the Painted Dunes De- sert Golf Course. The tournament was a huge success as 76 players, and 30 sponsors supported and participated in the event. The tournament is a part of Village Vibes Music Festival, and it serves to reach the same goal, the construction of Vinton’s first Community Garden.
If you are interested in supporting KVB and Village Vibes you can call Vinton City Hall at (915) 886-5104 or email Village Vibes at [email protected] for more information on how to get involved.
5 La Salinera
Community Garden
The Village Vibes Music Festival and Golf Tournament were created as fundraising events for Vinton’s first community garden and learning center planned to be located on 4 acres of property in the heart of Vinton. The community garden will address Vinton resident’s lack of access to fresh, locally sourced produce, as well as provide economic opportunity for local farmers and an educational resource for local residents and students. Here are a few ways Community Gardens make a positive impact.
5 REASONS TO SUPPORT A COMMUNITY GARDEN 1. Community Gardens Help Provide Fresh Nutritious Food Community gardens provide an opportunity for people to enjoy nutritious food at little or no cost. 2. Community Gardens Foster Community and Build Networks As well as providing fresh nutritious produce for the gardeners and their families, community gar dens provide the opportunity for people from different backgrounds to come together. 3. Community Gardens Provide Health Benefits & A Place To Retreat From The Noise & Commotion of Urban Environments Gardening itself offers many benefits such as stress relief, helps with building esteem, helps fight depression as well as offering physical health benefits such as increased dexterity, cardiovascular development and strength building. 4. Community Gardens Are Good For Local Business & Help Reduce Crime Community gardens also foster and can help provide employment, education, and entrepreneur ship. They provide opportunities for a wide variety of people, including students, recent immi grants and homeless people. 5. Community Gardens Can Have a Positive Effect on Property Prices Interestingly, these positive effects are strongest in lower-income neighborhoods.
Source: Collective Evolution
La Salinera 6
Administrator’s Memo
The Chicago Cubs and the Village of Vinton have quite a bit in common. Last November, after a 108 year wait, the Cubs reached the pinnacle of the baseball season by winning the World Series in game seven. While not quite waiting 108 years, it seems that Vinton residents can now chant the Cub fan mantra of “It Is Happening”. Like the Cubs, Vinton’s water and sewer projects had come close before just to fall short in the first round of the playoffs. After every losing season teams, rebuild and that’s what has been happening in Vinton. Council and staff had to go back to the drawing board to plan and strategize how to make a (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) comeback. Since 2012, responsibilities were shifted, talent developed and a new game strategy put in place. While there were struggles and losses, we went to the plate every time hoping to get on base and praying for the home run. After years of saying “Wait Till Next Year” or “It’s Gonna Happen” the biggest hurdle of this run was overcome on May 31st, with the approval from the Texas Water Development Board for the construction funds of the sewer sys- tem. We can say now we’ve made it to the World Series of infrastructure projects. Water and sewer in Vinton are not just like any other project. The sewer project alone is the largest project attempted in this region for many years. At a construction cost of approximately $22 million to connect nearly 540 homes, it required two funding agen- cies to award funds simultaneously for it to happen. The approval by TWDB of $11.6 million in loan forgiveness (grant) now allows for the EPA/BECC funding to step up with an additional $4 million in grant funds for construc- tion. Back in December, the USDA awarded Vinton $4.8 million in grant funds for the nearly $11 million water project. Also needing another funding agency to step up, EPA/BECC has also set aside $2.9 million to fund Phase II of project. Of a total of nearly $34.1 million, Vinton property owners will be asked to repay only 26% of the total cost or about $9 million over the next 20 to 30 years for the infrastructure. Construction on both projects is scheduled to begin in January 2018, with sewer being first at bat. Before we can claim victory though, there are still challenges ahead. As we move closer to full funding of both projects, there are environmental documents, public hearings, and design approvals waiting on deck for us this summer. I urge you to participate in the upcoming meetings to be fully informed on the status of the projects and scope so that later on, like the Cubs fans, you can say, “I Was There!”
Project Total Cost Grant Loan Wastewater $ 23,508,582.00 $ 17,598,582.00 $ 5,910,000.00 Water $ 10,650,109.00 $ 7,741,109.00 $ 2,909,000.00 Totals $ 34,158,691.00 $ 25,339,691.00 $ 8,819,000.00
Jessica Garza Village Administrator
7 La Salinera
ESL Classes
ESL teacher Mrs. Montoya held a small ceremony for students to celebrate their success in finishing up the first official ESL class semester. Family and friends of the students were invited to the ceremony where Mrs. Montoya took the opportunity to thank the students for their commitment, and motivate them to continue their hard work. Students proudly received a certificate of accomplish- ment only after they passed their final test, a personal speech written and spoken in English. One by one the Council member Victor Carrejo congratulates the students approached the podium and executed their students on a job well done. speeches to perfection. The students were part of a 4 month course, where they worked on grammar, sentence writing, and pronuncia- tion. The teacher used current events and holidays to give students a better scope of understanding which worked really well. The ESL program aims to keep growing for the following semester. Classes are FREE and will pick back up start- ing August 25 and run through December 14. Anyone interested can visit Vinton City Hall and fill out a registra- tion form for the new semester. Registration opened June 5 and will run through August 4. A registration Teacher Mrs. Montoya presents the students with booth will also be available at Dr. Applegate Park during their certificates of accomplishment. Movie Nights. Intermediate classes are scheduled to take place on Monday’s and Thursday’s from 5 pm to 7 pm, while a possible beginners class is scheduled for Saturday’s from 8 am to 1 pm.
For more information call Vinton City Hall at (915) 886- 5104.
Students showcase their certificates with teacher Mrs. Montoya.
La Salinera 8
Staying Healthy
Joining a gym to stay fit is a great choice, however it’s not the only way to workout. You can enjoy a vari- ety of workouts from the comfort of your own home or outside at the park that will give you the same results and put a big smile on your face.
1. Create your own boot camp Bootcamp-style workouts can be a lot of fun because they allow you to challenge yourself. Try this circuit: jumping jacks, lunges, high knees, push-ups, triceps dips (off a bench or curb), and sit- ups. Do each exercise for 60 to 90 seconds; rest in between exer- cises as needed. Repeat the whole thing two or three times. 2. Join a team Try signing up for a sport league. There are leagues out there that are for kids and adults so it shouldn't be too hard finding one. Playing sports is like making a game of working out, so you’ll get your heart rate up, burn calories, and have fun all at the same time. 3. Take a walking tour of your city Walking is the easiest thing you can to do exercise because you can do it anywhere. A fun way to do it would be to sign up for a walking tour of your city or a nearby historic area. You can learn something new while fitting in a workout. 4. Take a hike Hiking is a great way to get your heart pumping while enjoying some fresh air in the great outdoors. The scenery and feeling of accomplishment after your hike are so much better than an afternoon at the gym. 5. Turn chores into a workout You can kill 2 birds with 1 stone when you incorporate chores and exercise together. Focus on the chores that have the highest calorie burn, like scrubbing the tub or vacuuming. Make sure to put on your sneakers and put on some upbeat music.
Source: Health
9 La Salinera
This is one of the quickest and easiest ways to whip up a light, healthy lunch when you’re in a rush.
All you need is some leftover rotisserie chicken from the night before, Greek yogurt, some grapes and ap- ples, and you’re all set.
We promise you won’t miss the mayo at all.
YIELD: 4 SERVINGS PREP TIME: 15 MINUTES TOTAL TIME: 15 MINUTES RECIPE
INGRIDIENTS:
• 2 cups leftover rotisserie chicken • 1/2 cup diced red onion • 1/2 cup diced apple • 1/2 cup grapes, halved • 1/4 cup dried cranberries • 1/4 cup slivered almonds • 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice, or more, to taste • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper • 8 slices bread • 4 leaves Boston bibb lettuce
DIRECTIONS:
1. In a large bowl, combine chicken, red onion, apple, grapes, dried cranberries, sliced almonds, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt and pepper, to taste.
2. Serve sandwiches on bread with chicken mix- ture and lettuce.
Recipe courtesy of CHUNGAH
La Salinera 10
11 La Salinera
Smelly Water Our house in Vinton smelled fine when we decided to buy it in 1984. But when we began moving in and turned on the water, the place stunk like rotten eggs. The water had sand and dirt in it, too. All that junk in the water plugged up the washing machine filter. We had to keep pulling the washing machine away from the wall to clean out the filter so wa- ter would come into the tub. Water pressure was low besides that, so no one could wash clothes – or take a shower either – if we were watering the yard. Fifteen years later, our pump completely quit. No water at all! It was a big hassle and a huge ex- pense. But we drilled a new, deeper well, and now our water is better. Our 79-year-old neighbor Francesca Medrano struggles with all the same problems we’ve had. Her water stinks and tastes so bad that she has to buy all her water for drinking and cooking. Sand and trash plug up her washing machine. If she is watering her yard, no one inside the house can take a shower or do laundry. Other neighbors, the Lieskes, say they had to fetch water from a relative in Canutillo for about a month last winter when their well broke down. The pump broke first. When they fixed that, one of the pipes fell down the well. None of these challenges are as great, though, as our lack of a sewer system for wastewater. Most of our wells are shallow, and our old septic systems can contaminate water drawn from shallow wells. Our family replaced our septic system 23 years ago. And ours is probably the newest septic system on the whole street. Mrs. Medrano thinks her system is 50 years old, and the Lieskes’ sys- tem dates to sometime before our family moved next door 33 years ago. Lack of a sewer system threatens the health of every one of us who depends on a well for our water. All of us are getting older. Before long, we or our heirs will need to sell our property. But who is go- ing to risk their health and put up with the annoyance of an insecure water supply to buy from us? People will buy property where they can have sewer and water services. They will pass Vinton by. We need sewer and water services for all the people in Vinton!
- Becky Cerling Powers
La Salinera 12
Making a Difference
It’s summer and school is out so what are you doing with your free time? Here are 5 things you can do this summer to help make a difference in your community.
1. Tutor a kid Even though school is officially out, there are a lot of students that are going through summer school or homework assist programs. You can easily make a big impact and help them out. Call your school to find out how you can get involved. 2. Attend community meetings You can meet people that live around you and from your neighborhood. It will also help you gain a real sense of ownership of where you live. 3. Clean up Picking up trash isn't for everyone, however there are other things you can do to help clean up your neighborhood. You can paint, restore, build, and clean different areas. Neighborhoods, parks, and anywhere else people gather can really use your help. Create or join a clean-up group where you can help neighborhoods get a little TLC. 4. Start a club or a team Start a team or an interest group like a book club or crafting night. It gives community members some- thing to do and it makes them feel like they are part of something bigger. Start recruiting people and spread the word so that others in your community know about it. 5. Serve the elderly Elderly people are the backbone of the community, but unfortunately are often looked over. Contact some assisted living facilities, nursing homes, or retire- ment homes and ask if they have a resident who could use a little of your time and attention. It’s amazing how much of an impact a short conversation or a game of checkers could really make in their day!
Source: Volunteer Energy
13 La Salinera
La Salinera 14
In Search of History
People without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots– Marcus Gar- vey. There are many reasons that preserving the history of Vinton is important. While there may not have been any famous gunfights or goldmines in Vinton, there are plenty of legends and stories of our own that should be pre- served for future generations. Solidifying the past of Vinton strengthens our future by establishing the “roots” of the culture, genealogy and growth. Promoting our history builds a sense of pride and binds us together. While it is unlikely that any of us are directly related to the founding fathers of the Untied States, we still take pride in their struggle and victory to create a new nation. The more you know about the past, the better prepared you are for the future– Theodore Roosevelt. Historic preservation helps us to know who we were while we build for the future. It helps us understand how we came to be and the challenges that had to be overcome. Without some type of preservation, Vinton’s past will become a mystery to future generations. Searching for History The photo on the right is the earliest known aerial of Vinton, taken in 1936. There were a total of 4 buildings that made up Vinton at the time. The earliest known building in Vinton was the Vinton Mercantile and Post Of- fice dating back to 1892, which sadly was demolished several years ago. This August will be the 56th anniversary of the incorporation of the village and we hope to celebrate this mile- stone by honoring the history that makes Vinton who it is today. If you have photos, documents or newspaper articles that are more than 50 years old, you may be holding pieces of important Vinton history. We ask that you bring them to City Hall so that they can be scanned and saved to be shared with others and most im- portantly with future generations.
Ella Clarke Rishaberger, 1921
15 La Salinera
La Salinera 16
UPCOMING EVENTS JULY 2017 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31
AUGUST 2017 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31
17 La Salinera
SEPTEMBER 2017 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
City Council Meeting - Meetings begin Highway Cleanup - Meet us at Vinton City at 6:30 pm. We encourage all Vinton Hall at 9:00 am to help in keeping our residents to attend all City Council roadways clean. meetings to stay informed.
Farmers Market - Join us for Vin- ton’s Farmers Market. We will be Village Vibes Music Festival - Keep Vin- at the Dr. Applegate Park parking ton Beautiful invites you to come out lot from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. and enjoy the festivities at Dr. Applegate Park. Enjoy a day filled with music, food, Movie Night - Movie night is back! and good vibes. Festival gates open at Join us at Dr. Applegate Park at 2:00 pm. 7:00 pm.
Labor Day - Vinton City Hall will be River Cleanup - Meet us under the closed in observance of Labor Day. Vinton Bridge at 9:00 am.
Water & Wastewater Public Hearing - Independence Day - Vinton City Hall will Hearing will take place at the West be closed in observance of Independence Valley Fire Department, at 6:00 pm. Day.
La Salinera 18
Let’s get social! Follow us on all our networks @keepvintonbeaut @vinton_tx
/kvbtx /villageofvinton Place your ad here! www.vintontx.govoffice2.com The Village of Vinton website Call us at 886-5104 for is the official source of information. rate information